With the registration of Charter™ fungicide, cereal growers in the United States have access to a new, leading-edge seed treatment technology that promotes healthier, higher yielding wheat and barley. Charter provides control of key diseases including fusarium in wheat and true loose smut in barley.

“Protection from seed and soil-borne diseases in cereals is critical,” says Roy Lee Carter, Seed Treatment Business Manager, with BASF. “With Charter, cereal growers can control seedling blights caused by key pathogens.” Charter is registered for control of key diseases in wheat (including durum) and barley (including
malting and hulless). Specific diseases on the label include seed and soil-borne fusarium, true loose smut, false loose smut, covered smut, common bunt and, at the higher rate, suppression of seedling blight and common root rot.

The active ingredient in Charter, triticonazole, was developed specifically for the cereal seed treatment market and combines broad spectrum disease management with excellent seed safety. A water-based seed treatment, Charter is a concentrated seed treatment formulation for use in commercial seed treating plants, with standard gravity flow or mist type treating equipment.

“Charter is an important new tool for growers as part of their ongoing efforts to control and manage diseases in cereal crops,” says Carter. “The need to protect cereals from seed and soil-borne diseases is well established. With Charter, growers will help get their cereal crops off to a faster start and a stronger finish with more rigorous growth and development.”

For more information about Charter, visit the BASF web site at www.agproducts.basf.com.

With sales of €3,354 million in 2004, BASF’s Agricultural Products division is a leader in crop protection and a strong partner to the farming industry providing well-established and innovative fungicides, insecticides and herbicides. Farmers use these products and services to improve yields and quality of agricultural crops. Other uses include public health, structural/urban pest control, turf and ornamental plants. BASF aims to turn knowledge rapidly into market success. The vision of BASF’s Agricultural Products division is to be the world’s leading innovator, optimizing agricultural production, improving nutrition, and thus enhancing the quality of life for a growing world population.

Charter is a trademark of BASF.