In the north of Espírito Santo State, Brazil, increasing occurrence of rust (Puccinia psidii G. Winter) has been observed in guava trees, causing fruit drop and yield losses. The objective of this work was evaluate the incidence and chemical control of guava rust in 'Paluma' guava trees pruned in different seasons. Three experiments were carried out in a randomized complete block design, with three different pruning times (January; May and October) and four fungicide spraying treatments (I - untreated check, II - copper oxychloride, III - tebuconazole and IV - tebuconazole + oxychloride copper). Plants pruned in January showed the highest maximum and final guava rust incidences and smallest number of fruits per plant. Regardless of pruning time, the effective rust control occurred in plants sprayed with tebuconazole and tebuconazole plus copper oxychloride fungicides. Four sprayings with tebuconazole pure or mixed with copper oxychloride were sufficient to mitigate the damage caused by guava rust.
Psidium guajava L.; Puccinia psidii G. Winter; fruit setting; pruning; fungicide
