As growers in the horticulture industry continue to grapple with increasing costs in dealing with crop diseases and pests menace, buying cost for the consumers is also increasing. However a speckle of light is appearing from a far. Research and biological companies are taking strides in offering solution to these challenges.
Koppert Biological systems Kenya Ltd, an organisation which offers sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs to growers which allow them to maintain healthy crops with minimal reliance on chemical pesticides, has unveiled a new product for the management of fungal and bacterial diseases.
The new product called NoPath is based on essential oils extracted from plants and is a curative, preventive and eradication product that is safe for humans and the environment. With a wide spectrum anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties, it is used to reduce microbial contamination or infection in plants or plant parts and can also fight soil related diseases. Its unique blend of ingredients helps to suppress plant diseases by disrupting several metabolic and biochemical processes. These disruptions hampers bacterial/fungal cell growth and development thus leading to death.
The mode of action of NoPath is by disrupting several essential biochemical processes in bacterial and fungal cells. These include, alteration of cell permeability, damaging of enzymatic cell systems, denaturing enzymes responsible for spore formation and inhibition of the formation and growth of biofilms.
The efficacy of this product against plant and soil pathogens has been demonstrated for Rhizoctonia solani, Ralstoniasolanacearum, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophtora parasitica, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Collectotrichum musae and Botrytis cinerea. Current work in Kenya has showed good control of downey mildew on roses, chives and basils; rust on beans and carnation; early blight on tomatoes and soft rot in arabicum among others.
NoPath can be used as a drench or spray depending on the crops and existing cultivation systems. It is highly recommended because of its unique mode of action with no risk of resistance; broad spectrum of activity; leaves no residues; no adverse effects on the plant or environment; quick penetration after application; it is compatible with other IPM and it promotes quick recovery of affected crops.
