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
Upcoming Events
How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class
February 7, 2023
Highland, NY
The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course at 5 locations in NYS in January and February for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business. We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.
Apple Leafcurling Midge IPM - Webinar

February 16, 2023
In recent years, the apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) has become an increasingly problematic pest in many orchards across the northeast.
Western NY Fruit Conference - "State of the Industry"

February 27 - February 28, 2023
Henrietta, NY
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a muti-day fruit conference in WNY! This is replacing our Winter Fruit Schools. Tentative Agenda is now available.