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Caldwell, Idaho
May 10, 2001
Research
at Cornell University has confirmed the role of Seedbiotics
Lilac’s new polymer, SB2000 in increasing seed germination and
field emergence.
Dr. Bing-Rui Ni, who headed
development of the polymer, presented a research paper at the
Seed Treatment Symposium of the British Crop Protection Council
in Birmingham, England in February.
It explained the phenomena of
imbibitional chilling injury (ICI) and the mechanism how SB2000,
the functional polymer works in alleviating ICI to seed; Due to
the great water potential gradient between a dry seed and its
surrounding soil,
water rushes into the
seed very quickly during the first few hours of imbibition.
Because the cell membranes haven’t reached the elasticity
needed to stand the expansion pressure, they rupture. This will
lead to the leakage of sugars and proteins that will invite
microbial attack. This can lead to damage or death of the
seed.
It showed that application of SB2000
on soybean seeds significantly slowed down water uptake
during the first several hours of imbibition. Experiment results
also showed that application of SB2000 on several crops, such as
soybean, dry beans, shrunken corn, hybrid corn, and cotton,
significantly improved seed cold vigor and field emergence under
cold conditions.
A research paper about the Effect
of SB2000
polymer on alleviation of ICI was also presented by
Dr. Alan Taylor and Dr. J. Kwaitkowski of Cornell University. It
showed a direct correlation between the leakage and hydration
rate of the seed. Further, he showed a direct correlation in
reduction of hydration (water uptake) and application of
Seedbiotics’ SB2000 polymer.
Third party data has shown
increases in soybean emergence up to 20 per cent, and yield
increases in the 2 to 5 bushel per acre range, using Seedbiotics’
SB2000
polymer.
Dr. Ni’s paper concluded that
Seedbiotics’ SB2000
polymer seed coating is an effective way
of reducing imbibitional chill damage, and improving germination
and emergence of seedlings.
Seedbiotics is a division of
Research Seeds of St. Joseph, Missouri, and recognized as a
world leader in developing, producing and marketing seed
enhancement products.
Company news release
N3514 |
