Certis launches new fungicide Takumi SC

Takumi SC, a new fungicide approved to control powdery mildew in cucumber, courgette, melon and summer squash, has been launched by Certis.

According to Certis technical officer Alan Horgan: "The launch of Takumi SC is very positive for growers and trials have shown it has excellent efficacy on powdery mildew."

Marco Caffarelli, a cucumber grower from Ely, Cambridgeshire, trialled Takumi SC and on three varieties - Bon Bon, Prolog and Aviance - at an equivalent rate of 15 ml/100 litres.

"It had excellent efficacy on powdery mildew with no damage," Caffarelli said, adding that even at twice the concentration on Aviance, no damage was observed.

"This product is badly needed," he added. "For the last two years there have been limited options to control the disease due to previously available options having been revoked, or resistance amongst plants occurring."

With a new active ingredient, cyflufenamid, and a novel mode of action, Takumi SC has both preventative and curative activity, with translaminar movement giving long-term protection on treated leaves.

Rainfast within one hour, it has a harvest interval of just one day, but can only be applied twice per crop.

"I would advise using the first treatment early, at first sign of disease and to remove any further sources of powdery mildew," Horgan suggested.

"Then follow with a second treatment later on in the crop growing cycle when disease pressure is high as a backup treatment, near to harvest."