Alternative control of powdery mildew in zucchini squash with vinegar solutions

摘要

Alternative methods and products to control diseases in plants are growing among horticultural species producers. Diseases as powdery mildew can bring loss to producers. Several products are using instead pesticides, but there is a lack of information about its efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vinegar solutions to control powdery mildew in zucchini squash. The treatments consisted of six solutions: 0 (water), 4, 8, 12 and 16% of wine vinegar and a chemical control (fenarimol at 0.3 mL.L-1 ). A weekly application was done, from the onset of symptoms (44 days after sowing), totalizing six application to control powdery mildew. The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications and six plants per plot considering four plants available. A total of five evaluation of disease severity (% of leaf area with symptoms of the disease), at 51, 58, 65, 72 and 79 days after sowing were done. It is concluded that solutions of vinegar (4-16%) weren’t effective in controlling powdery mildew in zucchini squash, and that high concentrations burn the leaves.