Disease Control

NOTES: For the disease control products listed below, one product trade name and formulation are provided for each active ingredient (common name) as an example of rates, preharvest interval (PHI), restricted entry interval (REI), and special instructions. In many cases, there are other products available with the same active ingredient. Please see Table 26 and Fungicides and Bactericides Alphabetical Listing by Trade Name for more information on products with the same active ingredients.

The symbol ^OG   indicates a product is listed by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) as approved for use in organic production. See Organic Certification section for more detail.

Okra is a tropical annual with a wide range of adaptation; it is very sensitive to cold temperatures and frost. Do not plant until soil temperatures have warmed in the spring. 

Cercospora Leaf Spots (Cercospora species)

Cercospora fungi survive on infected plant debris. remove and destroy diseased plant material. Plow crop debris under after harvest to speed up decomposition.

• azoxystrobin plus difenoconazole (Quadris Top): 8-14 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 11 & 3.
• Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Double Nickel) OG: See label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group BM02.
• chlorothalonil (Bravo Weather Stik): 1.5 pt/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Group M05.
• chlorothalonil plus cymoxanil (Ariston Echo 459/Cymoxanil 61): 2.0-2.44 pints/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Groups M05 & 27.
• chlorothalonil plus zoxamide (Zing): 34 fl oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Groups 22 and M05. Begin application when seedlings emerge or transplants are set. See label for application methods and restrictions.
• copper hydroxide (Kocide 3000): 0.75 to 1.75 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M01. Do not apply in a spray solution with a pH less than 6.5 or tank mix with Aliette.
• copper otanoate (Cueva (Concentrate)): 33 gal/A or 98 fl oz/ft2; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group M01.
• difenoconazole plus benzovindiflupyr (Aprovia Top): 10.5 to 13.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 7 & 3.
• difenoconazole plus fluopyram (Luna Flex): 8.0 to 13.6 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 3 & 7.
• tebuconazole (Orius 3.6F): 4 to 6 fl oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Group 3.
• Tebuconazole plus fluopyram (Luna Experience): 12.8 fl oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Groups 3 & 7. See label for application restrictions. 
• sulfur (Microthiol Disperss)^OG: 3.0 to 10.0 lbs/A; PHI 0d, REI 24h, Group M02. 

Damping-off (Pythium and Rhizoctonia solani)

Damping-off diseases are favored by flooding, cool, cloudy weather, wet soils, high humidity, compacted soils, and overcrowding. Sterilize used pots and trays to raise seedlings. Use a heating pad under trays to warm soil to 75-90°F for indoor plant production. Avoid excessive irrigation, improve soil drainage, and relieve soil compaction. Remove and destroy affected plants and avoid transplanting diseased plants into the field. Seed treatments with biological control agents or fungicides are useful.

• azoxystrobin (Quadris F): 0.40 to 0.80 fl oz/ 1000 row feet; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 11.
• Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Double Nickel 55) OG: See label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group BM02.
• cyazofamid (Ranman 400SC): 2.1 to 2.75 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 21.
• ethaboxam (Elumin): 8 fl oz/A; PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 22. Do not apply sequentially. See label for restrictions. 
• metalaxyl-m [mefenoxam] (Apron XL LS): 0.32 to 0.64 fl oz/100 lbs seed; REI 48h, Group 4. Seed treatment.
• propamocarb HCL (Previcur Flex): See label for application rates. PHI 2d, REI 12h, Group 28.
• salts of phosphorous acid (Fosphite): 1.0 to 3.0 qt/in a minimum of 20 gal. water/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group P07. Do not apply to plants that are heat or moisture stressed. Copper phytotoxicity may occur if applied in alteration with copper.
• thiram (Thiram 42 S): 6.0 lb/100 lb seed; REI 24h, Group M03.

Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts

Avoid planting in fields where these diseases are present. Rotate with non-solanaceous crops. Plant resistant varieties when available. Consider soil fumigation. Soil solarization, fallowing, flooding, and biofumigation with brassica green manures may reduce soil populations of these pathogens in soil. See Soil Fumigation Outdoors in the Disease Management section.

• Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Double Nickel 55) OG: See label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group BM02.
• fluopyram (Velum Prime): 5.0 to 6.84 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 7. See label for application restrictions.
• Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain AFS009 (Howler EVO) OG: 40 to 120 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 0h, Group BM02. May be used in greenhouses. See label for additional rates, application methods and restrictions.
• thyme oil (Guarda): see label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 0h, Group NC. See label for application methods and rates.
• Trichoderma asperellum (ICC 012) plus, T. gamsii (ICC 080) (Bio-tam 2.0)^OG: See label for in-furrow, drench, and broadcast rates; REI 4h, Group BM02. See label for application instructions.

