A manufacturing process for the systemic blight fungicide Fubol Gold has created a dust-free granule that is clean and simple to measure, and safe to handle.

The Pepite formulation developed by Syngenta is designed to achieve the best results from both metalaxyl-M and mancozeb in the field, along with improved operator handling and safety.

Tom Robinson, Syngenta's application specialist, said: 'Smaller particles from the Pepite process create a far greater surface area of active ingredient, ensuring maximum contact with the plant and faster uptake into the leaf – improving rainfastness and optimising results from contact ai's such as mancozeb.

'The free-flowing granules can be measured extremely accurately, tailoring application rates precisely to field size and avoiding wasteful over-application.' The nuggest-like rough Pepite granules are compact and hard, to avoid breaking-up and creating dust. Unlike the smooth homogenous spheres created by some granule processes, Pepite granules contain no air that can degrade the activity of mancozeb in other granule or wettable powder formulations.

Fubol Gold granules can be measured by weight or volume, with calibrated jugs available for growers from Syngenta.