Syngenta UK has launched its first biostimulant in potatoes, Quantis, that has shown to effectively help crops cope with the impact of heat stress.
The company said that it had carried out 'the UK’s most extensive research field trial of a biostimulant'. Analysis of the data resource had revealed 'significantly increased yield for crops that had been under prolonged or extreme heat stress'.
The results indicated that Quantis could have an important role in potato agronomy programmes from tuber initiation, through the crop bulking phase, Syngenta outlined.
Syngenta's head of technical Dave King said that the value of Quantis was even more apparent with the increasing incidence and severity of heat events in the UK.
King explained that Quantis delivered a blend of organic carbon, amino acids, potassium and calcium to supplement the plant’s own molecular cell function.
“Acting directly as an anti-oxidant, it can help to counter reactive oxygen species (ROS - free radicals) that can cause significant damage, particularly within the foliage if leaves get too hot,” said King. “It is believed to activate and enhance the potato plant’s natural capability to adapt to heat stress, to prevent damage.”
He said that Quantis had a relatively high proportion of short chain carbon molecules, which are particularly effective at helping the plant to prevent the creation of ROS during periods of stress. Furthermore, it helps with the scavenging of accumulated ROS, to minimise their adverse effects.
“By filling the organic carbon gap when a plant comes under stress it can act to minimise its effects,” he confirmed.
Quantis also contains a level of amino acids that can help to protect plant structures from nitrogen and protein degradation when under stress.
Furthermore, Quantis also provides osmoprotectant regulators to help plants manage cell osmosis, which could help contribute to the heat stress mitigation.
