Wheat Spray Programme - Diseases

Please refer to the product label for a full list of rates, the diseases controlled by the product and other important information.

The two programmes below are designed to provide robust control of speckled leaf blotch, stripe rust and leaf rust. Visit the pest pages to learn more.

The main difference between the programmes illustrated above is the choice of iblon formulation applied at GS39.

VIMOY iblon is a solo formulation of a powerful, SDHI fungicide called isoflucypram, or ISY for short. Designed to be used in mixture with a partner DMI fungicide, the addition of Prosaro is ideal.

CALEY iblon is a ready mixed co-formulation of SDHI + DMI fungicide. In this case isoflucypram plus prothioconazole and is designed to control speckled leaf blotch, stripe rust and leaf rust in a convenient, ease-of-use manner.

Prosaro is a dual-DMI fungicide which provides broad spectrum curative and preventative control of all major diseases of wheat. By combining two complimentary DMI fungicides, prothioconazole and tebuconazole, it attacks the fungus in different parts of the enzyme chain. It is designed to be used in mixture with a fungicide with a different mode of action such as an SDHI fungicide e.g. VIMOY iblon, a strobilurin fungicide or with Phoenix or Questar.

Key points

It is important to maintain a spray interval of between 25-28 days between fungicide applications. If the interval is greater than 28 days disease control will be compromised.
The use of SDHI fungicides is limited to 2 on any cereal crop. These programmes only apply a single SDHI fungicide and so can be applied even if a SDHI seed treatment has been used.
The structure of wheat varieties is such that the upper two leaves and the ear account for the majority of the crop’s yield. Therefore, applying a robust fungicide at GS39, and again at GS60-65, is very important.

Spray programme for high yielding winter wheat crops

This programme applies an additional SDHI fungicide, CALEY iblon, at GS60-65 (full ear emergence and flowering). This is designed to retain maximum green leaf area and is targeted at high yielding crops under irrigation.

Please note only two applications of a SDHI fungicide should be used in a fungicide programme.

Recommended Products

Prosaro

Prosaro - the dual DMI fungicide for broad spectrum disease control in wheat, barley and ryegrass seed crops.

Kestrel

Kestrel contains two different and complementary DMI fungicides for very effective curative disease control in wheat, barley and ryegrass seed crops.

Proline

Proline is commonly recognised as New Zealand’s leading fungicide for disease control in barley and ryegrass seed crops.

Proline is used by many of New Zealand’s top cereal growers to help achieve high crop yields and greater financial returns.

VIMOY iblon

The perfect choice when you require a versatile, top performing SDHI fungicide to allow you to design your fungicide mixtures.

VIMOY iblon provides exceptional disease control, resulting in consistently high yields and increased profit.

CALEY iblon

The perfect choice when you require a top performing, convenient, all-in-one fungicide for wheat, barley and ryegrass seed crops.

For exceptional disease control, leading to consistently high yields and increased profit.

Aviator Xpro

Aviator Xpro is a protective and curative high performing fungicide for use in wheat and barley which combines two complimentary fungicides, prothioconazole (DMI) and bixafen (SDHI), in a convenient ready mixed formulation. Its innovative Leafshield™ formulation ensures even leaf distribution and rapid rainfastness.

Folicur SC

Folicur SC is a cost effective solution for disease control in wheat, barley, ryegrass seed crops and peas.

It is commonly used for the control of the ear disease complex in wheat crops, rust and blind seed disease in ryegrass seed crops and powdery mildew in peas. Folicur SC is a cost effective solution, allowing improved financial returns and crop profitability.

Septoria Leaf Blotch

Mycosphaerella graminicola

Speckled leaf blotch (also known as septoria tritici and septoria leaf blotch) has recently become a common disease of wheat which can result in significant yield loss if not controlled. The main source of infection is spores from infected crop debris with first infections taking place from March to May. Following infection the fungus develops within the leaf until sporulating lesions appear. The key identification feature during winter is the presence of black pycnidia. Later in the year the lesions also tend to become stripe like. The disease undergoes multiple cycles within a crop.

Stripe Rust - Wheat

Puccinia striiformis

Stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) also known as yellow rust, is a common disease of wheat which can result in significant yield loss if not controlled. Stripe rust is favoured by cooler, moist conditions with the initial source of inoculum being infected volunteer cereals. Under favourable conditions stripe rust can develop very quickly forming disease foci surrounding the initial infection source. At first spores tend to be scattered on the leaf but on more mature leaves they show the typical stripe arrangement which gives the fungus its common name. Occasionally stripe rust can infect the ear.

Leaf Rust - Wheat

Puccinia triticina

Leaf rust (also known as brown rust) is a common disease of wheat which can result in significant yield loss if not controlled. Leaf rust is favoured by warmer, drier conditions with the initial source of inoculum being infected volunteer cereals. Under favourable conditions leaf rust can develop very quickly. Spores are scattered at random on the leaf and are often surrounded by a pale chlorotic halo.

Loose Smut - Wheat

Ustilago tritici

Loose smut of wheat (Ustilago tritici) is a devastating disease of wheat if not controlled by an appropriate seed treatment. Once infected seed is planted the disease infects the young plant and then grows within the plant unseen until it is time for seed to be produced. Loose smut then replaces healthy developing grain with masses of fungal spores. Infected plants tend to grow taller and mature earlier than healthy plants which allows the fungal spores to fall down onto the open florets of healthy plants. These spores then infect the developing grain and both the fungus and the grain stay alive until they are planted the next season.

Powdery Mildew - Wheat

Blumeria graminis

Powdery mildew is a common parasitic fungus of wheat. Powdery mildew produces white, fluffy mycelial growth, usually on the leaves but also on the stems and ears and as the disease only infects the outer plant layers it can be scraped off quite easily. Powdery mildew needs to infect living plant material to survive and so wind borne spores from volunteer plants are the likely source of inoculum. Serious disease infections can lead to significant yield losses.

Ear Disease Complex

Ear disease complex is a term used to describe a range of weak pathogens that attack the ear, predominately of wheat, causing the ear to turn black. Due to the black colouration these fungi are often referred to as sooty moulds. While overall these fungi do not lead to high yield losses they do produce an unsightly crop and they can reduce grain quality. The problem tends to be worse in wet summers and when harvest is delayed.

Glume Blotch

Parastgonospora nodorum

Previously referred to as Septoria nodorum and typically referred to as glume blotch (Parastgonospora nodorum) because it is normally seen on wheat ears, the disease can infect wheat foliage when it is called leaf blotch Leaf blotch can be identified from Zymoseptoria tritici by the lack of black pycnidia and the more oval appearance of the lesions. Glume blotch can be a problem in wet seasons and tends to give the ears a purple-brown appearance.