BASF expects to receive California registrations late this summer or early fall for a pair of products for use in the horticulture market.

MAX LANDES, manager of the BASF research station at Dinuba, Calif., discusses trials aimed at testing the company’s new grape powdery milder control fungicide.

One is a new mode of action fungicide exclusively for use to control powdery mildew in grapes. It is branded as Vivando. (See http://westernfarmpress.com/video/new-mode-action-powdery-mildew-fungicide-0809/ for a video presentation on BASF's new Vivando product.)

The other new product from the company is a herbicide, Treevix, a contact post-directed broadleaf herbicide for use in citrus, pome fruit and tree nuts.

Curtis Rainbolt, BASF tech service rep, told distributors and others at a meeting at the company’s Dinuba, Calif., research farm, that the active ingredient in Vivando is metrafenone, the first fungicide to be developed in the benzphenone chemical class. It is a unique mode of action, the first new one to be introduced into California in about five years.

“There is no known cross resistance issue,” he said. It is the only fungicide in Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) category 8, Rainbolt added.

Like most fungicides, it is a preventive product to be applied before infections occur. It offers 14 to 21 days of control of powdery mildew.

It is a water-based product and rapidly disperses in spray tanks with 2.5 pounds active ingredient per gallon. Adjuvants improve performance.

Rainbolt suggests growers apply no more than two consecutive applications of Vivando. It will be labeled for a maximum of six applications per season, but company representatives do not expect growers to use that many, opting to rotate with sulfur and other fungicides for resistance management.

It is rainfast after one hour.

It will carry a 12-hour re-entry interval and a 14-day pre-harvest interval.

William Strickland, BASF fungicide product manager, said the company expects federal and state labels late this summer or early fall.

The herbicide Treevix is one of the new Kixor technology herbicides coming on the market from BASF.

It is a non-volatile herbicide that is fast action, according to the company. BASF is recommending a tank mix with glyphosate to control grasses.

Treevix use rate will be 1 ounce per acre. An adjuvant is also recommended.

Go to http://westernfarmpress.com/video/new-mode-action-powdery-mildew-fungicide-0809/ for a video presentation on BASF's new product.