Spring Barley and Ramularia
Key Points in this Technical Bulletin
- Crop conditions remain stressed, giving increased risk of Ramularia infection
- Revysol® demonstrating proven Ramularia activity, alongside CTL
- Xemium® continuing to positively protect straw, and remaining a key active in barley
BASF recommendation
Revystar® XE contains Xemium® as well as Revysol® and offers effective late season disease control (including Ramularia) as well as straw quality benefits.
- Malting Crops - Apply Revystar® XE at 0.5-0.75 l/ha by GS 45*
- Feed Crops – Apply Revystar® XE at 0.5-0.75 l/ha by GS 69*
Stressed Spring Barley and Ramularia
Dry conditions are prevalent at the moment and there is evidence that the foliar symptoms of Ramularia are more prevalent in crops that are stressed by environmental conditions.
With the loss of chlorothalonil (CTL) we have lost a very effective active ingredient that controlled Ramularia. Revysol® in Revystar XE® has activity against Ramularia as shown in the Fungicide Performance experiments conducted by ADAS, NIAB TAG and SRUC and Teagasc in Ireland on behalf of AHDB. Whilst not as effective as CTL, it is now the only product with independently proven efficacy against this disease even at doses below the 100% 1.5 l/ha label rate. There appears to be a link between Ramularia and brackling and so its formulation with Xemium® with its acknowledged activity on brackling gives superb complementary activity.
Xemium® effects on straw breakdown
The fear is that summer rainfall, if and when it arrives, will result in a rapid spurt of growth in barley crops currently starved of moisture. This growth will be relatively weak and so the crop will become more susceptible to brackling as a result. As well as effectively controlling disease, fungicides containing Xemium® have proved over many years to reduce brackling and necking in barley. With a much larger area of spring barley in the ground this season harvesting at the correct time may prove difficult. Delayed harvest exacerbates head loss in barley and strengthening the straw will mitigate this symptom. A trial in co. Cork, Ireland in 2019 demonstrated the effect of Revystar® XE on brackling.
Disclaimer
Revystar® XE and Revysol® are registered trademarks of BASF. Revystar® XE contains Revysol® and Xemium®. Revysol® contains mefentrifluconazole. Xemium® contains fluxapyroxad. All other brand names used on this article are Trademarks of other manufacturers in which proprietary rights may exist. Always read the label and product information before use. For further product information including warning phrases and symbols, you can refer to agricentre.basf.co.uk.
