Deposition and redistribution of fungicides applied by air and chemigation for control of late blight in commercial potato fields

The fungicides metiram, mancozeb, metiram + triphenyltin hydroxide, propamocarb hydrochloride + chlorothalonil, dimethomorph + mancozeb, cymoxanil + mancozeb, and chlorothalonil were applied by aircraft and through center-pivot irrigation systems (chemigation) to replicated plots in commercial fields of ‘Russet Burbank’ potato. Fungicide deposition and redistribution were indirectly determined by inoculation of excised leaves withPhytophthora infestans and directly by chlorothalonil residue analysis from upper, middle, and lower crop canopies. The effectiveness of two surfactants added with fungicide and applied by aircraft, an increased water volume rate used by aircraft, and a reduced water volume used with chemigation was also determined. The addition of synthetic latex and siliconepolyether surfactants did not increase efficacy of metiram or mancozeb in controlling late blight when applied by aircraft. The protectant fungicides metiram, mancozeb, and chlorothalonil were not significantly different from dimethomorph + mancozeb, cymoxanil + mancozeb, and propamocarb hydrochloride + chlorothalonil in late blight control when applied by aircraft. However, cymoxanil + mancozeb had limited efficacy when applied by chemigation. Fungicide deposition through the canopy differed when air applications were made before or after canopy closure (row closure). Fungicides applied by aircraft prior to row closure protected the entire canopy; whereas, fungicide application after row closure initially protected the top and middle canopies, and subsequent applications and redistribution of the fungicides were needed for adequate protection throughout the canopy. The fungicides and fungicide mixtures tested were evenly deposited throughout the potato canopy with each chemigation application. Severity of late blight did not differ on leaves treated with mancozeb or chlorothalonil applied by aircraft at water volumes of 47 L/ha and 94 I/ha and then inoculated withP. infestans, nor did severity of late blight differ on inoculated leaves previously treated with chlorothalonil by chemigation at water volumes of 15,145 and 50, 571 L/ha.