Managing Septoria Leaf Spot of Pistachio in Arizona With Fungicides

Abstract

Septoria leaf spot was detected in the United States for the first time in 1964 within an experimental pistachio planting at Brownwood, Texas. The first observation of the same disease in Arizona pistachio trees did not occur until 1986. In 1988, a survey of the 2,000 acres of pistachio orchards in southeastern Arizona revealed a widespread incidence of the disease. Since the initial discovery of the disease, Septoria leaf spot has appeared annually in some Arizona pistachio orchards. The onset and severity of the disease is influenced by summer rainfall that occurs in this region. Pistachio trees infected with Septoria leaf spot and not treated with an effective fungicide can defoliate in the autumn up to 2 months prematurely. The objective of this field study was to evaluate the efficacy of several different fungicides against this disease. All fungicides were applied to tree foliage on June 26 and July 31, 2001. Disease severity was lowest on trees treated with Flint (trifloxystrobin) and Abound (azoxystrobin). Other materials that significantly reduced the final level of disease compared to nontreated trees included Break (propiconazole), Procop R (copper hydroxide) and Elite (tebuconazole).