PRACTICES

Stop white mold early to protect peanut yield potential

Getting ahead of fast-moving white mold is critical to stopping the disease in its tracks, especially in high-pressure years like those recently seen in Southeast peanut production.

“We haven’t seen pressure like that going back at least 15 years for white mold,” says Daniel Albritton, sustainable solutions specialist for Valent U.S.A.

In high-pressure situations, Albritton stresses the importance of front-loading disease control programs with strong fungicides such as Excalia® Fungicide. Rotating modes of action is also critical for season-long control.

“It’s about keeping white mold pressure low because it can spread quickly as canopies close and conditions turn hot and humid,” Albritton says. “We need strong products on the ground to keep it in check.”

He also notes that as peanut canopies grow, nighttime applications can improve coverage. “The canopy opens at night, allowing better fungicide placement to target white mold at the soil surface,” he explains.

Because adequate coverage is essential, Albritton recommends timing applications ahead of rainfall in dryland systems. In irrigated fields, allow fungicide to dry before irrigation to move product into the disease zone. Excalia is rainfast within two hours of application.

A yield destroyer

White mold can severely reduce peanut yield if left untreated. Excalia creates a zone of protection, helping stop disease spread and preserve yield potential.

“We call it flagging when you see areas in the field where white mold is present,” Albritton says. “It can kill plants and spread quickly, but with Excalia, we can stop it in its tracks.”

Excalia is a FRAC Group 7 SDHI fungicide that delivers strong control of white mold, even under heavy pressure. Its locally systemic and translaminar activity allows for rapid movement into plant tissue for effective disease control.

In addition to white mold, Excalia controls Rhizoctonia limb and pod rot and Sclerotinia blight, while also suppressing early and late leaf spot.

Excalia can be tank mixed with other crop protection products and offers low use rates, helping improve efficiency in the field.

“Growers appreciate the convenience,” Albritton says. “Lower use rates mean fewer containers to handle and fewer trips across the field.”

To learn more, visit the Excalia product page or contact a Valent sales representative.

Always read and follow label instructions.
Excalia is a registered trademark of Valent U.S.A. LLC.