Golden Valley, Minnesota
February 27, 2009
Syngenta Seeds, one of the world’s
leading agricultural seeds providers, released detailed
performance data from 2008 trials designed to evaluate the
efficacy of the new Agrisure Viptera trait. The trials were
located in plots that had different levels of natural
infestations and a variety of lepidopteran pests, a spectrum of
insects Syngenta refers to as the “multi-pest complex.” The
results show that using corn hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera
trait provided broad-spectrum control of the multi-pest complex,
thereby increasing yield.
Replicated trials in 12 locations across Colorado, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and North Carolina
demonstrated an average yield advantage of 10.9 bu/A for
Agrisure® CB/LL/RW hybrids stacked with the Agrisure Viptera
trait when compared with hybrids containing only the Agrisure
CB/LL/RW stack in environments that represent all levels of corn
earworm pressures*.
Trials demonstrated that the yield advantage rose to 17.5 bu/A
in plots where corn earworm pressure was present at moderate to
high levels**. According to Bruce Battles, Syngenta Seeds
agronomy marketing manager, growers see some level of corn
earworm pressure every year, but infestations are random and
scouting is difficult, which makes it important to have insect
protection built into the seed.
“Our trials mimic the situations corn growers typically face. To
maximize yield, growers need to protect against a broad range of
unpredictable corn pests. That’s the importance of having
broad-spectrum lepidopteran control,” said Battles. “Growers
need to have a tool that allows the management of damage from a
range of lepidopteran corn pests, including corn earworm, black
cutworm and Western bean cutworm.”
Realizing that yield is only one component; trials also measured
ear damage from naturally occurring pests such as corn earworm.
The results show that the Agrisure Viptera trait significantly
reduced the number of ears damaged as well as the amount of
damage per ear. In 2008 trials, 55 percent of the plants with
the Agrisure CB/LL/RW trait had some grain damage, as compared
to only 3 percent when the Agrisure Viptera trait was added into
the trait combination. “By reducing the amount of damaged grain
from insect pressure, we not only increase yield, but also
greatly reduce the likelihood of mycotoxin development. In some
years economic losses from mycotoxins could be greater than that
from lost yield potential,” Battles said.
Pending all remaining regulatory and key import market
approvals, hybrids containing the Agrisure Viptera trait are
anticipated to be available for planting in spring 2010. The
trait will be available stacked with either the Agrisure® 3000GT
triple stack or the Agrisure GT/CB/LL stack.
Agrisure Corn Traits are a system of high-performance in-seed
traits providing resistance to European corn borer (the Agrisure
CB/LL trait) and corn rootworm (the Agrisure RW trait) and
conferring tolerance to glyphosate herbicides (the Agrisure GT
trait) and glufosinate herbicides (the Agrisure CB/LL trait).
Growers seeking a triple stack of all current Agrisure insect
protection and herbicide tolerance offerings can get full corn
borer and rootworm protection combined with weed control
flexibility in the Agrisure 3000GT trait stack.
Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than
24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose:
Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science,
global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase
crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health
and quality of life. For more information about us please go to
www.syngenta.com.
*, ** All Syngenta strip trial comparisons are completed with
hybrids of similar RMs, adjusted for moisture to +/- 3 points
and of equivalent trait classes unless otherwise noted. Isolines
used for comparison featured identical genetics to the test
hybrids but did not contain the Agrisure Viptera trait.
* Replicated trials consisted of 12 locations, with six
replications per location. Results were averaged across all 12
locations. Replicated trials were located in Colorado, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and North
Carolina.
** Replicated trials consisted of seven locations with six
replications per location. Results were averaged across all
seven locations. Replicated trials were located in Colorado,
Iowa, Indiana, Missouri and North Carolina.
Agrisure®, Agrisure Viptera™ and the Syngenta logo are
trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.
Agrisure 3000GT and Agrisure GT/CB/LL plus Agrisure Viptera
stack technology are not currently approved for sale or use in
the U.S. and are not being offered or promoted for sale. These
products will not be available for sale until all necessary
authorizations have been granted. |
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