In-field assessment of an arabinoxylan polymer on disease control in spring barley

With the threat of certain plant protection products becoming ineffective due to reduced pathogen sensitivity to fungicides or through the removal of products due to changes in legislation, alternative compounds are sought for use in disease management programmes. The effects of an arabinoxylan film-forming polymer derived from maize cell walls to control crop diseases of spring barley was assessed in field experiments. Control of powdery mildew, Rhynchosporium scald, and Ramularia leaf spot on barley was achieved with the polymer but control was inconsistent between trials. However, good levels of disease control were observed when the polymer was applied with a reduced fungicide programme. No yield penalties were associated with use of the polymer in any trial irrespective of the level of disease control. Alternative plant protection products such as this arabinoxylan polymer may be useful components in future integrated disease management strategies aimed at reducing fungicide inputs without any cost to disease control.