2010 Dollar Spot Trial and Turfgrass Quality:
Turfgrass color. Turfgrass color (which excluded the impact of disease within each plot) was rated on 27 Jul (2 weeks after the third application). All plots treated with Interface and Tartan had improved color when compared to the untreated plots and those treated with Iprodione Pro.
Overall, dollar spot suppression within this trial was good to excellent with products containing Iprodione. A slight rate effect with Interface treatments was observed. Moderate suppression of dollar spot was achieved within plots treated with Tartan. This is likely due to a known reduced sensitivity to fungicides within the DMI chemistry at this site. All treatments containing the green pigment StressGard improved turfgrass color and quality throughout the study.
What Bayer had to say:
Interface® is the non-DMI of choice
- Consistent Disease Control
- Turf Safety
- Turf Quality
- Disease Control
- Best Leaf Spot Product
- Great Dollar Spot and Brown Patch Performance
- Great rotation product for Anthracnose Programs (including Basal)
- Top Snow Mold control for < 150 days snow cover with earlier green up in the spring
Concluding thoughts:
Interface® is a strong fungicide for certain foliar diseases found during the summer months, specifically brown patch and dollar spot. Although we have not conducted studies specifically for brown patch, all strobilurins (including Compass) generally provide excellent suppression of this disease. Coupled with iprodione, Interface® is able to target both foliar diseases. This may be particularly useful in situations where insensitivity to the DMI fungicides for dollar spot is present as is the case at our research facility at Penn State. Although thought of as a "great rotation product for anthracnose programs", the use of Interface for the suppression of this disease may be limited. In our previous trials, suppression of anthracnose with iprodione has been moderate to poor and resistance issues with the strobilurin fungicides against anthracnose may all but negate its usefulness for this disease. Where resistance is NOT a problem, the strobilurins work very well. Unfortunately, where these products have been used extensively for anthracnose suppression they are likely not useful anymore. An added strength of Interface® is the addition of the StressGard technology. While I still don't know exactly how and why this provides improved plant health, the benefits of this additive are consistently observed in the improved turfgrass quality and color following application.
Overall, I think that the combination product will be useful for controlling common turfgrass diseases during the summer months and will be effective in a rotational program. In situations where its use is effective against anthracnose and/or other diseases where known resistance may occur, it will be important to rotate fungicides from other chemical classes. Although this is not specifically related just to Interface, the Pre-Mix packaging of fungicides is becoming more common. A primary concern of mine with this is the potential overuse of certain fungicides where resistance is known to develop relatively rapidly (namely the strobilurins). Golf course superintendents should pay close attention to the active ingredients within the various Pre-Mix products and make efforts to truly rotate chemistry when developing their seasonal fungicide programs.
Download the pdf Fungicide Label.
15 Responses to “Interface (Iprodione + Trifloxystrobin)”
We are using Interface with Triton for snowmold on our greens and fairways this winter. The combo did very well in Dr. Kerns trials at UW. With early snow cover on unfrozen ground we should get a good idea of how this combo performs.
Cost wise it's cheaper to buy Insignia from BASF (a better strobi) add Post Patent Iprodione and your own green pigment of choice (several are now available)
Chris, I did see that the combo worked well in Jim's previous work. I failed to mention it only b/c I didn't know how Interface worked on its own for snow mold. The tank-mix did look good in his F&N tests.
From a cost standpoint, this would be something that every superintendent would have to figure out for themselves. It is difficult to keep all of this straight with the large variation in costs associated between products and the reductions for bulk and early order purchases. As for the pigment issue, while many of us joke about the name of "StressGard" there appears to be additional benefits of this above and beyond a simple pigment effect.
**Not a requirement, but please try to include your name (even if you make one up) with each post to ensure that conversations can be followed when multiple comments are left.**
Was there a significant difference in dollar spot control between Iprodione by itself and Interface? It is not clear on the graph
Using terms like weak and better are relative. Compass is a phenomenal snow mold product. It is one of the best products for pink snow mold and it has good activity on the Typhula species. Interface with Triton FLO has consistently performed well in our snow mold trials, plus I do agree with John there are value added benefits with StressGard technology.
John,
We have got a couple of spots out here with just the Interface down. I suspect for us, with a long snow cover it will probably not do too well on its own.
