Grape growers will have another BASF fungicide to use this season as Vivando (metrafenone) has been granted an EAMU in grapes and in hops. BASF already offers UK grape growers Kumulus (sulphur) and as EAMU’s Percos (ametoctradin and dimethomorph), Stroby WG (kresoxim-methyl), Sercadis (fluaxapyrad) and Regalis Plus (prohexadione).
“In conjunction with industry group WineGB, metrafenone now has an EAMU for controlling powdery mildew (Erysiphespp and Uncinula necator) in grapes, just in time for the season.” says Matthew Goodson of BASF.
Vivando contains the active ingredient metrafenone and it is formulated as a suspension concentrate containing 500 g/l a.i. The maximum individual dose for Vivando is 0.32 l/ha with a maximum of 3 applications per crop, at least 10 days apart. It should be applied via air assisted sprayer at a water volume of 400 to 1600 litres/hectare. It has a Harvest Interval of 28 days before harvest (up to and including berries ripe for harvest BBCH 83).
“Powdery mildew is one of the most damaging diseases of grapes. It is worse in dry years and under warm conditions of between 18°C to 30°C. The fungus overwinters on old wood and spreads to leaves and flowers in the summer. The symptoms are seen as a discolouration of leaves and flowers and a white dusting across the leaf surface. Metrafenone will be welcomed by vine growers as it offers a new fungicide group (benzophenones) which has no resistance or cross-resistance to currant chemistry. It will be an important addition to the growers’ anti-resistance strategy. It has a wide window of use and good rainfastness, making it more flexible to use. When applied to the leaf metrafenone has been shown to have local redistribution and some vapour phase activity, giving better coverage of the foliage. It can be used in any IPM scheme.
Matthew says that BASF is seen as one of the leading manufacturers for top fruit and vegetables. He reminds growers that for any EAMU, growers should obtain a copy of the notice of approval via the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) web site, ADAS offices or NFU. In the EAMUnotice 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.
