This article was downloaded by: [Van Pelt and Opie Library]

On: 19 October 2014, At: 05:57

Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954
Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

New Zealand Journal of Experimental

Agriculture
Publication details, including instructions for authors and
subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzc19

Boysenberries: Control of botrytis

fruit rot by fungicides
a b c
L. H. Cheah , K. G. Tate & P. T. Holland
a
Levin Horticultural Research Centre MAF , Private Bag,
Levin , New Zealand
b
Hawke's Bay Agricultural Research Centre MAF , P.O. Box 85,
Hastings , New Zealand
c
Ruakura Soil and Plant Research Station MAF , Private Bag,
Hamilton , New Zealand
Published online: 12 Jan 2012.

To cite this article: L. H. Cheah , K. G. Tate & P. T. Holland (1987) Boysenberries: Control of
botrytis fruit rot by fungicides, New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 15:1, 51-55,
DOI: 10.1080/03015521.1987.10425535

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03015521.1987.10425535

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the
“Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis,
our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever
as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any
opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the
authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy
of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified
with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any
losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other
liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection
with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any
substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing,
systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms
 & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/
terms-and-conditions
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014
 New Zealand Journal of Experimental AgricuUure, 1987, Vol. 15: 51-55
0301-5521/87/1501-0051$2.50/0 © Crown copyright 1987
Boysenberries: control of botrytis fruit rot by fungicides
L. H. CHEAH
Levin Horticultural Research Centre, MAF
Private Bag, Levin, New Zealand
K.G.TATE
Hawke's Bay Agricultural Research Centre, MAF
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014
P.O. Box 85, Hastings, New Zealand
P. T. HOLLAND
Ruakura Soil and Plant Research Station, MAF
Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand
Abstract The efficacy of fungicides and the
optimum time of application were evaluated in
spray programmes for control of botrytis fruit rot
(caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. : Fr.) in export
boysenberries (Rubus hybrid). All fungicides tested
controlled the disease, with dicarboximides
(iprodione, myclozolin, procymidone, vinclozolin)
and dichlofluanid being more effective than captan,
thiram, or folpet. Avoiding dicarboximide sprays
after 10070 blossom (two applications of
dicarboximide before 10% blossom), followed by
folpet until mid harvest resulted in slightly more
berry rot than a full dicarboximide programme (9
applications), but did not reduce marketable yield:
therefore, a reduced use of dicarboximides is
recommended to avoid problems associated with
the resistant strains of B. cinerea identified in New
Zealand. Degradation of dicarboximide residues on
fruit after programmes of 9 applications followed
first-order kinetics with calculated half-lives of
10 - 12 days for iprodione, 9 days for procymidone,
7 days for vinclozolin, and 5.5 days for myclozolin.
These decay rates are discussed in relation to residue
restrictions imposed by countries importing New
Zealand boysenberries.
Keywords boysenberries; Rubus hybrid; fruit
rot; Botrytis cinerea; export fruit; dicarboximides;
fungicides; residues
Received 30 May 1986; revision 7 August 1986
51
INTRODUCTION
Botrytis fruit rot caused by Botrytis cinerea
Pers. : Fr. is a major disease of boysenberries
(Rubus hybrid) in New Zealand. Losses of up to
60% have been estimated for crops that have not
received adequate fungicide protection. The disease
is more severe in some seasons than others. For
example, it was particularly evident during 1983 - 84
and 1984 - 85 in the Horowhenua district when long
periods of wet weather and humid weather occurred
in the spring and early summer.
Restrictions imposed by overseas countries on
pesticide residues in imported produce severely limit
the choice of chemicals to control the disease on
export boysenberries (Anon. 1985). Five
fungicides - benomyl, dichlofluanid, folpet,
thiram, and iprodione - are currently (1985)
approved for use. Iprodione can be used
throughout harvest if the fruit is destined for
Australia, but only up to 10% bloom for other
countries. Thiram and dichlofluanid can also be
used only up to 10% bloom for all countries.
Benomyl is cleared in the United States and
Germany but has lost its effectiveness in New
Zealand because of development of resistance
(Beever & Brien 1983). Therefore, only folpet can
be used during harvest on crops destined for the
United States (the major market for New Zealand
boysenberries) and, under severe infection pressure,
this fungicide is not sufficiently active to prevent
losses (Cheah unpublished data).
This paper reports on the field evaluation of
selected fungicides and further testing at various
times of application of spray programmes for
botrytis control in export boysenberries. Residue
data were also obtained to assist in obtaining
registration of suitable materials.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fungicide evaluation
Seven fungicides were evaluated on a 7-year-old
boysenberry planting at Levin Horticultural
Research Centre in the 1980 - 81 season. Trade
names and formulations are given in Table 1. Plant
spacings were 1 m between plants and 2 m between
rows, and plants were trained on a fan system to
a height of 2 m. The experimental design was a
 52 New Zealand Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 1987, Vol. 15

