ARABLE farmers have been getting an insight into what the exciting new chemistry that Syngenta's SDHI fungicide ingredient, solatenol, brings to the fight against crop diseases such as septoria and rusts at a series of regional launch events in recent weeks.

Following on from the main product launch in November, last year, these have provided growers and agronomists with experience at a local level, how the chemistry, as featured in Syngenta's Elatus Era, is delivering cereal disease control.

Andrew Curtis, the company's cereal fungicide campaign manager, commented: “The regional events have been a great success and we’ve had really positive feedback from those who’ve attended. As we’re getting into the spraying season, it’s timely that people who attended can see the practical disease control opportunity this product offers growers on the ground.

“We wanted farmers and agronomists to go away from each of the events understanding how this SDHI can deliver a broad spectrum of activity against septoria and rusts, especially when used preventatively at T2,” he said.

Based on Solatenol in co-formulation with prothioconazole, Elatus has undergone 1700 field trials across Europe, including the UK and this extensive R and D work is the backbone of the product's development.

“The unique microscopy work that has been carried out has provided us with a complete understanding of the damage done inside the plant by septoria and rusts before any visual signs appear. A visual confirmation that prevention is always better than curative control.

“From biokinetic studies, we know that its measured rate of uptake, combined with the acropetal movement within the plant, from the base to the tip of the leaf and slow rate of degradation are the key properties that provide long-lasting disease control."