DuPont Optimum GAT Approaches Launch

By Scott C. Lucas|6 March 2006

On top of improved glyphosate tolerance, the new trait from DuPont has tolerance to herbicides designed to complement glyphosate by providing additional contact and residual control on grass and broadleaf weeds, giving growers the flexibility to tailor weed control programs to local field conditions.

“We’re very excited about offering this new technology that takes a great system and makes it better,” said Dean Oestreich, president of Pioneer, who made the announcement at the Commodity Classic convention and tradeshow, with Jim Collins, president, DuPont Crop Protection.

The flexibility of the Optimum GAT trait is gained through the trait’s tolerance to ALS herbicides, which include popular active ingredients in the sulfonylurea and imidazolinone families. This added ALS tolerance, stacked with glyphosate tolerance, gives growers multiple options of herbicides against difficult-to-control and glyphosate-resistant weeds.

The trait can allow for higher glyphosate application rates and a wider application window than other products currently available, giving growers greater confidence in its performance and ability to deliver crop safety, according to a DuPont press release. It is the first-ever agricultural trait developed through gene shuffling, a sophisticated technique based on the simple principle of transforming traits with poor properties into traits with higher value. DuPont has the exclusive right to use gene shuffling for agricultural purposes.

DuPont expects the Optimum GAT(TM) trait to receive full US registration for use in soybeans and maize as soon as 2009, and international registration shortly thereafter.