Efficacy of the fungicides prochloraz and pyrimethanil against Fusarium culmorum ear blight of wheat

This is the first report demonstrating the use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, in addition to visual disease assessment, to evaluate the efficacy of fungicides against Fusarium culmorum ear blight of wheat. According to both techniques, the fungicide prochloraz significantly decreased disease, while the fungicide pyrimethanil had no significant effect. Treatment with prochloraz resulted in a significant increase in 1000 grain weight. A linear relationship existed between 1000 grain weight and disease (visual or quantitative PCR), with yield decreasing as disease increased.