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Effect of Foliar Trimming and Fungicides on Apothecial Number of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Leaf Blight Severity, Yield, and Canopy Microclimate in Carrot

Foliar trimming of the carrot canopy has potential for reducing the severity of Sclerotinia (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) rot of carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus). The effect of trimming the carrot foliage once or twice, with and without fungicide application, was examined on carrot plants grown on organic soil for 3 years at the University of Guelph--Muck Crops Research Station in Ontario, Canada. The number of S. sclerotiorum apothecia, carrot leaf blight (CLB; Alternaria dauci and Cercospora carotae) severity, canopy microclimate, and total and marketable yield were assessed. The number of apothecia of S. sclerotiorum and relative humidity in the canopy were reduced by trimming done at either the first observation of apothecia or at 100 days after seeding (DAS). In both cases, the effects of trimming on canopy microclimate lasted between 2 and 4 weeks. Trimming the canopy twice during the season did not reduce the number of apothecia compared with trimming the canopy once at 100 DAS. Foliar trimming had little effect on CLB severity. This was attributed mainly to the lower requirement of the CLB pathogens for prolonged periods of high relative humidity and leaf wetness compared with S. sclerotiorum. Foliar trimming did not improve the efficacy of fungicide applications for CLB control. Trimming the canopy once or twice had no effect on total or marketable yield. Thus, trimming has potential to improve the management of Sclerotinia rot of carrot, and trimming both at first observation of apothecia and at 100 DAS could reduce apothecia production and relative humidity within the canopy.