•
NEWS
•
•
SEED TREATMENT
•
THE
VEGETABLE
FARMER •
JANUARY 2017
Certis’ fungicide product,
Takumi SC, (cyflufenamid), has
been granted an ‘Extension of
Authorisation for Minor Use’
(EAMU) to allow applications to
bemade on pumpkins and
winter squash.
Vivian Powell, Crop Protection
Senior Scientist at AHDB
explains why this is an
important development for the
speciality crops sector.
“Previously, pumpkins were
the only cucurbit not included
under the product label for
Takumi SC, or subsequent
EAMUs. Andwith an estimated
10million pumpkins grown in
the UK every year, due partly to
the growing popularity of
Halloween but also as a result
of growing consumer demand
for local and seasonal produce,
it’s become a key crop for some
growers.
“Powdery mildew is a big
problem in pumpkins. It’s an
aggressive pathogen and can
seriously affect the leaf quality
and development of the crop,”
she explains.
“The disease can also occur
at any time during the season,
and as a result can cause
significant financial losses if
not identified and controlled
early.
“Pumpkins have a huge
market in the UK, and are of
high value to the industry but
visible damage can render
them unsaleable. Therefore,
EAMU’s are of critical
importance to ensure that
there are product options to
protect speciality crops.
“EAMU’s are vital for UK
growers to continue to
produce pumpkins andwinter
squash tomeet demand, while
protecting against disease.”
Takumi SC has a one day
harvest interval, providing
flexibility for growers. The
EAMU approval states that for
use of Takumi SC on pumpkin
crops, themaximum individual
dose is 150ml/Ha. Growers
canmake amaximum of two
applications per crop, per year,
providing a seven-day interval
is left between applications.
“S
S
eed technology
plays a significant
role in obtaining
the best start for crops, from
assisting seed performance in
cold, stressed conditions, to the
early control of seedling
diseases and insect pests,”
explains Rae Cook, head of seed
treatment at Elsoms.
There are fivemain technology
groups tomaximise seed
performance: disinfection,
priming, film coating,
encrusting and pelleting and the
application of plant protection
products and additives.
“With the loss of many plant
protection actives andwith new
actives becoming harder and
more expensive to find,
produce, register andmarket,
seed treatment technology is set
to expand to include biological
materials, nutrients / fertilisers
and crop enhancers - as well as
any new active ingredients
gaining registration,” says Rae
Cook.
Seed treatments –
what’s available
“At Elsoms we disinfect seed
as amatter of course, to
produce cleaner, healthier
seed,” explains Phillip Ayres,
technical sales manager for seed
treatment. “The processes
reduce seedmicrobes, seed-
borne and fungal pathogens.
This is an area of continued
focus and remains one of our
highest priorities.
“Priming is an exact science
that gives an improvement in
germination and amore rapid
and uniform establishment. It
can be used to break natural
dormancy in various seed types.
For example, where seed lots
are difficult to germinate, such
as parsnips, or where the seed
lot is of a lower than usual seed
quality, priming can be used to
increase the germination to a
commercially usable level. Better
crop stands inevitably lead to
improvedmarketable yields.”
The diversity of characteristics
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96
SEED TREATMENT
ADVANCES
CONTINUE APACE
Established seed treatments encompass a range of
biological, physical and chemical agents and techniques
to provide protection and improve the establishment of
healthy crops. In future, a growing range of plant
protection and other products are likely to be applied on
the seed at drilling optimising safety and cost
effectiveness, writes
Sue Jupe
.
Established seed treatments encompass a range of biological, physical and
chemical agents and techniques to provide protection and improve the
establishment of healthy crops. (Picture supplied by Elsoms).
Takumi SCnowauthorised
for pumpkinprotection
