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Chances are every pulse crop grower starts the season with a similar dream. That dream is a crop of field peas, lentils, chickpeas or dry beans – disease-free with excellent harvestability and exceptional yield. But there’s 100 days or so from seeding to harvest, and there’s plenty that can go sideways. For example, fungal disease can compromise yield and quality. More recently, fungal control in pulses has been complicated by the challenge of ascochyta and anthracnose pathogens resistant to Group 11 fungicides. Field studies in Saskatchewan since 2021 have demonstrated that 85% of lentil samples in that province tested positive for Group 11 fungicide resistant anthracnose. In other words, fungicides that rely on Group 11 actives (such as strobilurin and Qol) will not stop the spread of disease.
Fortunately, Bayer Crop Science introduced Delaro® Complete fungicide for pulse crops in 2024. Building on the proven performance of Delaro fungicide, Delaro Complete includes three modes of action: Group 11, Group 3 and the addition of Group 7, fluopyram. This active ingredient is highly mobile and long lasting so it can also control later infestations of grey and white mould, in addition to its excellent control of ascochyta and anthracnose pathogens – even in high disease pressure situations.
So, if Delaro Complete makes sense for your field pea, lentil, chickpea or dry bean stands, should you save it for late season outbreaks? Definitely not. It’s critically important to assess when you need to apply a fungicide, based on weather conditions – and certainly before row closure. If you wait until you see signs of anthracnose in lentils, for example, you’re facing up to 50% yield loss.
Delaro Complete should be your fungicide choice for that first pass, especially if you suspect that Group 11-resistant anthracnose is present on your acres or in your region. By starting with Delaro Complete, you’ll have applied the best protection first. A second pass is never truly guaranteed, so make sure to cover all your bases in that all-important first pass.
There’s another reason to start your pulse fungicide program with Delaro Complete. The Group 7 active ingredient disrupts spore germination, unlike the Group 3 active. It has also been proven to improve physiological greening by harvesting light energy so your crop can thrive. What difference will that make? In lentils, 2024 Bayer Market Development Trials showed an average yield advantage of 5.3 bu./ac. for Delaro Complete over the untreated check. In peas, Delaro Complete scored an average yield advantage of 3.9 bu./ac. over the untreated check.*
It’s OK to dream about growing that perfect pulse crop. And with the powerful, broad spectrum disease control and plant health benefit of Delaro Complete, you’ll have a much better chance of turning that dream into a reality.
If you’re considering Delaro Complete for your pulse crops this year, visit DelaroComplete.ca or talk to your retailer to find out more.
*Source: 2024 Bayer Western Canada Market Development Lentil Trials (n=5) and 2024 Bayer Western Canada Market Development Pea Trials (n=3). Your results may vary depending on agronomic, environmental and disease pressure variables.
