Australia
March 18, 2009
Grain growers who spray their
crops regularly with fungicides should carefully note that label
changes will affect how they manage fungicide resistance,
according to Grains Research
and Development Corporation (GRDC) Western Region Panel
Deputy Chair, Professor Richard Oliver of Murdoch University.
“The fungicide activity group codes have changed from letters to
numbers to bring the Australian fungicide classification system
into line with the rest of the world,” he said.
“These label updates will be phased in over the next three
years.”
All fungicides sold in Australia are classified according to
their chemical activity group to identify fungicides that work
by similar means and which share a common resistance risk. Each
activity group may contain a number of different fungicides.
“Pathogen resistance to fungicides could become a serious
problem in Australia. But we can minimise the risk if growers
avoid repeated and often uninterrupted use of fungicides with
the same chemical mode of action,” Professor Oliver said.
“Adopting and following an appropriate resistance management
strategy is the key to avoiding future resistance problems.”
When the same fungicide (or fungicides from the same activity
group) is sprayed on crops repeatedly, naturally resistant
individuals in the fungus population can become dominant and the
fungicide no longer controls the disease.
Resistance management strategies rotate fungicide products with
a different chemical activity group to prevent over-using any
one product or activity group.
Australia has managed fungicide resistance using a fungicide
activity group classification system developed by CropLife
Australia, whose member companies develop, manufacture and
market 85 per cent of Australia’s crop protection products.
According to CropLife Australia Assistant Director - Regulatory
and Technical, Dr Adrian Harris, CropLife regularly updates the
Fungicide Activity Groups table and Fungicide Resistance
Management Strategies on its website.
Australia was the first country to introduce compulsory activity
group labelling on fungicide product containers.
“CropLife decided that, while the Australian classification
system is still relevant and useful, it would be advantageous to
align it with the international fungicide activity group
classification system,” Dr Harris said.
“By having this alignment, we stand to benefit from global
advances in management of fungicide resistance.”
CropLife completely revised the Australian system in 2008 and
the activity group codes were changed from letters to numbers
(or letter/number combinations). The Australian Pesticides and
Veterinary Medicines Authority and state regulatory authorities
support the changes.
The Fungicide Resistance Management Strategies were also revised
to reflect the new activity group codes.
Most fungicides remain in the same chemical activity group, with
only the codes for the groups changing.
“Growers should note that until all product labels have been
updated by October 2011 to reflect the new codes, some labels
may display the old code letter,” Dr Harris said.
CropLife Australia has published a table, showing old and new
codes for all active ingredients in fungicides registered in
Australia, at www.croplifeaustralia.org.au to help growers with
fungicides labelled with the old code letters.
“The new activity group code number will be needed when
referring to the Fungicide Resistance Management Strategies,” Dr
Harris said. “The strategies are a guide only and growers must
still follow specific use instructions on fungicide product
labels.” |
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