Comparison of Soil Insecticides Alone and In Combination With PCNB for Suppression of Southern Stem Rot of Peanut¹

The soil insecticides, chlorpyrifos 15G (2.2 kg a.i./ha), ethoprop 15G (3.3 kg a.i./ha), and fonofos (2.2 kg a.i./ha) were compared with pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) 10G (11.2 kg a.i./ha) and PCNB (11.2 kg a.i./ha) + insecticide combinations for suppression of southern stem rot caused by Sclerotium rolfsii on peanut in a series of field trials in 1985, 1986, and 1987 in southeastern Alabama. Stem rot loci counts were reduced each year by chlorpyrifos and two of three years of ethoprop, and fonofos compared to the non-treated control. Disease suppression with chlorpyrifos and ethoprop was similar all three years and two of three years with fonofos to that with the fungicide PCNB. Significant differences (P = 0.05) in yield were noted only in 1986 between each of the soil insecticides and the non-treated control. PCNB and PCNB + insecticide combinations with the exception of PCNB + ethoprop in 1985 significantly increased yields over the non-treated control each year. PCNB + insecticide combinations generally provided better disease suppression and/or yield response than each insecticide but not PCNB applied alone. When data were pooled for all 3 years, all treatments significantly reduced disease incidence and significantly increased yield except fonofos and ethoprop.