The saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” However, April showers also can bring May disease. Heading into the summer season, the month of May is a critical time to begin prevention measures for disease pressures. Taking control early in the season can help prevent the establishment of diseases such as Botrytis bunch rot or Powdery mildew.

High-humidity conditions, paired with elevated nitrogen levels and cluster compactness, can promote a Botrytis outbreak. Grapes in condensed clusters can crack due to pressure, creating ideal entry points for fungus as well as a moist habitat for the spores to germinate.

Along with Botrytis, Powdery mildew thrives in similar high-humidity and cool spring climates. The fungal infection settles on the surface of plant tissue and occupies the top layers of epidermis cells. Invasion of this disease can cause substantial damage to plant growth, crop yield and fruit quality.

The disease requires season-long maintenance because of early season inoculum and secondary infection caused by fungal spores that can infect, develop new spores and re-infect throughout summer months. Secondary infection cycles can occur approximately every five to 30 days, depending on the weather.

Careful and proactive control not only helps prevent these damaging diseases but also reduces the risk of epidemics later. Arysta LifeScience brings a portfolio of preventative and curative protection with products such as PH-D^®, ELEVATE^® and VITICURE^® Fungicides.

PH-D^® Fungicide

A broad-spectrum FRAC Group 19 fungicide, PH-D provides excellent knockdown of Powdery mildew while preventing bunch rot caused by Botrytis and other secondary rot-forming fungi such as Cladosporium. Its unique mode of action (FRAC 19) and ability to inhibit fungal cell wall formation make it a perfect addition to your resistance management tool box. And for an even stronger resistance management strategy, PH-D can be rotated with fungicides of other modes of action. The product features a 4-hour re-entry interval (REI) and a zero-day PHI, allowing for greater flexibility during the season.

ELEVATE^® Fungicide

ELEVATE is a protectant fungicide that binds with the waxy layer of the grape and disrupts the Botrytis life cycle from first bloom all the way to harvest. It is the only member of the FRAC Group 17 fungicide class for resistance management and, when used in a tank mix or rotation with other fungicides, it delivers dependable and economical Bunch rot control. Primarily a protective fungicide, ELEVATE also provides post-infection activity when applied early in the disease life cycle.

VITICURE^® Fungicide

VITICURE is an economical and highly effective season-long option that goes beyond prevention of Powdery mildew in grapes through reach-back activity that cures existing infections. It features fuming action to penetrate the dense, web-like mats of hyphal strands (mycelia), and it controls Powdery mildew in nooks and crannies where some other fungicides can't reach. It can be tank-mixed with PH-D or ELEVATE, and when applied in a Powdery mildew spray schedule, VITICURE will enhance the activity of registered fungicides used for control of Botrytis bunch rot, showcasing how the product plays an important role in resistance management programs for vineyards.

Now is a crucial time to draw up your plan for May disease. To learn which lineup of fungicide is best for your vineyard, visit Arysta-NA.com or consult your local Arysta LifeScience sales representative.

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