The efficiency of different commercial formulations of potassium phosphite on Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro tests similar doses of phosphite ion in N-P-K formulations 0-40-20, 0-30-20 and 0-20-20 were incorporated into PDA medium in Petri dishes. A disk of the medium with the fungus was transferred to each Petri dish and colony diameter was measured after 7 days. Plants of apple 'Gala' were inoculated with C. gloeosporioides and after 48 h were sprayed with recommended doses of the following formulations (p.c.) of N-P-K fertilizers: 0-40-20 (a:1.5µL/mL), (b:1.5µL/mL); 0-30-20 (c:1.5µL/mL), (d: 2.5µL/mL); 0-20-20 (e:2µL/mL), (f: 3µL/mL), water (control). In a second experiment, only potassium phosphite in the formulation 0-40-20 was used. Disease severity was evaluated 10 days after inoculation. The phosphites in the formulation 0-40-20 (pH 3) interferred with mycelial development of C. gloeosporioides and reduced colony diameter by 94%. In plants sprayed at 48 h after inoculation, only one formulation of phosphite (0-40-20) significantly reduced the severity of Glomerella leaf spot and did so by 62%.
Malus domestica; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; potassium phosphites; Glomerella leaf spot
