The Stamina fungicide seed treatment was registered by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2008. Stamina was to be marketed for corn seed, but has recently been expanded to include other crops. According to BASF, the world's largest chemical company, this seed treatment gives farmers the best chance to get strong seedlings that are protected from diseases, ultimately producing better yields.
Function
Plants are often affected by diseases such as rhizoctonia. According to the University of California Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, rhizoctonia is a plant pathogen that kills young seedlings and can rot the stems of older seedlings. Stamina fungicide seed treatment contains F500 (pyraclostrobin), which inhibits respiration in many fungal pathogens such as rhizoctonia. According to BASF, use rate for Stamina is 0.4 fl oz. per 100 lb. of corn seed.
Benefits
According to Craig Lindholm, marketing manager for seed treatments at BASF U.S. Crop Protection Products, Stamina fungicide seed treatment helps control disease and improve stress tolerance. "This delivers healthy plants right out of the ground as corn seedlings have a stronger start, resulting in increased yield potential," Lindholm is quoted on SeedToday.com. "Strong yields come from strong, vigorous seedlings that are protected from disease and stress threats."
Lab Studies
Four years of studies conducted by BASF showed that the F500 in Stamina showed more rapid germination and quicker emergence of plants. Research also showed that a higher percentage of corn plants that were treated with Stamina seed treatment survived and showed less injury after being exposed to cold temperatures. In fact, BASF conducted a study in which corn seedlings at spike stage were exposed to a temperature of minus 5 C for up to three hours in multiple replications. While only 68 percent of the seedlings not treated with Stamina survived, 83 percent survived when treated with Stamina, according to the product's manufacturer, BASF.
Field Studies
Corn seeds were planted near Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, to further test the effects of cold on plants treated with Stamina versus those not treated with Stamina. Seedlings were planted Sept. 9, 2007, and evaluations were made Oct. 23, 2007. During that time, the plants were exposed to both cool temperatures and a damaging frost. The study concluded that plants treated with Stamina stood taller at 31.75 mm. Untreated plants averaged 12.7 mm, according to BASF.
Extensions
Twin Falls, Idaho, agricultural publication AG Weekly reports that Stamina fungicide seed treatment has been expanded to include other crops such as cotton, dried and shelled peas and beans, sorghum, edible legumes, and oats. In addition to Stamina, other seed treatment formulas that are part of BASF's portfolio include Charter and Charter F2 fungicide seed treatments for wheat and barley, AquireTM fungicide seed treatment for many crops, Coronet fungicide seed treatment for vegetable crops, and AxcessTM insecticide seed treatment for many crops.
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