• AGRICOTE Grass contains insecticide and fungicide, to help prevent damage from Argentine stem weevil (ASW), black beetle, grass grub and damping off diseases.
• AGRICOTE Grass is recommended where pests are a problem, because endophyte provides only limited protection for seedlings.

 

Argentine stem weevil (ASW) control

Adult ASW can be a major pest, particularly in grass to grass renewal or autumn sowing in dryland paddocks (see page 176 for more). In these cases it is important to protect all grasses with seed treatment - annual, Italian, hybrid and perennial ryegrasses, cocksfoot and tall fescue.
In an AgResearch trial, Tabu Italian ryegrass seedlings were exposed to adult ASW attack just as they emerged. The results (right) show that AGRICOTE Grass and Poncho gave excellent control of ASW adult attack, significantly better than Gaucho or bare seed..

 

 

Black beetle (BB) control

BB can cause significant establishment problems in the upper and coastal North Island, particularly in dry seasons.
In an AgResearch trial, Tabu Italian ryegrass seedlings were exposed to a high level of pressure from adult BB. The results 
show all three seed treatments gave excellent control of adult BB attack, significantly better than bare seed.

 

Ryegrass survival of BB attack at seedling emergence*

 

Gaucho® and Poncho® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

 

Grass Grub (GG) control

AGRICOTE Grass gives excellent control of GG. In an AgResearch trial, Tabu Italian ryegrass was sown into vials, and an actively feeding large grass grub larva (3rd instar) was placed into vials when seedlings were just emerging, then again 7 days later, and 14 days later. The results show all three seed treatments gave excellent control of GG larval attack, significantly better than bare seed.

 

Ryegrass survival & plant size after three 7 day periods of GG attack*

 

Fungal pathogens

AGRICOTE Grass contains fungicides that control the fungi responsible for ‘damping off’ (Fusarium and Pythium) which can kill seedlings during establishment.

These fungi are most active in autumn and winter, and attack plant tissue leaving lesions at or below ground level. Newly sown ryegrass is most susceptible to being killed by damping off. This can cause poor, patchy pasture establishment.

 

Sowing rate

AGRICOTE Grass has no effect on seed weight, so use normal sowing rates.

 

Withholding period

A 42 day stock withholding period applies for new pasture sowings; 21 days when undersowing AGRICOTE Grass into existing pasture.