Aviator Xpro Trial Report

To demonstrate and evaluate to the extended David Grays Aglink network, the efficacy of Bayer’s foliar fungal Aviator Xproin barley.

Dumbleyung, WA, 2019

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A trial was established on the 30th of May 2019, to demonstrate to the extended David Grays network, the efficacy of Bayer’s foliar fungal Aviator Xpro. Foliar applications were applied on the 30th of July at Zadok growth stage Z32.

The trial was sown into infested stubble, with a three-year history of barley and known instance of net blotch, net-type net blotch - caused by the fungus Pyrenophora teres f. teres and spot type net blotch - causedby Pyrenophora teres f.

Overall foliar applications applied at Zadok growth stage Z32, decreased the level of infection across all treatments compared to the untreated control. There was no significant difference between treatments with P>0.05. Aviator Xpro had good control at 42 DAT, having one of the lowest average leaf area infection on the flag leaf (3.8%), flag leaf-1 and -2 had percentage infection ratings of 8.5% and 12% respectively.

NDVI measures the state and health of crops. In this trial, no significant difference was detected between treatment (P>0.05), although there were numerical differences. Some treatments showed strong correlation between disease presence and green leaf, where by lower disease instance increased green leaf area readings. Opera had the highest reading of 0.5,closely followed by Prosaro and Aviator Xpro with 0.4 (refer to figure 3).

Aviator Xpro yielded 4.08t/ha with an average ROI of $19.2/ha over the control. In a commercial setting grower would be advised to include a double spray strategy, with known disease pressure. In this case the first spray should not be the same as the second, thus for example a spray program with Prosaro upfront and Aviator Xpro to follow would work well as a resistance management strategy.

INTRODUCTION

Objectives

1. Evaluate efficacy of new and existing foliar fungal treatments. Targeting Net Form and Spot Form Net Blotch, therefore increase yield potential (green leaf area).

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS

Figure 1. Average leaf area infected for the top three leaves for each treatment at 42 DAT, expressed as percentage (%).

Figure 2. Average disease severity for each canopy layer – lower, middle and upper, 63 DAT. Average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) readings taken, as a measure of the green leaf area/plot.

Figure 3. Average yields per treatment, with subsequent return on investment (ROI), calculated using the input/output costs, bar the variable, fixed and operating costs.

Table 1. CBH receival screenings:

DISCUSSION/ CONCLUSION

Disease present in the trial was, net blotch, net-type net blotch - caused by the fungus Pyrenophora teres f. teres and spot type netblotch - caused by Pyrenophora teres f. maculata.

Overall foliar applications applied at GS 32 decreased the level of infection across all treatments compared to the untreated control.

42 DAT indicated Aviator Xpro as having one of the lowest average leaf area infection on the flag leaf (3.8%), flag leaf-1 and -2 had percentage infection ratings of 8.5% and 12% respectively.

Assessments at 63 DAT, saw canopy infections of 61.7%, 46.7% and 16.7% for the bottom, middle and upper levels respectively. Prozaro and Radial both achieved the lowest infection ratings at this date, with the bottom canopy layer at 30 % and thetop of the canopy both below 10% infection.

GreenSeeker™ hand helddevice was used to derive NDVI readings per plot. It is an active spectralradiometer that generates light centered at two wavelength bands. There are three bands (red, green and near-infrared (NIR)) available for use in pairs. NDVI measures the state and health of crops. In this trial, no significant difference was detected between treatment (P>0.05), although there were numerical differences. Some treatments showed strong correlation between disease presence and green leaf, where by lower disease instance increased green leaf area readings. Opera had the highest reading of 0.5, closely followed by Prosaro and Aviator Xpro with 0.4 (refer to figure 3).

Aviator Xpro yielded 4.08t/ha with an average ROI of $19.2/ha over the control. In a commercial setting grower would be advised to include a double spray strategy, with known disease pressure. In this case the first spray should not be the same as the second, thus a spray program with Prosaro upfront and Aviator Xpro (for example) to follow would work well as a resistance management strategy.

APPENDICES

Pre-spray 2 weeks prior to application, Zadok growth stage Z31.

42 DAT

Left to right: Control, Topnotch, Radial, Amistar Xtra, CODE, Aviator Xpro, Opera, Prosaro, Tazer Xpert, CODE.

3 DAT Canopy assessment