Syngenta broadacre seedcare product lead ANZ Katie Slade speaking at Syngenta’s Victrato Technical Forum in Brisbane last week. Photo: Syngenta

VICTRATO seed treatment has reinforced its role in crown rot management following its first full commercial season of use in Australia, while also marking another important milestone for cereal growers nationwide.

Victrato was registered last year for crown rot, and recently for root lesion nematodes, to represent an Australian first which from this season will allow both to be managed with a single seed-treatment application.

Syngenta last week brought together more than 100 agronomy advisers, company leaders, and grower representatives in Brisbane to review performance outcomes and consider implications for 2026 winter cropping.

Developed through a five-year Australian program of more than 400 trials, Victrato addresses an estimated annual yield loss of more than $500 million in wheat and barley associated with crown rot and root lesion nematodes.

Now assessed under commercial farm conditions, results from its first season of use have strengthened confidence in its fit within integrated disease-management programs.

Data generated through the Australian trial program demonstrated strong return potential prior to commercial release.

Across 125 national wheat trials, Victrato applied at 200ml/100kg seed delivered a positive return on investment in 89.6 percent of trials, with an average yield increase of 13.25pc, or 462kg/ha.

Syngenta broadacre seedcare product lead ANZ Katie Slade said the first season, and last week’s event, marked an important milestone in validating the product under commercial conditions.

“Crown rot and root lesion nematodes remain significant, often hidden constraints on yield potential,” Katie said.

“The recent registration of Victrato for use against root lesion nematodes in wheat and barley provides growers with a new, efficient option to manage the risk of both root lesion nematodes and crown rot from day one.

“Victrato is designed to be integrated into existing management programs to reduce risk, protect yield and support stronger returns when disease pressure is present.

“Applied at sowing, it has also demonstrated strong seed and crop safety across 96 independent trials, with no negative impact on germination or vigour observed.”

Early adopters also reported strong on-farm performance under commercial conditions.

North of Goondiwindi, grower Tom Woods of Woods Pastoral, incorporated Victrato into his crown rot-management program last season and reported some of the strongest harvest results seen in the region.

“These are some of the biggest yields we’ve ever seen,” Mr Woods said.

“This has been an exceptional year; there is no crown rot to speak of, screenings are minimal, and test weights are high.

“I’ve got to give Victrato a lot of the credit.”

Mr Woods reported yields averaging 5.8-5.9 tonnes per hectare across large paddocks.

“I’ve grown varieties this year with more confidence that are crown rot susceptible,” Tom said.

“In the past, a year like this would have been rife with crown rot.

“This year, yields have been extremely high, which is really exciting, giving growers the payback for investing in that technology.”

Mr Woods said the seed treatment delivered best results as part of a broader management approach.

“You have still got to use all your good farming practices and rotate.”

“Victraro reduces all symptoms of crown rot while providing yield benefits, but it works best as part of your overall disease-management strategy.”

Further information, including the location of Victrato’s trial sites across Australia, and the Victrato Return on Investment Calculator, can be found on the product’s website.

Source: Syngenta