May 23, 2018
Keeping powdery mildew at bay

{Sponsored} Farmers are well versed in checking for powdery mildew in their fields. As most farmers know, once powdery mildew has invaded the crops, it will often spread unchecked via spores, wind or even on the clothing of workers walking through the fields. Farmers need to stop it in its tracks, especially in the dry temperatures in which it thrives.

Once farmers spot the telltale signs of powdery mildew, they need to work hard to stay on top of the disease pressure. Since farmers often work proactively rather than reactively, that usually isn’t an issue.
grapes on vine
What does this mean?

As farmers plan for their upcoming season, prevention of powdery mildew should be top of mind. One product that farmers can add to their program is SerifelⓇ biofungicide. This biological fungicide is powerful in treating resistant populations. “It works best as a tank mix inserted once into a program to help heavy hitters work well,” Mila Pearce, BASF Product Manager, said.

Evidence shows that one application of Serifel biofungicide will go a long way towards reducing disease pressure. When farmers are not currently dealing with resistance in their fields, they can spray every seven to 14 days. It is an excellent substitute for chlorothalonil, and if resistance to traditional chemicals does happen, Serifel biofungicide may be used alongside the heavier-hitting treatments — organic or traditional.

Serifel biofungicide has three modes of action. The first is that it spreads and occupies the space on the leaves so that if powdery mildew spores land or are brushed onto the leaf from a worker’s clothing, the spores have no space to make a home. The second is that Serifel biofungicide consumes the food source powdery mildew prefers. The third is that it produces metabolites that appear similar to the cell membranes of the powdery mildew; because of this, it can infiltrate the cells and cause them to implode.

Serifel biofungicide is different than others on the market. BASF uses a purer formulation. This means they “took the time to remove extraneous material that would otherwise inhibit proper communication with its live bacteria,” Pearce said. With up to one trillion more spores than other biofungicides and clearer communications, Serifel works better and consistently making it a more dependable product.

Biologicals can be a strong addition to conventional and organic crop protection and treatment plans. Contact your BASF representative today to learn more about how you can add biologicals to your plan.

Always read and follow label directions.

Serifel is a registered trademark of BASF Corporation. All rights reserved.

© 2018 BASF Corporation




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