ACECHEM: Develop proprietary exopolysaccharins products to improve organic farming solutions

Starting with the needs and desires of farmers and growers and focusing on agricultural resistance management and organic farming, ACECHEM has always exerted unremitting efforts to continuously develop and promote new products, new applications and new technologies to enhance crop protection solutions, improve farming experience and benefit of end-users. As one of the key areas for the future development of the agrochemical industry, the research, development, application and promotion of organic farming inputs have always been prioritized by ACECHEM, which, in recent years, has actively conducted extensive collaborative studies with famous universities and scientific research institutions, and developed a series of organic farming input products based on functional microorganisms and their metabolites. Such products have been widely and effectively used on a variety of agricultural crops in countries along the Belt and Road Initiative and related developing countries.

As we all know, to adapt to the environment for growth, microorganisms usually secrete a variety of secondary metabolites to the environment outside the cell wall during the processes of growth and metabolism. Among them, an important metabolite is the water-soluble exopolysaccharides, which can be easily separated from microorganisms. Due to their advantages of natural safety, non-toxicity, unique physicochemical properties and excellent specificity, microbial exopolysaccharides have been gradually favored by researchers. Dozens of products have been researched, developed, applied and promoted, and have played key roles in the industries of food, petroleum, chemical, medicine, cosmetics, agriculture and others. As a class of microbial exopolysaccharides with the widest commercial applications, bacterial exopolysaccharides have been developed mainly in the following varieties: (1) Xanthan gum, an acidic heteropolysaccharide secreted by Xanthomonas campestris; (2) Thermal gel (Curdlan), a homopolysaccharide secreted by Alcaligenes faecalis; (3) Gellan Gum, a heteropolysaccharide secreted by Pseudomonas elodea; (4) Glucan, a homopolysaccharide secreted by Leuonnstoc spp. or Streptoceus spp.; (5) Welan gum, secreted by Alcaligenes sp.; (6) Bacterial fiber, secreted by various bacteria. However, only Xanthan gum has been developed and is being used as an adjuvant for plant protection in agriculture.

In cooperation with leading scientific research institutions from both home and abroad, ACECHEM has conducted in-depth research and development on the PhotoSynthetic Bacteria (PSB), Rhodopseudomonas sp.. A new bacterial heteropolysaccharide, namely exopolysaccharins, was isolated from the culture medium, extracellularly secreted by the PSB after aggregation during mature stage (see Figure 1). The patents for exopolysaccharins covering its production process and agricultural application technology have been published in China and filed in the US through PCT route, and are expected to be published before or after 2023 via the Patent Prosecution Highway. 

Figure 1  Aggregated Rhodopseudomonas sp. and its secretion exopolysaccharins

As a new plant vaccine, exopolysaccharins can stimulate a plant’s immune defense system (see Figure 2 for its possible mechanism of action). After entering plant cells, exopolysaccharins can induce the transduction and amplification of defense signals by regulating multi-level signals and endogenous hormones. It can also induce a series of response processes and expressions of defense-related genes, resulting in the continuous accumulation of pathogenesis-related proteins subsequently produced, such as enzymes, as well as resistant secondary metabolites. During this process, the physiological activities of plants are regulated, the absorption and utilization of nutrients, trace elements and water are improved, and the resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses is also strengthened, which can promote crop growth and improve the yield and quality of fruits. Studies have shown that exopolysaccharins can effectively stimulate the resistance of plants to diseases, such as tobacco mosaic virus disease and rice blast. It is also worth mentioning that since exopolysaccharins is a natural source and does not directly act on plant pathogens, it has no adverse effects on non-pathogenic organisms and is also effective in preventing and controlling pathogens that are resistant to conventional chemical fungicides.

