Velum Prime is an innovative new chemical for the control of potato cyst nematodes in potatoes. Here are eight reasons why it will change the way you control this key pest in potato crops.
Velum Prime, which contains the SDHI fluopyram, brings a new mode of action to nematode control.
It is the first nematicide to act by inhibiting the target’s mitochondrial respiratory chain by inhibiting the production of adenosine triphosphate, an essential chemical that provides energy within the cell. With its source of metabolic energy blocked, treated nematodes are quickly immobilised. Once paralysed the nematodes take on a needle-like appearance. Unable to enter the roots to feed, death occurs shortly after.
Example: untreated nematodes (left) and fluopyram-treated juvenile stage two larvae (J2) of Root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) (right). In vitro assay, incubation with 20 ppm fluopyram for two hours.
One can of Velum will treat 8ha. To treat the same area with a full rate of a granular nematicide requires 29.3 containers of Vydate or 12 containers of Nemathorin.
This means considerable time savings can be achieved when handling, transporting and loading the product to and from the point of need.
Velum is a liquid formulation, conveniently applied using equipment already in place on many farms in a single pass at planting. It is physically compatible with Serenade, Allstar (fluxapyroxad) and Amistar (azoxystrobin).
Velum will provide yield protection and population management as part of an integrated PCN management plan. Use of Velum alone is more suitable under lower PCN pressure. A full dose of Velum costs around half that of a granular nematicide.
In high PCN pressure, for an increase in yield protection Velum Prime should be applied in sequence with a granular nematicide. Trials have shown that when full dose Velum Prime is applied in sequence with either half-rate Vydate or half-rate Nemathorin, on average the treated crops yield at least as much as a full-rate application of granules applied on their own.
With no minimum harvest interval to observe, unlike with granular nematicides, Velum Prime makes PCN control easier on short-season potato crops, where harvest interval could be a limiting factor.
Trials have found that Velum Prime is effective against free-living nematodes with treated crops suffering a lower incidence of sprang than untreated.
Velum is compatible with soil ecosystems. Applications of fluopyram had no influence on carbon transformation through changes to the ratio of bacterial organisms present, on a soil's capacity to transform nitrogen, degrade organic matter or on its natural pH.
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