Boost those roots with new cereal seed treatment
A new-generation of cereal seed treatment that has not only been shown to give first-class control of key diseases that threaten crop emergence, but also to visibly improve root growth and boost yield, is being launched in the UK for this autumn.
Vibrance Duo from Syngenta, which is approved for use in winter wheat, winter triticale, winter rye and spring oats, is the first UK treatment based on the company’s all-new SDHI fungicide, sedaxane, developed specifically for seed treatment use.
Trials across Northern Europe show it has boosted yield by an average of more than 0.5 t/ha compared with untreated seed.
But the standout benefit of Vibrance Duo is its ability to boost root development.
Cereal seed treatments are typically used to control diseases that threaten crop establishment. Indeed, Vibrance Duo gives outstanding control of major establishment diseases, such as Microdochium and Fusarium. But by boosting root growth, it goes further.
Farming has already reaped the benefits of keeping foliage healthy. Now, improved root health is seen as the next opportunity for improving crop output. Improved rooting is associated with improved water and nutrient uptake, so crops are able to make better use of available resources.
Pointing to research findings, my colleague, Syngenta seedcare technical expert, Michael Tait, says there is plenty of evidence behind the root growth benefits of the new SDHI seed treatment, sedaxane.
According to Michael, studies show sedaxane treatment has led to faster root development, even in non-diseased seed, and that further results show improved crop establishment from Vibrance Duo in soils inoculated with Microdochium and Fusarium.
Michael points out that as well as boosting yield by more than 0.5 t/ha compared with untreated seed, we have seen an average yield uplift of nearly 0.15 t/ha from Vibrance Duo compared with an alternative seed treatment across trials in Northern Europe.
And Dr Jonathan Ronksley, Syngenta field technical specialist, says yield improvements have also been seen in UK on-farm trials.
Mark Bullen is Syngenta seedcare campaign manager
