Scott Walker in his 2023 demo crop of InVigor LR4540P with BASF broadacre crop specialist WA Caroline Dix. Photo: BASF

MANY canola growers already appreciate what powerful protection against seedling blackleg ILeVO, the BASF specialist seed treatment, has given them over the past few years.

Now that high level of protection has been officially recognised with ILeVO’s upgraded registration for control of the disease.

The new registration is based on excellent trial results backed by the observation of commercial crops and all hybrid canola grown at BASF’s Longerenong Innovation Site in Victoria since 2019.

“We’ve been sure all along that ILeVO provided the most effective fungicidal protection against seedling blackleg and would make the protected crops less vulnerable to lodging and stem infection later in the season,” BASF head of broadacre – Australia David Elmouttie said.

“Now the new label validates that confidence.

“We hope the upgrade will encourage more canola growers to choose ILeVO as a seed treatment when sowing canola.”

Mr Elmouttie said the value of treating canola seed with both ILeVO and Poncho Plus, the well-established insecticidal seed treatment which provides protection against aphids, blue oat mites, cutworms, lucerne fleas, redlegged earth mites, and wireworms.

“We think the combination of ILeVO and Poncho Plus is the most cost-effective seed treatment for canola.

“Together they provide excellent protection against the most potentially damaging diseases and pests without adding unnecessary expense by targeting other threats that are generally much less common and costly.

“Of course, it’s easy to add further treatments and extend the coverage if there’s local pressure from a specific disease or insect pest, but in most cases that won’t be necessary.

“ILeVO and Poncho is the standard combination we use on all the InVigor canola in our breeding program and the seed we sell, and we’ve had no issues.”

Growers of InVigor and other canola varieties expect to see vigorous growth from the start, and Mr Elmouttie said ILeVO can help with that as well.

“Research shows that ILeVO helps promote strong emergence, with absolutely no reduction in germination rates or hypocotyl length.

“The outstanding NVT results InVigor varieties have been achieving in recent years confirm that ILeVO can help growers harvest the highest possible yields.”

Mr Elmouttie acknowledged that beating blackleg required an integrated approach, beginning with selecting varieties with higher ratings for blackleg resistance and planting new crops a safe distance from the previous year’s canola stubble.

ILeVO complements those measures and the registration of Revystar earlier this year has added another very effective tool to help growers keep blackleg under control.

“The primary uses of Revystar in canola will be to control sclerotinia and upper canopy blackleg, but applying it from 10 to 50 percent flowering will also build on ILeVO’s protection and extend it to the prevention of upper canopy blackleg.

“With ILeVO, the data shows a significant reduction in blackleg infection up to the five-leaf crop stage in  treated canola compared to untreated plants, and a superior reduction compared to plants treated with either Saltro or Saltro Duo.

“ILeVO has an even more marked superiority in reducing plant lodging.

“Now Revystar can enhance that protection later in the season.”

Blackleg remains the major disease threat for canola growers at a time when they have more to lose than ever.

They are investing varieties with higher value if they reach their full potential than in the past.

It follows that they would want to protect those crops as effectively as they can, and for Mr Elmouttie that starts with making ILeVO their first choice of fungicidal seed treatment.

“Blackleg protection is too important to settle for the second-best option.

“We’re very pleased that the APVMA has now recognised how effective ILeVO is – something we’ve been seeing in the field for years.

“I’d suggest any grower who’s still weighing things up try to find a neighbour who’s grown ILeVO treated canola; I’m very confident they’ll have a positive story to tell.”

For more information on ILeVo, please visit https://crop-solutions.basf.com.au/products/ilevo

Source: BASF