Italy OKs BASF’s Opera

Italy has granted approval for BASF’s combination fungicide, Opera (pyraclostrobin 133 g/litre + epoxiconazole 50 g/litre). It is a suspension concentrate formulation for use against powdery mildew ( Blumeria spp) on hard and soft wheat, barley and beetroot, as well as other diseases such as blight ( Alternaria spp) on wheat, brown leaf rust ( Puccinia triticina) on barley, and beet leaf spot ( Cercospora beticola) on beetroot. Italy first registered pyraclostrobin in 2005 ( Agrow No 468, p 23), while epoxiconazole is sold in Italy as Opus for use on cereals.