March 2011. An article was posted about new biopesticides (see below) and members were asked if they have any experience with their use.

This is what was said:

1) SERENADE (Bacillus subtilis) This has been approved for use in UK for about 2 years. Approval is for use on ornamental and most edible crops. It is labelled for control of Botrytis. It does have activity against some other foliar diseases, including powdery mildew, but no useful effect against downy mildew. When used alone or in combination with a non-organic chemical such as sulphur, it has some control of powdery mildew, but is not as effective as modern synthetic chemicals. It is recommended for use on indoor lettuce crops. When used in a spray programme with approved synthetic chemicals it is providing enhanced levels of control of Botrytis and Rhizoctonia, particularly during the winter. The product can be applied through a fan assisted ULV sprayer and there is no harvest interval. The ability to apply through a ULV machine is a great benefit as the application can be made without entering or disturbing the crop and applied frequently. Most fungicides applied during the winter have long harvest intervals, and most are not permitted for application through a ULV machine, so applications of fungicide must be made early in the life of the crop. When used for control of powdery mildew in roses it was not effective, probably due to the rapid rate of growth of the flower stems. Serenade is not systemic so must be in place before the disease arrives, which is not feasible in mid summer. Serenade is expected to have some activity against soil fungi, e.g., Pythium, but use as a drench is not formally approved. 2) RHAPSODY (Bacillus subtilis)
In Canada, this is labeled for Pythium in ornamentals. Besides B. subtilis, there are commercial products containing Streptomyces, Trichoderma and Gliocladium available.
Replies

AgraQuest, a biotechnology company, have designed a new fungicide in their Serenade assortment. This new fungicide protects young plants against the profit-robbing effects of soil diseases. SERENADE(r) SOIL quickly builds a disease protection zone around the seed. As the seedling grows, the beneficial bacteria in SERENADE SOIL continue to grow, expanding the disease protection zone and attaching themselves,like armor, to the roots of the plant.

Serenade soil was introduced in the USA in 2010 and has treated more than 40,000 potato acres, as well as acres of tomatoes and cucurbits. “Serenade soil controls soil diseases, activates the plant’s own defense mechanisms and promotes growth processes and confers stress resistance”, explains Ashish Malik of AgraQuest.

Besides Serenade fungicide, AgraQuests also have Requiem and Sonata fungicide. “REQUIEM is a sucking pest insecticide that protects high-value fruits, vegetables and perennials from the scarring, yield losses and viruses these pests can cause. SONATA fungicide offers multiple levels of activity to control a broad spectrum of diseases in
fruits, vegetables and row crops.”

The company has the world’s largest R&D team dedicated to discovery of novel biopesticides. BASF is in charge of the sales outside the NAFTA-region. “We are expanding to Europe. As this continent is looking for more products approved for spraying on the crops.”

For more information contact: www.agraquest.com

Publication date: 3/11/2011