Efficacy of Biological and Conventional Fungicide Programs for Foliar Disease Management on Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Florida

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an emerging alternative perennial crop in the southeastern United States. However, foliar diseases are present across this production area, causing almost 100% premature defoliation. A series of fungicide efficacy trials were conducted to evaluate biological, systemic, and contact fungicides at two locations in Florida, Plant City (cv. Angel Red) and Parrish (cvs. Christina, Azadi, Vikusnyi, Alsirinnar, Sakerdze, and Wonderful), for foliar disease management. Based on AUDPC, the fungicides Captan 80 WDG (captan, 78.2%), Penncozeb 75DF (mancozeb, 75%), Merivon (pyraclostrobin, 21.3% + fluxapyroxad, 21.3%), and Topsin 4.5 FL (thiophanate methyl, 45%) significantly reduced the percentage of foliar disease severity compared with biologicals consisting of Serenade OPTI and Tenet WP (Plant City) and the nontreated control (Plant City and Parrish cv. Wonderful). All treatments applied in a rotational program three times at bloom significantly reduced disease severity compared with the nontreated control in both locations. Rotational programs applied throughout the season also reduced disease severity compared with non-treated controls and repeated applications of neem oil. Foliar disease management is critical for long-term establishment of pomegranate as a viable economic crop in the southeastern United States.