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The Control of Black Rot of Sweet Potatoes by the Use of Fungicide Dips at Various Temperatures. Robert H. Daines, Professor and Research Specialist, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University—The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 08903; Phytopathology 61:1145-1146. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-61-1145.

Dips of fleshy sweet potato roots containing Mertect [2-(4-thiazolyl)-benzimidazole] or benomyl are extremely effective in preventing development of Ceratocystis fimbriata cankers on sweet potato sprouts produced from these roots. Heated water (44 to 54 C) significantly reduced the number of cankers to develop as compared with an unheated (14-C) dip. Ferbam at 14 C exhibited no protective value, but ferbam at 49 or 54 C provided excellent control of black rot. Sprout production was poor in the treatments where disease control was not achieved.