Figure 2  Possible mechanism of action of exopolysaccharins

In order to further encourage farmers and growers to enjoy their farming experiences and benefits, ACECHEM has successfully developed a series of new biostimulant products (see Table 1) based on innovated bacterial exopolysaccharide exopolysaachrins and its secreting origin PSB or PSB culture medium. Such products are formulated by the ACECHEM-developed ACEtec^TM unique technology, which is based on the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, aimed at improving the quality and yield of crops in the field. It is made through continuous system screening and ratio and process optimization by using cosmetic- and food-grade special surfactants and functional ingredients with various synergistic mechanisms, including organic matters and microelements, such as functional amino acids and small molecular peptides, as well as advanced comprehensive formulating processes of facial mask and jelly. The products developed with ACEtec^TM unique technology usually offer various outstanding advantages, such as perceivable effects, easy application, excellent integration, infinite vitality, mass output and low risk.

Table 1  Exopolysaccharins-related products developed by ACECHEM ( based on ACEtec^TM unique technology)

Due to their stable physicochemical properties and almost neutral pH, the exopolysaccharins-related biostimulant products developed by ACECHEM can be mixed with the most commonly used plant protection products and other foliar agrochemical products, and have excellent tank mixing compatibility. After application, they can quickly promote the absorption, conduction,  transformation and utilization of diluted preparations, water and nutrients by plant stems and leaves, while improving the resistance of crops to insects, diseases and abiotic stresses. At the same time, it can reduce the application of pesticides and fertilizers, significantly enhancing crops yield and quality, while providing more favorable conditions for crop harvesting and subsequent farming. In addition, it can effectively degrade pesticide residues on crops and reduce the risk of pesticide exposure. Therefore, it is easier to achieve higher crop quality and yields by incorporating exopolysaachrins-related series products into crop management plans.

Currently, ACECHEM has conducted a wide range of field trials and demonstrations in Asian, African, European and American countries, such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Ecuador, Colombia and South Korea. Target crops include onions, shallots, garlics, leeks, chilies, peppers, water spinach, leaf mustard, cucumbers, corns, sugarcanes, cassavas, green beans, potatoes, rice, tobaccos, alfalfa, dragon fruit, strawberries, bananas and other field and economic crops (Figure 3). Taking onions, shallots, leeks, chilies and peppers as examples, the results of field trials in various areas and seasons showed that, after applying the exopolysaccharins-related series products developed by ACECHEM, the leaves of crops were greener and more upright, leaf walls became thicker, and disease and insect infestations were significantly reduced. The crop yields can be also increased by 20% to 40%, while quality is greatly improved and the growth cycle is also shortened. Due to their rapid efficacy, significant benefits and strong adaptability (whose efficacy and benefits being less affected by human operations and environmental factors), those products are highly praised and well received by participating farmers, distributors and dealers, and have broad market prospects.

Figure 3  Results of field trials with exopolysaccharins-related series products at home and abroad

Figure 4  Exopolysaccharins-related series products launched in Southeast Asian countries

While conducting field trials at home and abroad, ACECHEM has launched a global registration plan, aimed at bringing exopolysaccharins-related series products to a wider market. Currently, such series products have been registered and available in some countries, such as Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia, while more registrations are also in progress in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Ecuador and Bangladesh, and field trials in more countries and regions are also in progress.

The exopolysaccharins-related biostimulant products based on the ACEtec^TM unique technology,  have many advantageous functions and effects on various crops in different countries, but they are not a panacea and cannot solve all problems faced by farmers. While using such products, it is also necessary to select quality agrochemical products and be assisted by scientific field management and integrated comprehensive solutions, to improve crop quality and yield and increase farmers’ incomes. ACECHEM is looking forward to working with more partners to develop proprietary exopolysaccharins-related products and improve organic farming solutions, as well as introduce more Chinese brands to the world, and enable more farmers to experience and enjoy the fruits of China’s innovation.

To know more about the products, please contact:

SUZHOU ACE CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

Mr. Haydn TAN

Tel.: +86-50110886-8011

Email: sales@acechemtech.com; agchem@foxmail.com

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Yutian Lu

Email: yutian.lu@agropages.com