Growing buttercup squash for the discerning Japanese and Asian markets can be very lucrative. If, (and only if), the crop is perfect. One of the things standing between those healthy return is powdery mildew.
High stakes exports demand the best
Growing buttercup squash for the discerning Japanese and Asian markets can be very lucrative. If, (and only if), the crop is perfect. And it is harvested exactly when weather is favourable and contracts demand.
Ryan Pierce, UPL NZ Ltd Regional Sales Manager Lower North Island, says in the Hawke’s Bay, in particular, buttercup squash can provide decent returns in a good year. “That’s provided the crop is at its best.”
One of the things standing between those healthy return is powdery mildew. Caused by the pathogens Sphaerotheca fuliginea and Erysiphe cichoracearum it can cause severe damage to the crop’s leaves. The impacts of these pathogens are twofold. Severe damage to the canopies exposes the squash to the sun leading to undesirable sunburn damage. It also impacts the plants’ ability to photosynthesise, limiting growth potential.
Stopping powdery mildew with Kusabi
The systemic protectant fungicide Kusabi provides effective powdery mildew control. Its active pyriofenone, a novel chemical from the FRAC Group 50, inhibits lesion formation and sporulation, halting infection. Kusabi also has a strong translaminar action, resulting in outstanding distribution within the leaf surface and from one side of the leaf to the other. Ryan, says there is no known resistance in New Zealand to pyriofenone, the active in Kusabi. “It’s a product with excellent preventative activity. It stops powdery mildew at the onset of the disease.”
Ryan says another of Kusabi’s strengths is its superior vapour activity, which ensures the active reaches all areas, which could be infected by powdery mildew and where the plant most needs protection.
There is another distinct advantage to the product, Ryan explains. “It has a withholding period of just a day which is exactly what you need for flexibility around harvest. If pathogen pressure builds, and the weather isn’t playing ball then you’ve got a product that will work for you.”
Kusabi is compatible with super spreaders including Du-Wett Super-Spreader for maximum coverage and spread.
For more information, click here: Kusabi and Du-Wett.
