Bayer has received a regulatory ‘one-two’ for its new fungicide active substance and the first product to contain it.
On Wednesday, 4th October, the Chemicals Regulation Division (CRD) of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) approved the active substance isoflucypram and simultaneously granted authorisation for Vimoy, the first product to contain the new fungicide active substance. “Isoflucypram – which will be marketed as ‘Iblon’ – delivers unrivalled broad-spectrum activity against the main foliar diseases of wheat, including yellow rust, Septoria tritici and brown rust while providing useful activity against stem-based diseases such as eyespot,” Rosalind O’Hare, Bayer campaign manager for combinable fungicides, says.
Vimoy will be available in a co-pack with Proline (prothioconazole) called ‘ion iblon’. The inclusion of Proline supports its broad-spectrum activity while adding a second mode of action to ensure sound resistance management.
Bayer has drawn on more than 40 years of research and development expertise in the creation of isoflucypram. A significant factor in its performance is the N-cyclopropyl ring at the centre of molecule’s structure. “This addition enhances the intrinsic activity and supports its broad-spectrum effectiveness,” she adds.
In multiple site Septoria trials spanning 2021 and 2022 Iblon was shown to be on a par with both Revystar XE and Univoq the company claims. Performance against yellow rust is also impressive. A 2021 trial by the University of Nottingham demonstrated greater curative and protectant activity than Soletanol.
The approval of Iblon has been welcomed by crop protection professionals.
ADAS researcher Jonathan Blake says the flexibility to use Iblon against either rust or Septoria depending on the season, will be appreciated by growers. “Iblon is excellent on both yellow and brown rust and very good on Septoria. The flexibility It will add to programmes makes it a valuable addition at either the T1 or T2 timing,” he notes
Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) committee member Patrick Stephenson, who observed Iblon’s performance in treatment trials, suggests it would bring both efficacy and stewardship benefits to growers. “Iblon brings another frontline piece of chemistry to the fungicide armoury that we can utilise in disease control strategies. Its authorisation will help us maintain efficacy and provide additional protection to all our chemistry options.”
