Pecan growers across Georgia and the southeastern US are taking a new look at phosphite fungicides for control of pecan scab and glomerrella. Pecan scab is the number one disease of pecans in Georgia. Gary Veal, Technical Sales Agronomist with Plant Food Systems, Inc. says his company has worked closely with UGA and USDA researchers to see whether higher rates and sequential applications would benefit our pecan industry and our growers.
Gary says, what we discovered is that phosphite fungicides are highly effective on leaf scab when used as stand-alone treatments. Higher use rates are required to achieve and maintain control of pecan scab. The current recommendation is 2-3 quarts per acre of phosphite fungicide. In the past, many of our pecan growers were using 1 quart per acre. Growers were not realizing the full potential of the phosphite class of chemistry with this low rate structure.
Another aspect, according to Veal, is that when phosphite fungicides are used early, and in sequential applications (at the proper use rate of 2-3 quarts per acre) pecan trees are responding favorably. Veal comments that growers who used Kphite 7LP in three sequential applications, sprays 1,2,3, in the 2019 season noted a dramatic improvement in the overall health of their trees in addition to outstanding scab control.
Kphite 7LP is highly systemic and moves through the xylem and phloem. Other than control of scab there are numerous other benefits to using the product early season in sequential applications. Our pecan trees have endured a lot of stress with hurricane Irma, tornadoes, and finally hurricane Michael. Root systems were likely compromised as pecan trees were wrenched by high velocity winds. Kphite 7LP will move systemically to the root system via foliar applications improving the health and efficiency of the root system while protecting against soil-borne diseases such as phytophtora.
Kphite 7LP is also the better choice of fungicides for protecting pecan trees after hedging, trimming, or whisping. Botryosphaeria is wood rotting organism that can be problematic behind these practices. Growers who have pruned in the winter months will benefit from the early season applications of Kphite 7LP. Kphite 7LP insures a heathy flush of new growth.
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Kphite 7LP is a unique formulation of phosphite that is labeled as both fungicide and bactericide. Plant Food Systems utilizes a patented process of manufacture, combining only virgin materials that allow pecan growers to utilize the most concentrated product safely. Additionally, the Kphite 7LP formulation features a unique Linear Polymer (thus the LP) chain of phosphite molecules that preserve the integrity of the phosphite fungicide properties by resisting oxidation, the enemy of phosphite fungicides.
Gary Veal
