Effective Usage of Copper Fungicides for Environment-friendly Control of Citrus Diseases

Abstract

This studies were carried out to elucidate the control effect of copper fungicides against some citrus diseases, assess copper spray injury on leaf and fruit of citrus by spraying of copper fungicides according to growth stages and spray seasons and by tank mixing with paraffin oil in field experiments for 3 years (2003-2005 season). As results, the control value was approximately against scab disease in all tested copper fungicides, to canker and to melanose. In case of leaf, the copper injury was the severest in early stage of shooting, and the injury was gradually weakened according to growth of leaf. In fruit, the copper injury was more severe in midsummer (late of July and August) than early of summer and spring season (June and ealy of July). Among copper fungicides, the bordeaux mixture which made by level of farm induced more injury compared to other copper fungicides commercialized. Less copper spray injury was observed on treatments in which copper fungicide was sprayed as tank mixtures with paraffin oil when compared to treatment which sprayed with only copper fungicide.