Published on 31/07/2025
Words: Syngenta
Motueka brothers Simon and Matt Easton from Wairepo Holdings were two customers to be impressed by APTIVIS last season.
The brothers have approximately 65 hectares of apples in production on a property that has been in the hands of the Easton family for over 100 years.
Their varieties include Red Pink Lady, Fuji, Koru, Jazz, Envy, Ambrosia, and various Royal Gala strains.
Prior to the 2024-25 growing season, the Eastons became aware of the new APTIVIS fungicide from Syngenta for the control of black spot, and powdery mildew in apples and pears.
Additionally, it is registered for Alternaria leaf blotch on apples. They were interested in the fact that this fourth generation SDHI fungicide (Group7) contained a new active ingredient, pydiflumetofen (ADEPIDYN technology), to control these significant pipfruit diseases during a period when flowers and foliage are highly vulnerable to infection.
“Being new chemistry, this fungicide helps manage the threat of fungicide resistance when added into a robust pipfruit protectant programme.”
Simon Easton says they made two applications of APTIVIS last season up to 90 per cent petal-fall and the disease control is very impressive.
“It’s probably one of Wairepo’s best years in terms of controlling black spot and there was virtually no powdery mildew in the orchard. We also noticed that Alternaria wasn’t as bad as in previous year’s after using APTIVIS in the Envy blocks”
The low use rate of 15 ml per 100 L was easy to work with while filling the spray tank, plus the price point of this new fungicide was appealing.
“We’re all aware of the high costs of an apple crop protection programme.”
The recommended apple disease control strategy is to apply fungicides like APTIVIS preventatively approximately every seven days with the aim of preserving DMI fungicides like Score 10 WG for high-risk periods so they are not overused.
Syngenta NZ technical services lead Paul Hassan comments on the following best use guidelines when applying APTIVIS to help protect this new chemistry.
• Always apply APTIVIS preventatively and according to the label.
• To comply with current SDHI resistance management guidelines, apply a maximum of four SDHI-containing products per season in alternation with an effective fungicide from a different mode of action group.
• Apply APTIVIS a maximum of three times and up to four times concentrate per season from tight cluster to 90 per cent petal-fall. This pre-harvest interval will ensure nil detectable residues at harvest.
• Additionally, always apply in mixture with a multi-site protectant fungicide that is not at risk from resistance at their full label rate.