Potato Review

40 POTATO REVIEW JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 BIOSTIMULANTS E uropean Union-funded trials indicate that a biostimulant product, code-named ERL-32, can successfully prevent potato blight infection by stimulating plants’ natural defences. As potato growers re ect on last season and look ahead, they will once again be wary of the ongoing threat of potato late blight. is devastating disease, caused by the fungus-like pathogen, Phytophthora infestans , unfortunately thrives in the typically warm and wet growing conditions experienced during British summertime. Most growers currently control late blight through the weekly preventative application of synthetic fungicides. An ongoing research project being carried out by Bangor University at its Henfaes Research Station, as part of the European Union (EU)-funded NASPA (Interreg Atlantic Funded) project, has so far found that a biostimulant, code-named ERL-32, can help reduce growers’ reliance on conventional chemical crop protection products by inducing resistance to even the most virulent strains of this disease. e product, along with others being studied, is developed by Gloucestershire-based research and development specialist Emerald Research and consists of a range of organic molecules from a variety of sustainable and natural sources. Emerald’s director and founder, Simon Fox, said the naturally-inspired biostimulant induces the natural defence mechanisms of the plant to help it protect itself as well as stimulating root development and growth. “If it’s applied prior to potato late blight infection, it will allow the plant to resist infection even at high levels of risk, as Naturally-derived biostimulant outperforms conventional fungicide in potato blight trials. A natural defence

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg1Mw==