Fungicide use in wheat can be reduced

It is possible to reduce the use of fungicides when growing winter wheat
without imparing yields. The secret is to use fungicide-resistant wheat
varieties. A closer description of this topic can be found in a new leaflet
produced by European scientists, who all participate in the large EU-project ENDURE.

The group
includes scientists from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Aarhus
University. The advantages of growing resistant varieties are considerable and
an important parameter in an integrated plant protection strategy. In a single
season the number of fungicide treatments can be reduced by one or two
treatments and the dosage can be reduced by 25-50%, depending on the climate and
the level of resistance of the wheat variety used.

The average saving
when using resistant wheat varieties works out at €20 per hectare according to
French investigations. The farmer also has much more flexibility in the timing
and rate of application when choosing resistant varieties.

Before the
scientists produced the leaflet, they took stock of existing knowledge and
research on fungi and fungicides in wheat in Europe. The leaflet sets out the
optimal control strategies in both resistant and susceptible wheat varieties at
low and high cereal prices.

The leaflet can be downloaded from the ENDURE website.