Long-term Effect of Temperature and Triadimefon on Proliferation of Uncinula necator: Implications for Fungicide...

Triadimefon has been used in California to control Uncinula necator, causal agent of grape powdery mildew, since 1982. Instances of unsatisfactory control have occurred mainly in the cooler coastal areas of California. The effect of temperature and application of triadimefon was investigated over a 53-day-period on two U. necator isolates, sensitive and resistant to triadimefon. At 15°C, 25°C, or temperatures fluctuating between 15 and 25°C, in absence of triadimefon, the isolates continued to produce high numbers of conidia for the entire duration of the experiment. Sporulation declined at daily maximum temperatures of 32°C for 6 h, 36°C for 3 h, and 40°C for 1 h, but was detectable when the experiment was terminated. At these temperature regimes, sporulation of the triadimefon-treated sensitive isolate ceased after 23 days. When treated with triadimefon, sporulation of the resistant isolate was comparable to that of the water-treated control. At daily maximum temperatures of 32°C for 11 h, 36°C for 6 h, and 40°C for 3 h, sporulation of both isolates generally ceased after 23 days, regardless of triadimefon application. Triadimefon resistance is most likely to manifest itself under high disease pressure, which is in part a function of temperature. The duration of daily maximum temperatures may be a valuable addition to disease risk assessment models.