February 2021 - 17

A UNIQUE COPPER FOR CONTROLLING
PSEUDOMONAS IN CHERRIES
P
seudomonas syringae is a particularly
harmful bacterium to cherries,
resulting in bacterial blight and
bacterial canker, a disease that can destroy
cherry tree limbs and decrease yield and
quality of the crop. A lesser-known side
effect of Pseudomonas syringae in cherry
trees is that the bacteria can increase
the risk of frost damage to cherry trees.
As a result, preventing the bacteria from
spreading throughout the tree in the fall
and spring will also help the tree's health.
Controlling Pseudomonas syringae is of
utmost importance, but ensuring the copper
necessary for that control isn't building up in
soil is equally as important.
Some copper products on the market
require rates with high copper content
and this copper ends up running off into
the soil or clogging sprayer nozzles as a
result of being made up of copper particle
suspensions. As a result, any chemistries
tank mixed with copper suspensions may
not be applied evenly and extra time must
be spent clearing nozzles. In many cases,
a build up of copper in the soil can be
detrimental to organisms that inhabit the
soil, including plants.
Enter Mastercop. From ADAMA, this
copper product is lower in metallic copper
and has a unique make-up; once in the
spray tank, rather than a suspension
of copper particles, Mastercop forms a
solution of copper ions. Copper ions are
biologically active as soon as they hit the
plant. These copper ions adhere better to
leaves and trees to prevent the damaging
effects of the Pseudomonas syringae
bacteria to cherry trees. It also means
that less copper is needed to help control
bacterial blight in cherries.
Mastercop is ideal for tank mixing with
other pesticides or nutrients. Since it is
mostly copper ions (Cu2+
) in the spray tank
and, does not contain copper particulates,
it mixes easily and consistently with other
chemistries. " It's like dissolving salt into
water, " said Steven Eskelsen, product
development representative for ADAMA. " It's
almost impossible for Mastercop to cause
nozzle problems, " Eskelsen continued.
Copper is also a nutrient that cherries
need, so providing copper molecules that
the leaves can absorb for their nutrition
could be " a side benefit of controlling the
bacteria, Eskelsen said.
PROPER APPLICATION FOR THE BEST
CONTROL OF PSEUDOMONAS
Eskelsen recommends growers use
Mastercop preventatively to help prevent
trees from experiencing the girdling effects of
bacterial canker resulting from Pseudomonas
syringae and to from the tree from bacterial
blight. It is important that all surfaces of the
cherry trees are coated before cankers open
and spread the bacteria.
In the fall, growers should spray trees
with Mastercop after the first frost and
before heavy rains for better adhesion and
control. " Every time it rains, the copper
ions protect the tree. When the leaves dry,
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the copper adheres to them, " Eskelsen
said. The action and protection starts as
soon as Mastercop is applied, with the
antibacterial properties of the copper ion
ready to kill Pseudomonas syringae.
Mastercop should be applied two or three
times each year, with the next application
in spring prior to full blossom, spraying only
during early to mid-blossoming.
When tank mixing, Eskelsen recommends
that other chemistries that are difficult to
suspend are added to the tank first, with
Mastercop as the final chemistry added,
since it is easy to mix. Growers should
agitate the tank well to ensure the other
chemistries are suspended. It can be used
in both organic and conventional growing
settings as Mastercop is OMRI listed.
For more information about Mastercop,
visit mastercop.info.
ABOUT ADAMA
ADAMA is a crop protection company
specializing in sustainable solutions for
growers of many crops. Their focus is
not just on protecting crops, but also on
being good stewards of the environment,
protecting our ever-important pollinators
and our groundwater, working to reverse
some of the problems caused by overuse of
pesticides. They accomplish this by listening
to growers, researchers and their colleagues,
by having an attitude of learning and
delivering results that growers can rely upon.
For more information about ADAMA,
visit adama.com.
http://www.mastercop.info http://www.adama.com
February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2021
