The new seed-applied fungicide Sedaxane improves drought tolerance in early growth stages of maize

Research is now discovering new fungicides having bio-stimulating effects, and this may have an interest under abiotic stress conditions. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the effects of the seed-coating treatment Maxim XL (Syngenta), widely used in maize, in combination or not with the new SDHI fungicide Sedaxane on plant growth and transpiration under progressive water stress. Under progressive water stress, plants treated with seed-applied fungicides can delay the stomata closure in early stages, thus increasing resilience to fluctuating soil water availability and possibly protecting yield potential of maiz