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Abstract

Systemic properties of benomyl fungicide in control of rice blast disease, caused by Pyricularia grisea, were investigated. Rice plants were treated by fungicide running in irrigation water. Leaves and stem tissues were collected at different time intervals after treatment, and benomyl was detected from tissues by bioassay method using Penicillium expansum. In greenhouse, treated rice plants were exposed to disease, in a blast nursery, at different times. Benomyl was detected in stem and leaf tissues 12 hours after the treatment, reaching maximum after 48 hrs., it then was reduced to nondetectable levels
at 21 days after treatment (DAT). In greenhouse, number of blast spots was reduced to 50% at 1 DAT and disease was completely controlled during a 2-14 DAT period. Results indicate that benomyl could be up taken and systemically translocated in rice plant after being applied in irrigation water and be effective in controlling blast disease on foliage.

Keywords