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Developing Fluopyram as a Tool to Combat Beech Leaf Disease in Managed Landscapes and Nurseries Cover

Developing Fluopyram as a Tool to Combat Beech Leaf Disease in Managed Landscapes and Nurseries

Journal of Nematology
Volume 57 (2025): Issue 1 (February 2025)
By: Matthew A. Borden,  Paulo Vieira,  Caitlin Littlejohn,  Jacob Zack,  Michael Sherwood,  Amber Stiller,  Kelby Fite and  Andrew L. Loyd  
Open Access
|Oct 2025

Figures & Tables

Figure 1:

Bud scale morphology of asymptomatic, non-treated, and fluopyram-treated BLD buds of European beech (Fagus sylvatica). (A) Stereoscope images of asymptomatic, non-treated, and treated individual bud scales (i.e., number of ounces/100 gallons) infected with Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Lcm) nematodes showing different levels of cell damage. The red rectangle indicates the bud scale damage area in each treatment. (B) Stereoscope images showing enlarged bud scale cells associated with the presence of nematodes on non-treated bud scales versus bud scale enlargement associated with the different fluopyram treatments applied in this study. Scale bars: (A) 1 mm; (B) 100 µm. Treatments in ounces shown as standard tank-mix rates of 1 fl. oz./100 gal., 2 fl. oz./100 gal., 4 fl. oz./100 gal., and 6 fl. oz./100 gal., equivalent to 0.08 mL/L, 0.16 mL/L, 0.32 mL/L, and 0.47 mL/L, respectively. BLD, beech leaf disease.
Bud scale morphology of asymptomatic, non-treated, and fluopyram-treated BLD buds of European beech (Fagus sylvatica). (A) Stereoscope images of asymptomatic, non-treated, and treated individual bud scales (i.e., number of ounces/100 gallons) infected with Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Lcm) nematodes showing different levels of cell damage. The red rectangle indicates the bud scale damage area in each treatment. (B) Stereoscope images showing enlarged bud scale cells associated with the presence of nematodes on non-treated bud scales versus bud scale enlargement associated with the different fluopyram treatments applied in this study. Scale bars: (A) 1 mm; (B) 100 µm. Treatments in ounces shown as standard tank-mix rates of 1 fl. oz./100 gal., 2 fl. oz./100 gal., 4 fl. oz./100 gal., and 6 fl. oz./100 gal., equivalent to 0.08 mL/L, 0.16 mL/L, 0.32 mL/L, and 0.47 mL/L, respectively. BLD, beech leaf disease.

Figure 2:

At a private nursery on Long Island, NY, several rows of fastigiate European beech (Fagus sylvatica cvs) were used for the fluopyram foliar application rate study. These nine beeches illustrate one treatment block from the study, using the product Broadform to treat BLD caused by the foliar nematode Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Lcm). From left to right, the treatment groups and Broadform application rates (including standard tank-mix rates) were as follows: 0.47 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.32 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.16 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.08 mL/L, non-treated buffer; and non-treated control. Image taken 11 June 2024. BLD, beech leaf disease.
At a private nursery on Long Island, NY, several rows of fastigiate European beech (Fagus sylvatica cvs) were used for the fluopyram foliar application rate study. These nine beeches illustrate one treatment block from the study, using the product Broadform to treat BLD caused by the foliar nematode Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Lcm). From left to right, the treatment groups and Broadform application rates (including standard tank-mix rates) were as follows: 0.47 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.32 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.16 mL/L, non-treated buffer; 0.08 mL/L, non-treated buffer; and non-treated control. Image taken 11 June 2024. BLD, beech leaf disease.

