Guelph, Ontario, Canada
August 17, 2020

• First canola seed treatment to defend against airborne blackleg at the cotyledon stage
• Registered in soybeans to protect against sudden death syndrome 

Syngenta Canada announces the registration of Saltro®, the first commercially available canola seed treatment to offer protection against airborne blackleg infection at the cotyledon stage. 

​​​​​​​Blackleg is nothing new to growers, but it remains a very significant canola disease and one that requires new technologies and strategies to manage effectively. 

“As an industry, we are learning that earlier, airborne blackleg infections create a bigger risk of stem infection, which can cause lodging and cut off plants completely,” says Karen Ullman, Seedcare Product Lead with Syngenta Canada. “Saltro® is a new tool that will help growers prevent blackleg infections and preserve their canola crop’s yield potential.” 

Saltro® delivers protection at canola emergence through to the cotyledon stage and contains ADEPIDYN®, a new Group 7 fungicide belonging to the carboxamide chemical class. Saltro® moves through the plant’s water-conducting system and is taken up into the cotyledon so it is present and active when needed most. 

Results from two seasons of University of Manitoba research trials showed that Saltro® is ideal for avoiding early blackleg infections and is highly effective on the blackleg pathogen. Plants treated with Saltro® had significantly lower stem infection than untreated canola, as well as canola treated with current seed treatments that protect against seed-borne blackleg. 

Additionally, several small plot trials conducted by Syngenta in 2019 showed increased yield with Westar canola that can be attributed to early blackleg protection from Saltro®. 

For the 2021 growing season, Saltro® will be made available as part of a canola seed treatment package called Helix® Saltro®. This package includes Helix Vibrance® seed treatment for protection against striped and crucifer flea beetles, seed-borne blackleg, Alternaria and seedling disease complex. 

Saltro® protects against sudden death syndrome in soybeans
Saltro® will also be made available as a fungicide soybean seed treatment that helps guard against early-season sudden death syndrome (SDS) infection. SDS is one of the most significant soybean production challenges in North America and can cause an average yield loss of 20 per cent. 

Two years of Canadian field trial data demonstrate that Saltro® provides consistent, effective protection in environments with low and high SDS disease pressure. Plants treated with Saltro® also show a significant increase in above- and below-ground biomass.

According to Ullman, Saltro® delivers SDS protection without putting additional early season stress on soybean plants that can lead to phytotoxicity, stunted growth or reduced stands. 

​​​​​​​“Growers already contend with challenges that can come with earlier planting, unpredictable weather and nutrient deficiencies that heavily stress soybeans,” she explains. “Saltro® is an innovative tool to help manage SDS and remove an additional stress on soybeans that will better enable plants to reach their full genetic potential.”

Website: http://www.syngenta.ca

Published: August 17, 2020