Latest Syngenta seed treatment leapfrogs older technology, yields 4 to 16 bu/A more in trials

As preparations continue for the upcoming growing season, growers are closely considering their input decisions. Syngenta believes that every input, including soybean seed treatments, should help deliver a return on investment and protect yield potential.

In 2020, soybean growers have access to a new seed treatment for Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) protection. Saltro® fungicide seed treatment received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration in September. Ongoing 2019 trials reinforced what five years of field development has shown – Saltro delivers a yield advantage over older technology through upgraded SDS protection and robust nematode activity, without causing early-season stress.

“Saltro has been a constant performer over years of trials, and it has proven to provide upgraded SDS protection in the lab and the field,” said Dale Ireland, Ph.D., technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare. “In the field, we’ve seen consistently improved yields compared with ILEVO® seed treatment, regardless of SDS pressure. Lab tests have proven Saltro provides more activity against SDS, even at lower levels of active ingredient. Saltro is nothing less than setting a new standard for plant safety and activity against SDS.”

Multiple years of Syngenta, university and third-party field trials have confirmed the ability of Saltro to defend against SDS and nematodes without causing early-season plant stress. Specifically:

• Across five years of trials throughout the U.S., Saltro provided an average 4 bushel per acre (bu/A) yield advantage over ILEVO2. In 86% of those trials, Saltro delivered a yield increase over ILEVO.
• In a 2019 University of Minnesota trial based in Rosemount, Minn., Saltro provided an average 16.9 bu/A yield increase over ILEVO and a 22.3 bu/A increase over the check.

In addition to delivering upgraded SDS protection, Saltro also offers robust nematode activity, and it does both without plant stress. Growers can anticipate better plant stands, healthier leaves and more robust early-season root mass development to help maximize genetic yield potential. Across 30 Iowa trials in 2019, Saltro had an average of 10,300 more plants per acre than ILEVO3.

“Saltro provides superior SDS protection without the stress, and that means growers won’t have to give up early-season plant health to get powerful SDS protection,” said Paul Oklesh, product lead for Syngenta Seedcare. “With Saltro, we're setting a new standard for SDS and SCN protection. Better early season protection means less impact from SDS late in the season, translating to higher potential yield.”

By providing growers powerful SDS protection and strong nematode activity that promotes uniform emergence, Saltro demonstrates the commitment of Syngenta to accelerating innovation and addressing increasing grower challenges. Syngenta invests in technologies to bring about lasting change for sustainable agriculture, and Saltro is one of the latest new technologies to help growers improve their yield potential.

​​​​​​​“I know Saltro can sound too good to be true, so we’re excited for growers to be able to experience it for themselves this season,” Oklesh said. “Once growers try it in their own fields, they will see the true impact of the upgrade.”

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¹ 4 bu/A – U.S. trials with SDS pressure; 2015-2019. Trial locations: AR, IL, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, TN, WI. Trials with statistical treatment separation under SDS pressure. 16.9 bu/A - University of Minnesota trials – Rosemount, MN; 2019
² U.S. trials with SDS pressure; 2015-2019. Trial locations: AR, IL, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, TN, WI. Trials with statistical treatment separation under SDS pressure.
³ 30 trial locations. Iowa; 2019