Bayer Introduces Fungicide Label Expansion of Proline
By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
Sunflower and safflower growers looking to combat, sclerotinia head rot, a disease which is commonly found in sunflower crops, now have a new foliar fungicide at their disposal.
Bayer CropScience launched its label expansion of Proline, a Group 3 foliar fungicide, which serves as a disease management tool that can help prevent the development and spread of diseases like sclerotinia head rot.
“Tried and trusted by canola growers, Proline is the only Group 3 fungicide registered for use on sunflowers and safflowers,” Paul Allen, Portfolio Manager, Oilseeds, Bayer CropScience said in a release.
Sclerotinia head rot is a disease that can reduce yield and crop quality. It causes the decay of sunflower heads, which reduces the oil content of the crop. Crops that are affected by sclerotinia can pose a long term problem if not properly addressed, as diseased heads and stalks can return back to the soil, were the disease has a greater chance of infecting future crops.
“By offering this new mode of action, sunflower and safflower growers now have a new, effective option when it comes to protecting their yield and crops against sclerotinia head rot,” he said.
Growers can prevent sclerotinia by practicing crop rotation and not planting new crops in infected soils, reducing the overall chance of sclerotinia head rot in their sunflower and safflower crops. It is also important to regularly scout fields for the presence of disease. When looking to identify sclerotinia, watch for bleached and empty seed heads. Infected sunflower heads typically shatter during harvest, which can reduce crop yields by more than 50 per cent.