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BASF’s Merivon® fungicide provides significant disease control and Advanced Plant Health benefits for almonds at full bloom
In recent trials, Merivon fungicide outperformed competitive products
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., March 10, 2015 – New research from BASF showcases the disease control and Advanced Plant Health benefits of Merivon® fungicide. Merivon fungicide received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration for use on almonds in 2014.This is the first full season the product is available for almond growers in California.
“BASF is committed to providing new, innovative products for the specialty market,” said Nick Schweizer, Product Manager, BASF. “With the addition of Merivon fungicide to the California market, almond growers have assurance that their acres will be protected.”
Disease Control
The research demonstrates Merivon fungicide provides superior disease control benefits compared to competitive products and the untreated check. These benefits were observed on a variety of diseases, including blossom blight, almond scab, shothole and Alternaria.
In 2014 trials in Shafter, California, almond trees treated with Merivon fungicide experienced 11.6 percent disease incidence of Alternaria leaf spot compared to 20.8 percent incidence with Luna® Sensation and 97.5 percent incidence in the untreated check.
Advanced Plant Health
BASF also conducted research on the Advanced Plant Health benefits of Merivon fungicide on almonds, which includes growth efficiency and stress tolerance. In 2013 greenhouse trials in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, potted almond trees treated with Merivon fungicide had a stomatal conductance rate 44 percent higher than Luna Sensation, and nearly 33 percent higher than the untreated check. This higher stomatal conductance rate can increase plant cooling in higher temperatures, which may translate to increased rates of photosynthesis.
In 2014, potted almond seedlings in Turlock, California, treated with Merivon fungicide had an 8.8 percent increase in root mass compared to Luna Sensation, and a 14.25 percent increase compared to the untreated check.
Increased Yield
Healthy, disease-free almond trees have more energy to produce almond yield. In 18 trials from 2013 and 2014 conducted in Northern California, Merivon fungicide out-yielded Luna Sensation, Pristine® fungicide and the untreated check 50 percent of the time.
In these same trials, Merivon fungicide-treated almond trees averaged 125 pounds more almonds per acre than Luna Sensation, for a total yield difference of nearly 6 percent per acre. Compared to the untreated check, Merivon fungicide-treated almond trees produced more than 250 pounds of almonds per acre, a difference of more than 11 percent per acre.
Utilizing Merivon Fungicide in 2015
“Almond trees face a variety of issues each year that threaten yield potential, including diseases and adverse weather conditions,” Schweizer said. “Our most recent research confirms Merivon fungicide can help growers manage these issues by controlling yield-robbing diseases and providing Advanced Plant Health benefits, which help maximize yield potential.”
Merivon fungicide is a 1:1 premix of the same active ingredient as in Pristine® fungicide and Xemium® fungicide. This combination delivers longer-lasting disease protection, Advanced Plant Health benefits and healthier, higher-quality fruit.
Optimal application timing for Merivon fungicide is at full bloom to control early season diseases, such as brown rot and blossom blight. Controlling these early season diseases leads to healthy blooms, allowing for increased potential for more almond meat yield. A second application can also be made later in the growing season to control late-season diseases, including scab, shothole anthracnose, rust and Alternaria.
Graphs outlining recent BASF research are available here.
Always read and follow label directions.
Merivon, Pristine and Xemium are registered trademarks of BASF.
Luna Sensation is a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience.
About BASF’s Crop Protection division
With sales of more than €5.4 billion in 2014, BASF’s Crop Protection division provides innovative solutions in crop protection, seed treatment and biological control as well as innovations to manage nutrients and plant stress. Its portfolio also includes products for turf and ornamental plants, pest control and public health. BASF Crop Protection is a leading innovator that partners with growers to protect and enhance crop yields, enabling them to produce high quality food more efficiently. By delivering new technologies and know-how, BASF Crop Protection supports growers to make a better life for themselves, their families and communities. Further information can be found on the web at www.agro.basf.com or on our social media channels.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20.6 billion in 2014. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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