Potato Review

www.potatoreview.com POTATO REVIEW NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 57 MALEIC HYDRAZIDE F OLIAR-applied potato sprout suppressant, maleic hydrazide, has been placed under the spotlight recently owing to the implementation, and subsequent reversal, of a livestock feeding restriction, as reported in the last edition of Potato Review. Now, as growers and processors face a future without CIPC, the industry has turned to maleic hydrazide (MH) as a key alternative, but experts have urged growers not to forget that it is an active ingredient that o ers so much more than simply sprout suppression. Successfully re-approved by the EU in 2018 for an additional 15 years following consistent unbroken approval, MH is applied to the crop whilst in the eld, not in storage, working through translocation down to the tubers, inhibiting cell division. MH: A promising future Expert discusses best usage and further research surrounding the active which is no longer restricted. Head of Technical Services for UPL UK & Ireland, Don Pendergrast, said: “Recently, MH has become mostly known for its ability to suppress sprouting, whether that be in eld, transport or in storage. “Applied correctly, it can o er sprout suppression for up to four months and beyond, whilst also o ering other key bene ts such as controlling volunteer potatoes, aka groundkeepers. “It’s these additional bene ts that increase the value of the product.” As groundkeepers can act as a host for potato cyst nematodes (PCN), they are a bridge in the crop rotation, creating further problems beyond just weed control, especially for cereal crops. ey are also an unprotected source of blight, making their control a key concern for growers. ➜ MH is applied to the crop in eld. Don Pendergrast