01/09/2025

Say goodbye to the hassle of manual de-suckering. Spotlight® Plus Herbicide offers a fast and effective solution for sucker control in grapevines, rubus crops, olives, plums, and other tree crops. As the only herbicide registered for this purpose, it significantly reduces labour demands and lowers the risk of disease from manual wounds.

This non-residual contact herbicide is engineered for precision—delivering high efficacy while minimising spray drift. Widely adopted across vineyards and orchards, it’s also highly effective against stubborn broadleaf weeds like small-flowered mallow when tank-mixed with knockdown herbicides.

Outstanding sucker control with Spotlight® Plus Herbicide (left) in the Barossa Valley compared to untreated.

According to Yan Wu, FMC Area Business Manager for Eastern South Australia, Spotlight® Plus Herbicide was specifically developed for horticulture and includes a built-in oil adjuvant.

“The oil component helps reduce fine spray droplets, which in turn minimises drift. Its safety profile in vines and tree crops is excellent because the active ingredient doesn’t translocate within the plant,” said Miss Wu.

To avoid off-target damage, standard drift reduction measures are essential. Use directed or fully shrouded sprayers and nozzles that produce a coarse to very coarse spray quality. Air induction and off-centre nozzles are also recommended to limit upward spray movement.

Because Spotlight® Plus Herbicide is a contact product, thorough coverage is key. Apply the recommended water volume to ensure full contact with the leaf and stem of the unwanted sucker. For best results, perform sucker control early in the growing season—before shoots start to become lignified.

Spotlight® Plus Herbicide delivers robust control of hard-to-kill broadleaf weeds. It’s fully compatible with glyphosate and paraquat-based herbicides, enabling broad-spectrum tree and vine line weed control. Alternating herbicide modes of action also helps prevent resistance.

“Spotlight® Plus was purpose built for sucker control in vineyards and orchards,” Yan Wu, FMC Area Business Manager for Eastern South Australia.

Always read and follow label directions. Spotlight ® Plus and FMC are trademarks of FMC Corporation or an affiliate.

*DISCLAIMER:

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Information contained in this article has been provided by the manufacturer/ You should not rely on the information in this article, and it should not be considered advice. You should seek professional advice regarding relevant factors specific to your situation. This article does not take into account variable conditions that may impact performance. Always read and follow label directions before using any product in this article. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited and its related associated entities will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising out of any reliance on any information contained in this article.