Pamela Henderson Smith, Farm Journal Crops & Issues Editor
Heads up if you’re doing post applications of glyphosate. Five hybrids marketed by Syngenta Seeds have shown sensitivity to over-the-top applications of the popular herbicide, says Chuck Lee, Corn Product Line Head, Syngenta Seeds.
The company is contacting corn growers and seed dealers where the phenomenon is occurring. So far the damage has been isolated to a narrow band of the northern U.S. Corn Belt.
“Not all the plantings have exhibited stress symptoms,” says Lee. “Damage ranges from nearly the entire field impacted to no impact.
“Conditions at spraying are cool, wet and water-logged fields seem to be part of the puzzle regarding damage,” adds Lee. Stunting, purpling of stems and leaves and yellow flashing at the center whorl are the most common visual symptoms.
Lee says the hybrids share a single parental line and range from 100 to 103 days of maturity. The numbers in the include:
- Golden Harvest H-7542GT
- Garst 87Y26GT
- NK N48G-GT
- NK N48R-GT
- NK N48R-GT/CB/LL
“These hybrids represent less than one percent of our corn seed portfolio and less than one-tenth of one percent of total U.S. corn acres,” he says. “We are working with growers who have purchased these hybrids to assess options to avoid or mitigate any potential damage from these stress symptoms.”
The seed passed all quality control tests and the glyphosate tolerant trait is expressed. “We currently attribute what we are seeing primarily to environmental conditions affecting one specific parent line common to these hybrids. All other hybrids are performing as expected.
“We’re encouraging impacted producers to work with their crop protection retailers to find other treatment options. We’re asking those growers with these numbers to avoid spraying glyphosate,” he adds. For more information: www.syngenta.com.
You can email Pamela Henderson Smith at psmith@farmjournal.com.
