Foliar fungicide activity and seed treatment options for wheat

This information will help you match fungicides to the primary disease risk(s) in wheat. Use it alongside our fungicide performance results and resistance management guidance to help maintain control within and across seasons.
  • Match fungicides to the primary disease risk – this depends mainly on variety, sowing date, location and local weather
  • Mixtures and alternations of fungicides, with different modes of action, from different fungicide groups, are often most effective and reduce the likelihood that fungicide resistance will develop in pathogens
  • Resistance poses a significant threat to the performance of fungicides and resistance management must be taken into account when planning fungicide programmes
  • Fungicides are tested by AHDB in specific performance trials and in other research projects targeting specific diseases
  • Performance ratings are indicative and are dependent on dose and timing
  • A score indicates that a product has been tested by AHDB but this does not guarantee label approval
  • Other active ingredients may also be registered for the control of these diseases
  • Always check the label before use

Fungicide performance for wheat, barley and oilseed rape

The Fungicide Resistance Action Group (FRAG-UK)


Fungicide activity rating for major wheat diseases

Reviewed March 2024
Chemical group Active ingredient Eyespot Mildew Septoria tritici Yellow rust Brown rust Ear blight#
Dithiocarbamate mancozeb*** - - [2] [1] [1] [1]
Imidazole prochloraz (poraz) L L 1 [1] [1] -
Phthalimides folpet*** - - 2 [1] [1] -
Inorganic sulphur - L [2] - - -
SDHIs benzovindiflupyr** - - 2 4 4 -
fluxapyroxad** - L 2 3 4 -
isoflucypram** - - [4] [3] [4] -
SDHI + other $ benzovindiflupyr + prothioconazole - - [3] 5 5 4
bixafen + fluopyram + prothioconazole L L 4 4 5 4
bixafen + prothioconazole L L [3] 4 5 4
fluxapyroxad + metconazole L L [3] 4 5 3
fluxapyroxad + mefentrifluconazole - L 5 4 5 -
fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin - L [2] 4 5 -
QiI fenpicoxamid - - 5 2 3 -
QiI + other $ fenpicoxamid + prothioconazole - L 5 4 4 4
Strobilurin (QoI) azoxystrobin - - 1 3 4 -
pyraclostrobin - - 1 4 5 -
trifloxystrobin - - [1] [2] [2] -
Strobilurin mixtures $ fluoxastrobin + prothioconazole L L 2 4 5 3
Triazole*** flutriafol* - L [1] [2] [2] -
metconazole - L [2] [4] 4 3
prothioconazole L L 2 4 2 3
mefentrifluconazole - L [4] 3 4 [1] 
tebuconazole - L [1] [4] 4 3
bromuconazole + tebuconazole - L L - L [4]

5 = Highest control level

1 = Lowest control level

L = Label claim of activity where products have not been tested by AHDB

[] based on limited or old data.

$ Different products may contain different loadings and formulations which may impact on control level.

* Flutriafol due to be withdrawn on 31 August 2024

** Significant resistance risk. Always use SDHI fungicides in mixture with at least one fungicide from an alternative mode of action group which has efficacy against the target pathogen(s)

*** Key products may have significant differences between performance in protectant and eradicant situations, scores shown are for protectant situations.

Ear blight caused by Fusarium culmorum or Fusarium graminearum. Performance against Microdochium species may differ. 

Details of products tested in the AHDB fungicide performance project are available via ahdb.org.uk/fungicide-performance


Wheat seed treatment options

Reviewed March 2024
Active ingredient(s) Product Company Crop Microdochium Seedling blight* Fusarium seedling blights* Septoria seedling blight* Loose smut* Bunt  Take-all Blue mould   Yellow rust Septoria tritici Brown rust Aphids/ BYDV Wireworm Slugs Wheat bulb fly 
fludioxonil, tebuconazole Fountain Certis Winter X X   X X                  
fludioxonil Beret Gold Syngenta Winter
Spring
X X X   X                  
fludioxonil Prepper Certis Winter
Spring
X X X   X                  
difenconazole, fludioxonil Celest Extra Syngenta Winter X X X   X                  
difenconazole, fludioxonil, tebuconazole Celest Trio Syngenta Winter X X X   X                  
difenconazole, fludioxonil Difend Extra Certis Winter X X     X                  
silthiofam Latitude Certis Winter
Spring
          X                
ipconazole Rancona 15ME Arysta Winter
Spring
X X     X                  
ipconazole, imazalil Rancona i-MIX Arysta Winter
Spring
X X     X                  
prothioconazole, tebuconazole Redigo Pro Bayer Winter
Spring
X X   X X   X              
sedaxane, fludioxonil Vibrance Duo Syngenta Winter X X X X X                  
cypermethrin Signal Arysta Winter Spring                       X   X

*Seedborne disease

X = Label recommendation. Control may only be partial, please refer to product label.

No label recommendations for the control of yellow rust, septoria tritici, brown rust, aphids/BYDV or slugs.

Disposal and spills of treated seed

If not handled correctly, treated seed may pose a risk to wildlife and the environment. Spills are most often associated with filling, (poor) calibration and moving the seed drill. Always:

  • Minimise spill risks
  • Apply via qualified operators
  • Use calibrated equipment
  • Follow product labels
  • Fill drills from as low a height as possible
  • Deal with spills immediately (ideally, use a spill kit)
  • Ensure undrilled seed is disposed of properly*

It is best to avoid the need to retain treated seed after drilling. However, if required, store it in dry conditions away from temperature extremes. If this is done, the germination should be sufficient for the following year.

*Unrequired treated seed can be sown to a ‘sacrificial’ area of land and subsequently removed by cultivation or spraying. If this is not appropriate, dispose of via a licenced waste contractor.



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