Your behavior appears to be a little unusual. Please verify that you are not a bot.


Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic: New fungicides to help superintendents

By |  November 7, 2019 0 Comments
Clark Throssell headshot

Clark Throssell

Clark Throssell interviews Renee Keese, Ph.D. Keese is a biology R&D project leader in turf and ornamentals for BASF. She leads numerous field trials every year on new and commercially available active ingredients for use in turf. You may reach Renee at renee.keese@basf.com for more information.

Q: Please provide a brief history of the active ingredient mefentrifluconazole.

Mefentrifluconazole is a DeMethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicide classified in Fungicide Resistance Action Committee Group 3. Field evaluations of mefentrifluconazole began in 2013, with an initial focus on disease efficacy and turfgrass safety.

One of the unique characteristics of this active ingredient is its turfgrass safety. The typical growth regulation and injury during hot summer conditions and growth regulation typical of most DMIs have not been observed with mefentrifluconazole, even under the most stressful growing conditions tested. Ultradwarf bermudagrasses were tested early in our research, and results were consistently surprising: no injury. No thinning, stunting or discoloration. This should give superintendents confidence to include this treatment in rotations during the stressful summer months.

In addition, scientists in all our testing did not observe any growth regulation from mefentrifluconazole.

Since 2013, BASF has worked with university scientists and private contractors to conduct more than 200 field experiments at locations all across the country, targeting many diseases.

Q: What diseases are Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic most effective in controlling?

Maxtima contains mefentrifluconazole and provides excellent control of dollar spot, anthracnose and spring dead spot, along with other diseases. The application rate is 0.2-0.8 fl oz /1,000 sq. ft., with the 0.2 fl oz /1,000 sq. ft. for dollar spot only, and it’s applied every 14 days. Other diseases are controlled at higher rates, and an application interval varies from 14 to 28 days.

Navicon Intrinsic contains mefentrifluconazole and pyraclostrobin and is labeled to control 28 diseases. It provides excellent control of dollar spot, anthracnose, spring dead spot, take-all patch, Pythium root rot, fairy ring, patch diseases and snow molds. The application rate is 0.7 to 0.85 fl oz per 1,000 sq. ft., and the application intervals are disease dependent.

Q: How should superintendents incorporate Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic into their fungicide programs?

Because Maxtima contains a single active ingredient that is a DMI, it’s an excellent rotation partner when using succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides in a fungicide program. Navicon Intrinsic contains two active ingredients, a DMI and a QoI; it can be used in rotation with SDHI fungicides or any other class of fungicides.

To prevent fungicide resistance from developing, do not apply either Maxtima or Navicon Intrinsic more than two consecutive applications.

Q: What tips do you have to make Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic applications most effective?

First, apply both Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic preventively. While both will provide curative control, they are more effective when used in this manner. Apply in a spray volume of 2 to 4 gallons water per 1,000 sq. ft. We’ve observed no mixing issues with Maxtima or Navicon Intrinsic.

Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic are both rain fast one hour after application. This is a positive when treating foliar diseases ahead of rain. If the products are being applied for brown ring patch, fairy ring or other soil diseases, be sure to add a wetting agent to the fungicides.

If the label recommends irrigation after application, do so immediately if possible, or within 10 or 15 minutes after application, because the products become rain fast so quickly.

Q: What is the environmental profile of Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic?

Maxtima and Navicon Intrinsic both have a favorable environmental profile, with no major environmental concerns. Mefentrifluconazole was registered as a reduced-risk fungicide by the U.S. EPA. This is the only DMI to receive this designation.

Superintendents need to follow common sense safety precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment, and read and follow all label directions.

Maxtima, Navicon and Intrinsic are registered trademarks of BASF.

 


Clark Throssell, Ph.D., loves to talk turf. Contact him at clarkthrossell@bresnan.net.

 

This is posted in Columns

About the Author: Clark Throssell, Ph.D.

Clark Throssell, Ph.D., is the former director of the Purdue University turf program as well as the former director of research for GCSAA. Throssell is the research editor for Golfdom, focusing on managing the Super Science section of the magazine and website. He also contributes his "Clark Talks Turf" column to Golfdom every month.


Post a Comment