Chemical disease control

Description of practice

Chemical disease control is the application of pesticides to combat plant diseases. There are numerous pesticides available for different diseases. Application of pesticides may pollute soils and water and affect soil and aquatic life.

Examples of how to use chemical disease control		Further information (see Note below)
	Treated seeds and planting materials Seeds or planting materials are treated with fungicides for protection against fungi causing seed rot, seedling rot (damping off) and seedling diseases, especially when planted in cold, wet fields.	»UC Davis Seed Biotechnology Centre
	Soil-applied fungicides Soil-applied fungicides are used to control soilborne diseases (such as Rhizoctonia solani (black scurf) and Phytophthora erythroseptica (pink rot) in potatoes) either prior to seeding or by in-furrow application during seeding.	»AgPhD
	Foliar fungicides Fungicides are applied to the plant leaves prior to pathogen establishment or appearance of symptoms as a method of controlling disease. Systemic fungicides can eradicate specific pathogens even after they have become established in the host tissue.	»Farmers Weekly
	Injecting pesticides Systemic pesticides are injected directly into the xylem of perennials. They are distributed throughout the plant with the transpiration stream to protect against pathogens.	»University of Florida IFAS
	Applying antibiotics Antibiotics (substances produced by micro-organisms that are capable of destroying or injuring living organisms) are used to combat several bacterial plant infections. The relatively rapid build-up of resistance is problematic.	»CAFRE
	Soil fumigation Fumigants are used before planting in order to eradicate nematodes and fungi in the soil profile. The practice carries a high environmental risk (because of toxicity and dosage of fumigants used) and is strictly regulated.	»Certis Europe.com

Note: Most of the Further information links are to a full description of the example in the WOCAT database. However sometimes the link may be to similar practices or a research paper. Occasionally the link is to a commercial product in which case it should be understood that this does not imply any endorsement of the product by iSQAPER.