Two multinational chemical companies working on ‘novel fungicidal compound’ that promises to ease resistance worries
Two major players in the agricultural chemical industry are collaborating on bringing a new lineup of fungicides to the market.
Sumitomo Chemical, one of Japan’s leading chemical companies, has discovered a “novel fungicidal compound” that demonstrates high efficacy for the control of major plant diseases.
The company is joining forces with BASF to commercialize a series of new fungicides around the world. Each company will be developing unique formulations using the new compound.
“Together with BASF, we will be able to provide more growers with the opportunity to experience the benefits of this new fungicide, which will play an important role in the resistance management of serious plant diseases,” Ray Nishimoto, Sumitomo’s representative director, said in a news release.
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Carl Bradley, plant pathologist with the University of Kentucky and a leading expert on fungicide resistance, would like to know if the new compound is a brand new mode of action or a new chemistry within an existing mode of action.
The two companies are keeping their cards close to their chest on that topic.
“Please understand that both companies agreed to not disclose any further details about mode of action, crop and disease spectrum at this point of time,” BASF spokesperson Jasmin Tortop said in an email.
Bradley said there is a hint contained in the joint new release announcing the collaboration.
“They say it’s novel,” he said.
“That may mean it’s a new mode of action or at least a mode of action that’s maybe not being used currently on the crops that they plan to get this registered on.”
Bradley said a new mode of action would be a “huge” development because it would slow down fungicide resistance and help preserve existing tools on the market.
Until recently, fungicide manufacturers have relied on two classes of chemistries, the triazoles and strobilurins.
That is worrisome because more than 20 fungal species have developed resistance to the strobilurin class of chemistry.
That is why it was a welcome development when new modes of action were introduced within the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHI) class of chemistries.
Sabine Banniza, plant pathologist with the University of Saskatchewan, said the last pulse crop foliar fungicide with a new mode of action was introduced about 15 years ago.
She said it is a rare occurrence, so if that’s what this collaboration is about, it would be a big deal.
However, even if it were a new active ingredient within an existing mode of action, it would be an important development as long as it was highly efficacious, as stated in the news release.
“That obviously could make it a very attractive fungicide for growers with some of the diseases they’re struggling with,” said Banniza.
Fungicide use in Western Canada has really picked up the last five to seven years because of wet weather conditions, she said.
“Nowadays it has become more the rule rather than the exception,” said Banniza.
Bradley said herbicides were the main focus for agricultural chemical companies for years until Roundup Ready crops hit the market. Then they switched their attention to insecticides and fungicides.
Sumitomo and BASF say their new lines of fungicides will be commercialized following regulatory approval in major markets. Registration submissions are planned from 2018 onward.
The products will be made available worldwide.
