Our Top CEASE® Microbial Fungicide And Bactericide
CEASE® Microbial Fungicide And Bactericide
CEASE® — a Bacillus subtilis QST 713 biofungicide for fungal & bacterial diseases.
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What it targets
CEASE® is a microbial biofungicide and bactericide manufactured by BioWorks, built on a patented strain of Bacillus subtilis (strain QST 713). One product line, one active ingredient, broad spectrum: CEASE controls fungal pathogens (Botrytis gray mold, powdery mildew, Anthracnose, leaf-spot diseases including Alternaria and Entomosporium) and bacterial pathogens (Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Xanthomonas) on foliage. Applied as a soil drench, CEASE also suppresses root pathogens like Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Fusarium, and Phytophthora.
Two operational advantages make CEASE different from copper-based bactericides and most synthetic fungicides: a 4-hour restricted entry interval (REI) and a 0-day preharvest interval (PHI). You can spray up to and on the day of harvest, get back into the crop the same shift, and keep cultural and harvest operations on schedule. CEASE is OMRI Listed for organic production and NOP-approved.
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How it works — mode of action
The active organism is Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 — a naturally occurring soil bacterium that produces a suite of antifungal and antibacterial compounds. CEASE works through multiple mechanisms at once, not a single binding site: the bacteria physically colonize the leaf surface and form a barrier that interferes with pathogen attachment; the secreted lipopeptide metabolites disrupt fungal cell membranes and bacterial cell walls; and the plant’s own induced systemic resistance is activated, increasing production of protective enzymes. Multi-site MOA is also why CEASE fits cleanly into resistance-management rotations — pathogens can’t evolve around a single target.
Performance equals copper-based bactericides on bacterial pathogens like Pseudomonas, Erwinia, and Xanthomonas, without the phytotoxicity, residue, or pH-sensitivity issues coppers carry. CEASE leaves virtually no residue on foliage or flowers; nothing accumulates in the plant. EPA Registration No. is 264-1155-68539.
Foliar spray vs. soil drench
The application mode matches the disease location. Foliar spray for aerial fungal and bacterial pathogens on leaves, stems, and flowers — Botrytis, powdery mildew, leaf spots, bacterial blights. Soil drench for soil-borne pathogens in the root zone — Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Phytophthora. Both modes work because B. subtilis establishes a viable population on the application surface and produces its antimicrobial compounds in place.
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Crops, environments, and use sites
Crops it supports
Bedding plants
Potted plants
Cut flowers
Tropical foliage
Container-grown trees & shrubs
Vegetables grown under cover
Ornamental crops
Environments
Greenhouses
Field
Interiorscapes
Residential landscapes
Commercial landscapes
Shade-house environments
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Storage and handling
Store CEASE® per the product label: cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight, away from heat. The product ships as a liquid suspension; agitate before use to redistribute the bacteria. Don’t use product past its expiration date, and don’t freeze. Refer to the BioWorks product shelf-life sheet for storage windows under different conditions. Note: CEASE® cannot be shipped to Nevada.
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Instructions of use
Foliar spray for aerial diseases
Apply when conditions favor disease development but before symptoms appear — the strongest position for a preventive bacterial-based product. CEASE® can also be applied at the first sign of disease symptoms. Use a spreader/sticker or wetting agent to improve canopy penetration and coverage. Maintain spray-solution pH between 4.5 and 8.5. The most commonly used rate is 4 quarts per 100 gallons; the label range is 2–8 quarts per 100 gallons depending on disease pressure.
Soil drench for root pathogens
For Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, and Phytophthora in the root zone, apply CEASE® as a drench to the growing media. The B. subtilis bacteria colonize the rhizosphere and produce antifungal compounds in place. Best timed before or at transplanting, and repeated as the program calls for.
Spray intervals and resistance management
CEASE® can be applied as often as 3-day intervals; 7-day intervals are the typical preventive cadence when conditions favor disease. Because CEASE controls through multiple modes of action, it’s ideally suited for resistance-management rotations — especially when paired with single-site synthetic fungicides whose chemical cycle you want to break. CEASE tank-mixes well with MilStop® for an added boost on Botrytis, powdery mildew, and bacterial leaf spots.
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Monitoring & advisories
Monitor for
- Disease pressure indicators — humidity, leaf wetness duration, susceptible host stages — before symptoms appear. Preventive applications are the strongest use of CEASE®.
- Fuzzy gray spore masses on stems, flowers, and senescing leaf tissue (Botrytis); white powdery growth on the upper leaf surface (powdery mildew); water-soaked lesions on leaves (bacterial pathogens).
- Pythium/Rhizoctonia damping-off in propagation, and Fusarium/Phytophthora root collapse in established crops — signal a soil drench rotation.
- Slow disease progression on treated foliage 5–7 days after the first application; complete control depends on coverage, timing, and rotation discipline.
Advisories
- CEASE® is preventive-leaning. It performs best applied before the disease establishes. Throwing it at an outbreak alone won’t turn a severe established infection — rotate with a knockdown product first if pressure is high.
- Maintain spray pH between 4.5 and 8.5. Outside that range, the B. subtilis activity drops.
- Safe for beneficial insects, predatory mites, and bees — CEASE® integrates cleanly into IPM programs alongside the predator/parasitoid releases you’re running.
- Compatible with most pesticides, fertilizers, and adjuvants. Unlike copper-based bactericides, CEASE can be used with pH-lowering materials such as fosetyl-AL, phosphonic acids, and daminozide without injuring plants. Check the BioWorks compatibility chart for specific tank-mix combinations.
- Distribution restriction: CEASE® cannot be shipped to Nevada. Check label restrictions for any state-specific limits before ordering.
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Application rates
| Use case | Rate | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Preventive foliar (typical use) preventive | 4 qt / 100 gal water | 7-day intervals when conditions favor disease |
| Low pressure / preventive preventive | 2 qt / 100 gal water | 7-day intervals |
| High disease pressure / active active | 6–8 qt / 100 gal water | 3- to 5-day intervals; rotate into program |
| Soil drench for root pathogens active | Per label for crop / pathogen | At transplant + repeat per program |
| Rates vary by crop, disease, and label. Use the BioWorks CEASE Rate Calculator and the product label for exact volumes. 4-hour REI, 0-day PHI. EPA Reg. No. 264-1155-68539. | ||
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Cannabis Alert
Conventional rates are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. We recommend you double the rate or contact us for personalized help.
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Product specifications
CEASE® is a stable liquid formulation containing live Bacillus subtilis QST 713 spores. The bacterium colonizes plant surfaces on contact and produces its antimicrobial compounds in place.
A
Active ingredient
B
Formulation
C
Sizes
D
REI / PHI
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See it in action
Disclosures
Manufacturer. CEASE® is manufactured by BioWorks, Inc. (Victor, NY). GreenMethods is an authorized retailer; product specifications, label, and Safety Data Sheet are maintained by BioWorks. Read the full label before every application.
Regulatory. EPA Reg. No. 264-1155-68539. Registered for use in the United States. CEASE® is OMRI Listed and NOP-approved for organic production. Distribution restriction: cannot be shipped to Nevada. Other state restrictions may apply — check the label before ordering.
Use. Read and follow all label directions, restrictions, and precautions. Tank-mix and rotation compatibility is described on the BioWorks product compatibility chart. Storage, disposal, and worker protection requirements are on the label and SDS.