FUNGICIDAL ACTION AS AFFECTED BY INTERACTION OF NICKEL CHLORIDE, NABAM, ZINEB, AND ZINC SULPHATE

Abstract

Protectant fungicidal action of mixtures of nabam, zineb, nickel chloride, and zinc sulphate was evaluated by means of a "microbeaker method" and the slide germination method, using as test organisms the fungi causing leaf rust of wheat, crown rust of oats, early blight of tomatoes, and brown rot of peaches. All of the fungicides tested were more effective against the two rusts than against the organisms causing early blight and brown rot. The relatively insoluble nickel ethylenebisdithiocarbamate was much less effective than the other chemicals tested. Ratios (w/w) of nickel chloride hexahydrate to zineb around unity and to nabam plus zinc sulphate from 2–10 to 1 showed an unfavorable effect on fungitoxic activity against urediospores of P. recondita. The ratio showing greatest antagonism varied, depending on the test organism used and whether or not tankmix or wettable powder zineb was used. The formation of nickel ethylenebisdithiocarbamate in the aqueous solution and its low fungicidal activity adequately explain the results obtained.