Biofungicide Serenade included on FRAC's 2009 code list

AgraQuest Inc., a leading provider of highly effective fungicides and insecticides that enhance crop productivity in agriculture, today announced that Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713, the active ingredient in its flagship biofungicide product SERENADE, has been included on the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee's (FRAC) 2009 Code List. Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 is the first microbial chemistry to be included on FRAC's Code List.

"The inclusion of SERENADE's active ingredient on FRAC's code list is a major milestone for the product," said Denise Manker, VP of Global Product Development for AgraQuest. "The Fungicide Resistance Action Committee requires a very detailed set of technical data to include a new mode of action classification. To have Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 be a part of FRAC's Code List really validates the efficacy of SERENADE's resistance management properties. SERENADE is an excellent product for managing fungicide resistance, providing growers with added value over other fungicide products."

FRAC is the global resource for developing guidelines for the best-use practices of fungicides and managing fungicide resistance. With no known resistance issues and a low risk assumption based on the mode of action, Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 required that FRAC create a new category due to its unique properties.

SERENADE, in addition to its resistance management properties, provides growers with a unique solution for production needs by acting as a highly effective, broad spectrum biological fungicide registered on a wide variety of high-value fruit and vegetable crops. With more than 6,000 field trials conducted, SERENADE has proven plant health and yield enhancement properties in addition to its efficacy against target diseases. Additionally, SERENADE is the only biofungicide with a full EU Annex 1 listing.