W. Koller et Wf. Wilcox, Evaluation of tactics far managing resistance of Venturia inaequalis to sterol demethylation inhibitors, PLANT DIS, 83(9), 1999, pp. 857-863
The impact on the selection and control of subpopulations of V. inaequalis
resistant to the sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fenarimol or to dodin
e were evaluated with respect to several tactics of apple scab control. Exp
eriments were conducted in an experimental orchard with elevated levels of
DMI and dodine resistance over a period of three consecutive seasons. The D
MI-resistant subpopulation was poorly (14%) controlled at a fenarimol rate
of 15 mg/liter (sprayed to run-off), whereas control was significantly impr
oved (54%) at twice that rate. Mancozeb mixed with the low rate of fenarimo
l also improved the control of DMI-resistant isolates, but the improvement
was due to the indiscriminate control of both the DMI-sensitive and -resist
ant populations provided by mancozeb. The selection of fenarimol-resistant
isolates resulting from poor control of the resistant subpopulation by the
low rate of fenarimol was equivalent whether fenarimol was applied singly o
r in mixture with mancozeb. Consequently, the use of high DMI rates in mixt
ure with a protective fungicide is expected to delay the build-up of resist
ant subpopulations by limiting their increase through two separate principl
es of control. For dodine in mixture with fenarimol, it was found that each
mixing partner applied alone selected both fenarimol- and dodine-resistant
isolates. This selection pattern was partly explained by the possibility t
hat one of the multiple genes underlying fenarimol and dodine resistance co
nfers resistance to both fungicides, in addition to the selection of double
-resistant isolates. Regardless, a mixture of fenarimol with dodine each em
ployed at a low rate controlled both the fenarimol- and the dodine-resistan
t subpopulation at least as effectively as the individual components at twi
ce their mixture rate, and an accelerated selection of double-resistant iso
lates was not detected. In commercial orchard trials, mixtures of DMIs with
either a protective fungicide or with dodine provided equivalent control e
ven when levels of DMI resistance, dodine resistance, or both were moderate
ly elevated. With the exception of orchards with high levels of DMI or dodi
ne resistance, dodine might be an alternative to protective fungicides as a
mixing partner with DMIs.