http://www.plantstress.net/Scientific articles en The flag leaf is the most important source of carbohydrate during wheat kernel filling. Around a 75% of all sugars stored in the kernel come from carbon fixed by this leaf. Previous studies have shown that application of Terra-Sorb ® foliar, an L-α-amino acid-based product from enzymatic hydrolysis with a high ratio of free-to-total amino acids, increases plant photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll content, promotes rapid recovery from stress and improves fruit set. In this work, we have undertaken a proteomic approach using DIGE in order to explore molecular mechanisms potentially involved in the biostimulating effect of Terra-Sorb® foliar on wheat. Thirty seven protein spots were found to change in abundance, out of which 8 were down regulated and 29 up regulated in treated leaves. Proteins identified up- and down-regulated suggest an improvement of wheat productivity by Terra-Sorb ® foliar application by a combination of an enhanced CO2 fixation, a more active protein synthesis and a decrease of oxidative stress. 2010-02-01 http://www.plantstress.net/plantstressdocument.php?cat=3&doc=78 In order to evaluate the physiological changes that determine the tolerance to salinity induced by StresSal, and to learn as much as possible about the mechanism of action of the product, we carried out an experiment in a growing chamber on tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) that developed with different levels of salinity (50, 100 and 150mM NaCl). The aim of the study was to examine the response of the plants in the short-to-medium term, more related to the osmotic effect due to the reduction in the osmotic potential of the cultivation medium, by means of 3 samples taken 15, 30 and 45 days after treatment. The results show that the application of StresSal has a clear positive effect on the development of aerial biomass at all levels of salinity studied. We also observed increased absorption of water and nutrients and a higher water content in the leaves of the plants treated with StresSal than in the untreated control plants. Furthermore, the reduced osmotic potential values of the leaves shown by the treated plants support the hypothesis that the increased tolerance to salinity is due to the greater osmotic-adjustment capacity that StresSal causes in the plant. In light of these data, we can conclude that the main effect of StresSal is to encourage re-establishment of the functional balance of the plant in the saline medium and, therefore, to increase the plant’s ability to absorb water through the roots and transport it to the aerial parts, thereby leading to improved development and more succulent leaves. In order to verify this effect in the field, we carried out agronomy trials in different crops under salt stress conditions. The data obtained in peppers, lettuce and runner beans show that the application of StresSal mitigates the harmful effects of salinity, thereby allowing high yields in these crops, even under such restrictive conditions. 2009-06-04 http://www.plantstress.net/plantstressdocument.php?cat=3&doc=68 Cera Trap® is a product developed by Bioibérica SA in the form of a soluble concentrate (SL) based on hydrolyzed proteins; it is intended for use in agriculture as a food attractant to trap fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata). It comes in two presentations: a) a liquid attractant in bottles, for use with fly traps such as Tephri-Trap (CT) with funnels; b) a ready-to-use system in bottles, which includes the liquid attractant and the trap in a single product (CTB), with an attractant effect that lasts approximately 90 days. 2008-11-01 http://www.plantstress.net/plantstressdocument.php?cat=3&doc=52 Diseases caused by fungal pathogens represent one of the biggest agricultural problems worldwide in terms of economic losses due to reduced yield and the cost of treatment with fungicides used to control these diseases. In the event of a fungal attack, the resistance or susceptibility of the plants to infection will depend on the magnitude and the speed of activation of their defense mechanisms. Optimus is a protein enzyme hydrolysate with phosphorus and has been specially designed by the Bioibérica, S.A. R&D department to fight this type of biotic stress and elicit the plant’s defensive response by stimulating the expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins and increasing the activity of enzymes of the phenylpropanoid compound synthesis pathway. Its efficacy in the field has been tested in several vegetable and fruit crops and grape vines against a wide range of pathogens. This study presents an experiment carried out on grape vines (Vitis vinifera) cv. Chardonnay, examining the effect of Optimus on controlling vine mildew (Plasmopara viticola). 2007-04-01 http://www.plantstress.net/plantstressdocument.php?cat=3&doc=41 Amino acid-based products positively influence low-quality golf course irrigation water 2007-02-01 http://www.plantstress.net/plantstressdocument.php?cat=3&doc=33