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- Initial Research on OxiDate looks Promising for Potatoes
- By Karen Gentry
Associate Editor
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- Initial trials at Michigan State University (MSU) indicate that OxiDate will control some of the potato storage pathogens at the recommended application rates.
OxiDate applied during post harvest of potatoes looks promising, according to data from MSU researchers Willie Kirk, Roger Brook and Joey Norikane. They are continuing their research on OxiDate and potatoes in storage and are expected to have more complete results after the potato harvest season is complete, according to Kirk.
“With post harvest applications of OxiDate into storage, we’re happy with what we’ve seen so far,” said Kirk. “Control of surface pathogens looks really good,” he said.
Potato storages going bad are potentially a multi-million dollar problem, according to Kirk. The researchers tested Purogene, which requires a Section 18; OxiDate, registered in 1999; and water as the control group. OxiDate is a product of BioSafe Systems, a company based in Connecticut that develops biodegradable test control products.
OxiDate was applied at the recommended rate going into storage and will be monitored throughout the storage season from October until May. “We’ll be checking the efficacy throughout that time,” Kirk said.
The late blight test has not been completed but initial indications are that there is little growth of the late blight colony on OxiDate-impregnated plates, according to Kirk. Pathogens that are deep-seated within tubers are unlikely to be controlled by OxiDate. Tubers that were treated with OxiDate (rate quivalent=1,000 ppm) and surface/wound inoculated with storage pathogens will also be evaluated.
Kirk said care should be taken when following the specific BioSafe recommendations as it is not common practice to wet tubers to run off while loading potato storage bins. Rather, without the benefit of having done any trials, he speculates that a wetting rate more similar to Mertect application rates should be used, i.e. one gallon of solution per 2,000 pounds of tubers. A wetting agent should also be applied to ensure good coverage but it is essential that no more than one gallon of solution be applied per 2,000 pounds of tubers.
Rob Larose, president of BioSafe Systems, said all of his company’s products are part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) reduced risk pesticides in the marketplace. Besides potatoes OxiDate is registered for use on 70 different crops including a large variety of vegetables grown in the greenhouse or in the field, Larose said.
“OxiDate is a non-residual product that works immediately on contact,” Larose said. He said OxiDate is one of the only products capable of killing a spore, which is a seed to fungal diseases. He said the product has worked well in Florida on peppers, tomatoes and leafy vegetables.
Because there’s no residue with OxiDate, growers can spray and harvest in the same day, according to Larose. OxiDate is primarily used as potatoes go into storage. Researchers will also directly inject OxiDate into the humidification system within a potato storage, he said.
MSU recommendations
Pre-storage for control of fusarium tuber rot, bacterial soft rot, silver scurf, early blight, late blight: one gallon per ton rate of application, spray diluted solution on tubers to run off to achieve full and even coverage. An additional surfactant can be added as needed to aid in sticking (BioSafe does not recommend any specific sticker). They also recommend direct injection into humidification water for post-harvest potatoes in storage: same diseases as above at 1.25-0.5 fl oz/gal of water. No specific interval is recommended, but initially it would be prudent to use at least once every 14 days. BioSafe recommends use whenever the humidification system is running.
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