New fungicides labeled for use in tree fruit - all Special Local Needs Labels
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Summary of New fungicides, by David Rosenberger
The SDHI fungicides Fontelis, Luna Tranquility, and Merivon are effective against scab, rust, and mildew, but only Fontelis and Luna Tranquility are currently registered in NY (via special local needs labels), and none of these products are labeled on Long Island due to concerns about the potential for ground water contamination. Merivon was the most recent to receive a New York label. Fontelis is labeled for use on apple and pears, cherries, peaches, plums and strawberries. Luna Tranquility is labeled for use on apples. Merivon is labeled for use in pome fruit and stone fruit.For early-season disease control in apples, these products are best used between tight cluster and first cover. Our preference is to use them before petal fall. That is especially true for Luna Tranquility, which is a premix of Luna (the SDHI component) and Scala (pyrimethanil). Scala alone is not effective in protecting fruit from scab or in controlling rust, and the Luna component, like many of the SDHIs, has only moderate activity against rust diseases. Controlling cedar apple rust on leaves is usually most difficult during the period of rapid shoot growth after petal fall, so Luna-T is does not fit very well after bloom.
All of these SDHI fungicides should be applied in combination with either mancozeb or captan. This is essential for both fungicide resistance management and because the SDHI fungicide products may not redistribute well enough to protect newly expanding leaves that develop between sprays. In most cases, we prefer to see these products combined with mancozeb rather than captan because of the additional rust control provided by mancozeb and because Fontelis, which is formulated with mineral oil, can enhance uptake of captan into leaves and fruit where captan will cause injury under certain environmental conditions. Merivon has label warnings against tank mixing with oil sprays or other pesticides formulated as emulsifiable concentrates.
The labels are in the Special registration section of the PIMS website.
Fontelis NYSDEC label
Fontelis SLN label
Luna Tranquility NYSDEC label
Luna Tranquility SLN label
Merivon NYSDEC label
Merivon SLN label
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
Week 2: Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data.
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Apple Color and Sunburn
February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game; Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : Update: USEPA Endangered Species Act and Implications for Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
2026 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course
February 25, 2026 : Week 1 - IPM Fundamentals + Tools
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 4, 2026 : Week 2 - Insects: Part 1
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 11, 2026 : Week 3 - Insects: Part 2
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 18, 2026 : Week 4 - Diseases
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.
March 25, 2026 : Week 5 - Weeds, Wildlife, + Wrap-Up
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season. Register by February 18th.