Features Production Research
Carrot growers get emergency control for white mold

September 30, 2010,
Guelph, Ont – The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced
the approval of an emergency use registration for Scholar 50WP (fludioxonil)
for control of white mold (Sclerotinia) on stored carrots in the provinces of
Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta,
British Columbia and Ontario.

September 30, 2010,
Guelph, Ont – The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced
the approval of an emergency use registration for Scholar 50WP (fludioxonil)
for control of white mold (Sclerotinia) on stored carrots in the provinces of
Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta,
British Columbia and Ontario.

Scholar WP is already
labeled in Canada for control of post-harvest diseases on pome fruit and stone
fruit and a complete minor use submission is underway with the Agriculture
& Agri-Food Canada, Pest Management Centre (AAFC–PMC) minor use program to
seek eventual, full registration of Scholar for white mold control on stored carrots
in Canada.

White mold (Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum) is a serious disease of carrots and many other crops around the
world. In Canada, white mold is considered to be one of the major limiting
factors to the successful long-term storage of carrots. Losses of 50 to 100 per
cent have been reported by some growers in Canada in recent years. Since the
loss of the fungicide Benlate several years ago, carrot growers have had no
post-harvest fungicide treatments to reduce losses to this disease.

Scholar fungicide was
identified as a viable solution to help manage while mold of stored carrots.
There have been no new products registered in Canada for white mold management
on stored carrots in many years and control failures continue to increase. 

The emergency use registration
of Scholar 50WP fungicide will help in the interim to manage white mold on
stored carrots, however management of white mold still requires a comprehensive
IPM and resistance management program with access to all available tools and
strategies. The following is provided as general information only. Users should
consult the complete label before using Scholar 50WP.        

Scholar 50WP fungicide can
be used for control of white mold on stored carrots in Quebec, Ontario, Nova
Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and Prince Edward
Island until December 31st, 2010 only. Scholar 50WP can be applied once as a
post-harvest dip or drench immediately before storage.  Mix 227 g of product in 378 L water.
This amount can treat up to 90,000 kg of carrots.

Scholar 50WP can only be
used on carrots meant for domestic use. It is not for use on carrots intended
for export.

Follow all other
directions for use on the Scholar 50WP fungicide label carefully.

Scholar 50WP fungicide
should be used in an IPM program and in rotation with other management
strategies to adequately manage resistance.

For copies of the
emergency use label contact Marion Paibomesai, OMAFRA vegetable crops
specialist at Guelph (519) 826-4963, Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Guelph (519) 826-3539
or visit Syngenta Crop Protection Canada at www.syngenta.ca.