BION® 50 WG is an outstanding systemic plant activator, recommended for preventive protection against bacterial diseases, as indicated in the instructions for use. This product stimulates the natural defense mechanism of plants, allowing them to protect themselves and fight diseases caused by various pathogens. Its action is based on the defense response phenomenon called “Systemic Activated Resistance” (SAR), which is a broad and natural physiological immunization in plants.
It is important to note that BION® 50 WG has no direct activity against diseases (since it acts by generating responses from the plant itself), so it is recommended as a complement to traditional control programs. It should be applied preventively before the disease occurs, presenting rapid absorption by the foliage and translaminar movement.
This product acts as an elicitor, triggering reactions in plants in a preventive manner to prepare them against possible attacks by pathogens. Therefore, it is applied preventively to the foliage of the crop to strengthen the plant against possible infections by bacteria.
BION® 50 WG acts on the salicylic acid pathway, being more powerful and faster than the same molecule on its own, and for this reason it has been a key tool to prevent the advance of PSA in kiwis, today being introduced for use in cherry trees to prevent bacterial cancer.
Unlike coppers, which act by contact, BION® 50 WG works internally, reducing the bacterial load inside the plant, especially in the vascular vessels.
Raúl Méndez, Syngenta's agroAmigo zone manager, highlights the importance of applying this Syngenta tool: “For copper, it doesn't matter whether we have leaves or not, but with BION the foliage needs to be active, so our technical recommendation is to apply it from March 15 to April 15, considering that cherry producers, starting from this last fortnight, need the leaves to be down in order to start accumulating cold.”
Regarding dosage, Méndez adds: “It should be used at 10 grams per 100 liters of water since it is a product that does not require a high level of wetting, since it is quite systemic. That is why 1000 liters of water per hectare are sufficient to achieve the eliciting effect we are looking for. In any case, it should be accompanied by other precautionary measures such as copper or antibiotics, which are some of the few tools that exist today for the control of bacterial cancer in cherry trees. It is a measure that is not sufficient on its own, but no tool on its own is sufficient. The success of a management program lies in the combination of different tools with different modes of action.”
In summary, BION®50 WG is an effective tool to strengthen plant defenses against diseases, complementing traditional control methods and contributing to healthier and more sustainable agricultural production.
