Effectiveness of Benomyl and Benomyl-Folicote Treatments in Reducing Ozone Injury To Pinto Beans

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Abstract
The body of information presented in this paper is directed to individuals interested in effects of air pollution on vegetation. The effectiveness of the systemic fungicide benomyl (methyl i-(butylcarbamoyl)-2-benzimidazolecarbamate) and the ahtitranspirant Folicote (hydrocarbon paraffin wax emulsion) in reducing ozone injury to plants of Phaseolus vulgaris L “Pinto 111” was determined in a series of experiments. Treatments included incorporating benomyl with soil; drenching a benomyl suspension on the soil with or without a surfactant; and spraying the foliage with benomyl, Folicote, or a mixture of benomyl and Folicote. Eleven-day-old plants of “Pinto 111” were grown in a soil mixture of Hagerstown silty clay loam-peat-perlite (2-1-1) and were fumigated under controlled conditions with 25 pphm of ozone for 4 hours. Temperature during exposure was maintained at 30°C, relative humidity at 78%, and light intensity at approximately 650 ft-c. Results of the fumigation were evaluated 3 days following exposure by determining the percentage area of injured tissue. Fumigated control plants showed flecks on 50-55% of the leaf area. 99% protection was obtained when benomyl was used as a soil amendment at a concentration of 160 μg/g soil on an air dry soil weight basis. Partial protection was obtained at lower concentrations. Higher benomyl quantities were needed to obtain the same results when applied as a soil drench, although protection was improved when a surfactant was added to the suspension. No significant protection was obtained when a water suspension containing 250 mg/1 benomyl was sprayed on the foliage. 99% protection was obtained when plants were sprayed with a Folicote solution alone (10 ml Folicote/1 water). The data demonstrate that ozone injury to plants may be reduced by chemical protectants added to the soil and as a foliar spray.

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