Prestop biofungicide can be growing media incorporated

Growers are under constant pressure to produce crops within a short period at a competitive price. In recent years, with the loss of several chemical fungicides, it has become even more challenging to keep plants healthy.

“By the time fungal outbreaks have been identified, it is all too often too late to treat them, or the chemical product relied on in the past is no longer registered for use,” says Sam Rivers, ICL technical manager for controls. “As a result, growers are adopting biological alternatives and proactively adapting their cultural practices to reduce the risk of outbreaks of Botrytis, Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora and Fusarium.

“The biofungicide Prestop can be incorporated in to growing media, or applied to plants as a foliar spray, providing protection from fungal diseases before they become a problem.”

Attacks wide pathogen range

Helping to fight the threat of fungal diseases throughout the growing cycle, Prestop contains the mycelia and spores of a highly aggressive naturally occurring soil fungus – Gliocladium catenulatum Strain J1446.  Able to survive in the rhizosphere, around the roots, and on foliage for several weeks, it attacks and suppresses a wide range of pathogens.

“For convenience and accuracy, Prestop can be premixed into growing media and can be reapplied later in season. It can be drenched on, via a dosatron, to provide protection against root diseases, or sprayed onto plants to provide protection from foliar diseases.  Unlike many chemical products, it does not cause leaf scorch and is safe for beneficials so fits well in to IPM programmes.

Proven

“As part of ICL’s ongoing thorough product testing programme, Prestop has being trialed on a wide range of crops from bedding and heathers to cell grown trees, as well as within our peat reduced and peat free growing media mixes,” says Sam.

“Following trials in Ireland targeting specific plant group issues, Prestop is now incorporated into growing media recipes for seedling, vulnerable alpines and perennial varieties. Overwinter trials are now underway, which we will report back on in due course.”