Bactericides for Plants and Agriculture

Most bactericidal definitions will say it just kills bacteria, but this isn’y entirely accurate. Bactericides contain active ingredients that help in the removal of harmful bacteria from crop, while not damaging the essential good bacteria. The application of bactericides averts or lessens damage caused by bacteria to agricultural crops.

Most bactericides for plants are also not harmful to bees and other important organisms near the plant. The bactericidal effects are designed to only effect plant tissues and not break down in the soil

When to Use Bactericides

If you suspect a bacterial infection in your plants, it is important to completely go over your chosen bactericide information. This will help you to determine when and how to apply the product. In a perfect world, application should occur prior to infection. This is usually early in the growing season.

The products are not very effective when plants are dormant because they need to travel into cell wall as well as the vascular system of the plant to work. Dormant plants are essentially slow and movement of the bactericides are not efficient.

If early applications didn’t occur, apply at the first sign of infection. Some products suggest several applications, especially where a fungicide action is also attached. This is because fungicides are not very stable.

How to Use Bactericides

There are several different applications for bactericides. Spraying is one method and allows for even coating of leaves and stems. This is especially helpful when combating a pathogen that is attacking these parts of the plant. Avoid spraying when it is raining and when it is very hot.3wsed

The liquid can also be applied as a soil drench to go straight to the roots. Powder or granular applications are another method of introduction. These are worked into soil, around the root zone, and act systemically.

In all cases, read all bactericide information included with the product so you know the product recommendations. This will ensure the correct timing and application but also the amount to use if the product needs to be diluted.

Copper based Bactericides

Copper pesticides are a group of many different compounds that have some form of copper in common as the active ingredient. These compounds protect against several bacterial infections and fungal diseases. Copper bactericides are safe for organic gardening.

A combination of broad spectrum of activity, ability to withstand frequent wet weather events and inexpensive cost makes this group of compounds valuable in pest management programs. The best time to apply copper fungicide is in dry weather. Usually before your see signs of disease or when you first see it appear.

Copper fungicides won’t solve all your problems, such as late blight in potatoes and tomatoes. They do, however, at least slow or stop the spread of diseases. These can include powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, rust, fire blight, and anthracnose. These are not all as there are many other listed diseases you might find in your garden.

Copper oxychloride is a green to blue-green compound used for disease control. Not available alone but often mixed with other copper-based materials. The product C-O-C-S is composed of both copper oxychloride and basic copper sulfate.

The active ingredient in all copper products is the positively charged copper ion (Cu+2). Many organisms are sensitive to very small amounts of copper ion, such as bacteria and fungi. This is especially true for aquatic organisms such as algae or water molds (including pathogens like downy mildews).