The sensitivities of 11 isolates of Phytophthora infestans to dimethomorph were examined at all stages of the asexual life cycle and when inoculated onto potato leaf discs. In vitro zoospore encystment and cyst germination were highly sensitive to dimethomorph with 50% reduction of mycelial growth and cyst germination (EC50) values for most isolates <0.20 μg/ml, whereas direct sporangia germination and in vitro hyphal growth and sporulation were less sensitive (means of 0.45 and 0.22 μg/ml, respectively). Zoosporogenesis was not significantly inhibited at the maximum dimethomorph concentration examined, 10 μg/ml. Significant differences (Fisher's least significant difference, P = 0.05) in the EC50 values were present between isolates for all stages of the asexual life cycle, except direct sporangia germination and zoosporogenesis. Sensitivity ratios between the least- and most-sensitive isolates were 6.11, 12.14, 12.36, and 10.56 for hyphal growth, in vitro sporulation, zoospore encystment, and cyst germination, respectively. Application of dimethomorph at 1,000 μg/ml to potato leaf discs at 24 or 48 h before inoculation completely inhibited symptom incidence for most isolates, whereas application after inoculation generally was not significantly different from the untreated control, regardless of concentration. Sporulation from leaf discs treated with dimethomorph at 24 or 48 h after inoculation was completely inhibited for all isolates with dimethomorph at 1,000 μg/ml, even when symptom incidence was not significantly reduced.
The cyst-theca relationship of <i>Protoperidinium americanum</i> (Gran & Braarud) Balech