Veggies - Bell peppers "special Bacterial Spot disease"

Study Investigator: J. Curtis, Phd

Location of Study: Florida, USA, open field

Study Period: May- July 2018

[T3,4,5] are the Programs with VEGRO® incorporated (commercial field)

DAP:  Number of Days After Precedent application

App 1

1 Pt/Acre from 1st flowers, (GS+Vegro®)

App 2

1 Pt/acre, 7 DAP

App 3

1 Pt/acre, 7 DAP

App 4

1 Pt/acre 7 DAP

App 5

1 Pt/Acre, 7 DAP

App 6

1 Pt/Acre, 7 DAP

App 7

1 Pt/Acre, 7 DAP

TREATMENTS

Plants were maintained at a commercial level with insecticide (twice weekly applications of BT) as well as fertilizer (6-0-6 liquid fertilizer through the drip every other day at the rate of 25 Gals/Acre). No fungicides were applied during this trial. 

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

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Treatment 1 [T1]: Control AKA Ctrl

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

  • • Untreated with no fungicides added

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Treatment 2 [T2], Grower Standard 2 AKA GS2: 

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

  • • Control (Ctrl)
  • • Manzate max @ 2 Qts/Acre
  • • Kocide 2000 @ 3lb/Acre
  • • Bravo Weatherstick @ 1.5 Pt/Acre 

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Treatment 3 [T3]: 

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

  • • Control (Ctrl)
  • • Vegro @ 1 Pt per acre

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Treatment 4 [T4]:

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

  • • Control (Ctrl)
  • • Vegro @ 1 Pt/Acre
  • • Manzate max @ 2 Qts/Acre
  • • Kocide 2000 @ 3lb/Acre
  • • Bravo Weatherstick @ 1.5 Pt/Acre 

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Treatment 5 [T5]:

Applied: A,B,C,D,E,F,G and replicated 4 times

  • • Control (Ctrl)
  • • Vegro @ 1 Pt/Acre
  • • Manzate max @ 2 Qts/Acre
  • • Kocide 2000 @ 3lb/Acre
  • • Bravo Weatherstick @ 1.5 Pt/Acre
  • • 0-28-26 @ 2 Qt/Acre

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APPLICATIONS

• Foliar Applications (Apps. A-G; Trts. 2-5).

• 7 (seven) total as: A,B,C,D,E,F,G

• Foliar applications were made on: 5/17/2018 (App. A), 5/24/2018 (App. B), 5/31/2018 (App. C), 6/7/2018 (App. D), 6/14/2018 (App. E), 6/21/2018 (App. F) and 6/28/2018 (App. G).  

• These foliar applications were made with a hand-held boom (CO2 operated, 40 PSI) fitted with three nozzles 

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EVALUATIONS:
BACTERIAL SPOT SEVERITY (%)

The percentage (%) severity of bacterial spot (0 = no symptoms…..100% = dead plants) was evaluated on 60 plants (1 row side) of each plot on 6/7/2018, 6/14/2018, 6/21/2018 and 6/28/2018.

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FRUIT COUNT & WEIGHT (lb)

All fruit in each plot were harvested on 7/2/2018 and counted and weighed (lb).

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FRUIT GRADING & MARKETABILITY

All harvested fruit were graded into six (6) categories and based on size using USDA guidelines (1 1/9 bu.box, 20 to 30 lb):

• Jumbo - 3 3/4 inch diam.,  3 1/2inch length (45 count and fewer).

• Extra Large - 3 1/2 inch diam, 3 1/2 inch length (46-55 count).

• Large - 3 1/4 inch diam., 3 inch length (56-70 count).

• Medium - 3 inch diam., 3 inch diam., 2 1/2 inch length (71-85 count).

• Small - 2 1/2 inch diam., 2 inch length (86-110 count).

• Trash

The percentage (%) of fruit in each of the six categories was then calculated.

It is important to note that the USDA recommendations for sizing are a guideline and there are variations of grading amongst growers.  For example, pepper may be graded as follows:

• Jumbo - 3 1/2 inch diam. and larger.

• Extra Large - 3 inch diam., 3 1/2 inch length.

