Fungicidal control of Phytophthora erythroseptica:: The cause of pink rot on potato

Two shade house and six field experiments were undertaken to evaluate fungicides and timing of application for the control of pink rot of potatoes caused by Phytophthora erythroseptica. Pink rot developed in up to 60% of tubers grown in artificially inoculated soil and 21% of the tubers in naturally infected soil. Ridomil (metalaxyl) and Ridomil Gold (mefenoxan) granules applied to the soil at planting completely or nearly completely controlled pink rot throughout the season in both pot and field experiments. Foliar applications of Ridomil Gold MZ (mefenoxan plus mancozeb) applied when tubers were around 20 mm diameter and another one or two sprays 12 to 28 days later also provided more than 80% control of pink rot in most experiments. Foliar applications of Shirlan (fluazanim) or Acrobat MZ (dimethomorph plus mancozeb) showed some activity against pink rot, but were significantly less effective than Ridomil Gold MZ. Foli-R-Fos 200 (phosphonic acid) or Dithane M45 (mancozeb) applied to the canopy showed little activity against pink rot in most experiments. Yield increases of between 6 and 17 tons ha(-1) resulted from the application of either Ridomil granules at planting or two to three Ridomil Gold MZ foliar sprays around "tuber set.".