Ametoctradin: a new fungicide for potato late blight control

Abstract

Late blight (Phytophthora infestans ) is among the most important and destructive diseases in potato cultivation. Aiming to evaluate the efficacy of the new fungicide ametoctradin, mixed with dimethomorph and metiram, an experiment was carried out in commercial potato crops (Ágata cultivar) in Pilar do Sul, São Paulo state, Brazil, during the growing season in 2013. A randomized block design was used, with 4 replications, on plots of 15 m2. Applications were carried out using a backpack sprayer with a spray-bar under 3 bar of constant pressure. The application volume varied from 300 L to 600 L.ha-1 based on crop development. The variables evaluated were leaf severity (0 to 100%), area under the disease progress curve, and yield. Ametoctradin + dimethomorph (1.25 L.ha-1) provided significant control of late blight, exceeding benthiavalicarb + fluazinam, dimethomorph + metiram, dimethomorph + pyraclostrobin, cymoxanil + mancozeb, metalaxyl-M + mancozeb, ametoctradin + metiram, and pyraclostrobin + metiram, although similar to ametoctradin + dimethomorph (1.00 L.ha-1), fluopicolide + propamocarb, and fenamidone + propamocarb. Ametoctradin + metiram resulted in moderate control, which was always similar to the standard. Ametoctradin and its associations represent a new alternative for the management of potato late blight.