Published: June 16, 2008 09:57 am            

Syngenta Seeds alerts corn growers to stress symptoms in five hybrids

Symptoms limited to five products growing in a narrow band of the Corn Belt

GOLDEN VALLEY (June 14, 2008) — Syngenta Seeds is contacting corn growers and seed dealers who purchased five hybrids grown in a narrow band of the northern U.S. Corn Belt. While not all plantings of these hybrids have exhibited symptoms, some have shown stress following glyphosate treatment. The five hybrids share a single parental line, range from 100 to 103 days of maturity and are identified below.
• Golden Harvest H-7542GT
• Garst 87Y26GT
• NK N48G-GT
• NK N48R-GT
• NK N48R-GT/CB/LL

Growers who have planted these hybrids are urged to contact Syngenta at (800) 258-0498 before making any further crop management decisions, including application of glyphosate.

“These hybrids represent less than 1 percent of our corn seed portfolio and less than one-tenth of 1percent of total U.S. corn acres,” said Chuck Lee, Corn Product Line head, Syngenta Seeds. “We are working with growers who have purchased these hybrids to assess options to avoid or mitigate any potential damage from these stress symptoms.”

The seed passed all quality control tests and the glyphosate tolerant trait is expressed. Lee said, “We currently attribute what we are seeing primarily to environmental conditions affecting one specific parent line common to these hybrids. All other hybrids are performing as expected.”

“As always, we stand behind our products and we are reaching out proactively to growers who have purchased these products,” Lee said.

Syngenta is committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in the high-value commercial seeds market. Sales in 2007 were approximately $9.2 billion. Syngenta employs more than 21,000 people in more than 90 countries. Syngenta is listed on the Swiss stock exchange and in New York. Further information is available at www.syngenta.com.

        

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