Monsanto has introduced a new canola trait that will be the base platform for its future canola varieties.
TruFlex Roundup Ready canola was unveiled at the Crop Production Show in Saskatoon today. It's the first novel biotech trait in canola to be introduced to Western Canadian farmers since 1996.
According to Jesse Hamonic, Monsanto Canada canola marketing lead, the new canola trait will deliver more effective and consistent control of both annual weeds and tough-to-control perennial weeds. It will also have increased flexibility when it comes to weed control, with a wider window of application at higher rates under more challenging weather conditions.
"Dandelions, foxtail barley and wild buckwheat are some examples of tough-to-control perennial and annual weeds that will have improved control with the new TruFlex Roundup Ready canola system," said David Kelner, Monsanto's canola technical lead for Western Canada. "As well, the increased application rate allows for control of a much wider spectrum of weeds, with the ability to now control new weeds such as yellow foxtail, biennial wormwood and common milkweed."
According to the company's press release, TruFlex canola will enable farmers to apply Roundup WeatherMAX in-crop at a rate of 1.33 litres/acre for a single application or 0.67 litres/acre for two applications, which more than twice the rate of application with the Genuity Roundup Ready canola system. The window of application also extends past the six leaf stage all the way to the first flower (or up to two weeks longer than in current varieties.)
The trait was approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada in June 2012. Monsanto expects a preview will be available for growers in 2014
Source: PortageOnline