randomised block with six replications. Each 1 m Table 1 Fungicides and product formulations used for
plot consisted of a single plant separated from the botrytis control.
next plot by an unsprayed plant.
All plants were inoculated twice by spraying Common name Product name and formulation
blossoms and fruit with B. cinerea spore captan Captan 800/0 WP
suspensions (105Iml) from 5-day-old cultures on dichlofluanid Euparen 50% WP
potato dextrose agar. Overhead irrigation by folpet Phaltan 50% WP
sprinkler was applied three times during blossom iprodione Rovral 50% WPI25% FL
to enhance infection. Crop management followed myclozolin BAS 436-04 33% FL
normal commercial practice. procymidone Sumisclex 50% WP
thiram Thiram 80% WP
Fungicides (Table 2) were applied by knapsack vinclozolin Ronilan 50% WP
hand-sPrayer to run-off (2000 litres/ha). Nine
applications of each fungicide were made at WP, wettable powder; FL, fungicide in suspension in
8 - 1O-day intervals from blossom to mid harvest liquid.
(late October 1980 to early January 1981). Control
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014

plots were left untreated. Table 2 Effect of fungicide spray programmes on

Fruit were hand picked twice weekly at firm botrytis fruit rot levels in boysenberry (1980 - 81 season).
ripeness (dark purple) and weighed. Disease level
was assessed by counting both diseased and total Rate Olo infected
Treatment (g a.i.lIOO litres) berries
fruit at harvest. Samples were collected for residue
analysis between spray applications. I captan 120 3.1
Fruit samples for residue decay analysis were 2 dichlofluanid 100 2.2
taken from the vines treated with iprodione and 3 folpet 100 5.2
vinclozolin at intervals of up to 21 days after the 4 folpet 150 3.8
last spray application. Samples (250 g) from 5 iprodione (WP) 50 1.2
6 iprodione (FL) 50 0.7
replicates (1- 3,4 - 6) were bulked to give duplicate 7 procymidone 50 1.6
samples and stored at - 20°C before analysis. 8 thiram 160 3.0
9 vinclozolin 50 0.8
Timing of application 10 untreated o 14.0
LSDo.os 1.8
The timing of application of four dicarboximide
fungicides was tested on the same boysenberry
planting in the 1983 - 84 season. Two patterns of fungicide application were
General trial details and management were the compared for each group of four dicarboximide
same as for the fungicide evaluation trial, except fungicides (Table 3). In the first set of treatments
that plots contained two plants and the trial had (those recommended for export crops), fungicides
four replications. were applied twice during the first 10 days of

Table 3 Effect of timing of dicarboximide fungicide applications on botrytis

control and yield of boysenberries (1983 - 84 season).

% decayed fruit Marketable yield (tlha)

Sprayed until: Sprayed until:
Treatment 10% 10%
(50 g a.i.lIOO litres) flowering! harvesting flowering! harvesting

iprodione 7.1 3.8 5.1 4.8

myclozolin 4.1 2.4 4.6 5.4
procymidone 5.1 3.1 4.3 4.6
vinclozolin 5.2 3.7 5.6 4.2
mean 5.4 3.3 4.9 4.7
untreated control 25.8 2.7
LSD (p=0.05f 2.5 1.2
LSD (P=0.05)3 2.9 1.4
LSD (P=0.05)4 1.4 0.7

a.i. = active ingredient.

