Certis Europe launches new powdery mildew control

Certis Europe has launched a new bio-fungicide to control powdery mildew in a range of crops.
 

The disease, which affects a range of crops including soft fruit, top fruit, gourds and grapes, is notorious for damaging yields and fruit quality.
 

Selchuk Kurtev, Certis’ IPM manager, said the new plant protection product, Amylo-X WG, represents an important breakthrough, particularly for the soft fruit industry.
 

“Strawberries represent almost 50 per cent of the value of all UK-grown fruit, and are one of the highest value, home-grown fruit crops for the country,” he said.
 

“However, a high proportion of the most favoured commercial strawberry varieties, such as Elsanta, Sonata and Malling Centenary, among others, are highly susceptible to powdery mildew.
 

“Growers have access to a limited number of control options for the disease. As temperatures start to rise, increasing disease risk, a new preventative bio-fungicide is a timely addition to the crop protection armoury.”
 

Amylo-X WG is a fully registered product, working by proactively competing for space with other pathogens in the plant canopy.
 

The dose required is relatively low compared to other preventative products based on Bacillus species, Certis said, and it comes with the added advantage of promoting growth by boosting the immune system of the plant, which in turn helps prevent infection.
 

Amylo-X WG is effective against powdery mildew, Botrytis and Sclerotinia spp. (or white mold) in a wide variety of crops.