This Arable Update outlines practical strategies for using SDHIs effectively in the field while protecting their long-term efficacy.
Key Points:
- In New Zealand, Zymoseptoria tritici (Zt), the cause of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) in wheat, is showing a gradual reduction in sensitivity to Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) (Group 7) fungicides in the laboratory.
- SDHI fungicides remain effective at field rates. However, careful stewardship – limiting the number of applications, mixing fungicide mode of action (MoA) groups and appropriate dose - are now essential to protect their ongoing usefulness.
- Picking the right mixing partner helps to protect field performance and the long-term sensitivity of all the components of a fungicide mixture.
- FAR fungicide trials in Mid Canterbury, South Canterbury and Southland show different SDHIs and their respective mixing partners provide largely comparable disease control, yield and economic returns.