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SuperOur most effective guardianFor the past fifteen years, one of the most feared catshas been protecting cereal fields around the worldfrom some of the most damaging grassy weed species.This cat has earned an unprecedented level of trustand respect from cereal farmers in over 45 countries.Launched in 1987, Puma ® Super is the number oneleading grassy weed cereal herbicide in the world. Thisis a significant achievement for a herbicide, howeverBayer CropScience’s Puma Super is no ordinary cat.Evolution of the catIn 1985, Hoechst (legacy company of Bayer Crop-Science) introduced fenoxaprop-ethyl (FE) to the marketplace as a graminicide to selectively remove grassyweeds from rice and certain dicot crops (e.g. soybeans).FE applied alone in cereals was not safe to thecrop. It was not until the commercialization ofHoechst’s safener technology in 1987 that the firstselective fenoxaprop concept in wheat was launched.This marked the birth of the first cat! Puma was successfullylaunched in a select number of countriesaround the world. The first Puma concepts utilized the“first generation” safener, fenchlorazole-ethyl.In 1991, the active isomer form of FE was introduced,fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (FPE). The switch from FEto FPE allowed for a more concentrated formulationand thus, a reduction in the volumetric applicationrates utilized by farmers. With the switch from theracemate form of fenoxaprop to the active isomer, thetradename for the cat changed from Puma to PumaSuper to signify the more efficient form of the activeingredient.Setting the standard in grassy weedcontrolAgrEvo (another legacy company of BayerCropScience) introduced a second generation of proprietarysafeners in 1997. The substitution of fenchlorazole-ethylwith mefenpyr-diethyl resulted in the abilityof specific Puma Super formulations to be selectivein several cereal crops, including spring and winterbarley. With the introduction of mefenpyr safenedFPE, Puma Super set a new standard for grassy weedcontrol in wheat and barley.FPE is an inhibitor of the Acetyl-CoA carboxylase(ACCase) enzyme. FPE is taken up rapidly by theweeds via the leaves and stem and transported to thesites of action. Visual efficacy symptoms are evidentin sensitive weed species within 24-48 hours afterapplication with necrosis/death occurring within daysafter application. Puma Super is efficacious againstmany key grassy weeds including wild oat (Avenafatua), foxtails (Setaria spp.), blackgrass (Alopecurusmyosuroides), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli),and loose silky bentgrass (Apera spica-venti).Various formulation conceptsSince Puma Super is currently sold in over 45 countries,there are a number of formulation concepts thathave been developed to best address the diversity ofthe global cereal herbicide markets. Formulation conceptsbased on emulsifiable concentrates (EC) andemulsions in water (EW) are the most common.Different active ingredient concentrations anda.i./safener ratios are also being utilized globally. Insome countries, lower loaded formulation EW conceptsare the preference while in other regions, the marketdemands higher concentrated EC formulations. Theconcepts proven to be selective in both wheat andbarley tend to utilize higher safener concentrations toensure adequate levels of crop safety (e.g. 69/75 or120/33 g FPE/mefenpyr per litre).Flexible in application timing andtankmixesPuma Super has a very wide application window.The optimum time of application is between the twoleafand early tillering stage of weeds. Some grassweeds can be well controlled up until the end of tillering,in some cases with higher rates. In general, earlytreatment is recommended to maximize the yieldimprovement offered by effective weed control.Tankmix flexibility is a core strength of PumaSuper. For growers who desire to control both grassyand broadleaf weeds in one operation, Puma Super canbe safely tankmixed with a diverse range of dicot herbicides.“Flexibility is really what sets Puma Super apartfrom a lot of competitor products”, says FenoxapropGlobal Product Manager, Brent Collins. “Farmerscontinue to mention this attribute as one of the keydecision factors when choosing a grassy weed herbicidefor their wheat or barley. If the grower chooses totarget grassy weeds only then Puma Super is appliedalone, but if both grassy and dicot weeds are present atapplication time, they don’t hesitate to add in anappropriate dicot herbicide partner in the tank.”Crop Safety – What is the safener 1doing?Today, Bayer CropScience utilizes safener technologyto allow very active herbicidal substances such as1For further information concerning the safener technology please see theCourier issue 1/2003 or visit our website www.agrocourier.com“Flexibility isreally whatsets PumaSuper apartfrom a lot ofcompetitorproducts”2/03 COURIER 11

