Broad-spectrum fungicides and robust neonicotinoid seed treatments like CruiserMaxx Vibrance Potato help protect potatoes against damage from early season threats.
Producing a potato crop with high quality and yield potential requires, among other things, planting healthy seed in optimal soil conditions. That’s a great start, yet it’s no guarantee of success given the wide-ranging challenges growers face each year from climate conditions, disease pressures, labor shortages, rising production costs and more.
Early-season crop management is crucial to battling many threats and establishing plant health.
Although potatoes are affected primarily by bacterial rots, they are also susceptible to fungal diseases, such as dry rot caused by Fusarium, silver scurf from Helminthosporium and black scurf from Rhizoctonia. These diseases can infect seedlings, leading to weakened roots, stolon and stem decay and stunted plant growth.
Potato dry rot, for example, is a devastating fungal disease worldwide. According to Michigan State University researchers, soil- and seedborne inoculum can affect the plants in the field; however, more severe damage occurs during storage, potentially infecting seed pieces for the next planting season. During their research, they found that although dry rot inhibits crop stand development and can cause losses up to 25%, infection as high as 60% can occur during storage.1
To reduce risk and jump start your success in a new growing season, it’s important to implement a management plan that targets both insects and diseases at planting. Utilizing a strong seed treatment is recommended to protect against these potentially devastating seedborne diseases, as well as early-season insects, such as Colorado potato beetle, aphids, potato leaf hopper and potato psyllid.
Using a quality seed treatment helps prevent fungi spreading in early stages of potato plant growth. You can start strong and maximize potential yield and quality by protecting potato seeds from the moment they are in the ground. Starting with a broad-spectrum fungicide and robust neonicotinoid seed treatment, like CruiserMaxx® Vibrance® Potato or CruiserMaxx Potato Extreme, offers thorough protection against damage from early-season insects and soil- and seedborne diseases.
Watch as three Idaho potato farmers share why they recommend CruiserMaxx Potato Extreme seed treatment:
Enhancing germination, increasing vigor and improving stand establishment are the keys to minimizing risk and optimizing marketable yield and quality potential. Getting potato crops off to a strong, healthy start can lead to better tuber distribution and greater uniformity at harvest, both of which are important for marketability and profit potential.
To learn more about potato seed treatment options, talk with your local Syngenta representative or visit this page.
1Wharton P, Hammerschmidt R, Kirk W. Fusarium dry rot. Michigan potato diseases series. Michigan: Michigan State University; 2007. pp. 531–532.