Published on 02/08/2021
Global fungicide authority and Adama UK technical specialist Andy Bailey is reinforcing the need to protect new chemistry by including multi-sites in the tank to protect single-sites from Septoria and Ramularia resistance.
His message isn’t new. Four years ago, on the first of his visits to New Zealand, Bailey gave a stark warning about the threat to wheat and barley from fungicide resistance, which had appeared in the UK almost a decade before it impacted yields in this country.
Today his advice hasn’t changed regarding the importance of multisite protectants such as Adama NZ’s Phoenix Fungicide.
“We have the science behind us. Multi-site fungicides should be the first thing in the tank. Folpet (the active in Phoenix) is definitely extending the life of single-site chemistry. Resistance to fungicides will continue to be there. It’s all about how long we can keep new single site chemistries. They can be highly effective, but the question is until when?”
Bailey says in all resistance the first thing to go is the curative effect. Then doses tend to be increased in some cases to the maximum to achieve field control. “Single-sites are still badly exposed to fungi’s ability to mutate.”
I tell people; folpet will do the same year after year after year. The new chemistry will do brilliantly well, but then we’ll start to see erosion because it’s still single-site chemistry. “It’s a massive challenge for the industry.”
Adama NZ commercial manager Daren Mabey says the new single-site chemistry on the market in this country, including Questar, Revystar, Vimoy Iblon, and Caley Iblon are protected by Phoenix. “What’s important here is to think about the future, to learn from overseas experience, and to take action now before we suffer other major crop loss events.”
Phoenix works against Septoria and Ramularia at a cellular level, inhibiting spore germination and cell division as well as reducing energy production in the mitochondria. There is currently no known resistance to folpet anywhere in the world and it has the additional benefit of not inhibiting DMI uptake, ensuring their speed of action and efficacy.
Phoenix is now also approved for use on green feed crops and can be applied up toGS59 (ear emergence) in barley.
While recent drier seasons, particularly in NZ’s ‘cereal bowl’ of Canterbury, may have reduced some Septoria pressure in wheat, it is still a real risk to yields, especially in the high-value and more susceptible varieties.
Adama NZ says again its advice is to ensure Phoenix is first in the tank. Application at T1, with a DMI such as Bolide, is strongly recommended and supported by industry bodies. If only one spray of Phoenix is being applied in barley, then T2 is the optimum timing. This ensures that leaves 2 and 3 are protected.
For best results though, a programmed approach suggests even higher levels of Ramularia control when using Phoenix at both T1 and at T2. These applications maximise the crop’s green leaf area index to maximise yields by promoting healthy spikelet and ear development.
Adama recommends partnering Phoenix with Bolide or other triazole chemistry as an excellent solution for both Septoria and Ramularia control.
Bolide is an all-rounder DMI fungicide, featuring an innovative combination of epoxiconazole and prochloraz. It is taken up via the stem and foliage and translocated upwards and outwards, providing some protection for new growth.
For more detail contact your Adama NZ commercial manager or visit www.adama.com.