When should eradicants be applied for maximum effectiveness?

The most effective time to apply eradicants is before infection occurs. Eradicants are designed to eliminate or deactivate pathogens once they have established themselves in a host plant. Applying them after infection has taken place allows for a more targeted approach to controlling the disease, as the eradicants will be directly working on the pathogens already affecting the plant tissues.

Using eradicants at this stage can help to prevent the spread of the disease within the plant or to surrounding plants, thereby maintaining healthier plants and improving overall crop yield. In contrast, applying eradicants before any signs of infection can sometimes result in unnecessary treatments and increased costs, as the presence of pathogens may not yet be confirmed.

Post-infection application is critical, especially if rapid control is needed, as it allows for direct action against the disease already present. Thus, the timing of application for eradicants is crucial for achieving desired outcomes in disease management.