Chemical Control of Botrytis cinerea on Grapes in New York (USA)1

Control of gray mold in New York vineyards is difficult to achieve at the present time. Benomyl-resistant strains of Botrytis cinerea have been isolated from vineyards in all grape-growing regions of New York State. Because of this resistance and lack of governmental registration of new fungicides, growers must choose among only moderately effective fungicides such as captan, folpet, dicloran and copper. Current research indicates that either vinclozolin or iprodione at 850 g/ha to 1100 g/ha applied twice, beginning at about 5 % sugar content and two weeks later, will provide excellent control of gray mold on ripening berries, whereas sprays applied at 5 % or 90 % bloom and at berry touch are not effective. An application of gibberellic acid (GA3) (10 or 25 (µg/ml) on Aurore (S.5279) at 10–15 cm shoot growth reduced the severity of gray mold on clusters of ripe fruit, but not the incidence of it. A single application of triadimefon at 30 mg/1 sprayed on Vignoles (Ravat 51), when fruit clusters averaged 17 % surface area infected with Uncinula necator and 2.6 % sugar content, retarded the development of powdery mildew and subsequent berry splitting, and ultimately reduced the severity of gray mold by 50 % at harvest, 6 weeks later.