Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
July 9, 2012

• SY Ovation is first commercially available wheat variety developed using doubled-haploid technology
• New soft white winter wheat variety has excellent yield potential, disease tolerance, very good end-use quality

As 2012 winter wheat planting season approaches in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), Syngenta reminds growers to implement sound management practices and select varieties with consistent performance and superior genetics.Adding to its proven portfolio of top-performing wheat varieties, Syngenta recently introduced SY Ovation, a new AgriPro® brand soft white winter wheat boasting excellent yield potential. SY Ovation will be available to PNW wheat growers in time for 2012 winter wheat planting.

“As the first commercially-released certified seed variety developed using the advanced doubled haploid technology at our Cheney, Wash., breeding location, SY Ovation has proven to be a high-yielding, semi-dwarf variety that supplies heavy test weights and very good end-use quality,” said Ed Driskill, cereals key account lead, Syngenta, Moscow, Idaho. “This variety is early-maturing and was also developed to endure an environment prone to intense stripe rust pressure like we have here in the PNW.”

As wheat growers begin preparing for the upcoming planting season, Syngenta recommends thoughtfully considering disease tolerance traits when selecting certified seed. “Along with good stripe rust resistance, SY Ovation also tolerates soilborne mosaic virus and dryland footrot,” Driskill explained.

Planting quality certified seed varieties, along with good planting practices that include residue management, proper seeding rates and the use of seed treatments, are all critical in helping wheat get off to a uniform start. Seed treatments like Cruiser® insecticide and Dividend Extreme® fungicide become particularly important in helping to ensure young seedlings withstand early-season disease and insect pressure, as well as temperature fluctuations.

“Armed with good tillering and excellent straw strength, which helps prevent lodging, SY Ovation is ideal for the disease- and weather-related challenges common across the PNW,” Driskill added. “SY Ovation has also shown good adaption in the PNW’s high to moderate rainfall and irrigated production regions.”

For more information about AgriPro brand certified seed varieties available in the PNW, visit http://agriprowheat.com/region/pacific-northwest.

Website: http://www.syngenta-us.com/home.aspx

Published: July 10, 2012