Phosphite sources and acibenzolar-S-methyl associated to fungicides on the control of foliar diseases in soybean

Phosphite sources and acibenzolar-S-methyl associated to fungicides on the control of foliar diseases in soybean The goal of this study was to evaluate commercial sources of phosphite and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) followed by one fungicide application on the control of downy mildew, powdery mildew and asian soybean rust, reducing the number of fungicide applications and increasing the control spectrum of these soybean diseases. Two field experiments were carried out in Ponta Grossa, Parana state, Brazil, during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 growing seasons. The experimental design was of randomized blocks with four replications. Treatments consisted on five sources of potassium phosphite and one of manganese (450 g P2O5 ha(-1)) and ASM (12.5 g a.i. ha(-1)) sprayed at the V7 and R2 stages. Phosphite- and ASM-treated plants received one application of the fungicide piraclostrobine + epoxiconazol (66.5 + 25 g i.a. ha(-1)) at the R3 stage and were compared to plants which received two fungicide applications at the R2 and R5.1 stages, as well as to untreated plants. The use of phosphite and ASM significantly reduced the AUDPC for downy mildew. No effects were observed for powdery mildew and Asian rust. The higher number of fungicide application increased the control of biotrophic fungi under higher disease pressure.