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Sclerotinia diseases are very difficult to control using in-season foliar treatments. The sclerotia (resting bodies) of Sclerotiniacan persist for several years in the soil and continue to cause infection of sensitive crops.

Sclerotinia diseases can significantly reduce yields in horticultural and arable crops alike. Contans WG biological fungicide breaks the disease cycle. It neutralises and eliminates the source, limiting the potential for infection. Contans WG is approved for use on all edible and non-edible crops.

Contans WG is a water dispersible granule for the control of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor when used as a soil treatment prior to planting any edible and non-edible crop.

Based on a naturally-occurring fungus, Coniothyrium minitans, Contans WG reduces disease loading by attacking and destroying the sclerotia and mycelial growth (seen as white mould) in the soil. Applied pre-planting, it effectively cleanses the soil of Sclerotinia, improving its health within the crop rotation.

You can use Contans WG as part of an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) or ICS (Integrated Crop Solution) programme for lasting protection from Sclerotinia disease within the rotation. Indeed, it is an ideal complement to foliar treatments such as Nativo 75WG, Rudis or Serenade ASO (under EAMU 20130706*).

It’s important to consider Contans WG as a rotational tool. A one-time treatment destroys up to 80-95% of sclerotia, but this potentially leaves sufficient resting bodies in the soil to allow further infection where there are particularly heavy Sclerotiniainfestations. Multi-year rotational treatments, in combination with foliar products, will provide the solution to sustainedSclerotinia management programmes.

Applied pre-planting, Contans WG should be mechanically incorporated into the soil, ideally to a depth of 5-10 cm (from where the sclerotia germinate)
C. minitans needs 2-3 months to destroy fully Sclerotinia structures, but viability is typically inhibited much sooner.
Storage at low temperature (e.g. 4°C) can give up to 24 months’ shelf-life

Contans WG can help deliver sustainable crop protection. As part of an integrated programme, it enhances pest and residue management and is safe to beneficial insects and organis

FOR USE ONLY AS AN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL FUNGICIDE

ALL EDIBLE AND NON-EDIBLE CROPS
Maximum individual dose: 4 kg product/ha (for incorporation up to a 10 cm soil depth) or 8 kg product/ha (for incorporation up to a 20 cm soil depth)
Maximum number of treatments: One per crop
Latest time of application: Pre-planting of the crop
Other Specific Restrictions: Contains Coniothyrium minitans, strain CON/M/91-08. Micro-organisms may have the potential to provoke sensitising reactions. Non-returnable containers must not be re-used for any purpose.

Batch N°/Production Date
Storage temperature: 20°C
Maximum period of product viability from the date of dispatch: 2 weeks

Batch N°/Production Date
Storage temperature: <15°C
Maximum period of product viability from the date of dispatch: 3 weeks

Batch N°/Production Date
Storage temperature: <4°C
Maximum period of product viability from the date of dispatch: At least 6 months

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
IMPORTANT: This information is approved as part of the product label. All instructions within this section must be read carefully in order to obtain safe and successful use of this product.

General Information
- Contans WG is a water dispersible granule for the control of sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor in the soil.
- Contans WG contains 1 x 1012 active spores / kg of the soil fungus Coniothyrium minitans, dried on glucose.
- Contans WG is a biological fungicide with a specific action against the resting survival structures (sclerotia) of the plant pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor.
- Contans WG is a soil treatment product against mentioned Sclerotinia species, regardless of the crop, grown in the greenhouse or outdoors.

Mode of action
The spores of C. minitans germinate in moist soil. The mycelium of C. minitans attacks the resting survival structures (sclerotia) of the pathogens Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor in the soil and destroys them within three months.

Environmental Conditions:
For optimum efficacy the soil should be moist and the temperature should be between 12-20 °C.
If the soil temperature falls below 0°C or rises above 27°C, C. minitans suspends its activity and rests in the soil, but the fungus will not die. Once the temperature returns between 1 and 27°C
C. minitans will continue to attack the sclerotia.
Contans WG can be used in the soil for all crops susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor infection. Contans WG has shown effective control in the following susceptible crops and ornamentals: oilseed rape, beans, lettuce, cucumbers, gerbera, chrysanthemums and sunflowers. Other crops also known to be susceptible to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor infection include, but are not limited to: asparagus, cabbage, carrots, celery, chickpeas, lentils, peas, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelon. There are no rotational crop restrictions following the use of Contans WG.

