vegetables

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Vegetables Australia September/October 2016
Growers benefit from Root-knot
nematode control option
THE CHALLENGE TO CONTROL THE GLOBAL PEST ROOT-KNOT NEMATODE HAS RAMPED
UP WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW NEMATICIDE FOR USE IN CUCURBITS AND
FRUITING VEGETABLES IN QUEENSLAND.
unique nematicide with
A the new active ingredient
fluensulfone is now available
to many growers in Australia
and around the world.
The launch of Nimitz®
was eagerly anticipated by
many after several years of
development and now, after
a season of demonstrating
its handling benefits and
effectiveness in controlling
plant-parasitic nematodes,
growers are becoming more
confident that the threat
of future crop losses from
nematodes will be able to
be managed.
The nematicide became
available in late 2015. It is
registered for use to control
Root-knot nematode in
cucurbits (including cucumbers,
watermelons, rockmelons,
zucchinis and squash) and
fruiting vegetables including
tomatoes (not for processing),
capsicums, chillies, okra
and eggplants.
Adama Australia General
Manager Technical and
Development Andrew Horsfield
presented on the future
of the nematicide in fruit
and vegetable crops during
the National Horticulture
Convention in June. This
encouraged many interested
growers to visit the booth at
the Trade Show to discuss the
potential of the product in their
cropping situations.
“Trial and development
work continues with the aim
to register Nimitz® for use in
all states as well as carrots,
potatoes, leafy vegetables,
sugarcane and other crops,”
Mr Horsfield said.
Mr Horsfield said there are
challenges in introducing a new
molecule to the global market,
including ensuring that all
treated produce is accepted as
widely as possible by importing
countries to minimise any risk to
the Australian export trade.
“The use pattern and
recropping intervals for Nimitz®
in Australia have been initially
restricted to manage this risk
until import tolerance levels for
all trading partners have been
fully established,” he said.
“These issues will be
i
addressed with the
submission for a label extension
to include the root and tuber
crops in 2017.”
Adama is committed to the
ongoing stewardship of this
new product and as such, the
nematicide is only available
via distributors with accredited
agronomy staff to assist
growers with understanding
soil moisture management
requirements, grazing
limitations and the implications
for rotational crop intervals.
For more information, visit adama.com or contact Adama Market
Manager Horticulture, Luke Collins at luke.collins@adama.com or 0421
187 765.
The AUSVEG Minor Use Department has fielded many enquiries
regarding access to suitable nematicide options in other crops and
may be contacted on 03 9882 0277 or minoruse@ausveg.com.au
for further information.
MINOR USE PERMIT
Fenamiphos is no longer able to be used in any crop in Australia
(other than aloe vera and banana planting material) as of 23 July 2016.
Adama Australia supported the application for a minor use permit
sought by Growcom in April, on behalf of Australian Sweetpotato
Growers Inc due to the current lack of alternatives for growers.
The request has been approved by the Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority (Permit Number 82572), which allows
the application of Nimitz ® prior to Sweetpotato crops under strict
directions for use.
For more information, please visit apvma.gov.au.