UC IPM Online UC ANR home page UC IPM home page

UC IPM Home

Search

SKIP navigation
How to Manage Pests

Home & garden
Agriculture
Natural environments
Exotic & invasive

Weather data & products
Degree-days
Interactive tools & models

Educational Resources

Publications & more
Workshops and events
Training programs
Pesticide information

Research and IPM

Grants programs
Funded-project results

 
  Printer-friendly version

How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Irregular yellow-brown spots caused by downy mildew, Peronospora parasitica.

Cole Crops

Downy Mildew

Pathogen: Peronospora parasitica

(Reviewed 6/07, updated 6/07)

In this Guideline:

SYMPTOMS

Infections begin as irregular yellow patches on leaves; these chlorotic lesions later turn tan to light brown. If conditions are favorable, white fluffy growth of the fungus develops on the undersides of leaves. If disease development is extensive, leaves may take on a blighted effect as a result of numerous infection sites. Systemic infections can cause internal black streaks and patches to form in stems and floret branches of broccoli and cauliflower. Early symptoms on transplants may resemble bacterial leafspot symptoms. Severely diseased seedlings may be stunted or die.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

Peronospora parasitica requires cool, moist weather for infection and disease development to take place. The pathogen survives between crops on weed hosts or as resilient oospores in crop residue. Spores are airborne. This disease is most serious on young seedlings; if cotyledons and the first true leaves are severely infected, the young plant may die.

MANAGEMENT

A few broccoli varieties are available that are resistant to downy mildew. Fungicide treatment of susceptible varieties is needed when the disease occurs on transplants or early in crop development in the field; repeated applications may be required, depending on weather. Treatment during early flowering is required on seed crops.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Resistant varieties and some copper sprays are suitable for organically grown crops.

Common name Amount/Acre R.E.I.+ P.H.I.+
(trade name)   (hours) (days)
When choosing a pesticide, consider information relating to environmental quality.
 
A. CHLOROTHALONIL
  (various products) Label rates 12 7
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Multi-site contact (M5)
  COMMENTS: Use at 7– to 10–day intervals, if necessary.
 
B. MEFENOXAM/CHLOROTHALONIL
  (Ridomil Gold/Bravo) 76.5 1.5 lb 48 7
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Multi-site contact (M5) and phenylamide (4)
  COMMENTS: Use at 14–day intervals, if necessary.
 
C. FOSETYL–ALUMINUM
  (Aliette) Label rates 12 3
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Phosphonate (33)
  COMMENTS: Use on a 7– to 21–day intervals as necessary. Do not tank mix with copper compounds.
 
D. COPPER# Label rates see label 0
  MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Multi-site contact (M1)
  COMMENTS: Not all copper compounds are approved for use in organic production; be sure to check individual products.
 
 
+  Restricted entry interval (R.E.I.) is the number of hours (unless otherwise noted) from treatment until the treated area can be safely entered without protective clothing. Preharvest interval (P.H.I.) is the number of days from treatment to harvest. In some cases the REI exceeds the PHI. The longer of two intervals is the minimum time that must elapse before harvest.
# Acceptable for organically grown produce.
1 Group numbers are assigned by the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) according to different modes of actions (for more information, see http://www.frac.info/). Fungicides with a different group number are suitable to alternate in a resistance management program. For fungicides with mode of action Group numbers 1, 4, 9, 11, or 17, make no more than one application before rotating to a fungicide with a different mode of action Group number; for fungicides with other Group numbers, make no more than two consecutive applications before rotating to fungicide with a different mode of action Group number.

[Precautions]

PUBLICATION

[UC Peer Reviewed]

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Cole Crops
UC ANR Publication 3442
Diseases
S. T. Koike, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey Co.
K. V. Subbarao, Plant Pathology,UC Davis, Salinas

Top of page

Statewide IPM Program, Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California
All contents copyright © 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r108100311.html revised: June 7, 2007. Contact webmaster.