Potato Review

26 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY 2022 TUBER CARE good coverage is the number one factor in ensuring good disease control. This means using a correctly set up and calibrated roller table applicator with rotating twin nozzles and air assisted hood, like a Team CTC2. Many seed producers across the UK have invested in the most up to date equipment and are best placed to apply it on request. However, there is an increasing trend of ware growers buying their own kit to take control of the process treating on delivery. Liquid seed treatments applied ahead of planting have been met with caution by some, with a perception that they can delay emergence, but SAC Consulting trials have shown the effect to be negligible. In 2019, the advisory group compared several treatments, including Rhino and Maxim liquids and powders Rhino DS ( flutolanil), Monceren (pencycuron) and Emesto Prime (penflufen) (the latter two are no longer on the market). It was found that all seed treatments delayed emergence to some degree, with powders slowing growth more but a week later there was no discernible difference, with all treatments having caught up. “You might see a couple of days delay in the field, but growth is not checked enough to see a difference at canopy closure. “If you have done your risk assessment and there has been a need to treat, Rhizoctonia can be so damaging that rarely will the potential crop safety risk outweigh the benefit of treatment, particularly on crop quality,” explains Kyran. Vertical integration Paul adds that there has been a nervousness amongst seed producers about treating seed with liquids for a third party late in the season. This is because the risk of a customer rejecting a delivery can never be ruled out, leaving the seed producer with a returned seed lot that can’t go into the food or feed chain. He points out that increasing professionalism amongst growers means cases like this are rare, but any issues can easily be overcome by improving vertical integration through the seed supply chain. “I encourage ware growers to be more connected with their seed suppliers and there is plenty of time to inspect or share information on seed before any purchase or seed treatment decisions are made,” he adds. Despite growing demand for liquid pre-planting treatments, Certis Technical Expert Harry Raley points out that KEY POINTS – SEED CARE OUT OF STORE • Treatment of seed with products like Gavel may still be beneficial in January where likely to be back in store or transit for an extended period (e.g., export stocks) • Carry out Rhizoctonia solani risk assessment as soon as possible to inform need for further tuber treatments • Liquid pre-planting products offer an effective and crop safe way of protecting crop quality damaged by Rhizoctonia infection • Ensure liquid tuber treatments are applied using modern equipment that is set up and calibrated correctly • Improved relationships between seed supplier and ware producers key to appropriate seed treatment use • Powder tuber treatment option Rhino DS still offers growers flexibility of on-planter treatment Kyran Maloney of SAC Consulting says that growers should be performing risk assessments as soon as possible to work out how the disease will be managed ahead of the new season Seed care expert Paul Overton said treating high-risk varieties before grading will help maximise saleable. Certis Technical Expert Harry Raley points out that powder treatment is still an option to curb the impact of Rhizoctonia. Matt Back at Harper Adams University says an added complication is the variation in anastomosis groups (AGs) of Rhizoctonia solani present in the UK. powder treatment is still an option to curb the impact of Rhizoctonia. Many ware producers have seed delivered just in time for planting, so there is little wriggle room to handle and treat seed before planting. “For those businesses, Rhino DS – which is the only remaining powder seed treatment on the market – provides the most flexible choice, as it is applied on the planter. “As with liquid treatments, correct set up and calibration of the applicator is vital in getting the most out the product,” adds Harry.

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg1Mw==