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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Phosphonic acid controls downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) in cauliflower curds

AG McKay, RM Floyd and CJ Boyd

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32(1) 127 - 129
Published: 1992

Abstract

Postharvest development of downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) symptoms in export cauliflower curds has resulted in economic losses to growers in south-western Australia. Neutralised phosphonic acid sprays applied onto cauliflowers in the field within 3 weeks of harvest reduced this disease. Two applications of 2.4 kg a.i./ha, 21 and 7 days before harvest, reduced the incidence of curds affected by downy mildew from 92% in untreated plots to 8%. The maximum phosphonate residue in curds at harvest was 12 µg/g, while control curds contained no detectable phosphonate. No effects of phosphonic acid on crop appearance or maturity were observed, and while a small (8%) reduction in curd weight was significant (P = 0.039), there was no yield trend with increasing phosphonic acid rate.

https://doi.org/10.1071/EA9920127

© CSIRO 1992

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