FMC Corporation has developed a new broad-spectrum, biological fungicide called Fracture for control of powdery mildew, botrytis, and brown rot blossom blight. It is registered for use on grapes, almonds, strawberries, and tomatoes.

The active ingredient is Banda de Lupinus albus doce (BLAD), a naturally occurring seed storage protein from the sweet lupine plant, which has a new mode of action. It works on contact by deforming and inhibiting fungal cell production, tearing apart the cell wall and disrupting the fungal cell membrane. Fungal cells are killed within eight hours.

The fungicide has a four-hour re-entry interval and a one-day preharvest interval and can be used up to five times per season. This is the first biological fungicide the company has developed since it launched its Biosolutions initiative two years ago.