Re: [compost_tea] Re: Phytopathology journal article on compost tea, November 2004

From: Ted Peterson <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2004 23:19:17 -0700

----- Original Message -----
From: Titel Ryzhomer
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 4:15 PM
Subject: [compost_tea] Re: Phytopathology journal article on compost tea, N=
ovember 2004



Hi Ted,

Yes, I've actually observed with magnification the powdery mildew
structure breaking down after spraying (under magnification it has a
building block, almost geodesic (sp) structure) and eventually
disappearing, sometimes leaving a scar. This efficacy has not been
apparent with every batch of CT, however other batches have helped
to control it as you have indicated regarding grape plants. I am
aware that there are many types of powdery mildew and perhaps this
CT is working only on the variety we have growing here on
delphineas, roses, some herbs, Indian Hemp or Dogbane {Apocynum
androsaemifolium} and a weed that appears to belong to the Evening
Primrose family. It has been quite easy to induce the powdery mildew
(for research purposes) through use of poor growing conditions, etc.

I hope this helps to clarify.

Regards,
Titel



Well, I will have to say this is amazing. In all the tests I have run here=
 I have seen nothing like this. We have several vinyards using different b=
rewers from different makers and some home ones knocked off of mine and Ear=
th Works and a lot of different recipes. I haven't heard reports like your=
s from any of them. Most vinyards use Roses as indicator plants because po=
wdery mildew will usually show up there before grapes. If the vinyard peopl=
e see it on the roses they can be pretty sure it's in the vines. I tried s=
praying right on the roses with full strength tea and it did nothing to the=
 mildew that was already there. It did prevent the mildew from spreading b=
ut did absolutely nothing to the existing mildew on the plant. In addition=
, I had to spray every day to prevent the spread. When I stopped spraying,=
 the mildew started spreading in 1 to 2 weeks depending on mildew pressure.=
 

Do you have controls? Did you try spraying with just molasses or just wate=
r? Could it be that there was a residue of fungicide that was activated wh=
en you sprayed? Was the sprayer you used completely clean of fungicides? =
Did you add anything to the tea that was a form of organic fungicide that y=
ou didn't explain in your message?

Here is the problem I have: I did not see and have not seen anything even =
close to what you are describing. If I believe what you say and go to a vi=
nyard and present CT as able to cure powdery mildew and it doesn't, I am fi=
nancially responsible for their loss of product. Are you sure enough of wh=
at you posted about eradication of powdery mildew to back up that claim to =
a grower? Would you be willing to go to a grower and state if he follows y=
our directions and the mildew does not subside that you would compensate hi=
m for the loss?

The tests I made were on conventional vines, organic vines and patches that=
 were separated by enough distance to give pretty accuract results. One vi=
nyard was in a medium to high mildew pressure area and the other was in an =
area that was traditionally low mildew pressure. I did see the outbreaks c=
ontrolled in every vinyard I have applied tea instead of conventional fungi=
cide but even in the most successful vinyards, we got minor outbreaks. I t=
reated those with fungicide after I determined that tea could do nothing to=
 eradicate the mildew. So your post is very interesting to me. Do you hav=
e any lab test to substantiate what you say? Would you be willing to let m=
e contact the grower and find out his/her impression of what happened? If =
what you say is true, you may have found something worth a fortune to organ=
ic growers.

I now have contracts with 5 vinyards and have sprayed a lot of tea over alm=
ost three years. I have done a lot of tests and am still unprepared to mak=
e the statement you have made after 7 months so I am very interested to lea=
rn where you are having success when nobody I know, even other consultants,=
 are having the same results.

You mentioned inducing mildew as the result of poor growing conditions. Th=
e spread of mildew has not been the result of poor growing conditions as fa=
r as I can tell. It attacks both conventional and organicically managed pl=
ants with equal vengence. I have seen it attack in extremely well managed =
vinyards and skip poorly managed vinyards and vice-versa.

Ted Peterson
EW/SOE






Received on Thu Oct 21 2004 - 10:43:18 EDT

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