A fungicide with a long history of use in the agricultural sector is to be trialled for its potential to help reduce the impact of a serious fungal disease affecting pine woodlands.
Concerned that Dothistroma needle blight, which affects mainly pine trees, and is already widespread in Scotland, could become more virulent, Forestry Commission Scotland is looking to find out if the aerial application of copper fungicide could be used as a technique to help combat the impacts of the disease.
Permission has now been granted by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate for the aerial application of a copper fungicide to small areas of forest land in Scotland in each of the next three years.
In 2013 the trial will involve a five hectare Scots pine site within the 1,000 hectare Monaughty forest, Moray.
Copper fungicides have long been used to reduce annual agricultural losses from fungal diseases affecting, for example, cereals and potatoes, and do not pose a risk to human or animal health.
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