Fungicide sensitivity of populations of wheat powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. Tritici) in Central Europe in 1993

In 1993 we observed the sensitivity of wheat powdery mildew populations (Erysiphe graminis DC f.sp. tritici Marchal) from the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia to the fungicides triadimenol, tebuconazole, propiconazole, flutriafol and fenpropimorph. The highest resistance value was shown to triadimenol, which attained a mean resistance factor (MRF) of 29 (expressing how many times the population is more resistant than are standard sensitive isolates) in the mildew population from the Czech Republic. The mildew populations from eastern Slovakia and eastern Hungary, populations geographically isolated from the other populations, showed very high sensitivity to all fungicides tested. There was most sensitivity to fenpropimorph (smallest MRF values) compared with the other fungicides. Cross-resistance was established among all triazoles used, but not between triazoles and fenpropimorph. Sensitivity of wheat powdery mildew populations from Central Europe to these fungicides is considered adequate, and the development of resistance has shown a decreasing tendency in recent years.