Vine

Albit was tested in 5 field trials carried out in North-Caucasian region with vine varieties Agat Donskoj, Denisovskij, Riton, Riesling and Chardonnay. Tests were performed in 2002-2004 by All-Russia Institute of Viticulture and Wine processing of Novocherkassk and North-Caucasian Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (Krasnodar), in farms of Rostov oblast and Krasnodar kray respectively. Nowadays, Albit is being successfully applied in industrial viticulture in Rostov oblast, Krasnodar and Stavropol krays.

In conducted tests, Albit demonstrated plant growth simulating and protective activity. Stimulation of plant growth was detected on all plant organs: stems, leaves and bunches. Albit increased annual increment of shoots by 28–64%, single shoot increment by 28–56%, ripened shoot increment by 59–64%, number of ripened grapes 3.7–13.6%, weight and plumpness of a bunch by 21–24%. As an example, here are results of trials in Krasnodar kraj (Table 32).

Treatments with Albit provide protection of vine against downy mildew (average BE 70%) and powdery mildew (average BE 74.3%). Fungicidal activity of Albit was detected at disease prevalence 9-100% and disease development 1-90%. Albit retarded disease development on both vegetative (leaves and shoots) and generative (bunches) organs; in many cases efficiency of Albit was not inferior to that of standard technology of vine protection with chemical fungicides. Albit is especially effective against powdery mildew (Uncinula necator Burril). In Russia, Albit is officially registered as fungicide against downy and powdery mildew of vine. Trials of North-Caucasian Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (2004) also revealed high efficiency of Albit against branch necrosis (BE 79.2%); however, it requires additional studying. Possibly, Albit-dependent acceleration of shoot growth is partially determined by Albit activity against branch necrosis, since its pathogenic agent (Phomopsis viticola Sacc.) causes damping-off of bunches. The biological effectiveness of Albit against vine diseases is graphically presented in Fig. 12.

Treatment version	var. Riesling (Yubileynoye vinery)		var. Chardonnay ( Golubaya vinery)
	bunch formation, points	bunch weight, % of control	bunch formation, points	bunch weight, % of control
Control	3	100	3.5	100
Albit 250 ml / hectare	4.2	124	4.4	121
Albit 250 ml/hectare + 1/2 dose of chemical fungicides	4.6	132	4.8	135
Standard chemical fungicides	4.1	128	4.4	125
LSD05		2		2.5

The final result of stimulating and protective action of Albit is increased yield of grapes. According to data of trials, application of Albit increases yield averagely by 15.6%

Fig. 46. Dependence of effectiveness of fungicidal treatments of vine on disease development (data of all conducted tests). 1 – Efficiency of Albit against powdery mildew; 2 – Efficiency of Albit against downy mildew; 3 – Efficiency of standart chemical protection against powdery mildew.

Application recommendations:

Foliar spraying of vineyard is performed with Albit solution conc. 2.5 ml/10L. Consumption of Albit and working solution is 250 ml and 1000L/hectare respectively. Sprayings should be carried out before and after blossoming, at the beginning of grapes growth, in stages of bunch formation and grape coloration. As a rule, 3 sprayings in vegetation period is enough, but number of treatments may be increased up to 5, if it is necessary: Number of treatments is determined by length of plant protection period of Albit (15 days approximately). Earlier treatments are the most effective ones.

Application of Albit should be incorporated into the standard vine protection system used in vineries. Albit is used in mixes with chemical insecticides and fungicides in frames of scheduled treatments against diseases and pests. Application of Albit makes possible decreasing or even complete abolishment of using of chemical fungicides, that decreases treatment expenses and helps in obtaining of organic production.

Portion of fungicides which might be replaced with Albit depends on kind of disease. According to data of tests in Krasnodar kraj and Rostov oblast, efficiency of Albit against powdery mildew is not inferior to that of standard chemical means of plant protection (Fig.46). Fungicidal activity of Albit can be observed at both low and high level of disease development (development – up to 90%, prevalence – up to 100%). Therefore, for control of powdery mildew Albit is able to replace chemical fungicides completely.

