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Pyrethroid remains the basis against virus in seed potatoes
Regular spraying with the pyrethroid Sumicidin Super and oil has been a reliable weapon against transmission of non-persistent viruses for decades. But in the same period, seed potato cultivation has become much more sensitive to virus problems.
"Sometimes something else is said, but we have seen the same reliable effect of Sumicidin Super plus oil against aphids in seed potatoes in tests for more than 25 years. It is not for nothing that it is one of the few products with an authorization for non-persistent virus. " BASF technical product advisor Bert Westhoff is not something you can easily shake off. "I can show you the results from 1992 to 2020. We have had at least 35 to 40 tests in that period. The average picture is that Sumicidin Super plus oil gives a 75% reduction in virus infection. And third-party tests come out. the same picture."
Much changed
According to Westhoff, there is a historical reason for the fact that the effect of pyrethroids is sometimes doubted. "Dutch seed potato cultivation has become much more sensitive to virus problems in recent decades," he says. "First of all, the acreage has increased enormously. Incidentally, this is also due to the arrival of oil and resources such as Sumicidin Super† But there is more. The share of tribal farmers has grown from about 25% in the past to about 50% now. The S-en acreage has exploded from around 1000 hectares until the 90s via 5.000 hectares in 2001 to 15.000 last year. So there is a lot more seed potatoes with much stricter requirements."
Cultivation changes
Cultivation technical matters also contribute. Westhoff sums up: "We no longer have end dates and we started killing foliage later. You can wonder whether the selection capacity has kept up with the growth of the acreage. Seed potato cultivation has also spread much more throughout the country. Seed potato areas used to be much more isolated. , nowadays seed potato plots are also located in consumption areas and vice versa. And due to the milder winters we are also increasingly affected by early aphid flights. All these factors lead to greater virus risks. But the good effect of Sumicidin Super has simply remained intact."
In this regard, Westhoff points out that the good louse prevention of Sumicidin Super is due for 95% to its repellent (repelling) effect. "It is the strongest of all pyrethroids in Sumicidin Super. And that you Sumicidin Super Being able to use it throughout the season is of course also an advantage."
Top sport
Westhoff has a strong opinion about the approach to non-persistent virus. "Sumicidin Super plus oil reduces the problem by an average of 75%. The other 25% has to be done by the grower himself. That means starting with clean, preferably tested starting material. Try to bring the cultivation forward as much as possible and start selecting on time. long enough. And don't wait too long with the haulm killing. It's a long list. But yes, seed potato cultivation is simply top sport."
