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Captan (Captan, Captec)
Captan is a fungicide with protective and curative action formulated as 50 and 80 percent wettable powders and various dust mixtures for use on fruit. Captec is a liquid formulation of captan. Captan is effective against scab, black rot, white rot, bitter rot, Brooks spot, and blossom end rot on apples. It is effective against sooty blotch and flyspeck if the last spray application is not more than 30 to 40 days before harvest. It is not effective against the rusts, fire blight, or powdery mildew. In some cases, captan may cause an increase in the amount of powdery mildew compared to unsprayed trees.
Where the early-season apple scab control program fails and scab becomes established in the trees, captan at low rates cannot be expected to provide control. However, this fungicide is highly effective in reducing spore germination. Use at least 5 to 6 pounds per acre in low-volume sprays applied at intervals of no more than 10 to 14 days.
On stone fruits, captan is a good fungicide for the control of brown rot and scab when adequate spray schedules are followed. Captan plus wettable sulfur can be used on peaches where brown rot, scab, and mildew are present. Captan is effective against cherry leaf spot and brown rot on tart cherries if the diseases are at a low level and the spray intervals do not exceed 2 weeks.
Captan has caused a necrotic spotting, yellowing, and dropping of leaves when used under poor drying conditions or in combination with sulfur, especially on Delicious, Stayman, Baldwin, and King apple varieties. Foliage of d'Anjou pears has been stunted and cupped. Necrotic spots on fruit and foliage have occurred on both plums and prunes where captan was used from petal fall until the fruit begins to ripen. Its use usually results in acceptable fruit finish on apples, peaches, and nectarines. Captan residues on peaches at harvest may cause increased skin discoloration from abrasions that occur during picking and packing. The leaves of some sweet cherry varieties may be injured by repeated captan applications. A full-season program of captan may require the use of miticides or close adherence to a pest management program.
Captan has few spray incompatibilities, but it should not be used with oil, lime, or other alkaline materials. The use of captan within a week either before or after an oil application may result in leaf injury on apple trees. Combinations with sulfur may result in increased injury under high temperatures and high relative humidity. Equivalent captan products include Captan 50% WP, Captan 80% WP, Captan 80WDG, and Captec 4L. Check the label for rates. REI restrictions vary from 24 hours to 4 days, so check the label of the product you are using.