Brassica seed treatment

Brassica seed treatment provides a low cost but very important early plant protection tool, helping ensure crops establish successfully so that they can reach their full yield potential.

Ultrastrike® brassica

Ultrastrike® brassica is a filmcote seed treatment that provides establishing brassica crops with a superior level of insecticide protection in addition to fungicide protection and a start-up supply of molybdenum.

Where should Ultrastrike® brassica be used?

Ultrastrike® brassica seed treatment is recommended for all spring and autumn sown forage brassica seed including rape, turnips, kale and swedes, where seedlings are likely to face risk from the target pests and diseases (see table above). Ultrastrike® is a filmcote seed treatment with no weight gain, therefore seed should be sown at the same rate as untreated seed. Livestock should not graze Ultrastrike® treated brassica crops in the first 6 weeks after sowing.

Steers grazing Ultrastrike® treated Pallaton Raphno®.

ADDITIVE	Pest and disease protection/nutrients	Benefit
Systemic Insecticide	Springtail, Aphid, Argentine Stem Weevil (adults and larvae), Nysius*	Above and below ground protection during the first 6 weeks after planting against economically damaging insect pests. Trials have shown protection against Aphids extending out to 8 weeks after planting.
Contact fungicide	‘Damping off’ (Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia solani)	Protects the root zone from ‘Damping off’ fungal pathogens in the first 3-4 weeks of establishment.
Nutrient	Molybdenum	Molybdenum is distributed evenly around the seed and available for fast uptake by the germinating seedling.

*In situations conducive to high Nysius pressure, where a brassica crop is sown next to a lucerne crop or established under hot, dry conditions, a foliar insecticide application may be necessary 2-3 weeks after sowing to enhance seedling protection.

ULTRASTRIKE® PELLETED BRASSICA

Ultrastrike® pelleted brassica combines a weight build-up seed coating with the crop protection and plant nutrition additives of the Ultrastrike seed treatment. The pelleted seed coating is currently available for swede cultivars.

The combination of the weight increase and uniform sizing means Ultrastrike pelleted brassica seed can be sown using a precision drill. The uniform placement of seed produces an evenly-distributed crop, allowing bulb yields to be maximised. Field trials have consistently shown that precision planted swede crops out-yield conventionally drilled crops, where plant spacings are not uniform.

WHERE SHOULD ULTRASTRIKE PELLETED SEED BE USED?

Ultrastrike pelleted swede has an optimum sowing rate of 90,000 seeds/ha or 22 cm seed spacing in 50 cm rows. It is critical that a fine, firm seedbed is prepared prior to precision planting. Livestock should not graze Ultrastrike® pelleted seed crops in the first 6 weeks after sowing.

Ultrastrike® pelleted turnip seed.

GAUCHO® BRASSICA

Gaucho® brassica is a filmcote seed treatment that provides brassica crops with protection against common insect pests during plant establishment.

WHERE SHOULD GAUCHO BRASSICA BE USED?

Gaucho brassica seed treatment is recommended for spring and autumn sown forage brassica seed. Gaucho is a filmcote seed treatment, therefore seed should be sown at the same rate as untreated seed. Livestock should not graze Gaucho treated brassica crops in the first 6 weeks after sowing.

Gaucho treated Corsa kale in Canterbury.

Additive	Pest and disease protection/nutrients	Benefit
Systemic Insecticide	Springtail, Aphid, Argentine Stem Weevil (adult and larvae), Nysius*	Above and below ground protection during the first 6 weeks after planting.