Axalion®Active: Redefining Sustainable Insect Control
Axalion® Active is the first active ingredient from the BASF R&D pipeline in the pursuit of redefining modern, sustainable pest control by balancing outstanding efficacy with beneficial safety. Through a new class of chemistry with a novel mode of action, Axalion® provides long-lasting control of a broad spectrum of piercing and sucking pests, including whiteflies and aphids, while working harmoniously with beneficials and the environment when applied according to the label.
Axalion® has been shown to effectively reduce the primary and secondary spread of insect-pest vectored viruses by causing rapid feeding cessation. It is highly potent on multiple life stages and due to its novel mode of action, Axalion® also controls pests that have developed resistance to existing chemistries, making it an excellent partner for insecticide resistance management. Thanks to its predictable, balanced and reliable performance, Axalion® is an essential part of a farmer’s toolbox for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), resulting in healthier plants, better yields and higher quality production.
An Insecticide Tailored to Meet Farmers’ Needs
Uses for Axalion® include fruits, vegetables, soybeans, legumes, cotton, cereals, beets, oilseed rape and ornamentals. To date, two formulations featuring Axalion® will be available to support farmers. Efficon™ Insecticide, powered by Axalion® Active, will help manage farmers’ most problematic piercing and sucking pests across registered regions on a broad range of crops. Durilon™ Insecticide, powered by Axalion® Active, is designed to safeguard field crops such as cereals, oilseeds and beets from piercing and sucking pests in select countries in Europe.
Green peach aphid control on spinach
Source: BASF internal trial, 2022.
Treated spinach with Axalion® at 60 g ai/ha.
Silverleaf whitefly control on eggplant
Source: BASF internal trial, 2022.
Treated eggplant with Axalion® at 120 g ai/ha.
Key Features and Benefits of Axalion® Active Insecticide
Flexibility in timing and application
The systemic properties of Axalion® offer growers a wide window of application timing during early to late growth stages. This includes late growth stage spraying when canopies are already closed and reaching target pests would normally be a challenge. Axalion® provides long-lasting residual control due to systemic properties.
Works harmoniously with beneficials
Axalion® is environmentally friendly to non-target organisms when applied according to label instructions, and is highly compatible with beneficial insects including pollinators, as well as birds.
Mode of Action
Axalion® has a novel mode of action and is the sole representative of a unique insecticidal class of chemistry, the Pyridazine pyrazolecarboxamies (or Pyridazine amides). It works by disrupting the function of an insect’s chordotonal organs on a new target site. Chordotonal organs are tiny sensory organs that provide insects with their senses of hearing, orientation and balance and are critical for coordinated movement and survival. When applied according to the label, Axalion® offers growers highly efficacious, yet environmentally friendly, control of many problematic piercing and sucking pests, helping reduce potentially devastating yield losses and subsequently improving revenue.
