Well known in the agricultural industry for developing cost-effective solutions to help growers of smaller acreage crops such as fruit and vegetables, BASF is now providing some of its key and new actives to the expanding group of grape growers in the UK.
The chemical company is now able to offer UK viticulturalists a range of fungicides including Kumulus, a water dispersible granule containing sulphur for the control of powdery mildew. BASF has also secured EAMUs (extension of authorisation for minor use) for Percos, a suspension concentrate containing ametoctradin and dimethomorph for downy mildew control; Filan, a protectant and systematic fungicide containing boscalid for powdery mildew (uncinula necatar); Scala, a protectant fungicide containing pyrimethanil for botrytis; Stroby WG, a formulation containing kresoxim-methyl for black rot, phomopsis and powdery mildew control; Sercadis, containing fluaxapyrad which disrupts the energy supply of phytopathogenic fungi for powdery mildew control; and finally the growth regulator Regalis Plus, which contains prohexadione, which works by modifying the plant architecture, allowing more air movement in the vines and so reducing botrytis disease risk.
In order to reduce resistance build up, BASF advises that growers should apply products with different modes of action in the crop.
“The UK wine industry is growing exponentially and the hectarage of grapes has tripled since 2000, according to the industry group Wines of Great Britain,” says Matthew Goodson at BASF. “But growers need the tools to be able to grow a high yielding, high quality crop. We have got most of the key diseases in grapes covered with our products and we are offering a number of different modes of action that can be used in a strategic way as part of a resistance strategy. We are continuing the process to get more recommendations for more products in the future. BASF is seen as one of the leading manufacturers for top fruit and vegetables and we want to be seen in the same light by our grape growers.”
For any EAMU, BASF reminds growers that they should obtain a copy of the notice of approval via the Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) web site, ADAS offices or NFU. In the EAMU notice of approval, CRD point out that liability lies with the user and growers are advised to test a small area of crop prior to commercial use.
