AQ 10® Biofungicide for Powdery Mildew Control based on Ampelomyces quisqualis (isolate M-10) History In 1861, nearly 150 years ago, Tulasne & Tulasne made the first drawing of powdery mildew infected by A. quisqualis. In 1930, Emmonds identified A. quisqualis as an antagonist of powdery mildew. In 1986, an isolate of the fungus (later designated as AQ 10 ) was identified on the wild plant Catha edulis by Prof. Sztejnberg’s laboratory in Israel. Application for registration was filed with EPA, USA. In less than one year, the American registration was granted. AQ 10 , the first biofungicide ever developed for powdery mildew control, was available on the market. In 1999, Intrachem Bio Italia obtained the provisional registration in Italy, the first in Europe. Annex I inclusion was obtained by the Intrachem Group in 2005. The product is actually registered in Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Greece, Egypt and Italy, and registration in other countries (e.g. Spain, Germany, France, Czech Republic) is expected soon. ®
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The product and its active ingredient AQ 10 is a biofungicide based on the naturally occurring fungus Ampelomyces quisqualis (Deuteromycetes, Dematiaceae). It can parasitize hyphae, conidiophores and cleistothecia of powdery mildew. A. quisqualis has been reported in every continent, in different environments as host of many Erysiphaceae: more than 64 different species belonging to the genera Brasilomyces, Erysiphe, Leveillula, Microsphaera, Phyllactinia, Podosphaera, Sphaerotheca and Uncinula are recorded as susceptible to A. quisqualis. ®
Recommended rates and timing of applications For effective powdery mildew control, AQ 10 can be applied alone, but it can also be included in IPM strategies, which provide for applications of both conventional agrochemicals and the biological control agent. Application rates range between 35 and 70 g/ha according to the crop (grapevine strawberry, cucurbits, tomato, pepper and roses). ®
Application instructions • Treatments must be started at low powdery mildew infestation levels. • Applications should be repeated at 6 - 8 day time intervals. • In order to ensure maximum spore germination, best time for application is when relative humidity is high. • AQ 10 can be applied with any conventional spray equipment. ®
Advantages • Effective powdery mildew control. AQ 10 is formulated in water dispersible granules (WDG). AQ 10 contains at least 5.0 x 10 9 viable spores/gram of the antagonistic fungus A. quisqualis.
• Unique mode of action.
The target
• Helps to reduce the risk of development of strains resistant to conventional fungicides.
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Powdery mildew is a parasitic fungus that can severely damage grapes, vegetables, strawberry and several other important crops. The disease becomes more difficult to control every year because of the risk of undesiderable residues of agrochemicals (especially when applied close to harvest) on crops and the development of powdery mildew strains resistant to chemical fungicides.
• Can be used in organic farming and fits perfectly into any IPM program.
• Active at lower temperatures than sulphur. • Can parasitize also overwintering cleistothecia and thus reduce the infection level the following year. • No phytotoxicity.• No pre-harvest interval and re-entry time. • Harmless to beneficials, safe to humans and to the environment.