Dow AgroSciences to market Electis exclusively

UK - May 14, 2004

Dow AgroSciences will be marketing the potato fungicide, Electis*, exclusively in the UK. Based on the active ingredients, zoxium and mancozeb, Electis was launched three years ago and has become a mainstay product in any blight control program. It will also be marketed as Roxam*.

“Electis has become a significant potato blight product. It shows excellent performance on all strains of potato blight (Phytophthora infestans), with significant activity on foliar, stem and tuber blight. In extensive trials and usage in the UK and in Europe, it has been shown to perform as well as or better than other blight fungicides. With its proven activity on zoospores, it is also an effective product to prevent tuber blight. The product contains two actives, zoxium and mancozeb, which have complementary activity. Zoxium, which recently attained Annex 1 listing, has a unique mode of action, inhibiting nuclear division. It stops the spore germ tube from penetrating the plant. This unique mode of action is distinct from all existing products and all actives currently in development. Mancozeb, the other active ingredient in Electis, is recognised as the best protectant fungicide with multi-site activity: it acts by preventing spore germination. Mancozeb is a fundamental component of the majority of blight fungicides used in the UK, due to its recognised protectant activity and anti resistance profile. Electis is a vitally important product to include in any blight program where an anti-resistance strategy is a key objective. Dow AgroSciences are pleased to be marketing it exclusively from this year.” reports John Sellars, Marketing Specialist for Dow AgroSciences.

Electis fits well into the current potato blight program designs, particularly into the mid-season and late season spray window. During the crucial mid-season period at full crop canopy, blight sprays need to provide protection for all leaf surfaces, be highly rainfast and offer some resistance-proofing. Electis is a very strong protectant and has been shown to be absorbed and to be held tightly in the wax layer. It also means that it is extremely rainfast. It also has no known resistance and it will control phenylamide resistant strains. It can also be used at 7 day intervals when risk is high and so will satisfy all the requirements of an effective mid-season spray.

“During the late season, fungicide sprays need to delay foliar blight development as the foliage approaches senescence and Electis, with its strong leaf penetration ability, will offer this protection. Electis has been shown to adversely affect zoospore release, resulting in the production of non-motile spores, which are incapable of infecting tubers. When used repeatedly and in the middle to second half of the program prior to the initial production of zoospores, Electis can protect against tuber blight very effectively,” concludes John Sellars.