Tidal Grow® Spectra™ delivers a smarter, cleaner, more cost-effective way to shut down threats

Combat Tar Spot in Corn: Smarter Inputs for Stronger Crops 

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ delivers a smarter, cleaner, more cost-effective way to shut down threats

The spread of tar spot across corn production has added a layer of pressure to every link in the ag retail chain. From growers managing tight spray windows to retailers balancing cost-per-acre performance, the disease is driving a need for inputs that work harder, fit easier, and support stronger outcomes across the board. And while conventional fungicides remain a mainstay, they don’t always deliver the full protection needed, especially when disease shows up fast.

Retailers and agronomists need products that offer flexibility, support integrated programs, and help growers protect yield while optimizing their investment. Tidal Grow® Spectra™ is stepping into that space. With proven trial results, multimodal action, and its naturally derived active ingredient, it’s empowering retailers with a new approach to improving both disease control and ROI across corn acres facing serious tar spot risk. Keep reading to take a closer look at how Tidal Grow® Spectra™ fits into that strategy and what it delivers in the field.

The ongoing cost of tar spot

Tar spot (Phyllachora maydis) first appeared in 2015 but has since evolved from a regional issue into a widespread production concern. Across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin, and beyond, it’s causing significant yield losses. In some of the worst-hit fields, losses have reached up to 60 bushels per acre. From 2018 to 2023, national losses have averaged more than 100 million bushels annually.

This level of impact reshapes timelines, inventory movement, and contracted supply volumes. Grain quality is also at risk. Kernels from infected fields often lose density and fill poorly, affecting processor acceptance and downstream marketability. As pressure from tar spot builds, those in agribusiness are left managing rising input costs and narrower margins, often without clear answers on what’s truly working.

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ offers multimodal crop protection

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ was developed to help tackle pests and pathogens that demand more from every application. It’s a bioactive fungicide, bactericide, and nematicide that helps control diseases and pests while boosting plant vigor. Its multimodal activity allows it to target multiple field challenges at once, including tar spot, while supporting crop health and nutrient uptake.

In addition, the formulation of Tidal Grow® Spectra™ makes it easy to integrate into standard agronomic programs. Tidal Grow® Spectra™ can be used in-furrow or as a foliar application and is compatible with most fungicides and crop inputs. It also works synergistically in tank mixes to optimize efficacy without increasing input load or application complexity.

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ delivers value in these ways:

• Directly controls pathogens and pests, including tar spot and nematodes
• Activates the crop’s natural immune system to help plants respond faster to stress and reduce disease vulnerability
• Improves nutrient uptake and root function to support healthier, more resilient plants
• Works synergistically with other active ingredients to improve efficacy of traditional crop protection products.

What makes Tidal Grow® Spectra™ work: the power of chitosan

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ is powered by chitosan, a natural compound derived from chitin found in crustacean shells. When applied to corn, chitosan activates the plant’s internal defense systems through a biological response known as the elicitor effect. This signaling mechanism tells the plant to produce protective compounds and enzymes, giving it a stronger, faster reaction to stress and infection.

At the same time, chitosan acts directly on fungal pathogens. It disrupts the integrity of fungal cell walls and interferes with RNA synthesis, stopping further reproduction and spread. This dual-action approach helps reduce tar spot development in the early stages (when it matters most) and keeps the crop better prepared as weather shifts or pressures intensify.

The active ingredient, chitosan, is what gives Tidal Grow® Spectra™ its clean-use profile. The non-toxic formulation requires minimal PPE and offers 0 PHI and 0 REI. This simplifies field protocols and supports safer applicator handling.

Field trial results

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ was put to the test during the 2024 growing season in Quitman, Georgia. The trials were conducted under high disease pressure using a randomized block design to ensure accuracy and reliability. Multiple treatment comparisons were included, such as:

1. A tank mix of Tidal Grow® Spectra™ with a standard fungicide at half rate
2. Full-rate fungicide-only treatment
3. Untreated control

The results were clear and compelling:

• +7.4 bu/A yield increase when Tidal Grow® Spectra™ was tank-mixed with a standard fungicide at half rate, compared to untreated plots (Graph 1)
• 45% reduction in tar spot severity in fields treated with Tidal Grow® Spectra™, even under high pressure (Graph 2)

Graph 1. Tidal Grow® Spectra™ combined with a standard fungicide led to boosted yields in this field trial.

 

Graph 2. High disease pressure was no match for chitosan-powered Tidal Grow® Spectra™.

These findings demonstrate how Tidal Grow® Spectra™ supports both efficacy and efficiency in pest and pathogen control. It helps improve crop outcomes while reducing reliance on high-load chemical applications that add cost and complexity. The results also reinforce the value Tidal Grow® Spectra™ brings to fungicide programs under real-world field conditions.

Making application easy for growers

The flexibility of Tidal Grow® Spectra™ makes it easier for agronomists to recommend it for a grower’s existing crop input strategy. It fits into existing IPM strategies, works with standard equipment, and supports both in-season and early-season approaches (depending on field history and program goals). 

Best-use guidelines include:

• Rate: Use 8 to 16 fl oz per acre two to three times during the growing season, based on disease pressure and risk level
• Methods:
  • In-furrow application delivers early root protection from nematodes; supports soil health
  • Post-emergence foliar spray targets leaf surfaces, where tar spot typically develops
• Tank mix compatibility: Tidal Grow® Spectra™ works well with most fungicides; a jar test is recommended before mixing

Where Tidal Grow® Spectra™ fits in your offering

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ gives you a tool to protect your growers’ long-term profitability without increasing operational complexity. As you know, the ability to offer a solution that lowers input intensity while raising performance is a strategic advantage. It supports better outcomes while aligning with a broader push toward integrated, environmentally conscious crop protection.

Tidal Grow® Spectra™ gives growers the power to drive improved efficacy with their current crop input strategy as they also protect the health of their fields and the reliability of their yields. It offers a consistent layer of support during unpredictable conditions and disease pressure. For those continuously battling tar spot every season, that’s the kind of performance they trust.

Conclusion: a stronger defense against tar spot and beyond

Tar spot is forcing a shift in how growers manage disease pressure, and ag retailers and agronomists are being called to lead that change. Retailers, agronomists, and input suppliers need tools that are field-tested, easy to implement, and proven to deliver value. Tidal Grow® Spectra™ gives you exactly that: a bioactive solution that supports plant health, shuts down disease, and keeps operations running strong when the pressure is on.

To learn more about integrating Tidal Grow® Spectra™ into your retail offering or agronomic strategy, visit tidalgrowag.com.