Dec. 2, 2009 – The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) recently announced the approval of a minor use label expansion for Scala SC fungicide (pyrimethanil) for control of Botrytis gray mould on greenhouse tomatoes in Canada. Scala fungicide was already labeled for use on apples, pears, grapes, strawberries and potatoes in the field; however this is the first full registration of this product in greenhouse food crops.

This minor use submission was sponsored by Alberta Agriculture and the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (BCMAL) in response to minor use priorities identified by greenhouse tomato producers in Canada. 

Disease management has been a high priority for greenhouse tomato producers for many years and the registration of Scala fungicide will provide greenhouse tomato producers with an effective and useful disease management and resistance management tool.

Scala fungicide can be applied once at the first sign of disease or as a rotational fungicide with other registered gray mold control products at a rate of 2.0 L product per ha. This one application will provide control of gray mold for 7 days depending on disease conditions. One application of Scala fungicide is permitted per growing season and the pre-harvest interval for greenhouse tomatoes is one day.

Scala fungicide should be used in an integrated disease management program and in rotation with other management strategies. Follow all other precautions and directions for use on the Scala fungicide label.

This minor use submission was sponsored by Alberta Agriculture and BCMAL as a result of priorities established in consultation with producers.  We also wish to thank the personnel of Bayer CropScience Canada Inc. for their support of this registration and the personnel of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for evaluating and approving this important pest management tool.