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Hit hard, hit early is the philosophy behind the new Syngenta fungicide MIRAVIS® targeted at grapevine powdery mildew between the growth stages EL-12 and EL-19, with immediate benefits from applications this season and into the next with reduced disease carryover.
Trialled at many locations across Australia, MIRAVIS, a Group 7 fungicide, demonstrated strong efficacy when compared to other fungicides, in challenging conditions.
Farmer Johns agronomist Shaun Falkenberg said the length of control in the fruit was impressive after visiting the Syngenta trial site at Lenswood, in a season where powdery mildew was prevalent.
“To see the level of powdery mildew control out here in the Adelaide Hills compared to the control, the results are outstanding,” he said.
“While there is powdery mildew on the leaf tips the fruit zone is as clean as a whistle and that’s what really counts for us. There’s nothing on the rachis, there’s nothing on the bunches, that’s all we can really ask for.”
Landmark senior viticulturist Jenny Venus also visited the Lenswood trial.
“There was lots of powdery so it was good to see a trial done in a block with this much pressure. So often when trials are done, you don’t see the pressure you need to really see a product excel,” she said.
“Powdery mildew would be one of our most devastating diseases [so] it’s been good to see MIRAVIS in a program.”
When applied at the registered rate of 20mL/100L MIRAVIS was observed to provide up to 21 days protection on treated plant material, inhibiting spore germination, germ tube development and mycelium growth.
Jenny said MIRAVIS was a welcome alternative to other fungicides and most beneficial in helping realise a crop’s full potential.
“With the EL-19 stage that it’s been given, we’ll use it early because that is the critical part of our grapegrowing programs,” she said.
“We’re getting rapid growth at that time and often we’re getting weather that is really conducive to powdery mildew. MIRAVIS will fit in really well with the early part of our programs, leading into flowering and help us kick off the rest of our program.”
MIRAVIS is registered for use as part of a protectant fungicide program at 14 to 21 day intervals. Apply an alternative mode of action fungicide at no more than 21 days after the application of MIRAVIS during periods conducive to powdery mildew infection or periods of rapid vine growth.
Jenny said growers in viticulture were acutely aware of the need to rotate and protect the chemistry, in adherence to best-practice management.
“Having a new mode of action is really good in that position,” she said. “Having that strong, robust chemistry early will make it so much easier for growing fantastic fruit.”
Syngenta Senior Technical Services Lead Scott Mathew said the chemistry’s superior rainfastness just one hour after application was another strong advantage for those growers interested in using MIRAVIS in their programs.
“When it’s applied it bonds with the wax on the leaf and also moves through the leaf to form a reservoir which gives us complete rainfastness, giving growers a 14 to 21-day spray interval to help manage workloads at this busy time of the season.”
For growers looking to maximise their disease protection program Scott recommended a joint application with REVUS®.
“One of the key things we picked up from our trial work with MIRAVIS, moving forward, is that when combined with REVUS we’re getting 14 to 21 days of residual protection against two key viticultural diseases, those being downy mildew and powdery mildew,” he said.
“As a grower you can have confidence that when you apply MIRAVIS and REVUS before EL-19, it’s going to give you piece of mind and confidence that you’re going to get a minimum of 14 days protection and up to 21 days protection.”
Syngenta Territory Head – Australasia, Paul Luxton said MIRAVIS was another example of Syngenta bringing innovative new technology to the Australian market to benefit local growers.
“MIRAVIS is a global product that we have tried and tested under Australian conditions,” Paul said.
“This focus on local research and development delivers to Australian growers a world-class solution that is locally relevant.
“This is part of our broader focus of being a research and development leader is Australia to help growers produce crops more efficiently with greater yield outcomes.”
MIRAVIS was tested in many different grape varieties (including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Frontignac, Menindee Seedless and Riesling).
In four crop safety trials which evaluated MIRAVIS at 100mL to 300mL/100L (3X concentrate application). Syngenta said no phytotoxicity was observed, associated with fungicide application, on grapevine leaves, flowers or fruit.
The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) has given approval for use of MIRAVIS on winegrapes of Use no later than E-L 19, beginning of flowering when caps start loosening, Always consult your winery for any withholding periods that may have imposed on MIRAVIS.
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