A NEW generation seed treatment promises to get to the root of disease problems in cereal crops by mainly promoting ultra root growth as the building block for future yield.

The seed treatment has also been shown to give best-in-class control of key diseases at crop emergence and is being launched in the UK for this autumn.

Vibrance Duo, from Syngenta, which is approved for use in winter wheat, winter triticale, winter rye and spring oats, is the first UK treatment based on the company’s all-new SDHI fungicide, sedaxane.

Developed specifically for seed treatment use, its trials across Northern Europe have proven that it boosted yield by an average of more than 0.5 t/ha compared to untreated seed.

But the standout benefit of the product is its ability to boost root development, according to Syngenta seed care campaign manager, Mark Bullen.

“Cereal seed treatments are typically used to control diseases that threaten crop establishment,” said Mr Bullen. “Indeed, Vibrance Duo gives outstanding control of major establishment diseases, such as microdochium and fusarium, but by boosting root growth, it goes further.

“Farming already knows the benefits of keeping foliage healthy. Now, improved root health is seen as the next opportunity for improving crop output," he argued. "Improved rooting is associated with improved water and nutrient uptake, so crops are able to make better use of available resources."

Syngenta's technical expert, Michael Tait, added that there is plenty of evidence behind the root growth benefits:“Studies show sedaxane treatment has led to faster root development, even in non-diseased seed.Further results show improved crop establishment from Vibrance Duo in soils inoculated with microdochium and fusarium.

“As well as boosting yield by more than 0.5 t/ha compared to untreated seed, we have seen an average yield uplift of nearly 0.15 t/ha from it compared with an alternative seed treatment across trials in Northern Europe."

Dr Jonathan Ronksley, Syngenta's field technical specialistin the UK said that yield improvements were also evident in UK on-farm trials. “It gave faster crop establishment, especially when drilled in challenging conditions,” he said.

“It has also produced increased root length, higher plant counts, better tillering and higher yield than an alternative seed treatment. The UK yield increases seen from using Vibrance Duo in trials equated to a return on investment for the grower.”

Mr Tait,added: “The two active ingredients in Vibrance Duo have a complementary fit.Fludioxonil is already recognised as being kind to the crop and providing a flying start to crop growth in the seed treatment Beret Gold. The addition of sedaxane doesn’t compromise this.

“Also, while fludioxonil is noted for its activity against fusarium, both sedaxane and fludioxonil are excellent against the UK’s key establishment disease, microdochium. These are in addition to combined activity against common bunt and loose smut.