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How to Treat Late Blight on Potato?


Late blight, a formidable fungal adversary, poses a significant threat to potato plants, capable of infecting every stage of the plant’s growth, from the foliage and stems to the tubers and stolons. This destructive disease stems from the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans, which flourishes in cool, damp environments.

Conventional Treatment Methods to treat late blight on potato

Close-up-of-potato-leaf-with-late-blight-lesions

Various traditional fungicides control late blight effectively. Nevertheless, these fungicides may appear to be costly and are harmful when it comes to environmental aspects.

Apply Protectant Fungicides

These fungicides cover the surface of the plant so that late blight fungus cannot invade it; we call these protectant fungicides. However, they are at most, effective when used prior to fungal presence.

Apply Systemic Fungicides

These are taken up by the plant and are translocated in the tissues. They fight back late blight that is already on the plant.

Use Fungicide Alternation Program

A fungicide alternation program should be utilized to lower the chances of developing resistance to fungicide. It includes using various types of fungicides on rotation.

Consider Surfactants

Surfactants that facilitate adhesion to the plant surface and penetration through the tissues can improve fungicides. This can also render fungicides much more effective against late blight.

Chemical methods used to prevent late blight in potato

Fungicide sprays

Applying fungicides like chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or metalaxyl provides protective activity on foliage to prevent infection. Regular applications are needed, especially when weather favors disease.

Seed treatments

Fungicides like metalaxyl or mancozeb can be used to coat potato seed pieces to protect emerging plants from soil-borne inoculum. This delays initial infections.

Soil fumigation

Pre-plant fumigants like metam sodium or chloropicrin can help reduce soil fungal populations. However, this is expensive and also kills beneficial organisms.

Sprout inhibitors

Chemical sprout inhibitors like chlorpropham (CIPC) can suppress late blight when applied to potato tubers in storage. This reduces infections from tuber-borne inoculum.

Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers

Applying SAR-inducing chemicals like salicylic acid, acibenzolar-S-methyl, or phosphites triggers plant immune responses and increases late blight resistance.

Novobac brings you a new product 

Our Innovative Product

The best fungicide for potato late blight- Cropium of Novobac, which is for controlling the late blight of potato. These are the natural antifungal substances produced by Penicillium bilaiae, a bacteria used in making it. It is the best choice for the environment when we compare it with conventional fungicides. In addition, it is unlikely to develop fungicide resistance.

Packet-of-Cropium-fungicide-to-treat-late-blight

Active Ingredient for late blight on potato

Cropium is a composition of Penicillium bilaiae, the active ingredient. Bacillomycin D and bilaiaene are among the antifungal compounds that this bacterium generates. These substances destroy the cell membrane of fungi which leads to their eventual death.

Cropium is better than conventional medical methods to treat potato late blight

For some reasons, people can prefer Novobac’s cropium over conventional fungicides. It is more environmentally friendly and sustainable first. The environmental and health effects of using harsh chemicals in conventional fungicides are well-known. However, cropium is derived from natural products and is biodegradable.

First, Novobac’s organic fungicide is less likely to produce fungus resistance. It does so due to its different mode of action to that of conventional fungicides. Fungicides usually attack particular enzymes or protein found on fungi. Over the years, the fungi develop a resistance to these fungicides due to changing their genes. However, cropium attacks the plasma membranes of fungi. This is a deeper process that is difficult to overcome.

How to Apply Cropium to Infected Parts of the Plant

You could use cropium to spray or soil drench infected potato plants. Mix novobuc with water as instructed in the label while conducting foliar sprays. Spray the solution throughout the plant, including the leaves, stems, as well as the tubers. According to the labeled instructions, mix cropium with water for use as soil drenches. Apply it on the soil surrounding the plant base.

Here are some additional tips to apply:

  • Apply cropium early in the morning or late in the evening when the temperature is cooler. This will help the cropium to adhere to the plant and be more effective.
  • Avoid applying cropium in windy conditions. This will help to prevent the Novobac from being blown away.
  • Apply cropium every 7-10 days, or more often if needed.
  • If you are also using other pesticides, be sure to read the labels carefully to make sure that they are compatible with cropium.

Post-Harvest Management for late blight on potato

Here are a few tips:

  • Cure potatoes properly. Potatoes should be cured in a cool and dark location for 7-10 days. It will promote healing of wounds and suppress mushroom growth.
  • Store potatoes at cool temps. You should store them at a temperature between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This will ensure that fungi do not grow.
  • Maintain air circulation. Ensure that the ventilation in the storage area is adequate. It will also inhibit the development of fungi.
  • Monitor storage conditions. Check the storage conditions frequently and remove any potatoes exhibiting late blight.

Conclusion to treat late blight on potato

Potato late blight is a major disease which may result in large scale losses if not controlled. Good prevention and treatment can nevertheless control it. Cropium is a sustainable and good fungicide that can help you to prevent this disease.

How Novobac Can Help You?

Cropium could assist you to safeguard your potato fields from potato late blight. Secondly, this technology can be used for the purpose of prevention of potato late blight. You should apply Novobac’s best fungicide at the 6 inch stage so as to prevent diseases.

Best fungicide for potato late blight can be applied as a second agent for potato late blight infections. In case you locate potato late blight in your potato patch, use Cropium to the infected plants to prevent the disease from spreading.

Potato late blight is a major disease which may result in large scale losses if not controlled. Nevertheless, it can be controlled by good prevention and treatment. Potato late blight can be prevented by using certified potato seeds, rotating crops, and using Cropium as a preventative fungicide. Potato late blight can be treated by removing infected plant parts, applying Novobac’s fungicide, and avoiding overhead irrigation.

Call to Action

Visit our website to learn more about Cropium and how it can help you to protect your potato crop from the disease. Order your pack of best fungicide today!

References:

  1. Hatem, Amjad, et al. “Inhibition of the Growth and Development of Potato Early Blight Pathogen (Alternaria solani) by Combining Penicillium chrysogenum VKM F-4876D with Some Strobilurin-, Triazole-, and Phenylpyrrole-Based Fungicides.” Agriculture 12.9 (2022): 1488.
  2. Sadravi, Mehdi, and MAHYA RAHIMIZADEH. “Ten Useful Penicillium Species.” University of Yasouj Plant Pathology Science 5.1 (2016): 1-13.

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