Crop protection innovations in sugarbeet -Bayer CropScience

Bayer CropScience is developing several new innovations for crop protection in sugarbeet. Poncho™ Beta seed-treatment is a new highly systemic insecticide with a wide margin of crop safety. Poncho™ Beta protects against beet leaf hopper (Circulifer tenellus (Baker)), reducing the incidence of curly top virus, and sugarbeet root maggot (Tetanops myopaeformis), wireworm (Limonius californicus (Mannerheim), springtail (Collembola spp.), leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami), black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) and other insect pests. Three new emulsifiable concentrate sugarbeet herbicide formulations have been developed. The new formulations provide weed control equivalent to the previous versions of these herbicides at approximately half the volume. However, due to changes in the sugarbeet herbicide market these formulations will not be commercialized. In 2007, Bayer CropScience will offered a new soluble concentrate formulation of Gem®, a strobilurin fungicide, for control of cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora beticola), powdery mildew (Erysiphe polygoni) and suppression of rhizoctonia stem canker (Rhizoctonia solani). During 2008, Bayer CropScience will introduce Proline into the sugarbeet disease control market. Proline® is a new dimension triazole fungicide which will control all three of the before mentioned diseases. When used in rotation with Gem®, Proline® will provide growers with a season long disease control program offering sound resistance management practices.