CeraMax, a biological seed treatment developed by Ceradis Crop Protection B.V., will be available in 2025 to certain US growers under a Section 2(ee) label for the suppression of red crown rot in soybeans.

States where CeraMax Section 2(ee) labeling applies are Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Originally confirmed in US peanut production in the 1960s, red crown rot was first detected in soybean crops in the southern US during the 1970s.

“Red crown rot is emerging as a serious problem for soybean growers,” says Lon Kreger, North America marketing and sales leader with Ceradis. “Because no rescue treatments exist, proactive management is critical this season.”

The disease, caused by the fungus Calonectria ilicicola, infects soybean seedlings within the first three weeks after germination. The disease spreads primarily through infected soil and crop residue, leading to yield losses ranging from 10 percent to 80 percent in severely affected fields, depending on environmental conditions.

CeraMax contains the active ingredient Natamycin, a biological molecule produced by soil bacteria that prevents soil-borne fungal diseases from attacking plant roots. By stimulating the defensive capabilities of the treated seed at planting and germination, CeraMax activates key defensive pathways before fungal infection occurs. Ceradis states that this early activation allows the seed and plant to utilize its genetic resistance by “priming” plant physiology, enabling it to defend against disease before it takes hold.

“Growers need to be vigilant because red crown rot is not a disease that can be eliminated once it establishes in a field,” Kreger emphasizes. “With no in-season foliar solutions available to reverse plant damage or yield loss, the best defense is a seed treatment like CeraMax.”

One of the biggest challenges in managing red crown rot is its frequent misdiagnosis as sudden death syndrome (SDS).

“The first thing growers should know is that red crown rot thrives in warmer soils, whereas sudden death syndrome prefers cooler, wet soil conditions,” says Bob Joehl, seed protection specialist for Direct Enterprises Inc., a distributor of CeraMax.

While both diseases infect seedlings at planting and have similar leaf foliage expressions, Joehl recommends inspecting the stems of plants closely for accurate identification of specific disease characteristics.

“What sets red crown rot apart is the red discoloration from the red crown balls at the base of the stem at ground level,” he explains. “Plants with sudden death syndrome will display a gray color expression inside the stem on the vascular bundles with the inner core being white.”

For the 2025 season, CeraMax will be available through Direct Enterprises, Inc. and the WinField United retailer network.

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