BASF Releases Chickpea Fungicide

VANCOUVER - May 30/07 - SNS -- A new fungicide to control ascochyta will be available to chickpea growers in Saskatchewan and Alberta this season.

Manufactured by BASF, Headline Duo packages contain 6.5 liters of pyraclostrobin and 5.66 kilograms of boscalid in one case, capable of treating 40 acres.

Mark Shillingford, Market Manager for Fungicides and Seed Treatments with BASF Canada, said the company started to detect some shifts in the chickpea ascochyta population. Based on these shifts, which suggest the existence of some resistant strains, BASF made a submission to the PMRA for a registration to support the introduction of Headline Duo as part of proactive resistance management efforts and to make sure that chickpea growers have the tools they need to support the production of their crops.

The number of products available to control ascochyta in chickpeas is limited. The disease is also known to be aggressive and spreads on seed, stubble and by air. There are no quick tests for detection of these new strains so it is not possible to determine their presence and significance prior to spraying.

BASF recommends the following stewardship and product use practices to support control of ascochyta in chickpeas:

- Starting the spray program with a preventative application at the recommended label rate with maximum water volume

- Only registered multi-mode of action products such as Headline Duo should be applied to chickpeas

- The use of any one specific multi-mode of action product or chemistry should be limited to two applications per season

- Rotation of each fungicide application to ensure that there is no sequential application of any one specific product or chemistry