How RootShield WP 3 lb Works in the Root Zone
This wettable powder carries Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T-22 at 1.15%. Mixed with water and applied to the root zone, the fungus colonises roots and spreads with them as they grow. It holds the root surface against Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Cylindrocladium and Thielaviopsis. Those pathogens cause damping-off, root rot, crown rot and wilt. BioWorks rates the preventive protection at up to 12 weeks per application. The maker also reports faster root growth and more root hairs, which help plants handle drought and transplant stress. RootShield WP is OMRI listed and covered by EPA registration 68539-7. The REI is 4 hours and the PHI is 0 days, so it fits edible crops close to harvest. A 3 lb pack makes roughly 960 to 1,600 gallons of drench at label rates. That size suits greenhouses treating several benches through an injector.
Applying a Biological Root Fungicide Through Irrigation
A biological root fungicide works best before disease appears, so apply it at sowing, sticking or transplant. For drenches, mix 3 to 5 oz per 100 gallons and wet the whole root zone. Through a fertilizer injector, set the ratio at 1:100 and keep the pick-up screen an inch or two off the tank bottom. Keep the stock solution agitated so the powder stays in suspension. For bare-root or unrooted transplants, dip at 3.0 oz per 10 gallons. It can be used alone, tank mixed or rotated with other tools in an IPM program. Repeat applications at intervals of up to 12 weeks to keep roots covered. Store unopened packs cold, since spore life falls quickly above 75 °F. Mix only what will be used that day. Handlers should wear eyewear, long sleeves and long pants while mixing. Built into a routine, it keeps roots protected from propagation through finish.
Key Features
- T-22 Trichoderma: Living active that colonises roots.
- Up to 12 weeks: Preventive protection per application.
- Injector ready: Runs through irrigation at a 1:100 ratio.
- 0-day PHI: Usable on edible crops close to harvest.
- OMRI listed: Approved for organic production.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | BioWorks |
| Part number | 2H02A03 |
| Package size | 3 lb |
| Formulation | Wettable powder |
| Active ingredient | Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T-22, 1.15% |
| Target pathogens | Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Cylindrocladium, Thielaviopsis |
| Drench rate | 3 to 5 oz per 100 gal (1/2 to 3/4 tsp per gal) |
| Transplant dip | 3.0 oz per 10 gal |
| Drench made per package | About 960 to 1,600 gal at 3 to 5 oz/100 gal |
| Protection | Up to 12 weeks |
| REI / PHI | 4 hours / 0 days |
| EPA registration | 68539-7 |
| OMRI | Listed |
| Shelf life | 10 months at or below 40 °F; 4 months at 70 to 75 °F; 1 month or less above 75 °F |