Fig. 47. Dependence of efficiency of fungicidal treatments against downy mildew on disease development (data of all conducted tests). 1 – Treatment with Albit; 2 – Treatment with Albit + ½ dose of standard chemical fungicides; 3 – treatment with full dose of standard chemical fungicides.

Despite of similarity of biological efficiencies of Albit against both powdery and downy mildew (around 70%), protective activity of Albit against downy mildew significantly decreases along the growth of disease development (Fig. 46). Therefore, reliable fungicidal efficiency of Albit against downy mildew (comparable with that of chemical standards) can be reached only at the disease development level less than 5%. At higher disease development, it is recommended to use Albit in combination with halved doses of chemical fungicides; such treatment provides fungicidal effect, which is not worst than effect of full doses of fungicides. In most cases, combination with Albit even more efficient (Fig. 47).

For example, here is treatment method used in trial of North-Caucasian Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture carried out in Yubileynaya vinery (2004), which has been proved as a reliable protection technique:

12.06.04 – Metaksil (fungiicde based on a.i. mancozeb and metalaxyl) 2.5 kg/hectare;
05.07.04 – Metaksil 2.5 kg/hectare + Falkon (fungicide based on a.i. spiroxamine, tebuconazole and triadimenol) 0.4 L/hectare;
28.07.04 – Metaksil 2.5 kg/hectare + Tiovit (insecticide based on elementary sulfur) 8 kg/hectare.

At trial with Albit, application rates of these pesticides were decreased twice and they were mixed with Albit. Resulting efficiency of original treatment against downy mildew was 92%, whereas that of combination of Albit and halved doses was 99%.

In other trials, the similar effect was demonstrated by chemical pesticides based on a.i. dimetamorph, mefenoxam, copper and sulfur compounds and others.

Combined using of Albit and halved doses of chemical pesticides is highly efficient. In other trials of North-Caucasian Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (2003), application of Albit in combination with decreased doses of fungicides (based on sulfur and copper compounds, flutriafol, mancoceb, dimetamorph and ditianon) retarded development of vine diseases (powdery and downy mildew) for quite long period (1.5 month). Combination of Albit and fungicides also demonstrates higher stimulation of bunch formation comparing to either pure Albit or chemicals (Table 32).

Using of chemical pesticides of last generations aggravates problem of pathogens acquiring pesticide resistance. Thus, partial or complete replacement of chemicals with Albit (which improves universal mechanisms of plant defense instead of damaging of pathogen’s metabolic pathways), acquires the special scientific and economic value.

Economical efficiency:

According to data obtained from Dr. Anna Talash, head of Vine Protection Department of North-Caucasian Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture, cost of single chemical treatment of vineyards against downy and powdery mildew is approximatelly 500-1500 and 100-1000 roubles/hectare respectively (20-60 and 4-40 USD/hectare); cost of complex treatment against these diseases is 1550 roubles/hectare (62 USD) on average. Cost of Albit treatment is 550 roubles (22 USD)/hectare; replacement of half of the chemical fungicides saves 225 roubles (9 USD)/hectare averagely, complete replacement saves 1000 roubles (40 USD)/hectare. Respectively, triple treatment of vineyard with Albit saves 675-3000 roubles (27-120 USD)/hectare.

Albit is natural organic biopesticide which is allowed to use for treatment of vine; it is practically non-toxic (4th class of danger according to Russian Sanitary-Hygienic Classification). In addition, its using makes possible reducing the application rates of high-toxic standard chemical fungicides (1th-3rd class of danger). Some of them (for example, copper compounds) besides their toxicity to humans and animals can also cause burns on vine leaves. Other chemicals are able to be accumulated in grapes and cause allergies and poisoning. Thus, from the point of ecological safety and nutritious value of grapes, decrease of chemical treatments pressure is crucial.

Using of Albit on small plots is also seems to be perspective. Complex natural pesticide which is able to protect vineyard from major diseases, increase shoot growth and yield, will be popular among owners. In addition, an application rate of Albit is just 2.5 ml and cost of treatment is 0.22 USD per 100 m².

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