CONTROL OF EARLY AND LATE BLIGHT I N TOMATOES, N. B. Shamiyeh, A. B. Smith and C. A. Mullins. Interpretive Summary

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1 CONTROL OF EARLY AND LATE BLIGHT I N TOMATOES, 2001 N. B. Shamiyeh, A. B. Smith and C. A. Mullins Interpretive Summary Plots treated with BAS-500, BAS-510, and with alternated with Quadris had significantly lower disease ratings for Early and Late Blight and the highest marketable yield than the other treatments. Plots treated with Seranade (biological fungicide) had disease ratings not significantly different than the untreated check plots. Introduction Early Blight has continued to be an annual problem in tomato production in Tennessee. Tomatoes are widely grown in Tennessee and blight, which thrives under the extremely humid weather conditions of this state, present a major concern for growers. Therefore, thirteen fungicide treatments were evaluated for control of Early and Late Blight at the University of Tennessee Plateau Experiment Station in Crossville in Tests have been conducted for several years to evaluate different disease management strategies which include; rate adjustments, chemical combinations and alternate use of certain chemicals. The major commercial control strategies for both Early and Late Blight control have been a preventative spray program with fungicide applications made on a seven day schedule depending on weather conditions. Late Blight development is dependent upon a very strict set of weather conditions. Cool, wet, cloudy conditions favor Late Blight development. Therefore, frequent fungicide applications, usually on a seven day schedule, are imperative for acceptable disease control and successful crop production. However, a new strain of Late Blight has emerged which has proven difficult to control. This new strain, resistant to several fungicides, has been identified as the A2 strain. Materials and Methods Thirteen foliar fungicides were evaluated for control of Early and Late Blight in tomatoes at The University of Tennessee Plateau Experiment Station, Crossville. Fertilization consisted of 600 lb/a applied broadcast and disc incorporated on 14 May. Mountain Fresh plants were transplanted on 17 May. Standard weed and insect control practices were implemented during the growing season. Plots consisted of single rows 10ft wide and 15ft long with10 plants/row. Treatments were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Fungicides were applied on a weekly schedule starting on 25 Jun and ending on 15 Aug. Applications were made using a 2.5 gal CO 2 backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver 60 gal/a at 60psi early season and 120 gal/a at 100psi late season. Weekly disease ratings ranged from 0 (no disease incidence) to 10 (100% leaf defoliation). Yield data were compiled from multiple harvest dates. All data were subjected to ANOVA.

2 Results and Discussion Plots treated with BAS-500(0.15 lb ai/a), BAS-510, BAS-500 alternated with BAS-510, and BAS-500 alternated with Bravo Ultrex had significantly lower disease ratings for Early Blight than any other treatment (Table 2 ). Plots treated with BAS-500 alternated with BAS-510 had significantly lower Late Blight disease ratings than the other treated plots (Table 3 ). All plots treated with fungicides except plots treated with the biological fungicide Serenade had significantly lower disease ratings for Early and Late Blight, and higher marketable yield than the untreated check plots. After the last fungicide application, plots treated with, alternated with Quadris, and Bravo Ultrex tank mixed with had significantly lower early blight disease ratings than any other fungicide treatment. All plots treated with a fungicide had significantly lower disease ratings than the untreated check plots. Late blight symptoms were apparent late in the growing season and all plots treated with a fungicide had lower disease ratings than the untreated check plots. Plots treated with both rates of BAS-500, BAS-510, BAS- 500 alternated with BAS-510, BAS-500 alternated with Bravo Ultrex, and alternated with Quadris produced more Marketable Tomatoes (# 1 + # 2) than any other treatment. Plots treated with, Flint alternated with Bravo Ultrex, Bravo Ultrex tank mixed with, and Bravo Ultrex alone produced significantly more # 1 tomatoes than the untreated check plots (Table 4 ). Table 1. Spray schedule for tomato fungicide efficacy trial. Application TRT X X X X X X X 3 X X X X X X X 4 X X X X X X X 5 BAS-500 BAS- 510 BAS-500 BAS-510 BAS- 500 BAS-510 BAS-50 6 BAS-500 Bravo Ultrex BAS-500 Bravo Ultrex BAS- 500 Bravo Ultrex BAS-50

3 7 X X X X X X X X 8 X X X X X X X X 9 Quadris Quadris Quadris Quadris 10 X X X X X X X X 11 X X X X X X X X 12 X X X X X X X X 13 X X X X X X X X Date 6/25/01 7/2/01 7/9/01 7/16/01 7/23/01 7/30/01 8/9/01 8/15/01 Rate (GPA) Mix (Gal) PSI Table 2. Early Blight Rating (0-10) of Mt Fresh Tomatoes Receiving Various Fungicides at The University of Tennessee Plateau Experiment Station, Crossville, Treatment and Rate lb(ai)/a Early Blight Disease Rating 1 (0-10) 29 Jun 13 Jul 30 Jul 17 Aug 29 Aug DF 75% 1.50 DF 75% Fruit set2... BAS WG Day BAS WG

4 Day... BAS WG Day... BAS WG 0.15 Alt. 7 Day /W BAS WG BAS WG 0.15Alt. 7 Day /W Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG Gavel 75DF Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG DF 1.50 Alt. 7 Day/W Quadris SC Flint 50WG Day... Flint 50WG Day... Flint 50WG Day... Serenade Day UTC LSD (P=0.05) Early Blight Rating: 0= No lesions present; 10 = 100% of leaves have at least one lesion. 2 Treatments were applied at lower rate until fruit set, and the higher rate after fruit set. Table 3. Late Blight Rating (0-10) of Mt Fresh Tomatoes Receiving Various Fungicides at The University of Tennessee Plateau Experiment Station, Crossville, 2001.

5 Treatment and Rate lb(ai)/a Late Blight Disease Rating 1 (0-10) 30 Jul 9 Aug 17 Aug 22 Aug 29 Aug DF 75% 1.50 DF 75% Fruit set BAS WG Day BAS WG Day BAS WG Day BAS WG 0.15 Alt. 7 Day /W BAS WG BAS WG 0.15Alt. 7 Day /W Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG Gavel 75DF Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG DF 1.50 Alt. 7 Day/W Quadris SC Flint 50WG Day Flint 50WG Day Flint 50WG Day Serenade Day UTC LSD (P=0.05) Late Blight Rating: 0= No lesions present; 10 = 100% of leaves have at least one lesion.

6 2 Treatments were applied at lower rate until fruit set, and the higher rate after fruit set. Table 4. Yield in Tons of Fruit/A of Mt Fresh Tomatoes Receiving Various Fungicide Treatments at The University of Tennessee Plateau Experiment Station, Crossville, Treatment and Rate lb(ai)/a DF 75% 1.50 DF 75% Fruit set 1... Tomato Yields Lb / Plot Ton /Acre Lb/ #1 Tom. # 2 Tom #1 + #2 Cul Tom BAS WG Day BAS WG Day BAS WG Day BAS WG 0.15 Alt. 7 Day /W BAS WG BAS WG 0.15Alt. 7 Day /W Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG Gavel 75DF Bravo Ultrex 82.5WG DF 1.50 Alt. 7 Day/W Quadris SC Flint 50WG Day Flint 50WG Day Flint 50WG Day Serenade Day UTC

7 LSD (P=0.05) Treatments were applied at lower rate until fruit set, and the higher rate after fruit set. Copyright 1999 by The University of Tennessee. All rights reserved. This research represents one season's data and does not constitute recommendations. After sufficient data is collected over the appropriate number of seasons, final recommendations will be made through research and extension publications.