! Followed by folpet at IO-day intervals into the harvest period.
2 For comparing untreated control with individual fungicide treatment means.
3 For comparisons among individual fungicide treatment means.
4 For main effect of timing of spraying.
 Cheah et al. - Boysenberries: control of botrytis fruit rot by fungicides
flowering, followed by folpet at 1O-day intervals
continuing into the harvest period.
In the second set, dicarboximides were applied
from the start of blossom and continued into
harvest. Nine applications were made.
Fruit samples were also taken for residue decay
analysis as in the fungicide evaluation.
Residue analysis
The method of analysis was similar to that of
Holland & McGhie (1983). Thawed, 100-g
subsamples were homogenised with 200 ml
methanol and an aliquot of 20 ml partitioned with
10 ml toluene and 50 ml NaCI solution (100 g/Iitre).
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014
The fungicide residues in the upper layer were
determined by gas chromatography with electron
capture detection. Recoveries from control samples
spiked at 1 mg/kg were > 90070 for all fungicides.
Each field sample was analysed in duplicate. Decay
curves were fitted by linear regression with
logarithmic transformation of the residue levels on
the fruit (mg/kg wet weight). The half-life in days
is then given by 0.693 + slope.
RESULTS
In the first trial (Table 2), the three dicarboximide
fungicides and dichlofluanid gave good control of
botrytis, reducing fruit decay from 14% to <2%.
Captan, folpet, and thiram were less active,
resulting in 3 - 5 % fruit decay.
Residue decay for iprodione (50% WP) and
vinclozolin can be approximated by first-order
kinetics (exponential decay) with half-lives of 10
and 7 days respectively (Fig. 1).
In the application timing trial (Table 3),
dicarboximide programmes reduced fruit decay
from 26% (untreated) to 3 - 5% and also increased
marketable yields from 2.7 to 4.9 tlha. Although
myclozolin gave the most effective disease control,
either sprayed up to 10 days of flowering or into
harvest, the yields were not significantly better than
those obtained with other dicarboximides.
Extended dicarboximide programmes similarly
reduced fruit decay on average, but marketable
yield was not increased.
The residue decay curves for the four fungicides
tested in the 9-spray programme are given in Fig. 2.
Residues decayed with first-order half-lives of 5.5
(myclozolin), 7 (vinclozolin), 9 (procymidone), and
12 days (iprodione). Based on the slope of the
regression lines (Fig. 2), myclozolin was
significantly less persistent, and iprodione more
persistent (P<0.05) than the other two fungicides.
In both trials, in samples for residue analysis
taken between spray applications, residues of
53
iprodione were usually higher than those of
vinclozolin. Over nine picks, with withholding
periods ranging from 2 to 6 days, the mean levels
were 6.8 and 3.3 mg/kg for iprodione and
vinclozolin respectively. None of the samples
exceeded 10 mg/kg.
DISCUSSION
In strawberry, Botrytis cinerea causes fruit rot
firstly by infecting blossom parts and thereby
invading the fruit (Maas 1984).The same process
probably occurs in boysenberries. Secondary
(spore) infections may also arise when the fruits are
ripening. The severity of each type of infection is
highly dependent on free moisture and relative
humidity during these growth stages. In these trials,
both spore inoculum and overhead irrigation were
applied during flowering to enhance disease levels.
The levels of fruit rot achieved (14 and 26%) were
sufficient to provide a reliable assessment of
fungicide efficacy and value of fungicide timing.
Two dicarboximide applications during the early
flowering period followed by folpet applications
were sufficient for disease control. Additional
dicarboximide applications during harvesting did
not increase yields. This is significant because
repeated application of dicarboximides increases
the risk of build up of dicarboximide-resistant
strains of the fungus (Hartill 1982; Staub & Sozzi
1984), as well as increasing the cost of production.
The results are therefore compatible with the
recommended strategies for both reducing the risk
of resistance onset and managing already developed
botrytis resistance in fruit crops (Delp 1980; Hartill
1982; Staub & Sozzi 1984). The current spray
programme for export boysenberry deliberately
restricts the use of iprodione to early blossom and
follows this with folpet or benomyl up to and
during harvest (Anon. 1985). Benomyl is not
recommended because of the widespread
occurrence of benzimidazole-resistant strains of B.
cinerea in New Zealand (Beever & Brien 1983).
Poor control of the disease observed in the
Horowhenua district during the last two seasons
may be caused by several factors: (a) the weather
conditions were favourable for infection during
flowering and harvesting periods; (b) wrong timing
of application of dicarboximide fungicides during
flowering periods; (c) incomplete coverage of the
crop during spraying; and, (d) possible occurrence
of dicarboximide-resistant strains of B. cinerea in
New Zealand (Beever & Brien 1983).
All the fungicides in Fig. 2 could be classified as
moderately persistent. A residue level of 10 mg/kg
was not exceeded by any of the materials, even
immediately after spraying. This supports the I-day
 54 New Zealand J oumal of Experimental Agriculture, 1987, Vol. 15

