Dr. Patricia Manosalva at the University of California, Riverside is leading a research project funded by the California Avocado Commission to continue monitoring fungicide sensitivity in P. cinnamomi populations by surveying California avocado orchards using chemical controls. As part of this work, Manosalva’s team is seeking to collect soil and avocado root samples from Phytophthora root rot infested orchards/nurseries using phosphonate-based products (i.e., potassium phosphite), Ridomil Gold (mefenoxam) and Orondis® (oxathiapiprolin) fungicides for managing the disease.
The samples will be used to isolate, identify and characterize local pathogen sensitivity to current and soon-to-be registered fungicides in California. California avocado growers who are using these products and are willing to participate in the study may contact Patricia Manosalva ([email protected]) and Benjamin Hoyt ([email protected]) to have their orchard surveyed.
California avocado growers are encouraged to participate in the study as the research is designed to help mitigate further development of potassium phosphite insensitivity and to reduce the risk of emergence of resistant isolates to Ridomil Gold and Orondis® thereby enhancing the durability of these chemicals for PRR control in California.