Source of more than 60 years of chemical disease-control data: The publication 'Fungicide and Nematicide Tests', 1945-2006

• Published in: Phytopathology Vol. 98; no. 6; p. S133
• Main Authors: Ritchie, D F, Yoder, K S, Egel, D S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.2008
• ISSN: 0031-949X

Synthetic, organic fungicides were introduced in the mid-1930s. These revolutionized plant disease control, started a wave of product evaluations, and the compilation and exchange of disease-control data. The Potomac Division of APS in 1945, appointed a committee to "undertake the collecting, classifying, summarizing and mimeographing disease-control data generously contributed by pathologists throughout the United State and Canada" (F&N TESTS, vol. 50). In 1960, the word "Nematocide" was included in the title and changed to "Nematicide" in 1969. The 61 volumes of F&N TESTS have been published as supplements to the USDA Plant Disease Reporter, Agricultural Chemicals, privately, and by APS Press. Since the 2000 edition (volume 55), the reports are available electronically in PDF-format at the APS website. In 2007, F&N TESTS and Biological and Cultural Tests were combined into Plant Disease Management Reports. From 1961-2006, approximately 16,000 reports were compiled and published. The initiation, continuation, and growth of F&N TESTS resulted from countless hours contributed by numerous APS members. For most of its existence, F&N TESTS has been guided by an editor, section editors, and the APS New Fungicide and Nematicide Data Committee members. Information in pictorial, graphic, and narrative format describes some of these contributions, the history, and processes used to produce F&N TESTS. This publication may be the single, richest source for information of the development of applied chemical plant-disease control and the individuals and industries that contributed.