Seed treatments play an essential role in helping canola establish a strong, healthy stand by protecting young plants from early-season insects and disease pressures. The right combination of seed-applied products supports rapid, uniform germination and helps canola move more quickly into growth stages where it can outgrow stress.
Understanding what each seed treatment provides — and how it performs under different field conditions — can help growers make informed decisions that set their crop up for success.
Base Treatment: Helix® Saltro®
BrettYoung canola hybrids come standard with Helix Saltro, providing a strong foundation of early-season disease and insect protection. Growers can then add CURANZA™ or BUTEO® start for additional insect protection.
Helix Saltro combines the strengths of five different fungicides to protect your canola plants from soil-borne, air-borne, and seed-borne diseases, while Thiamethoxam protects against flea beetles. ADEPIDYN® is one of the actives in Saltro, which is exceptionally good at protecting canola from airborne blackleg and works alongside the blackleg resistance genetics of the canola hybrid.
“Helix Saltro is our base as it includes protection against striped and crucifer flea beetles and seedling diseases like Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium, and seedling disease complex,” said BrettYoung Agronomic and Regulatory Services Manager, Justine Cornelsen. “The addition of ADEPIDYN provides that protection at the critical window for blackleg disease development.”
Optional Add-On: CURANZA™
CURANZA™ provides an added option for growers looking to strengthen early-season insect protection. The insecticide seed treatment is designed to provide enhanced protection against flea beetles and cutworms, two pests capable of quickly damaging emerging canola.
When added to the Helix Saltro base treatment, CURANZA provides another layer of insect protection during crop establishment while maintaining the disease protection already provided by Helix Saltro.
This makes CURANZA an option to consider where increased flea beetle pressure or cutworm risk is a concern.
Optional Add-On: BUTEO Start
BUTEO start is another additional option for early-season insect protection in canola. It provides strong control against flea beetles, offering rapid uptake in the plant to help seedlings establish quickly.
Growers who are looking for a straightforward, insect-focused seed treatment may find BUTEO start to be an effective fit, especially in seasons or regions where flea beetle pressure is anticipated.
Pictured: 7204LL with Curanza on the left, and BUTEO Start on the right.
Seed Treatment + DefendR® Genetics
Seed treatment protection is only one part of BrettYoung’s approach to managing risk in canola.
The DefendR trait platform identifies BrettYoung canola hybrids with advanced genetics for improved harvest management and disease protection. Depending on the hybrid, DefendR traits provide enhanced genetic resistance to important diseases such as blackleg and clubroot, as well as pod shatter tolerance.
Combining strong genetics with seed-applied protection creates multiple layers of defence. For example, Helix Saltro helps protect seedlings against early blackleg infection, while Blackleg DefendR genetics provide resistance within the hybrid itself.
Together, the right hybrid genetics and seed treatment package can help protect yield potential from emergence through harvest.
Choosing the Right Seed Treatment
Every field and growing season brings different challenges. Your expected flea beetle and cutworm pressure, disease history and local growing conditions can all play a role in determining which seed treatment package is the best fit.
Start with the protection provided by Helix Saltro and consider whether additional insect protection from CURANZA or BUTEO start makes sense for your acres.
Talk to your local BrettYoung representative or retailer about your seed treatment options and which package is best suited to the pressures you expect to face.
What seed treatment comes standard on BrettYoung canola hybrids?
BrettYoung canola hybrids come standard with Helix® Saltro®, which provides early-season protection against key seedling diseases and flea beetles. Growers can add CURANZA™ or BUTEO® start for additional insect protection.
What does Helix® Saltro® protect canola against?
Helix Saltro protects against soil-, seed- and airborne diseases, including Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Pythium, seedling disease complex and early blackleg infection. It also provides protection against striped and crucifer flea beetles.
What is the difference between CURANZA™ and BUTEO® start?
Both are optional add-on insecticide seed treatments. CURANZA provides enhanced protection against flea beetles and cutworms, while BUTEO start provides additional protection against flea beetles.
How do I choose the right seed treatment package for my canola?
Consider your field history, expected flea beetle and cutworm pressure, disease risk and local growing conditions. Your BrettYoung representative or retailer can help you determine whether adding CURANZA or BUTEO start to the Helix Saltro base treatment makes sense for your acres.
How do seed treatments work with DefendR® genetics?
Seed treatments and DefendR genetics provide complementary layers of protection. Seed treatments help protect canola during the vulnerable establishment period, while DefendR traits provide genetic resistance to diseases such as blackleg and clubroot, along with pod shatter tolerance depending on the hybrid.