Fruit Rot (Choanephora spp.)

Choanephora is a soilborne pathogen that attacks senescent blossoms and grows into the fruit. No fungicides are currently labeled for control. Improve air circulation with increased plant spacing.

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)

Maintain plant health with adequate fertilization as nutrient stressed plants are more susceptible to infection. Rotate between fungicides to minimize risk of resistance.

• azoxystrobin (Quadris F): 6.0 to 15.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group 11. 
• Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Double Nickel 55) OG: See label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group BM02.
• copper hydroxide (Kocide 3000): 0.75 to 1.75 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M01. Do not apply in a spray solution with a pH less than 6.5 or tank mix with Aliette.
• copper octanoate (Cueva (Concentrate)) OG: 33.0 gal/A (or 98 fl oz/1000 sq ft); PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group M01.
• copper oxychloride plus copper hydroxide (Badge X2) OG: 0.75 to 2.75 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 48h, Group M01. 
• cyprodinil plus fludioxonil (Switch 62.5 WDG): 11.0 to 14.0 oz/A; PHI 7d, REI 12h, Groups 9 & 12. 
• difenoconazole plus benzovindiflupyr (Aprovia Top): 10.5 to 13.5 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 3 & 7. See label for application restrictions. 
• difenoconazole plus cyprodinil (Inspire Super): 16.0 to 20.0 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 3 & 9. See label for application restrictions. 
• difenoconazole plus fluopyram (Luna Flex): 8.0 to 13.6 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 3 & 7.
• fluopyram (Velum Prime): 5.0 to 6.84 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 7. 
• flutriafol (Topguard): 14 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 3.
• myclobutanil (Rally 40 WP): 2.5 to 5.0 oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 24h, Group 3. Do not make more than 4 applications per season. 
• paraffinic oil (JMS Stylet-Oil): 3.0 to 6.0 qt/100 gal water; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group NC.
• penthiopyrad (Fontelis): 16.0 to 24.0 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 7. 
• potassium bicarbonate (MilStop SP) OG: 2.0 to 5.0 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 1h, Group NC. May be used in greenhouses. See label for additional rate info and application restrictions.
• Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain AFS009 (Howler EVO) OG: See label for application rates; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group BM02. May be used in greenhouses. See label for additional rates, application methods and restrictions.
• pydiflumetofen plus fludioxonil (Miravis Prime): 9.2 to 11.4 fl oz/A, PHI 0d, REI 12h, Groups 7 & 12. Do not apply in greenhouses.
• Reynoutria sachalinensis extract (Regalia) OG: 1.0 to 4.0 qt/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group P05. See label for application methods and restrictions.
• sulfur (Microthiol Disperss)^OG: 3.0 to 10.0 lb/A; PHI 0d, REI 24h, Group M02.
• tetraconazole (Mettle 125ME): 6.0 to 8.0 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 3. Ensure thorough coverage. Group application recommended. See label for restrictions. 
• thyme oil (Guarda): see label for rate; PHI 0d, REI 0h, Group NC. See label for application methods and rates.
• trifloxystrobin plus fluopyram (Luna Sensation): 5.0 to 7.6 fl oz/A; PHI 3d, REI 12h, Groups 11 & 7.

Nematodes

Nematode control is very important for okra production. Fumigate fields in the fall. See Soil Fumigation Outdoors in the Disease Management Section. Rotate with corn.

• azadirachtin (AzaGuard) OG: 15 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 4h, Group UN. See label for application methods and restrictions. 
• fluopyram (Velum Prime): 5.0 to 6.84 fl oz/A; PHI 0d, REI 12h, Group 7. See label for application restrictions.
• Myrothecium verrucaria strain AARC-0255 (DiTera DF Nematicide): 0.31 to 2.4 lbs/1000 sq ft. REI 4h, Group NC. See label for application methods and rates.

Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus (YVMV)

YVMV is the most important virus disease of Okra and it severely reduces growth and yield as well as causing fruit deformity. It is spread by whiteflies. There are no cures or chemical treatments for plant viruses. Remove and destroy affected plants. Plant resistant varieties. Control whiteflies to reduce disease incidence.