Amistar OptiPlant Protection Product ComparisonPlant Protection Product ComparisonReport inaccuraciesReport inaccuracies

PROPERTIES OF AMISTAR OPTI
AMISTAR OPTI contains both a strobilurin and phthalonitrile fungicide. It has systemic and preventative properties for the control of a wide range of diseases in all commercial varieties of winter and spring wheat and winter and spring barley.
Azoxystrobin and other strobilurin analogues inhibit fungal respiration. Their mode of action is different from the action of other fungicidal groups and there is no known cross resistance to this mode of action in pathogens which have developed reduced sensitivity to other fungicides. Chlorothalonil is a multi-site fungicide and shows no cross resistance to strobilurins or triazoles.
AMISTAR OPTI shows good crop safety, disease control and maintenance of green leaf area which results in significant yield benefits.
AMISTAR OPTI is best used as a protectant treatment or in the earliest stages of disease development.

DISEASES CONTROLLED
Wheat
Septoria Leaf Blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) [moderate control]
Leaf Blotch, Glume Blotch (Phaeosphaeria nodorum) [moderate control]
Yellow Rust (Puccinia striiformis) [moderate control]
Brown Rust (Puccinia recondita) [moderate control]
Can reduce the severity of Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. Tritici)

Barley
Net Blotch (Pyrenophora teres)
Brown Rust (Puccinia hordei)
Leaf Blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis) – reduction
Can reduce the severity of Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis var. Tritici)

Rye
Septoria Leaf Blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) [moderate control]
Glume Blotch (Phaeosphaeria nodorum) [moderate control]
Leaf Scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) [reduction]
Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis) [reduction]

Triticale
Septoria Leaf Blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) [moderate control]
Yellow Rust (Puccinia striiformis) [moderate control]
Brown Rust [moderate control]
Leaf Scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) [reduction]
Take-all (Gaeumannomyces graminis) [reduction]

CROPS AND GROWING CONDITIONS
AMISTAR OPTI can be used on a wide range of commercial varieties of wheat, barley, rye and triticale. Apply AMISTAR OPTI under good growing conditions with adequate soil moisture. Avoid poor growing conditions which may give less reliable results.

DOSE
2.5 litres
With a maximum of 2 applications per crop.

TIMING
Always inspect crops to assess disease development immediately before spraying. Best results will be achieved from applications made as a protectant treatment or in the earliest stages of disease development following a disease risk assessment or the use of appropriate decision support systems.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Use AMISTAR OPTI as part of a disease management programme. Control of brown rust and yellow rust in wheat, rye and triticale and leaf blotch in barley may be improved by using AMISTAR OPTI with an appropriate triazole mixture partner.
This is also good practice for resistance management. The severity of Take–all may be reduced in both wheat and barley if AMISTAR OPTI is applied between GS31 and GS32.
Treatment at the onset of disease development will ensure best results. Further applications may be needed if disease attack is prolonged.

APPLICATION
Mixing and spraying: Ensure that the sprayer is clean and correctly set to give an even application at the required volume. Half-fill the spray tank with clean water and start agitation. Shake the container and add the required amount of AMISTAR OPTI to the sprayer using a filling device (e.g. induction bowl or closed transfer unit) or by direct addition to the sprayer tank.
Wash out containers thoroughly, preferably using an integrated pressure rinsing device, or manually rinse three times. Add washings to the sprayer at the time of filling. Complete filling to the required volume and continue to agitate throughout the spraying operation.
Do not leave the spray liquid in the sprayer for long periods (such as during meal breaks or overnight).
Volume of water and spraying: Apply in at least 200 litres of water per hectare using a medium quality spray at a pressure of at least 2 bar. Apply through conventional crop spraying equipment. In dense crops, increase the water volume to 250-300 litres per hectare to improve coverage.
After spraying: Thoroughly wash out sprayer according to manufacturer’s guidelines and dispose of washings and clean containers according to local code of practice and local water authority guidelines.

RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT
AMISTAR OPTI is a co-formulated mixture of the strobilurin azoxystrobin and chlorothalonil. The two active ingredients possess different modes of action thus form part of a resistance management strategy.
AMISTAR OPTI contains a member of the Qol cross resistance group. AMISTAR OPTI should be used preventatively and should not be relied on for its curative potential. Control of Septoria spp., Brown Rust and Yellow Rust in wheat may be improved by using AMISTAR OPTI with an appropriate triazole mixture partner. This is also good practice for resistance management.
Use AMISTAR OPTI as part of an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) strategy incorporating other methods of control, including where appropriate other fungicides with a different mode of action. You must not apply more than two foliar applications of Qol containing products to any cereal crop. There is significant risk of widespread resistance occurring in Septoria tritici populations in Ireland. Failure to follow resistance management action may result in reduced levels of disease control. Disease control may be reduced if strains of other pathogens less sensitive to AMISTAR OPTI develop. Users should refer to current FRAC guidelines for Qol compounds.