Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93:21-24. 1980.

TIMING OF FUNGICIDE SPRAY TREATMENTS FOR

CITRUS MELANOSE CONTROL
J. O. Whiteside copper treatments applied before petal fall, opinions have
University of Florida, IFAS, varied as to the best time to apply a single copper spray
Agricultural Research and Education Center, after bloom. In 1927, Winston et al. (12) stated that
P. O. Box 1088, Lake Alfred, FL 33850 "ordinarily the most opportune time for this application
is just in advance of the May rains, which seldom set in
before the 5th of the month." Ruehle and Kuntz (5), while
Abstract. Days on which climatic conditions were favor
recognizing that April is usually too dry for infection,
able at Lake Alfred, Florida for infection of the spring growth
advised that spraying should be delayed no longer than 3
flush and fruit by the melanose fungus, Diaporthe citri, were
weeks after petal fall, regardless of the time of bloom.
calculated for each year from 1966 to 1980. Melanose
Thompson (7) recommended spraying as soon as possible
severity on fruit was related to the number of infection
after fruit set, starting even before bloom if it takes more
days that occurred between petal fall (normally early-April)
than 3 weeks to spray the entire acreage. Yet, Childs (1)
and the time of rind resistance (normally late-June). The
reported better control when treatments were delayed
number of probable major infection days in April was zero
until 4 to 6 weeks after petal fall and Cohen (2) obtained
in 11 years, 1 in each of 3 years and 2 in the remaining
better control with a spray applied at 3 weeks after fruit
year, whereas the number of such days averaged 3.7 for
set than with one applied only a few days after petal fall.
May and 6.0 for June. These records, combined with the
The "spray early" philosophy prevailed for many years
results of spray timing experiments on grapefruit trees,
and, even as recently as 1974, the Florida Citrus Spray and
supported the contention that an optimum response to a
Dust Schedule (3) recommended that a single postbloom
single copper fungicide spray is usually obtained when
copper spray be applied 1 to 3 weeks after petal fall. This
application is delayed until late-April or early-May. A pre-
publication also advised applying the copper spray as early
shoot-growth treatment with a copper fungicide, unlike one
as 2/3 petal fall, if both melanose and scab were to be
with Difolatan, failed to aid melanose control and these
controlled. A second application of copper, 4 weeks later,
results are discussed in relation to the known sites of action
was recommended only if melanose had been troublesome
of fungicides against D. citri.
in past years, during very wet springs or in the event of a
late or scattered bloom.
Citrus leaves are susceptible to attack by the melanose A reassessment of the probabilities of melanose attack
fungus, Diaporthe citri Wolf, until they have fully ex in April vs. May was made in the early 70's and these data
panded (12). Fruit rind remains susceptible to infection for (8) strongly supported Winston's contention (12) that when
about 12 weeks after petal fall, but the later the infection only one copper fungicide application is made, it is best
occurs, the smaller the resulting pustules (5). Thus, delayed until late-April or early-May. A revision to this
melanose infection periods that occur after late-June effect first appeared in the Florida Citrus Spray and Dust
generally do not affect the fruit except in years when the Schedule in 1976 (4).
bloom is late. Another fungicide used to control melanose in Florida
Disease severity is influenced by the amount of recently citrus groves is captafol (Difolatan). However, possible
killed wood in the tree canopy, the number of fruiting injury to fruit rind precludes its use postbloom. Further
bodies (pycnidia) of A citri produced thereon, and the more, on some citrus cultivars, including grapefruit, Difola
amount, frequency and duration of rainfall to liberate and tan may injure young foliage, thus permitting its use only as
splash the spores (pycnidiospores) from the pycnidia onto a late-dormant pre-shoot-growth spray. Such early applica
susceptible shoot growth and fruit rind. tions of Difolatan assure good control of melanose on fruit
A key feature in the epidemiology of melanose is the only if high dosages are applied (8). The high cost of treat
long period of continuous wetting needed to assure pycnidio- ment has rendered this method of melanose control mostly
spore germination and host penetration. The required impractical.
period increases greatly as temperature decreases. For This paper reviews the results of some epidemiological
example, the minimum period of wetting for infection is studies and spraying experiments (8, 10, 11) that have led
10 to 12 hr at 25°C (77°F), but it increases to 18 to 24 hr to a better understanding of the spray timing requirements
at 15°C (59°F) (8, 12). Thus, rainfall associated with the for melanose control. In addition, a review is given of
passage of fast-moving cold fronts, which are responsible present knowledge on the sites of action of copper fungi
for most precipitation before May, seldom promote cides and Difolatan against D. citri to explain why prebloom
melanose attack. In contrast, summer-type afternoon or sprays of copper, unlike those of Difolatan, fail to control
evening thunderstorms that are followed, characteristically, melanose on fruit.
by warm, humid and calm conditions overnight are much
more conducive to infection.
Fruiting structures of D. citri are produced only on dead Compilation of Melanose Infection Days
wood, not on the melanose pustules themselves. Conse A record was made of all known and probable melanose
quently, there is no compounding increase in inoculum infection days at the Agricultural Research and Education
pressure (as can occur with the citrus scab fungus Elsinoe Center, Lake Alfred for the period March 1 to June 30 for
fawcetti Bitanc. and Jenk.), if spraying should be delayed each year from 1966 to 1980. Criteria for infection were
until after some melanose pustules have already formed. based on laboratory studies to determine the minimum
In Florida, melanose control is still based mostly on the wetting period required for infection at different tempera
use of copper fungicides. Although most researchers (2, 5, tures (8, 12). Weather records used to determine probable
6, 8, 12) have agreed that little or no benefit is derived from infection periods included the type of rainfall (whether
cold-front induced or due to summer-type afternoon and
iFlorida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 2648. evening thundershowers), the time of precipitation and the

