Spray promises ‘significant lift’ in wheat yields

A NEW winter wheat fungicide is set to provide growers with a significant lift in yield potential, claims its manufacturer.

Launched at last month’s Cereals event, Xpro is “fungicide technology at its most inventive,” according to Bayer product manager Alison Daniels. In two years of trials, it delivered an extra 0.6t/ha yield increase over current T2 standards.

“The years 2008 and 2009 couldn’t have been more different in terms of disease pressure, yet mean increases across 23 independent trials sites averaged 0.6t/ha – impressive when you look at the variable nature of the sites,” said Dr Daniels.

Bayer put Xpro’s performance down to the inherent synergy of prothioconazole and bixafen, enhanced through its patented Leafshield formulation system, which harnesses the power of both actives.

“It helps the two actives move together into and along the leaf so that the fungus is simultaneously attacked by two different modes of action for maximum kill and resistance management.

But Bayer suggests that there’s more to Xpro than better disease control. The company claims that Xpro offers significant advances in duration of activity and crop greening effects over current fungicides.

Dr Daniels said: “At many trial sites we were seeing three weeks longer lasting activity than the best standards on key cereal diseases such as Septoria, and Rhynchosporium in barley. “

This doesn’t mean growers should ignore best practice but it does give greater assurance should spray applications be hindered. It also allows growers to focus on T3 mycotoxin ear sprays, rather than hybridising with foliar top-ups.

“In wheat trials we see a mean increase of 30% GLA to the top 3 leaves over the current best standards. It’s a similar position in barley where for the critical yield building leaves two and three, we see an average GLA increase of 22%.”

Dr Daniels suggested that Xpro could change how growers look at spray programmes. “It simplifies decisions for farmers. Xpro is a one pack solution that minimises time lost in collecting, decanting, mixing , cleaning and disposal.”

Does it mean the end for strobs? Dr Daniels believes it will come down to comparative value and additional disease profiles which help justify their investment, and a wise choice of azole partner.

The strobs with the broadest disease control profiles which will survive. “You’re looking for a strob with the very best rust, rhyncho and net blotch profiles, with stem base disease activity, true fusarium and take-all activity. “