This winter will mark the beginning of a new era in Australian cereal production, with VICTRATO® seed treatment becoming commercially available from Syngenta for the control of fusarium crown rot and the management of root lesion nematodes.
A whitehead from an untreated plot, caused by crown rot, compared to the crop planted with VICTRATO® treated seed.
Having been widely trialed in small plots for the past five years, agronomists are already working with growers to make VICTRATO® a part of their paddock plans this season. Many more growers will also benefit from seeing large-scale commercial demonstrations under local conditions, to assess the yield benefits in the inoculum, fusarium.
Syngenta Seedcare™ Product Lead Katie Slade.
Syngenta Seedcare™ Product Lead Katie Slade said the anticipated launch of VICTRATO® seed treatment would redefine attitudes about crown rot and root lesion nematodes.
“Rarely as an industry do we have the opportunity to help growers drastically change the outlook for their crops on a scale like this,” Katie said.
“There are many agronomists, too many to name here, to whom we are grateful for their support in our journey with VICTRATO®, powered by TYMIRIUM™ technology.
“We are just as excited as them to see the first batches of commercially treated seed with VICTRATO®, with supplies ready for distribution the moment we gain APVMA registration.”
VICTRATO® seed treatment is a first for the control of crown rot, protecting emerging seedlings against the disease as they grow through the stubble of previous crops.
Syngenta Technical Services Lead for Seedcare™, Dean Hancock, said this protection against fusarium infection has in four-out-of-five trials resulted in a positive return on investment.
“Unlike other seed treatments, which only offer suppression, VICTRATO® has demonstrated a step up in performance significantly reducing all disease symptoms while increasing yield and grain quality,” Dean said.
“Our crown rot trials demonstrated that losses can be experienced even in the absence of basal browning and white heads, but with VICTRATO® seed treatment we recorded an average wheat yield improvement of 462kg/ha in 125 trials.”
Dean said PREDICTA*B testing is a valuable tool, even where visual symptoms aren’t common.
“What we’ve observed through our extensive trial program is that yield impacts can be experienced even in the absence of basal browning and white heads,” he said.
“This means that inoculum loads could be allowed to grow year-on-year, when VICTRATO® could be a helpful part of your paddock plans.”
VICTRATO® seed treatment will be registered with a label rate of 200-400mL per 100kg of seed in wheat and barley.
Dean said this rate range provides advisors and their growers flexibility depending on their disease scenario, with VICTRATO® helping to minimise this risk while delivering peace of mind.
David Van Ryswyk, Syngenta ANZ Country Head, said the arrival of VICTRATO® seed treatment had generated much excitement across the Australian wheatbelt.
“This is a hugely significant product not only for Syngenta, but for an industry that has lived through decade upon decade of challenges with crown rot,” said David.
“At last we have a solution, which is easy to use at the start of the season, yet importantly provides great protection against the disease and associated impacts on yield weights and quality.
“It’s a huge credit to everyone at Syngenta, especially our Seedcare™ team and the industry experts we’ve worked alongside.
“This fantastic result speaks to the legacy of our colleague Ken McKee who sadly passed away last year, and through his leadership of Field Development was instrumental in making VICTRATO® a reality.”
This article was written by Syngenta for Seasons magazine.
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