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 management of root lesion nematodes.

Having been widely trialled in small plots for the past five years, advisors are taking the opportunity to implement this new technology with key growers this season. Many more advisors will also benefit from seeing large scale commercial demonstrations under local conditions, to assess the yield benefits in the presence of the inoculum, fusarium.

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,” she 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 control of crown rot, protecting emerging seedlings against the disease as they grow through the stubble of previous crops.

“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,” said Syngenta Technical Services Lead for Seedcare™, Dean Hancock.

“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.”

Mr Hancock 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.  Mr Hancock 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,” he said. 

“At last we have a solution that’s 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.”  

 

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