Effect of fungicide application on Leveillula taurica (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae) and agronomic traits of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

One of the important foliar diseases of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is powdery mildew which is caused by the fungus, Leveillula taurica. The effect of fungicide Calixin was investigated on controlling the disease and agronomic traits of seven genotypes of safflower in two seeding dates. Application of fungicide had no significant effect on seed oil content, but it reduced the plant height and heads/plant in all genotypes. It also significantly increased days to maturity only in the genotype of S411 and increased 100-seed weight in genotypes of Kouseh and S411, but it decreased the seed weight in Saffire (13%) and seeds/head in Kouseh and Saffire at 30% and 79%, respectively. Due to application of fungicide, seed yield was increased in the genotype of C4110 (46%), but decreased in Kouseh (28%) and S3110 (42%). No significant interaction between application of fungicide and seeding date was found for most of the traits, indicating that the effect of fungicide was the same in both seeding dates.

Keywords:

• Safflower
• powdery mildew
• fungicide application
• agronomic traits

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support of Isfahan University of Technology during tenure of this research.