Act now to avert Take-All attack

A spell of hot dry weather this week has created a high risk of Take-All infection, not normally experienced this early in the spring. Heritage is the only fungicide approved for control of Take-All, and should be applied ahead of infection breaking out.

Rising temperatures have triggered the first sustained periods of high risk for Take-All on turf surfaces this season. Normally turf managers would expect such levels of pressure in June or July, but with several successive days in the mid to high 20's°C predicted this week (7 - 10 May) the disease forecasting service www.greencast.co.uk is warning of high risk from the south east to the Scottish borders.

The risk has been increased by recent heavy rainfall, which would have washed out much of the available manganese, leaving turf more susceptible to Take-All. High pH soils and sandy rootzones will further exacerbate the risk.

Syngenta Technical Manager, Simon Barnaby, advocates turf mangers should consider an application of Heritage when GreenCast predicts three or more consecutive days of medium to high risk; Heritage is the only fungicide approved for Take-All control. "The aim is to target Take-All disease at the base of the plant, as well as a broad-spectrum of foliar diseases that can affect fast growing turf in spring," he advises.

To ensure optimum results against Take-All and Fairy Ring in the base of the sward, Mr Barnaby advises sprayer operators to maintain relatively high water volumes, of at least 800 - 1000 litres per hectare. Coarser nozzles generally used to apply higher water volumes will also create larger droplets that will penetrate to the base of plants.

"With plenty of soil moisture currently available, and most turf managers having made their initial fertiliser applications, turf is now growing strongly, ensuring optimum uptake of the highly systemic Heritage that will reach foliar diseases," he adds. "It will continue to move within the plant and protect new growth from infection."

Mr Barnaby adds that the turn to hot, dry weather has fortunately limited the activity of Fusarium Patch, but there is some risk of Dollar Spot attack, particularly in the south and eastern midlands and on irrigated surfaces. "Where turf managers have experienced problems in the past, the addition of Banner MAXX in a fungicide tank-mix will complete the disease spectrum," he advises.

For a free local forecast of Take-All and other turf diseases visit the UK's most sophisticated turf disease decision support web site, www.greencast.co.uk

For further Press Information please contact:

Simon Elsworth Simon Barnaby
Syngenta Crop Protection Syngenta Crop Protection
Tel: 01223 883445 Tel: 01223 8834441
Email: simon.elsworth@syngenta.com Email: simon.barnaby@syngenta.com

Syngenta is a world-leading agribusiness committed to sustainable agriculture and turf management through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection and turf management. It ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs over 21,000 people in over 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SYNN) and in New York (SYT).

Further information is available at <www.syngenta.com>

For specialist Syngenta turf management information visit the web site www.greencast.co.uk