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WWW.POTATOGROWER.COM 35 regev prevails in the fight against early blight Recent trial results demonstrate REGEV hybrid fungicide delivers remarkable control of Early Blight in potatoes. REGEV is the first fungicide to unite the disease control power of botanical and conventional chemistries. This truly innovative combination provides potato growers multiple modes of action to control devastating diseases, like Early Blight and Brown Spot, while enhancing plant growth and yield. Learn more at summitagro-usa.com Always read and follow label directions. REGEV fungicide may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. REGEV is a registered trademark of Stockton (Israel) Ltd. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective companies. ©2021 Summit Agro USA LLC. REGEV fungicide may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. REGEV is a registered trademark of Stockton (Israel) Ltd. All other trademarks are the properties of their respective companies. ©2021 Summit Agro USA LLC. regev fungicide is sold exclusively through helena agri-enterprises and tenkoz member companies Julie Pasche | Inkster, ND | 2020 | 10 Applications Program 1 = Stargus 2qt (1-3); Echo Zn 34oz (4,6,8,10); Manzate Pro-Stick 2lb (5,7,9) Program 2 = Echo ZN 34oz (1,3,4,6,8-10); Quadris 9oz + Manzate Pro-Stick 2lb (2); Luna Tranquility 11.2oz + Manzate Pro-Stick 2lb (5); Scala 7oz + Manzate Pro-Stick 2lb (7) regev fungicide is sold exclusively 4089-11SummitAgro12v.indd 1 4089-11SummitAgro12v.indd 1 5/6/21 2:24 PM 5/6/21 2:24 PM Biostimulants have received increas- ing attention and column inches in recent years. They're a new class of crop protection chemicals that aren't easily categorized — neither fertilizer nor pesticide nor nutrient. But when applied to crops, they can affect growth and development in numerous ways, across the whole life cycle of the crop. For example, some biostimulants affect seed germination, while oth- ers prime defense systems or stress responses. They can facilitate recovery from abiotic factors, such as extremes in moisture or temperature, improve nutrient and water acquisition, and im- prove the quality of produce (color or sugar content, for instance). Some even promote better interaction between the plant's roots and the soil microbes in what's known as the rhizosphere. So, what biostimulant properties does phosphite offer the potato grow- er? Well, the most striking effect is on root development, where studies have identified that phosphite triggers a genetic response within the plant. This prompts the plant to reprogram its enzyme activities, stimulating root development. Studies have demonstrated root enhancement of up to 50 percent in some crops. That wasn't for potatoes, though a useful effect from application of a foliar phosphite treatment at tuber initiation has been observed in green- house trials. Tuber numbers increased by 12.5 percent. It's consistent with the theory that a potato plant with a more effective root system can support more tubers, while the accompanying in- crease in root biomass could also point to likely benefits from improvements in water and nutrient acquisition. There's also evidence (the Ameri- can Journal of Plant Sciences published results from an Argentine potato trial) that application of phosphite to seed tubers could not only reduce the time between planting and emergence, but also stimulate early growth — another biostimulant effect in action. Will phosphite turn out to have more than these two faces? Quite possi- bly; it's a fast-moving area, and there remain many unanswered questions about phosphite's true mode of action. There's also the legislative aspect. The lack of recognition for biostimulants inevitably places them in something of a gray area, though U.S. proposals for regulation have been tabled. What's certain is that with these two uses alone, potato growers shouldn't shy away from giving phosphite a priority place in the agronomic armory for 2021.