Play should start although the snow has barely melted and revealed a green which is partially infested with snow mould. The turf – stressed by the long winter and the severe snow-mould infestation – has very little chance of regeneration.

To start the season well and not to risk a severe infestation with the pathogenic agents such as Snow Mould (Microdochium nivale), Pythium Blight (Pythium ultimum) and Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia), we need strong roots and a turf surface with as much vitality as possible.

If the roots are weakened, Rhizoctonia and Pythium can easily infest grasses and once infested, there is little chance of a cure. However, effective preventive measures are available for both pathogens.

A seed treatment with PRORADIX TURF protects new and subsequent sowings. Activation and protection of existing areas can be warranted by surface treatment with the soluble PRORADIX TURF WG.

The bacterial strain on which Proradix is based colonises the roots of the grasses, and thus its effectivity continues to grow with the plant. The result:
- improved root growth
- increased stress tolerance
- better nutrient availability for the turf due to the secretion of a very potent iron chelate (Siderophor)
- improved resistance to soilborne diseases such as Snow Mould, Pythium and Brown Patch due to induced resistance

PRORADIX TURF and PRORADIX TURF WG are protective and not curative products. It is thus necessary to treat surfaces with PRORADIX TURF WG before any infestation occurs, i.e. the first treatment should begin as early as possible. To enjoy a stress-free year we recommend that the application be repeated every 6 – 8 weeks.

Bert (left) and Leo Schelling have been successfully using Proradix Agro as a pesticide for several years in order to maintain standards and to attain as good a skin quality as possible. The use of this biological fungicide results in fine tubers and also brings further positive advantages. They report enthusiastically about the results of using Proradix: “If we supply tubers with a high-quality skin, we don’t receive a bonus or anything. However, if the skin quality is not up to standard, we cannot supply them as food potatoes”.

Aardappelwereld-redactioneel-stuk-proradix-agro-jan-20101

English-version_potatoworld-magazine-2010

In 2008 Sourcon Padena carried out the first positive tests against the pathogen causing bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotovora).

The Erwinia bacteria generally survive in infected tubers showing no symptoms and migrate with the sap flow to young shoots and newly formed daughter tubers. A further significant form of distribution is the movement of infection from tuber to tuber via transport over the ground water.

On the basis of the results obtained, it can be assumed that treatment with Proradix can protect adjacent tubers from infection with Erwinia and that the pathogenic potency of infected tubers will be reduced.

Proradix against Stem Phytophthora (PDF)

Eco area results (PDF)