Evaluation of systemic fungicides as pre-harvest treatments of avocados

Various systemic fungicides and a non-systemic fungicide (copper ammonium carbonate) were evaluated as possible alternatives to copper-oxychloride and benomyl, for control of pre- and postharvest diseases of avocados. Foliar applications of cyproconazole, flusilazol or copper ammonium carbonate were as effective in controlling Cercospora spot as copper-oxychloride and benomyl, but were less effective in controlling sooty blotch. Visible spray residues were significantly lower where the systemic compounds cyproconazole, flusilazol, triadimenol and the non-systemic fungicide (copper ammonium carbonate), were applied in the final January spray round, instead of copper-oxychloride.