b'TRAITS TREATMENTS TREATMENTSIDEAL Melons, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds CeraMax Biological Seed Treatment, Ceradis Crop When consumers crave the juiciness and sweet aroma of theirProtectionperfect cantaloupe melon in the grocery store, sometimes itsIn the quest for more sustainable farming practices, biologi-hard to choose the melon that is ripe and ready based on rindcal seed treatments have been coming into focus more. appearance. To combine agronomic needs for growers, shippingWhy?Biological solutions can now provide growers with ability, characteristics needed to move from growing region toboth performance and economic benefits in comparison consumption region and the shelf-life needed to endure thatto many market standards. Theyre also demonstrating key journey meant the shift into long-shelf-life melon breeding.advantages in the areas of Syngenta Vegetable Seeds hopes to curb some of the confu- handling, improved crop sion with a new concept for long-shelf-life (LSL) cantaloupesafety, and sustainabil-melonsIDEAL Melons with the Harvest Indicator Trait. Thisity. In 2021, Ceradis Crop trait is a patent-pending innovation that cues readiness at eachProtection introduced step of the value chain, signaling when its ideal to harvest, ship,CeraMax, a biological seed stock on shelves and eat. How? The melons rind changes colortreatment for the preven-from green to a golden straw color signaling readiness, ripenesstion of soilborne fungal dis-and quality at each step, eliminating the guesswork.eases including Rhizoctonia With IDEAL Melons, Syngenta Vegetable Seeds is targetingand Fusarium virguliforme, the fresh seeking consumer who values a consistent, delicious,the causal agent of Sudden musky aroma, golden-colored melonsomething that was lostDeath Syndrome (SDS) in with traditional long-shelf-life fruits, says Ivy Perez, Syngentasoybeans. Vegetable Seeds Americas marketing communications lead.With inherent perfor-According to their evaluation study, IDEAL Melons had signifi- mance and environmental cantly higher and consistent sugars (Brix), more volatile organicadvantages, CeraMax delivers multi-functional attributes compounds leading to highly aromatic melons, more consistentthat improve plant health, vigor, and yield, plus a level of flesh texture (firmness) across the shelf life of the melon andsafety that is not often offered with traditional synthetic-higher amounts of the dark orange flesh color because the traitbased seed treatments. signaled the ideal moment to harvest at peak ripeness.Approved in the U.S. for use in soybeans, corn and Key IDEAL Melon varieties have been launched in thewheat, Ceradis plans to expand CeraMaxs footprint into Americas and can be sourced for growers year-round Canada. Label submission for Canada is scheduled for 2023 production. with anticipated registration before the 2024 season. So how does CeraMax work? CeraMax contains the active ingredient Natamycin, a biological molecule produced by soil bacteria that acts as a defense mechanism against soilborne diseases. By stimulating key defensive pathways prior to fungal infection, the seed (and/or plant) utilize its genetic resistance to prime the plants physiology or estab-lish itself in a ready state before disease sets in.CeraMax is demonstrating its value by addressing some of the biggest issues growers face right now, says Jan Stechmann, Ceradis vice of Sales and Marketing. The rapid adoption of CeraMax in areas where soybean SDS has a trending history represents an important validation of the markets growing demand for next-generation alternatives.Available in a ready-to-use stable liquid formulation, CeraMax offers smooth blending for consistent seed cover-age and adhesion. It also provides low use rate technology and is compatible across a broad range of seed treatments with excellent durability and a two-year shelf life. 36/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2023'