The Monitoring Methods webpage has been updated. 3 new methods to monitor Banana Black Sigatoka and 5 new methods for Potato Late Blight have been added. These new methods can now be downloaded from the FRAC website.

Prof. Ulrich Gisi retired from Syngenta and FRAC after 35 years of research, teaching and valuable service to crop protection. After completion of his doctoral thesis on the survival of Phytophthora cactorum in soil at the University of Basel in 1974, Prof. Gisi began his scientific career that covered numerous research topics in plant pathology and crop protection. In 1979 he began working at Sandoz (now Syngenta) and worked in different functions in disease control, product support and later as specialist for fungicide modes of action and resistance. In 1993 Prof. Gisi was appointed as Associate Professor at the University of Basel, where he taught and supervised numerous students, postdocs and visiting scientists from all over the world. Prof. Gisi has over 140 publications in scientific journals and books.

Prof. Gisi was active in FRAC from 1983 to 2008 (25 years!), including membership and chairmanship of the Phenylamide Working Group (later Expert Forum) and membership in the SBI and CAA Working Groups. Prof. Gisi has been a member of the FRAC Steering Committee since 1989 and was Vice-Chairman of FRAC from 2001 to 2008. He compiled and maintained the well-known FRAC Code List ©. With all his contributions, he played a significant role in the success of FRAC over the years. The FRAC Steering Committee sincerely thanks Prof. Gisi for his dedication to plant pathology and resistance management and for his major contributions to FRAC and to the scientific community over the last 35 years. The FRAC Steering Committee wishes Prof. Gisi well in his well-deserved retirement.

Following the retirement of Prof. Ulrich Gisi, new members of the FRAC Steering Committee were elected in April 2008. Dr. Klaus Stenzel (Bayer Crop Science) was unanimously elected as Vice-Chairman of the FRAC Steering Committee. Dr. Dietrich Hermann (Syngenta Crop Protection) was elected as the new Phenylamide Expert Forum Chair and he will also be responsible for the FRAC Code List ©. The FRAC Steering Committee agreed that the Chair of FRAC Brazil, Dr. Nilceli Fernandes-Buzzerio (Syngenta Crop Protection), be appointed as representative of FRAC Brazil and join the SC as an ad-hoc member. Furthermore, Dr. Gilberto Olaya (Syngenta Crop Protection) will replace Dr. Hendrik Ypema (BASF) as representative of NAFRAC in the FRAC Steering Committee. The FRAC Steering Committee thanks Dr. Ypema for his contributions and wishes all new members success in their roles in FRAC.

The FRAC list of resistant plant pathogens has been updated and is posted in the publications section. This list provides an extensive overview of plant pathogens that have shown some form of resistance in either lab, glasshouse or field studies. The list is based on published reports.

The Banana Working Group met in February 2008 in Orlando, FL. The monitoring results and fungicide use recommendations for 2008/2009 are now available online in English and Spanish.

The 2007 monitoring data for the CAA fungicides have been reviewed by the CAA Working Group and are now available. The 2008 use recommendations are included.

In the past the FRAC Steering Committee prepared two fungicide lists: one sorted by FRAC Code number or letter designation (List 1) and the other sorted by mode of action (List 2). In December 2007, the FRAC SC revised and merged these lists into one definitive list. The FRAC Code List© is now available online.

The 2007 monitoring data for cereal and non-cereal crops have been updated by the SBI Working Group. The 2008 use recommendations are included.

The FRAC AP Working Group met on Nov. 30th, 2007 to discuss monitoring data from 2006 and 2007. The 2007 monitoring report is now available on the FRAC website, including use recommendations for 2008. New for the Venturia use guidelines is to apply a maximum of four AP-containing products per season.

The 2007 monitoring data for QoI fungicides have been compiled by the QoI Working Group and are now available. The list of QoI resistant pathogens has also been updated with new information from 2007.

Two FRAC classics, Monograph 1: Fungicide Resistance in Crop Pathogens: How can it be managed? (by Keith J. Brent) and Monograph 2:  Fungicide Resistance, the Assessment of Risk (by Keith J. Brent and Derek W.Hollomon) have been fully revised in 2007. These revised publications are now available online as a pdf downloads on the Publications webpage.

A high resolution version of the FRAC Mode of Action Poster© (Version Dec. 2006) is now available online as a pdf download on the Publications webpage.

The FRAC QoI Working Group met on May 29th 2007 to discuss late season monitoring data from 2006 that recently became available. These monitoring studies on Erysiphe necator have shown a few cases of resistance in Eastern Austria. The practical relevance of these findings is not clear, however, the decided that for areas where resistance has been previously detected, QoI fungicides are to be applied in strict alternation.

