Syngenta offers 24 retail seed treatment trials across tri-state region in 2011

In 2011, Syngenta’s seed treatment trials will highlight nematicide, insecticide and fungicide seed treatment combinations that include Syngenta’s Avicta Complete Corn and Avicta Complete Beans.

While seed corn companies generally decide on a base seed treatment, like CruiserMaxx Corn 250, corn growers can elect to have their seed treated with Syngenta’s Avicta Complete Corn or the CruiserMaxx Corn 1250 rate.

Syngenta officials suggest that only about 65 percent of the U.S. soybean seeds were treated in 2011. That’s because soybean seed cannot be carried-over to the next growing season like corn.

Seed companies, if they treat soybeans, have to find a place to “dump” treated seed, and that’s an expensive proposition.

As a result, the soybean seed treatment is an elected option that growers can customize.

"Growers have more opportunity to treat soybeans with what they want,” said Mark Jirak, Syngenta Seedcare crop manager. “Once a dealer sets up, a lot of their customers ask for seed treatments. Dealers can make soybean seed treatments very convenient for the grower, and they can also put on the inoculant.”

Palle Pedersen, Syngenta technical manager, Seedcare, recently explained the physiological differences of a unifoliate soybean plant treated with CruiserMaxx Plus insecticide/fungicide combination and one that did not have a seed treatment.

CruiserMaxx Plus received EPA registration in the fall of 2010.

It includes a higher rate of mefenoxam (Apron XL seed treatment fungicide) to protect against pythium and phytophthora for three to four weeks after planting.

The Cruiser portion is a broad-spectrum insecticide for both soil-dwelling and foiliar-feeding insect pests, and provides bean leaf beetle control for up to four weeks, and soybean aphid control for up to 60 days.

CruiserMaxx Plus is an insecticide/fungicide component included in the Avicta Complete Beans nematicide/insecticide/fungicide offer.

Compared with the soybean plant that did not have a seed treatment, the soybean treated with CruiserMaxx Plus had better tap, lateral and fine root development. “We see a larger root surface area compared to the plant that doesn’t have a seed treatment,” Pedersen said. “This will help under stress condition to get a more consistent yield.”

Both the treated and untreated soybean plants had a large taproot, but the treated plant had better nodulation with the additional lateral and fine roots.

"The more roots you have, the better nodulation you’re going to have and nutrients aren’t going to be a limiting factor,” he said.

"A lot of times, the top 8-12 inches is where most of the nutrients and moisture are taken up in the plant. If you don’t have a lot of these roots, it can really be a struggle for them.”

Jirak hopes farmers will take time this summer to visit a seed treatment trial in their area to learn about Syngenta’s seed treatment products available for 2012.

Syngenta will also be showcasing VIBRANCE fungicide, a proprietary seed treatment fungicide based on the new active ingredient sedaxane.

Vibrance is pending regulatory approval and is not currently available for sale or use in the United States.

Jirak said that Vibrance would be added to ApronMaxx fungicide and CruiserMaxx insecticide/fungicide formulations for added activity on rhizoctonia and an improved soybean root system in 2012, pending approval.

"Syngenta has been working for more than 30 years in seed treatments,” said Pedersen.

"Previously, farmers looked at seed treatments as insurance to protect themselves from replanting, but today, we are getting into new areas and new technologies where we can consistently get more yield with seed treatments."