DuPont receives Canadian registration for penthiopyrad

A "next-generation" chemical active against crop diseases such as sclerotinia and apple scab will come to market with separate uses covered by two federal approvals, and sold under two different names.

The crop protection arm of DuPont Canada on Tuesday rolled out separate announcements for its crop fungicides Vertisan and Fontelis, both of which include penthiopyrad, a new SHDI fungicide, as their active ingredient.

Label information and the exact concentrations of the Group 7 chemical for the respective products weren't yet available Wednesday.

Dave Kloppenburg, DuPont Canada's fungicide launch manager, on Tuesday described Vertisan's active ingredient as "a brand new molecule that locks onto the fungus to stop disease in its tracks."

Vertisan is registered for use against sclerotinia in canola, as well as against ascochyta blight, grey mould and rust in pulse crops, early blight and rhizoctonia in potatoes, and sclerotinia head rot in sunflowers.

Vertisan, DuPont noted, is one of the first fungicides on the market to show effectiveness against sclerotinia head rot in sunflowers.

The product is described as "a balanced fungicide with residual, preventative and post-infection action," providing "translaminar and locally systemic protection and excellent rainfastness."

"Locking on"

Health Canada's approval for Fontelis, meanwhile, covers it for use in pome fruit crops such as apples, stone fruits such as plums, as well as blueberries and vegetable crops.

Fontelis, Kloppenburg said in a separate release, "provides growers with a powerful new tool for managing diseases such as apple scab, powdery mildew and botrytis in their high-value fruit and vegetable crops."

The product, he said, allows for "inherently stronger activity" on several pathogens -- including those resistant to other fungicides, he added -- while providing "excellent crop safety."

Fontelis' mode of action is also described as "locking onto the fungus to halt progression of key plant diseases."