BASF’s potato experts recently briefed members of the industry about the new plant protection products the company has in development for the spud growing sector.

Besides the new products for blight control, weed control, wireworm reduction and aphid control presented, the company’s engineers talked also about a range of biologicals and biostimulant potato products in the pipeline to improve nutrient use and uptake and improve the plants’ defenses against nematode attack.

Enervin SC is a new late blight product, which will protect the early stages of foliar late blight in potatoes, The Irish Farmers Journal wrote recently. It is expected to be available for the 2022 season.

The QoSI active ingredient is Ametoctradin which is a unique mode of action. It works by interrupting the life cycle by inhibiting the formation and release of blight zoospores, thus providing protectant activity.

Enervin SC is a protectant spray, so it works best when applied in the early stages of foliar late blight. However, as the chemistry uses a single-site mode of action, it must be mixed with a robust rate of another product from a different chemical group. The new product provides good control against phenylamide-resistant strains of blight with no cross-resistance observed.

The fungicide is cleared for use on seed and ware potatoes with a seven-day pre-harvest interval. It can be used up to four times per season at an application rate of 1.2 liters/ha in 200 to 400 liters/ha of water.

Another fungicide presented is the new BAS 657, which is expected to receive registration in 2024, and incorporates two unique modes of action. It is a combination of Enervin SC’s active ingredient, ametoctradin, along with potassium phosphonate. The innovative “Syn-Tec” formulation means it is the first co-formulated potassium phosphate potato product to combine protectant activity with systematic and multisite activity.

For optimum performance and protection, BAS 657 is best applied from early rapid canopy to canopy complete at a rate of 3.2 l/ha.

From Cereals to Potatoes

Revysol, first launched for use in cereals in 2020, has been developed to support early blight disease control and is expected to be available in 2023. The isopropanol triazole is expected to give improved levels of disease control compared to existing azoles, even where populations of shifted sensitivity to the disease exist.

Growers will be able to apply up to three applications from mid-July, at a minimum of seven-day intervals from the formation of basal side shoots to senescence. BASF trials with the fungicide delivered an average blight reduction of 91.2%, compared to difenoconazole (eg. Narita), which delivered a 79.6% reduction.

BAS 700 (fluxapyroxad) is a new potato SDHI treatment product from BASF, which is likely to be available for 2023 planting. It demonstrates strong control of Rhizoctonia, silver scurf, and black dot and has shown activity against dry rot and gangrene in the lab. It will be approved on all varieties of potato, seed, and ware.

With the loss of diquat, weed control in potatoes will involve ever-more complicated tank mixes. Expected to be approved in 2024, BAS 656 is a new pre-emergence herbicide, which contains the active dimethenamid-p and will offer a new mode of action for weed control in potatoes. Its dual uptake mechanism enables the actives to be taken up by the plant’s roots and shoots, delivering better weed control and will be applied at rates of 1.2l/ha.

BAS 480 BCI is a new biological product in development for the reduction of wireworm damage in potatoes. The product will have no harvest interval. A new biological product for wireworms is in development.

The liquid formulation contains a biologically active compound, consisting of the Beauveria bassiana fungus which grows naturally in soils. Wireworms come into contact with the fungus, where a combination of anti-feeding, repellent, and pathogenic effects occur. Market players mentioned that there are only a few details known about the product, including its expected launch date.

Axalion is a new aphicide, which is currently undergoing registration. Market players said that they know little details of the product so far, other than it has a new mode of action and has no known cross-resistance issues. Expected in 2026, it will control piercing and sucking pests such as aphids, whitefly, and thrips but is compatible with beneficial insects, including pollinators. Axalion will quickly stop insect pests from feeding, reducing the nutrient loss for the plant and preventing the pests from transmitting diseases.

Three biostimulants, BAS913033, BUK99414, and BUK99415 are currently in development, each targeted at different stages in the potato life cycle, where their specific components can work their best at reducing biotic and abiotic stresses resulting in healthier plants and higher yields. BASF will be looking to try these products on-farm in 2023.