Potato Review

28 POTATO REVIEW MAY/JUNE 2021 BIOSTIMULANTS SYNGENTA has launched its first biostimulant in potatoes, Quantis, which its trials reveal can effectively help crops cope with the impacts of heat stress, and which will be available for the 2021 season. Following extensive research, analysis revealed significantly increased yield for crops that had been under prolonged or extreme heat stress and the company believes Quantis can play an important role in future potato agronomy programmes, from tuber initiation through the crop bulking phase. Incidents and severity of heat events in the UK have been steadily increasing and Syngenta’s Head of Technical, Dave King says Quantis delivers a readily-available blend of organic carbon, amino acids, potassium and calcium RELIEF FOR HEAT-STRESSED POTATOES Trials results show new biostimulant could be a tool for whole season. that can help counteract this by supplementing the plant’s own molecular cell function. “Acting directly as an anti-oxidant, it can help to counter reactive oxygen species (ROS - free radicals) that can cause significant damage, particularly within the foliage if leaves get too hot,” Dave said. “It is believed to activate and enhance the potato plant’s natural capability to adapt to heat stress, to prevent damage.” He said the strength of Quantis lies in its relatively high proportion of short chain carbon molecules, which are particularly effective at helping the plant to prevent the creation of ROS during periods of stress. Furthermore, it helps with the scavenging of accumulated ROS, to minimise their adverse effects. “By filling the organic carbon gap when a plant comes under stress it can act to minimise its effects,” he said. Quantis contains a level of amino acids that can help to protect plant structures from nitrogen and protein degradation when under stress. It also provides osmoprotectant regulators to help plants manage cell osmosis, which could help contribute to the heat stress mitigation. “By filling the organic carbon gap when a plant comes under stress it can act to minimise its effects.” Dave King, Head of Technical, Syngenta.