The Effect of Synthetic Surfactants on Disease Severity of White Rust on Spinach

White rust, caused by Albugo occidentalis, is an economically important disease of spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Although cultural practices and partial host resistance are used for disease management, control strategies often rely on fungicides. An alternative approach, the use of ionic (cationic or anionic) and nonionic surfactants, was evaluated for its effect on white rust in greenhouse and field experiments. Surfactant treatments were compared with a water control and two commercial fungicides, azoxystrobin (Quadris) and 1,2,3-benzothiadiazole-7-carbothioic acid S-methyl ester (Actigard). Greenhouse plants were treated with a single surfactant application followed by inoculation with sporangia. Disease severity was rated on leaves 8 to 12 days after inoculation. Field tests were conducted in Arkansas and Texas and received three to five surfactant applications during the season. Disease severity was determined at the end of the growing season. In greenhouse and field tests, all surfactant treatments showed significant reductions in white rust severity compared with water controls. The surfactants Naiad and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were highly effective and comparable to fungicides in reducing white rust severity. In a laboratory assay, microscopic examination revealed that most of the surfactants at low concentrations caused rapid (<2 min) zoospore lysis.