Changes of metalaxyl sensitivity of Phytophthora infestans isolated from potato fields of Gangwon area

Changes of control effect of metalaxyl to potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans were examined in potato fields in 2001 and 2002. Control efficacy of metalaxyl was similar to those of dimethomorph and ethaboxam. About 4.9% of the fungal isolates exanlined in 2001 were resistant, 87.8% were intermediate, and 7.3% were sensitive to metalaxyl. Among the isolates collected in 2002, 20.1 % were resistant, 75.5% were intermediate, and 4.3% were sensitive to the chemical. However, most of resistant isolates were isolated from Pyongchanggun Hoenggae area. Eighty eight isolates collected in 2001 were all A1 mating type, while both A1 and A2 mating types were found in 2002. About 85.6% of the isolates collected in 2002 were A1 mating type, but all the rest (A2 mating type) was isolated from Hoenggae area. Increased control efficacy of metalaxyl to potato late blight might be caused by the increase of moderately resistant and sensitive isolates with decreasing the resistant isolate, and the decreased population of A2 mating type which is resistant to metalaxyl.