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A water dispersible granule containing 600 g/kg cymoxanil for the control of late blight in potatoes.

DISEASE CONTROL
Option® contains cymoxanil, which is a locally systemic foliar fungicide with protective and curative action and also inhibits sporulation. When tank-mixed with other appropriate fungicides, it provides better control of potato blight. This strategy will also help to reduce the selection and build-up resistant strains of fungi.
Successful control of potato blight requires a season-long disease prevention policy that integrates cultural control measures such as the destruction of groundkeepers and potato dumps and commencing the spray programme before blight infection. Potato fungicides may not give complete protection of blight when the incidence of the disease is severe.

Disease Resistance
When fungicides with the same mode of action are used repeatedly over several years in the same field, naturally occurring less sensitive strains may survive, propagate and become dominant in that field. A pathogen is considered resistant to a fungicide if it survives a correctly applied treatment at a recommended dose and timing, under normal weather conditions.
Development of resistance within a pathogen can be avoided or delayed by alternating or mixing products having a different mode of action The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee has produced guidelines on the management and avoidance of fungicide resistance. Details of these can be obtained from your supplier or DuPont.

CROPS
Option can be used on all varieties of early and maincrop potatoes.

TIMING AND WEATHER
Spraying should commence as soon as weather conditions favourable for the spread of the disease occur. However, at latest, the first application should be made as the foliage meets along the rows Applications should be repeated at 10-14 day intervals depending on the prevalence of the disease and favourable conditions for infection. A 7 day spray interval may be used under exceptional circumstances e.g. blight risk is already high and rain is forecast at the time of the next 10 day spray is due. The longer interval is recommended under dry conditions.
Irrigation of crops increases the risk of blight and crops should always be sprayed with Option as soon as possible after irrigation.
High-risk situations include conditions of rapid growth, irrigated crops, areas of intensive potato growing, particularly blight-sensitive varieties, when further warnings are issued, or when active blight is in the area.

VOLUME AND APPLICATION
Ensure the spraying equipment is clean and properly calibrated prior to application. Apply Option in 200-500 litres of water/ha using spraying equipment to give good even coverage of the crop. The volume should be increased in dense crops. The spray quality should be MEDIUM (as defined by BCPC), applied at a pressure of at least 2 bar.

DOSE
Apply Option at 0.1875 kg/ha (1 kg pack per 5.3 ha)
Option should only be applied in tank-mixture with other fungicides.

MIXING
Spraying equipment should be thoroughly cleaned before spraying. Option mixes easily with water and should be added directly to the spray tank during filling. Wash out container thoroughly and add washings to the spray tank. Continue agitation during filling and when spraying.