José Nolasco explains Tradecorp’s in-depth research into understanding the effects of amino acids in plants

Their lecture dealt with:
 

* the mode of action for biostimulants during drought stress,

* the active properties in biostimulants and

* how the plant physiology is changed in biostimulant-treated plants.
 

The findings explained in the presentation were insights gained from Tradecorp’s collaboration with Queen’s University in experimental studies on the effects of biostimulants on plants.
 

In their presentation titled “Assessment of amino acids on Arabidopsis thaliana during drought stress in three levels: Phenotypic and efficacy determination, biochemical compound and molecular gene expression analysis”, the correct methods for plant stress management are explained.

The objective: fertilizing or feeding the plant?
 

“It is not just about applying nutrients to correct deficiencies” explains Nolasco, “it goes beyond that:applying nutrients can be ineffective if the plant is not able to effectively assimilate them and translocate them”.
 

“In a perfect world, the plant would be in ideal conditions of soil, climate and nutrients, but that is not usually the case,” says Nolasco. “Extreme temperature, salinity, drought, or insufficient lighting, among many other factors, cause abiotic stress on plants and negatively affect the physiology of the plant, being responsible for up to 70% of yield losses”.

Since in many cases it is not possible to remove the factors of abiotic stress, the real objective remains to improve the physiology of the plant so that it can better deal with stress when these factors appear, thus avoiding losses in yield and improving the quality of the harvest.
 

Biostimulants play an essential role in achieving this objective. Therefore, Tradecorp is developing an in-depth research in collaboration with Queen’s University and other entities to better understand how amino acids, act:
 

* in terms of effects, gaining knowledge on how amino acids perform in priming and curative effect on plants

* in terms of the genes that are triggered in plants, when amino acids are applied in response to abiotic stress
 

On this front, the study done on drought stress management by Dr. Fleming and his team at Queen’s University had three specific aims: to test the biostimulants’ effects on Arabidopsis during drought stress, to identify modes of action for biostimulants, and to improve our understanding of biostimulants’ effects on plant molecular response mechanisms.
 

As Tradecorp continues to advance towards developing a greater understanding of a mode of action for biostimulants, more work is being done into the study of how amino acids as biostimulants are a powerful tool in combating abiotic stress in plants.