Results of multi-site summer fluopyram program study, 2022–2023_

LocationTreatment% Canopy BLD symptoms% Fine twig dieback
N2022aN2023P-valuebN2022N2023P-value
Chagrin Falls, OHNon-treated964.44 ± 7.66 A988.89 ± 3.51 A= 0.0005940.56 ± 6.69 A951.67 ± 5.59 A= 0.0143
Summer Program1269.17 ± 5.11 A1134.18 ± 10.35 B1247.5 ± 6.17 A1128.64 ± 6.47 B
Fairfield, CTNon-treated875.63 ± 8.21 A484 ± 10.02 A< 0.0001863.75 ± 5.96 A477.00 ± 2.38 A= 0.0046
Summer Program1166.36 ± 8.66 A115.91 ± 0.61 B1156.82 ± 5.81 A1127.73 ± 7.53 B
New London, CTNon-treated98.33 ± 1.44 A876.06 ± 9.27 A= 0.900995 ± 0 A850.31 ± 11.11 A= 0.8592
Summer Program1413.93 ± 3.28 A1475.75 ± 4.49 A145 ± 0 A1451.07 ± 6.86 A

Results of fluopyram-based management programs implemented at three seasonal timings in Perry, OH, and Chardon, OH, 2023–2024_

TreatmentaN% Canopy BLD symptomsN% Fine twig diebackc
2023b202420232024
Spring1475 ± 5.3 A18.2 ± 6.2 B825.6 ± 5.6 A8.94 ± 1.37 A
Spring & Summer1554.7 ± 7 A6 ± 1.2 B824.4 ± 6.5 A5.63 ± 1.03 A
Summer1358.5 ± 7.7 A10.2 ± 3.7 B830.6 ± 5.4 A6.75 ± 0.98 A
Non-treated1454.3 ± 6.3 A41.5 ± 7.7 A816.9 ± 4.4 A9.88 ± 1.63 A
P-valued P = 0.0982P < 0.0001 P = 0.3843P = 0.0966

Results of fluopyram-based management programs, implemented at three seasonal timings, in Perry, OH, and Chardon, OH, 2023–2024_

TreatmentaNLcm/cm2Lcm/g2
2023––Foliageb2024––Bud
Spring140.25 ± 0.25 B31.29 ± 17.15 B
Spring & Summer150 ± 0 B25.73 ± 9.04 B
Summer139.65 ± 3.83 AB30.46 ± 18.29 B
Non-treated1446.24 ± 24.67 A143.86 ± 54.07 A
P-valuec P = 0.0005P = 0.0105

Results of fluopyram application rate study performed on Long Island, NY, 2023–2024_

TreatmentN% Canopy BLD symptoms% Fine twig dieback
2023a202420232024
Broadform (0.08 mL/L)1077.1 ± 7.15 A9.3 ± 2.6 B4.8 ± 2.92 A1.3 ± 0.68 B
Broadform (0.16 mL/L)1083.1 ± 6.36 A10.9 ± 2.39 B6.4 ± 2.54 A0.8 ± 0.55 B
Broadform (0.32 mL/L)1083 ± 6.08 A10.23 ± 2.62 B7.9 ± 3.05 A1.8 ± 0.76 B
Broadform (0.47 mL/L)1084.4 ± 5.96 A6.6 ± 1.49 B5 ± 1.95 A2.5 ± 2.01 B
Non-treated1084.38 ± 7.24 A89.3 ± 2.99 A6.5 ± 1.92 A22.4 ± 7.01 A
P-valueb P = 0.9300P < 0.0001P = 0.9071P < 0.0001
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jofnem-2025-0042 | Journal eISSN: 2640-396X | Journal ISSN: 0022-300X
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Language: English
Submitted on: May 20, 2025
|
Published on: Oct 5, 2025
Published by: Society of Nematologists, Inc.
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
beech,
beech leaf disease,
BLD,
broadform,
Fagus grandifolia,
Fagus sylvatica,
fluopyram,
foliar nematode,
invasive pest,
IPM,
Litylenchus crenatae mccannii,
management,
nematicide
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Life sciences, other

© 2025 Matthew A. Borden, Paulo Vieira, Caitlin Littlejohn, Jacob Zack, Michael Sherwood, Amber Stiller, Kelby Fite, Andrew L. Loyd, published by Society of Nematologists, Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

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