Kiwifruit
We have two products registered for kiwifruit.
In the Zespri Spray Diary BOTRY-Zen® is allowed to be applied for Sclerotinia and Psa.
Whilst BOTRY-Zen WP® is only allowed to be applied for Sclerotinia.
BOTRY-Zen® is a biopesticide with no known cases of fungal resistance or tolerance over the previous 11 years. It has been in commercial use on several crops against several different diseases both locally and internationally. The product is, however, best used as part of an overall spray programme particularly for Psa control in kiwifruit, to prevent the spread of resistance to copper and antibiotics.
Quick Application Guide
For Psa
From Leaf Emergence/Bud Burst to Fruit Set. Apply at 600 g to 100 litres. After Harvest and prior to Leaf Drop. And again after Pruning (BOTRY-Zen®) .
For Sclerotinia
From early to mid flowering and then through to fruit set (BOTRY-Zen® and BOTRY-Zen WP®).
History
august 2021
Results from a single field study in the 2020/21 season indicated that a tank mix of BOTRY-Zen® + Timorex® Gold applied at 80-90% flowering matched the efficacy of Luna Privilege in terms of reducing the total
disease incidence (diseased fruitlets and fruit scarring) of sclerotinia on Hayward.
April 2020
The product BOTRY-Zen is now approved by ACVM as having a full claim against the disease Psa-V. For this time of the season Kiwifruit growers could apply BOTRY-Zen post harvest and then again after pruning. These are times that the bacteria Psa-V can be easily spread by orchard workers or equipment. BOTRY-Zen can also be tank mixed with one other compatible product to cut down on spraying costs. As BOTRY-Zen has been mainly applied to mature vines, it could be just as effective in applying the product as a protectant against the early spread of the bacteria in development blocks and in nurseries. Manufactured in Dunedin, BOTRY-Zen is available throughout New Zealand at all major resellers (Farmlands, Horticentre and PGG) - check the “Contacts” page for phone numbers.
Season 2017 / 18
After last seasons indifferent conditions in the Bay (and around the country as well), kiwifruit growers were hoping for a better year in the 2017/18 season. So far the start of the season has seen some warm patches with periods of rain. The climate boys have said there is a possibility of a change in the weather pattern to La Nina over the Christmas break, which could bring some higher rainfall and warmer temperatures to the North Island. After the Christmas break the El Nino pattern will return and continue. So this could be a mixed bag for this season.
Whatever your thoughts are, protect your crop from Sclerotinia and Psa with BOTRY-Zen. Earlier applications will see you through this part of the season with a proven non toxic, nil residues, no resistance problems and no safety issues with the spray applicator.
season 2013 / 14
Sclerotinia and Botrytis disease levels are controlled with BOTRY-Zen® applications at flowering. BOTRY-Zen® excludes Sclerotinia and Botrytis colonisation and significantly reduces the scarring caused by Sclerotinia and the amount of Botrytis inoculum in the canopy.
In October 2013, after the good results from last seasons’ field trials, Botryzen (2010) Ltd applied to update its registration to include a Limited Claim for Psa – Not Fully Proven. This has been granted by the ACVM. Applications for Psa are recommended from bud-burst to fruit-set, and then again after harvest and at pruning.
In May 2014 BOTRY-Zen® was officially added to the KVH/Zespri spray charts for ‘Post Harvest’ usage in controlling Psa in Kiwifruit. On the recommended Product list it states:
“Apply post-harvest through dormancy. Should not be applied when fruit is on the vines as it can cause staining. Certified Bio Gro Status. This product is available for Psa-V control on orchards that have completed harvest”.
Trial conducted by Plant and Food Research
Percentage incidence of fruit scarring due to Sclerotinia on kiwifruit vines sprayed with Rovral® FLO and BOTRY-Zen® in two orchards assessed in December 2005. Bars are standard error of the mean.
Two applications of BOTRY-Zen® at flowering (30% and 90% flowering) significantly reduced fruit scarring to a similar level as that of Rovral® FLO (one application at 90% flowering and a second application 3 weeks later).
Table 1 shows that two applications of BOTRY-Zen® significantly reduces Botrytis stem-end rot at harvest. BOTRY-Zen® reduces the amount of Botrytis on the adhering flower petals at flowering and then reduces the incidence of Botrytis on dead leaves or leaves with necrosis – resulting in fewer Botrytis spores within the canopy, able to colonise the fruit at harvest.
BOTRY-Zen® and ARMOUR-Zen® have both been included in the product testing programme being carried out by Kiwi Vine Health in their bid to control Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa).
