Evaluation of pyrimethanil (Scala) for the control of Botrytis cinerea on harvested Geraldton waxflower

Abstract

Pyrimethanil (Scala) is a fungicide that might be used for control of Botrytis cinerea infecting Geraldton waxflower. New treatments are sought to reduce the risk of developing strains of B. cinerea that are resistant to fungicides commonly used against it, such as benomyl (Benlate) or iprodione (Rovral). Scala was applied to waxflower as a postharvest dip at 1.5 or 2 mL product/L. Disease severity on and flower and leaf drop from waxflower bunches pre-inoculated with B. cinerea were significantly (P = 0.05) reduced by treatment with Scala. Further, flower and foliage vase lives were significantly (P = 0.05) longer as a result of postharvest treatment with Scala as compared with water-treated (control) stems. Similar degrees of disease control where achieved with either Scala or Rovral. The results demonstrate that Scala has real potential as an alternative fungicide for control of B. cinerea on waxflower.