10
Fig. 1 Residue decay of
dicarboximide fungicides
(iprodione, 50010 WP; vincJozolin)
on boysenberries after 9
applications during the 1980 - 81
season.
The range of duplicate values is
indicated by the bars. Error limits
of the half-life are IDA ± 1.9
(iprodione) and 7.6 ± 1.0 days
(vincJozolin).
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014

• iprodione

• vinclozolin

O.l'
---------,
---------,
r---------r
--------~I---------,1
o 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

10
Fig. 2 Residue decay of four
dicarboximide fungicides on
boysenberries after 9 applications
during the 1983 - 84 season.
The range of duplicate values is
indicated by the bars. Error limits
of the half-life are 9.5 ± 0.7
(procymidone), 11.2 ± 1.3
~
OJ
(iprodione), 77 ± 0.8
OJ (vincJozolin), and 6.3 ± 0.5 days
$ (mycJozolin).
Q)
:::l
"'0
'iii
Q)
0::

• iprodione
o myclozolin
o procymidone
• vinclozolin

0.1 - rl-----------.-1---------rl----------.I---------,I-----------.I
o 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

withholding period set for iprodione, procymidone,
and vinclozolin on fruit destined for Australasian
and Japanese markets where maximum residue
limits (MRL) of 10 mg/kg are in force for these
materials. Some countries have set lower MRL for
iprodione and vinclozolin. It would be difficult to
meet an MRL value < 5 mg/kg for iprodione
because the maximum period between picks of
boysenberries is usually 3 - 5 days. However, the
less persistent vinclozolin could probably meet a 2
mg/kg MRL. No MRL have been set for
myclozolin on berryfruit. The data here suggest that
limits of 2.5 mg/kg would be required if myclozolin
were to be used in a full spray programme.
The present export spray programme for fruit
destined for the United States allows dicarboximide
 Cheah et al. - Boysenberries: control of botrytis fruit rot by fungicides
fungicide use only until 100,10 flowering, to ensure
that no residues are left on fruit. Dicarboximides
are not translocated; however, the risk of detectable
residues at harvest increases as soon as fruitlets are
exposed to spray. Residue deposits on early fruitlets
have c. 40 days to decay before harvest. From
conservative extrapolations based on the measured
decay rates, even the least persistent materials
would be likely to leave residues in excess of 0.1
mg/kg after 40 days. Detection limits for these
fungicides are routinely < 0.02 mg/kg and, hence,
there would be significant risk of detectable
residues. Continued spraying of dicarboximides
into full blossom cannot be recommended for fruit
destined for the United States until MRL are set
Downloaded by [Van Pelt and Opie Library] at 05:57 19 October 2014
for that market.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We wish to acknowledge G. van der Mespel, Helen Dick,
and Allison Young for field trial assistance; T. K. McGhie
and C. P. Malcolm for fungicide residue analysis; I.
Plunkett, R. Johnston, and R. Pringle for statistical
analysis; and May & Baker New Zealand Ltd., BASF NZ
Ltd., and ICI New Zealand Ltd., for supplying
fungicides.
55
REFERENCES
Anon. 1985: Export spray programme 1985/86.
Information circular 1985/38. Wellington,
Advisory Services Division, New Zealand Ministry
of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Beever, R. E.; Brien, H. M. R. 1983: A survey of
resistance to the dicarboximide fungicides in
Botrytis cinerea. New Zealand journal of
agricultural research 26 : 391- 400.
Delp, C. J. 1980: Coping with resistance to plant disease
control agents. Plant disease 64 : 652 - 659.
Hartill, W. F. T. 1982: Resistance to fungicides: what
should growers to about it? In: Geelen, J. A.;
Esson, M. J. ed., Proceedings of pesticide
resistance seminar. Hastings, Hawke's Bay Branch
of New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Society.
pp. 47 -58.
Holland, P. T.; McGhie, T. K. 1983: Multiresidue
method for determination of pesticides in kiwifruit,
apples, and berryfruits. Journal of the Association
of Official Analytical Chemists 66: 1003 -1008.
Maas, G. L. 1984: Compendium of strawberry diseases.
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, The American
Phytopathological Society. 57 p.
Staub, T.; Sozzi, D. 1984: Fungicide resistance - a
continuing challenge. Plant disease 68:
1026 - 1031.