Abstract:
The colony-diameter methods recommended by FAO were used to evaluate the toxicity of eight insecticides, four her bicides, three plant-growth regulators and one antibiotic to
Coniothyrium minitans Campbell. Results show that among insecticides, cypermethrin, abamectin, chlorpyrfos and dichlorovos are most toxic to the biocontrol agent (EC
50>MRAR, Maximal recommended application rate), followed by phoxim and omethoate, however, imidacloprid and methomyl hardly have inhibitory effects. All herbicides tested can strongly inhibit mycelial growth and their EC
50 values are significantly lower than the MRAR. Under the recommended application rates, all plant-growth regulators tested are safe to the fungus. Although streptomycin sulfate has some inhibiting effects on the growth of
C. minitans, its EC
50 value is higher than the MRAR. It is suggested that the plant-growth regulators, such as naphthaleneacetic acid, gibberellic acid, brassinolide, and insecticides, such as imidacloprid and methomyl may be safely used in the fields using
C. minitans to control sclerotinia disease, but herbicide lactofen, haloxyfop-R-Methyl, paraquat and glyphosate should be restrictedly used.