Contans WG can be used in the soil for all crops susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor infection.
Contans WG has shown effective control in the following susceptible crops: oilseed rape, beans, lettuce, cucumbers and sunflowers. Other crops also known to be susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor infection include, but are not limited to: asparagus, cabbage, carrots, celery, chickpeas, lentils, peas, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelon.
There are no rotational crop restrictions following the use of
Contans.
For optimum efficacy the soil should be moist and the temperature should be between 12-20 °C.
If the soil temperature falls below 0°C or rises above 27°C,
C. minitans suspends its activity and rests in the soil, but the fungus will not die. Once the temperature returns to between 1 and 27°C
C. minitans will continue to attack the sclerotia.
Application Directions
Contans is applied by spraying the soil surface or crop
debris following harvest of the previous crop and then incorporating the sprayed soil and/or debris into the upper soil layer. Thorough spray coverage is needed to provide a uniform deposit of Contans on the soil. Contans may be applied in conventional spray equipment. Maintain agitation continuously while spraying. For tractor-mounted sprayers, use of a spray boom equipped with fan nozzles provides enhanced coverage.
The entire soil surface should be treated as sclerotia germinating in untreated soil will produce spores which can infect the crop. In glass-houses, untreated areas such as margins can be covered by a film to minimise spread of spores.
Pre-plant Application
Apply Contans at a rate of 2 to 8 kg per hectare (see table below), three months prior to the onset of disease development,
to allow for the active ingredient to reduce the inoculum load of sclerotia in the soil. For example, apply Contans in the autumn for a spring planting.
Once the product has been applied onto the soil, the treated soil surface must immediately be incorporated using a rotavator or rotary harrow. Contans should be incorporated
as thoroughly and uniformly as possible, to a depth of 10 to 20 cm. Treated soils should not be ploughed, either to incorporate Contans or prior to planting the crop following a Contans application.

Any cultivations or planting operations must not disturb the soil below the depth to which Contans WG was incorporated, to avoid bringing up sclerotia from untreated soil lower in the profile.
Contans should be applied at least three months prior to an anticipated Sclerotinia outbreak. This means on crops that are infested directly by mycelium, the application should take place at least 3 months prior to planting e.g. lettuce, endive, parsley, chicory.
On crops where infection occurs from ascospores, such as cucumber, beans, oilseed rape etc., the soil can be treated just before planting, provided that the earliest occurrence of infection is likely to be 3 months or more after planting or sowing of the crop. This allows the active ingredient to destroy the sclerotia in the soil, before they are able to produce fruiting bodies (apothecia), which ultimately eject ascospores.
Rate of application
The rate of application depends on the depth of incorporation.
Depth of incorporation
|
0-10 cm
|
0-20 cm
|
Greenhouses |
4 kg per ha |
8 kg per ha |
Open field |
2-4 kg per ha |
4-8 kg per ha |
Post-harvest Application
Apply Contans at a rate of 2 kg per hectare to harvested crop debris. Once the product has been applied, the treated debris must immediately be incorporated into the upper soil layer to a depth of 10 cm. A post harvest treatment of the soil and harvest debris with Contans prevents a new contamination of the soil with sclerotia produced by the previous crop infection and reduces the contamination of the soil step by step.
