Germany grants emergency approval for BASF’s bioinsecticide Velifer on potato

The new biological plant protection solution "Velifer" from BASF is available for potato growers in the 2017 season to combat wireworms after an emergency approval by the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). 

 

Velifer is a biological insecticide which contains the spores of the naturally occurring soil borne fungus Beauveria bassiana. When used in an integrated pest management approach, Velifer can help prevent insects becoming resistant to pesticide treatment in high use situations such as protected cropping. Protected cropping refers to growing crops in greenhouses or covered by film. The pests would be infected with the fungus spores and then die.

 

Velifer had been granted a 120-day temporary authorization, from 15 February to 14 June 2017, exclusively for the control of the wireworm in potatoes on a total area of 5,000 ha. The application rate amounts to 1.5 L/ ha. According to BASF, the product should be sprayed into the open furrow prior to the storage of the potato tubercle. The spores could remain under the potato tuber and settle the wireworm as soon as it reaches the top of the soil in the course of the vegetation. 

 

The wireworms - the larvae of click beetles - have spread over the past few years in potato cultivation - due to higher soil temperatures. The pests bore deep holes in the potatoes and thus impaired their quality. As a result of climate change, wireworms seriously jeopardized domestic potato cultivation.