The most serious disease in the cultivation of berry plants is gray mold (Botrytis cinerea). In unprotected plantations, it can damage fruit, thus yielding losses of up to several dozen percent.
The disease-causing fungus hibernates in the form of sclerotia on dead plant remains: crops, weeds or bedding. In spring, conidia develop from infected tissues, forming conidial spores, which are the primary source of infection. The most common infection is through flowers. Infected flowers and fruit die, rot or dry up.
Chemical protection is the only effective method of preventing gray mold contamination. There are many preparations on the market that are registered to protect against this disease. So far, however, there has been no preparation that effectively protects against gray mold not only strawberries or raspberries, but also highbush blueberries, blackberries, gooseberries or currants.
Switch - unique composition, unique action
The preparation that completely changes the existing situation is Switch from Syngenta. It is well known to producers of soft fruits. This measure is widely used and appreciated for its effectiveness and reliability. It consists of two active substances from different chemical groups, complementing each other in action. The first - fludioxonil (phenylpyrrole) - is a lipophilic contact substance, perfectly and permanently able to adhere to the plant skin.By affecting the function of the cell membrane and the synthesis of amino acids, it inhibits the germination of spores on the surface of the skin and prevents the penetration of the fungus hypha into the plant. The second - cyprodinil (anilinopyrimidine) - is a systemic substance.
It quickly penetrates the plant interior, also at lower temperatures. By inhibiting the synthesis of methionine in fungi and the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, it limits the penetration of fungal hyphae, their growth, and the sporulation of the pathogen. The joint and at the same time different action of both substances makes Switch one of the best, if not the best, preparation for fighting gray mold. For the same reason, the likelihood of this pathogen becoming resistant to Switch is low, and extended registration makes it suitable for use in most berry crops.
