Syngenta has announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has granted registration approval for Agrisure RW, a new corn trait that provides control of rootworm while delivering full yield potential.

Agrisure RW will be available individually and in stacks with Agrisure GT (glyphosate tolerance) in hybrids from NK Brand, Garst, Golden Harvest and other seed brands for the 2007 planting season.

Agrisure RW is a modified synthetic (mCry3Aa) gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for control of northern, western and Mexican corn rootworms.

“Syngenta maintains the yield performance of the hybrid by integrating trait genes such as Agrisure RW directly into elite lines,” says Steve Knodle, marketing manager, Agrisure traits. “The result is a rapid, efficient transfer of just the desired DNA into new hybrids. For Agrisure RW, this means outstanding control of rootworms without compromising the performance of the corn hybrid.”

Syngenta introduced Agrisure biotech traits for corn globally in 2005 with the introduction of Agrisure GT. The Agrisure traits lineup has grown substantially and now includes Agrisure GT, Agrisure LL, Agrisure CB/LL (season-long corn borer control with Liberty herbicide tolerance), Agrisure GT/CB/LL, Agrisure RW and Agrisure GT/RW.

Agrisure RW and Agrisure GT/RW will be available for the 2007 planting season. Syngenta expects to receive regulatory approval for Agrisure CB/LL/RW in the next few months and approval for its quad stack — Agrisure GT/CB/LL/RW — for availability in the 2008 planting season.

Agrisure RW provides control over newly hatched rootworms through the first larval instar as they begin to feed on corn roots. The larvae are affected as soon as they consume the unique Bt protein in the roots. The Bt protein works in the stomach of the rootworms to eliminate the pest.

“Agrisure RW has met our high standards through rigorous testing conducted throughout the Corn Belt, including fields with very high levels of rootworm pressure,” Knodle says.