'Excellent protection during rapid foliage growth'

After the outbreak in 2023, potato growers face the major challenge this year to protect their potato crops against phytophthora with adapted strategies. BASF felt fungicide Orvego tested and came to the conclusion that it still provides excellent protection in the phase of rapid foliage growth. However, there are rules of the game.

"We started laboratory tests quite soon after the first observations of the new strain EU-43," says technical product advisor Bert Westhoff. "You want to be sure that your product does what it promises. We tested the effectiveness of the active substances in Orvego in the laboratory in 2023 in both the spring and autumn. And the results were positive. Both the dimethomorph and the initium do their work properly in the prescribed dosage. But with the caveat that we have looked at preventive use, as the drug is also officially recommended."

pot trial
Because it became clear last year that in addition to EU-43, the new strain EU-46 also played a significant role, BASF repeated the research last winter. "This time we did a pot test in the greenhouse," Westhof continues. "And fortunately the Orvego also active against the EU-46 strain. Growers can therefore use the Orvego safely and with confidence next spring." Westhoff adds a few rules. "We have to be very careful with our active substances. We currently have a reasonable package of resources and we would like to keep it that way. So use Orvego preventively and only in the period of rapid foliage growth. Use an interval of a maximum of seven days and return sooner if the disease pressure increases. In that case, also add a curative active substance."

Orvego in brief

• Contains two active ingredients
• This means good resistance management
• Effective against the new phytophthora strains
• Use preventatively