Syngenta to stack pest-control trait into corn

Syngentas Canadian seed division aims to release a new "broad spectrum pest control" trait into the Canadian corn market by next year.

Syngenta Seeds Canada said in a release Tuesday its picked up "full Canadian approval" for its Agrisure Viptera trait, designed to protect corn from what the company has dubbed a "Multi-Pest Complex" of lepidopteran pests.

A term trademarked by Syngenta, the Multi-Pest Complex includes black cutworm, western bean cutworm, corn earworm and stalk borer, as well as sugarcane borer and fall armyworm.

"Lepidopteran pests are responsible for yield losses across North America, and Agrisure Viptera marks a breakthrough in efforts to protect and increase yield potential in the face of this threat," Syngenta Seeds crop manager David Townsend said in the companys release.

"This trait will bring peace of mind to corn growers who could experience significant losses without it," he said.

Syngenta Seeds marketing manager Ron Taylor noted western bean cutworm in particular as a "relatively new pest with growing economic concerns for Canadian corn producers."

Syngenta said the trait will be delivered through its NK brand of hybrids, which Taylor said are already "well adapted for Canadian corn production,"

When stacked with the Agrisure 3000GT triple stack, Agrisure Viptera is expected to provide in-seed protection against the Multi-Pest Complex, corn borer and rootworm, plus tolerance to glyphosate and glufosinate herbicides, the company said.

Pending all remaining regulatory and key import approvals, Syngenta said it expects hybrids featuring its Agrisure Viptera 3111 trait stack to be available for planting in spring 2011.