By John Wood, Certis USA Regional Manager

We now have more materials for disease control in tree nuts. I want to introduce you to a new category of fungicides and the first biological plant activator available to manage diseases, such as Alternaria on almonds. Our product, LifeGard, is a naturally occurring bacterium Bacillus mycoides isolate J (BmJ). LifeGard doesn’t control diseases by directly attacking the fungus, bacteria or virus. It has no direct antagonistic effect on plant pathogens. Instead, its naturally ingenious mode of action triggers the tree’s built-in immune defenses against bacterial, viral and fungal diseases. When triggered by an application of LifeGard, plants “switch on” resistance genes causing a cascade of plant metabolic responses that limit infection and disease development. LifeGard’s activation of a plant’s immune response is a phenomenon known as induced resistance (or IR). It is a highly effective mode of action for battling plant diseases.

Because LifeGard acts so differently from most fungicides and bactericides, and with no direct action against a specific pathogen’s target site, it has great potential to positively impact disease management programs that are designed to reduce the risk and consequences of fungicide resistance.

LifeGard is compatible with a wide range of pesticides, including triazole, EBCD and QoI class fungicids and a wide range of insecticides. This makes LifeGard ideal for use in IPM programs. It has a 4 hour REI and a 0 day PHI. It is a residue exempt material. 

In the next column, we’ll talk about postharvest nematode control.

Until next time.