Hj. Scheck et Jw. Pscheidt, EFFECT OF COPPER BACTERICIDES ON COPPER-RESISTANT AND COPPER-SENSITIVE STRAINS OF PSEUDOMONAS-SYRINGAE PV. SYRINGAE, Plant disease, 82(4), 1998, pp. 397-406
Fourteen formulations of copper-based bactericides were evaluated for
their efficacy in reducing populations of copper-resistant and -sensit
ive strains of Pseudomonas syringae pv, syringae growing on tissue-cul
tured lilac and of copper-sensitive strains of this pathogen on field-
grown lilac. The amount of free cupric ions (Cu2+) in solution was the
only predictor of formulation efficacy, but this variable could not b
e estimated from the metallic copper content of the product. Relative
to nontreated controls, all copper-based bactericides reduced the popu
lation size of copper-sensitive strains by 50%, but only cupric hydrox
ide mixed with mancozeb or ferric chloride reduced the population size
of copper-resistant strains by an equivalent amount. Several noncoppe
r bactericides, including streptomycin-sulfate, caused only small redu
ctions in bacterial populations on tissue-cultured or field-grown lila
cs. In the field, two applications of cupric hydroxide (wettable powde
r) when plant growth stages were at dormant (mid-February) and delayed
dormant (late February) provided better control than either one or no
treatments.