A recent policy change by the European Union will affect the use of propiconazole and phosphorus acid/phosphite fungicides in peanuts. This change is not based on fungicide safety concerns, but rather in the sale to the European Union of peanuts treated with these fungicides. These fungicides remain labeled for use in the United States.

Of the fungicides used in Arkansas, these active ingredients are not as common as others, so this change will not have a dramatic impact on peanut production or peanut disease management in the state.

To continue the sale of American peanuts in Europe, peanut producers should be aware of the fungicides affected by this policy and what alternative fungicides are available to manage peanut diseases.

The European Union policymakers decided the methods used years ago to determine the maximum residue levels (MRL) for propiconazole were inappropriate and are not valid in today’s market. Based on a new procedure to measure propiconazole residue in treated peanuts, the MRL was set to very low. Therefore, in theory, using propiconazole at labeled rates might result in residue level above a very low MRL and result in the rejection of those peanut lots.

Until data can be generated to raise the level set for propiconazole, peanut buying points are notifying growers to not apply any products containing this fungicide for the 2016 cropping season.

Leaf spot

Propiconazole is used to control leaf spot diseases in peanuts and is sold as Bumber, Propimax, Tilt, and Topaz. Propiconazole is more commonly used as a premix fungicide in peanuts. Some premix combinations include those mixed with chlorothalonil (Tilt/Bravo and Echo/PropiMax) trifloxystrobin (Stratego) and flutolanil (Artisan).

Alternatives to Tilt/Bravo include: Bravo (1 pint per acre) + Alto (5.5 ounces per acre), Bravo (1 pint per acre) + Emeinent (7.2 fluid ounces per acre) for leaf spot control. The active ingredient in Alto (cyproconazole) and Eminent (tetraconazole) provide some systemic activity in leaf spot protection.

Southern blight

Given that southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii is a major issue in Arkansas, a substitute for Artisan may be more important. Producers can continue to use flutolanil as Convoy (1 pint per acre) to control southern blight and combine it with Bravo (1 pint per acre) for effective leaf spot control.

Other alternative fungicides for southern blight and leaf spot control, and a list of products that contain propiconazole can be found in the University of Arkansas publication MP 154.

Pythium pod rot

Phosphite/phosphorus acid fungicides are used to manage Pythium pod rot. These fungicides are sold as solo products like K-Phite and Fosphite or mixed with tebuconazole and sold as Viathon.

Phosphite fungicides are considered to be very safe and as of result, do not have an MRL set by the EPA. Because of the lack of an MRL, the European Union has set their limits to very low. Until data can be generated to raise the level set for phosphite fungicides, peanut buying points are notifying growers to not use these fungicides for the 2016 cropping season.

Alternative fungicides include Ridomil Gold (mefenoxam) or Metastar (metalaxyl) for control of Pythium pod rot.

Cultural practices to manage Pythium pod rot consist of selecting fields with good drainage, minimizing the duration of standing water in a furrow-irrigated field, and crop rotation to reduce the amount of inoculum for the subsequent crop.

Additionally, studies have shown that applying calcium as lime at flowering can reduce the severity of Pythium pod rot in peanut.