In June of 2006, Dr. Greg Kemmitt, DOW Agrosciences, UK, was elected to the FRAC Steering Committee as a Ordinary Member. In April of 2007, Ms. Hélène Lachaise (Chairwoman AP Working Group) was appointed to lead also the Dicarboximide Expert Forum.

Members of different FRAC Working Groups have reviewed and collected detailed, ready-to-use bioassay techniques to monitor fungal pathogens of economic importance. These methods can now be downloaded from the FRAC website.

The FRAC Mode of Action Poster© was updated in December 2006 and is now available as a pdf download on the Publications webpage.

Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck retired from Bayer CropScience at the end of 2006 and in turn also retired as Chairman of the FRAC Steering Committee and Chairman of the CAA Working Group. Dr. Kuck served FRAC in numerous capacities over a period of 16 years. His role and contributions include: FRAC Steering Committee (Member since 1990, Chairman 2002 to 2006), Chairman FRAC SBI Working Group (1995-2002), Chairman FRAC CAA Working Group (2005-2006) and Chairman FRAC Banana Working Group (2004-2006).

The FRAC Steering Committee wishes to record here its sincere thanks to Karl-Heinz for his devotion and hard work during all the years of his membership. His expertise and leadership will be greatly missed by the Steering Committee and the scientific community. The FRAC SC wishes him well in his retirement.

Dr Kristin Klappach moved to a different position within BASF and thus stepped down from her responsibilities in FRAC. This move created vacancies for Chair of the Dicarboximide Expert Forum and Chair of the Banana Working Group. Election of a new Chair for the Dicarboximide Expert Forum is planned for the next FRAC Steering Committee in April 2007. The FRAC Steering Committee wishes Dr. Klappach much success in her new job and thanked her for her active contributions to FRAC.

Following the retirement of Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck, new members of the FRAC Steering Committee were elected in December 2006. Mr. Andy Leadbeater was unanimously elected by the SC as its new Chairman. Dr. Michael Merk was elected in Dec. 2006 by the CAA WG as its new Chairman. In this role, Dr. Merk will also join the FRAC Steering Committee. Dr. Helge Sierotzki, Syngenta Crop Protection, Switzerland, was appointed to take over the Chair of the Banana WG.

The 2006 monitoring data for the CAA fungicides have been reviewed by the CAA Working Group and are now available. The 2007 use recommendations are included.

Two lists are available, one sorted by FRAC Code number or letter designation (List 1) and the other sorted by mode of action (List 2).

A new overview entitled, “FRAC list of plant pathogenic organisms resistant to disease control agents” has been prepared by FRAC and is posted in the Publications section. This list provides an extensive overview of plant pathogens that have shown some form of resistance in either lab, glasshouse or field studies.

The 2006 monitoring data for non-cereal crops has been updated by the QoI Working Group. The 2007 use recommendations are included. This website update also includes a revised overview on QoI mutations and also an updated list of pathogens with field resistance towards QoI fungicides.

The 2006 monitoring data for the SBI Working Group has been updated for cereal and non-cereal crops.
The 2007 use recommendations are also included.

The 2006 monitoring summary for the QoI Working Group has been updated with information for cereals.
The 2007 cereal use recommendations are also included.

The Banana Working Group met in February 2006 in Orlando , FL. The monitoring results and fungicide use recommendations for 2006 are now available online in English and Spanish.

Mr. Jean-Marie Gouot retired from Bayer CropScience in January 2006 and thus left the FRAC Steering Committee (SC) after many years of valuable contributions. Jean-Marie began his career in the Agrochemical Industry with Rhône-Poulenc in 1974, working in fungicide discovery and the development of iprodione.
 
Jean-Marie became active in FRAC in 1987 with contributions to the then active Dicarboximide Working Group. In 1989, he became Chairman of the SBI WG and a member of the SC until 1999. In 2002 he reassumed leadership of the SBI WG and rejoined the SC until his recent retirement.
 
The FRAC SC thanks Jean-Marie for his dedication and service to FRAC over many years. We’re sorry to see him leave the SC, but we wish him a fulfilling retirement. His expertise, however, will still be available as Jean-Marie will serve as an expert in the Dicarboximide Expert Forum.

At the FRAC Steering Committee meeting in Dec. 2005, Dr. Klaus Stenzel, Bayer CropScience, was elected to the SC in his role as the new Chairman of the SBI Working Group.

The first report for the CAA Working Group has been published on the FRAC Website. Monitoring information for 2005 as well as the CAA fungicide use guidelines for 2006 are presented.

