New In-furrow fungicide for potatoes

Emesto® Prime fungicide for potatoes is a new solution from Bayer Crop Science to control black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani). As an in-furrow application, Emesto Prime gives potato growers a new option to target this potentially devastating disease. 

Emesto Prime is a Rhizoctonia specialist and contains penflufen as its active ingredient, an SDHI Group 7 fungicide. Currently, there are no other Group 7 fungicides registered for potatoes in New Zealand.

Phil Bertram, Regional Business Manager for Bayer in the upper North Island has been involved with much of the development of Emesto Prime and says: “Having a new chemical group to use against black scurf is great news for local potato growers.”

The introduction of a robust product from a new chemistry group helps growers with resistance management strategies, as Emesto Prime is well suited to be used in rotation with existing treatments. Rotation of products from different chemistry groups helps protect the availability of all products that are vulnerable to resistance by avoiding the build-up of resistant disease populations. 

A key feature which assists the performance of Emesto Prime is that it has minimal foliar translocation. Phil explains: “The benefit of this is that the active ingredient stays in and around the roots where it is most effective against Rhizoctonia.

“Emesto Prime is versatile. It can be applied using the current methods of in-furrow spray application. It doesn’t require the purchase or adaption of any equipment. Simply direct the spray into the furrow as a 15 to 20 cm band applied just before the seed is covered, or using a two nozzle system, spray the furrow both prior to seed drop and after it has dropped prior to covering.”

Quick emergence of potato plants is essential to minimise the risk of Rhizoctonia attack. In New Zealand trials¹ measuring plant emergence, Emesto Prime demonstrated significant emergence benefits over untreated plots, and similar results to an industry standard treatment when assessed. 

Emesto Prime has an application rate range of 4.0 mL to 5.5 mL per 100 m of row. When choosing a rate, growers should consider the potential Rhizoctonia disease pressure of the planting site.

If you have any questions about Emesto® Prime fungicide and its use in potatoes, please contact your Fruitfed Supplies Technical Horticultural Representative.

ACVM registration number: Emesto® Prime #P009916. Read registered label before use. 
¹ Trial #SD15NZL006LE13 
² Trial #FD18NZL064FT01