Authors
S. L. Rideout, Assistant Professor, Eastern Shore Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech, Painter 23420; and
T. B. Brenneman, Professor,
A. K. Culbreath, Professor, and
D. B. Langston, Jr., Associate Professor, Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Georgia, Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton 31793-0748
ABSTRACT
Stem rot of peanut, caused by the soilborne fungus Sclerotium rolfsii, is greatly influenced by environmental conditions. Disease management programs rely heavily on fungicides, which are applied on a calendar-based program. To determine whether improved control of stem rot could result from weather-based spray advisories, models were constructed using what is currently known about the biology of S. rolfsii and etiology of stem rot epidemics in peanut. Spray advisories based on soil temperature, precipitation, and host parameters were tested, along with advisories focusing on soil temperature and precipitation or precipitation alone. The advisories were evaluated and compared with the currently used calendar-based program over four locations annually for 3 years. Fungicide application timing had a significant effect on both stem rot control and resulting pod yields. In general, stem rot control following the advisories considering soil temperature, precipitation, and canopy growth was similar or better than that offered by the calendar-based program, but yields generally were comparable. The AU-Pnut advisory for foliar diseases also was effective for scheduling azoxystrobin applications for stem rot.
