Stagonospora infection - collected threads

[Alan_b]

If I read this correctly, as of 18 June 2015 Streptomyces lydicus WYEC 108 does not appear to be approved for use in any country within the European Union http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/bpdb/Reports/2032.htm#none.

But this http://cedrec.com/whats-new/summary/european/regulation/20668/20670_s.htm seems to indicate some form of approval.

JimF, how exactly do you treat the infected bulbs?

[Maggi Young]

That's not how I read that page, Alan -  there are no reports of EU use, but the info states that it is approved .....

 Description: A natural component of soil microflora that may be used to control fungal diseases and some bacteria in a wide range of vegetables, herb and ornamental crops

Availability status: Current

Introduction & key dates: 1943, First described

Taxonomic classification: Class: Actinobacteria; Order: Actinomycetales; Family: Noctuoidea

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
Status    Approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur    Netherlands
Date inclusion expires    31/12/2024

[Maggi Young]

Other links of interest:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC167587/

http://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/registration/fs_PC-006327_25-Nov-09.pdf
http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/biopest-biocont/biofung/strepto_lydic/actinov_reg_0305.html

[johnw]

Jim  - Can you tell us the strength of the Actinovate that you used as well as the mix rate and method of application.  Sounds very promising.  I see the shelf life is max. 6 months stored at 5c.

Is it still sold in the USA by Natural Industries in 2oz. foil ziplocks?

john

[johnw]

For those of you who have not seen stag here it is on an imported Hippeastrum from Holland.  All imports seem to affected to some extent and how they pass the Canadian inspectors is beyond me, until they are refused entry and sent back to Holland this disease will not be addressed in that country.

You can see it is eating away at the the bulb scales, yet it makes little headway on big bulbs like these though leaves & flower stalks eventually get badly afflicted with red streaks or spotting and sometimes causes the stalks to flag.  Much more devastating is its effect on small bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae like Galanthus where the red quickly turns to a sickly nicotine colour.

In the meantime keep these imports out of homes and gardens, it may be a first step in preventing yet more stag about.

john

[kentish_lass]

JimF - Thanks so much for the information about Actinovate - it sounds wonderful.  I am sure you have forum readers googling like crazy trying to find out where to buy it !!  So far I have seen it on Amazon USA for $21 for 2 oz and Amazon UK for anything up to £311 for 2 oz !!  I must calm down and do some proper research.

Just the thought of something natural that will eat away the stag from the bulbs just sounds too good to be true 

Has anyone found it for sale in UK yet?

[JimF]

JimF, how exactly do you treat the infected bulbs?

I follow the directions (not metric) using 2.5 teaspoon in a 5 gallon bucket of water. Using a small watering can, I dip out water from the bucket to water each pot to just full saturation at initial potting, then 2-3 times during the growing season.

Directions recommend use more often, but I don't, in part because of the expense (nothing like your prices, however!) and in part because of our heavy winter rains - the soil is often too saturated. On a sunny week I'll apply the solution just to light saturation. (I grow all my plants in pots in the open.)

When the rains ease off and I see the plants preparing to go dormant (April), I'll give another thorough soak of the solution. I want the plants to go into dormancy with a good dose of the Strep.

I store all dormant plants in a garage until repotting in August or first growth in autumn or winter, then bring them outdoors to start the cycle again.

[JimF]

Jim  - Can you tell us the strength of the Actinovate that you used as well as the mix rate and method of application.  Sounds very promising.  I see the shelf life is max. 6 months stored at 5c.

Is it still sold in the USA by Natural Industries in 2oz. foil ziplocks?

john

See previous answer for mix rate and method of application.

I use Natural Industries' product with .0371% of Strep. lyc. It does come in a 2 oz./56 gram zip lock pouch and larger sizes.

I didn't notice the shelf life, but with other "living" products in the horticultural trade the shelf life, like groceries, can often be much longer when stored properly.  I now see I should probably store it in cooler conditions.

Galanthus bulbs, too, come from large international growers/suppliers infected with stag. The Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs are horribly infected, as you show so well. As a bulb buyer for a retail nursery, I have been told many times by international wholesale suppliers that they are not concerned about stag on Amy/Hipps because "it doesn't kill them"! Galanthus are of even lower concern. (I hear all those collective gasps!)

Jim

[Maggi Young]

 Description: A natural component of soil microflora that may be used to control fungal diseases and some bacteria in a wide range of vegetables, herb and ornamental crops

Availability status: Current

Introduction & key dates: 1943, First described

Taxonomic classification: Class: Actinobacteria; Order: Actinomycetales; Family: Noctuoidea

EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414):
Status    Approved
Dossier rapporteur/co-rapporteur    Netherlands
Date inclusion expires    31/12/2024

http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---12993.htm  -EU approval - but only for  professional use?

[johnw]

Jim  - Thanks. Guess we're luckier than you as all the Galanthus from Holland arrive dead  , in storage too long.

I too did the buying.. and here's what the Hippeastrums looked like one year, they must have had a cool wet growing season as the stag is rampant.  One can see that it can do a number on even big bulbs, little wonder it's so destructive on Galanthus.  I sent these pix to the growers and got the same response as you did.  Only a continent-wide boycott would change things.

john

[kentish_lass]

I am sure I read somewhere today that the bacterium Streptomyces lydicus was originally from England.  I have tried to buy on Amazon.com and have it imported but it is not allowed.  It looks like this product is going to be hard to get our hands on 

[annew]

You appear to be able to get it on Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00EXLAAKM/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all
I seem to have just ordered some...

[johnw]

You appear to be able to get it on Amazon:http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/B00EXLAAKM/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all
I seem to have just ordered some...

At five times the price here! 

[annew]

About the price of a middle-of-the-road snowdrop.....

[johnw]