Bayer's Aviator Xpro fungicide to be extended to more diseases and crops in Australia

Bayer's Aviator Xpro has already been registered for blackleg control in canola in Australia, while its use for sclerotinia as well as fungal diseases in chickpeas, including ascochyta blight, is anticipated to be added to the label next June. An application for registration in other crops is expected in 2017, with registration expected in time for the 2018 season.

Aviator Xpro offers a new mode of action for resistance management, containing bixafen, a new member of the Group 7 (SDHI) fungicides, as well as the proven performance of prothioconazole.

“It is a stronger acting and longer lasting product, with the benefits of bixafen improving plant health through excellent disease control, and it has a faster rain-fast period than Prosaro®,’’ said Rick Horbury, one of Bayer’s Technical Advisors in WA.

“Aviator Xpro can pull up early infections, rather than just acting as a protectant like some other alternatives, giving growers added flexibility on application timing.

“It will be the new standard for canola diseases, as we have seen in our large area trials in WA over the last couple of seasons, and in future for other high yielding crops.’’

He said the new mode of action would be a valuable resistance management tool, helping to reduce the reliance on triazole chemistry, especially in canola, where there are limited registered useful options.

“So where Jockey® Stayer® or flutriafol (early generation triazoles) are used upfront, bringing in Aviator Xpro will be a good tool to delay blackleg resistance, because some of the researchers have detected populations in southern Australia with reduced susceptibility to early generation triazoles.

“Currently, much of the farmer-retained TT (triazine-tolerant) canola grown is reliant on only group A genetic resistance (for example, Bonito and Gem). So if this group breaks down, it will, in turn, put more pressure on the seed or in-furrow treatments – and this is where a foliar application of Aviator Xpro can mix things up a little to delay the onset of resistance.’’

Extended existing chemistry

Gus MacLennan, Technical Advisor with Bayer in NSW, agreed the new mode of action would be vital for blackleg in canola, and later for other crops, which had shown some tolerance and resistance to existing chemistry.

“There are instances of certain triazoles breaking down to diseases such as blackleg in canola,’’ Gus said.

“The new mode of action will also help add longevity to some of the existing chemistry.’’

He said Prosaro fungicide had been a great product for growers and Aviator Xpro would also be great for the industry.

Gus said in chickpeas, Aviator Xpro would predominantly be used to control ascochyta blight.

“There has been an effort in chickpea breeding against ascochyta blight, but varietal resistance to the disease appears to have broken down again.

“Due to the conditions this year, pressure from ascochyta blight and other diseases has been big and, as a result, there has been a huge demand on fungicide supply.

“With grain prices being the way they are, growers will want to keep chickpeas in their rotations and with the inoculum levels that will be around next year, it will be a bene t to have another effective product in the market.’’

He said Aviator Xpro also offered good compatibility, its patented LeafshieldTM formulation system would enhance and extend its activity against diseases, and its fast rain-fast period, estimated at around 30 minutes to one hour, would be particularly beneficial for chickpea growers spraying ahead of rainfall events.

“Our data shows that it’s taken up very rapidly. As a result of the adjuvant package, we are con dent that the product will perform very well, with a rain-fast period much shorter than many other fungicides. This has been a limiting factor with other products – especially when growers are stretched for time and rain is imminent.’’

Gus said Bayer had conducted more than 120, large-scale Aviator Xpro trials under permit across the country in 2015-16 in all intended crops for registration.

“The major focus this year has been in canola and chickpeas, as they will be the crops on the rst commercial label, and we will have another year of permit work next year to focus more on the remaining crops expected to be added to the label for 2018.

“In canola, the signs are strong for good blackleg and sclerotinia control, where we are assessing up to two applications in some cases.

“Chickpea crops, especially in south-eastern areas including the Mallee and Wimmera in Victoria, have been hit hard by disease this year and Aviator Xpro has performed really well.’’