Vegalab Spore Control

Natural Broad Spectrum Control of Fungal Pathogens

Spore Control is an all-natural fungicide composed of plant extracts. It is applicable as a foliar spray and has been tested on strawberries, cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes, and chili peppers. If used at the first sign of disease, it aids in disease resistance and improves crop yields. This natural fungicide is also environment friendly, as its impact to the soil and aquifers is negligible. Spore Control uses thymol as a fungicidal agent and offers a safer alternative to other, more persistent chemical pesticides that can often be dispersed in runoff and cause subsequent contamination.

Pests Targeted

• Effective against anthracnose on eggplants, peppers (chili & sweet), potatoes, and tomatoes.
• Effective against downy mildew, especially as related to cucurbits.
• Effective against wilt disease, as related to bananas, cucurbits, eggplants, geraniums, ginger, olives, peppers (chili & sweet), potatoes, tobacco, & tomatoes.
• Effective against damping off (water mold), Fusarium, grey mold (Botrytis), and root rot (Phytophthora) for most fruit & vegetable crops.

Application

At the onset of the disease, use 3.8 mL (3/4 tsp.) of product with one gallon of water in order to dilute Spore Control. It can also be used in other quantities, respecting the dilution rate of 1:1,000 product to water. In area applications, use 6.9 oz to 10.4 oz per acre of land as a foliar spray. After dilution, spray directly on the plants leaves. Do not apply prior to excessive rains, since this may reduce product effectiveness.

Active Ingredients

Spore Control uses thymol as the active ingredient to reach the highest level of efficacy, while greatly reducing the environmental impact. Thymol is a phenolic compound that has strong antimicrobial characteristics. It belongs to a class of compounds known as biocides and it is extracted from Thymus sp.

Safety & Environmental Info

Avoid eye and skin contact. Contents are hazardous in case of eye contact (irritant), ingestion and inhalation. Contents are slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (permeator). Studies have shown that thymol degrades rapidly (DT50 16 days in water, 5 days in soil) in the environment and presents a low risk because of rapid dissipation and low binding capacity of residues. The use of thymol as a pesticide agent offers a safe alternative to other more persistent chemical pesticides that can be dispersed in runoff and produce subsequent contamination.

Mode of Action

Spore Control has two effects on crops: preventive and curative effects. It inhibits spore germination and germ tube growth, and also destroys the pathogen cell. Thymol induces an imbalance of K+ ions inside the mycelium and halts spore germination and mycelium proliferation. It enters the pathogen cell causing cell lysis. If it is administered at the beginning of disease onset, it helps fight the disease and improves immunity of the crops.