This found in BioCentury (9/30/96)
Agricultural Glycosystems Inc., Cambridge, Mass. Product: Elexa carbohydrate compound Use: Protect plants from fungal infections The wholly owned subsidiary of IGG International Inc. (IGGI, Cambridge, Mass.) announced that tests in greenhouse-grown crop plants demonstrated the anti-fungal action of the company1s lead compound. Seven days after treatment with a 0.1 percent solution of the naturally derived carbohydrate, about 80 percent of the crops were disease free, but all control plants were infected. Diseases protected against included botrytis cinerea, downy mildew, phytophthora infestans, coletotrichum spp. and phythium spp. Cucumber, potato, and tomato plants were protected, without toxicity, in the tests carried out in Israel. Results of field tests in grapes, tomatoes, potatoes, rice, and other crops are expected in the fourth quarter.
Also, this is from BioCentury (9/23/96)
EcoScience Corp. (ECSC), East Brunswick, N.J. Product: Naturally occurring alternatives to fungicides Use: Control crown rot in bananas ECSC received a $175,000 Phase II SBIR from the USDA to continue the development of natural agents to control crown rot in bananas. ECSC completed the Phase I grant in February, identifying several natural agents that showed an ability to control the problem. ECSC expects to formulate and field test the strains under the Phase II grant.
IGGI is not alone in their quest for eco-friendly alternatives to toxic fungicides.
Onward & Upward...
Mark |
