ment uses. Fluoxastrobin is a new BayerCropScience strobilurin, prothioconazolebelongs to a new chemical class: triazolinthiones,<strong>the</strong> latest Bayer CropSciencedevelopment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> triazole family. “Due to<strong>the</strong>ir biological and physio-chemical properties,both fluoxastrobin and prothioconazolehave been developed for worldwideusage across a range <strong>of</strong> arable crops asfoliar and seed treatment products”,explains Thomas Groenke and adds: “Theyboth are unique in <strong>the</strong>ir excellent control <strong>of</strong>snow mould.” Snow mould, Microdochiumnivale, plays an important role in countrieswhere sowing is done under cold conditionssince preferentially it develops at lowtemperatures under snow cover.The first generation <strong>of</strong> products using<strong>the</strong>se new active substances is on its way.Redigo ® is <strong>the</strong> brand name for straight prothioconazole,<strong>the</strong> highly active substancefrom <strong>the</strong> class <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> triazolinthiones. Itsfirst commercial launch is just running in<strong>the</strong> UK this year. According to ThomasGroenke, Redigo will become “<strong>the</strong> newcornerstone in our fungicide cereal seedtreatment portfolio. It is a generalist with abroad spectrum <strong>of</strong> efficacy and will providea reliable solution for snow mould inwheat. Also, it <strong>of</strong>fers reliable control <strong>of</strong> allo<strong>the</strong>r major soil- and seed-borne diseasesin wheat, having shown excellent performanceagainst Fusarium, Ustilago andTilletia in our field tests. It thus has <strong>the</strong>most complete spectrum <strong>of</strong> activity to date.In barley, Redigo provides an excellentlevel <strong>of</strong> control against covered smut and agood performance against barley loosesmut. The product also shows good compatibilityto plants and a favourable environmentalbehaviour as well as excellentseed colouring. I believe it will become <strong>the</strong>leading product in our new product familyand set a new benchmark in disease controlfor <strong>the</strong> standard segment.”The o<strong>the</strong>r member <strong>of</strong> this first generation<strong>of</strong> new products is Bariton ® . This is aninnovative formulation containing bothnew active substances: prothioconazoleand fluoxastrobin. It thus combines twomodes <strong>of</strong> action: while fluoxastrobin isactive on <strong>the</strong> respiratory chain <strong>of</strong> fungi,prothioconazole leads to abnormal steroldistribution in <strong>the</strong> fungal cell wall (DMI*-type). Like Redigo, Bariton is an easy-tohandleformulation and complies with allrequirements and safety features <strong>of</strong> a moderncrop protection product. The third newproduct, Scenic ® , combines prothioconazole,fluoxastrobin and tebuconazole.Researchers from Bayer CropScience say<strong>the</strong> products’ active substances complementeach o<strong>the</strong>r very well: “They arematched in tailored formulations. Theircomplementary modes <strong>of</strong> action and biologicalpr<strong>of</strong>iles ensure <strong>the</strong>se well balancedcombinations are unique solutions and are<strong>the</strong> basis for an outstanding, reliable andconsistent performance at <strong>the</strong> highestlevel.” Both Bariton and Scenic weredeveloped primarily for <strong>the</strong> premium segment<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> European market and <strong>of</strong>fersolutions for broad-spectrum disease controlin cereals.A second generation <strong>of</strong> new prothioconazoleproducts will be marketed andsold under <strong>the</strong> brand name Lamardor ® . It isa new highly concentrated formulationcontaining prothioconazole and tebuconazole,developed especially for Central andEastern Europe. “There, it will set a newstandard” believes Thomas Groenke andcontinues: “Clearly, in fungicidal cerealseed treatment we are <strong>the</strong> company that<strong>of</strong>fers <strong>the</strong> most comprehensive productportfolio.” Part <strong>of</strong> this portfolio is ano<strong>the</strong>rbrand, introduced two years ago andalready well-established as Galmano ® .Galmano is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> few products<strong>of</strong>fering protection against Take-all(Gaeumannomyces graminis). Highly cropsafe, it helps to ensure high yield in situationswhere, for instance, cereal crops werelast in <strong>the</strong> crop rotation and from o<strong>the</strong>rfields at risk to Take-all. In addition, it is abroad-spectrum seed treatment productwith foliar activity and seed disinfectionbenefits, promoting a healthy root system.It reduces <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> infection with leafspot (Septoria tritici), brown rust (Pucciniarecondita) and yellow rust (P. striiformis)and also protects <strong>the</strong> seed against commonseed- and soil-borne cereal diseases likebunts (Tilletia spp.), smuts (Ustilago spp.),Fusarium spp. and Septoria nodorum. “Weare very proud to have Galmano in ourportfolio”, admits Markus Heldt, ProductManager, Seed Treatment Fungicides inMonheim.The significance <strong>of</strong> seed treatment isconfirmed by its worldwide use: it is standardin many crops and accounts for fourper cent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> total crop protection market.Bayer CropScience is <strong>the</strong> marketleader today and is confident to maintainthis position in <strong>the</strong> future through a superiorand balanced product portfolio, <strong>the</strong>level and quality <strong>of</strong> services provided to<strong>the</strong> customers and through <strong>the</strong> excellentbusiness relationships with <strong>the</strong> global seedcompanies. Bayer CropScience <strong>the</strong>refore isproud <strong>of</strong> its success in bringing two newactive substances to <strong>the</strong> market. ■*DMI = demethylation inhibitorPink snow mould (Microdochium nivale)Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis)12 COURIER 1/05
