Sclerotinia Blight Mitch Smith Peanut Notes No. 178 2022

Mitch Smith sent this attachment (e-mail) out to growers in Pitt County. His comments are excellent. With wet soils in many places and cooler temperatures in the coming week, we need to look close for Sclerotinia blight, especially in fields with a history of this disease. Historically, our best fungicide for this disease was Omega 500 (there is also a generic fluazinam.) Endura is also available but that product never dominated this use pattern like Omega 500 even though it was effective. We are spraying a lot of Miravis plus Elatus these days (see a previous Peanut Notes posting) and this leaf spot/stem rot spray is also effective on Sclerotinia blight. David Langston has data indicating that these two fungicides are as effective as Omega 500. Fontelis, which has a similar MOA as Miravis, suppresses Sclerotinia blight but likely not as well as Miravis plus Elatus or Omega 500. If you have been applying Miravis plus Elatus for leaf spot/stem rot, don't automatically apply Omega 500 in fields with a history of Sclerotinia blight without scouting (and using the advisory.) You may have done a good job on Sclerotinia blight already. Keep in the mind the PHIs for all sprays for Sclerotinia blight (and other diseases.)

Sclerotinia Blight Pitt County Mitch Smith