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980. 21

minimum temperature overnight. Further corroboration gal per tree. Each treatment was applied to 2- or 4-tree
of the requirements for major infection was provided by plots replicated at least 6 times in a randomized block
observing leaves or fruit for first appearance of symptoms, design. When naturally colored, 200 to 600 fruit per plot
then studying the climatic conditions that prevailed on were picked, washed and graded into 2 categories consisting
those days when the infection must have occurred. of fruit with conspicuous melanose pustules and those es
Rainfall amounts of <0.1 inch were considered too low sentially melanose-free. The latter category included fruit
to cause much spore release or infection and were excluded with up to 100 pustules per fruit, provided they were <1
from the compilation. Days on which rainfall ranged from mm diameter.
0.1 to 0.25 inches were recorded as minor infection days, In 1972, 1973, 1976 and 1979, the spring growth emerged
but only if rain continued until 1500 hr and temperatures in early March and bloom peaked in late-March. In 1974,
remained above 60°F (16°C) overnight. Major infection shoot emergence was delayed until mid-March and bloom
days were denned as those with >0.25 inches rain if this extended from mid-April to early-May. In 1975, shoot
continued until at least 1700 hr and if temperatures re growth began in mid-February and the bloom extended
mained above 60° F overnight. Days on which climatic from early-March to mid-April.
conditions were deemed marginal for infection were also No melanose appeared on the spring growth flush in
included, but only as minor infection days. 1972, 1974, 1975 or 1976; light infection occurred in 1973
During March, the number of major infection days and a trace was observed in 1979.
ranged from 0 in 9 of the years, to 1 in each of 4 years, and A dormant application of Difolatan 4F at 1.0 gal per
to 2 and 3 days, respectively for the other 2 years (Fig. 1). 100 gal gave good control of melanose on fruit in all the
From 1966 to 1980, there was a total of only 5 major in tests where it was included (Table 1), but it was never
fection days in April, 2 of which occurred in April 1980. In significantly better than a well-timed postbloom applica
contrast, there were 1 to 8 (average 3.7) major infection tion of basic copper sulfate (53% metallic copper) at 1.5 lb.
days per month in May and 0 to 11 (average 6.0) such days per 100 gal. Melanose control decreased when the rate of
in June. Difolatan 4F, applied dormant, was reduced to 0.5 gal per
100 gal.
The dormant treatment of basic copper sulfate applied
Results of Spraying Experiments for Melanose Control
in the 1972 test did not reduce melanose severity on the
All tests were conducted at Lake Alfred in a block of fruit. In most years, the postbloom copper treatment pro
20-foot-high 'Marsh' grapefruit trees planted about 1920. vided good control of melanose on fruit when delayed until
Sprays were applied dilute by handgun at rates of 15 to 20 late-April or early-May. Sometimes the half-rate of basic

