Fungicide Spray Program to Reduce Application in Anthracnose of Strawberry

The effect of various fungicides on anthracnose of strawberry, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, was determined in vitro, and in greenhouse and field trials. The values of benomyl were clearly different between two sensitive and resistant groups of isolates. Iminoctadine tris had lower values than mancozeb and propineb as protective fungicides and the response of mancozeb, propineb and azoxystrobin was variable depending on the isolate. In the greenhouse, pre- and post- inoculation fungicide applications significantly reduced disease compared to the non-treated control. Propineb, mancozeb and azoxystrobin were effective in controlling the disease when applied prior to inoculation. Metconazole and prochloraz-Mn treatments as ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting fungicides had the lowest incidence of anthracnose. In the nursery field trials in 2009 and 2010, the reduced fungicide spray program provided similar levels of disease control compared to the calendar-based applications with captan. A reduced spray program based on efficacious fungicides such as prochloraz-Mn will be useful for strawberry growers and provide more options for controlling anthracnose in Korea.