Effect of additives in aqueous formulation on the foliar uptake of dimethomorph by cucumbers

BACKGROUND

The efficacy enhancement of dimethomorph formulation by several adjuvants is thought to be through increased foliar uptake. In order to identify the most effective adjuvants, the adjuvancy of 36 additives was examined in aqueous formulations in relation to the absorption of dimethomorph by cucumber leaves.

RESULTS

Polyethylene glycol monohexadecyl ethers with ethylene oxide (EO) contents of between 7 and 20, polyethylene glycol monooctadecyl ethers with EO contents of between 10 and 20 and polyethylene glycol monooctadecenyl ethers with EO contents of between 6 and 20 were effective adjuvants for promoting dimethomorph uptake from both aqueous acetone solutions and aqueous wettable powder (WP) suspensions into cucumber leaves. Polyethylene glycol monododecyl ethers with EO contents of between 7 and 9 were effective in promoting dimethomorph uptake from aqueous WP suspensions but less effective relative to the other adjuvants tested with aqueous acetone solutions. Foliar uptake of dimethomorph was also facilitated by the addition of methyl hexadecanoate, methyl octadecenoate and methyl octadecadienoate.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the foliar uptake of dimethomorph from both aqueous WP suspensions and aqueous acetone solutions was greatest in the presence of fatty alcohol ethoxylates generally having a C(16) or C(18) lipophile, uptake from aqueous surfactant-acetone solutions was, on average, 7.6-fold greater than that from aqueous WP suspensions containing surfactant.

A new method for assessing foliar uptake of fungicides using Congo Red as a tracer

In order to develop a new method for measuring foliar uptake of fungicides, Congo Red was selected as a tracer, and optimum procedures were established for washing, extracting and analyzing it and fungicides from leaf surfaces. Congo Red, a water-soluble dye, was not absorbed into cucumber or rice leaf, even in the presence of various surfactants, and was completely washable from leaf surfaces by aqueous acetonitrile solutions. Congo Red and fungicides in washings were quantified to calculate the amount of foliar uptake of the latter, by comparing the ratio to Congo Red. The optimum concentration of Congo Red in a formulation should be established in order to minimize its influence on fungicide uptake. Although Congo Red has proved to be useful with a conventional droplet application method, it will give more realistic and practical results with the spraying method used in the present study.