According to Defra’s June Consensus, there are more than 14,000 ha devoted to fruit and vegetables in the UK.
There is increasing pressure for effective pest, weed and disease control against a background of higher legislative pressure that is diminishing the number of active ingredients available to growers.
BASF is investing in integrated approaches to crop protection in these markets including the use of biological control.
The main insect pest in vegetables are aphids and caterpillars. Main species specifically noted are:
These pests can cause damage to the vegetables, directly reducing yield and marketability.
Pyrethroid insecticides are the main group of pesticides used. A resistance strategy is urgently needed as resistance to this group has become widespread.
In Brassicas, the main diseases are Alternaria, ring spot and Botrytis.
Resistance is a real issue so growers are urged to use a number of fungicides with different modes of action. Signum (boscalid and pyraclostrobin) has a strong position in this sector (Brassicas and carrots in particular) because of its broad-spectrum activity and its distinct mode of action.
Sclerotinia is a very widespread and serious disease of carrots: