Survey highlights importance of SDHIs
A recent UK-wide survey of 40 independent advisors conducted by leading market research organisation GfK, aimed to gauge how advisors are using SDHI fungicides and what are the main differences between the products three years after the first new generation SDHI was launched.
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Tags: fungicide, spraying

Steve Dennis of BASF
A recent UK-wide survey of 40 independent advisors conducted by leading market research organisation GfK, aimed to gauge how advisors are using SDHI fungicides and what are the main differences between the products three years after the first new generation SDHI was launched.
“It is clear that there is a strong awareness of the leading SDHIs amongst advisors, and that they understand the technical strengths and weaknesses between brands,” said Peter Hughes, cereal fungicide product manager with BASF.
“The results indicated that this knowledge was based on independent trial results, a proven track record of efficacy and last years’ experience, although cost- effectiveness and competitive pricing were also regarded as important factors.”
“Advisors identified the crucial T2 spray as being the most important timing for SDHI use with Adexar (epoxiconazole + xemium) and Aviator 235 Xpro (bixafen + prothioconazole), recommended most widely at the flag leaf spray in 2013, followed by multi – site fungicide Bravo (chlorothalonil) and triazoles Opus (epoxiconazole) and Proline (prothioconazole).”
In the survey, the main factors driving SDHI choice at T2 were ability of the fungicide to control both Septoria and yellow rust. Other notable factors but of lower importance were consistent yield increases, duration of efficacy, and the ability to mix with chlorothalonil.
“Adexar was rated as the best performing SDHI for Septoria control closely followed by Aviator and then Vertisan. Adexar also came out as the top performing fungicide for controlling yellow rust followed by Seguris and Vertisan with control of yellow rust from Aviator rated quite a way lower by the advisors,” said Mr Hughes.
Indications from the 40 advisors suggested that the use of SDHIs Adexar and Aviator at T2 were set to increase compared to last season.
At T1 the top three recommended products in 2013 were Bravo, Tracker (epoxiconazole + boscalid), and Proline (prothioconazole) with advisors suggesting that SDHI usage at T1 based on Tracker and Aviator would increase this year with reasons being cited for this being increased acres of early drilled crops and concerns over higher disease risks, particularly eyespot.
2014 disease risks
“2014 is turning out to be a very different season to 2013,” says Steve Dennis, technical agronomy manager at BASF. “2013 generally saw low levels of disease developing later in the season; we only really saw Septoria infections take off in June. However the current mild and wet conditions are indicating that the risk from Septoria is already high and severe yellow rust warnings have recently been issued by industry experts, it’s visible in many fields now. Another complication is eyespot, the ongoing damp soil conditions are not going away and this moisture combined with the early drilling of wheats will lead to a high eyespot risk.”
“Unless we have a prolonged cold spell we could be looking at some serious yellow rust levels this spring, so choosing the most appropriate SDHI products will be more important than ever, particularly on more susceptible varieties.”
Mr Dennis added that crops in the ground are showing great potential and this yield should not be compromised by cutting corners on your fungicide programme. “In a high disease year such as 2012 yield responses from fungicides were 4-5t/ha.”
He added that “maintaining product efficacy with good resistance management was vital by combining fungicides with different modes of action such as chlorothalonil with Adexar.”