A NEWLY co-formulated fungicide for the prevention of late blight in potato crops, is making a timely appearance for farmers to use during the 2020 growing season.

Zorvec Endavia is a liquid combining oxathiapiprolin with benthiavalacarb in a single five-litre bottle, providing protection from late blight for up to 10 days after application.

Oxathiapiprolin was launched by Corteva Agriscience as Zorvec Enicade in 2018 and played a huge role in 2019 spray programmes, when temperatures and humidity piled the pressure on farms.

Now, the co-formulation delivers market-leading persistence, tackling late blight present in the plant while also moving in the plant to protect new growth.

Alister McRobbie, category manager for potatoes at Corteva, said: “Potato growers and agronomists have been left in no doubt over the qualities of Zorvec following a season of incredibly high pressure throughout last summer. The strength of the active ingredient created a protectant and curative product with demonstrable movement into new growth.

“Trials of the co-formulated product have demonstrated fantastic performance in the control of late blight and we expect it to be a hugely valuable tool for UK and Irish potato growers in managing increasingly aggressive strains of late blight now present.”

The inclusion of a second active bolsters protection against the risk of resistant late blight strains developing. It can be applied at 0.4l/ha up to four times during a season but are limited to three sprays in a block.

As well as controlling late blight in potatoes, Zorvec Endavia has a label claim for downy mildew in onions, shallots and garlic.