Milk is a good fungicide

R* F* L*

I got this note from my friend in Swaziland.  Thot I'd sent it along.  Ruthie
>
>Dear Friends
>
>I must say I was shocked to read that syraying ordinary cows milk mixed with
>water in a 1:9 dilution is as effective at preventing the growth of the
>powderey mildew mould /Sphaerotheca fuliginea/  on cucumbers and zuccini as
>any commercial chemical fungicides!
>
>This was a discovery by Wagner Bettoil in Embrapa, the Brazilian
>Agricultural Research Corp.  He sprayed it on heavily affected plants twice
>a week.  It worked as well as Fenarimol or Benomyl.  In many cases milk was
>faster and more effective.  In some cases it was 6 times more effective as a
>fungicide.  It qualifies as an organic treatment.
>
>Effective control can be maintained with a 5% spray once a week.  It is not
>yet clear why it works but it might boost the plant's immune system.
>
>Powdery mildew is a serious problem in Swaziland where we cannot grow
>certain crops in some areas because of its endemic presence.
>
>Regards
>Crispin
>


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