NewLeaf Launches New Corn Rootworm Technology
NewLeaf Symbiotics has announced the launch of TS201 – an EPA-registered biocontrol technology that works to repel Corn Rootworm (CRW).
“Protecting corn varieties from devastating CRW has been a growing pressure for farmers, especially since pest variants are outlasting crop rotation and lying dormant for years. Ahead of the upcoming planting season, we’re proud to introduce a new and research-proven solution to help farmers win that battle,” said Brent Smith, CEO and president of NewLeaf Symbiotics. “We’ve tested TS201 in lab assays and field trials to document its effectiveness and we found overwhelming success in the 10-year discovery and development process.”
During testing, the company found only 4% of CRW larvae chose roots treated with the product when given a choice between treated and untreated roots. They say TS201 is designed to work with growers’ current crop protection strategies and will provide crop retention, increased yield and decrease in lodging, as well as finer, wider and deeper root systems.
“This means that with our TS201 technology, the plant’s immune system is primed, it grows healthier through better nutrient and water uptake and is less prone to lodging compared to insecticide or traited management alone,” said Natalie Breakfield, vice president of research and discovery at NewLeaf Symbiotics.
TS201 is currently available in Meristem’s GuardX for corn (pending EPA approval), Low Mu Tech’s Terrasym 450+Dust+TS201 CRW, and AMVAC’s BioWake Prime bioinsecticide. NewLeaf says they are also exploring additional product partnerships for the technology.
“This is a year where growers are experiencing unprecedented financial pressures. Having a CRW defense plan is even more critical to ensure better yield results,” Breakfield said.
