Caligula, the foliar fungicide containing fluopyram and prothioconazole from Bayer Crop Science, has been authorised for use in sugar beet. The news will  be welcomed by growers given that this is the last season for Escolta (cyproconazole + trifloxystrobin) and the increasing need to achieve better control of the late-season disease, Cercospora leaf spot.

The authorisation, granted by the Chemicals Regulation Division of the Health & Safety Executive on 2nd August 2022, allows for a single application after 1^st September at a maximum rate of 1.2 L/ha. Bayer’s recommended rate is 1.0 L/ha. A condition of the authorisation is that sugar beet tops treated with Caligula must be disposed of and not fed to livestock.

Antonia Walker, Bayer root crop campaign manager, said the authorisation for Caligula will help growers protect yield potential.

“For the 2022 season, the restriction of a single application after 1^st September means that for the majority of growers Caligula will be the third and final spray of the season. Several years of trials demonstrate that Caligula offers unrivalled protection against Cercospora leaf spot suggesting it will become the default choice for the third spray of the season. We are continuing to gather the data needed to support authorisation for two applications per crop,” says Miss Walker.

The discovery in 2016 of Cercospora isolates demonstrating reduced sensitivity to strobilurin fungicides at sites in Beccles, Suffolk and Penzance, Cornwall, has underlined the need to respect resistance management guidelines. The authorisation for Caligula will help growers observe this advice, notes Miss Walker.

“Growers should apply no more than two strobilurin-containing fungicides during the season, but independent trials show that if rust and powdery mildew are to be kept at bay, applications should be no more than four-weeks apart. The authorisation for Caligula means growers can protect crops against the principal disease threats while keeping the door closed to Cercospora,” says Miss Walker.

Caligula Stewardship

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• Sugar beet tops treated with Caligula must be disposed of and not fed to livestock.
• Manual removal of bolters should be completed before spraying where possible.
• If Caligula has been sprayed in the last 48 hours do NOT enter field to remove bolters.
• WORKERS MUST WEAR suitable protective gloves* when handling treated sugar beet crops or manually removing weed beet or bolted beet plants within 6 weeks after treatment. *Meeting at least glove safety standard EN374-1:2016 Type A and EN388:2016 (3 1 2 1 X).
• For further advice on worker re-entry requirements in sugar beet consult with Bayer Crop Science.

For further product information and guidance please visit cropscience.bayer.co.uk/our-products/fungicides/caligula/