Abstract
Thiabendazole and eight other fungicides were applied to pasture by a number of different methods and the effect on numbers of Pithomyces chartarum spores examined.
Thiabendazole and benomyl sprayed at rates of 2–32 oz/acre reduced spore numbers during periods of accelerated production by 40-90% for 6 weeks. Application rate within this range had little effect on the length of time for which the fungicides were effective.
Cercobin (NF44) at 4 oz gave control equal to that of thiabendazole at 4 oz, but 32 oz of Phenztdol and 16 oz of EL273 were needed to give the same measure of control. Fuberidazol, DU13710, and Busan 72 at rates up to 16 oz and Euparen at 160 oz did not control spore numbers.
The use of different formulations of thiabendazole did not affect results. Ultra-low-volume formulation of Fuberidazol and the addition of wetting agent to Euparen did not improve the performance of either of these materials.
Thiabendazole applied aerially gave the same control as the hand-sprayed fungicide. Simulated rain, applied at rates of 1–2 in. within 3 days of spraying of 4 oz thiabendazole, removed all fungicidal effect, but control remained when only 1/2 in. of rain was applied. Early spraying of thiabendazole in November, December, or January affected spore numbers only for the 6-week period of effectiveness of the fungicide; subsequent spore counts on sprayed plots were equal to those on unsprayed controls.