Control strategies using systemic fungicides for limiting disease development and resistance buildup: practical implications of a simulation model

Abstract

A simulation model was used to assess the control efficacy of, and the buildup of resistant populations to, systemic fungicides as affected by preventive vs responsive (curative) treatments with a protectant fungicide, or with a mixture composed of a systemic and a protectant fungicide. The variables introduced in the model were: rate of fungicide weathering, coverage efficacy, and relative fitness of the resistant population of the pathogens. In all simulated epidemics (with different combinations of apparent infection rates, critical disease levels and rates of weathering of the fungicides), preventive treatments, before the critical disease levels were reached, were significantly more effective than responsive (curative) treatments. At low rates of weathering of the protectant fungicide (half-life of the protectant greater than or equal to that of the systemic), the buildup of the resistant population was significantly inhibited when a mixture was used either preventively or responsively. At high rates of weathering of the protectant fungicide (half-life of the protectant less than that of the systemic), both the buildup of the resistant population and the control efficacy were dependent on the control program used and on the different combinations of fungicide weathering, fitness of the resistant population, and coverage efficacy of both the protectant and systemic fungicides.