BASF launched new fungicide Vivando to combat mushroom blight cobweb mould in UK

A new fungicide has been launched by German chemical giant BASF to fight mushroom blight cobweb mould.
 

The new product, Vivando, is based on the mildewicide metrafenone and has been approved for use at the start of yield on the casing soil used to grow mushrooms.
 

It has been registered in the UK and in Ireland and will be available to UK growers from September.
 

Cobweb mould, which can be recognised by the circular patches of cottony white cobweb that develop on the casing layer, is caused by Dactylium dendrites mildew. It makes mushrooms discolour and can cause rot, decreasing saleable yields.
 

Under the conditions of high humidity and temperature used in mushroom production, the disease can grow very rapidly, at about one to two centimetres a day. As such, it is important to treat it promptly.
 

Aneeta Gupta, technical specialist at BASF, said: “Metrafenone is a different group to other fungicides, so it can be integrated into a programme. It appears to be active on all stages of the pathogen’s life cycle-inhibiting spore germination, infection and mycelial growth.”
 

Vivando is applied to the surface of the mushroom casing soil at 1ml/m² in 150 ml/m² of water.