Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW November/December 2019 5 NEWS Flexible seed tuber protection o ers an advantage Certis believes there is a distinct advantage to having flexibility of application when it comes to controlling Rhizoctonia solani. The availability of liquid and powder formulations of its fungicide RhiNo (flutolanil) gives growers the flexibility of two di€erent application methods at di€erent timings. Liquid formulation RhiNo allows for the treatment of seed tubers using application equipment above a roller table or conveyor as seed is being graded, while powder product RhiNo DS is applied at planting via a specialist applicator fitted to the potato planter. l Certis has sponsored this month’s ‘timely reminder’ on Rhizoctonia solani. Turn to page 52 for details. a consequence at harvest, with variable tuber size and maturity from secondary tuber initiation as a result of Rhizoctonia infection. Damage to root systems, from the combined e€ects of nematode pests and Rhizoctonia attack, is also likely to inhibit the crops’ ability to take up nutrients and water - which could have a further e€ect on yield. It also puts plants under greater stress that makes them more susceptible to other threats, such as Alternaria (early blight), Gus pointed out. He advocates targeting soil-borne Rhizoctonia infection with Amistar treatment during planting could successfully limit disease infection and enable plants to emerge more evenly. That benefits growers’ agronomy through the season, along with assuring tuber yield and quality at harvest. RHIZOCTONIA TRIAL UNTREATED RHIZOCTONIA PROTECTION WITH AMISTAR MR AMISTAR EFFECTS ON RHIZOCTONIA TREATED TOP, UNTREATED BELOW CUF ASSESSMENT