Brassica growers could deliver higher quality brassicas this season, with the help of extra curative activity from Amistar Top programmes, according to results of recent Lincolnshire trials.
Brassica consumption is set for a renaissance this winter, with a return of recipes representing traditional values currently in vogue for increasingly cash-strapped consumers. Whilst TV cooks wax lyrical about the era of war time austerity, the days of 'grey' greens are long gone; experts agree high quality green leaf will be crucial to tempt greater consumption.
And brassica growers could now deliver higher quality greens, with the help of increased levels of curative disease control from well timed applications of Amistar Top (azoxystrobin + difenoconazole). Results of independent trials in Lincolnshire last season identified significant extra levels of curative control of Ringspot with Amistar Top programmes, compared to other strobilurin-based fungicides.
Syngenta Technical Manager, Jon Ogborn, reports that growers have been tank-mixing Amistar (azoxystrobin) with Plover (difenoconazole) for some years, but the new optimised formulation of the two active ingredients in Amistar Top has proven extremely effective on a broad spectrum of brassica diseases, especially Ringspot, Powdery Mildew and White Blister.
"Furthermore, with the intense price pressure put upon brassica growers to supply exceptional quality at the lowest possible price, the better value offered by the pre-formulated product is helping to minimise input costs.
"The trials demonstrate growers can successfully now alternate Amistar Top applications with straight Plover, to get the highest levels of control under difficult conditions," he advises. "The combination provides extra curative activity to effectively control diseases that threaten the marketable quality of brassica crops close to harvest. This is combined with excellent crop safety."
Proven benefits
The independent trials in Lincolnshire, undertaken by Agrochemex, reported an Amistar Top/Plover programme giving 98% control of Ringspot in a crop of the cabbage variety Canada, when a tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin/Plover alternation achieved just 75% reduction in disease level.
In another trial, with variety Alaska showing even higher levels of disease incidence (28% in the untreated plots), the Amistar Top/Plover achieved nearly 90% control, when pyraclostrobin + boscalid/Plover gave less than 70% reduction in disease. The applications were made at four to six week intervals through October, November and December.
John Keer of Agrochemex reports Ringspot is the most damaging brassica disease affecting growers in the prime south Lincolnshire region, and can prove especially severe in susceptible savoy cabbage varieties.
"Curative activity is especially important for the control of Ringspot at the end of the season, when disease pressure is highest and the incubation period may be prolonged in cooler conditions," he warns. "Amistar Top is the ideal co-formulation, with a robust rate of difenoconazole for optimum curative action and good protectant disease control from Amistar. It covers the all-round spectrum of key brassica diseases." Dr Keer highlights the very good control of Powdery Mildew observed in trials.
Easier harvesting – Less waste
Syngenta Speciality Crops Manager, Bruce McKenzie, adds that the renowned Amistar Top greening effect ensures optimal retention of green leaf for visually attractive brassicas. It has been observed that the healthier leaves are also less susceptible to Xanthamonas infection. Better disease control in the field also makes harvesting far quicker and more efficient with limited labour available – requiring less selection, trimming and rejection.
"It can also make a significant difference in the packhouse, where trimming is time consuming and results in green waste that adds extra costs for disposal. Harvesting healthier crops with greener leaves can also give enhanced shelf life, reducing waste and rejections for retailers as well as giving greater customer satisfaction," he added.
