The new range of soybeans will offer the potential for one-pass weed control and effective weed resistance management Photo: Bayer CropScience

One of the first products from the collaboration will be soybeans with tolerance to both glyphosate and 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, such as Bayer's isoxazole maize herbicide, Balance Pro (isoxaflutole). Other HPPD maize herbicides include Syngenta's mesotrione and BASF's topramezone (Agrow No 469, p 1). The development of glyphosate/isoxaflutole-tolerant soybeans should be followed by a triple stack with Bayer's glufosinate tolerance LibertyLink trait.

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The new range of soybeans will offer the potential for one-pass weed control and effective weed resistance management, Bayer points out. "We consider this a further step in our strategy to maximise the value of our innovative biotech traits coming out of our extensive research pipeline and to strengthen our position in the US soybean market," says Bayer CropScience management board chairman Friedrich Berschauer.

The collaboration between Bayer and M S Technologies builds on an earlier deal to develop LibertyLink soybeans, which are scheduled for launch in 2009. The company has received approvals in the US and Canada, and is pressing ahead with international clearances (Agrow No 529, p 23). Bayer is extending its LibertyLink range to soybeans and maize without having a direct involvement in seed production in these crops (Agrow No 529, p 6). The latest deal with Mertec allows the introduction of herbicide tolerance traits into Mertec's elite germplasm. The collaboration also provides for products to be broadly licensed to the seed industry.

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