VIEW ARTICLE

Effect of Benomyl on Eradication of Ustilago striiformis from Agrostis palustris and on Plant Growth. Philip W. Robinson, Research Assistant, Iowa State University, Ames 50010; Clinton F. Hodges, Associate Professor of Horticulture and Agronomy, Iowa State University, Ames 50010. Phytopathology 62:533-535. Accepted for publication 10 December 1971. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-62-533.

Benomyl eradicated Ustilago striiformis from Agrostis palustris in pot culture after 4 weeks’ exposure to 700 mg/liter active ingredient per pot. Low fungicide dosages failed to eradicate U. striiformis after 5 weeks. Histopathological examination of nodes of stolons produced on treated plants confirmed eradication of the pathogen. Increasing rates of benomyl caused a decrease in dry weight of all plants; stripe-smutted plants, however, had higher dry weights than healthy plants, indicative of a temporary stimulatory effect between benomyl and U. striiformis. Healthy and stripe-smutted plants exposed to several rates of benomyl displayed abnormal stolon proliferation which was interpreted as a phytotoxic response.