By: J. Chaput, OMAF and MRA, Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use registration for ACROBAT® 50 WP Fungicide (dimethomorph) for suppression of Phytophthora blight on ginseng in Canada. ACROBAT® was already registered for use against several diseases of other fruit and vegetable crops in Canada.
Phytophthora blight is one of the most common and serious diseases of ginseng in North America and has been identified annually on the minor use priority list. The registration of ACROBAT® is an important step towards improving the pest management toolkit for ginseng.
This minor use label expansion project was initiated in 2011 by the minor use office of OMAF and MRA in response to minor use priorities identified by producers. The following is provided as an abbreviated, general outline only. Users should consult the complete label before using ACROBAT® 50 WP fungicide.
ACROBAT® 50 WP can be applied at a rate of 450 grams product per hectare as soon as crop and/or environmental conditions become favourable for disease development. Applications can be made on a 5 – 7 day interval under high disease pressure or every 7 – 10 days under low disease pressure. A maximum of 3 applications per year is permitted and the pre-harvest interval for ginseng is 30 days. To reduce the development of fungicide resistance, Acrobat must be used as a tank-mix with DithaneTM DG RainshieldTM Fungicide, Manzate Pro-StickTM Fungicide or Penncozeb® 75 DF RaincoatTM Fungicide at 3.3 kg mancozeb per ha.
Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the ACROBAT® and mancozeb fungicide labels carefully. This product is toxic to aquatic organisms. Do not contaminate any body of water by direct application, cleaning of equipment or disposal of wastes.
ACROBAT® should be used in an IPM program and in rotation with other management strategies to adequately manage resistance.
We wish to acknowledge the personnel of BASF Canada Inc. for their support of this registration and the personnel of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for evaluating and approving this important pest management tool.
For copies of the new minor use label contact Sean Westerveld, OMAF and MRA Ginseng & Medicinal Herbs Specialist, Simcoe (519) 426-4323, Rebecca Coates, OGGA, Simcoe (519) 426-7046 or visit https://agro.basf.ca/basf/agsolutions/SelectRegion.htm
