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Field experiments with rape ovs Primor, Jet Neuf and Norli during 1979-83 tested the effects of benomyl, prochloraz, imazalil, thiabendazole, metalaxyl or triadimefon sprays applied at different times on disease, crop growth and yield. The principal disease in all experiments was light leaf spot (Pyrenopeziza brassicae).A single spray in autumn of benomyl or prochloraz at 0-5 kg a.i./ha consistently decreased incidence and severity of light leaf spot and sometimes decreased stem canker (Leptosphaeria macvlans). Under severe disease conditions in cv. Primor an autumn spray of fungicide contributed more to disease control than a spray in spring; a decrease in light leaf spot incidence was detectable up to 8 months after application. The autumn spray maintained plant population density, increased leaf area index, dry matter, crop growth rate, earliness of flowering, and yield by up to 0-69 t/ha; an autumn + spring spray increased yield by up to 0-83 t/ha. Effects on crop growth and yield were due to disease control not direct chemical stimulation of growth. Measurements of crop growth and population per unit area revealed the effects of fungicides more clearly than traditional disease assessments based solely on randomly selected plants.Triadimefon sprayed on rape stubble at high dose rate (1 kg a.i./ha) decreased incidence and severity of light leaf spot throughout the growing season of a subsequent rape crop, with beneficial effects on plant population density, growth, flowering and yield.Electrostatically charged rotary atomizer and conventional hydraulic spray applications of fungicide were equally effective in disease control. A reduction to one quarter in dose rate of prochloraz and 100-fold reduction in amount of water carrier (125 g a.i. in 4'3 1/ha) when applied electrostatically in autumn or autumn -I-spring had similar effects on disease, crop growth and yield to those obtained with a conventional sprayer delivering 500 g a.i. prochloraz in 410 1/ha. Fungicides, spray timing and methods of application are discussed in relation to the epidemiology of light leaf spot and canker and the economics of disease control.

SUMMARYThe results of observations begun in 1973 and of disease surveys carried out on winter oil-seed rape crops on ten farms in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire between 1975 and 1978 are reported. The major diseases encountered in the surveys, namely downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica (FT.) Tull.), canker (Leptosphaeria maculans (Desm.) Ces. & de Not.), light leafspot or scorch (Pyrenopeziza brassicae Sutton & Rawlinson) and grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Fr.) are discussed in relation to diseases of rape grown elsewhere and the results of experiments on disease control reported. Symptoms of virus infection and root disease were rare.Early (before stem extension) use of two applications of benomyl (1·2 kg a.i./ha) decreased the incidence and severity of light leaf spot and canker and increased yield by up to 33%. Benomyl plus thiram seed treatment (5 and l·5ga.i./kg) was less effective than a benomyl foliar spray. In field experiments differences in severity of light leaf spot and canker explained a substantial part of variation in yield but downy mildew did notaccount for further variation.

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Residual triadimefon (or a breakdown product), from a spray application (2 kg/ha) to field soil in 1978, significantly decreased powdery mildew on spring barley throughout two subsequent growing seasons, with consequent yield increases of 42% in 1980 and 18% in 1981. In other field experiments triadimefon applied to soil at rates >0-06 kg/ha decreased mildew in barley growing in the soil 11 months later. In these experiments triadimefon, but not benomyl, imazalil or prochloraz (all at 0-5 kg/ha) significantly decreased mildew up to harvest and increased yield by 22%.Triadimefon incorporated into a loam soil and a peat-based compost at rates >0-l ng/g significantly decreased mildew on barley grown in pots under glasshouse conditions. Plants grown in the treated compost at the same time but in isolated pots supplied with filtered moistened air and capillary watering required more triadimefon (>100 ng/g) in soil for significant mildew control.Despite strong adsorption of triadimefon to soil (Kd 19-4), an active substance appears to remain available for uptake and translocation by barley plants over long periods. The sensitivity of barley mildew to extremely smaU residues of triadimefon is discussed in relation to the siting of field experiments on mildew control. The implications for widespread commercial use of formulations containing triadimefon are discussed in relation to disease control practice in cereal growing systems.