Evaluation of anilinopyrimidine and other fungicides for control of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea) in container-grown Calluna vulgaris.

Background: Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr.) is a damaging disease affecting container-grown Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Trials were conducted to test anilinopyrimidine fungicides (pyrimethanil, cyprodinil and mepanipyrim), azoxystrobin and tolylfluanid for crop safety on cultivars, and to evaluate spray programmes based on alternating these fungicides with different modes of action for disease control. Timing and application at different spray intervals were also investigated.

Results: Cyprodinil was slightly phytotoxic on only one of the seven cvs tested. Alternating nine-spray programmes of azoxystrobin with an anilinopyrimidine or tolylfluanid, or an anilinopyrimidine with tolylfluanid, with the first spray applied immediately after potting, were equally effective in reducing disease incidence and severity compared with untreated plants. Spray programmes of five or eight sprays, using an anilinopyrimidine and at least one other fungicide with a different mode of action, applied alternately or in blocks of two sprays of the same fungicide and immediately after potting, were equally effective in reducing disease. Omission of early fungicide sprays until 9 weeks after potting and subsequent alternate application of pyrimethanil and tolylfluanid with a different mode of action at 6 week intervals gave reduced disease control.

Conclusion: There is potential to use spray programmes based on alternating anilinopyrimidines with fungicides with a different mode of action to provide effective control of B. cinerea on C. vulgaris.