Control of wheat leaf rust with 4-n-butyl-1,2,4-triazole

Abstract

The control of wheat leaf rust (Puccinia recondita tritici) by seed or foliar applications of 4-n-butyl-l,2,4-triazole (RH-124) has been examined in field experiments over three years at Gatton, Queensland. Single foliar sprays of RH-124 at rates as low as 100 g a.i, ha-1 have given excellent control of leaf rust. One such spray resulted in a yield increase of 30 per cent. A spray at 400 g a.i. ha-1 increased yield by 46 per cent compared with an increase of 61 per cent in the rust-free reference. Applications around the early boot stage of crop development were the most effective. Treatment of seed with RH-124 resulted in some control of leaf rust in one season with an associated yield increase of 22 per cent. Although RH-124 appears promising, additional studies are required before use of the fungicide on commercial wheat crops would be accepted.