The only herbicide registered for sucker control in grapevines, olives, plums and other tree crops, Spotlight® Plus Herbicide requires less labour than the manual alternative while also reducing the risk of disease borne by manual de-suckering wounds.
Yan Wu, FMC area business manager for Eastern South Australia standing in front of machinery
A non-residual contact herbicide, Spotlight® Plus Herbicide is designed to maximise efficacy and reduce drift. It is widely used for de-suckering in vines and tree crops, and for control of hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds such as small-flowered mallow when tank-mixed with knockdown herbicides.
According to Yan Wu, FMC area business manager for Eastern South Australia, Spotlight® Plus Herbicide was purpose built for horticulture and is formulated with a built-in oil adjuvant.
“With the oil component in Spotlight® Plus Herbicide there is a reduction in fine spray droplets that minimises drift. It has excellent safety in vines and tree crops because the active constituent is not translocated within the plant.
“However, off-target drift can potentially injure desirable foliage, fruit and stems if standard drift reduction measures are not taken. A directed or fully shrouded sprayer is recommended, as well as nozzles that produce coarse to very coarse spray quality,” said Yan.
Air induction nozzles are also preferred, and off-centre nozzles are a further means of reducing upwards movement of the spray solution.
“Because Spotlight® Plus Herbicide is a contact herbicide, ensure that the recommended water volume is applied for thorough coverage of leaves and stems for optimum control. Sucker control should be conducted in the early growing season, prior to shoot lignification,” she added.
Untreated suckers on a grapevine plant flourishing in the Barossa Valley
Grapevine suckers in the Barossa Valley successfully treated with FMC's Spotlight
The active constituent in Spotlight® Plus Herbicide, carfentrazone-ethyl, is a unique molecule that interacts with the plant’s photosynthetic system to form highly active compounds. These compounds rupture the plant cell membranes, resulting in the cell contents leaking out to cause rapid cell death. Because this mode of action is connected with photosynthesis, sunlight is essential for expression of herbicidal activity.
Spotlight® Plus Herbicide shows robust and consistent control of hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds. It has excellent compatibility with both glyphosate and paraquat based herbicides for broad-spectrum tree line weed control. The ability to alternate modes of action of the knockdown herbicide assists in preventing weed resistance.
This article was written by FMC for Seasons magazine.
Disclaimer - important, please read:
Elders provides recommendations to the best of its knowledge and based on assumptions and information which it understands to be up to date, complete and accurate. If you are aware of any error or inaccuracy with the information on which this recommendation is based, you must immediately bring this to Elders’ attention. This recommendation is provided for your use only, and not that of any other third party. In some circumstances, the information Elders provided may be in summary form or derived from information sourced from third parties, however, Elders has not independently verified the information and cannot guarantee its accuracy.
You should always carefully evaluate all available information and consult Elders or another advisor further before you commit to any course of action or rely on any recommendation. Additionally, Elders expects that you will use your knowledge, experience and best judgement in relying on any recommendation and determining whether the recommendation is, and continues to be, appropriate. Elders do not accept liability or responsibility for any indirect, consequential or economic loss or damage of any kind arising from your acceptance or reliance on this recommendation. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all guarantees, warranties or implied terms and conditions are expressly excluded and Elders’ liability with respect to any services provided is limited to re-supply of the services, or the cost of having the services re-supplied. Elders may from time to time recommend products or services for which it may receive a financial incentive (rebate, commission, benefit, etc) from a supplier/manufacturer directly related to your purchase or use of that product or service.