VIEW ARTICLE

Grove Application of Benomyl and its Persistence in Orange Fruit. G. Eldon Brown, Plant Pathologist III, Florida Department of Citrus, Lake Alfred, Florida 33850; L. Gene Albrigo, Assistant Horticulturist, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 1088, Lake Alfred, Florida 33850. Phytopathology 62:1434-1438. Accepted for publication 28 June 1972. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-62-1434.

Benomyl, detected as methyl 2-benzimidazolecarbamate (MBC), was found in the peel and juice of Hamlin and Valencia oranges as early as 1 day after application. Translocation of MBC from the foliage into the fruit was not detected. Residues of MBC in the orange peel were affected by rainfall which stimulated additional movement of the fungicide into the peel. MBC was still detected in the peel of Hamlin oranges 70 days after the application of benomyl (300 µg/ml) and could be detected in Valencia fruit 86 days after spraying the trees with 500 µg/ml of benomyl. MBC levels in the peel of both Hamlin oranges 70 days after benomyl application, and Valencia oranges 84 days after application, were sufficient to reduce the incidence of green mold. Disease control with benomyl was usually improved by adding oil, Biofilm, Nu-Film 17, or Vapor Gard to the spray mix.