Swing over to Jazz
Jazz is a new, advanced formulation of the fungicide bromuconazole designed to control a range of stem and ear diseases in cereals as well as helping the task of controlling some foliar diseases. The product can be used at any stage from tillering up to ear emergence complete, with a total dose of 1.25 litres/hectare and will fulfil a key role at T0 timing, particularly in mix with the protectant Quell Flo (mancozeb).
"Jazz is a systemic, curative and protectant triazole fungicide, offering excellent control of a wide range of diseases in winter and spring cereals, particularly stem-base diseases such as eyespot and Fusarium, and also ear diseases particularly those which can produce mycotoxins which can significantly reduce grain quality and value. From Sumitomo Chemicals, the new finely-milled formulation has been improved so that the triazole active ingredient enters the plant rapidly, even at low temperatures. Up to 70% uptake into the leaf takes place within 2 hours, making the product more rainfast and more resistant to weathering than other "standard" triazoles in common use. It shows very good low temperature absorption and so is effective early on in the season, when it is cooler," explains Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd.
"Once in the plant however, the fungicide has the important property of relatively slow systemic movement. This means that it stays where you sprayed it, offering good persistence and good crop safety, with no problem of tipping. The advantage of this is that at T0 it controls stem-base diseases rather than moving up the foliage, and at T3 it stays around the ear when protection from Fusarium and other diseases is required mid-flower onwards," explains David.
Whilst it can be used at any stage throughout the fungicide programme, Jazz is highly suitable for use at T0 timing, giving protection against early eyespot, Fusarium foot rot and early foliar diseases such as Septoria and rusts in wheat or Rhynchosporium and mildew in barley. In practical terms this means that it will protect the crop during its early spring development phase and allows more flexibility when subsequent T1 treatments are applied, says David.
In terms of performance Jazz has been given a very good rating for eyespot and Fusarium in the recent HGCA Wheat Management Guide. It also has some useful activity against foliar diseases such as Septoria and rusts, making it an excellent start at T0, complementing other product choices later at T1 and T2.
According to Dr. Stormonth, the new formulation of Jazz gives growers the opportunity to use a product tailor-made for the T0 timing at Growth Stage 30-31, with maximum cost-effectiveness in mind. "An ideal T0 fungicide should reduce current infection levels, provide protection up to T1 timing, enable optimum T1 timing and minimise the interval between T1 and T2. Starting the session with Jazz does all of this. For further benefit, a tank mix of Jazz with 1.5 L/ha Quell Flo, which contains inexpensive multi-site mancozeb in a flowable formulation, delivers an effective anti-resistance strategy against foliar diseases including Septoria. This combination gives the grower a powerful option and should be carefully considered."
Jazz contains 200 g/litre bromuconazole as a new advanced suspension concentrate formulation. It is approved for use in all varieties of winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley and spring wheat and is recommended at a range of flexible dose rates, up to a maximum rate of 1.25 litres /ha. It can be applied up to Growth Stage 69 in wheat and GS 73 in barley. It is subject to LERAP B and packed in a 5 litre pack. It is available via Interfarm distributors.
