New beet fungicide gains approval (From Gazette & Herald)

New beet fungicide gains approval

THE UK sugar beet crop is to be the first in Europe to benefit from the introduction of the strobilurin-based fungicide Opera, now approved for use on this crop.

Opera (a combination of the strobilurin F 500 (pyraclostrobin) and the triazole epoxiconazole) was launched for use on sugar beet on May 6 at the IACR-Broom's Barn sugar beet research centre, Higham, near Bury St Edmunds.

Development of this product has involved a unique collaborative programme between BASF, TAG, British Sugar and IACR-Broom's Barn.

Opera is approved on sugar beet for the control of the major diseases beet powdery mildew and beet rust as well as Cercospora leaf spot and Ramularia leaf spot - two diseases that are already widespread in Europe and represent a potential threat in the UK.

As in winter wheat, Opera has also been shown to influence a number of physiological processes in the sugar beet crop, resulting in increased canopy retention, reduced water and amino-nitrogen content, and increased sugar content. Combined with disease control, these benefits produce a significant 11pc adjusted-yield increase over untreated crops (giving a MOIC of £229/ha with beet at £31/adjusted tonne) and 3pc increase over current standard treatments (MOIC of £71/ha).

Updated: 12:09 Wednesday, May 26, 2004