Crop protection specialist Syngenta has advised growers that Brussels sprouts can now benefit from improved yield and quality since the Horticultural Development Council's announcement this month of specific off label approval (Sola) for fungicide Amistar.

The company's technical manager Jon Ogborn advises a combination of Amistar and Plover to reduce Xanthomonas infection with the added benefit that Amistar has shown significant enhancement in sprout button quality thus increasing a crop's marketable yield.

"After the hot, dry summer, which has kept disease levels relatively low, ringspot and Altemaria are expected to become far more active through the autumn," warned Ogborn. "Syngenta trials have shown the most cost-effective treament for their control has been 0.8l/ha of Amistar and 0.2l/ha Plover which has given the best visual disease control and yields."

Syngenta is working towards a full label recommendation for Amistar in Brussels sprouts and in the meantime has other Amistar Sola applications in the pipeline for a range of brassica crops. These are expected to be granted this autumn.

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