What is ANTICA?

Antica is an OrganicNon-Toxic Fungicide and Bactericide. An Alpha Hydroxy Acid predominantly lactic acid.

ANTICA Organic Fungicide and Bactericide is a natural, organic product derived and extracted from tropical fruits. It is predominantly composed of Lactic Acid with some glycolic and acetic acids in much lesser concentrations.

ANTICA has been proven effective against the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis causing sigatoka black leafspot disease of Cavendish banana and against the bacterial pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, causing moko wilt disease of Cavendish banana and bugtok of cooking and other banana cultivars.

Product Specification

Results against black sigatoka
Results of bioassay tests revealed that ANTICA beginning 120ml per 16 liters of water showed efficacy against the fungal pathogen, Mycosphaerella fijiensis. Furthermore, the degree of control that ANTICA exerted agains the sigatoka pathogen ranged from 64.55% to as high as 100% in the two set-ups using 18 different rates or dosages. ANTICA was thus as effective as the most commonly used highly toxic, chemical check, against Mycosphaerella fijiensis.

Results against moko

Based from results of bioassay tests using ANTICA*, three (3) days after incubation, no growth of the bacterium was observed on Ralstonia solanacearum, causing moko, thus its inhibitory efficacy. After a week, almost similar results were noted. ANTICA* was effective against the pathogen, beginning at 150ml to 16 liters of water which is significantly superior when compared to the bactericidal antibiotic check streptomycin and better than brine solution (a common farmer's control practice against the disease).

Results Against Anthracnose
A study by the University of San Carlos, Chemical Engineering Department, Dr Evelyn Taboada and Engr. May Tampus, investigating the anti-microbial activity of ANTICA against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which casus anthracnose in agricultural fruits and crops such as yam, sweetpotato, cassava, mango, and others. Bioassay results of ANTICA shows a consistently strong inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which causes anthracnose. Its zone of inhibition is well-sustained during an extended period of ten incubation days. A concentrated sample of ANTICA (coded WT002) shows total inhibition against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides as no growth of the microorganism was observed during the extended period of 10 days incubation.

Non Toxic and Safe in the Environment
ANTICA has been tested for its toxicity, Lethal Dose(LD50) by the Department of Science and Techonology under Industrial Technology Development Institute, Bicuta, Taguig, Metro Manila. The LD50 test resuls that ANTICA is non toxic even at high dose of 160 ml/kg, and did not cause death to the test animal.

Based on safety data reports, the lactic acid based products are completely safe for beneficial living organisms or non-target organisms including humans, animals, plants and other micro-organisms and the environment in general.

Lactic acid is classified by the United States Food and Drugs Administration as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) in human food with no limitations(21CFR184.1061)
United States Environmental Protection Agency has determined that there would be no human health concerns with the use of Lactic Acid as pesticide of fungicide products. Lactic Acid is exempted from the requirement of tolerance when used as a plant growth regulator or on all raw agricultural commodities (40CFR180.1090)
Lactic Acid is approved for use as an inert ingredient for the application to plants (40CFR180.1001)

Recommended Dosage: 150 - 300 ml ANTICA for 16 liters of water.

Directions
Sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis).
Begin application when leaves first appear and repeat on a 7 to 21 day interval or as needed. Apply in sufficient water to obtain thorough coverage of foliage.
For improved disease control, ANTICA may be mixed with oil or other fungicides registered of control of Sigatoka at labeled rates. When conditions are conductive to rapid disease development and/or heavy disease pressure, higher application rates and rotational spray programs with other fungicides registered for control of Sigatoka are recomemded.
May be applied to fruit up pre-harvest till post harvest.

Recommended Application & Dosage for Post Harvest Diseases in Bananas
Recommended dilution is from 500 ml of ANTICA per 16 liters of water for the control of the fungal pathogen in post harvest disease in banana.

Method of application
Dipping the fruits for about 10 minutes in the suspension of 500 ml ANTICA in 16 liters of water. This may be repeated before fruits are shipped to clients.