Nippon Soda and Syngenta have entered into a global seed treatment licensing agreement for PICARBUTRAZOX, an active ingredient that controls common crop diseases and ensures that one seed turns into one plant thus maximizing the genetic potential.

It shows robust and reliable performance for the control of Pythium damping off and seedling blight diseases under many different cropping systems. Pythium-induced root rot is a common crop disease. When the organism kills newly emerged or emerging seedlings, it is known as damping off and is a very common problem in fields and greenhouses.

Tackling Pythium allows farmers to adopt reduced or no-tillage cropping systems protecting the soil, avoid the costs of having to replant and get benefits from better germination, strong stand establishment and higher yields.

“We are proud that Nippon Soda has partnered with Syngenta Seedcare to bring this exciting technology to the seed industry and farmers globally,” said Ioana Tudor, Global Head of Syngenta Seedcare.

“PICARBUTRAZOX, with its novel mode of action will strengthen Syngenta’s leading Pythium control portfolio Mefenoxam and Azoxystrobin Technology in corn, soybeans, canola, oilseed rape, cereals and other crops.”

Chinami Yokota, Nippon Soda Director of Development Department, adds how Nippon Soda has strong research capabilities.

“It was an excellent decision to choose Syngenta Seedcare as a leader in the seed treatment market to broaden the use of PICARBUTRAZOX beyond foliar application,” he said.

The first registrations of PICARBUTRAZOX on seed treatment are expected in the US and Canada in 2019.