The California Citrus Quality Council (CCQC) is reminding California orange packinghouses that the first preharvest field application of zinc-copper-lime — or a registered alternative — is required for all orange blocks eligible to ship to Korea this season. These fungicide applications are protective treatments for management of Septoria spot. The treatment should be applied between Oct. 15 and Nov. 30. Zinc-copper-lime or registered alternatives should be applied prior to winter rains.
Registered alternatives to zinc-copper-lime include Quadris Top (azoxystrobin and difenoconazole), Abound (azoxystrobin) and other fungicides such as Priaxor (fluxapyroxad and pyraclostrobin) or Luna Sensation (fluopyram and trifloxystrobin). These alternatives are also highly effective and should be applied in November. Each of these alternatives can be used in rotation with zinc-copper-lime treatments if additional applications of fungicides are needed.