New cyst nematode management in 2014

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN) is the most damaging soybean pathogen in North America. Infestations remain high throughout the Midwest despite the use of current SCN crop protection products, agronomic practices and SCN-resistant varieties. Growers in the U.S. experience about $1.5 billion a year in yield losses due to SCN.

Current products either provide initial protection or defend under certain growing conditions. Agronomic practices and SCN-resistant varieties provide a baseline for protection, but SCN continues to adapt to the varieties and limit soybean yields.

“Growers can follow sound agronomic practices – planting resistant varieties, rotating crops, controlling weeds and keeping farm equipment clean – but SCN is a hardy pathogen,” said Chris Cook, Syngenta head of agronomy. “In the end, we’ve only managed to slow the damage. A piece of the puzzle is missing. We only have a defense when what we need is a good offense.”

In 2014, Syngenta will offer the missing piece of the puzzle—Clariva Complete Beans nematicide/insecticide/fungicide, an on-seed application of separately registered products that adds a revolutionary nematicide to the broad-spectrum seed treatment of CruiserMaxx Beans with Vibrance insecticide/fungicide. Clariva Complete Beans will provide an offense against SCN to complement current defensive practices, such as rotating crops and planting SCN-resistant varieties.

While competing seed treatments only offer limited SCN protection, Clariva Complete Beans provides a direct mode of action that is lethal to the pest. The nematicide within Clariva Complete Beans protects soybeans from SCN during all growth stages by killing juvenile, as well as adult, SCN.

On-farm trials prove the yield increase offered by Clariva Complete Beans at a three to five percent yield advantage in SCN-infested soils when combined with SCN-resistant varieties.

“It is important that we continue to adapt our management practices and introduce new management solutions for growers,” said Dale Ireland, Syngenta seed care technical product lead. “SCN-resistant varieties offer protection that limits reproduction of SCN, but that protection doesn't halt reproduction completely. The SCN that is capable of reproducing despite the resistant varieties, can increase in population over time and diminish the effectiveness of the SCN-resistant gene. This is cause for concern, especially considering 95 percent of the market is sourced from one genetic line of SCN resistance.”

Syngenta recommends that growers test their soil to determine if they have an SCN infestation. If SCN is present in a field, growers can use agronomic practices and have their seed treated with Clariva Complete Beans to help prevent significant soybean production losses.