Effect of mancozeb on the control of mycosphaerella blight of field pea
Mycosphaerella blight (MB) [Mycosphaerella pinodes (Berk. & Blox.)Vestergr.] causes substantial yield loss to field pea in western Canada in most seasons and is a disease for which genetic resistance is lacking. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of foliar application of mancozeb for the control of MB of field pea. Field trials of split-plot design were conducted at two sites per year from 1996 to 1998 in southern Manitoba, with cultivars as main-plots and fungicide treatments as sub-plots. In most site-years, a single application of mancozeb at the early flowering stage was effective in reducing MB severity and in increasing yield. Mancozeb had similar efficacy to chlorothalonil, the only currently registered fungicide for control of MB in field pea. The beneficial effect of both fungicides was greater for the highly MB susceptible cultivars AC Tamor and Carrera than the moderately MB susceptible cultivar Radley. Key words: Pisum sativum, field pea, mycosphaerella blight, mancozeb, chlorothalonil