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New plant growth regulator registered in Canada

Syngenta Canada has announced the registration of Moddus, a new plant growth regulator (PGR) that helps to mitigate lodging risk in wheat, barley and oats.

Lodged crops may suffer lower yields due to poor grain fill and lost grain. Farmers must often contend with delayed harvests, heavier workloads and increased grain cleaning, drying and storage costs. Crops that have lodged are also more susceptible to disease infection, which impacts quality.

“We know that lodging means major headaches and reduced income,” says Eric Phillips, fungicides and insecticides product lead with Syngenta Canada. “With Moddus, we are providing a solution that improves harvestability, lets growers push for higher yields and ultimately, get more in the bin.”

Moddus contains trinexapac-ethyl, an active ingredient with years of proven use to manage lodging in cereal crops around the world.

Moddus works by redirecting the plant’s production of gibberellic acid, a hormone responsible for growth, to reduce cell elongation. This results in plants with shorter, thicker stems and improved overall standability.

Phillips says lodging can occur under favourable, high moisture conditions, or in severe weather, such as heavy winds. Lodging is also influenced by variety selection, soil type, fungal diseases and fertility (nitrogen) rates.

He adds that a stronger-standing cereal crop will help growers get their crop combined faster, resulting in a more efficient harvest.

Moddus will be available for the 2021 growing season.