March April May June

1966 ++—H 1 1M 111

1967 4- H—h
1968 ++■ Mil 'I'
1969 44- III III' I
1970 4-4- ■H I I 4-
1971 4-H-4-
1972 ■ I' I
1973 4+
1974 4f—H-
1975 I ' III 4—1 H
1976 H r I'l I I
1977 ' 'I 'IIM
1978 1 ■H—*H—I-
1979 i i mi i ii
1980 4-

March Apri I May June

Fig. 1. Compilation of known or estimated melanose infection days from March 1 to June 30 for each year at Lake Alfred, Florida from
1966 to 1980. Longer vertical lines denote climatic conditions favor-able for major infection. Short lines signify minor or doubtful in
fection days.

22 Proc. Fla. State Hart. Soc. 93: 1980.

Table 1. Evaluation of fungicide treatments for melanose control on fungicide for 30 seconds. After air-drying, the treated twigs
'Marsh' grapefruit. were suspended outdoors over potted greenhouse-grown
trap plants with young susceptible shoots to await rainfall.
% fruit with The amount of melanose that developed on these shoots
Treatment and rate Dates of conspicuous following a rain-induced infection period was rated and
Year per 100 gallons spraying melanose compared with that on plants exposed to the same quantity
of water-treated, inoculum-bearing twigs.
1972 Difolatan 4F 1.0 gal February 28 14 bz Dipping the twigs in a copper fungicide did not reduce
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb.y February 28 36 c the amount of melanose that subsequently developed on
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. May 1 5 a
16 b
the trap plant shoots (9). Evidently, the copper spray had
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. May 1
Check 40 c not reduced the inoculum-producing potential of the twigs.
Furthermore, insufficient copper was redistributed by rain
February 27 5 a
from the twigs to protect the shoots on the trap plants from
1973 Difolatan 4F 1.0 gal
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. April 24 9ab infection by D. citri.
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. April 24 11 b Treatment of inoculum-bearing dead twigs with Difola
23 c
Check tan greatly reduced the amount of melanose that subse
quently developed on the trap plants. This effect was due
1974 Difolatan 4F 0.5 gal March 1 69 b partly to a reduction in the amount of viable inoculum
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. May 15 42 a
that reached the test plants (9). Difolatan did not affect the
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. May 15 57 b
83 c
pyenidia themselves, but acted against the pyenidiospores
Check —

only after they were discharged from these structures. Even

brief contact of the extruded pyenidiospores with Difolatan
1975 Difolatan 4F 1.0 gal February 21 16 a
Difolatan 4F 0.5 gal February 21 29 b deposits on treated bark caused high spore mortality. No
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. April 8 41 c such action was observed following brief contact of the
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. April 24 31 be spores with bark carrying a copper fungicide deposit. A
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. May 9 11 a
further action of Difolatan resulted from its redistribution
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. April 8 and 11 a
May 9
by rainfall from the original site of deposition to shoots
Check — 65 d and fruit that developed after treatment. Meaningful re
distribution of Difolatan occurred either simultaneously
1976 Difolatan 4F 1.0 gal February 24 6 a with spore dispersal or in advance of an infection period,
Difolatan 4F 0.5 gal February 24 16 b thereby providing a protective deposit of fungicide on the
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. April 14 24 c fruit to guard against later attacks (9).
Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. April 28 10 a
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. May 13 11 ab
Basic copper sulfate 0.75 lb. April 14 and 7a Practical Considerations in the Timing of Copper
May 13
Fungicide Treatments for Melanose Control
Check — 73 d

