Syngenta announced today its newest seed treatment, Saltro fungicide, has received registration by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Formulated to deliver superior protection against Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) and nematodes without causing plant stress, Saltro will be available for the 2020 growing season. Saltro contains Adepidyn fungicide, an extremely powerful SDHI mode of action, which outperforms older chemistries and provides higher potential yield.
“For the first time ever, growers will have a seed treatment option for protecting their soybeans against SDS and nematodes that doesn’t cause additional stress on the plant and enables soybeans to reach their full genetic potential,” says Dale Ireland, technical product lead for Syngenta Seedcare. “With Saltro, we’ve seen a statistically significant yield increase of 3 bu/A over the current standard in heavy SDS environments. It’s definitely an upgrade for SDS protection.”
Saltro also delivers robust activity across a broad spectrum of nematode species, including Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN) — the No. 1 yield-robbing pest in soybeans and a major contributor to SDS infection.
“SDS and SCN are large concerns for soybean growers,” says Ireland. “Severe SDS infection can cause up to 50% yield loss, and SCN has cost about $1.5 billion in U.S. yield loss. Since Saltro provides protection against both, it will complement SDS- and SCN-resistant varieties to help soybeans maximize their yield potential.”
Beyond the SDS and nematode protection Saltro provides, growers can also look forward to their soybeans having better stands, healthier leaves and more robust early-season root mass development.
“With earlier planting programs and erratic weather, the last thing a grower needs at the beginning of the season is additional stress on their soybeans from their seed treatment,” says Paul Oklesh, product lead for Syngenta Seedcare. “Growers have come to expect that they have to give up early-season plant health in order to get SDS protection, but with Saltro, that’s no longer true. Saltro provides superior SDS protection without the stress, ensuring soybeans are not only getting a new standard of SDS protection, but also a strong start upon emergence.”
Although soybeans can outgrow the side effects from early-season aboveground stress, they may not fully recover from the lower yield potential caused by belowground stress affecting the roots.
“Whether it is caused by disease, nematodes or their choice of seed treatment, growers never want fewer roots in their crop,” says Ireland. “Everyone wants to establish a robust early root system that maximizes the genetic potential of the soybean plant. Saltro does a much better job of allowing soybeans to do just that.”
With powerful SDS protection and the additional benefits of healthier root mass, better plant stands and quicker speed to canopy, Saltro demonstrates Syngenta’s commitment to accelerating innovation to address the increasing challenges for growers. Syngenta invests in technologies to bring about lasting change for sustainable agriculture, and Saltro is the latest new technology that can change the way growers protect their soybeans and improve their yield potential.
