Good quality potatoes will be hard to produce this season as a result of very high blight pressure, with growers needing to keep their spray intervals tight and continue to use fungicide treatments with tuber blight protection right through to harvest.
Dow’s principal biologist, Andy Leader, advocated the use of Electis, which he said has approval for up to 10 applications per season, one hour rainfastness, excellent blight protection, proven zoospore activity, compatibility with desiccants and a seven day harvest interval.
“Potato foliage and stems can act as important sources of zoospores, which drop off or are washed off into the soil through which the tubers are lifted. An effective blight programme must prevent foliar blight and additionally prevent zoospores from being produced throughout stable canopy and senescence phases, so that the risk of blight is covered,” Leader stressed.
He added that while the optimum timing to maximise the effect of Electis on zoospores is early stable canopy and senescence phases.
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