Peanut fungicide treatments on white mold disease
John McLemore, County Extension Agent
It’s always important to let Georgians know what University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) is working on and the impact of our efforts. As a requirement for all CAES faculty, we write statements to show how our efforts on a local issue impacts both our local communities, and the state of Georgia. I want to share the local issue, and my response to resolve the issue, as reported in my most recent impact statement
Summary: Coffee County peanut production value to the state of Georgia is $27.77 million according to the 2017 Georgia Farm Gate value. Growers’ management practices depend upon information received from University of Georgia Extension, local agriculture suppliers, and their peers.
Situation: In 2011, white mold cost Georgia peanut growers $41 million. Hurricane impact during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons further increased growers’ financial burdens limiting funds available to control white mold in peanuts. Past University of Georgia Extension fungicide recommendations have helped reduce peanut yield loss due to white mold injury. Further research is needed to ensure growers have an economical and effective fungicide program.
Extension’s Response: The county agent developed a peanut fungicide research trial with three objectives: 1) Collect multi-year data on efficacy of five fungicide treatments on soil borne diseases of peanuts from large on-farm plot. 2) Compare efficacy of fungicide treatments against leaf spot and stem rot (white mold). 3) Develop and conduct a relevant, timely soil borne peanut fungicide research trial that will provide data used by growers statewide.
Results: The first year of the peanut fungicide research trial was planted to GA-06G. The trial contained three replications in a standard randomized block design. The plots were planted on 38” twin-row peanut spacing. Disease counts were taken for leaf spot and white mold for each of the fungicide treatments. The agent will conclude the first year trial with harvest. Yield will be determined by weighing each individual plot. The UGA peanut pathologist and county agent will disseminate results of the trial to growers via presentation during county peanut production meetings and individual consultations.
If you have the desire to read the impact statements of other extension agents and specialists across the state please visit the University of Georgia CAES Impact Statements Database https://secure.caes.uga.edu/impactstatements/.
Photo caption:
White mold disease in the bottom of a peanut canopy