Over the past few weeks, we’ve received several questions about the fungicide/bactericide OxiDate. Here are some of John Aue and Patty McManus’ general comments and impressions about the product.
- It is a fairly good surface sterilant (it reduces the number and extent of fungi and bacteria on plant surfaces).
- It has very short-lived anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity. Because it is only effective for several hours rather than several days, it could not function as a “protectant†like other products do.
- OxiDate could theoretically help in disease prevention. But because OxiDate will disrupt the microbial life on a plant’s surfaces, it could just as likely hamper the natural resistance of the tree and “open up a can of worms.â€
- Is it able to damage the spore producing layers of a fungal lesion (e.g. Ventura inequalis conidia, or Apple scab)?
- Its sanitizing effect might temporarily “stun†a scab lesion, but the scab would probably bounce back pretty quickly and start producing spores again.
Thanks to John and Patty for their comments.
