Most mobile strob yet is set for spring launch

29 June 2001




Most mobile strob yet is set for spring launch

By Andrew Swallow

PICOXYSTROBIN, the next strobilurin from Syngenta, will be the most mobile strobilurin yet, making it an ideal fit for the T1 timing in wheat and barley, claims the company.

Curative activity is also a step up on currently available strobilurins and beats many older triazoles. "We see it as a key feature of this compound," says Syngenta head of product biology, Jeremy Godwin. However, it is not as curative as the best two or three triazoles, he adds.

All the main wheat and barley diseases are controlled, with the exception of eyespot. Syngenta considers rhynchosporium and net blotch control particularly strong points.

"It sets a new standard in net blotch control – the curative activity is better than any triazole."

In wheat, septoria control is said to be better than trifloxystrobin and a picoxystrobin plus 0.25 litres/ha mix of epoxiconazole should outperform a 0.5 litre/ha Landmark (kresoxim-methyl + epoxiconazole) treatment, says fungicides manager Beth Hall.

High uptake into the leaf – upto 40% within a day of application – and high intrinsic activity of the fungicide gives picoxystrobin its increased curative activity, says Dr Godwin.

Systemic activity and vapour movement also allow treatments to provide protection and even curative activity on growth not actually sprayed, he adds.

"It is the only strobilurin with both systemic and vapour activity." In contrast, pyraclostrobin, BASFs next strobilurin, exhibits neither property, he says.

The combination of curative activity and protection of new growth make picoxystrobin ideal for T1 treatments, adds colleague Dave Bartlett.

Keeping the plant healthy at that stage not only prevents lower leaves acting as a source of disease inoculum for upper leaves, but allows the plant to build a bigger stem reserve and root system, he says.

"It is very important to protect leaves three to five to maximise delivery of photo-assimilates to the root. In turn that will have a major effect on how the plant will develop.

"Early season plant health has a substantial role in setting the foundation of yield," he says.

Subject to PSD approval, picoxystrobin should be available next spring and will be sold as a straight formulation, says Syngenta. In Ireland and Germany, where the product is already approved, it is marketed as Acanto.

Despite its curative capabilities, Syngenta stresses picoxystrobin should still be used in mixture with a triazole or compound such as Unix (cyprodinil).

However, it will give growers more flexibility with partner choice and rate, and allow some leeway with timings, concludes Dr Godwin. &#42

[box]

PICOXYSTROBIN POINTERS

* Curative activity.

* All main cereal diseases.

* Rhyncho & net blotch strengths.

* T1 timing targeted.

PIC: Lady in Lilac shirt and wheat plants

PICOXYSTROBINPOINTS

&#8226 Curative activity.

&#8226 All main cereal diseases.

&#8226 Rhyncho & net blotch strengths.

&#8226 T1 timing targeted.


See more