The results of spraying experiments reported here and

1979 Basic copper sulfate 1.5 lb. May 3 6a elsewhere (2, 5, 6, 8, 12) and of studies on the site of fungi
Check 79 b
—
cide action indicate that copper fungicides are effective
against melanose on fruit only if applied postbloom. In
^Letters indicate Duncan's multiple range grouping of treatments Florida, applications of copper before fruit-set cannot even
which do not differ significantly at the 5% level.
be justified to combat shoot infection, because melanose is
yWettable powder containing 53% copper.
seldom economically important on the spring growth flush.
copper sulfate also provided acceptable control, particu Furthermore, treatments applied during shoot emergence
larly if there was little or no fruit infection before mid- would be of doubtful value because they would not prevent
May and the spray was applied late, as in 1976. infection of leaves that had not emerged by the time of
Poor results were obtained with copper fungicide in the spraying.
1974 test. Some infection had already occurred before the Because of the high costs of spraying, citrus, growers
treatment was applied on May 15 and, at this time, the usually try to control melanose on fruit with only one post-
later-set fruit was still too small to retain much fungicide. bloom treatment. Unfortunately, one treatment can only
The results of the 1975 and 1976 spray timing tests be expected to afford good protection for a part of the
strongly supported the contention that if only one post- 12-week period of rind susceptibility. If the treatment is
bloom copper is to be applied it is best delayed at least applied soon after petal fall, while the fruit is still very
until the end of April. small, the period of protection is relatively short. A small
In 1979, there were more infection days in the first fruit retains relatively little spray material and the resulting
half of May than in any other year reviewed (Fig. 1). The fungicide residue soon dissipates through fruit enlarge
May 3 treatment proved to be timely, even though it was ment and erosion. If, on the other hand, the treatment is
preceded by 2 infection days. delayed too long, infection could occur before the fruit is
protected. Therefore, a decision on how to obtain the
greatest benefit from a single postbloom spray has to be
Sites of Action of Difolatan and Copper
based on the probable frequencies of melanose attack at
Fungicides in Controlling Melanose
different times during the period of rind susceptibility.
The results of previous tests (9) showed that Difolatan The data compiled in Fig. 1 strongly support previous
and copper fungicides act as protectants when applied contentions (1, 8, 12) that postbloom treatment can be
directly to the fruit. Other tests, also reported previously safely delayed in most years until late-April or early-May.
(9), were made to determine if these fungicides have any The fungicide will then be applied closer to the time of
other site or mode of action by using the following pro more frequent attack and at a time when the fruit will be
cedure. Equal numbers and lengths of inoculum-bearing larger and retain more fungicide than if sprayed shortly after
twigs were immersed in spray mixes of Difolatan or copper petal fall.

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980. 23

 Timing of a postbloom spray for melanose control can Literature Cited
be expressed more appropriately on a calendar basis than
1. Childs, J. F. L. 1950. Organic vs. copper fungicides for control of
in relation to the time of bloom. If the bloom is earlier than
melanose. Phytopathology 40:719-725.
normal, the timing need not be amended because the 2. Cohen, M. 1959. Page 237 in Fla. Agr. Expt. Sta. Annu. Rpt. for
chances of melanose infection in March, as in April are 1959. *
relatively low. However, in years of late or extended bloom 3. Florida Cooperative Extension Service. 1974. Florida Citrus Spray
and Dust Schedule. Cir. 393. Gainesville, Fla.
one spray, timed for late-April or early-May, will not pro
4. . 1976. Florida Citrus
vide adequate protection. Late-bloom fruit remain suscepti Spray and Dust Schedule. Cir. 393-B. Gainesville, Fla.
ble into July and they will be more severely affected by 5. Ruehle, G. D. and W. A. Kuntz. 1940. Melanose of citrus and its
June attacks than fruit set at the normal time. Therefore, commercial control. Fla. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 349. 54 pp.
when the bloom is late or unduly extended, 2 postbloom 6. Suit, R. F. 1948. Recent experiments on melanose control with
reference to organic fungicides and dormant sprays. Proc. Fla. State
copper sprays are advisable, the first in late-April and Hort. Soc. 61:124-126.
the second 3 to 4 weeks later. 7. Thompson, W. L. 1949. The relationship of timing postbloom
The principle of delaying a postbloom copper fungi spray to certain fruit blemishes on oranges. The Citrus Ind. Mae.
30(4):5-8, 18.
cide for melanose control until late-April or early-May
8. Whiteside, J. O. 1975. Evaluation of fungicides for the control of
also applies to groves that receive overhead sprinkler irriga melanose on grapefruit in Florida. Plant Dis. Rptr. 59:656-660.
tion. Such irrigation, even when applied for 12 hr, promotes 9. . 1977. Sites of action of fungicides in the control of
little or no melanose attack under Florida conditions citrus melanose. Phytopathology 67:1067-1072.
(Whiteside, unpublished data). Therefore, any effects of 10. . 1977. Report No. 299. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests.
Amer. Phytopalhol. Soc. 32:162.
overhead irrigation in promoting melanose attack are 11. . 1978. Report No. 279. Fungicide and Nematicide Tests.
likely to be negligible compared with the risks of later Amer. Phytopathol. Soc. 33:150.
rainfall-induced infection. 12. Winston, J. R., J. J. Bowman, and W. F. Bach. 1927. Citrus
melanose and its control. U.S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 1474. 62 pp.

