Syngenta Cruiser seed treatment insecticide registered for use on rice

Syngenta Seed Care™ announced today that Cruiser® seed treatment insecticide has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use on rice. Syngenta Seed Care will package Cruiser with three seed-delivered fungicides and sell as CruiserMaxx® Rice insecticide and fungicide combination.CruiserMaxx Rice will offer rice growers protection against major early-season insects and diseases.

CruiserMaxx Rice will provide powerful protection against grape colaspis, rice water weevil, thrips, chinch bugs and secondary insects, as well as diseases such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Phytophthora and seed-borne Pyricularia grisea.

"Arkansas growers saw great results using Cruiser on rice during the Section 18 registration in March 2009,” said Chad Stone, Syngenta Seed Care marketing manager.
"We are excited rice growers across the Mid-South will now be able to witness the incomparable protection of Cruiser in time for the 2010 planting season. In addition, when packaged with the market-leading fungicides – Dynasty®, Apron® XL and Maxim® – rice growers will have the best all-round protection available.”

"CruiserMaxx Rice will protect rice plants against insects such as grape colaspis and rice water weevil,” said David Long, Syngenta Seed Care technical manager. “In turn, growers will see increased plant stands and improved yield potential. We’ve seen up to a 19 percent stand increase in field trials and are excited to see the product combination work on more growers’ fields.”

"The combination of a powerful, proven insecticide and three separately registered fungicides will offer growers a wide spectrum of control against pests and diseases,” Long continued. “The plants are protected before the seed even germinates.”

In addition, rice treated with Cruiser has shown more robust and vigorous plants via the Thiamethoxam Vigor effect. This has resulted in stronger stems, increased root mass and a more visible difference in plant height and color.

To purchase CruiserMaxx Rice, growers should contact their local seed company or retailer.