High level of efficacyBlackgrass (Alopecurus myosuroides)Silky bentgrass (Apera spica-venti)Wild oat (Avena fatua)Canary grass (Phalaris spp.)Foxtail (Setaria spp.)98.9%95.1%98.7%94.9 %98.0 %FPE to be safely applied in cropssuch as wheat and barley. In thecase of Puma Super, mefenpyrdiethylquickly breaks downthe herbicide inside the cropresulting in no detrimentaleffects to the crop development.While in the target weedspecies, the impact of thesafener on the herbicide is substantiallyless resulting in theanticipated level of herbicideactivity necessary for terminatinggrowth of the target weed.Many herbicides are activeagainst a variety of weeds presentin a field, but the trick is todevelop an effective herbicidethat targets these weeds, withoutnegatively impacting thecrop. This is precisely why thesafener, mefenpyr-diethyl, ispreformulated with FPE insidePuma Super. Very low concentrationsof mefenpyr-diethylturn active ingredients such asFPE from being very harmfulto a cereal crop to being verysafe.Very fast actingFollowing an application ofPuma Super, sensitive weedsstop growing within two tothree days. Weeds demonstratesymptoms of chlorosis, followedby necrosis and death allwithin 10-25 days after treatment.Eliminating weedsquickly is crucial in terms ofoptimizing the yield potentialof the developing cereal crop.Delaying the removal of theweeds from within the cropcanopy can have a detrimentalBroad grass weed spectrum good to very good control (> 85%)● Alopecurus aequalis● Apera interrupta● Brachiaria platyphylla● Digitaria spp.● Echinochloa colonum● Echinochloa crus-galli● Eleusine indica● Leptochloa chinensis● Leptochloa spp.● Panicum dichotomiflorum● Panicum miliaceum● Poa trivialis● Snowdenia polystacha● Sorghum halepense● Zea maysimpact on the cash returns ofthe farmer since growing weedsdo compete for valuable light,moisture, and soil nutrients.What has made PumaSuper so successful?Whether you talk to a cerealfarmer in Kazakhstan, India,Australia, or western Canada,the message with Puma Superis clear. Puma Super is a consistentperformer. Its reputationis proven year in and out.Several brand attributes cometo mind when growers think ofPuma Super. “Growers oftencite more than one strength ofPuma Super when they speakabout the current gramincideofferings available on the market”,states Collins.Wide tankmix optionsActive ingredientsAmidosulfuronBromoxonylClopyralidFluroxypyrIodosulfuron2,4-D EsterMCPA EsterMetsulfuronThifensulfuronTribenuronMaynard Messer farms over1000 acres of wheat, barley,corn and soybeans nearHannaford, North Dakota inthe U.S.. He is applying PumaSuper herbicide on over 600acres of his cereal crops. “Isuppose that I spray PumaSuper on about 450 acres onwheat and 150 acres on barley.Our biggest problem weeds arewild oats and a little pigeongrass[foxtail]. We ran intoPuma and we’re just really satisfiedwith it. It seems that thewindow of application is widerwith Puma Super than some ofthe other available herbicides.The wider window with PumaSuper is a lot easier for us. Pluswe can tankmix it for grass andbroadleaf weed control. I’dstrongly recommend PumaSuper to anybody.”Continuation ofcornerstone roleThe long term outlook forBayer CropScience’s cerealgrassy weed herbicide portfolioshows a very balanced approach.Several new product offeringsin the future with differentmodes of action than PumaSuper will only complementthe existing strengths of PumaSuper. Puma Super will continueto play an important rolein offering cereal growers withmarket leading grassy weedcontrol and the utmost in flexibility.The distinct image of thePuma cat guarding cereal fieldswill remain a part of future herbicideprograms around theworld. Cereal farmers continueto require reliable and marketleading grassy weed control.Continue to watch for the catstanding over cereal fields toensure the high level of weedcontrol. ■Maynard Messer, a successful farmerfrom North Dakota, USA, swears byPuma Super.Puma ® Super formulations (Numbers represent the number of g FPE and safener per litre)Puma ® SuperEW’sEC’s55/1555/30 69/19 69/75 76/22 83/23 100/27 110/30 120/33Spain Italy China Poland AustraliaFrance Kazakhstan Australia CanadaU.K.TurkeyCzechRussiaU.S.A.PakistanRussiaIndiaU.K.France12 COURIER 2/03 2/03 COURIER 13