PCC Nov/Dec 2019

Figure 4
Another biocontrol product (Afla-Guard®) not
registered yet, using barley as the carrier.
Additional Environmental Stress Conditions that the product is useful for:
What is
Anti-Stress 550®?
When to apply
Anti-Stress 550®?
Frost & Freeze
• High Temperatures & Extreme Heat
• Drought Conditions
• Transplanting • Drying Winds
When is Anti-Stress 550®
most effective?
Beat the Heat & Care
for Your Crops with:
Anti-Stress
550 ®
*One application of Anti-Stress 550® will remain effective 30
to 45 days, dependent on the rate of plant growth,
application rate of product and weather conditions.
559.495.0234 • 800.678.7377
polymerag.com • customerservice@polymerag.com
Order from your PCA or local Ag Retailer / Crop Protection Supplier
Continued from Page 8
Timing for pistachio, almond,
and fig: Apply Aspergillus flavus
AF36 to the surface of the soil
under the plant canopy with
a granular applicator and do
not cover the AF36—colonized
grain with soil. For pistachios
apply the product from late May
through July, for almonds from
late May to early July, and for
figs from early May to early June.
Specifically in almonds, application
should be timed around
hull split. If you know when to
expect hull split, you should time
application about one to two
weeks before. You want to have
the max sporulation of the biocontrol
during the hull split stage of the nuts.
The rate (amount): The proper application
rate is 10 pounds per acre. A single
application should be made each year.
A foliar spray that creates a
semi-permeable membrane
over the plant surface.
Optimal application period is
one to two weeks prior to the
threat of high heat.
The coating of Anti-Stress
becomes effective when the
product has dried on the plant.
The drying time of Anti-Stress is
the same as water in the same
weather conditions.
Proper placement:
AF36 Prevail
should be applied
within the berm
area of the orchard,
not at row
middles, so that
it will be reached
by the irrigation
system and
minimize delivery
to areas that do
not get wet.
Proper irrigation:
Irrigation is
required directly
after application.
Irrigation within
three days after
application of
Aspergillus flavus
AF36 will improve
efficacy. The AF36
product will not
sporulate without
moisture and can
fail if there is too
much moisture.
Aim for soil
moisture levels
around 13-18
percent. Proper placement within the
berm, close to the irrigation system,
will ensure it is successfully activated.
“Conditioning” of the orchard floor
before application: This is a practice
that some growers have figured out
on their own. Pre-irrigating and then
about two days later apply the AF36
inoculum and then apply irrigation
as in (d) above. Although Michailides
and his crew do not have any data to
support this practice, they strongly
believe the practice of pre-irrigation
will speed up the sporulation of the
product since the rehydration can
start as soon as the product comes
in contact with the pre-wetted soil.
A 45 Percent Reduction
of Aflatoxins is a Reality Now
Dr. Themis Michailides, plant
pathologist at the UC Davis/
Kearney Agricultural Research
and Extension Center and former
member of the National Aflatoxin
Elimination Technical Committee,
and Dr. Mark Doster have devoted
decades to studying aflatoxins and
their work has been instrumental
in development and registration of
AF36 in pistachio, almond, and fig.
Until now, Michailides notes, tree nut
and fig growers had no direct way to
combat aflatoxin. Instead contamination
has been managed primarily
through preventing navel orangeworm
damage. While as noted below, effective
orangeworm management is still very
critical and essential in reducing crop
damage, AF36 offers an additional tool
that has a direct impact on reducing
harmful toxigenic Aspergillus mold
strains and the aflatoxin they produce.
Recent Challenges with the Use of
Aspergillus flavus AF36
AF36 Prevail can result in more than
80 percent reduction of aflatoxin
contaminated cotton and corn, but here
in California, only once we reached
an 85 percent reduction (Figure 3, see
page 8) and this was only in the second
harvest (reshakes) pistachios, which
have higher risk for NOW infestation
10 Progressive Crop Consultant November / December 2019