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Timing is everything with cereal diseases
The 2008 growing conditions brought the biggest invasion of cereal disease in more than 10 years in Eastern
Canada. While that was great news for researchers, growers were faced with endless challenges.
Bayer CropSicence research staff seized the opportunity to look at real-time results on the importance of
fungicide timing.
“Results from 2008 research plots helped us identify some of the best application timing for cereal
fungicides,” says Luc Bourgeois, research and development manager for Eastern Canada with
Bayer CropScience. “This information is important for growers as they plan for whatever weather and
diseases may come this year.”
Cereal research plots compared application timing (T1, T2, T3) for various fungicide treatments to
measure efficacy of disease control including Fusarium, rusts, tan spot and Septoria. Application timing
of fungicides was compared between T1, T2 and T3, and various combinations of the three. When comparing a
single T3 application with no fungicide, yields jumped by about 50 percent. Adding a T1 application gave a
little more yield, and a T2 application produced negligible results.
“The results are really clear – if you make only one fungicide application this year, make it at
T3 for disease control and the best yield boost,” says Bourgeois. “T1 can be helpful as a preventative
measure or a clean up application. And if you want a wait-and-see approach, start with a T2 application.”
Get to know the Ts
cereal stages clearly identifying T1, T2 and T3 application times
T1: Early application of fungicide with herbicide
- use a preventive application to protect your cereal crop from early leaf diseases
- Stratego® is affordable and effective insurance for early disease threats (Septoria and powdery mildew)
T2: Flag leaf application
- rescue application if diseases gain momentum prior to the T3 application
- Folicur® is an excellent fungicide at this stage and is the best option to keep rust under control
T3: Heading application
- best application timing to control Fusarium and protect yield from foliar diseases
- Proline® is rated as the best control of Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley
- Folicur is an economical fungicide for moderately tolerant varieties in years with lower Fusarium risk