What’s New In Vegetable Disease Control?

Growers are constantly on the lookout for new fungicides. Whether it’s to control the latest type of blight or phytophthora to come down the row, growers need answers, and they need them fast.

For the second of this four-part series on crop protection, we talked to experts from two of the most innovative companies: Jennifer Holland, BASF technical product manager for Zampro fungicide; and Charlie Bergmann, Bayer CropScience product manager for fungicides.

Q1 What are the biggest challenges vegetable growers are facing regarding disease control?

Holland: A challenging disease for vegetable growers in the Southeast to battle is Phytophthora capsici. It is a fast-moving and difficult to control disease.

Bergmann: Growers routinely ask if Bayer has any products that overcome fungicide resistance issues in their crop. There has been specific interest over the past few years in the need for strobilurin and carboxamide alternatives for potatoes. Both chemistries have well-documented resistance to early blight (Alternaria solani). As a solution to this issue, Bayer developed and launched new chemistry, Luna Tranquility, in 2012. Luna Tranquility not only overcomes early blight resistance, but also delivers efficacy against white mold, brown spot, Botrytis and black dot.
Watermelon growers are also facing an issue with resistance to carboxamide chemistries against gummy stem blight. To help growers with this problem, we launched Luna Experience in 2012.

Q2 Is it true that disease pressures are greater, or is the vegetable growing community just becoming more aware?

Holland: BASF recommends a strong resistance management program to combat disease pressures. Alternating modes of action and using multiple modes of action are just some of the ways vegetable growers can fight disease pressure.

Bergmann: Pathogens continue to mutate and adapt to environmental conditions, changing cultural practices and commonly used fungicides. As a result, several pathogens, such as Alternaria solani, have become more challenging to control.

Also, university and private researchers provide a great service to growers and our industry by not only identifying the causal issues, but recommending best management practices to overcome them.

Q3 Have any diseases emerged in recent years that are particularly challenging for vegetable growers?

Holland: Over the last few years, the need for an effective Phytophthora capsici product in the cucurbit markets has emerged. Fortunately, in 2012 BASF launched Zampro fungicide which contains two modes of action. Zampro is particularly strong on downy mildew and Phytophthora diseases.

Bergmann: Early blight is one of the most common diseases impacting potatoes. It has also become more challenging to control in recent years due to resistance. In a recent field research study from Idaho, untreated potatoes saw a 30% early blight severity rate and a 24% early blight severity rate with the current industry standard. When researchers applied Luna Tranquility, the severity rate dropped to 4%.

Q4 A lot of researchers are concerned about resistance. Are there any diseases for which that’s a particularly acute problem? What is your company doing to address resistance problems?

Holland: BASF is committed to providing innovative crop protection solutions. Zampro fungicide is an excellent example of a new innovation as it is a pre-mix between an existing active ingredient (dimethomorph) and a new innovation, which is ametoctradin.

Bergmann: Resistance has been increasing over the last few years to strobilurin and carboxamide fungicides for potatoes. Both chemistries have well-documented resistance to early blight, but Bayer’s new chemistry in Luna Tranquility has overcome early blight resistance. With the use of two active ingredients, Luna Tranquility has been designed for built-in resistance management.

Q5 Has your company come out with any new products and/or label additions that would be of interest to vegetable growers?

Holland: In addition to Zampro fungicide, in 2012 we also launched Merivon fungicide for the pome and stone fruit markets and Priaxor fungicide for the row crop markets, as well as the potato and tomato markets.

Bergmann: Luna Tranquility was launched in 2012 for use in potatoes. Luna Experience was also launched at the same time for use by watermelon growers.

Emesto Silver is a new, liquid fungicide seed piece treatment for potatoes. It offers two active ingredients that are new to potatoes, penflufen and prothioconazole. It is highly effective against several important diseases, including seed-borne Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, and silver scurf. Emesto Silver is currently registered and will be available for growers to use in 2013