DuPont™ Zorvec® Enicade® fungicide is now registered in New Zealand and should be utilised as part of a preventative spray program in rotation with other approved fungicides. It is being released at a time when onion producers in New Zealand are looking for a new tool to assist in Downy mildew control.

DuPont Crop Protection ANZ Marketing Manager, Jeremy Cocks, said the launch of Zorvec® Enicade® in New Zealand provided growers with a product designed to improve both yield and quality. “The active ingredient oxathiapiprolin has a new mode of action (MOA) that is effective against all strains of Downy mildew, including those which show resistance to currently available products. Zorvec® Enicade® affects multiple stages of the pathogen’s life cycle for better efficacy, efficiency and length of control.”

Cocks said the fungicide is able to move systemically in plants to protect treated leaves as they grow and expand and new leaves as they emerge and develop. “To get the most from Zorvec® Enicade® growers should target the early, rapid growth phases of crops to protect emerging leaves. In positioning trials conducted in Southern Australia over recent seasons, the best results have been when Zorvec® Enicade® is used early in the programme. This is often when conditions are conducive to Downy mildew so it is the ideal option for growers.  The early application of Zorvec® Enicade® provides excellent control at critical stages of the onion crop development.”

Zorvec® Enicade® can be applied twice per crop, with a minimum of ten days between applications. The use rate is 350 mL per hectare and growers should always tank mix another protectant fungicide such as mancozeb.

Cocks said trials had been conducted by various organisations in Australia and New Zealand and the feedback from researchers, agronomists and growers had been very positive. “Zorvec® Enicade® was compared to grower standard programs and best results have been when the product is used early in the spray program.”

He added that as well as excellent disease control, Zorvec® Enicade® also had other positive characteristics which will make it an ideal option on farms. “Wet weather is conducive to Downy mildew and can be a challenging time to apply fungicide and have it work effectively. Zorvec® Enicade® is able to rapidly penetrate the leaf surface of plants and may not be washed off by rain as little as twenty minutes after the spray residue dries on the leaves.”

The fungicide has a good environmental profile. It is effective on target organisms at very low use rates and has favourable toxicity to non-target organisms. Mammalian oral, neurological, developmental and dermal toxicity are all low, as is avian and bee toxicity.

Cocks expects the uptake of Zorvec® Enicade® will be very strong and DuPont Crop Protection is committed to a stewardship program to ensure correct use of the product. “DuPont will work with stakeholders in the market to make sure growers get best value from the new fungicide, and also minimise the risk of resistance developing to the Downy mildew pathogens.”