Canada: Fungicide cleared to curb verticillium wilt in potatoes

A label expansion for Syngenta’s Aprovia fungicide, to cover additional soil-borne potato diseases, makes it the first fungicide in Canada approved to suppress verticillium wilt in potatoes. Fumigants have been potato growers’ only option against the crop disease until now, Eric Phillips, Syngenta Canada’s fungicides and insecticides product lead, said in a release Thursday. Verticillium wilt, the company said, is “one of the main contributors” to potato early dying complex, which is “widespread across many growing areas, but difficult to identify and effectively manage.” The label expansion, Phillips said, means Aprovia “can be included as part of a grower’s soil disease management plan to help protect potato quality and yield.” More