Botanigard WP best practice application guide Contact details For more information, please contact Certis. Certis UK Suite 5, 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD Tel: 0845 373 0305 USE PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS SAFELY. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL AND PRODUCT INFORMATION BEFORE USE. For further information with regard to the warning phrases and symbols for this product please refer to the product label. Botanigard is a registered trademark of Lam International Corp. Botanigard contains Beauveria bassiana. Mapp no. 17054
Contents Page Introduction 3 Botanigard WP and its properties 3 Introduction Botanigard WP is a microbiological insecticide based on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. The product is formulated as a wettable powder and contains a minimum of 44 Billion spores per gram. How to achieve maximum efficacy 4 Application timing 4 Optimum temperature 4 Relative humidity 4 UV levels 4 Creation of a robust control programme 5 Botanigard WP + Majestik/Eradicoat Synergy 5 Efficacy of Majestik and Botanigard WP 5 Application techniques 6 General 6 Nozzles 7 Pressure 7 Fogging 7 Tank cleaning 7 Botanigard and its properties Beauveria bassiana is a fungus which causes a disease known as the white muscadine disease in insects. When spores of this fungus come in contact with the cuticle of susceptible insects, they germinate and grow directly through the cuticle to the inner body of their host. Here the fungus proliferates throughout the insect s body, producing toxins and draining the insect of nutrients, eventually killing it. Therefore, unlike bacterial and viral pathogens of insects, Beauveria infects the insect with contact and does not need to be consumed by their host to cause infection. Once the fungus has killed it s host, it grows back out through the softer portions of the cuticle, covering the insect with a layer of white mould (hence the name white muscadine disease).this process may take several days under normal conditions. This downy mold produces millions of new infective spores that are released to the environment. A typical isolate of B. bassiana can attack a broad range of insects; various isolates differ in their host range. The factors responsible for host susceptibility are not known. Crop specific information 8 Compatibility 10 Post treatment 11 Storage 11 Contact details Back 3
How to achieve maximum efficacy Beauveria bassiana is a fungus, therefore in order to achieve the best results with this product, several factors need to be taken into account before application begins. Application timing For efficient pest management, it is recommended that treatment begins as soon as the insect pests are detected. Late evening applications will be desirable as they will help ensure that climatic conditions are at their most favorable for Botanigard WP spore development. Creation of a robust control programme Botanigard WP is effective at controlling the larval stage of whitefly. When combined with other pesticides in an Integrated Pest Management Strategy (IPM) all stages of the pests lifecycle can be targeted, helping to ensure that the pests lifecycle is disrupted, creating more effective control. Botanigard WP + Majestik/Eradicoat Synergy Eradicoat and Majestik are effective at controlling certain stages of the whitefly lifecycle. When combined with Botanigard WP in an IPM strategy, you are ensuring that all stages of the lifecycle are targeted, resulting in a more robust pest control programme. Fig. 1. Targeted control of the whitefly lifecycle Optimum temperature The optimum temperature for this product is between 20-30 C. Temperatures lower than 15 C may result in lower levels of control. Temperatures higher than 35 C may kill the fungus. Relative humidity Greater than 70% Relative humidity (RH) is recommended for maximum efficacy of Botanigard WP. Lower RH may proportionately decrease levels of efficacy. Botanigard Eradicoat or Majestik UV levels Beauveria bassiana spores are inactivated by sunlight. To ensure optimum efficacy, applications made in the late evening and applications targeting the underside of leaves will be most desirable. 4 5
Increased effects of Majestik and Botanigard WP Synergy Nozzles For improved penetration into the crop canopy 80 flat fan nozzles are recommended. Source Tomato trial - Bemmel 2011 Application techniques General Botanigard WP works by contact only; therefore to work effectively it is important to get good crop coverage. The foliage should be sprayed until the plants are wet thoroughly, but not to run-off. Equipment that gets the material to the undersides of the leaves will result in prolonged activity, as spores are inactivated by sunlight. Spray deposition to this important target site can be greatly improved by angling the nozzles on a rail mounted vertical boom sprayer upward at 45 when compared with nozzles positioned horizontally on the boom. More information on efficient crop coverage can be found in HDC PC 136 Tomatoes and Cucumbers: Evaluation of effective use of pipe-rail boom sprayers Factsheet. (http:// horticulture.ahdb.org.uk/sites/default/files/research_papers/pc%20136%20final.doc) Pressure Operating pressures should be between 2.5 and 3.0 Bar. Fogging Fogging can be a very convenient application method for growers but can compromise efficacy of Botanigard WP. Overseas experience shows that fogging of Botanigard WP can give a degree of control depending on crop and exposure of target to the product. For more information on rates for fogging, please get in contact with Certis or your BASIS qualified advisor. Tank cleaning Botanigard WP is a fungus, therefore its viability can be reduced when it comes in contact with some pesticides, especially fungicides. Therefore it is extremely important that your spray tank is clean before commencing mixing and spray operations with Botanigard WP. Certis recommend the use of All Clear Extra spray tank cleaner. After mixing with water, Botanigard WP should be sprayed as soon as possible, as fungal spores die and material loses its viability overnight. 6 7
Crop specific information Crop and/ Pests or group of Growth stage Maximum number Interval between Water L/ha Dose rate g Max dose rate per PHI or situation pests controlled of applications between applications (days) applications (days) product / 100 L water application (Kg /ha) Min Max Strawberries Whitefly* First leaf emerging 5 per crop** 5-7 600 1200 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.75 0 Aubergines Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Courgettes & squash Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Cucumbers and melons Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Tomato Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Sweet peppers and chillies Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Ornamental plant production Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1200 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 (except Roses) Roses Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1500 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.94 0 Nursery Fruit Trees Whitefly* Cotelydons fully unfolded 5 per crop** 5-7 500 1000 62.5g product /100 L Water 0.63 0 *Glasshouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum ** Maximum of 25 per glasshouse structure per 12 months Other specific restrictions: The maximum number of applications must not exceed 25 per year per glasshouse structure. Treatment must only be made under permanent protection situations which provide full enclosure (including continuous top and side barriers down to below ground level) and which are present and maintained over a number of years. Reasonable precautions must be taken to prevent access of birds, wild mammals and honey bees to treated crops. To minimise airborne environmental exposure, vents, doors and other openings must be closed during and after application until the applied product has fully settled. 8 9
Compatibility Products compatible with Botanigard WP can be seen in the table below: Good Medium Not compatible Scala Paraat Topas Captan Eradicoat Teldor Signum Frupica Karma Folicur Fenomenal Nimrod Switch Previcur Subdue Ai. Chlorothalonil energy Post-treatment Maintaining optimum conditions as long as possible after treatment will help Botanigard WP establish itself and offer the best chance for control. This can include but is not limited to: closing vents and doors, damping down hard surfaces, etc. Storage of product During the season, store in a cool dry place. Avoid storage below freezing temperatures or above 30 C. Botanigard WP stability decreases with time at elevated temperatures above 30 C. For storage between seasons, store in the Fridge. Tightly re-close the container of unused product. Do not contaminate unused product with water. Rovral Ai. Mancozeb Compatible 2 days between 4 days between application application Please note: This is not an exhaustive list of compatible products, only the branded products in the above table have been tested. However, products containing the same Ai. as those listed in this table are likely to have similar effects on Botanigard WP. A number of additional products are currently under investigation and will appear in this table soon. (Copper and sulphur) 10 11