Evaluation of Cotton Foliar Fungicides Against Target Spot and Areolate Mildew in North Carolina, 2024

Target spot, caused by the fungal pathogen Corynespora cassiicola, and areolate mildew, caused by the fungal pathogen Ramulariopsis gossypii, are two emerging diseases of cotton in cotton-production regions of the Southeast United States. While symptoms of target spot are brown, concentric lesions on leaves, and signs of areolate mildew are white, powdery growths on the underside of leaves, both diseases may cause early defoliation when infections are severe. This report evaluates the efficacy of conventional fungicide programs for the management of target spot and areolate mildew. The trial was conducted in 2024 in Rocky Mount, NC. Results from these trials will help advise cotton producers in developing management programs for these diseases.