Effectiveness of systemic fungicides in the control of Quambalaria eucalypti and their effects on production of eucalypt mini-cuttings for rooting

Eucalypt leaf spot caused by Quambalaria eucalypti is currently one of the main diseases occurring in mini-clonal hedges cultivated in sand beds with drip fert-irrigation or hydroponic tanks. Given the lack of studies on the effectiveness of fungicides for control of this pathogen, the protective, curative and antisporulating effects of systemic fungicides and their influence on production and rooting of eucalypt mini-cuttings were evaluated. Among the nine active ingredients tested, azoxystrobin, epoxiconazole, epoxiconazole+pyraclostrobin, pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole were the most effective against Q. eucalypti. Epoxiconazole, epoxiconazole+pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole presented protective, curative and antisporulating effects against the pathogen. In mini-clonal hedges, only epoxiconazole+pyraclostrobin negatively affected the production of mini-cuttings.