Seed Treatments on Corn Hybrids Tested in OVT’s

Fred Allen, ProfessorDepartment of Plant Sciences

University of TennesseeSCC-33 Meeting

January 26-29, 2010St. Pete Beach, FL

OUTLINE

1. GENERAL INFO2. FUNGICIDE AND INSECTICIDE SEED

TREATMENTS3. TN YIELD DATA ON CORN IST’s4. SUMMARY5. TN’S CURRENT POLICY ON SEED

TREATMENTS IN OVT

GOAL IN VARIETY TESTING:

Historically -- Obtain UNBIASED data on genetic differences among varieties

How??

Control extraneous variation in order to create a “level playing field” so that all varieties in the test have equal opportunity to express their full genetic yield potential.

Via Randomization, replication, blocking on field variation, equal seeding rates, weed control, etc.

Now & in the future, testing the package of:

Genetics + biotech traits + seed treatments

A potential bias may arise when seed of varieties are treated with different chemicals!

Corn Seed Trt. Fungicides: Allegiance (Metalaxyl) Apron XL (Mefenoxam) Maxim (Fludioxonil) Dynasty (Azoxystrobin) Trilex (Trifloxystrobin) Examples of Combinations:Dynasty CST = Apron XL + Dynasty + Maxim Trilex Advanced = Trilex + Baytan + Allegiance

SEED TREATMENTS FOR CORN

Corn Seed Trt. Insecticides:Poncho (Clothianidin) 250, 500, 1250Gaucho, Axcess (Imidacloprid) 600Cruiser (Thiamethoxam) 250, 500

$ per Acre (?):Fungicide ~ $2 – 4; Insecticide ~ $6 – 12 3 fungicides + insecticide seed trt. = $12 - 24

Corn: fungicide(s)+ insecticide = standardFungicides & Insecticides applied to seed last about 14-30 DAP.

Examples of Combinations of Fungicides + Insecticides applied to corn seed:Acceleron = 3 fungicides + insecticideAvicta Complete (Cotton) = 3 fungicides + insecticide + nematicide

COMPANIES WANT TO PROTECT THEIR INVESTMENT IN BIOTECH TRAITS

CORNFUNGICIDE SEED TREATMENTS’ PRIMARY DISEASE TARGETS: seed rot and seedling diseasesPythium –

Mefenoxam, Metalaxyl ( e.g.,Apron XL, Allegiance)Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Penicillium, others –

Fludioxanil, Azoxystrobin, Triadimenol (e.g., Maxim, Captan, Dynasty, Baytan, Protégé)Combinations of fungicides to get broader spectrum control

Source: Iowa St. Univ.

CORNINSECTICIDE SEED TREATMENTS:

Poncho, Cruiser, GauchoEXAMPLES OF TARGET INSECTS:

Wireworms

Click beetle

Photos: U. of Wis., IA St. & Univ. of Ark.

Cutworms

Seed Corn Maggots

Root Worms

IST, 8 CORN HYBRIDS, TN DATA, 2003Table 14. Yield comparisons of eight corn hybrids between seed treated or untreated with a systemic insecticide, evaluated inin seven environments in Tennessee during 2003.

Avg. Yield† Avg. YieldBrand Hybrid Knoxville (Irr.) (Non-Irr.) Springfield (Irr.) (Non-Irr.) Ames (n=7) Difference

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ bu/a---------------------------------------------------------------------Agrigold A 6445 215 192 170 223 194 185 168 189Agrigold A 6445 (Gaucho) 232 190 180 230 210 178 177 193 +4Agrigold A 6607 237 164 166 215 239 171 174 195Agrigold A 6607 (Gaucho) 263 183 178 256 229 180 188 211 +16

Dekalb DKC 60-09 (RR2/YGCB) 220 179 150 257 219 168 161 185Dekalb DKC 60-09 (RR2/YGCB) (Gaucho) 210 173 148 236 216 160 157 176 -9Dekalb DKC 64-10 (RR2) 242 173 172 248 248 189 184 208Dekalb DKC 64-10 (RR2) (Gaucho) 241 181 176 249 227 190 189 208 0Dekalb DKC 69-71 RR/YGCB 246 184 179 178 248 198 157 199Dekalb DKC 69-71 RR/YGCB (Gaucho) 251 184 184 225 224 169 147 198 -1

