Page 8 - Vol.39-No.1

CROP PROTECTION

cocoa is grown within an estate cropping as the ‘jorquette’. These buds grow into
system tall leguminous trees like Erythrina horizontally displayed fan branches. When
species are planted to provide upper-storey cocoa trees are planted at a sufficiently
shade. And much shorter legumes like Gli- close spacing and are properly pruned
ricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala to leave 4-5 growth points at the ‘jor-
and various types of Musa (banana and quette’ the branches of neighbouring trees
plantain) to provide an additional layer of will overlap to form a closed canopy. The
shade foliage just above the cocoa canopy. overall aim of pruning is to produce a tree
Provision of shade for cocoa by taller canopy shaped like an inverted cone with
trees in mixed stands is aided by harnessing removal of all unwanted growth below.
cocoa’s propensity for mutual self-shading. Too much direct sunlight falling on the
After several years of growth the terminal cocoa canopy reduces the rate and the
bud dies and in doing so stimulates some quality of foliar growth and cocoa pod
half dozen lateral buds at a position known production, antagonises insect pests like
cocoa mirids or capsids (Miridae) and per-
mits the growth of sun-loving grass and
broad-leaf weeds with which shade-loving Under the deep shade of the cocoa
cocoa trees cannot compete. canopy (Picture Dr Terry Mabbett)
That said the low-light, high-humidity Shade provision in cocoa and its role
microclimate which is maintained within a in pest, disease and management is very
closed cocoa canopy encourages moisture much a question of balance. Enough shade
loving fungus-like pathogens such as Phy- to minimise mirid activity and prevent
tophthora, as well as epiphytes including strong competition from sun-loving tropi-
lichens, algae, mosses, ferns and bromeliads cal grasses but with sufficient aeration and
over the trunk and branches of the trees. maintenance of humidity levels to prevent
Aim of cocoa pruning is to promote the Cocoa is what it is with specific strengths outbreak of diseases such as Phytophthora
growth of horizontally-displayed fan and weaknesses because of the natural
branches at the ‘jorquette’ to provide pod rot and stem canker caused by fun-
mutual shading by the closely-spaced deep shade environment in which it nat- gus-like Phytophthora pathogens, as well
trees and a closed canopy offering an urally grows. as copious, excessive growth of epiphytes
overall deep shade
(Picture Dr Terry Mabbett) on the cocoa trees.
Circle 7 on enquiry card
FUNGISEI, THE NEW GENERATION MICROBIOLOGICAL

FUNGICIDE, IS NOW AVAILABLE IN SPAIN

Seipasa, a Spanish company specialized as Portugal, France, Turkey, Mexico, the
in the development, formulation and man- United States, Peru, Morocco and Ivory
ufacture of bioinsecticides, biofungicides, Coast.
biostimulants and fertilizers, has announced
the launch in Spain of Fungisei, the fun- High value-added in
gicide of microbiological origin for the disease control
control of diseases such as Botrytis,
Seipasa’s CEO has said that, with Fung-
mildew, powdery mildew or mottle in high efficacy and purity, the formulation of isei, Seipasa provides farmers with a high
a wide variety of crops.
which is patented by Seipasa. The key to value-added tool for the control of high
Pedro Peleato, the company’s CEO, has the product’s action lies in its exclusive impact diseases in crops.
celebrated the recent obtaining of the formulation, which protects the micro- “Seipasa has always been one step ahead
phytosanitary registration in Spain by the bial stability of the active ingredient, in the design of natural origin solutions in
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. guarantees its conservation capacity the fight against pests and diseases. Our
“Fungisei is much more than a new entry and provides very high efficacy in the ability to anticipate change almost 25
in our portfolio of biocontrol solutions. It field. All this in a liquid formulation free years ago is what has brought us this far
is the culmination of years of research, of chemical preservatives. and Fungisei is precisely the most accu-
perseverance, hard work and effort to go Fungisei is classified by the Europe- rate example of that business vision of
one step further in everything that mi- an Commission as a Low Risk product, putting ourselves at the farmer’s side,
crobiology can bring to the control of which certifies its low impact in all aspects understanding their needs and giving
diseases in agriculture”, said Mr Peleato. of its use and application. them the tools they need”, added Pedro
Fungisei is a microbiological fungicide In addition to Spain, Fungisei is also reg- Peleato.
developed from a Bacillus subtilis strain of istered in a wide range of countries such
Circle 8 on enquiry card
6 Vol. 39 No. 1