Cerall: 100% biological seed treatment against fungal diseases

Koppert is the only company in Europe to offer a powerful biological (microbial) solution against seed-borne fungal diseases in cereal crops: Cerall. This seed treatment not only protects seeds against diseases such as Fusarium and Tilletia caries (common bunt), but also supports the growth and development of young cereal crops up to the fifth-leaf stage.

How exactly did this 100% organic product come about? How does this special formulation work? And how easy is Cerall to use?

Researched and discovered in Sweden

The origin of Cerall lies at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, where the first preliminary tests were carried out. Here, researchers isolated no fewer than 400 bacterial strains from the roots of wild and cultivated plants. They then screened these strains for their activity against the common fungal diseases Tilletia caries (common bunt, or wheat stone burn) and Pyrenophora teres (net blotch, or net blotch disease) during greenhouse and field trials. One particular bacterial strain came out of the tests as the strongest and most reliable: Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342 which was extracted from the roots of wild crowberry.

Inhibitory metabolites

Cerall contains a high concentration of Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342 bacteria that are highly effective in several ways. First, the bacteria produce metabolites that have a direct inhibitory effect on common fungal diseases. After application as a seed treatment, the bacteria remain inactive on the treated seeds when stored dry. Then, after seeding, soil moisture causes the bacteria to emerge from their dormant phase and begin to multiply. They grow around the seeds and first roots, competing with any pathogens present for space and nutrition. They also continue to release those metabolites that further weaken the growth of fungi.

Interaction between bacteria and plant

The beauty of the Pseudomonas chlororaphis MA342 bacteria is that they encourage interaction with the plant. They cause the plant to start various defence reactions that in turn also prevent the pathogens from successfully infecting the young plant. In addition to their ability to fight diseases, the bacteria in Cerall also have a strong growth-promoting effect. They stimulate seedling emergence and help the plant cope with abiotic stress factors, such as drought. In this way, Cerall with its active bacteria provides a significant yield increase.

Easy to use

Cerall is a liquid formulation that is ready to use and can be applied directly with regular liquid seed treatment equipment. You can use the product in both conventional and organic cultivation systems, as well as combine it with other seed treatment products.

The advantages of Cerall at a glance

• Based on a special fungicidal bacterium and therefore 100% organic.

  
  

• Just as effective, ready-to-use and user-friendly as conventional treatments.

  
  

• Future proof: with an increasingly narrow range of products, Cerall is the solution against seed-borne diseases such as Fusarium spp., Tilletia caries (common bunt, or wheat stone burn), Microdochium nivale (foot rot) and Septoria nodorum (glume blotch, or leaf spot disease).

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