a newsletter from Bayer CropScience
crop talk
Volume 16 • Issue 4
Infinity – Light years ahead of the competition Infinity’s quick and efficient control is what wheat, durum and barley growers have been waiting for. It sure didn’t take long for Infinity™ to start making waves. But that’s not really surprising. Its active ingredient, pyrasulfotole (Group 27) controls broadleaf weeds a different way. And this makes Infinity herbicide different from all the other selective broadleaf herbicides available. In a nutshell, here’s how Infinity works. Pyrasulfotole quickly translocates within the weed and goes directly to the plant’s growing points. It works in three different yet simultaneous ways to control broadleaf weeds. Action one. Cuts off the energy process Pyrasulfotole stops the weed’s ability to generate an adequate supply of energy by preventing the production of an essential component of the photosynthetic apparatus. Action two. Cuts off the vitamin process Pyrasulfotole restricts the weed’s ability to produce vitamin E, which protects biological membranes against oxidative stresses. Action three. Cuts off the protective process Pyrasulfotole prevents carotenoid production. This means the weed loses the shield that protects chlorophyll molecules from dangerous ultraviolet rays and excess light. Since there is nothing to stop sunlight from penetrating deep into the leaves, the chlorophyll is destroyed, the weed turns white and finally dies. Fast action cuts short the opportunity for weeds to linger under the canopy, which means your wheat and barley can fully utilize the available moisture and nutrients. The novel molecule pyrasulfotole was discovered in Bayer CropScience labs in Frankfurt, Germany as a result of an aggressive program to discover new modes of action. It has been field tested in North America since 2000. This season over 200 federal research permit (FRP) trials were completed across Western Canada with overwhelming results. Hit broadleaf weeds hard Infinity has been put to the test in fields in Western Canada where its outstanding attributes have not gone unnoticed. “Infinity is the fastest working broadleaf chemical we’ve ever used,” says Trevor Buchanan, who farms near Argyle, Man. “We checked the plot about 14 days after spraying and everything –dandelions, Canada thistle, buckwheat and smartweed – were white and on the ground. We’re starting to see a lot of resistant kochia, and other weeds are probably on the verge of developing resistance, too,
so Infinity’s new mode of action is going to be a very valuable tool to control broadleaf weeds.” Derwin Massey at Stettler, Alta., says: “There is no question in our minds about whether we got a good kill with Infinity. We could see symptoms within a week of spraying, and the weeds were totally dried up a few days later. Infinity is one of the faster working herbicides we’ve ever used.” Tank mix effectiveness Effective grassy weed control is only a tank mix away. When Infinity is partnered with grassy weed herbicides Puma®120 Super or Horizon®, both products work together with minimal antagonism or interference. The result? Better performance – and better control of broadleaf and grassy weeds as compared to other tank mixes. Wes Orosz of Prudhomme, Sask., has experienced firsthand the weed-control power of an Infinity tank mix. “Very few tank mixes will control wild oats, cleavers and kochia at the same time, but Puma and Infinity did an excellent job on all three of these tough-to kill-weeds.” So there you have it. Infinity is the herbicide growers have been waiting for. Put Infinity to work for you and then rest assured that you are getting broadleaf weed control that is light years ahead of anything else on the market. ct