|
For several years, Phytophthora capsici has led the list of major fungal problems in processing tomatoes in Ontario. But little work has been done on fungicide efficacy. BlackCreek Research Inc. recently conducted a field trial to compare foliar fungicides for control of fruit rot caused by P. capsici.
Working with a Chatham-area grower, the research plots all saw intense disease pressure during the 2025 trial providing ideal conditions for a worst-case scenario for infection. Even so, all fungicide treatments significantly reduced the level of P. capsici infection on the fruit compared to the untreated check.
“We found that even under extreme disease pressure, and a delayed first application due to weather, there are fungicides registered and available to Ontario growers to help suppress P. capsici in processing tomatoes,” says Greg Wilson, owner and test site manager with BlackCreek Research.
Based on this work, Wilson suggests processing tomato growers take a full disease control approach for controlling P. capsici.
- Know your field history for P. capsici.
- Be ready to spray once the crop reaches the flowering stage.
- Monitor crop staging and weather conditions (10% fruit set, high humidity, soil saturation, dense crop canopy, etc.).
- Use fungicides with multiple modes of action and rotate modes of action to reduce the chance of resistance to P. capsici.
Read the full research report Phytophthora capsici control in processing tomatoes.
|
Skip to main content