Naturally powerful disease control

The outstanding and well proven Syngenta fungicide, Heritage, now has the broadest-spectrum label approval of all fungicides. Turf managers now have the opportunity to tackle more diseases in one application than any other single product.

Extensive trials and independent testing have verified the effects of Heritage on problem turf diseases including:

¨ Fusarium Patch (Microdochium nivale)
¨ Anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola)
¨ Brown patch (Rhizoctonia solani)
¨ Leaf spot / Melting out (Drechslera poae)
¨ Rust diseases (Puccinia spp.)
¨ Take All Patch (Gaeumannomyces graminis)
¨ Type 2 Fairy Rings

"The power of Heritage lies in its origins from naturally occurring forest mushrooms," reports Syngenta Professional Products Technical Manager, Simon Barnaby. "These have the ability to suppress competition from virtually all other fungi growing in the vicinity, which we recognised would include most turf diseases.

"It gives Heritage the strong potential to provide highly effective disease control, yet it is incredibly gentle on turf and has an excellent environmental profile , which makes it the perfect fit for the most effective Integrated Turf Management programmes," he adds.

Mr Barnaby highlights the label extension covers most of the major diseases affecting turf through the spring, summer and autumn growing periods, including the ever-present Fusarium and the increasing problem of Anthracnose.

"The highly systemic nature of Heritage - the only systemic strobilurin - means the active ingredient is constantly moving throughout the plant during growth, and is not mowed off with the first cut after application," he adds.

For the best results and to maintain a premium playing surface, he advises turf managers adopt a proactive approach and apply Heritage when weather conditions are conducive to disease breaking out, but before symptoms are seen and the damage already done.

"Trials by STRI have shown turf managers can achieve better results by preventing disease, rather than fire-brigade action," according to Mr Barnaby. "Over the course of the season, the trials have shown total fungicide use and costs can be reduced by adopting an Integrated Turf Management regime and applying Heritage pro-actively."

To further help turf managers time applications more effectively, the web-based Syngenta GreenCast decision support tool - www.greencast.co.uk - will forecast disease attacks and provide information to help devise optimum treatments and spray programmes. Full details of the new Heritage label extension are available on the GreenCast web site.

"We now have the full suite of fungicide products to enable turf managers to adopt a robust fungicide strategy and to control disease more effectively throughout the year," he says.