Syngenta launches Taegro microbial biofungicide in Spain

By Leonardo Gottems, reporter for AgroPages

Syngenta launched, this month, a new biofungicide Taegro for vine and table grapes which, according to the manufacturer, is a natural and sustainable solution for the control of powdery mildew and botrytis in vineyards.

Taegro is a microbial biofungicide based on Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24, which acts on parasitic vine fungi in different ways. The product is intended for the prevention of powdery mildew and botrytis in vineyards and table grapes, with flexible positioning and integrated with the wide Syngenta catalog.

Taegro acts naturally, since during the growth process of the bacillus it multiplies, creating chains that form a layer of protection on the surface of the leaf, thus preventing pathogens from settling in and competing with them. Bacillus also produces substances with inhibitory action against pathogens themselves, activating the natural defenses of plants.

Among the main benefits of Taegro is its flexibility in different control strategies against powdery mildew and botrytis, as well as their absolute respect for auxiliary fauna, since in all the tests carried out there was no evidence of any adverse effect on beneficial organisms.

According to Sygenta, the most important advantage of this new biofungicide is that Taegro does not have a safety period and is exempt from the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL).

“With Taegro we are dealing with a new sustainable solution for the control of powdery mildew and botrytis in vineyards and table grapes. It is effective at low doses, totally respects auxiliary fauna, the pollinators and the applicator. It is without the MRL and can be used in resistance management programs and various control systems, whether conventional, integrated production or ecological,” said the manufacturers at the online launch event.