Weather-based fungicide spray programs for control of two foliar diseases on carrot cultivars differing in susceptibility

Foliar diseases of carrot caused by Alternaria dauci and Cercospora carotae occur every year in Wisconsin, requiring repeated foliar fungicide applications to minimize defoliation and yield reduction. Improved timing of fungicide applications combined with the use of disease resistant cultivars offer growers a means to improve disease control with fewer fungicide inputs compared with the current strategy of weekly fungicide applications to a susceptible cultivar. Field experiments in 2002 to 2004 examined fungicide application schedules indicated by a disease forecasting model that calculated the duration of environmental conditions favorable for A. dauci and C. carotae (adaptation of TOM-CAST) on two carrot cultivars differing in susceptibility to these foliar diseases. All fungicide programs were initiated at a 1% disease severity threshold determined by scouting. Intervals for weather-based spray programs were based on in-canopy leaf wetness and temperature data. Fungicide sprays were applied according to 15 and 20 disease severity value (DSV) application thresholds, and were compared with a weekly spray program and an untreated control. Results of this trial demonstrated that fungicide sprays made according to weather data may reduce fungicide inputs in most years compared with current industry-standard, calendar-based spray programs. Host susceptibility affected the efficacy of weather-based spray programs, resulting in longer spray intervals and fewer fungicide applications on the resistant cultivar Bolero when compared with the susceptible cultivar Fontana. Fungicide spray programs based on TOM-CAST diminished fungicide inputs by 30 to 50%, compared with the weekly spray program, by lengthening intervals between applications without compromising disease control or root yield.