With over 28 years' experience in the supply of solutions and products to improve yields and crop protection, such as biostimulants, Lida Plant Research has decided to focus its efforts on a completely innovative concept that the firm has patented: phytovaccines.
These are substances with both health and biostimulant effects which, when applied to the crop in a preventive and systematic manner during their cycle, manage to activate the plants' innate immunity, so they can defend themselves against pathogens that may potentially cause diseases, minimising and delaying their appearance and virulence.
"We could say that we fool the plants into believing that they are being attacked by a pathogen, triggering a series of genetic pathways that will allow them to defend themselves, minimising and delaying the onset and virulence of the diseases; this results in the plants being better prepared against real threats, making the use of chemical tools unnecessary," explains Ricardo Villuendas, Marketing Director at Lida Plant Research.
The concept has led to the development of Fytosave, a product designed to control powdery mildew in cucurbits and solanaceous vegetables in greenhouse environments. It already has a Phytosanitary Register under EU regulation 1107/2009 and it is currently in the final stage to become mutually recognised in Spain.
"For three years, we have been testing the handling and performance of Fytosave, learning what you can achieve with it and on which crops it is possible to use it. We have observed that it is not only effective against powdery mildew, but also against diseases affecting other horticultural crops, like grapes and vines, making it also possible to assess related quality and post-harvest parameters and stimulating the plants," he affirms.
The product will become registered coinciding with the start of the melon and watermelon campaign, which is a great incentive, given the fact that these crops have been reported to be increasingly suffering the impact of powdery mildew as temperatures become warmer.
Change of mentality in agriculture: prevention vs. healing
"We have introduced the concept of prevention, although the mentality of growers will not just change from one day to the next. The concept of healing, as opposed to prevention, is much more established in agriculture than it is in the fields of human or animal health. Changing this mentality will therefore be one of our main challenges," states Ricardo Villuendas.
"We are convinced that, in the coming years, it will be a highly demanded and appreciated tool. Things can only improve from now on," he affirms.
More about Lida Plant Research
Since its creation, the company has been conducting its own research, actively collaborating with universities and first level research centres in Europe and the United States and bringing these scientific advances to the field. It is specialised in the supply of plant nutrition products and biostimulants. "Three aspects define our work: quality, performance and the profitability of the crops grown by our producers. This allows us to access the most demanding markets, taking always food safety and respect for the environment into account."