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93:24-27. 1980.

CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS FOR TREE SIZE CONTROL AND

HIGHER DENSITY PLANTINGS IN FLORIDA1
William S. Castle sunki (Hort ex Tanaka) x Swingle trifoliate orange and
University of Florida, Morton citrange exhibited favorable horticultural perform
Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, ance which in some instances was superior to that of trees
Agricultural Research and Education Center, on Carrizo citrange.
P. O. Box 1088, Lake Alfred, FL 33850
A primary objective of the rootstock research program
Additional index words, tree spacing, Flying Dragon tri at the Lake Alfred Research Center is tree-size-control (4).
foliate, tree efficiency, dwarf. Several approaches to this goal, for example, viral dwarfing,
and the use of plant material from the genus Citrus and
Abstract. A closely spaced planting of virus-free nucellar related genera as interstocks, are being examined. In addi
#Marsh# grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) and "Valencia1 sweet tion, conventional field trials to evaluate new rootstocks
orange [C. sinensis (L) Osb.], respectively, on 18 rootstocks are also a part of the research effort. The development of
was established in 1968 in Candler fine sand, a soil typical plant material and techniques which provide trees of pre
of the well-drained citrus-growing sites of central Florida. dictable, favorable behavior is an essential element in our
Rootstock influenced tree growth, fruit quantity and quality tree spacing and management investigations.
and production efficiency calculated as yield/unit of canopy The performance of 44 rootstocks presently being evalu
volume or ground area. Trees on all stocks were smaller ated for their effects on tree vigor, yield and fruit quality
than those on rough lemon and in some instances had a in 2 separate rootstock experiments is presented in this
greater yield/tree. The smallest trees were not necessarily report.
the most desirable nor was it apparent that vigorous stock-
scion combinations should be discarded for use in higher
Materials and Methods
density plantings. Rootstocks with promise for use in such
plantings were Rubidoux trifoliate orange (Poncirus tri- The first experiment consists of adjacent plantings of
foliata Raf.), Rusk citrange (P. trifoliata x C. sinensis), Koethen virus-free, nucellar 'Valencia' sweet orange [Citrus sinensis
sweet orange x Rubidoux and Rangpur lime (C. limonia Osb.) (L.) Osb.] and 'Marsh' grapefruit (C. paradisi Macf.) (3).
x Troyer citrange. Preliminary data were obtained from a Each planting of the respective scion on 18 rootstocks
nearby 5-year-old planting of 'Ruby7 grapefruit and 'Pine was set in 1968 as a randomized complete-block design with
apple' orange trees on 28 rootstocks spaced 15 x 20 ft. 3 replications of 4-tree plots. The trees were spaced 10 x 15
Trees on Flying Dragon trifoliate orange, Changsha mandarin ft or 290 trees/acre. The rootstocks (Table 1) were chosen
(C. reticulata Blanco), Rangpur lime x Troyer citrange, Citrus for their previously exhibited dwarfing nature either as a
rootstock or as an untested seedling.
iFlorida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 2731. Nearly all trees had formed into hedgerows by 1975.
The assistance o£ the late Dr. F. E. Gardner, and Dr. J. R. Furr Thus, the trees were periodically hedged as needed with a
(U.S.D.A., retired) in selecting the rootstock material for the 1968
planting is gratefully acknowledged. The efforts of Dr. R. L. Phillips,
hand-held pneumatic saw. Since 1978, the trees have been
who planned and propagated both experiments, are also warmly individually hedged each year and the fresh weight of the
appreciated. prunings recorded. The trees have also been topped at
24 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 93: 1980.