PRESTOP®, novelty of MASSÓ for the integrated control of diseases

MASSÓ has taken a qualitative step in the control or integrated management of diseases and sustainable horticulture, with its new product PRESTOP®, which contains an effective microorganism in disease control that makes it an ideal natural product for this purpose. Be established in the crop with guarantees, both at foliar and root level. This novelty will also enable the control of diseases such as Botrytis or Mycosphaerella, with a different tool than the chemical control that has been carried out until now.

In a context of sustainable agriculture, the Integrated Management is one of the options of control with more possibilities of future. According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Integrated Management implies consideration of all available pest and disease control techniques, which translate into appropriate measures that seek to minimize the development of harmful populations, reducing reducing health and enviroment risks.

Integrated Management programs emphasize the development of a healthy crop with the least possible impact on agro-ecosystems and promote the natural mechanisms of pest and disease control

So far, Integrated Management has focused on pest control (insects and mites), due basically to the excellent adaptation of various beneficial organisms to our climatic conditions.

Environmentally friendly control tool

PRESTOP® contains Gliocladium catenulatum (strain J1446), an existing soil fungus that is effective for the control of Botrytis and Mycosphaerella in foliar applications and Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium in soil applications. Gliocladium catenulatum (strain J1446) is registered in Annex I European. In addition, it is included in the Integrated Production programs of the Junta de Andalucía and has the certificate of inputs for Ecological Production according to the Andalusian Committee of Ecological Agriculture (CAAE).

PRESTOP® works by hyperparasitism and competition. It produces lysing enzymes and colonizes both the aerial parts and the root of the plants, competing for space and nutrients with pathogenic fungi. That is, it shows a direct control action on pathogenic fungi and, in addition, is also established in the plant.

PRESTOP® is an advance with respect to the existing products in the market, regarding the permanence of a beneficial fungus in the aerial part of the plant, so that besides allowing the control of the disease, it is able to avoid the entrance of Pathogens in the healthy parts of the crop

In addition, its establishment in wounds of pruning or harvesting diminishes the entrance of diseases by these ways. At the same time, applications of Gliocladium catenulatum (strain J1446) produce a stimulating effect upon contact with plant tissues, which improves the general health of plants. On the other hand, by reducing the accumulation of active substances of chemical origin in the crop, it is avoided the vegetative break that causes some of these matters.

This product is authorized in crops such as tomato, cucumber, pepper, aromatic, ornamental and seedlings.

Characteristics

• It contains a fungus of natural origin, existing in the soil.
• Tool to control diseases, both foliar and soil.
• Stimulates the vegetative growth of the plant.
• Does not stain fruits after application.
• Compatible with traditional, biological and integrated chemical control programs.
• No risk of resistance, no antibiotics.
• Safe for humans, the environment and useful wildlife.
• It increases the value of the harvest, avoiding some deterioration in transport.
• New mechanism of action.
• Absence of toxicity and residues.

Source: Commercial Chemistry MASSÓ