Moddus - universal product for lodging prevention in cereals

Most modern wheat varieties have relatively short strong stems and transmit the above ground forces to the root system. Most wheat lodging is believed to be root lodging. The effect of early lodging at GS 60 (beginning of flowering) and late lodging at GS 83 (grain development stage early-dough) shows linear response between the percent area lodged and recoverable yield. With complete lodging at GS 60 the potential yield may be reduced by half, while complete lodging at GS 83 results in a much lower yield loss (ca. 15%). Moddus could influence a range of plant development functions such as tiller number, root mass, water and nitrogen utilisation efficiency, grain site initiation etc., while the rationale for the development was that of preventing / ameliorating lodging in cereals. Trinexapac-ethyl (Moddus) is a cyclohexandione and represents a new chemical class of plant growth regulators. Studies have revealed that the cyclohexandiones inhibit post GA12-aldehyde reactions leading to the biosynthesis of gibberellins. The primary reactions affected appear to be 3á-hydroxylations, although other reactions between GA12-aldehyde and GA1 may also be inhibited. Trinexapac-ethyl, therefore, inhibits gibberellin production much later in the biosynthetic pathway than onium (e. g. chlormequat) or triazole compounds. The route of trinexapac-ethyl movement within the plant is both acropetal (upward) and basipetal (downward). Moddus prevents lodging not only due to reducing the crop height, but also through a direct strengthening of the stem and through increasing crown root structures. In comparison with growth regulators belonging to other chemical groups, Moddus is highly selective, flexible in timing of application and has much longer persistance. When crop is treated with Moddus some yield increase is expected even in the absence of lodging. Moddus can be applied to all cereals and to some other crops (e.g. oilseed rape, turfgrass). Moddus spraying programmes combined with chlormequat use may be reasonable. Mixing certain fungicides with Moddus enhances anti-lodging effect. In such cases Moddus rate can be reduced accordingly.