The 2005 summary for the AP Working Group has been updated. Monitoring information for 2005 as well as the AP fungicide use guidelines for 2006 are included.

Based on experience and reported resistance claims over the last 40 years, FRAC Int'l has summarized information about the risk of pathogens to develop resistance to fungicides. The Pathogen Risk List is a new resource on the website and has been posted on the Publications webpage.  

The FRAC Code lists have been revised and include several new AIs. Two lists are available, one sorted by FRAC Code number or letter designation and the other sorted by mode of action.

The 2005 monitoring summary for the QoI Working Group has been updated with information for non-cereals. Additional monitoring information for tan spot on wheat and the 2006 recommendations are also included.

The latest monitoring data and 2006 recommendations for all crops are now available.

The latest monitoring data for cereal crops and the recommendations for 2006 are included in the latest update.

The Fungicide Resistance Management Group (FRMG) in Australia, formerly AFRAC (Australian Fungicide Resistance Action Committee) has been added the regional map of FRAC groups and associated partners. The link takes you a page on the Avcare website, where information from FRMG can be found.

The FRAC website has a new look. An important change is the separation of the Expert Fora from the Working Groups. Other updates will follow soon.

Additional monitoring data from 2004 has been added to the QoI 2004 summary, including information on Pyrenophora spp. and Uncinula necator.

The latest monitoring and use recommendations for AP's have been posted today.

The Benzimidazole Working Group has modified in structure and is now called the the Benzimidazole Expert Forum. The content of the Expert Forum has been updated by Jean-Luc Genet. Check it out!

The 2004 monitoring data for QoI fungicides for non-cereal diseases was discussed in the QoI-Working Group on Nov. 30, 2004 in Badenweiler, Germany. The results, as well as strategies and use guidelines for QoI fungicides in non-cereals for the 2005 season are all available online.

The latest monitoring and use recommendations for SBI's have been posted today. The overview is for SBI's and morpholines in numerous crops. Information about quinoxyfen and fenhexamid is also included.

The 2004 monitoring data for QoI fungicides for cereal diseases was discussed in the QoI-Working Group on October 4th. These results, as well as the strategies and use guidelines for QoI fungicides in cereals for the 2005 season are all available online.

Information on non-cereal crops will follow in early December.

The fungicide use recommendations for bananas, which was published on the FRAC website in June 2004, is now available online on the Banana Working Group webpage.

Today the latest FRAC Monograph was posted on the FRAC website. The monograph is entitled, SENSITIVITY BASELINES IN FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT and was written by ex-FRAC chairman, Dr. P.E. Russell.

In February 2004 the Banana Working Group met in Miami, Florida (USA) to discuss monitoring data for relevant fungicides used in banana. These results have been compiled are now available online in a new Working Group solely dedicated fungicide resistance management in bananas.

In December 2003 the FRAC-AP Working Group met in Basel, Switzerland to discuss the 2003 monitoring data for anilinopyrimidine fungicides. These results have been compiled are now available online. In addition, the use recommendations for the 2004 season are also included.

Through the efforts of Steering Committee member Sho Hashimoto-san, Chairperson JFRAC, Nippon Soda Co., Ltd, it is now possible to obtain information about the FRAC Working Groups in Japanese. JFRAC is a consortium of specialists from Japanese agrochemical companies that provides guidance and advice on the use of fungicides in Japan.

The group is made up of specialists representing all manufacturers of QoI products going to the market in Germany. This regional webpage was established to provide information to German growers and officials regarding Septoria tritici.

The 2003 monitoring data for QoI fungicides for non-cereal diseases have been compiled by the QoI-Working Group. These results, as well as strategies and use guidelines for QoI fungicides in non-cereals, are now available for the 2004 season.

Today the latest use recommendations for SBI's have been posted. An overview of the 2003 monitoring results and field performance of DMI's and morpholines in numerous crops is included. Also, information about quinoxyfen and fenhexamid is also compiled in this working group.

Today the latest Guidelines for the use of QoI fungicides in North America were posted.

The 2003 monitoring data for QoI fungicides for cereal diseases have been compiled by the QoI-Working Group. These results, as well as the strategies and use guidelines for QoI fungicides in cereals for the 2004 season are now available online.
Information about non-cereal crops will follow in early December 2003.

The FRAC Fungicide Lists have been updated to remove some minor errors and to improve the format. Furthermore, a practical "Home"-link has been added to all key webpages to simplify navigation back to the homepage.

As of Februrary 2003 the Anilinopyrimidine working group
has a new chairwoman.
Hélène Lachaise (Bayer CropScience, Lyon) succeeds Patrice Duvert.