Fungal Defence Solutions

Fungal diseases like botrytis thrive in favourable conditions such as warm, moist, still air.  These conditions unfortunately often arise late in the season when the grower faces constraints on the use of specific fungal sprays.  That is where a natural solution is perhaps the only option.

Fortunately one of the favourable conditions for disease is the absence of strong colonies of beneficial fungi.  So establishing a strong competitive population of beneficial fungi such as trichoderma spp is central to the natural protection of crops against fungal attack.  We believe that the best approach though is not to wait but to start early in the season – in grapes that means during flowering and pre bunch closure as well as through late summer to harvest as needed.  See our grape Earlyplan Programme.

In kiwifruit armillaria is a real problem.  Infected vines are best treated by sluicing, but to prevent spread of the disease through the soil to other vines we recommend ground probe injection of Wormtech Ground together with DRH Trichoderma.

See trial results for more information.

'We did not use fungicides last year, but instead used Wormtech Liquid regularly through the season.  The fruit stored very well, our Zespri assessment showed no rots occurring and above industry and region average for firmness. We also had no leaf breakdown to speak of last season, yet it was common throughout the area' - Willem Alblas, Hort16A orchard, Maniatutu Rd, Pongakawa, 2002.