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Crop Care Australasia Pty Ltd | ABN 53 061 362 347Portal North – Unit 17/16 Metroplex Avenue Murarrie QLD 4172 | PO Box 84 Morningside QLD 4170P 07 3909 2000 | F 07 3909 2010 | W www.cropcare.com.au

24 April 2015

GRAPEGROWERS can now use half the previously recommended rate of the dithianon fungicide Dragon 700WG for bunch and vine downy mildew control.

In late March, the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority approved Crop Care’s submission to halve Dragon 700WG’s dose rate for downy mildew in grapevines.

The change makes the use of dithianon – a very effective fungicide that is soft on beneficial insects – more commercially appealing, adding another lower-cost alternative for managing downy mildew resistance risk.

Backed by several years of trials, Dragon 700WG is the only dithianon registered for use in Australian grapevines at a lower use rate of 25g/100L.

Crop Care researcher David Hughes said that after successfully reducing the dose rate for controlling black spot in apples, research had been undertaken to see if grapevine downy mildew could also be controlled with a lower rate.

“Extensive trials were conducted over three seasons in Queensland, Victorian and South Australian vines, and on a range of grape varieties known to be prone to developing the disease.

“During a wet season in the Yarra Valley, a trial of Dragon 700WG at 25g/100L provided very good reduction in downy mildew severity under high disease pressure. Further trials were conducted over two more seasons to confirm these encouraging results.

“The performance was repeated in following years at Stanthorpe in Queensland, the Yarra Valley in Victoria and Loxton in South Australia on several varieties including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

“At all sites Dragon 700WG at the low rate of 25g/100L controlled both bunch and vine downy mildew equally as well as higher rates.”

Mr Hughes said dithianon was a very effective multi -site fungicide – and the unique formulation developed in Australia offered good rainfastness, plus it is also soft on beneficial insects that assist in controlling grapevine pests such as mealy bugs and mites.

DRAGON rate lowered for downy mildew on vines

“The 25g/100L rate of Dragon 700WG now offers a viable alternative to the common fungicides such as copper & Mancozeb. The superior rainfastness of Dragon may also allow growers to reduce the amount of copper applied in any season.”

He said Crop Care had already proved dithianon had a relatively flat response to dose on other crops, so thought it worth exploring for grapevines, and halving its cost of use for growers.

“Dragon 700WG is the only M9 fungicide registered for controlling downy mildew in grapevines at 25g/100L, providing an additional, affordable and effective fungicide for resistance management.

“The recommended use has also been changed to a more appropriate 7 to 10-day application interval during wet conditions to protect leaves and bunches.”

Crop Care’s Dragon 700WG formulation of dithianon is registered for control of downy mildew, black spot and phomopsis in grapevines.

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GRAPEVINE downy mildew now has another regis-tered low-cost control for growers to add to their fungicide rotation. The recommended use rate for Dragon 700WG has been halved to 25g/100L – of-fering a commercially viable downy mildew control alternative to the common fungicides such as cop-per & Mancozeb. Dragon’s superior rainfastness may also allow growers to reduce the amount of copper applied in any season. It is also soft on ben-eficial insects that assist in controlling grapevine pests such as mealy bugs and mites.

DOWNY mildew on grape bunches

André Sabeeney National Product Development Manager andre.sabeeney@cropcare.com.au