Pioneer 31G98 260 184 166 209 224 218 169 204Pioneer 31G98 (Gaucho) 260 173 164 226 242 219 158 206 +2Pioneer 33R77 251 184 181 232 233 211 191 212Pioneer 33R77 (Gaucho) 244 180 195 250 250 180 180 212 0Pioneer 34B24 (Bt) 251 172 165 234 237 173 172 196Pioneer 34B24 (Bt) (Gaucho) 241 191 178 248 206 178 161 196 0

Average -- Treated Seed (bu/a) 200Average -- Untreated Seed (bu/a) 199Avg. Yield Difference 1

Spring Hill Milan

IST, 14 CORN HYBRIDS, TN DATA, 2004Table 22. Yield comparisons of 14 corn hybrids between seed treated or untreated with a systemic insecticide, evaluated in four environments in Tennessee during 2004.

Avg. YieldAvg. Yield† Difference

Brand Hybrid Knoxville Spring Hill Springfield Milan (n=4) (Treat - Untreated) ------------------------------------------------- bu/a------------------------------------------------------

Agrigold A 6445 BtCL 228 201 179 141 187Agrigold A 6445 BtCL (Poncho 250) 237 209 189 152 197 10

Dekalb DKC 63-52 (RR2/YGCB) 237 216 167 142 191Dekalb DKC 63-52 (RR2/YGCB) (Poncho 250) 243 222 162 139 192 1Dekalb DKC 63-81 (RR2/YGCB) 228 204 188 153 193Dekalb DKC 63-81 (RR2/YGCB) (Poncho 250) 225 207 186 150 192 -1

NK Brand N 65-M7 236 199 149 129 178NK Brand N 65-M7 (Cruiser) 249 194 158 136 184 6NK Brand N 70-T9 (CL/LL/YG) 208 219 171 132 182NK Brand N 70-T9 (CL/LL/YG) (Cruiser) 239 207 193 126 191 9NK Brand N82-A7 (LL/YG) 224 196 166 166 188NK Brand N82-A7 (LL/YG) (Cruiser) 227 189 170 149 184 -4

Pioneer 33N56 242 203 128 151 181Pioneer 33N56 (Poncho 250) 242 208 164 148 190 9Pioneer 34B24 (YGCB) 221 213 151 145 183Pioneer 34B24 (YGCB) (Poncho 250) 224 225 169 147 191 8

Trisler Seed Farms T-03-19 CB 227 195 198 137 189Trisler Seed Farms T-03-19 CB (Poncho 250) 226 223 176 140 191 2Trisler Seed Farms T-5244 BT 233 213 216 133 199Trisler Seed Farms T-5244 BT (Poncho 250) 239 220 180 133 193 -6Trisler Seed Farms T-5247 BT 197 165 155 132 162Trisler Seed Farms T-5247 BT (Poncho 250) 220 192 151 142 176 14Trisler Seed Farms T-5255 BT 237 197 171 143 187Trisler Seed Farms T-5255 BT (Poncho 250) 255 217 209 156 209 22Trisler Seed Farms T-5337 CB 232 210 182 150 193Trisler Seed Farms T-5337 CB (Poncho 250) 239 210 167 144 190 -3Trisler Seed Farms T-5338 CB 242 213 164 157 194Trisler Seed Farms T-5338 CB (Poncho 250) 262 222 193 158 209 15

Average -- Treated Seed (bu/a) 238 210 176 144 192Average -- Untreated Seed (bu/a) 228 203 170 144 186Avg. Yield Difference (Treat-Nontreat) 10 7 6 0 6

SUMMARY

CORN: fungicide + insecticide seed treatment is standard. It takes approx. 2-3 extra bu/a @ $3.50/bu to pay for the treatments. TN data indicates that IST added and average of about 6 bu/a; therefore there likely is a return on investment for producers.

1. The response to INSECTICIDE SEED TREATMENT (IST) varied among hybrids, among locations, and among years.

2. The highest responses to IST generally occurred in higher yield environments.3. In general the ISTs will provide a positive economic return in corn.

Variety Testing Program Seed Treatment Requirements

CORN: Must be treated with a fungicide and an insecticide (started in 2005).

SOYBEAN: Must be treated with a fungicide and an insecticide (started in CST in 2009; start in REC’s in 2010).

WHEAT & GRAIN SORGHUM: Must be treated with a fungicide but not with an insecticide.

Allen’s (current) philosophy for future testing: Test varieties as they will be sold to the farmers.