Take care when applying copper

28 January 2016

Most growing areas are reporting reduced levels of Psa-V symptoms through January. This is expected as higher summer temperatures are less conducive to Psa-V spread.

However, wet periods add risk where Psa-V is present, particularly for young tissue. Trimming new male growth, and removing infected material from the canopy will reduce risk of Psa-V build-up.

The Psa-V Risk Model predicts risk associated with upcoming weather patterns and should be used to assess when additional protective coppers should be applied.

Be cautious of weather conditions when applying copper, as humidity can impact on drying and slow drying increases risk of phytotoxicity. Ideally, also avoid tank mixing copper with other products.