Thursday, 12 May 2022 10:25

Less blight for potatoes and tomatoes

Written by  Leo Argent
A new fungicide has recently been approved for use in New Zealand, subject to conditions. A new fungicide has recently been approved for use in New Zealand, subject to conditions.

A new fungicide has recently been approved for use in New Zealand, subject to conditions.

Xivana is intended to combat late blight in tomatoes and potatoes, as well as downy mildew in onions. The fungicide contains an active ingredient, new to New Zealand, called fluoxapiprolin.

The active ingredient targets oomycetes [similar, but technically separate from fungi] responsible for blight and downy mildew. It works by targeting a binding protein in the cellular membrane of oomycetes, inhibiting growth and preveting the transporting of sterol proteins and lipids, thereby preventing complex cells from forming.

Alongside the European Union and Australia, New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is among the first regulators in the world to consider an approval for this substance. An Australian public release summary found that fluoxapiprolin had little flammability or explosive concerns, little water solubility and no health objections when used as directed.

Xivana’s applicant, Bayer New Zealand Ltd, intends to import the product as a concentrate to be applied using ground-based or aerial methods.

Bayer’s EPA submissions shows the fungicide would always be manufactured overseas and arrive at warehouses in Auckland and Christchurch as a finished, packaged product ready for sale to professional users.

“Late blight is the most economically destructive disease of potatoes and outdoor tomato crops in this country; New options for controlling downy mildew are [also] desperately needed,” says Dr Chris Hill, general manager of the EPA’s hazardous substances group.

He says the EPA considers that the new active ingredient, fluoxapiprolin, represents a significant benefit, as it could provide an additional tool for growers that is less hazardous than most comparable fungicides currently available on the market.

Hill adds that with potato exports slowly rising in value and tomato and onion remaining steady, this makes any new advantage for growers highly welcome.

The EPA is responsible for regulating chemicals and other dangerous goods and substances under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.

“We put rules in place to manage the risks of hazardous substances and to safeguard people and the environment,” says Hill.

“In granting approval for Xivana, strict rules have been set for its use. These include a maximum of three uses [1,000 ml/ha per use] a year per crop, at a restricted amount. Use of new fungicide is also restricted to professional users in commercial settings.”

More like this

Oz tomato seed imports banned

Biosecurity New Zealand has placed import restrictions on tomato seed imports from Australia after the detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus at two South Australian growing properties.

Wattie's whopper tomato harvest

Wattie’s says the latest tomato harvest season has seen some of the highest yielding tomato paddocks in the company’s 50-year history.

Featured

State farmer opens pathway to ownership for more Kiwis

In a landmark move, the state-owned farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) is making four of its 44 dairy farms available for people wishing to take up various contracts including herd-owning, share milking, variable order share milking and contract milking.

Coming to a beach near you!

The popular Surfing for Farmers programme, which gives farmers a well-earned break from life on the farm, starts its eighth season from November 5.

MilkHub sold

Milk vat manufacturer DTS is selling its dairy automation business to MilktechNZ.

National

Scanning data at your fingertips

A partnership between two technology companies in Hawke's Bay is making orchard data more easily accessible to growers using new…

Iwi eyes hort for progress

A post settlement treaty organisation in Wairoa is banking on horticulture to boost employment and income for its people.

Machinery & Products

NH unveils specialty tractor

New Holland recently showcased its new-generation T4.120 F specialty tractor, giving New Zealand customers a closer look at the winner…

Combining track and tyre

While the last fifty years has seen massive evolution and development of the humble tractor tyre, the last two decades…

Croplands goes nuts with Nelson

Croplands and Nelson Manufacturing Company Inc, a California-based manufacturer of air-blast sprayers, has announced a new distribution partnership to deliver…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'Mea culpa'

OPINION: The Reserve Bank’s rate cut is great news, albeit a bit late, but your old mate agrees with Act…

Fast tracked

OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions…

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter