OSR seed treatment boosts early growth

According to plant pathologist, Dr Peter Gladders, in the trial conducted for Syngenta, Cruiser OSR gave a significantly improved vigour score and larger cotyledons, backing the company’s claims of better early growth in the field.

“These vigour effects were very striking and quite surprising, given good growing conditions in a polythene tunnel,” says Dr Gladders. “In more marginal farm conditions, good vigour could be beneficial for crop establishment.”

Dr Gladders suggests the seed treatment offers the prospect of early phoma control when seedlings are small, as the threat occurs soon after sowing. While this has not happened at a significant level yet, a wet August could produce an early phoma epidemic.

“Foliar sprays at this stage may not be efficient, given the small target size of the seedlings and the difficulty of preventing the spread of phoma from the leaf to the stem,” he says.

The key benefit, according to Dr Gladders, is the significant differences in early establishment provided by the seed treatment.

“In our dry eastern counties soils, in crops established in August or early September, this could be very beneficial.”

Have your say

Please do not complete the following form field for security reasons.

Name

E-mail

Comment

Post as

Anonymously

Display name