June 30, 2010

Soy fungicide from Bayer receives approval

Proline, a fungicide from Bayer Cropscience, has earned regulatory approval from a group of Plains and Corn Belt state officials for control of a common stem rot in soy, company officials said this week.

State regulatory officials in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin have approved a Section 2(ee) recommendation for Bayer's Proline fungicide to suppress Sclerotinia stem rot of soy, company officials said.

Bayer leaders said Proline has demonstrated effective control of Sclerotinia stem rot, more commonly known as white mould, a disease that can cause yield losses of up to 15%. That amounts to 1.3 to 3.7 bushels per acre for every 10% increase in disease incidence. Further, white mould, which usually appears after canopy formation, can reduce seed quality.