For healthy potatoes - Bayer CropScience

Improved plant-health
Continuous evaluation of field trials data
indicated that applications of imidacloprid
containing products like Confidor resulted
in increased growth and higher yields even
in the absence of damaging pest species.
Analysis of the growing conditions given
in these trials pointed to environmental
stress factors being involved.
To investigate how imidacloprid-treated
plants do respond and adapt to abiotic
stress conditions, drought stress tests e.g.
with barley plants were developed to study
growth compared to untreated droughtstressed
plants.
It could be shown that the leaf area of
drought-stressed barley plants treated with
imidacloprid increased compared to
untreated plants. Subsequent gene analysis
in barley revealed a delayed production of
drought stress marker genes. Plants from
Yield losses from biotic and abiotic stresses
Yield (kg/ha)
20,000
16,000
12,000
8,000
4,000
0
Corn Wheat Soybean Sorghum Oat Barley
Source: Buchanan, Gruissem, Jones; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants;
American Society of Plant Physiologists, 2000
the same tests showed longer lasting
energy production-related gene activity
(photosynthesis), supporting plants with
more energy during drought stress. Surprisingly,
imidacloprid-treated barley
plants also formed more plant own substances
(pathogenesis-related proteins)
associated with the plant’s own defense
mechanism against fungal diseases. The
above genetic findings are paralleled in
further pest-free stress tests proving
increased root development of tomato
plants grown under low oxygen conditions,
a situation which often occurs during infurrow
irrigation or water-based (hydroponic)
cultivation systems. Finally, it could
be confirmed with a specific new laserlight
camera that drought stressed cotton
plants following seed treatment with imidacloprid
used the sunlight for plant-own
energy production (photosynthesis) more
efficiently.
Record yield
(Highest yield
ever achieved)
Abiotic losses
Biotic losses
Average yield
Imidacloprid significantly increased barley leaf growth under drought stress conditions
[L*n]
1000
800
600
400
L*n = Longest
leaf x
number of
leaves
treated
untreated
Drought period
6-chloronicotinic acid (6-CNA) is suggested
to possibly cause the physiological
changes in the plant which aid in plant and
stress protection. 6-CNA is a major
decomposition product of imidacloprid in
plant and a known inducer of the plantown
defense against plant diseases.
The interaction of imidacloprid with
plants to moderate abiotic and biotic stress
points to a 2nd mode of action on top of
the well known direct mode of action
against insect pests supporting plants to
achieve higher yields and better quality
under adverse growing conditions.
Imidacloprid represents a new standard
in abiotic plant stress research, validated
both in lab- and field situations. Such a
standard is a prerequisite in the search of
new active ingredients with improved
Stress Shield properties. Advances in
Stress Shield technology combined with
new stress-tolerant varieties will contribute
to further reduce the risk of yield losses.
Oil-based innovation
The new OTEQ formulation, an oil dispersion
(OD type), enhances the Stress Shield
effect even further and Bayer CropScience
is committed to continued research to fully
explore the potential benefits of Confidor.
“Bayer CropScience is a very supportive
and enthusiastic research partner,” says
Prof. Derrick Oosterhuis, a leading cotton
physiologist at the University of Arkansas.
“Investment in innovation is clearly a priority
and that shows through in products
that are fully in line with market needs.”
Confidor OTEQ formulations were
launched in Portugal in 2006 and are due
for roll-out in most major European countries
in the next two years. Its initials stand
for an oil based innovation which penetrates
plants more effectively, spreads more
efficiently and is more adhesive, so there’s
no need to spray crops again after rainfall.
Additionally, a faster onset of action is
achieved, which allows more flexible timing
of application. “The new OTEQ formulation
confirms Bayer CropScience’s
place at the cutting edge of technology,”
says Christian Nagel, Global Product
Manager CNI with Bayer CropScience in
Monheim. ■
200
Christian Nagel,Dr. Wolfgang Thielert,
Bayer CropScience AG, Germany
0
3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 days
Imidacloprid treatments (days)
8 COURIER 2/06