ThryvOn™ Technology to Bring New Solutions to Cotton Growers in Near Future

Bayer announces name for new biotechnology trait coming in the near future, first in industry designed to help cotton growers protect against tarnished plant bugs and thrips species; field days expected in 2020.

St. Louis (December 18, 2019) – Tarnished plant bugs and thrips have long been important pests in cotton, while growers have limited options to help manage these insects. That is set to change with a new cotton trait developed by Bayer – named ThryvOn™ Technology – which will provide cotton plants increased protection, and growers an additional tool, against these damaging pests. 

Announced this past weekend by Bayer at the Deltapine New Product Evaluator (NPE) Summit, ThryvOn Technology will represent the first trait in the industry designed to help cotton growers protect against these pests and help reduce the need for some insecticide applications.

Pending various factors such as regulatory approvals, ThryvOn Technology is expected to be available to cotton growers in the next few years – the early 2020s – and stacked with Bollgard^® 3 XtendFlex^® Technology, providing cotton growers the latest technology for insect pest and weed control. 

“We believe that once available, this technology system will provide immense value to cotton growers by promoting plant health and helping protect yield potential against pests that, until now, were not able to be managed through a biotech trait,” said Jon Riley, North America Cotton Launch Lead. 

Once launched, some expected benefits of ThryvOn Technology stacked with the current industry-leading herbicide and pest protection traits include:

• Season-long protection against feeding damage from tarnished plant bugs and thrips species* through built-in trait technology
• A potential reduction in the number of foliar insecticide applications needed for control of tarnished plant bugs and thrips species*
• ThryvOn Technology will be stacked with the proven Bollgard^® 3 XtendFlex^® Technology

“We’re also excited to move one step closer to commercialization by announcing the name of ThryvOn Technology, a name that conveys our desire to help cotton growers everywhere thrive in the face of challenges from tarnished plant bugs and thrips species,” said Travis Coffman, Cotton Trait Marketing Manager for Bayer. 

Beginning in 2020 and pending various factors such as regulatory approvals, growers will be able to see educational, academic test plots this growing season.

^{*ThryvOn™ Technology will protect against two species of tarnished plant bugs (Lygus hesperus and Lygus lineolaris) and Thrips (Frankliniella spp.).}