Areas of Western Canada experienced significant moisture during the 2016 growing season, making conditions favourable for the development of increased seed- and soil-borne diseases in flax.
Seed- and soil-borne diseases that appear in flax include seed rot, seedling blight and root rot, and these diseases are caused by the Fusarium and Rhizoctonia solani fungi. Seed rot, seedling blight and root rot can lead to significant reductions in germination and emergence, and ultimately a reduction in yield potential.
Using a seed treatment on flax can help protect seeds from diseases. However, in the past, growers have had concerns about applying liquid treatments to their flax seeds, due to the fragile flax seed coat that is prone to cracking.
However, the Insure Pulse seed treatment is giving growers a viable option against seed- and soil-borne diseases. Insure Pulse comes in a fast-drying, ready-to-use formulation; growers can apply the treatment directly to the seed, and do not need to add water or other adjuvants. Insure Pulse sticks to the seed and dries quickly, minimizing bridging or sticking issues.
Fred Greig, a grower from Reston, Manitoba, applied a trial of the Insure Pulse seed treatment on his flax in spring 2015. 鈥淲e had been without a seed treatment for our flax for a number of years, and we鈥檙e always a little nervous about applying any liquid to flax,鈥� he said. 鈥淗owever, Insure Pulse applied evenly without any sticking issues on our equipment.鈥�
The unique formulation of Insure Pulse can help ensure that seeds are protected while vigour and plant health benefits are promoted. With Group 4 and 11 active ingredients, as well as the Group 7 active ingredient Xemium, Insure Pulse provides consistent and continuous protection against diseases. Insure Pulse also delivers AgCelence benefits, including increased vigour and biomass, leading to greater yield potential.
Field research backs this up. In 10 research trials conducted in 2016, seeds treated with Insure Pulse averaged a 2.2-bushel increase over untreated seed鈥攔esults that may have growers rethinking how they seed flax in the future.
鈥淲hen using untreated and potentially damaged seed, growers might see reductions in stand, resulting from disease or reduced vigour,鈥� said Russell Trischuk, Technical Marketing Specialist, Functional Crop Care, BASF Canada. 鈥淧rotecting your flax at seeding time can lead to greater crop health and higher yield potential; using a seed treatment can help defend against disease, resulting in a healthy, more vigorous crop.鈥�
For more information on Insure Pulse on flax, visit .
