Virginia Veggie Growers Turn The Tables On Disease

19 January 2026, AU: Not long ago, rising disease resistance levels were proving a challenge for many vegetable growers in the Virginia area of South Australia, however strong support from a former grower in the region and a recent fungicide option has helped to turn the tables.

Powdery mildew, in particular, has been a problem in capsicum, eggplant and cucumber crops, while some varieties of the latter also have been more susceptible to gummy stem blight.

Mong Van Tran, who farmed in the area for 10 years and became a great ally for growers throughout the region, especially within the strong Vietnamese community, said powdery mildew was uncontrolled in some crops, causing leaf drop, reduced photosynthesis and associated production and sales issues.

“We have some resistance issues because people have used products again and again (without rotation) – and once powdery mildew gets into the stem of fruit, you cannot sell it and it becomes seconds,” Mong said.

Crops throughout the region are grown in soil and hydroponic bags in greenhouses, which exacerbate disease due to humidity levels especially overnight in summer. Disease also can be more prevalent in select areas of greenhouses due to wind flows.

Through working together with Elders at Virginia, Mong has been sharing his knowledge and first-hand experience of controlling disease, more recently including the application of Luna^® Experience fungicide, following its registration for use in additional crops.

Widely known for its effectiveness in selected fruit, tree nut and pyrethrum crops, Luna Experience from Bayer is also registered for control of powdery mildew in capsicums and tomatoes, as well as powdery mildew and gummy stem blight in cucurbits, plus botrytis bunch rot in grapes.

As a co-formulation of fluopyram (SDHI, Group 7) and tebuconazole (DMI, Group 3), Luna Experience uses the power of two fungicide modes of action to not only control key fungal pathogens, but also reduce the chance of resistance buildup and preserve the chemistry.

Mong has been assisting growers with product knowledge and by sharing his experience of using effective fungicides, “to help them save a lot of money”, and he said having the two modes of action with Luna Experience was excellent against disease resistance.

“We did have some customer complaints about other products. They sprayed them once, then twice and it had not controlled powdery mildew at all. Then when we introduced them to Luna (Experience) and they sprayed it twice, it was gone, so it was very effective.”

“Customers have been very happy because of the control. When they finish the crop, there’s been no powdery mildew or gummy stem (blight).

“Some customers have had crops up high and there’s been yellowing and leaf drop, and not much production because there’s been less photosynthesis. With Luna Experience, it has controlled powdery mildew and there’s been more leaf greenness and so more production and quality.

“It has worked perfectly and it has saved a lot of money for them. If some other products cannot control the disease, they have to spray more or otherwise pull out the crop and switch chemistry.

“I see Luna (Experience) as cheaper than other products because you spray it twice and it’s under control, rather than having to spray many times,” he said.

With a focus on prevention rather than cure, Mong advises growers to apply Luna Experience a week after transplanting, before another possible application one to two months later.

“We encourage growers to use Luna Experience, and then if needed, rotate to another product a few weeks later, and then if more powdery mildew comes back, spray Luna (Experience) again.”

“With other products, growers have usually had to spray again 14 days later, but some growers are now spraying once with Luna (Experience) and are not having to come back.”

He said the one day withholding period with Luna Experience in capsicums, cucurbits and tomatoes was another major benefit.

“Cucumber crops are picked every other day, so it’s very good – it saves a lot of money.”

Mong said it did not take long for growers to talk with each other about the effectiveness of Luna Experience this had catapulted sales of the product.

“Previously, we might have sold one or two Luna Experience a year. Now it’s more like 10 per month, and this is happening widespread in the industry.”

“Every customer now has at least one Luna Experience drum on their farm and it is well known.

“Customers have had such a good experience that I believe it will become the foremost product in the region for powdery mildew,” he said.

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