Bioherbicide
MustGrow’s Bioherbicide Technology
MustGrow’s bioherbicide technology is based on a second molecule that we have extracted and concentrated: ionic thiocyante (SCN-). This molecule’s properties are soil active and translocated in the plant as a systemic and non-selective weed killer, killing weeds from the root up.
Note that this technology is in early R&D with formulation work being a focus.
Modes of Action
Isothiocyanate (R-N=C=S)
- AITC interacts nonspecifically and irreversibly with proteins and amino acids to form stable products with sulfhydryl groups, disulfide bonds, and amines. The formation of these covalent bonds alters the structure of the proteins or amino acids such that proper cell function is disrupted, including enzymatic reactions or other metabolic processes.
- AITC functions as an efficacious pesticide because it moves as a gas in soil pore spaces. Hydrophobicity is low enough such that it does not extensively partition to the soil solid phase.
- Once it reaches the target pest, AITC is hydrophobic enough that it readily moves through cell membranes to reach proteins and amino acids that are deactivated by the formation of covalent bonds.
Thiocyanate (SCN-)
- Thiocyanate has the ability to bind iron, starving the plant of a necessary nutrient. Iron forms a stable complex with thiocyanate removing iron’s ability to serve as a required plant nutrient.
- Thiocyanate is taken up by plant roots and transported throughout the entire plant. As such, thiocyanate behaves as a systemic herbicide.
- Iron sequestration by thiocyanate causes the chlorotic response not observed with AITC.