Newer grape chemistry keeping it clean
Last season’s dry conditions didn’t provide viticulturists with the usual challenges to control Botrytis or powdery mildew but Ryan Pierce, UPL NZ Ltd Regional Sales Manager Lower North Island, was interested to note that the drier conditions contributed to a higher residue profile on wine grapes at vintage.
“Meanwhile those using Kenja®, UPL NZ’s new botryticide, reported that residues were well below export thresholds,” says Ryan. “Kenja is just one of several new products that UPL NZ has introduced or is looking to introduce that meet our goals for long-term sustainability, ensuring new and existing chemistries are used responsibly to help strengthen and grow our local wine grape sector.”
Launched last season, Kenja contains isofetamid, a SDHI (FRAC code 7) fungicide. Isofetamid is from a new chemical group (ethyl thiophene amide) within the SDHI mode of action group, and its unique molecular structure means it remains effective against some fungal isolates that have developed resistance to other SDHI fungicides.
“This helps growers address the development of fungicide resistance.”
Isofetamid exhibits excellent activity against a range of fungi but is especially effective on Botrytis, working by inhibiting fungal respiration. Kenja has a strong translaminar action in grapevine tissues with high protectant activity for lasting vine protection. It also has excellent rainfastness properties.
“Kenja is compatible with integrated pest management programmes as isofetamid has no known negative impacts on beneficial insects and mites. IPM is an increasingly important aspect of vineyard management so that’s another big tick for this botryticide.”
Another UPL NZ product, Kusabi®, is relatively new, having been introduced two seasons ago, and also offers wine grape growers a helpful resistance management option.
Kusabi gives effective powdery mildew control and, to date, there is no known resistance in New Zealand to its active ingredient, pyriofenone. This works by inhibiting lesion formation, mycelium growth and sporulation, halting powdery mildew infection.
“Kusabi has excellent preventative activity due to its translaminar action around the vine. It also has a high vapour activity so the active ingredient reaches all areas which could be infected by powdery mildew.
“With its pre-harvest interval of 65 days, which allows application closer to harvest than some other protectants, Kusabi is an efficacious, flexible option in a powdery mildew programme.”
Ryan recommends applying Flute®, which its unique cyflufenamid chemistry, in the early mid-season period, then apply Kusabi at pre-bunch closure.
Like Kusabi, Flute has strong translaminar movement and a powerful vapour action, hitting the powdery mildew pathogen at all five critical stages of its lifecycle. Flute is the only fungicide in the U6 mode of action group.
“Weather patterns are difficult to forecast, even for meteorologists, but keeping on top of disease control programmes with appropriate crop protection chemistry is still vital. Utilising products at the recommended label rates from different chemical groups, like Flute and Kusabi as separate powdery mildew sprays, makes sense to provide thorough protection to your developing crop and deliver an effective resistance management strategy.”
Talk with your local Fruitfed Supplies Technical Horticultural Representative about the roles that Kenja, Kusabi and Flute have in your crop protection programme.
ACVM registration numbers: Flute® #P009077, Kenja® #P009740, Kusabi® #P009488. Read registered label before use.
