Fungicide adds to pea disease control options

Bean fungicide, Signum (pyraclostrobin + boscalid), has had its approval extended to combining and vining peas for this season.

In trials, the product has given good control of leaf and pod spot in peas, Jonathan Ball of manufacturer BASF says. “It reduced the level of disease on the bottom of the plant down from 91% to 55%, better than an azoxystrobin + chlorothalonil mix.

“More importantly, 0.5kg/ha applied between flowering and first pods visible resulted in 16% extra yield over the untreated, which was 5% more than azoxystrobin + chlorothalonil. Signum also gave better control of powdery mildew than the standards.”

In combining peas, leaf and pod spot are the main diseases to look out for, PGRO’s Anthony Biddle says. “But marrowfats also commonly suffer from powdery mildew when the weather is warm and dry. A two spray programme may be worthwhile in combining peas, starting at flowering to first pod set, and followed up 14 days later.

“Signum will have a useful place in that programme, integrating it with other fungicides.”