Guillame,
I reposted the figure to show significant differences. There was not a difference between any Interface treatment and Iprodione alone. I think that the strength in the combo would come in the way of other diseases such as brown patch. Unfortunately we didn't have any brown patch in this study.
Chris, Please let us know what you find in the spring and post some photos on the Facebook page!
Chris, please do post pictures this spring. We have Interface by itself at all 5 locations for our snow mold trials. I agree that in your neck of the woods, Interface by itself will likely not do well without the addition of a DMI fungicide.
Hi, what are the benefits typically achieved through using stressguard technologies?
Just a how and why it works would be great. I know little is "proven", but what what do you think.
Do you think it greens up the turf by delaying leaf senescence, or does the pigment help absorb and block harmful UV light, or by a combination of things, it just generally reduces oxidative stress?
Like Chris we went with the Interface Triton combination on fwys. I have used Dac, Ipro and Compass on greens and tees for over 5 years for our final app and have never had any break through, I'm expecting the same results from our new mix on fwys. Either way I will share photos in the spring.
John & Jim - I have roughly 25 individuals using InterFace for Snow Mold in MN & Wi (majority with Triton) under a wide variety of conditions and circumstances. I will keep everyone posted with relevant info and pictures if the weather permits.
John - this is very trivial, but I'm not a big fan of the term "Pre-Mix." The term would seem to indicate that some actives were hap hazardly thrown together and no other redeming values are found. And in this particular case, I know of several additional benefits / results that can be found which would not be possible if one choose to mix together Iprodione & Trifloxystrobin individually. I don't have enough time or space to get into specific details. I believe a better terms would be something as in "New Formulation." Very trivial - but just my thoughts. And no - Bayer did not ask me to say this. Love the great work you put out! Keep the information coming!!
Chris,
I appreciate your feedback. I will give my honest thoughts on the "Pre-Mix" issue.
I have never been informed of any benefit in terms of the formulation of any of the "Pre-Mix" products that are currently on the market. While I can see a benefit from the combo of Interface b/c of the StressGard, there is no way to tell if this represents a better or new formulation b/c there is nothing to test it against with the same formulation of the individual products. My opinion is that the big companies are probably taking a hit in terms of increased competitions from the number of generic products on the market and they are getting creative in terms of mixing off patent products with patented products. Aside from something like StressGard, I have not seen the benefit of using the Pre-Mix versus tank-mixing the individual products. Having said that, formulation does matter and can make a difference. One thing that I can say may make a difference would be that certain "Pre-Mix" products have lower label use rates than the individual actives they contain which means that some states (e.g. New York) may get away with applying less a.i. when using the combined product as compared with mixing themselves. I know that you may not be able to put too much info in the comments, but I encourage you to elaborate on "additional benefits" of the combined product that you don't get from the individual tank-mixes. My feeling is that it is just easier to apply and makes things a little simpler on the surface for superintendents. There may be a lot of other things that I am not considering here, but it is 1AM and I have been flying for the last few hours!
Either way, thanks for the feedback and comments. It continues to stimulate the thought process!
JK
John - some very good and fair points. Obviously with the addition of Stressgard to InterFace - you cannot completely compare the individual components on level playing field.
But saying that - I have received several studies of the "Newer Formulations" outperforming there individual components in university funded studies. Not in every case, but in several. I'm sure the companies that make these products would be able and willing to share the data with you or anyone as requested.
I remember when one "New Formulation" was introduced into the market. It was brought to my attention that the manufacture had worked through 7 different formulation types before finally settling on which product performed best. They considered and tested settling issues, compatability issues, performance issues (in the field), etc., etc. Ultimately the product was released and is available today because it was the best formulation that could be put forth in terms of performance.
In most cases, not all, I believe these products have been put together in such a way to maximize and increase performance. This is done through a variety of methods such as considering the capability agents, surfactant type and surfactant load, formulation type and techniques, etc.If you don't do that - you have a "Pre Mix." If you do you, have a "New Formulation."
If you ever have the opportunity, I'd highly recommend visiting and touring a manufacturing facility and see what is involved. Unbelievable how some of these products are put together.
Once again - trivial in the grand scheme of things and I am just offering my own thoughts / opinion. But I do think it's an interesting discussion. Thanks again for listening.
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