MustGrow Announces Canola Clubroot Test Results: 100% Control
in 24 Hours
- MustGrow has confirmed 100% control of Clubroot spores (Plasmodiophora brassicae) after a 24-hour period in laboratory tests.
- Clubroot is a devastating soil-borne disease causing premature death of canola crops – one of the more profitable crops for Canadian farmers.
- Currently, limited control measures can remove Clubroot from a field once infested, with some field infections leading to 100% crop loss.
Saskatoon, SK, May 27, 2020 – MustGrow Biologics Corp. (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) (the “Company“, “MustGrow“), an agricultural biotech company developing and commercializing a portfolio of natural, science-based biological crop protection products, is pleased to announce the laboratory test results of its patented mustard-derived bio-pesticide on clubroot spores (“Clubroot”). Clubroot is a rapidly-spreading disease pathogen destroying canola, one of Canada’s more profitable crops.
MustGrow, through an independent third-party testing laboratory, has confirmed 100% control of Clubroot spores after a 24-hour period utilizing MustGrow’s signature mustard-derived liquid bio-pesticide TerraMG. The low application rate used in testing has the potential be economic for canola growers. This initial proof-of-concept work was completed at laboratory scale and MustGrow will now replicate the trials in greenhouse facilities, and then if successful, in larger field studies.
“We are extremely excited to now advance our Clubroot work to the next testing stage to potentially provide a valuable crop-protection tool for farmers. I know how important canola is for farmers in Western Canada, and on my family farm as well,” remarked Colin Bletsky, COO of MustGrow. “I’m proud to think that we can potentially provide a Saskatchewan-based solution to help control this devastating disease”
MustGrow’s patented mustard-derived bio-pesticide has confirmed 100% control of soil-borne diseases and pathogens including Fusarium, Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, Pythium, Verticillium, Phytophthora, Sclerotinia, and Nematodes. Further work will determine if the same product will control emerging canola threat Clubroot at larger scale greenhouse and field tests. Study results and applicability are patent-protected under MustGrow’s existing suite of issued patents.
MustGrow’s patented mustard-derived products have consistently demonstrated efficacious benefits similar to chemistry-based “chemical” products without the harmful safety profile often associated with these chemical products – in some cases 100% control of Root Knot Nematodes compared to chemistry-based products such as Methyl Bromide. The need for bio-pesticides is increasing as farmers, consumers and regulators seek ‘natural biological’ alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides.
Clubroot: Devastating Canada’s Canola Crop (1)(2)
Clubroot is a serious soil-borne disease caused by a fungus-like protist called Plasmodiophora brassicae. Swellings or galls form on the roots of canola plants, which may ultimately cause premature death of the plant. Once a field is infested, there are no economical control measures currently available that can eradicate Clubroot, with some field infections leading to 100% crop loss.
Since 2003, thousands of infested fields have been identified across canola growing regions in Canada. Yield loss is dependent on many factors including time of infection, soil moisture, temperature, spore load, soil pH, soil texture, host genotype and pathogen pathotype. An early infection with favorable conditions and moderate to high spore loads can lead to 100% loss.
Over the past year, 300 new cases of Clubroot have emerged in Alberta. Researchers from the University of Alberta have identified 36 different pathotypes of the deadly disease and more alarmingly, some resistant varieties with high spore-loads are heavily infesting canola fields. The endemic disease is also spreading to areas of Alberta where Clubroot has not historically been an issue because the spores travel so easily – transmitting through soil and trash for example. This is especially problematic for vehicles moving between field properties, including oil production equipment, farming machinery, vehicles, etc.
Many farmers are taking serious precautionary measures, including lengthening crop rotations, seeking Clubroot-resistant varieties, and cleaning soil off between fields – all proactive techniques inversely impacting crop economics. Current measures cannot eradicate Clubroot completely; they are only intended to slow down the spread and reduce the incidence and severity of the disease. Practical, economic and effective solutions for large scale canola crops are still being investigated.
(1) Source: www.albertafarmexpress.ca
(2) Source: www.canolacouncil.org
About MustGrow
MustGrow is a publicly traded (CSE: MGRO) (OTC: MGROF) agriculture biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high value crops, including fruits & vegetables. MustGrow has designed and owns a United States EPA-approved organic solution that uses the mustard seed’s natural defence mechanism to protect plants from pests and diseases. Over 110 independent tests have been completed, validating MustGrow’s safe and effective signature products. The product, in granule format, is EPA-approved across all key U.S. states as a bio-pesticide and is designated by Health Canada’s PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) as a fruit & vegetable bio-pesticide. MustGrow has now concentrated a liquid format that with regulatory approval, could be applied through standard drip or spray equipment, improving functionality and performance features.
The Company has approximately 37 million basic common shares issued and outstanding. For further details please visit www.mustgrow.ca.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Corey Giasson”
Director & CEO
Phone: +1-306-668-2652
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