Performance of prothioconazole solo or added to mancozeb in the control of Asian soybean rust

ABSTRACT The evolution of the reduction in Asian soybean rust (caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi) control by site-specific fungicides has been reported season after season. In a field experiment, the effect of prothioconazole solo and added to multisite mancozeb was evaluated for rust control. Treatments were evaluated in a factorial design of four prothioconazole doses and three mancozeb doses. In a set of treatments, three applications were performed in one soybean cycle and four applications in another one. The first applications were performed at GS V8, 11 days before rust detection, with 2.56% leaflet incidence, while the other applications were at 12 to 14-day interval. Rust severity was quantified, control was calculated in relation to the unsprayed treatment, and soybean grain yield was estimated as kg/ha. Fifty-one to 61% control was obtained with three sprayings and 68% to 70% control with four sprayings of prothioconazole alone. Over 80% control was obtained with at least 0.3 L/ha prothioconazole + 2.0 kg/ha mancozeb, corresponding to 75 g a.i./ha prothioconazole + 1500 g a.i./ha mancozeb. Reduction in P. pachyrhizi control by the use of the site-specific fungicide alone was confirmed, while the addition of mancozeb can recover the efficacy of the site-specific fungicide.