Biofungicide Serenade granted new EAMUs

New Extensions of Authorisation for Minor Uses (EAMUs, formerly SOLAs) have been granted for the soil use of the biological fungicide, Serenade ASO (M15625) and it can be applied as a soil treatment during planting in potatoes for the control of Rhizoctonia, Streptomyces, and Helminthosporium plus at drilling and transplanting for the control of a number of diseases in a range of vegetable crops.

The EAMU in potatoes specifies that Serenade, which contains 1.34 % w/w Bacillus subtilis (strain QST 713), is applied as a preventative drench treatment against various soil-borne fungal infections at 10 litres/hectare via hydraulic sprayer or through drip-feed irrigation lines in 100 to 1000 litres of water depending on method of application. One application is allowed per crop.

Serenade ASO is a unique and effective broad-spectrum contact fungicide and bactericide, based on the naturally occurring soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis, strain QST 713. In addition to the new soil uses it has recommendations for use on a very wide range of soft fruit and vegetable crops as a foliar treatment against Botrytis. As Serenade also has a zero harvest interval, it helps provide growers with an option for managing disease, while providing flexibility around frequent harvesting, characteristic of the dynamic vegetable and fruit sectors of the horticultural industry.

In addition to potatoes, the soil use also covers Serenade’s use on many other crops applied at drilling, planting or transplanting. On brassicas the EAMU is for the control of Pythium spp. and damping- off and in bulb vegetables and leek for the control white rot and damping- off.

Its use in carrot, parsnips, celeriac and celery is for the control of damping-off and in lettuce (excluding lamb’s lettuce) is for the control of Rhizoctonia and butt rot. The use on baby leaf production, lettuce, chard, spinach and a range of herbs is for the control of damping-off.

The use on marrow, squash, pumpkin, courgette and cucumber is for the control of Phytophthora and Pythium spp. The use on tomato, pepper, and aubergine is for the control of Pythium spp. The use on cane and bush/small fruit is for the control of Phytophthora.