Certis Biologicals last week announced the launch of MeloCon LC (active ingredient: Purpureocilium lilacinum strain 251), a water-dispersible concentrate containing spores from a naturally occurring soil fungus that controls a wide variety of harmful nematodes at every life cycle stage.
Plant-parasitic nematodes, an unseen threat that American growers are facing in increasing numbers, can cause significant root damage to a variety of crops, weakening the overall health of plants and diminishing crop yield.
The improved liquid concentrate formulation of MeloCon LC brings a variety of advantages to growers of both organic and conventional acreage. The liquid formula provides greater convenience in storage, handling and tank-mixing, and allows for application flexibility when fumigant and conventional chemistries cannot be applied.
“We heard growers when they said they needed a sustainable product that could be applied at various times during the growing season—and even multiple times to protect acres that work twice as hard with double-cropping,” says Chris Judd, global vice president of marketing at Certis. “MeloCon LC is proven and effective while providing more flexibility in handling and applications, making it a powerful tool for IPM strategies, which contribute to increased yield and overall root and soil health.”
MeloCon LC is labeled for use in all states except California (with registration pending) and Puerto Rico. The new formulation will be most beneficial for growers of potato, sweet potato, carrot, asparagus, garlic, onion, strawberry, watermelon, cantaloupes, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, squash and permanent crops such as berries, citrus, tree nuts and tree fruit.
“Nematodes are found in almost all soils. Some are worse than others, but once established in the field, nematodes are difficult to eradicate and must be managed,” says Certis field development manager Karla Medina. “Plant-parasitic nematodes lurk under the soil, which makes them a hidden danger and a major threat to the overall health and resilience of plants’ root systems to withstand threat by other pests and diseases.
“Devising an integrated nematode management program in agricultural systems will prevent major losses to yield, and MeloCon LC is an ideal tool to control damage done by nematodes as part of an integrated program,” Medina continues. “Because plant-parasitic nematodes affect the plant’s overall health, if soils are not managed to control nematodes, they can reduce your crops’ ability to produce year after year.”
Growers who are interested in integrating MeloCon LC into their IPM plans for the 2022 growing year can learn more about the product by visiting www.CertisBio.com or contacting their local Certis sales team member or Certis distributor or retailer.