The United States EPA has recently reviewed and accepted a major label improvement initiative for the Anuew brand turf plant growth regulator. This action includes major revisions to the directions for use table and focuses on research-driven information to improve turf growth and quality management, in particular, expanding turf species, refining use rates and refining application intervals using a growing degree modeling (GDD) system.
Anuew plant growth regulator was introduced to the golf turf market by Nufarm during the 2015 season, and is the first new turf PGR active ingredient in over 10 years. Ongoing university research and positive cooperator demonstration experiences continue to demonstrate the advantages of this new active ingredient for the turf markets.
"One of our main focuses was understanding the how's and why's for contestant turf growth management and quality with this new product,” Nufarm technical services manager Rick Fletcher said. “Our research into understanding plant metabolism clearly indicated that Anuew was having a unique effect compared to other PRG's in its class and focused us on GDD modeling for reapplication interval labeling. Anuew is the first turf PGR to include such information as a guide for the user.”
This re-application recommendation is based upon research performed by Dr. Bill Kreuser with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is based on his conclusions that a calendar-based PGR re-application process is not ideal for maintaining yield suppression and turf quality. The new label identifies a recommendation of 280-350 GDD interval for re-application timings of Anuew to assure even turf regulation and to avoid rebound growth.
Additional label updates include a modified turf use rate chart reflective of additional field research.
“Rates for Anuew now reflect the bulk of our research experiences,” Fletcher said. “When used in combination with GDD focused reapplication methods, these revisions provide a more consistent regulation response across turf species for end users and meet market expectations for economics.”