Swiss seeds specialist Syngenta, part of the ChemChina group since June 2017, has entered into a global licensing agreement with Nippon Soda for Picarbutrazox, a fungicide with a novel mode of action that has been developed by the Japanese company.

Chinami Yokota, director of Nippon Soda’s development department, said the deal with Syngenta will broaden the use of Picarbutrazox beyond foliar application.

According to the companies, Picarbutrazox shows “robust and reliable performance” for controlling Pythium and seedling blight diseases under many different cropping systems.  Pythium, also known as root rot, damping off or water mold, is a fungus-like organism that affects hydroponic crops.

Tackling Pythium, they said, allows farmers to adopt reduced or no-tillage cropping systems protecting the soil, avoid the costs of replanting and benefit from better germination, strong stand establishment and higher yields.

“Picarbutrazox will strengthen Syngenta’s leading Pythium-control portfolio Mefenoxam and Azoxystrobin technology in corn, soybeans, canola, oilseed rape, cereals and other crops,” said Ioana Tudor, global head of Syngenta Seedcare.

The first commercial launch of Picarbutrazox for seed treatment is expected in the US and Canada in 2019.