UK: ICL and Lallemand to showcase Prestop at Fruit Focus
Prestop, from Lallemand Plant Care, is a biofungicide which contains the mycelia and spores of a naturally occurring, highly aggressive, soil-borne fungus (Gliocladium catenulatum strain J1446) which survives in the rhizosphere and on the aerial parts of plants for several weeks, affecting a wide range of damaging plant pathogens.
Using the product to treat soil, growing media and substrates provides protection against damping-off and root/base rots caused by Phytophthora, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium. Aerial treatments protect against Grey Mould and Cankers caused by Botrytis spp.
“It works by ‘deprivation’, through rapid colonization, and aggressive competition for the living space and food needed by threatening pathogens to establish, grow and thrive. Furthermore mycelium filaments, or hyphae, of strain J1446 are hyperparasitic secreting enzymes that dissolve cell walls and allow invasion of living pathogenic fungi”, says Andrew Gough from Lallemand Plant Care.
"The strain J1446 in Prestop also exhibits saprophytic activity on dying or dead plant tissue as it decays and survives on dead matter. This action is valuable through providing significant protection against wound invasion and is useful in sustaining population levels of the beneficial fungus,” he says.
To optimise performance, it is important to prepare and apply the Prestop biofungicide in the right way and in the right conditions. “If soil wetness and soil plus air temperatures are conducive to disease development, then they are equally suited to assisting control with a treatment such as Prestop."
Backing this point, Lallemand trials have shown that the strain J1446, contained in Prestop, is active over a wide temperature range; it thrives in air and soil temperatures of 15-25°C. Aerial growth of Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) is optimised at 18-22°C, while soil pathogens causing damping off and root rot prefer 15-20°C pre-emergence and 22-27°C post-emergence.
The product is distributed by ICL and visitors to the event are invited to come along to stand number 124 at Fruit Focus to find out more.