MAI to fund ￡250,000 British-led Septoria resistance research project

Funding of research into resistance shifts and changes in the Septoria population to strobilurins, triazoles and SDHI fungicides has been announced by agrochemical manufacturer Makhteshim Agan.

The British arm of Israeli-based Makhteshim Agan Industries (MAI) has revealed that the group is to invest ￡250,000 in an eight-month research project to be led by British-based independent research establishments. BBSRC’s Rothamsted Research and ADAS will lead a two-part project which will also involve NIAB TAG and SAC Research, Teagasc in Ireland and the Department of Integrated Pest Management at Aarhus University in Denmark. UK agrochemical distributor Agrii will also be involved to help connect the agri-science with British farming.

According to Stuart Hill, Makhteshim Agan UK (MAUK) technical and development manager, who is leading the project, the research has been set up to investigate the benefit of multi-site protectant fungicides in preventing the decline in performance of existing chemistry, such as triazoles and SDHIs.

"This is particularly relevant to MAI since the introduction of our multi-site protectant folpet (Phoenix), the only protectant fungicide which does not impact on the uptake of partner chemistry.”

Mike Barrett, managing director of MAUK, says his parent company, now a major player in the industry having recently merged with what was state-owned ChemChina, has a strategy of investing in crop protection solutions.

"Septoria tritici is capable of reducing wheat yields on susceptible varieties in severe disease seasons by as much as 3t/ha, claim Rothamsted researchers. Resistance to single site chemistry is a growing problem for agrochemical manufacturers, agronomists and growers in UK and continental Europe, where Septoria is a major burden on yields and the economics of wheat production. We’re intent on managing the problem as part of our drive to make agriculture simpler for those involved.”

Mr Hill says that the aim of the research will be to unlock the reasons behind resistance development and to manage the process to delay further build-up of resistance to key single site triazole chemistry.

"For strobilurins it is too late regarding Septoria as they have broken down to resistance already. We need to learn the lesson for the new SDHI products and prevent resistance affecting this chemistry.”

The research will allow the company, backed by what it calls truly independent research, to demonstrate the value of including the multi-site active ingredient folpet (Phoenix) at the key fungicide timings.

Folpet is a protective leaf fungicide. Its mode of action inhibits cell division and growth of a broad spectrum of micro-organisms. After a spore has landed on the plant and germinated, folpet is absorbed into the germ tube and acts at three distinct points within the cell, hence its multi-site description. It has been used in vines in France for 40 years without any reports of resistance, explains Mr Hill, who was part of the team that brought the active ingredient to Britain and Ireland.

"Resistance developed to the benzimidazoles fungicides in the 1980s and to strobilurins starting in 2001. Neither of these groups now gives effective control of Septoria tritici because sensitivity shifts or breakdown to resistance are all affected by their single site mode of action,” explains Mr Hill.

"Triazole chemistry has been around for several decades and shifts in resistance and decline in performance have been observed. New generation SDHI chemistry is now entering the market, again with single site action, so there is a risk to this family of products.”

The research being undertaken by independent UK, Irish and Danish research institutions is designed to help the industry and agronomists more fully understand the mode of action of folpet.

Researchers will examine Septoria tritici populations over the last ten years as well as looking at dose responses. They will monitor populations through the 2012 growing season and examine how tank mixes containing folpet can be used to greater effect.

"Mid-term results from the research are expected in July, with full first-year outcomes published later this year,” explains Mr Hill. “The outcomes will apply across Europe and will have implications for crop protection worldwide.”