A breakthrough new fungicide, which has brought a step change in wheat and barley yields in extensive trials and which is being launched to British farmers this season, has come at an ideal time given current high disease risks, says its manufacturer, Syngenta.

Miravis^® Plus, which contains the new SDHI active ingredient, pydiflumetofen (also called Adepidyn^® technology), received authorisation for use in Great Britain on 5 April. It is being launched for the important T2 fungicide spray timing in a co-pack with the triazole fungicide Era^® (prothioconazole), explains Syngenta cereal fungicide portfolio manager, Lizzie Carr-Archer.

“This breakthrough new product has been shown to bring superpower performance against the major yield-robbing diseases of Septoria tritici in wheat, and net blotch,  Rhynchosporium and Ramularia in barley,” says Ms Carr-Archer.

“It has also delivered outstanding stamina, in terms of its duration of green leaf area protection. Usefully, a T2 application of Miravis Plus + Era in wheat has also given substantial reduction in Fusarium head blight and DON mycotoxin.

“With high disease risks this season after the mild, wet winter, achieving the best possible yield protection at T2 is crucial. In winter wheat, the flag leaf plus leaf two, which the T2 fungicide targets, contribute about 65% to yield.”

Syngenta fungicide technical manager, Jason Tatnell, who has been managing the development of Miravis Plus for the last seven years, says the combination of superpower disease control plus stamina offers greater certainty.

“Growers and agronomists only need to look at the newly updated independent AHDB fungicide performance curves data to see the step changes in yield that Miravis Plus has provided in key wheat and barley disease scenarios,” says Mr Tatnell.

“We’ve also seen strong yield gains against other fungicides in our own and other independent trials. In wheat trials from 2020 to 2023 at like-for-like doses, Miravis Plus treatment gave an average of extra 0.5 t/ha over fluxapyroxad/mefentrifluconazole in 244 comparisons, and an extra 0.3 t/ha over fenpicoxamid/prothioconazole in 156 comparisons. At a grain price of £170/t, these differences equate to £85/ha and £51/ha of extra income respectively.

“Similarly, Miravis Plus treatment has improved barley yields by an extra 0.45 t/ha against a range of SDHI fungicide standards. In barley trials from 2020 to 2023 at like-for-like doses, Miravis Plus treatment gave an extra 0.51 t/ha over fluxapyroxad/mefentrifluconazole in 112 comparisons.”

Examining disease control in more detail, Mr Tatnell says in the laboratory, the Adepidyn^® technology active ingredient in Miravis Plus has shown exceptional potency against Septoria tritici, while in Septoria tritici field trials, T2 application of Miravis Plus + Era has given visibly improved green leaf area retention versus leading fungicide standards. Drone imagery from independent ADAS trial plots has also shown the green leaf protection from Miravis treatments remained visible long after other treatments, he adds.

“What’s also particularly useful is the reduction in Fusarium head blight and DON mycotoxin achieved from a Miravis Plus treatment at T2. While an appropriate T3 ear fungicide remains key for Fusarium management, using Miravis Plus + Era in the programme at T2 can make it more likely that the T3 fungicide will keep the crop below a DON threshold,” Mr Tatnell adds.

“In barley, Miravis Plus treatment has also given visibly improved green leaf area protection against net blotch and Rhynchosporium and, importantly, against Ramularia. Indeed, Ramularia control has been one of the standout benefits from Miravis Plus treatment in trials.

“As with all fungicides, good resistance management needs implementing. It is important to protect this breakthrough new fungicide for the future.”

Other crops that Miravis Plus is approved on include winter and spring crops of oats, rye, triticale, spelt and durum wheat, Ms Carr-Archer adds.