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Bayer Assist

For friendly informed advice about Bayer CropScience products, please call Bayer Assist free from UK landlines on:

0845 6092266

Alternatively, call us on:
01223 226644

(0900-1715 weekdays)

Cereal Fungicide 

Quality and Yield  

As Folicur gives excellent control of Fusarium ear disease, so there is a consequent reduction in DON mycotoxin levels. 43 trials in the period 1999 - 2001 in UK, France and Germany have shown a mean reduction of 50% in DON levels when compared with the untreated.

A ground-breaking HGCA-funded study has set out to maximise control of FEB and mycotoxin contamination by identifying the most effective fungicide combination treatments and rates.

Results to date show no single fungicide to be active against the whole FEB complex of diseases. Azoxystrobin gives good control of M. nivale but is much less active against the true Fusarium species.

In contrast, tebuconazole (Folicur or Silvacur) is less active against M. nivale but is effective against the true Fusarium species and reduces the harmful DON content in grain.

The HGCA-funded study has established that the various FEB fungi compete with each other and, where several species are present, the application of a single fungicide will favour the species least sensitive to that fungicide. For example, by controlling M. nivale, azoxystrobin allows the true Fusarium species to flourish and DON levels are actually higher than in untreated grain.

The evidence from the HGCA-funded study is that a mixture of tebuconazole (Folicur or Silvacur) with azoxystrobin provides the most effective control of the whole FEB complex.

 Flour from Fusarium infected grain also performs less well when used to bake bread.

Seed germination for the subsequent season can also be badly affected by Fusarium. Infection of seed crops can be very high in damp conditions. For example, NIAB seed testing figures reveal that over 90% of seed samples can easily be infected with M. nivale, with over 70% classified as 'failed', after a wet summer. This leads to patchy fields with bare areas and consequently reduced yield from that crop.