ABSTRACT

Cotton seedling diseases are a serious threat to global economic cotton production. Diseases caused by seed-borne and soil-borne fungi such as Pythium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium spp. and other common seed rotting fungi can affect cotton in most growing regions worldwide. Damage caused by these pathogens not only include pre- and post-emergence damping-off, seed rots, delayed emergence and reduced vigor, but also delayed boll setting that consequently reduces the yield and quality potential of the cotton crop. In today's economic environment only the best production practices are successful and it is a "must" to maximize yield and quality. The crucial first step to achieve this target is to use high quality seed combined with the protection of an effective seed treatment. To meet this challenge, the crop protection research and field development of SYNGENTA CROP PROTECTION AG has designed and developed a 3-way mixture that blends the unique strengths of the individual compounds Fludioxonil (MAXIM^®), Mefenoxam (APRON XL^®) and Azoxystrobin. Fludioxonil is new class of chemistry that provides effective control of key plant pathogens such as Fusarium spp. and pre-emergence Rhizoctonia at very low use rates. Mefenoxam is considered the unrivalled leader for reliable control of Pythium spp. that can become a serious threat in cold and wet soils. Azoxystrobin is the first strobilurin compound developed for seed treatment use. This leading strobilurin offers outstanding and long-lasting activity against pre- and post-emergence damping-off caused by R. solani. Damping-off incited by R. solani is one of the most serious diseases of cotton worldwide because it not only can kill the seedling, but it also can cause sub-lethal root infections that subsequently reduces vigor, yield and fiber quality. This new innovative combination of three leading active ingredients from SYNGENTA will be introduced into the cotton seed treatment market under the brand name DYNASTY^TM CST. This new product is a modern water-based colorless flowable with a use rate of 200 ml/l00 kg seed delivering 2.5 g Fludioxonil, 7.5 g Mefenoxam and 15 g Azoxystrobin per 100 kg cottonseed. DYNASTY^TM CST offers an excellent safety profile for the seed, applicators and farmers. It can be combined with different colorants according the needs of the customers. It is also fully compatible with CRUISER^® - the leading cottonseed treatment insecticide from SYNGENTA. Worldwide registrations will offer the opportunity to move treated seeds globally.