• Large -2 1/2 inch diam.,3 inch length.

• Medium- 2 inch diam., 2 1/2 inch length.

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METHODOLOGY
FIELD AND PLANTING

• This trial was conducted in open field at the Better Crops Research Farm: Block 11, Section N, Beds 1-7.

• Each plot was 30 ft in length x 2 beds (30 ft length x 12 ft width).

• Each plot had 120 plants and each treatment was replicated four (4) times.  

• Treatments were arranged in Beds 2, 3, 5 and 6.  

• These treatment beds were separated by an untreated buffer rowsin Beds 1, 4 and 7.

• Plastic beds (32 inch top, 6 inch tall) were prepared on a 6 ft row spacing.  

• Bell pepper (cv. revolution) were transplanted in two row/bed (12 inch plant spacing) on 4/19/2018.

• Plants were maintained  at a commercial level with both fungicide (twice weekly applications), insecticide (VYDATE and BT) and fertilzer (liquid fertilizer through the drip every other day).

Study Results

-13%

Bacterial spot severity in [T3] Vegro® with no fungicides

-25%

Bacterial spot severity in [T5] Vegro® +Fungicides

+80%

More Fruit count [T3] Vegro® + NO fungicides

+138%

More Fruit count [T5] Vegro®+fungicides

+52%

More fruit weight [T3] Vegro® + NO Fungicides

+99%

More Fruit weight [T5] Vegro® + Fungicides

83%

More packout in [T3] Vegro® + NO Fungicides

+87%

More packout in [T5] Vegro® + Fungicides

13%

Waste for [T5] Vegro®+ fungicides (smalls & trash)

51%

Waste for [T1] Ctrl with no fungicides (smalls & trash)

0%

Vegro® is zero Phytotoxicity

Objectives: To demonstrate the capacity of Vegro® to improve the efficacy of the fungicides at helping to reduce the Bacterial spots on Pepper and also to promote a more natural agriculture. Main parameters monitored for this study: Pressure disease (severity); Yield (weight & fruit counts) and fruit size distribution.

For a better view of the graphs and charts, reposition your mobile device into landscape mode.

RESULTS ON BACTERIAL SPOTS DISEASE

 How Vegro® helps to improve the efficacy of the fungicides against the Bacterial spots disease on Bell peppers.

[T1] is the Grower Std., [T3] Vegro added simply to Grow. Std. and [T5] Grow Std + Fungicides + Vegro
ALL RESULTS BY TREATMENT OBTAINED ON BACTERIAL SPOTS

Higher are the bars, bad it is, and brownish colors are without any Vegro®'s presence and the opposite in greenish colors.

Monitored by the degree of presence in%

Rate of Bacterial Spots severity in % and at the ultimate harvest (H4):

  • Results: [T1]  77%; [T2] 70%; [T3] 64%; [T4] 63%; [T5] 52%
  •  -25% when Vegro is combined with fungicides [T5] Vs [T1]
  • -13%  When Vegro stand on its own (no fungicides added, on top of the Ctrl)
  • -14% Bacterial spots when using [T4] Vs [T1]
  • -1% difference of efficacy between [T4] and [T3]

When compared to [T1], Vegro® shows a net contribution of -13% Bacterial spots presence when compared to [T1] and -25% when combined with other fungicides.

Also there is strong consistency between the harvests (H1,H2,H3,H4), since the first harvest the results are already obvious and getting confirmed until the end with even more significant differences.

 

This graph is about to demonstrate the efficacy of Vegro® to help at reducing the Bacterial Spot disease. Important to note that, [T4] is [T2] but combined with Vegro®. The results shows a reduction of -14% by comparison with [T1]. But this means also that the net contribution of the fungicides (Manzate max+Kocide 2000+Bravo Wstk) are of about -1% when compared to [T3] (Vegro® added to T1). These results shows clearly the interest in using Vegro®. Also it shows that a program combining simply [T1] + Vegro® + (0-28-26) might be an interesting treatment to try... "H" means the number of Harvests, H1 for Harvest 1 and etc

VEGRO® HELPS TO PRODUCE QUALITY FRUITS

In comparison to the control [T1] (no fungicides):

  • • Numbers and Weight are higher
[T1] Ctrl, [T3] Vegro with no fungicides and [T5] Vegro+Fungicides
RESULTS ON FRUIT COUNT

In comparison to the control [T1]

  • +192 units count, +138%, [T5]
  • +112 units count, +80.5%, [T3]

When [T2] is compared to [T3]:

  • Means the Ctrl+fungicides compared to the Ctrl with no fungicides but + Vegro®
  • +42 Units count for [T3], means Vegro® brings another +20% efficacy to the fungicides

This graph shows clearly the benefit and interest in using Vegro® combined or not with fungicides.

