Arborjet says its Arbor-OTC delivers an antibiotic punch via trunk injection into the tree’s xylem, where it is taken up by the vascular system and distributed throughout the plant to suppress disease-causing bacteria.
Arbor-OTC is a water-soluble, injectable, systemic antibiotic for the annual suppression of bacterial diseases in non-food-bearing trees and palms. Bacteria can undergo exponential growth, meaning that their populations can double several times daily, depending on the bacterial species and environmental conditions. If not addressed, bacterial diseases can spread rapidly and cause the decline and death of a tree.
“Bacterial diseases are notoriously difficult to manage, and existing products are a hassle to use,” said Russ Davis, president and COO of Arborjet. “This is why we are so excited to offer Arbor-OTC, a shelf-stable, water-soluble powder that allows the applicator to mix and go without worrying about refrigeration or expiration dates.”
When injected, Arbor-OTC stays inside the tree protecting the tissue when the bacterial disease is present. Timing when to spray is always difficult when it comes to bacterial diseases, and applicators often miss the window of control due to wind and other adverse weather conditions.
Availability. The new, easy-to-use container comes in two sizes. First is a one-ounce (28 gram) jar, perfect for treating 10 trees or palms at 10” diameter at breast height (DBH) in the same day. This container can be filled with water, covered and shaken, and then poured directly into the formulation tank on trunk-injection equipment. For bigger projects, the five–ounce (140 gram) container makes enough Arbor-OTC to treat 50 trees or palms at 10” DBH. This container comes with a scoop to dose out the proper volume to mix with water.
Arbor-OTC is not yet registered for use in all states. Contact your local extension or the Department of Agriculture to verify that Arbor-OTC is available for use in your area.
Treatable diseases. Annual applications of Arbor-OTC can be made to treat bacterial diseases including Bacterial Leaf Scorch, Fire Blight, Lethal Yellowing and Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (types of Phytoplasma Disease). Other diseases that may be treated with Arbor-OTC include Ash Yellows, Bacterial Blast, Bacterial Blight, Bacterial Canker, Blossom Blast, Blossom Blight and Canker, Bunch Disease, Crown Gall, Decline, Fruit Spot, Leaf and Shoot Blight, Leaf Blight and Brown Rot, Leaf Spot, Lethal Decline, Phloem Necrosis, Stem Canker, Stubborn Disease, Tip Dieback, Vascular Yellows, Wetwood/Slime Flux, Witches’ Broom (caused by mycoplasma-like organisms), and X-Disease.
