With full approval now granted for the Xpro cereal fungicide range by the CRD (Chemical Regulation Directorate), Bayer CropScience confirms that its new technology will be widely available for sale in Spring 2011.

Driven by the core components prothioconazole, bixafen and the state-of-the-art formulations system known as LeafShield, Xpro technology will be widely available in winter wheat as Aviator235Xpro   (formerly known as BAYF869Xpro) and SiltraXpro for barley (formerly BAYF385Xpro).

Campaign manger Dr Alison Daniels, says that Aviator235Xpro  is an ideal choice for farmers who desire a reliable, simple one-pack solution.  to drive maximum yield at T2 via complete flag leaf disease control and impressive yield boosting capability. She notes its full label dose rate is 1.25L/ha (100%), and recommended rate is 1.0L/ha (80%).  Dr Daniels notes that below this rate, Aviator235Xpro doesn't develop its full potential, either solo or in mixtures.

SiltraXpro is a modified ratio of Bayer’s Xpro technology specifically developed to tackle UK barley diseases from the South of England to Scotland. Its full label dose rate is 1.0L/ha (100%), and Bayer’s recommended rate is 0.6L/ha (60%).

Dr Daniels says “Whilst Fandango will remain a popular choice for farmers SiltraXpro will help drive yields higher. “Fandango is a great value for money barley one-pack solution but where the crop potential is high SiltraXpro is a further step-up in performance. It gives agronomists and growers the choice to stick with Fandango, or to push the crop further with SiltraXpro.”

Bayer claim that Xpro technology in Aviator235Xpro and SiltraXpro offers a much needed new market standard 'in-can' resistance management strategy for difficult diseases such as Septoria, Rhynchosporium and net blotch.

Bayer has showcased Xpro technology at a number of open days and at The Cereals Event and Dr Daniels says that it represents a significant advance in fungicide performance. “In extensive, mostly  independent trials in 2008 and 2009, an 80% label rate or 1.0L/ha of  Aviator235Xpro delivered, on average,  an extra 0.4t/ha yield in winter wheat over the most popular high dose epoxiconazole + pyraclostrobin T2 standards,. This rose to 0.6 t/ha at the full 1.25L/ha label rate. Similar trials sets for a 60% label dose rate (0.6L/ha) of Siltra Xpro generated an extra 0.25t/ha more than the current barley standard Fandango (prothioconazole + fluoxastrobin),” she points out.

The company will be launching the full range of Xpro products officially next year but for anyone wanting more information they are advised to visit the Xpro website, www.xprotechnology.co.uk