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On Their Way, Finally!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
filed under: Disease
While public research on product efficacy and delivery methodology continues, the fact is that some commercial fungicides for the control of Sclerotinia in sunflower finally appear close to labeling.
At least four ag chemical companies are pursuing Sclerotinia product labels. Late 2011 would be the earliest that registration would occur for any of them, with 2012 probably a safer bet.
One of these companies is DuPont, which is working toward a label for Vertisan™ in both the United States and Canada. This fungicide employs a new active ingredient (penthiopyrad) for the control of Sclerotinia in sunflower and canola.
According to DuPont, Vertisan offers strong preventive and residual properties. Proposed use directions call for beginning application at 20-50% bloom prior to disease development. Under high disease pressure, a second application seven to 14 days later would be recommended.
Larry Kleingartner, executive director of the National Sunflower Associa-tion, says representatives of the various chemical manufacturers working toward new Sclerotinia product labels will be on a panel at the January meeting of the National Sclerotinia Initiative to discuss the respective fungicides and their labeling status.
Kleingartner expects a “full-court press” in 2011 as public researchers and fungicide manufacturers further investigate product performance and delivery systems. “We have one year to do much testing to answer many of the questions raised in terms of timing, rates, water, etc.,” he says. “We anticipate lots of research this summer in various locations, both under misting and without misting.”
— Don Lilleboe