Summary minutes of 22nd Meeting, held on 21st March 2007 at FERA
Those Present
Chairman Dr J Turner (FERA)
Secretary: Dr O Macdonald (PSD)
Members Mr M Ashworth (DuPont), Dr R. Bayles (NIAB), Mrs E Bardsley (Bayer CropScience), Dr F Burnett (SAC), Dr L Cooke (AFBI), Dr T Dawkins (NuFarm), Mr I Ford (BASF), Ms V Foster (HGCA), Dr B Fraaije (Rothamsted Research), Mrs E Hall (Syngenta), Prof D Hollomon (University of Bristol), Dr A Horgan (Certis), Mr S Leak (Belchim Crop Protection), Dr R Mann (STRI), Dr G M McPherson (Stockbridge Technology Centre), Mr D Richardson (PSD), Prof P Russell (FRAC), Mr J Sellars (Dow Agrosciences), Dr D Stormonth (Interfarm),
Apologies for Absence: were received from Rosemary Bayles, Bill Clarke, Stuart Hill and Barry McKeown.
Minutes of the last meeting
Comments on the minutes were received from several members, the Secretary would circulate a revised version.
Matters Arising
Several members reported that the link to the QoI LINK project report was not working. The Secretary would investigate.
The new category of specialist members had now been activated, the membership list on the website has been updated to reflect this.
Liaison with other resistance groups
Phil Russell would now regularly attend meetings to represent the Fungicides Resistance Action Committee (FRAC). FRAC are in contact with regional FRAC groups in Brazil, Spain, North America, and Japan and with the FRAG group in the Netherlands.
Fungicide mode of action codes
FRAC had commented on amendments FRAG-UK had made to the FRAC mode of action codes and there proposed implementation in the online facility to identify suitable resistance management partners.
FRAG-UK would amend their version of the code list to bring the codes in-line with FRAC’s latest revision and to use the nomenclature published in the latest version of the Pesticide Manual. FRAG-UK would also reconsider whether some of the additional comments added were necessary. A procedure was agreed for FRAG-UK to request additional mode of action codes to be set up in the future. FRAG-UK agreed to send the revised code list for use on their website to FRAC for comment before publication.
Use of FRAC codes in the UK Pesticide Guide and UK Fungicide Labels
A suggestion had been made that the FRAC mode of action codes should be included on all UK pesticide labels and in the UK Pesticide Guide (The Green Book). FRAG-UK were not in favour of requiring Mode of action codes to be included on labels, as there was a risk of the information going out of date. They were in favour of the codes being included in the Green Book, as this was updated annually. They also proposed that the entire FRAC mode of action list be included in the Green Book and that the chemical terminology used in the book be brought in line with the Pesticide Manual.
Resistance management guidelines for CAA fungicides
The CAA (Carboxylic acid amides) mode of action group had been introduced since the latest version of the Potato late blight guidelines had been drafted. The group includes dimethomorph, benthiavalicarb and mandipropamid, which is currently being considered for registration in the UK.
The following resistance management strategy was agreed between members of the group.
- When used in mixture with a fungicide with a different mode of action up 6 applications, making up no more than ½ the total number of sprays to control late blight may be made.
- When used alone up 4 applications, making up no more than 1/3rd of the total number of sprays to control late blight may be made.
- No more than three consecutive applications of a CAA fungicide should be made.
A new version of the Potato late blight guideline incorporating this change, and also the current label guidance for fluopicolide, would be produced.
Phenylamide resistance in potato late light, effect of changes in population structure.
The incidence of the A2 mating type has increased substantially across some regions of Europe in the last three years. The increase has been particularly marked in Great Britain since 2005, where the A2 mating type now makes up over 50% of the population, with one particular genotype dominating the population. These changes have not been seen in Northern Ireland There is, however, no direct relationship between the A2 mating type and resistance to phenylamides and the proportion of resistant isolates is within the range seen historically. The fitness of these strains is also currently unknown and it is possible that the changes seen in 2006 were a result of the conditions seen that year. There was no evidence that the shifts were significantly affected by usage of phenylamides, which currently make up only about 5% of total blight product sales in the UK.
FRAG-UK that although it was important to keep the issue under review there was currently no need to change the resistance management guidance for phenylamides used against potato late blight.
Guidelines
Revised drafts of the Cereal, Potato tuber disease and Oilseed rape guidelines had either been circulated to members or were due to be in the near future. It was hoped that these would be published sometime in May.
Publicity
Members had given presentations at HGCA events over the winter. A poster on the work of FRAG-UK and one on the RAGs generally would be presented at Resistance 2007.
Appointment of Secretary
The current Secretaries five year term was now finished. Oliver Macdonald was re-elected as Secretary for a further term.
Next Meeting
8th November 2007 at NIAB