RESULTS ON WEIGHT COUNT

In comparison to the control [T1]:

  • +44.6 Lbs, +99%, [T5]
  • +23.5 Lbs, +52%, [T3]

When [T2] is compared to [T3]:

  • Means the Ctrl+fungicides compared to the Ctrl with no fungicides but + Vegro®
  • +5.5 Lbs for [T3], means Vegro® brings another +9% efficacy to the fungicides on weight.

Vegro® shows here its ability to produce more quality fruits. Note that [T3] Vegro® with no fungicides, produces more weight count to any other treatments after [T5]

RESULTS ON FRUIT SIZE DISTRIBUTION

RESULTS:

  • [T1] 0% jumbo's, 7.4% XL, 19.9% L, 21% M, 33.6% S and 18% Trash
  • [T2] 3% jumbo's, 19.4% XL, 26% L, 27% M, 18% S and 6.5% Trash
  • [T3] 10% jumbo's, 28% XL, 29.5% L, 16% M, 12% S and 4.8% Trash
  • [T4] 10% jumbo's, 19% XL, 31.6% L, 20% M, 16% S and 3.4% Trash
  • [T5] 9.6% jumbo's, 27% XL, 31% L, 19% M, 11% S and 1.8% Trash

MAIN FACTS:

  • [T5] Vs [T1] >> +10% J, +20% XL, +11% L, -2% M, -23% S, -16% Trash, means also x10 times less trash than [T1]
  • [T3] Vs [T1] >> +10% J, +21% XL, +10% L, -5% M, -27% S, -13% Trash
  • [T3] Vs [T2] >> +7% J, +9% XL, +3.5% L, -11% M, -4% S, -2% Trash

Fruit grade considered for this trial: Jumbo - 3 3/4 inch diam., 3 1/2inch length (45 count and fewer), Extra Large - 3 1/2 inch diam, 3 1/2 inch length (46-55 count), Large - 3 1/4 inch diam., 3 inch length (56-70 count), Medium - 3 inch diam., 3 inch diam., 2 1/2 inch length (71-85 count), Small - 2 1/2 inch diam., 2 inch length (86-110 count), Trash. It is important to note that USDA fruit size grade is less restrictive (Ref here on grey zone at fruit grading)

MAIN FACTS ON FRUIT SIZE DISTRIBUTION

By order:

  • • [T1] Control no fungicides, First line 
  • • [T3] Ctrl + Vegro® + NO Fungicides, second line
  • • [T5] Ctrl + Vegro® + Fungicides, third line
[T1] is the Grower Std., [T3] Vegro added simply to Grow. Std. and [T5] Grow Std + Fungicides + Vegro
MARKETABILITY AND PACKOUT

Here under the most marketable sizes from Jumbo's, XL, L and M by main treatments:

  • 48% is the addition of the sizes comprised between Jumbo's to Medium [T1] Ctrl with no fungicides.
  • 83%  for [T3] Vegro + No fungicides.
  • 87%  for [T5] Vegro + fungicides.

87%

Best Packout ratio

[T5] Vegro + Fungicides

 

WASTE AND LOW VALUE

If by treatment we add, small and trash together, we obtain:

  • [T5] 12.5%; [T4] 19.4%; [T3] 16.8%; [T2] 24.5%; [T1] 51.6%  

13%

[T5] Best

Less waste

The correlation between unit and weight count and now with the fruit size, it brings the benefits to another level here. Best treatment is [T5] Vegro+fungicides, followed very closely by [T3] Vegro® with NO Fungicides.