How to prevent botrytis in your vineyard
Botrytis is referred to as a weak pathogen and needs a wound site to infect the plant. Unfortunately, there are many ways that vines can become damaged throughout the season by mechanical injury, birds, insect pests, fungal pathogens or berries split by rain or hail, all of which are ideal entry points.
One of the most critical times to protect against botrytis infection is during flowering, when the flower caps detach leaving a small scar and possible entry point for botrytis infection. For these reasons, an application of a systemic botryticide at 80% cap fall is extremely important where there’s a history of botrytis. Wet or humid conditions and an extended flowering period greatly increase the risk of infection. Botrytis thrives in warm, moist conditions, with spore germination and fresh infection occurring where relative humidity exceeds 90% for at least 15 hours.
Throughout the season along with a robust fungicide program, managing light brown apple moth (LBAM) is an important first step in helping safeguard plant parts that are vulnerable to botrytis infections. PROCLAIM® Opti insecticide is ideal for LBAM control, or where mites are also present, VOLIAM TARGO® insecticide is a perfect alternative. Both products will control LBAM preventing the wounds that can allow infection to take hold.
Another key growth stage is the pre bunch closure timing. This is the last opportunity to get a spray inside the developing bunch to achieve full coverage of developing berries. Selecting a fungicide to use at this time that offers lasting protection, that will protect the maturing bunches from the inside out in the lead up to harvest.
SWITCH® fungicide has, for many years, been globally recognised by growers as the ‘go to’ product for botrytis management. Its active ingredients cyprodinil and fludioxonil deliver a robust and reliable combination for botrytis control, even during high-risk infection periods, or when warm and wet weather conditions are experienced.
AMISTAR® 250 SC fungicide is quite unique in fungicide terms for viticulture in that it controls powdery mildew, downy mildew and botrytis in one pass, and it can now be used at key growth stages like 80% capfall or E-L29 for botrytis control.
By using AMISTAR® 250 SC and SWITCH® fungicides in a protectant program, growers can build a strong foundation for protection against the development of botrytis this season and can select the appropriate fungicide for the disease infection risk period at the key growth stages. VOLIAM TARGO® and PROCLAIM® Opti are compatible with either fungicide in a tank mix, however, ensure constant agitation when mixing SWITCH® and VOLIAM TARGO®.
For more information, please talk with your local Syngenta representative or visit www.syngenta.com.au/grapes
Remember, always follow CropLife resistance management strategies. Details can be found at www.croplifeaustralia.org.au
ENDS
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