By Clint Thompson
Peanut planting is well under way across the Southeast. That means fungicide sprays should be applied not long after.
Brianne Reeves, BASF technical service representative, said producers should begin applying fungicide treatments anywhere between 35 and 45 days after planting. BASF provides the best protection against diseases like early and late leaf spot, and white mold.
“BASF has a really strong history with fungicides, in particular, with peanut fungicides. Provysol® is a new solo mode of action, group 3. That is unique because it is the first and only isopropanol azole chemistry in peanuts,” she said. “What that really means is that structure allows that molecule to bend and flex and allows that molecule to customize its shape, allowing for really quick and tight binding to the site of action in that fungal cell. It shuts it down really fast and is able to get in there at that binding site; shut it down quick and keep it shut down.”
Provysol® provides a quicker and longer lasting response treatment. Headline® and Priaxor® are established BASF fungicides.
Reeves is based in the Carolinas but believes many of the diseases growers experience there are the same challenge for producers in southern states.
“The diseases in the Carolinas are very similar to those in Georgia, Alabama and northern Florida. We really battle the leaf spot diseases; early leaf spot but mostly late leaf spot, and white mold. The one that Virginia-type peanuts get more often than the runner type of peanuts is sclerotinia,” Reeves said. “Year over year, I think the biggest ones to be concerned about would be early leaf spot, late leaf spot and white mold.”
If growers want to preserve Provysol® and other fungicides, they need to be diligent in rotating their chemical applications while also implementing other management tactics. “I think it’s a multi-pronged approach to control diseases. Planting date is one of the most critical ones here as well as that in-furrow insecticide application,” Reeves said. “Tighter peanut rotations can increase the risk of those leaf spot diseases, because that inoculum can stay around for quite a while.”
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