May 26, 2009

Mettle Fungicide Registered for Grapes

Mettle 125 ME fungicide has been registered with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, paving the way for a full introduction this year, where it is targeted for use on grapes. Mettle is registered in Oregon, Washington, Ohio and Michigan and is pending in New York and other states.

Manufactured and marketed by Isagro USA, Mettle contains tetraconazole, a broad-spectrum fungicide in the Sterol Biosynthesis Inhibitor (SBI) class but containing a tetrafluoroethoxy group that is unique within that class. This group provides highly systemic properties resulting in improved fungicidal action compared to other SBI compounds, according to the company.

It has both preventive and post-infection activity against powdery mildew.

Mettle is formulated as a microemulsion (ME), giving it faster penetration and superior coverage characteristics, and is rainfast within two hours, according to the company.

Mettle fungicide has been extensively tested for several years by grape researchers in California, New York, Ohio and Oregon. Tetraconazole is registered in more than 50 countries. It was first registered in the United States in 2005 for use on sugar beets.

For more information, visit www.Isagro-usa.com.

Isagro USA has headquarters in Morrisville, N.C., and is a subsidiary of Isagro SpA, based in Milan, Italy.