Effect of Pre- and Post-inoculative Sprays of Fungicides on Blight of Gladiolus Caused by Botrytis Gladiolorum

Blight caused by Botrytis gladiolorum is a major threat to gladiolus cultivation. Efficacy of eight fungicides, namely; copper oxychloride (Blitox, 0.3%), metalaxyl + mancozeb (Master, 0.2%), triadimefon (Bayleton, 0.1%), ziram (Cuman-L, 0.2%), difenconazole (Score, 0.1%), penconazole (Topas, 0.05%), hexaconazole (Contaf, 0.05%) and tridemorph (Calixin, 0.05%), was determined against the disease employing their pre-inoculative and post-inoculative sprays on detached leaves (cv. Sancerre) and cut spikes (cv. Anglia) of gladiolus. Spore load of 40, 000 conidia/ml of water suspension was used for inoculating the plant parts. Only pre-inoculative (protective) sprays of the fungicide Master provided satisfactory control on the foliar tissue. It suggests that chemical control measures should be started before the appearance of the disease, preferably before the plants reach the flowering stage.