Phytotoxicity in Tender Fruit and Grapes


"Phytotoxicity" means literally "poisonous to plants". Phytotoxicity can occur as a result of air pollution, contaminated soil, and from sprays of pesticides or nutrient solutions. Phytotoxic effects can vary from mild to severe, showing up as fruit resetting, marginal leaf necrosis (leaf edge or tip "burning"), leaf death, or even death of entire plants. Different crops and varieties within a crop can differ widely in their sensitivities to various chemicals. There are also many factors that can influence the occurrence and severity of phytotoxicity including weather conditions, plant growth stage, combinations of products used, and the spray history of the crop.

Herbicides are an obvious cause of phytotoxicity in many cases and are not included in the following table. The table lists only specific warnings about phytotoxicity found on labels of fungicides and insecticides commonly used on grapes and tender fruit (apricot, sour cherry, sweet cherry, peach, plum, and pear). It is not a comprehensive list for all registered products or registered uses and does not include generic warnings about potential incompatibility for products in tank mixes. The "registered for use on" column only includes registrations for grapes and tender fruit; many of these products are registered on a wide range of crops. A label warning for a crop does not necessarily mean the product is registered for use on that crop.

Product

Registered for use on:

Warning for:

Phytotoxicity Warning (some are edited for this table, refer to product labels for full warning)

Agri-mek 1.9% EC
(abamectin)

Pear

Pear

Agri-mek plus oil may cause fruit injury to certain varieties of pears particularly d'Anjou and other sensitive varieties, when used alone or when other products are applied sequentially.…application when temperatures are expected to exceed 30°C within 24 hours of application may result in fruit injury after the use of Agri-mek plus oil.

Bravo 500
(chlorothalonil)

Peach, cherries

Peach

Do not apply bravo 500 agricultural fungicide within 10 days of an oil application as it may cause burning to flowers and leaf tissue.

Botran 75W
(dicloran)

Peach

Peach

…combination sprays of Botran 75W and miscible oil formulations of insecticides, particularly organophosphorus compounds, may cause plant injury.

Copper

Apricot, sour cherry, peach, pear, grape

All

When spraying on copper-sensitive plants, add hydrated lime to prevent injury.

(Although not listed on the label, grape varieties Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chancellor, Vidal, Concord, Elvira, and Niagara are considered copper sensitive)

Dikar
(mancozeb + dinocap)

Grape, pear

Grape

Do not use Dikar in combination with Zolone on Foch and Chelois as injury may result. When applying Dikar to Foch use at least 600 L of water per hectare as more concentrated sprays may cause injury. Do not apply Dikar under slow drying conditions or temperatures above 27°C as some injury may result.

Dikar with Imidan may cause injury on grapes. Do not use Dikar with lime sulphur. Do not use Dikar within 7 days before and after an oil application.

(Although not listed on the label, Chardonnay grapes are also considered Dikar sensitive.)

Equal 65WP
(dodine)

Pear, sour cherry

Pear, sour cherry, peach, plum

Freezing, or near freezing temperatures, particularly when accompanied by slow drying conditions, may injure or pre-dispose the fruit to chemical injury. Do not apply EQUAL 65WP immediately before, during or immediately after occurrence of such conditions. Care should be taken to avoid EQUAL 65WP applications on peaches and plums since foliage or fruit injury may result. Mixture with Kelthane may cause injury under some weather conditions.

Flint 50WG (trifloxystrobin)

Grape, pear

Grape

Do not apply Flint 50WG fungicide to Concord grapes or crop injury may occur. Do not apply Flint where spray drift may reach Concord grapes …Spray equipment should be rinsed after applying Flint 50WG before application of other products to Concord grapes or crop injury may occur.

Kumulus DF
(sulphur)

Cherries, peach, pear, plum, grape

All

Do not use on Concord, Foch, de Chaunac and Van Buren varieties. Caution is advised in viticulture especially when using mixtures with copper compounds.

Do not apply Kumulus DF when rain or night frost is expected. Do not apply if temperature is above 27°C (in shade) and high humidity prevails, or if any of the aforementioned conditions are expected within 3 days after the treatment. Do not apply under intense sunshine.

Sulphur is phytotoxic to some plants including apricots, Anjou and Cornice pears.

Do not use within 30 days of an oil spray.

Maestro 80DF
(captan)

Apricot, cherries, peach, plum, pear, grape

All

Do not apply Maestro 80DF in combination with or immediately before or closely following oil sprays. Combinations with solvent formulation of organic phosphates should not be used. The use of spreaders which cause excessive wetting is not advised. Combinations of Maestro 80DF and sulfur should not be used on crops sensitive to sulfur.

Used at high rates or in drenching sprays, Maestro 80DF may cause a necrotic spotting of tender, immature leaves of certain varieties of apples, peaches, plums, and cherries. This type of injury is most likely to occur in the early cover sprays during long periods of warm, cloudy, humid weather. To avoid hazard of leaf spotting under such conditions, use Maestro 80DF and other spray materials at lowest recommended rates and avoid drenching trees.

Microscopic sulphur

Cherries, peach, plum, pear, grape

All

See warnings above for Kumulus DF. Sulphur label defines high temperature as above 25°C.

Superior Oil
(mineral oil)

Peach, pear, plum

Peach, pear, plum

Avoid spray during or just prior to freezing weather. Do not spray if frost is expected before the trees dry.

(See warnings for captan/maestro, kumulus/sulphur, dikar, bravo, and agri-mek regarding oil.)

Sevin XLR
(carbaryl)

Apricot, cherries, peach, plum, pear, grape

All

To avoid possible injury to tender foliage, do not apply to wet foliage or when rain or high humidity is expected during the next two days.

Sovran
(kresoxim-methyl)

Grape, pear

Cherries, pear

Cherries: Sovran fungicide may cause injury to certain sensitive cherry varieties such as Van, Sweetheart, Chelan, Somerset, Valera, Vandalay, Cavalier, Coral Champagne, Angela Vista, Emperor Francis, Royalton, Schmidt, Summit and Viva.

Asian Pears: Sovran fungicide may cause injury to certain sensitive Asian pears of variety Olympic (Korean Giant).

Use special care when applying Sovran fungicide to prevent contact with these varieties and other non-target plants. Avoid off-target movement. Thoroughly rinse spray equipment, including the inside of the tank, hoses and nozzles after and before using the same equipment in crops that are sensitive to Sovran fungicide.

Supra Captan 80WDG
(captan)

Apricot, cherries, peach, plum, pear, grape

All

See warnings above for Maestro.

Thiodan 50WP or Thionex 50W
(endosulfan)

Apricot, cherries, peach, plum, pear, grape

Grape

Causes severe injury to Concord Grapes.

(Although not listed on the label, Baco noir, Chambourcin, and Villard Noir are also considered Thiodan sensitive)

Vangard 75WG
(cyprodinil)

Apricot, peach, plum, grape

Cherries

Do not use Vangard 75WG fungicide on cherries.

Zolone Flo
(phosalone)

Grape, cherries, peach, plum, pear

Grape

Under slow drying conditions or temperatures above 24°C, spray material or combinations may cause some degree of injury, especially to the variety Foch.

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