Meet the new standard in potato seed treatment

Words: Syngenta New Zealand
New Zealand potato growers now have access to a powerful new tool in their crop protection toolkit.

Syngenta NZ proudly announces the registration of Vibrance Premium, a next-generation fungicide seed treatment specifically designed to optimise potato establishment and protect against many key soil-borne diseases and help maximise marketable yields.

Vibrance Premium combines the specialised SDHI (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor) sedaxane specifically developed as a seed treatment with fludioxonil to provide a dual-mode-of-action formulation that enhances both root health and plant vigour.

This combination offers the broadest spectrum disease control available.

It provides robust defence against Rhizoctonia solani (black scurf), silver scurf, black dot, fusarium and gangrene, while also providing suppression of common scab.

"The early stages of a potato crop’s life are the most critical," says Paul Hassan, technical services lead at Syngenta.

"Vibrance Premium ensures that the plant develops a stronger, more resilient root system from day one.

“This leads to better water and nutrient uptake, more uniform emergence and ultimately, more consistent tuber sizing at harvest."

“By controlling these pathogens early, Vibrance Premium helps prevent the ‘gappy’ stands that can significantly reduce yield potential in commercial potato operations”.

“We would still recommend the use of Amistar as an in-furrow treatment at planting for soil borne control of black scurf and suppression of silver scurf.

“The combination of both products has given outstanding disease control and marketable yield results in our field trials,” says Hassan.

The registration of Vibrance Premium follows extensive local trials across key potato-growing regions, including Canterbury and Pukekohe.

These trials demonstrated that treated seeds improved vigour and increased tuber set in the crops they produced.

Vibrance Premium offers unique flexibility for a potato tuber seed treatment, with application possible at either pre-storage or pre-planting of the tubers.

The liquid formulation is designed for ease of use in modern seed treatment applicators, ensuring consistent coverage of the seed tubers, a critical factor in achieving the full protective benefits of the product.

Growers are encouraged to contact their local Syngenta territory manager or technical advisor to discuss how Vibrance Premium can be integrated into their crop programme to secure better yields and higher-quality potatoes.

Vibrance Premium will be available for the 2026 planting season.