The protectant fungicide Signum can be used in outdoor and protected lettuce from the 1st of April onwards and will be a good choice for the control of Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia and Botrytis as well as for the physiological and plant defence effects it offers, says BASF.
"The unique combination of boscalid and pyraclostrobin gives Signum the edge in terms of control levels and disease spectrum. The carboxamide fungicide boscalid has protectant, translaminar and locally systemic activity whilst the strobilurin pyraclostrobin binds tightly to waxy layers and has translaminar activity. The combined activity of both actives in Signum has produced top levels of disease control in lettuce," reports Simon Townsend, Product Stewardship Manager for BASF.
"In trials against Sclerotinia, Signum reduced disease levels from 69% in the untreated to just 23% in the treated. This high level of control resulted in a substantial yield increase of 75% over the untreated. Its use also reduced Botrytis levels to just 4% (compared with 40% in the untreated) and increased yield by 78%. In further trials aimed at Rhizoctonia control, Signum reduced the degree of attack and increased the percentage of marketable heads by 146%. Signum is active also on non-label diseases such as Stemphyllium," says Simon.
"Growers have come to expect high levels of disease control from Signum and many have commented on the additional positive effects this product has on quality, yield and shelf-life characteristics. In a market where quality and visual appeal is key, these additional effects are very important to the grower."
"Signum's physiological effects work in a number of identifiable ways. Firstly it has been shown to inhibit ethylene production, resulting in lettuce crops that are less stressed and higher yielding. Such crops also tend to have a greater tolerance of drought and water-logging. Secondly, Signum has also been shown to have an effect on nitrate reductase production, which ultimately leads to more efficient use of nitrogen and higher yields," reports Simon.
He also comments that growers have noticed that Signum treated salad crops looked greener and healthier. "This appears to be a consequence of increased chlorophyll content and more efficient photosynthesis."
"Independent research work has also demonstrated Signum's ability to stimulate the plants' own defence mechanisms, leading to healthier crops and increased marketable yields. This research shows a speeding up of the production of proteins that are known to have plant defence activity in the plants themselves."
"The combination of these physiological and plant defence effects plus the effective long-lasting disease control from Signum will result in the production of healthier and firmer lettuces plus a longer shelf life, essential for the ever-demanding retail sector. The early use of Signum in a programme can help in the production of high quality salad crops with good visual appeal that means good sales and returns for growers," concludes Simon Townsend.
Applied from the 1st of April onwards, the first Signum spray should be applied to lettuce as a protectant application as soon as the young plants have recovered after transplanting at a dose rate of 1.5 kg/ha in water volumes of 200 to 900 litres. For Sclerotinia control, it is particularly important to apply before infection has taken place. As infection in lettuce takes place on petioles and older leaves in contact with the soil, it is better to make the first application of Signum before the outer leaves touch the soil and as early as possible in the spray programme.
Background Notes - Signum contains 267g/kg boscalid and 67g/kg pyraclostrobin, formulated as a WDG. It is a protectant and systemic fungicide. It is recommended in outdoor and protected lettuce for the control of Sclerotinia spp, Rhizoctonia solani and Botrytis cinerea. It is applied from 1-2 weeks after planting at a dose rate of 1.5 kg/ha in 200-900 litres of water. Two applications can be made to the crop. Signum can be applied to outdoor and protected lettuce between the 1st April and 31st October. No more than 6 kg/ha of Signum can be applied to the same area of land per year. It is subject to LERAP B and has a harvest interval of 14 days for lettuce. It has SOLAs on more than 70 other crop types including many protected leaf herbs, protected and outdoor leafy brassica crops grown for baby leaf production.
For further comment and information please contact;Simon Townsend, BASF on 01845 537072 or 07836 738161 (mobile)
