Nitrogen and Flowering Dogwood. I. Impact of Nitrogen Fertilization Rate on the Occurrence of Spot Anthracnose, Powdery Mildew, and Cercospora Leaf Spot and Their Effect on Tree Growth

Abstract Impact of nitrogen (N) rate on spot anthracnose, powdery mildew, and Cercospora leaf spot as well as their impact on the growth of field-grown ‘Cloud 9’ and ‘Cherokee Chief’ flowering dogwood was assessed in 2003, 2004, and 2005. From 2001 to 2005, ammonium nitrate was applied at 4.1, 8.3, 16.5, 33.0 and 66.0 g N·m−2 (37.5, 75, 150, 300, 600 lb N·A−1). Heritage 50W fungicide was applied to one ‘Cherokee Chief’ and ‘Cloud 9’ flowering dogwood in each plot, while the second was untreated. Powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot were impacted by N rate more than spot anthracnose. In two of three years, powdery mildew intensified, particularly on the non-treated trees, as N rates increased. Cercospora leaf spot intensity (AUDPCI) and defoliation (AUDPCD) on the fungicide-treated and non-treated trees was influenced by N-rate in two of three and one of three years, respectively. Regardless of fungicide treatment, Cercospora leaf spot incited leaf spotting and defoliation was often lower at the two hig...