Corteva Agriscience introduces Inzen herbicide-tolerant trait in Pioneer brand grain sorghum

Sorghum growers have a new tool for better maximizing their production with the ground-breaking Inzen herbicide-tolerant trait, Corteva Agriscience announced.

The new Inzen trait, which will be exclusive to industry-leading Pioneer brand sorghum, allows for a postemergence application of Zest WDG herbicide to provide excellent control of yield-depleting annual grasses such as foxtail, barnyardgrass and panicum. An introductory supply of sorghum seed with Inzen technology will be available to select growers this year as a first step toward a full commercial launch for the 2022 growing season.

“Sorghum growers will soon experience the long-awaited and game-changing annual grass control that the Inzen trait can provide their operations,” says LeAnn Larson, Pioneer Sorghum marketing manager. “It will help open acres that previously were challenged with low yields or even were deemed unusable because of unchecked grass pressure to planting Pioneer brand sorghum, with all the yield and performance potential that growers expect from Pioneer.”

Inzen technology is a non-transgenic, ALS-tolerant trait that is built on elite Pioneer genetics and leading agronomics. It adds another management option to the industry’s broadest lineup of sorghum hybrids — proven to deliver top-end yield performance across diverse geographies and various field management practices. When the Inzen trait is used with Zest WDG herbicide, the system leverages new trait technology and the crop protection expertise of Corteva Agriscience and has been extensively tested by local field teams to help protect profitability on every sorghum acre.

“The development of over-the-top grass control has long been recognized as one of the highest priorities of sorghum growers,” says Brent Bean, director of Agronomy, United Sorghum Checkoff Program. “The Inzen trait, along with Zest WDG herbicide, will provide a great resource for postemergence grass control.”

Zest WDG, an ALS-class herbicide, was designed by Corteva specifically for the grain sorghum market. It has a low use rate, wide application window (between 4” and 20” on sorghum with the Inzen trait) and includes a proprietary formulation of nicosulfuron, with EPA-approved tolerances on Inzen sorghum hybrids.

“This powerful new system brings together the diverse crop protection portfolio and expertise of Corteva Agriscience with world-class sorghum genetics from Pioneer,” says Brandon Walter, U.S. product manager, Corteva Agriscience. “Growers now have available a complete program approach to weed and grass control in grain sorghum, starting with a preemergence application of FulTime NXT or Cinch ATZ herbicides, followed by a postemergence application of Zest WDG herbicide. We couldn’t be more excited to deliver growers new weed control solutions for postemergence application in Pioneer brand sorghum with the Inzen trait.”