High standards are demanded from export apples, especially those headed for the vital Asian markets. Capetec (captan) in combination with Bond Xtra provides protection against Bulls’ eye rot (BER) and European canker, with a 3-day Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI).
Apple protection that sticks
High standards are demanded from export apples, especially those headed for the vital Asian markets. Capetec, with its active captan – a crucial orchard fungicide, provides protection against Bulls’ eye rot (BER) and European canker, with a 3-day Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI).
Ryan Pierce, UPL NZ Ltd Regional Manager Lower North Island, says, “Capetec is a brilliant performer and proven in New Zealand for many years. With Bull’s eye rot and with European canker (Neonectria ditissima) also on the label, it’s a ‘two birds with one stone’ approach that will deliver for orchardists. The 3-day PHI also benefits growers, by better accommodating export markets.”
He adds that Capetec provides another valuable multi-site option for orchardists, which helps with resistance management. “Capetec works by forming a protective barrier on apples. That works as a handbrake on fungal spores by disrupting their cell processes.”
Ryan says, with a hot summer, the potential for bumper crops seems to be there. “It’s looking really good right now.” But he warns that optimism can get stopped in its tracks if orchardists don’t get their spray programmes exactly right.
Bull’s eye rot can have a severe impact on apple quality and economic returns. This reputation-damaging postharvest disease isn’t visible at picking but presents while fruit is being stored. Ryan says prevention is the best line of defence. “High value export apples including Pacific Queen are susceptible to bull’s eye rot. That’s an issue when you’re wanting produce to look perfect when it arrives and you definitely want to avoid fruit being rejected.”
European canker is also a serious threat in apples. The fungus enters the tree through wounds or fresh scar tissue. Left to its own devices, European canker can spread quickly and leads to loss of yield, killing branches and even entire trees.
'A performance' but can do even better
Ryan gives non-systemic Capetec an ‘A for performance’. At the same time, he says it can still do better. “If Capetec, or any captan fungicide really, has a weakness it’s spread and rainfastness. Bond Xtra, an organosilicone super-spreader/sticker gives that rainfastness and vital coverage to orchardists’ captan spray programmes. That means they’ll be optimising the spray’s value and potential.
Ryan says New Zealand’s climate is nothing if not unpredictable. “Growers never know what they’re going to get especially during the early autumn, post-harvest leaf fall period. And extreme weather events – like cyclones – can turn everything on its head.”
Bond Xtra helps optimise spray use, encouraging staying and sticking on scars to protect the tree from infection. “If rain is likely, Bond Xtra is an absolute lifesaver. It reduces disruption to spraying and means the grower is not completely at the mercy of the elements.”
Bond Xtra’s sticking power also means less waste from wash-off. “Without it, your spray can end up going down the financial drain which no-one can afford. That’s thanks to a better spread than conventional non-ionic surfactants due to the organosilicone copolymer in Bond Xtra. And, Bond Xtra really comes into its own for hard-to-reach areas.”
But there are other benefits. “With Bond Xtra, you’re using much lower water rates. That makes spraying faster, reduces time in the orchard, and tank re-filling. You can spray more hectares, with better coverage, with one tank fill. That cuts diesel use, which is so important, especially if there’s a bit of a distance between apple blocks.”
