Control of foliar diseases by the axillary application of systemic fungicides in Brazilian coconut palms

Endemic fungal foliar diseases, such as leaf blight – LB Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon and Maubl] and leaf verrucosis, or “lixa-pequena” – LP Camarotela torrendiela Batista (Bezerra) and Vitoria], reduce the productivity of the coconut palm in Brazil. Damage arises from extensive necrosis of the leaflets, resulting in early abscission of basal leaves and fruit. In Brazil, fungicide terrestrial sprayings has not been a commonly employed practice for the control of coconut foliar diseases because it is not cost-effective, once requiring high-volume of fungicide spraying. Coverage gaps and extensive drift of chemicals can occur due to technological limitations of terrestrial spraying of the tallest mature trees and is further complicated by the peculiar architecture of the palms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of systemic fungicides applied directly to the leaf axil of the coconut palm (variety Brazilian Green Dwarf of Jiqui) for the control of foliar diseases. During 2007–2010 and 2009–2012, two field plot experiments were conducted at distinct locations (farms) in the North Fluminense region. Two to 4-monthly applications of the fungicides to the leaf axil of cyproconazole (alone), cyproconazole plus azoxystrobin, cyproconazole plus trifloxystrobin, and flutriafol (alone) were efficacious in controlling coconut palm leaf diseases, resulting in a significant reduction of the LB severity and the number of necrotic LP lesions. When compared with the control treatment, significant increases in the total number of leaves per plant were observed for the most efficacious treatments after one year (2–4 leaves more) and after the second year (3–6 leaves more) after initiating the axillary applications of fungicides in both experiments. This trend continued even after the third year, when there was an average of 8 leaves more for the most efficacious treatment (27 leaves per plant) compared to control (19 leaves per plant) at the end of second experiment. The control of foliar diseases based on the results could ensure a significant increase in regional coconut production.