soon
Latest strob is due
soon
By Charles Abel
NEW strobilurin trifloxystrobin could be on farms in time for T1 sprays, offering growers significant improvements in disease control and greater flexibility over the triazole partner. But pricing remains unclear.
Following the approval of F279 by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides last Thursday only an official signing off by government ministers now stands between the product and the market.
"Officials tell us they hope to beat their all time record of 10 days," says John Evans, regulatory affairs manager for maker Novartis.
Until full approval is granted maker Novartis is unable to make marketing claims. But technical experts already have a clear view.
Strob-leading control of Septoria, mildew and rhynchosporium and greater flexibility on rate, timing and triazole partner than other strobilurins are their main conclusions (see also Arable, Mar 3).
"It clearly has some eradicant activity which allows greater flexibility on rate and timing and the choice of partner triazole," notes ADAS disease expert Bill Clark.
In three Septoria control trials last year quarter rate F279 matched the performance of full rate Amistar (azoxystrobin). "It is a new improved Amistar."
Mildew control is also strong, but rust weak, which will need reflecting in the choice of triazole partner, he notes. Epoxiconazole (Opus) would be his preference, but fluquinconazole (Flamenco), tebuconazole (Folicur), cyproconazole (Alto) or metconazole (Caramba) could also feature.
In Scotland Huw Philips for Scottish Agronomy sees F279 boosting rhynchosporium control in barley. Mixed with Opus or Unix (cyprodinil) it has given better control than equivalent mixes of azoxystrobin in trials, he notes.
Claims for mesostemic activity are also significant, Mr Clark continues. "It behaves like a systemic product, moving the active up the plant from treated leaves to later emerging leaves, which could provide greater timing flexibility."
But price and market positioning are less clear. Mildew control equivalent to a half rate morpholine would justify a £10/ha (£4/acre) premium this year, Mr Clark comments.
In Belgium, where F279 is already on sale as Twist, a 20m (60ft) buffer is required near water. In the UK extra data supplied to PSD means a LERAP buffer is required, but low drift nozzles can drop that to 1m.
Approval in France and Germany is not expected until next year.
Bill Clark – F279 gave better septoria control and higher yield than azoxystrobin at like-for-like doses in ADAS trials last year.
Rhyncho-
sporium activity will be a boon for Scottish barley growers, says Huw Phillips of Perth-based Scottish Agronomy.