Potato Review

58 POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 MALEIC HYDRAZIDE Agronomist at E Park & Sons, Pippa Blaylock, believes it’s the added bene ts of MH that make it a key player in integrated crop management techniques, and hopes that those new to the product will take a fresh approach to its use. She said: “MH presents our industry with the best opportunity to recon gure integrated crop management in UK potato production, particularly since the loss of CIPC. “For those new to it, approach it with an open mind to understand its e ectiveness, because it o ers so many bene ts and a strong return on investment. “It’s wide reaching in what it o ers - whether that be growth regulation to ensure optimum market size, sprout suppression, or, volunteer control to minimise late blight and PCN. It re- ally is a fundamental building block within the integrated management of a potato crop.” Anticipating an increase in usage, invest- ment is taking place to investigate ways to improve the e cacy of MH and further maximise its potential. is includes looking at dose rates and variety interactions. In recent studies carried out at Sutton Bridge, varieties with di erent dormancies were trialled +/- the full rate of MH at 5Kg/ha, and stored in an ambient store at 15 degrees Celsius. Results showed that on average, MH doubled the dormancy period of the potato. One particular bene t was in in the treatment of short-dormant cultivars - useful in helping to keep stores untreated, where the store is shared with longer dormant cultivars. During the same trial, in-store suppres- sants such as CIPC and alternatives were tested with and without MH and stored at 7 degrees Celsius. Don said: “MH treated potatoes had the smallest sprout development at both 12 and 24 weeks after being placed in store. e same e ect was seen on tubers that were not treated with any in-store suppressants and those treated with CIPC. “ e trials showed that the use of MH fol- lowed by CIPC (14 days after storage loading) gave a better sprout suppression than crops treated with CIPC alone, indicating that the di erent modes of action were complementa- ry to each other. e same e ect was also seen with some of the new CIPC alternatives, with MH playing an important role. “In the same set of tests repeated in e Netherlands, it was also noted that MH was critical in preventing internal sprouting, an issue which is likely to be a greater challenge once CIPC is lost from the market.” Further work is now taking place to see if new technologies can improve the timing of application, although existing stewardship guidelines available for leading MH product Fazor®, are seen as industry best practice and Don was keen to point out that this product is still very much available. Don concluded: “We are encouraging people to familiarise themselves with the stewardship guidelines because timing is key withMH. e main challenge is ensuring the best uptake of the active ingredient, so getting to grips with exactly when to apply it could prove tricky for new users. “But this could prove an exciting opportunity for MH. It’s a product with a promising future and really will prove pivotal in the next few years.”

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