BASF’s fungicide Revystar® XE receives UK authorisation for wide use on cereal crops

- BASF’s new cereal fungicide Revystar^®XE receives authorisation
- Widely regarded as an important regulatory milestone for the crop protection sector
- New chemistry to market that will practically and financially help growers

The much anticipated new cereal fungicide, Revystar^® XE, has received authorisation in the UK for use on all cereal crops.

Revystar^® XE contains the isopropanol-azole, Revysol^® (common name mefentrifluconazole), the first of its class to be introduced to the market and Xemium^®, BASF’s best-in-class SDHI (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor).

Neil Kay, BASF’s Business Director of Agricultural Solutions for the UK and Ireland says: “This is very positive news for the farming sector. This authorisation comes at a critical time into what is widely regarded as an increasingly challenging regulatory and disease control environment.

“This active ingredient is an important, robust mode of action for the market and we are so pleased to be bringing new chemistry to market that will practically and financially help growers,” Mr Kay notes.

BASF’s Ben Freer adds: “I’m sensing the industry’s sigh of relief that this new chemistry is here. With the loss of chlorothalonil (CTL) and the decline in efficacy of the conventional triazoles, prothioconazole and epoxiconazole, the timing for this authorisation is pivotal."

He adds that from the outset BASF took a completely fresh approach to developing the Revysol^® molecule, with regulatory needs driving the product development process.

“Key to the success of this authorisation was our decision to establish a new screening system to optimise the efficacy of Revysol^® against fungal pathogens whilst, in parallel, creating a product with a favourable regulatory profile. This has taken a big shift in mindset as well as in the process.”

Mr Freer also says that Revystar^® XE has been formulated for fast uptake giving farmers greater confidence following deteriorating weather after application.

“Revystar^® XE can minimise weather-related risks in comparison to conventional azole-based products,” he says. “It is quickly rainfast, has UV stability and is effective at a range of temperatures.”

He explains that typically, cold temperatures during application are known to limit the uptake of conventional azoles and compromise their performance, however, Revystar^® XE’s proven fast uptake, means that it performs well, even in cool conditions.

He adds that Revystar^® XE’s rapid foliar uptake makes it quickly rainfast, ensuring excellent knockdown as well as long-lasting protection.

“The weather-related benefits extend into the warmer weather too,” he says. “In the summer months, high UV radiation can accelerate the degradation of conventional azoles and shorten the period for which the fungicide has an effect.

The rapid foliar uptake of Revystar^® XE gets the fungicide into the plant, where it is no-longer at risk of UV breakdown, even when radiation levels are high,” Ben concludes.

Case study:

A group of 50 farmers, who are part of BASF’s Real Results Circle, have been undertaking field-scale trials of Revystar^® XE on their farms.

One of the farmers, Richard Budd, who farms at Stevens Farm in Kent, has half of his planned area of wheat drilled this season. He says: “Our Revystar treated crop yielded 0.99t/ha more than our farm standard, and was greener for 10 days longer, which kept the yield up. We just don’t expect to yield gains like this nowadays, which is why we need intelligent chemicals like these.”

Mr Budd “It certainly held its own and kept the crop clean. It’s given me the confidence that in a challenging year we will get good performance out of it. I’ll certainly be using Revystar^® XE in the spring.”

Revystar^® XE contains mefentrifluconazole + fluxapyroxad.
Revysol^® and Xemium^® are registered trademarks of BASF plc.