VEGETABLE CROPS

Insect information

New fungicide for cucurbits

New fungicide for greens (pdf)

Plant diseases spread by tropical storms (pdf)

Rain check on tomato fruit (pdf)

Team members

Program detail

Pristine is a new fungicide from BASF registered on cucurbits in late 2003. It is a combination of two parts boscalid (sold separately as Endura) and one part pyraclostrobin (sold separately as Cabrio). It is effective against all fungal pathogens that attack aboveground parts of cucurbits.

Pristine is particularly effective against gummy stem blight. It was the best fungicide tested in trials in Georgia and North Carolina. In a North Carolina test, it gave 90% control with heavy disease pressure.

BASF recommends that growers use Pristine instead of Cabrio against gummy stem blight, because both active ingredients in Pristine help control this disease. Pristine is effective against isolates of the gummy stem blight fungus that are insensitive to strobilurin fungicides, such as Cabrio and Quadris. Just as importantly, the mixture of boscalid and pyraclostrobin will help prevent resistance to strobilurin fungicides in areas where this has not yet occurred.

Pristine must be rotated with one of the older protectant fungicides, such as chlorothalonil, mancozeb, or maneb. Only four applications may be made per crop. For gummy stem blight, BASF recommends a minimum rate of 14.5 oz/acre.

Supplies of Pristine are limited in 2004. Growers who wish to try this fungicide should contact their distributors and order Pristine as soon as possible. A copy of the supplemental label is attached. (pdf 49 KB)

Get free reader for pdf files.