How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS

Early symptoms of late blight consist of small, discrete, yellow spots on leaves and petioles. The spots often are circular in shape but may be angular when they are delineated by leaf veins. As the disease progresses, leaf lesions enlarge and usually grow together. Mature lesions turn tan and dry out, becoming papery. A characteristic feature of these lesions is the presence of small, dark, round structures that are the reproductive bodies (pycnidia) of the fungus. Under favorable conditions (rainy weather, heavy dew or fog, or sprinkler irrigation during temperatures above 70°F), lesion development may be extensive on both leaves and petioles, resulting in blighting of the plant. Do not confuse this disease with late blight of tomato and potato caused by Phytophthora infestans, which does not infect celery.

COMMENTS ON THE DISEASE

The primary inoculum source for late blight is contaminated celery seed. When temperatures do not exceed 55°F, disease development ceases until temperatures increase and moisture is present. Rain, heavy dew or fog, and sprinkler irrigation when temperatures are above 70°F encourage disease development; splashing water disperses spores and aids in spore germination and infection. The pathogen can survive in undecomposed plant residue. Septoria apiicola may also be found on celeriac.

MANAGEMENT

Cultural Control
Because this pathogen is seedborne, use Septoria-indexed seed. Hot water seed treatments may effectively reduce infestation levels on seed but also may reduce seed germination. There is some indication that storing celery seed for at least 2 years can significantly reduce pathogen viability on seed. Plant only disease-free celery transplants. Production of disease-free transplants involves planting of Septoria-indexed or hot water treated seed, roguing of infected plants, and the use of fungicides when necessary. Plow under infected celery tissue after harvest and rotate out of celery for at least one year. Once plants are established in the field, avoid overhead sprinkler irrigation if possible. Reduce movement of equipment through fields when foliage is wet because such passage may spread spores from diseased to healthy plants.

Organically Acceptable Methods
Cultural controls and some copper sprays are acceptable for use on organically grown produce.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Monitor celery fields for late blight symptoms. If symptoms are detected, protectant fungicides may be required for disease control, especially if sprinkler irrigation is used or rain has occurred. To obtain best results, apply materials at first appearance of disease symptoms. Chemical treatment is not necessary when field temperatures remain below 55°F.

Common name		Amount to use	R.E.I.+	P.H.I.+
(trade name)			(hours)	(days)
A.	PROPICONAZOLE
	(Tilt)	4 fl oz	24	14
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Demethylation inhibitor (3)
	COMMENTS: Apply on a 7-day schedule but do not exceed 16 fl oz of product/crop. Ground or aerial application.
B.	AZOXYSTROBIN
	(Quadris)	9.2-15.4 fl oz	4	0
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Quinone outside inhibitor (11)
	COMMENTS: Alternate applications with a fungicide that has a different mode of action. Do not apply more than 2.88 qt/acre/season.
C.	TRIFLOXYSTROBIN
	(Flint)	2–3 oz	12	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Quinone outside inhibitor (11)
	COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 12 oz/acre/season or more than 4 applications of strobilurin fungicides/season. Use allowed under a supplemental label.
D.	CHLOROTHALONIL
	(Bravo Ultrex) 82.5%	1.8–2.7 lb/acre	12	7
	(Echo 720) 54%	2–3 pt/acre	12	7
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Multi-site contact (M5)
	COMMENTS: Do not apply more than 18 lb a.i./acre/season.
E.	COPPER HYDROXIDE	Label rates
	(Kocide 101)	2 lb	24	0
	(Champ)	1.33 pt	24	0
	MODE OF ACTION GROUP NAME (NUMBER1): Multi-site contact (M1)
+	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.
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. In California, make no more than one application of fungicides with mode of action Group numbers 1, 4, 9, 11, or 17 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.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Celery
UC ANR Publication 3439
Diseases
S. T. Koike, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
R. M. Davis, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
T. A. Turini, UC Cooperative Extension, Imperial County
Acknowledgment for contributions to Diseases:
R. L. Gilbertson, Plant Pathology, UC Davis
F. F. Laemmlen, UC Cooperative Extension, Santa Barbara County

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