BASF has been granted the first approval for its fungicide, Initium (ametoctradin). Romania granted the approval in record time, BASF says. The triazolopyrimidine fungicide is to be sold as Enervin for use on grapevines and as Zampro for use on vegetables against late blight ( Phytophthora infestans) and downy mildews. The active ingredient has been trade-marked as Initium. “Because of the very favourable environmental profile of Initium, the products were authorized in the record time of four years,” Roland Ringel, head of global development for Initium, says.

Initium is to be sold only in ready mixes with other fungicide ais. Enervin (ametoctradin 12% + metiram 44%) has been approved in Romania at an application rate of 2.5 kg/ha for the control of grapevine downy mildew ( Plasmopara viticola). Zampro is a combination of Initium and dimethomorph and was approved for use on potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions.

Initium is the first ai of its class, the company says. It inhibits respiration at complex III. The ai displays no cross-resistance to the oomycete fungicide classes, phenylamides, Qo inhibitors, benzimidazoles, SDH inhibitors, triazoles and imidazoles. But cross-resistance to the Qil fungicides, cyazofamid and amisulbrom, cannot be excluded, BASF says.

The company says that the ai is highly active against oomycete diseases with excellent selectivity, “premium preventive action” and “excellent grape cluster efficacy”. It recommends the fungicide as a resistance management tool. The European Commission recognised the dossier for ametoctradin as complete last year ( Agrow No 573, p 10). The Netherlands was acting as rapporteur member state. The fungicide has been developed for use on grapevines, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits, leafy vegetables and brassicas. BASF expects further approvals by the end of June in the Netherlands and the UK. The company had previously expected to launch the fungicide in Latin America this year, with European introductions following in 2011 ( Agrow No 558, p 21).