Application Directions
Contans WG is applied by spraying the soil surface (or crop debris following harvest of the previous crop) and then incorporating the sprayed soil and/or debris into the upper soil layer. Thorough
spray coverage is needed to provide a uniform deposit of Contans WG on the soil. Contans WG may be applied in conventional spray equipment. Maintain agitation continuously while spraying. For tractor-mounted sprayers, use of a spray boom equipped with fan nozzles provides enhanced coverage.
The entire soil surface should be treated as sclerotia germinating in untreated soil will produce spores which can infect the crop. In glasshouses, untreated areas such as margins can be covered by a film to minimise spread of spores.

Pre-plant Application
Apply Contans WG at a rate of 2 to 8 kg per hectare (see table below), three months prior to the onset of disease development, to allow for the active ingredient to reduce the inoculum load of sclerotia in the soil. For example, apply Contans WG in the Autumn for a spring planting. Once the product has been applied onto the soil, the treated soil surface must immediately be incorporated using a rotavator or rotary harrow. Contans WG should be incorporated as thoroughly and uniformly as possible, to a depth of 10 to 20 cm. Treated soils should not be ploughed, either to incorporate Contans WG or prior to planting the crop following a Contans WG application. Any cultivations or planting operations must not disturb the soil below the depth to which Contans WG was incorporated, to avoid bringing up sclerotia from untreated soil lower in the profile.

Contans WG should be applied at least three months prior to an anticipated Sclerotinia outbreak.
This means on crops that are infested directly by mycelium, the application should take place at least 3 months prior to planting (e.g. lettuce, endive, parsley, chicory).
On crops where infection occurs from ascospores (e.g. cucumber, beans, oilseed rape etc.), the soil can be treated just before planting, provided that the earliest occurrence of infection is likely to
be 3 months or more after planting or sowing of the crop. This allows the active ingredient to destroy the sclerotia in the soil, before they are able to produce fruiting bodies (apothecia), which ultimately eject ascospores.

Rate of application:
The rate of application depends on the depth of incorporation

Depth of incorporation: 0 – 10 cm
Greenhouses: 4 kg per ha
Open field: 2-4 kg per ha

Depth of incorporation: 0 - 20 cm
Greenhouses: 8 kg per ha
Open field: 4-8 kg per ha

Post-harvest Application
Apply Contans WG at a rate of 2 kg per hectare to harvested crop debris. Once the product has been applied, the treated debris must immediately be incorporated into the upper soil layer to a depth of 10 cm. A post harvest treatment of the soil and harvest debris with Contans WG prevents a new contamination of the soil with sclerotia produced by the previous crop infection and reduces the contamination of the soil step by step.

Mixing Directions
Determine the volume of water needed to provide thorough coverage of the soil in the treatment area. Typically, 200 to 1000 litres of water per hectare is sufficient. The amount of water needed will depend on the weather, spray equipment and local experience. Partially fill the spray tank with clean water and begin agitation. Add the specified amount of Contans WG to the tank (consult application directions below). Finish filling the tank to the desired volume that provides maximum coverage. Maintain agitation. Do not allow spray mixture to stand overnight or for prolonged periods.
Do not tank mix Contans WG with pesticides, acids, alkalines or any product that attacks organic material.

Spraying Equipment
Conventional spraying equipment can be used for spraying. Application equipment must be free of residues of pesticides and fungicides, acids, alkalines or any product that attacks organic material.

Equipment to incorporate Contans WG
- A rotavator or rotary harrow.

Following crops
- There are no restrictions on following crops and no waiting period is required.

Storage
- Store in a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources at approximately 4°C. Keep from overheating. At 4°C Contans WG degrades slowly over time and has a shelf-life of at least six months.