Sensitivities of Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Fungus (Podosphaera xanthii) to Fungicides

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the sensitivity of cucurbit powdery mildew fungus (Podosphaera xanthii) to major fungicides used for managing this pathogen in the Midwestern United States. Fungicides azoxystrobin from the quinone outside inhibitors group, cyflufenamid from the phenylacetamide group, penthiopyrad from the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors group, quinoxyfen from the quinolines group, and triflumizole from the demethylation inhibitors group were tested for their effectiveness for preventing infection of cucurbits by P. xanthii. In 2015 and 2016, 37 isolates of P. xanthii were evaluated for their sensitivity to azoxystrobin (Quadris 2.08SC), cyflufenamid (Torino 0.85SC), penthiopyrad (Fontelis 1.67SC), and triflumizole (Procure 480SC) on cucumber ‘Bush Crop’ cotyledon leaves. The number of isolates sensitive to tested concentrations of Quadris 2.08SC, Torino 0.85SC, Fontelis 1.67SC, and Procure 480SC was 8 (22%), 21 (57%), 20 (54%), and 23 (62%), respectively. During 2015 to 2018, Quadris 2.08SC, Torino 0.85SC, Fontelis 1.67SC, quinoxyfen (Quintec 250SC), and Procure 480SC were tested for their effectiveness for managing powdery mildew on pumpkin ‘Howden’ in the field. The results showed that powdery mildew was effectively managed in the plots treated with Procure 480SC and Quintec 250SC. However, management of the disease was less successful in the plots treated with Quadris 2.08SC, Torino 0.85SC, and Fontelis 1.67SC.