What the research measured
In one Kansas trial with severe, late-onset SDS, plots treated with Saltro yielded 71.8 bu/ac against 59.5 for the base treatment alone and 66.2 with ILeVO, and SDS severity fell from 46.2% to 12.6%. Where SDS was light or absent, Nebraska (83 vs 83 bu/ac), Indiana (3,882 vs 3,879 kg/ha) and North Dakota trials reported no significant yield difference from adding Saltro, although it reduced the SDS index in Nebraska and root pathogen DNA by 64% in Indiana. The manufacturer’s own trial summaries report about 3 bu/ac more than ILeVO under SDS pressure.
Four independent trials or trial sets from 2019–25 (Kansas State, University of Nebraska on-farm, Purdue and Iowa State in Indiana, North Dakota State), each one to three sites, plus the manufacturer’s multi-year summaries. No independent multi-state meta-analysis for pydiflumetofen was found; the product has only been sold since 2020.4 independent sources · 1 manufacturer-authored, labelled.What it is. A fungicide seed treatment with the SDHI active ingredient pydiflumetofen (Syngenta’s Adepidyn technology), applied at a treating facility over a standard fungicide-and-insecticide base at about 0.075 mg active ingredient per seed, which the university trials below ran at 1.29 to 1.52 fl oz per 100 lb of seed. It is marketed for sudden death syndrome with soybean cyst nematode activity and became available to farmers in 2020.
Study conditions and limitations
- Only one independent trial had heavy SDS: Kansas 2019, where severity reached 46.2% in the control and individual plots were at 40% by Aug. 22 after 11.28 inches of May rain. The Nebraska field peaked at an SDS index of 9.5, Indiana foliar index stayed under 1.0, and the North Dakota plots never exceeded 1.83%.
- Indiana 2019–20: pydiflumetofen cut Fusarium virguliforme root DNA 64% but root rot (27.2% vs 28.3%) and yield were not different from the control, and net return was not affected by seed treatment (p = 0.1039) with pydiflumetofen costed at $14 per 140,000-seed unit.
- North Dakota 2025 (La Mars, SDS-history field): a hail and wind storm hit during vegetative growth, stand counts fell in every treatment between June 3 and June 30, and no treatment differed in stand, SDS index or yield (P = 0.5572).
- Head-to-head with ILeVO went both ways in independent trials: Kansas 2019 favoured Saltro (71.8 vs 66.2 bu/ac), Nebraska 2020 favoured ILeVO (86 vs 83 bu/ac, P = 0.006). The manufacturer’s 48-trial comparison (2015–2023) claims about 3 bu/ac for Saltro.
- Adding the nematicides Avicta or Clariva Elite Beans to Saltro did not change SDS or yield in Kansas 2019, where SCN was very low at 43 eggs per 100 cc of soil.
- Trial rates vary: 1.52 fl oz/cwt (Kansas), 1.29 oz per 100 lb seed (Nebraska), 1.45 fl oz/cwt (North Dakota) and 0.075 mg active ingredient per seed (Indiana). Confirm which rate your treater applies.
Read the sources · 5
- Effect of Saltro Soybean Seed Treatment on Sudden Death Syndrome in Kansas in 2019 ↗
Irrigated Kansas River Valley field with SDS history, six replications, all seed carrying CruiserMaxx Vibrance: control 59.5 bu/ac, Saltro at 1.52 fl oz/cwt 71.8, Saltro plus Avicta 70.8, Saltro plus Clariva Elite Beans 71.1, ILeVO at 2.17 fl oz/cwt 66.2 (P < 0.0001). SDS severity on Sept. 3 was 46.2% in the control against 12.6% with Saltro and 12.2% with ILeVO; ILeVO’s V1–V2 stand was lower (122,259 vs 139,973 plants/ac) with no difference by V3.
- Evaluating Soybean Seed Treatments for Sudden Death Syndrome in Soybeans (York County, study 0276185202001) ↗
Eight-replicate irrigated strip trial on a field with SDS history: base plus Saltro at 1.29 oz/100 lb seed yielded 83 bu/ac, the same as the base alone, while base plus ILeVO yielded 86 (P = 0.006). Saltro cut the Sept. 4 SDS severity index to 1.2 from 9.5 and did not change SCN reproduction (Rf 2.3 vs 3.6, P = 0.528). Budgets used $14/ac for Saltro over a $12/ac base.
- Influence of Integrated Management Strategies on Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) Root Infection, Foliar Symptoms, Yield and Net Returns ↗
Three inoculated Indiana trials (2019–20) with low foliar SDS: pydiflumetofen at 0.075 mg ai/seed yielded 3,882 kg/ha against 3,879 for the control and 3,984 for fluopyram; only fluopyram’s 105 kg/ha gain was significant. Pydiflumetofen reduced F. virguliforme root DNA 64% (fluopyram 75%) but not root rot severity (27.2% vs 28.3%). Net return was not affected by seed treatment at $14 per unit for pydiflumetofen and $10.15/bu soybeans.
- Trial 23. Evaluation of fungicide seed treatments for controlling sudden death syndrome in La Mars, ND – 2025 ↗
Four-replicate small plots on an SDS-history field hit by an early hail and wind storm; the highest SDS index in any plot was 1.83%. Yields were 20.4 bu/ac untreated, 22.2 base, 21.4 base plus Saltro at 1.45 fl oz/cwt, 19.1 base plus ILeVO at 1.18 fl oz, 23.2 base plus Saltro and ILeVO, and 23.4 base plus ILeVO at 1.98 fl oz, with no statistical differences in stand, SDS index or yield (yield P = 0.5572).
- Saltro fungicide seed treatment ↗
The manufacturer reports about 3 bu/ac over ILeVO in 48 US trials (2015–2023) with significantly different SDS ratings, 1.5–4.5 bu/ac over a base treatment in 32 Syngenta trials (2020–21) under low or no known pest pressure, and single on-farm comparisons such as 50.75 vs 39.5 bu/ac in Michigan (2024). Company data.
Before you buy, ask
- What pest or disease pressure did the trials with a response actually have?
- What does the treatment cost per unit, and how many bushels would it need to add to pay?
- Can I buy the same variety untreated or with a different package?
Record
- Sources checked
- October 12, 2026. Every figure shown is printed on the linked page; unit conversions are noted on the chart.
- Company response
- None yet. Syngenta Crop Protection can send corrections, additional trials, or a statement; it is published here, labelled, and never edits the research summary. Send a correction →