Claiming to set a new standard for powdery mildew and botrytis management, the new Bayer fungicide, Luna Sensation, could be a boon for Scottish strawberry growers.

Bayer’s Tim Lacey said: “Luna Sensation is a co-formulation of new generation SDHI active fluopyram and strobilurin fungicide trifloxystrobin. It’s a very flexible product for integrated disease control programmes, has built-in resistance management and just a one day pre-harvest interval.”

Fluopyram is a unique second generation SDHI and is '100 times more flexible giving it a much better fit to the fungus’ target site and different characteristics including efficacy & resistance', he added.

Strawberry trials at NIAB in 2012-14 evaluated products for control of fruit rots and powdery mildew in strawberry and Dr Angela Berrie summed up her experience: “These trials showed Luna Sensation gave excellent control of botrytis fruit rot and powdery mildew comparable to or better than the standard product. It also reduced the incidence of mucor/rhizopus rot.”

Its efficacy has added up to some impressive marketable yield lifts. Mr Lacey cited one trial done in 2011 at East Malling, with the variety Elsanta, where four spray programmes began at first flower on April 13 and ended on May 6, beginning with Luna Sensation and alternating with Teldor (fenhexamid). It delivered 21% more marketable fruit than the untreated crop.