Cost reduction of powdery mildew control in mango with mono potassium phosphate.
Oosthuyse S. A.
Author Affiliation: HortResearch SA, P.O. Box 3849, Tzaneen 0850, South Africa.
: 719-723
Abstract : In trials in South Africa, mono potassium phosphate (KH2PO4 or MKP), a potassium-phosphate fertilizer, was applied in a spray to flowering Kent and Tommy Atkins mango trees, either alone or with conventionally used curative fungicides (Punch C [carbendazim + flusilazole], Benlate [benomyl], Folicur [tebuconazole], prochloraz, or wettable sulfur) generally at quarter strength. Unsprayed trees served as controls, and certain trees were sprayed with Bayfidan [triadimenol] at full strength. In Kent, the fungicide/MKP mixes were almost as effective as Bayfidan at full strength in reducing tree percentage of inflorescences diseased by powdery mildew (Oidium mangiferae). MKP applied alone was less effective than Bayfidan in this regard. In Tommy Atkins, the fungicide/MKP mixes were as effective as Bayfidan at full strength in reducing tree percentage of diseased inflorescences. MKP applied alone was apparently slightly less effective than Bayfidan in this regard. In Kent and Tommy Atkins, the extent of mildew inflorescence colonization was reduced by every spray. In Kent, the reduction was most marked following Bayfidan application. The results clearly show that MKP is effective in retarding the development of powdery mildew on mango inflorescences, and can thus be used to reduce the cost of powdery mildew control in mango.