Evaluation of some fungicides and their mixtures for the control of tomato late blight, Phytophora infestans, in El-esmaelia Governorate

Eight fungicides (Tridex 80%, Tridex 75%, Mancozan 80%, Antracol 70%, Previcur N 72.5%, Rido copper 50%, Vacomil 35% and Chlorothit 75%) and six mixtures of fungicides (Aromil MZ 72%, Kaproksat-Gold 72%, Sereno 60%, Cure-plus 50%, Ridomil Gold Plus 42.5% and Galben copper 46%) were evaluated in ElEsmaelia Governorate during two different consective seasons of summer 2009 and winter 2010 for their efficacy on late blight disease (Phytophthora infestans) incidence and fruit yield of tomato. All the fungicides were applied at recommended rates. The control showed the greatest disease incidence. All treatments significantly reduced disease severity and raised the yield of tomato compared with untreated control. The tested mixtures of fungicides were more efficient in controlling late blight than using fungicides alone. Ridomil-Gold-Plus, Sereno, Kaproksat-Gold and Aromil-MZ were more effective in controlling late blight followed by Cure-plus, Galben copper, Chlorothit, Vacomil and Previcur-N, followed by three formulations of mancozeb (Tridex 80%, Tridex 75% and Mancozan 80%), while Antracol and Rido-copper were the least effective ones. Generally, application of the fungicide 10day intervals during tomato growth, was required to protect the plants from natural infection of late blight, which resulted in increasing the yield of tomato fruits.