US EPA

1770160 

Journal Article 

Newly-assessed fungicides for the control of cypress canker caused by Seiridium cardinale 

Della Rocca, G; Di Lonardo, V; Danti, R 

2011 

0 

Phytopathologia Mediterranea
ISSN: 0031-9465 

50 

1 

66-74 

WOS:000292472000004 

Bark canker caused by Seiridium cardinale is the most
destructive disease of Cupressus and several Cupressaceae in many temperate regions and
particularly in the Mediterranean area. Chemical prevention represents the most effective and
essential means of control to protect plant production in nurseries and young plantations. The
European Directive 2009/128/CE and CE 1107/2009 application have drastically reduced the number
of chemicals that can be used in agriculture, including the benzimidazolic compounds that had
shown the best results in preventing S. cardinale canker. It is therefore urgent to find
alternative fungicides to replace the banned compounds. The purpose of the present work was to
assess some fungicides through in vitro tests and pre- and post-inoculation sprayings on
Cupressus sempervirens, for the control of S. cardinale. The active ingredients boscalid,
fosetyl-aluminium, triadimenol and azoxystrobin were compared with thiophanate-methyl as
reference. The effectiveness of thiophanate-methyl in reducing canker development was confirmed
especially when it was applied to trees before they were inoculated with S. cardinale.
Azoxystrobin was as effective as thiophanate-methyl in the pre-inoculation trials. boscalid
prevented conidial germination and mycelial growth of S. cardinale in vitro and appeared a
promising contact fungicide for the prevention of cypress canker. Azoxystrobin and boscalid are
listed in a less hazardous class than thiophanatemethyl, and has less risk for the environment
and for users. 

Cupressus sempervirens; thiophanate-methyl; boscalid; azoxystrobin; chemical prevention