Fungicides for control of ergot in cereal crops

Twenty-three out of 34 fungicides tested showed activity against Claviceps purpurea in the laboratory but none gave commercially acceptable control of the disease in the field. Applications of strobilurin fungicides usually increased the mean weight of ergots and, less frequently, the number. Poor field performance is attributed to the failure of fungicides to reach the target (i.e, the ovary), and improvements in control may need compounds with novel properties or novel ways of applying them.