Lower than 3 years in the past, researchers in South America found a brand new different to controlling powdery mildew. Wagner Bettiol, a scientist from Brazil, discovered that weekly sprays of milk managed powdery mildew in zucchini simply as successfully as artificial fungicides similar to fenarimol or benomyl. Not solely was milk discovered to be efficient at controlling the illness, it additionally acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant’s immune system.

Powdery mildew within the cucurbit household is brought on by the organism Sphaerotheca fuliginea. It’s a critical illness that happens worldwide. For many years, natural gardeners needed to depend on making a twig from baking soda to manage the illness. Now, as a substitute of measuring out the baking soda and mixing it with a surfactant (a “sticking” substance) of both oil or cleaning soap, gardeners want solely head for his or her fridges.

In his experiments with zucchini crops, Bettiol discovered {that a} weekly spray of milk at a focus of no less than 10% (1 half milk to 9 elements water) considerably decreased the severity of powdery mildew an infection on the crops by 90%. Whereas some gardeners could also be tempted to extend the focus of milk for extra management, Bettiol discovered that after concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus started to develop on the crops.

How does milk management powdery mildew?

Scientists aren’t 100% certain how milk works to manage this illness. Evidently milk is a pure germicide. As well as, it accommodates a number of naturally occurring salts and amino acids which are taken up by the plant. From earlier experiments utilizing sodium bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, and different salts, researchers have discovered that the illness is delicate to those salts. It’s doable then, that milk boosts the plant’s immune system to forestall the illness.

Milk used around the globe

The advantages of utilizing milk to manage powdery mildew haven’t been remoted to Brazil. Melon growers in New Zealand are saving 1000’s of {dollars} yearly by spraying their crops with milk as a substitute of artificial fungicides. The melon growers in New Zealand have been so profitable that the wine trade is taking discover and starting experiments utilizing milk to manage powdery mildew in grapes.

What sort of milk ought to be used?

In Bettiol’s authentic experiment, recent milk was used, straight from the cow. Nevertheless, that is clearly not possible to most residence gardeners. The analysis work in New Zealand truly discovered that utilizing skim milk was simply as efficient. Not solely was it cheaper, however the truth that the milk had no fats content material meant that there was much less likelihood of any odours.

Wagner Bettiol’s authentic article was revealed within the journal Crop Science (Vol. 18, 1999, pp. 489-92).

Arzeena Hamir is an agronomist and author for Natural Dwelling E-newsletter.

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