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Chemical Prevention of Ascocarp Formation in Claviceps purpurea. John R. Hardison, Research Plant Pathologist, Western Region, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331; Phytopathology 65:502-503. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-65-502.

Prevention of ascocarp formation in Claviceps purpurea (ergot) was investigated by application of protectant and systemic fungicides to low-temperature conditioned sclerotia from Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis at the soil surface. Complete, or a high degree of, control was obtained by a single application of 1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-l-yl)-2-butanone (BAY MEB 6447) or α-(2-chlorophenyl)-α-cyclohexyl-5-pyrimidine methanol (EL-279) at 1 and 2 mg/92 cm² of soil surface, respectively, compared with benomyl at 6 mg, triarimol at 1 mg, and cadmium chloride at 2 mg. Trials of these compounds for ascocarp suppression in field plots appear to be warranted.