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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #276469
Title: Effect of fungicides on the reaction of sorghum hybrids to disease in Burleson County, Texas, 2011

Author
item ISAKEIT, THOMAS - Texas A&M University
item ROONEY, WILLIAM - Texas A&M University
item COLLINS, DELROY - Texas A&M University
item Prom, Louis

Submitted to: Plant Disease Management Reports
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/30/2011
Publication Date: 3/30/2012
Citation: Isakeit, T., Rooney, W.L., Collins, D.D., Prom, L.K. 2012. Effect of fungicides on the reaction of sorghum hybrids to disease in Burleson County, Texas, 2011. Plant Disease Management Reports. 6:FC020.

Interpretive Summary: Anthracnose and grain mold/weathering are two important diseases of sorghum. In this study, three fungicides were sprayed on several sorghum hybrids to determine their effects in controlling these two diseases. During the study, disease pressure was very low because of below average rainfall. Averaged across the hybrids, plots treated with fungicides Headline and Xcel had less anthracnose than either the control plots or plots treated with the fungicide Topguard. However, there was no difference in the effects of these fungicides on grain mold/weathering. Additional studies will be conducted to determine whether these fungicides can be used to control sorghum anthracnose and grain mold/weathering.

Technical Abstract: The use of fungicides to control anthracnose and grain mold on sorghum hybrids was conducted during the 2011 growing season. Three fungicides Headline, Quilt Xcel, and Topguard were used. Fungicides were applied on 30 May to the middle two rows with a CO2 backpack sprayer, at 30 psi in a spray volume of 15 gal/A, using Teejet DG 80015VS flat fan tips. Four nozzles, spaced 19 in. apart, treated the two rows. The spray solution included 0.125% Induce, a nonionic wetter and spreader adjuvant. The field was furrow irrigated as needed. Disease pressure was light because of below-average rainfall (2.87 in., 0.10 in., and 0.29 in. in Jun, Jul, and Aug, respectively) during flowering and grain maturation. Averaged over the hybrids, Headline and Quilt Xcel treatments had significantly (P=0.001) less anthracnose than the control or Topguard treatment, but the level of anthracnose was not sufficient to significantly affect yield. The level of anthracnose was significantly (P=0.001) less with Warner W851-DR than with NC+7R34. There were no significant treatment effects on grain mold/weathering.