Producers in California now have access to a new copper bactericide and fungicide – Instill which the manufacturers say protects nut trees, fruit trees, citrus, leafy vegetables and berries.
“The key difference is that this is a systemic copper,” says Sym-Agro President Peter Bierma. “Instead of providing a protective coating, Instill absorbs into the plant to provide protection from the inside out.”
According to the company, Instill provides growers new use options for copper, with disease control for different products. For example, pistachios need copper nutrition, and using Instill as a copper fungicide choice will help satisfy this need without adding any cost, it stated. For leafy vegetable and berry growers, Instill leaves no visible residue, making it possible to apply copper even very close to harvest.
Sym-Agro shared that Instill’s formulation makes the copper more active, so lower doses of copper are required to provide the same level of disease control. Added to that, when Instill moves into the plant cuticle, the copper can’t be washed off, and can last up to 21 days.
The company lists the benefits they observe:
• Reduced phytotoxicity due to systemic/translocating technology
• Tank mix options –due to lower pH
• Complete plant protection from systemic movement
• No visible residue on treated surfaces
• Easy to handle – mixes easily and stays in solution
• Rain-fast –after Instill dries, it will not wash off
• Reduced potential for russeting from copper residue on plant surface
The product also protects against, downy mildew, bacteria blights, fire blight, powdery mildew, botrytis and rust, Sym-Agro claims.
Prior to receiving California registration, the product has already been in use in many fruit and vegetable growing regions. In the greenhouse industry, Instill is marketed as Phyton.
For more information:
Joli A. Hohenstein
Ph: +1 (217) 454-0542
joli@penandpetal.com