Grape is an important commercial fruit crop of south India. Grape growing has been regarded as most remunerative enterprise. Mostly it grown for making wines and preparation of raisin and then as a table fresh fruit. While in India, it is mainly grown for table use. Generally grapes are eaten fresh as table fruit. As it contains glucose as major sugars it is easily digestible. Grapes are good source of calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins. The total soluble solids in different cultivars may range from 10 to 20 percent and acidity 1 to 4 percent. resh grapes are laxative in nature. Wine can be prepared from grape juice. Berries are used to prepare resin.

Diseases of Grapevine : The most common diseases of grapes are fungal. Much of these are controlled with good cultural control. Old plant material can harbor the fungal spores in soil even over the winter, so it is essential to clean up around the vines after pruning. Black spot, powdery mildew and anthracnose are just a few of the common fungal diseases. They most commonly affect the foliage with spotting or a coating, but may occasionally threaten twigs and terminal tissues. The fungus reduces the plant’s effectiveness at gathering solar energy and can cause leaf loss.

Effect of Powdery Mildew : All aerial parts of the plants can get infected by this disease. Development happens through the entire growing season until late fall. It favors dry years and climates with low humidity and little rainfall. Moldy coats on leaves, inflorescences, and rachis are telltale signs. Berries can become infected in the early stages of their development, with a gray coat covering them and then they dry out afterwards. Infected half-ripe berries usually crack and dry out. The plant’s canes can also become covered with a gray coating with gray-brown spots underneath.

Solution : Fungicides are biocidal chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill fungi or fungal spores. A fungistatic inhibits their growth. Fungicide mainly control a disease during the establishment and development of a crop and increase productivity of a crop and to reduce blemishes. Diseased food crops may produce less because their leaves, which are needed for photosynthesis, are affected by the disease .

HPM’s Hexahit ( Hexaconazole 5% EC ): Hexahit is an unique highly systemic triazole fungicide. It acts as protective, curative and eradicant with strong anti sporulant and translaminar action.Broad-spectrum fungicide controlling wide range of diseases infecting many crops and gives excellent control of Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes. Broad-spectrum fungicide, which also controls soil borne fungi like Fusarium, Sclerotium and Rhizoctonia, very effectively. Hexahit is highly effective against sheath blight of paddy, leafspots and blights on all types of crops and powdery mildew of Crops like grapes, chillies etc. It is effective at lower dosages for long period. Apply immediately when first symptoms of disease are noticed, repeat spray at an interval of 14 days if infection is severe or after 21 days in case of moderate infection.

Every good thing has a bad face too.. so is the case with fungicides. They have a myriad use but some harms too… but that is inevitable but HPM India provides you the fungicides with greatest balance of good over harm keeping in mind the utilitarian approach.