AGROCHEMICALS
points to the existence of ‘ subclinical ’, asymptomatic stress in many crops , which until now has largely gone unnoticed . “ We ’ ll need further research to prove it , but hidden stress might well be one of the barriers of the wheat yield plateau . Modern wheat varieties should be able to deliver 20 tonnes / hectare . Is asymptomatic stress another of the limiting factors ?”
Seed treatment
In trials with wheat plants , the Fyteko biomolecule was applied as a seed treatment . The objective was to increase plants ’ resistance to lack of water ( drought stress ) and to improve the recovery rate once water became available again . The results ( Figure 1 ) show how a simulated severe drought stress has irreversibly injured the tissue of the untreated plants . Those growing from treated seed , however , showed an improved rate of recovery . Wegria says that these results suggest the bioactive could have a role to play in improving crop resilience in the face of episodic drought or prolonged irrigation intervals . “ It ’ s the seed treatment that perhaps presents the most interest ,” Wegria highlights . “ It appears to be effective in accelerating germination and early seedling establishment , ‘ biopriming ’ the crop seeds . Successful early establishment is known to be essential for optimising the crop ’ s yield potential , but the signal molecule appears to take this a step further , offering additional protection against subsequent abiotic stress .” In experiments where plant seeds were treated with the signal molecule , it triggered a faster response to stress from young plants ’ internal defence mechanisms . Osmo-protection increased , as did antioxidant synthesis . Fyteko has now signed a distribution deal signed with Sumi Agro , a European subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation ; an exclusive global
Wegria – Going back to nature to find the properties required
evaluation with Janssen PMP , a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica ; and a wide-scale distribution agreement with Technisem , an African seed supplier , to roll out the product to smallholders in West Africa . As to how the process actually works , Wegria says that Fyteko ’ s approach of working with single molecules makes identification of modes of action ( MoAs ) very much easier . “ Biostimulants are the fastestgrowing category in plant protection worldwide , but the vast majority of commercial biostimulants are a cocktail of actives and different molecules ,” he notes . “ This can create problems in a like-for-like comparison against conventional agrochemicals because the multicompound formulation makes it difficult to generate consistent results for analysis and refinement .”
A new stimulus
Fyteko claims to be the only company working to develop biostimulants from novel natural signal molecules and one of very few to be developing them based on single , identifiable active ingredients with a specific effect on the crop . This specific effect is down to a very simple MoA . When applied to seeds , the signal molecule is absorbed by cells . Here , it effects a change in gene transcription – prompting a ‘ remapping ’ of metabolic processes , pathways and cell functions . “ You can think of it as swapping the ECU chip in a car or tractor ,” explains Wegria . “ We ’ re reprogramming the plant , supercharging its ability to fight stress .” Another problem with multicompound biostimulants is knowing how well they will integrate with other products , biobased or conventional . “ Something that looks good in the lab may perform very badly in the field , because you must understand all the other interactions . “ But our biomolecule is a single compound , applied at low rates . We know how it ’ s going to behave , and we ’ ve already assessed its performance when used in existing seed treatment processes – it displays excellent compatibility .” This precise understanding has allowed Fyteko to make rapid progress on commercialising the biomolecule , with two specific formulations : the foliar formulation Nurspray and the seed treatment product Nurseed . Both products have received registrations in most of the EU27 and across the US , allowing further development work to progress . “ These will be just the first ,” says Wegria . “ Our development pipeline is interesting , to say the least – and entirely biological . The agribiomolecule is a brave new world , and it ’ s the world we need to see in tomorrow ’ s agriculture .” •
Guillaume Wegria
CEO
FYTEKO k + 32 2 372 04 09 J gw @ fyteko . com j www . fyteko . com
32 SPECIALITY CHEMICALS MAGAZINE ESTABLISHED 1981