Methyl thiophanate is a common fungicide widely used in agriculture for its broad-spectrum effectiveness and ease of application. Let's delve into what diseases methyl thiophanate primarily treats, its functions, and how to use it.
What Diseases Does Methyl Thiophanate Treat?
Methyl thiophanate is effective against a variety of diseases caused by fungi such as ascomycetes, basidiomycetes, and imperfect fungi. Common diseases it treats include:
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Anthracnose
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Powdery mildew
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Botrytis gray mold
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Botryosphaeria stem canker
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Wilt diseases
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Gummy stem blight in melons
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Downy mildew in cabbage
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Fusarium wilt in eggplants
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Leaf spot diseases
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Brown spot diseases
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Rot diseases
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Brown rot
Methyl thiophanate can be used to control 186 types of diseases across 86 different crops.
Functions and Application Methods of Methyl Thiophanate
Methyl thiophanate acts primarily through systemic absorption, providing both preventative and curative effects against various crop diseases. Its effectiveness lasts for 7 to 10 days.
Step-by-Step Application Methods:
1. Vegetable Disease Control
For diseases like cucumber powdery mildew, anthracnose, and gray mold in eggplants, onions, celery, tomatoes, and green beans:
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Prepare a 50% methyl thiophanate wettable powder solution at 1000-1500 times dilution.
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Spray once every 7-10 days during the initial stages of infection, repeating 3-4 times.
2. Flower Disease Control
For diseases like flower rot in dahlias, brown spot in roses, apple scab, and leaf spot in orchids:
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Apply 50% methyl thiophanate wettable powder at 83-125 grams per acre, diluted in water for regular spraying.
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Spray 3-5 times during the initial stages of infection.
3. Fruit Tree Disease Control
For diseases like apple scab and anthracnose:
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Use 50% methyl thiophanate wettable powder at 400-600 times dilution, spraying once every 10 days.
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For grape brown spot, anthracnose, gray mold, and peach brown rot, use 50% wettable powder at 600-800 times dilution.
4. Cereal Disease Control
For diseases like black head blight in wheat and barley, and red mold disease in barley:
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For black head blight, use 50% wettable powder at 200 grams, mixed with 4 kilograms of water per 100 kilograms of seeds, soaking for 6 hours.
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For red mold disease, spray 50% wettable powder at 75-100 grams per acre twice, 5-7 days apart.
5. Fruit Preservation
For post-harvest fruit preservation:
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Use 40% methyl thiophanate suspension concentrate at 400-600 times dilution.
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Immerse fruits for 2-3 minutes, then air dry and pack.
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Effective for apples, bananas, citrus fruits, pineapples, cantaloupes, and sweet potatoes.
6. Seed Treatment
For seed treatment before sowing:
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Use 70% methyl thiophanate wettable powder at 50 grams, mixed with 2500 grams of water.
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Soak seeds for 10 minutes to prevent diseases like peanut damping-off and rice seedling blight.
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Can be combined with other pesticides like triadimefon, carbendazim, kresoxim-methyl, and imidacloprid for controlling soil-borne diseases and underground pests.
Conclusion
Methyl thiophanate is highly effective against a wide range of diseases, making it a versatile choice for disease control in various crops. Mastering its application methods is essential for maximizing its benefits and ensuring crop health.