THE ULTIMATE PEST PREVENTION FOR ALL PLANTS General Directions The TRIPLE P (Plant Promotion Products) range is formulated for the protection of professional continuous plant growth programmes in conjunction with Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Crop Management (ICM) and biological control programmes. It is designed to deliver effective control of aphids, whiteflies, thrips and spider mites and good control of mealybugs, leafhoppers, psyllids, suckers and scale insects when applied as a contact penetration foliar spray. It also provides effective control of common root rot diseases, spread via zoosporic fungi such as pythium and phytophthora, when added to nutrient solution or irrigation water. Question: What is SKRAM? Answer: SKRAM is an emulsion in water which contains medium chain fatty acid nonionic surfactants derived from natural biotransformation of renewable plant-based oils (olive oil, soybean oil, yeast derived oil, and microalgae fatty acid methyl esters). SKRAM is designed to deliver effective control of whitefly, aphids and mites on protected crops such as strawberry, tomato and cucumber. SKRAM is exempt from maximum residue limit (MRL) testing and has a zero-day preharvest interval for all crops. It has minimal impact on bees, pollinators and beneficial arthropods and can be used in organic crops. On pest contact it provides effective control of aphids, whiteflies, thrips and spider mites and good control of mealybugs, leafhoppers, psyllids, suckers and scale insects. It is effective against all insect and spider mite life stages, particularly against motile forms. Question: How does SKRAM work? Answer: SKRAM is active following contact with the pest body. It is active against all stages of insects and mites: juveniles and adults, as well as eggs. SKRAM contains medium chain fatty acid nonionic surfactant active substances. These are effective as the lipophilic carbon chains penetrate the external body wall of the target pest. The unsaturated part of the carbon chains interacts with multiple vital metabolic processes, which interfere with pest feeding activity (antifeedant effect), resulting in plant protection from predation. The first visible effect is the immediate cessation of feeding activity. This results in reduced feeding, egg laying and egg viability. SKRAM is effective at destroying zoospore plasma membranes, thus reducing the ability of the spores to move in nutrient streams and infect plants. SKRAM disrupts zoospores released by active disease outbreaks and prevent these from infecting new plants. For this to be effective, SKRAM needs to be continually maintained in the nutrient solution. SKRAM also has an important role to play in general system and indoor garden hygiene. Since surfactants can not only assist in removal of biofilms and general cleaning, but also in the destruction of disease zoospores, they are a great tool for prevention of pathogen problems. The addition of SKRAM to hydroponic nutrient solutions significantly increases crop yields and has been found to increase water use efficiency by making root membranes more permeable, thus allowing more nutrients to be absorbed by the roots. SKRAM can also act as a synergist with plant hormones giving further growth boosting effects.
