EFFECT OF SURFACTANTS AND FUNGICIDES ON CLUBROOT (PLASMODIOPHORA-BRASSICAE) OF BRASSICAS

Two formulations of the surfactant sodium dioctyl sulphosuccinate (Aerosol OT, Monawet MO70), one of alkyl phenyl ethylene oxide (Agral) and three fungicides (PP192, dichlorophen and a thiabendazole/iodophor complex - Byatran) were tested in field trials for control of clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae) on cabbage in 1988 and 1989. A standard mercurous chloride treatment (pre-sowing compost incorporation) was included in all experiments. Plants were raised in 64 cm3 blocks (1988) or 15 cm3 free-fill cells (1989). Mercurous chloride reduced disease severity and increased yield in both years. Byatran was ineffective. The surfactants and dichlorophen, applied as pre-planting soaks to the plant-raising compost, restricted disease development and increased yield in 1988 but not in 1989. A similar treatment with PP192 restricted disease severity and enhanced yield in both years. Pouring the surfactants and dichlorophen into the planting hole was more effective than using them to soak the compost. In 1989 pour treatments with Agral and a combined soak/pour treatment with dichlorophen reduced disease severity and increased yields by 250% and 97% respectively; compost treatment with PP192 gave a 150%. increase.