A “Typhoon” that blowsout fungal infectionBayer CropScience in Chile hasdeveloped a new system <strong>of</strong>controlling post harvest diseasesin fruit.Researchers from Bayer CropScience inChile have developed an exclusive systemcalled Typhoon that will change <strong>the</strong> treatment<strong>of</strong> fruit diseases in <strong>the</strong> post-harvestperiod. Now in its pre-marketing stage,this brand new technology is especiallybeneficial to producers and exporters <strong>of</strong>table grapes allowing to leng<strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> sellingperiod <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fruit and opening <strong>the</strong>opportunity to obtain better prices.The new application system, which hasbeen created to respond to <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Chilean fruit industry, is designed to beused in packing centers. Thanks to <strong>the</strong>technology it is now possible to applyfungicides during <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> packingtable grapes. It increases <strong>the</strong> period <strong>of</strong>healthy life <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stored grapes and duringtransport until <strong>the</strong>ir final destination, <strong>the</strong>consumer in <strong>the</strong> importing country.Several efficiency tests carried out by<strong>the</strong> University <strong>of</strong> Chile and BayerCropScience in Chile show, that it is possibleto considerably leng<strong>the</strong>n grape conservationperiod, which permits better planning<strong>of</strong> export schedules and thus increasingpr<strong>of</strong>itability. The tests also found that<strong>the</strong> system enables a better control <strong>of</strong> postharvest diseases, such as Botrytis and acidrot, reducing <strong>the</strong> economical loss considerably.Typhoon appears to be an efficientalternative to traditional techniques likesulfur dioxide (SO 2 ).Rubén Santa María, Grape CropManager for Bayer CropScience in Chilesaid recently: "Chile exports around 90million boxes <strong>of</strong> table grape per season andexporters are constantly searching foralternatives allowing <strong>the</strong>m to stock <strong>the</strong>grape in good conditions for longer periods,in order to optimise its marketing,avoid high sea transport rates, and complywith environmental demands".Environmentally friendlytechnologyRicardo Saini, Development and ProjectManager <strong>of</strong> Bayer CropScience in Chile,explains that this is obtained thanks to ahighly efficient and environmentally safeprocedure. The system, he adds, is inaccordance with all <strong>the</strong> residue norms for<strong>the</strong> different countries where <strong>the</strong> Chileantable grapes are exported to as well as withinternational standards <strong>of</strong> Good AgriculturalPractice.The Typhoon spraying equipment isbuilt in such way as not to cause productlosses during spraying. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, it ismodular and may be adapted to differentinstallations and/or packing lines. It isequipped with an automatic nozzle systemwhich ensures a uniform covering <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>grapes and that <strong>the</strong> correct dosage isapplied. The spraying method uses BayerCropScience fungicides which have provenvery efficient in controlling post-harvestdiseases and which are adequatelydesigned for this application system.Joint treatment demonstrationsThere is an ambitious on-going program <strong>of</strong>treatment demonstrations throughout <strong>the</strong>table grape producing zone in Chile. Thisprogram uses two perfectly equippedTyphoon machines and a well-trained pr<strong>of</strong>essionalteam and will cover at least 30table grape packing houses in <strong>the</strong> differentvalleys. "We are working in coordinationwith several table grape exporting industriescompanies such as Dole, del Monte,Chiquita, Unifrutti and Rio Blanco. At alater date a good number <strong>of</strong> pallets <strong>of</strong>treated fruit will be sent to different destinationsin order to follow-up and evaluate<strong>the</strong> performance during low temperaturestorage and commercial process" explainsBenjamín Valiente, Fungicide Indicator,Bayer CropScience in Chile. The service isdue to start in Chile during <strong>the</strong> 2005/2006season. ■In charge <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Typhoon project: Ricardo Saini andRubén Santa María from Bayer CropScience in Chile.Qualified trained operators treating table grapes withTyphoon.