The introduction of two new fungicides based on a very promising new active is welcome news for grain growers.

Lentyma and Revystar XL from BASF offer a step forward in growers’ ability to control septoria in wheat and ramularia in barley, in the absence of chlorothalonil.

Both contain the new active called Revysol. This is a new azole, but it differs from others in the family in that its basic molecule has an ability to flex.

This ability to alter its shape is said to help it provide a fit for the many mutations currently in the septoria fungus. The basis of existing azole mutations is a slight change in the shape of the receptor site in the fungus, which prevents the fungicide from binding to effect a kill.

Such mutations have caused decreased sensitivity over time to all existing members of the azole group. However, this new active is currently controlling all such mutations and BASF believes it will continue to do so.

Both new products contain both the new azole Revysol and the SDHI Xemium but at different ratios to enable them to be targeted at specific crops and timings.