Crop chem firm Gowan Canada has picked up registration for its first biological product in the Canadian horticulture market. The product, called EcoSwing, is approved for control of mummy berry in high-bush blueberries and powdery mildew in cucurbits such as pumpkins, squash and cucumber. It’s also approved for suppression of apple scab in apples and brown rot in stone fruit crops.
According to Gowan, the product has been in use in Latin America for years. Its active ingredient is an extract from the leaves of tabog, a tropical citrus tree. The extract affects the integrity of target fungi, causing their cells to leak and helping to kick-start the protected plant’s own defences.
Gowan says EcoSwing has a four-hour re-entry interval and a zero-day pre-harvest interval, “making it a great option as a part of an integrated pest management program.” The product will be available for Canadian fruit and vegetable growers through Gowan for the 2025 season. — D.B.
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