Potato growers will have a better opportunity to predict blight risks, and tailor their proactive fungicide programme to specific seasonal challenges this year.
The new Syngenta BlightCast, launching for the 2017 season next week, uses local weather forecasts and sophisticated disease modelling algorithms to predict blight risk for up to five days ahead – enabling growers and agronomists to plan strategies more effectively.
Now, BlightCast has included three prediction models: one for conventional Smith Periods; a New Criteria of blight development at lower temperatures and, new for 2017, a forecast using the Hutton Criteria proposed to model strains of blight capable of developing at shorter periods of90% relative humidity.
Syngenta Potato Technical Manager, Douglas Dyas, pointed out that websites or information systems that simply report historical data of weather conditions, when blight might have already infected, have a limited role in proactive disease management.
“With BlightCast you get a prediction of blight risks with the chance to select appropriate strategies to prevent infection,” he advised. “It has always been the most forward-thinking system, and has continued to improve to reflect developments in our understanding of this disease.”
Douglas recalled frequent reports in recent seasons of blight incidence occurring in crops, even when weather conditions had indicated no Smith Periods. BlightCast is designed to be better equipped to reflect in-field conditions, where temperatures and humidity within a dense irrigated crop canopy, for example, could be significantly more conducive to infection and development.
“An improved understanding of risk allows growers to target Revus timings to offer the best and longest protection from each application,” he advised.
“It also remains crucial to stay fully aware of blight risk when attention turns to Alternaria treatments,” advocated Douglas. “BlightCast can help ensure growers get the best performance from Amphore Plus and tank mix combinations of Amistar plus Revus or Shirlan.”
Application timing
To further aid practical blight treatment programmes, BlightCast can also be used in combination with Syngenta Spray Window Forecast – which indicates potential opportunities for in-field application over the next seven days.
“In recent years many growers’ blight programmes have been severely disrupted by persistent strong winds or prolonged wet weather that has prevented application,” warned Syngenta Application Specialist, James Thomas.
“If the Spray Window Forecast sees problems arising, it can be the trigger to get preventative treatments on earlier, and better utilise the long-lasting effects of Revus if future treatments are delayed,” he advised.
James pointed out that the Spray Window Forecast also provides a guide of the timing to utilise low-drift nozzle technology to increase application opportunities in catchy conditions and get blight fungicides onto the crop.
“When conditions are difficult, the practical advantages of Revus’ low application rate to enable faster sprayer turnaround - and its unrivalled rainfastness to ensure protection is locked onto the leaf – is a real benefit for growers,” he added.
For more information:
Mark Britton
Syngenta
Tel: +44 01223 883400