Integrated management of Colletotrichum gloesporioides in yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Degener)

Abstract

Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) is one of the most limiting diseases of yellow passion fruit, reducing crop production by more than 80%. This research aimed to assess anthracnose management strategies on yellow passion fruit crop sanitation and yield. We assessed the effect of alternating fungicide applications (//) every 15 days with foliar nutrients on the severity of anthracnose and crop yield in a commercial crop in San Isidro district (Montería), located at coordinates 8°44'52.7'' N, 75°52'53.2''W and 75m.a.s.l. We conducted this research in two experiments; in the first, we assessed the response of the disease index (DI) after the application of the following treatments: T1=Manazeb (Mancozeb) // Potassium phosphite (Foscrop), T2=Mancozeb // Potassium (Terramin potassium), T3=Mancozeb // Calcium (Terramin calcium), T4=Trichoderma spp. (Fitotripen) // Copper oxychloride, T5=Azoxystrobin (Amistar) // Mancozeb, and T6=Control sprayed with water. In the second experiment, we selected the best treatments, as follows: T1 = Amistar // Mancozeb; T2 = Terramin potassium // Mancozeb, and T3 = Control. We evaluated DI, percent of affected fruits, number of fruits/ha, and yield (Kg/ha). The results from the first experiment showed that T1 and T5 controlled anthracnose, reducing the levels of severity by 39.69% compared to the control (T6). In the second experiment, T1 decreased the levels of foliage severity by 29.04% and increased the number of fruits/ha and yield by 200% compared to the control. Overall, the fungicide application of Azoxistrobin alternating with Manazeb constitutes an effective alternative to control anthracnose in yellow passion fruit cultivation.