Bayer's Luna fungicide got label expansion in US

Bayer has received notice that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved an expanded label for Luna® fungicides permitting use on a larger group of fruit, nut and vegetable crops.

Once approved in relevant states, these label expansions will be effective across a broad geographical range of markets from California and the Pacific Northwest to Florida.

“This label expansion will offer horticulture growers much needed fungicide options across a broader range of key horticulture crops,” says Bayer Product Manager Joel Lipsitch. “With three Luna formulations, growers will have tailored solutions to their key disease-management challenges.”

The new labels expand the Luna registration to crops such as citrus, table and raisin grapes, berries, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, pome and stone fruit, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables. Specific registrations vary by state. Product labels should be consulted for detailed information.

The Luna fungicide portfolio includes Luna Sensation, Luna Experience and Luna Tranquility. Luna fungicides provide long-lasting, systemic and broad-spectrum disease protection for a wide variety of annual and perennial fruit, nut and vegetable crops. Luna fungicides work systemically within the plant’s vascular system to deliver protection to buds, blooms and other tissues, offering in-season disease control and long-term tree health.

•    Luna Sensation is registered for tree nuts, pome fruit, stone fruit, citrus, strawberries, carrots, leafy, brassica fruiting and cucurbit vegetables.
•    Luna Experience is registered for grapes, tree nuts, cucurbit vegetables and hops.
•    Luna Tranquility is registered for potatoes, bulb crops, tomatoes, pome fruit, strawberries and caneberries/bushberries.

“Luna has been tested extensively in field trials across the U.S. on numerous crops,” Lipsitch says. “All formulations have shown an impressive range of benefits from improved crop establishment to improved crop quality and increased yield. Additional late-season benefits such as enhanced storability of harvested produce, reduced post-harvest losses and extended shelf life are well documented. This latest label expansion will give growers much needed flexibility in disease protection in high-value crops.”

The dual mode of action in each Luna fungicide works to prevent disease and protect against fungicide resistance. Luna is active on a broad range of plant diseases including powdery mildew, shot hole, scab, rot, leaf spot, anthracnose, summer diseases and blight.

Luna provides control of some of the most problematic fungal diseases to help growers deliver superior quality vegetables, fruits and nuts to the market. Application flexibility offers early and mid-season disease protection as well as late-season defense to extend fruit, vegetable and nut quality beyond harvest to transport, storability and shelf life. In permanent crops, trial results with Luna fungicides have also shown improvements in long-term tree health and vitality.