As latest trials underline performance of new T2 fungicide ahead of its second year

Be prepared to protect cereal yields against possible unexpected increases in disease from the important flag leaf (T2) timing onwards.

That is the message from Syngenta fungicide technical manager, Jason Tatnell, who says Syngenta risk modelling has put spore levels of the UK’s main wheat disease, Septoria, above the long-term average across large parts of England and several key wheat-growing areas of Scotland.

After rain events, he points to risks from the splash-dispersed disease increasing. However, he says new Miravis Plus fungicide technology, which set new benchmarks in Septoria situations prior to its limited launch last season, has underlined its performance in trials ahead of its increased T2 availability this year.

“The key point to remember about T2 is its purpose is to protect crop green leaf area against disease during the critical yield-building phase,” says Mr Tatnell. “There might be 10 weeks between T2 in May and harvest, and every extra day that winter wheat flag leaf green area can be kept above 37%, yield increases by 0.15t/ha.

“For greater yield certainty, the T2 fungicide therefore not only needs to provide powerful disease control but also long-lasting protection. You only need to remember 2019 – when June downpours sparked a sudden Septoria onslaught in what had previously been a low Septoria season – to realise this.”

In line with this, Mr Tatnell says when new Miravis Plus fungicide technology arrived on the scene last season, it set new standards for yield in Septoria situations and in several key barley disease scenarios.

Now, new trials from 2024 in readiness for its increased availability in 2025 have underlined its responses, and should give growers extra confidence, he adds.

“Pre-launch trials between 2020 and 2023 showed a Miravis Plus-based treatment delivered in the range of 0.3 to 0.5t/ha over competitor fungicides, with this performance advantage confirmed in the most recent AHDB fungicide performance results,” says Mr Tatnell.

“Usefully, a T2 application of Miravis Plus + Era (prothioconazole) in wheat has also resulted in reduction in Fusarium head blight and in DON mycotoxin. Using Miravis Plus + Era at T2 can make it more likely that a suitable T3 fungicide will keep the crop below a DON threshold. If rust is a concern, this can easily be targeted by adding Amistar to Miravis Plus + Era,” he adds.

In barley, Mr Tatnell says a Miravis Plus-based treatment has also given visibly improved green leaf area protection against net blotch and Rhynchosporium, while Ramularia control has been one of its standout benefits.

“Similar to the trend we’ve seen in wheat trials, results in recent internal and independent trials in barley in 2024 also confirm a yield advantage from a Miravis Plus-based treatment of up to 0.5t/ha over competitors,” he adds.