Potato yield increased through PHC's Harpin

RNS Number : 6418I

Plant Health Care PLC

27 July 2012

 



27 July, 2012

Plant Health Care plc

("Plant Health Care," "PHC" or "the Company")

POTATO YIELD INCREASED AND STORAGE LOSSES REDUCED

THROUGH PHC'S PROPRIETARY HARPIN TREATMENT

Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC), a leading provider of naturally derived products to the agriculture industry, announces that in recent trials it was found that potatoes, when treated with PHC's proprietary Harpin technology while still in the field, produced a 4.4% greater marketable yield at harvest and a reduced loss in  long-term (7-8 month) storage from 4.6% in the untreated to 1.9% in the treated tubers. The storage improvements alone are worth about $4 per ton, which equates to $20,000 for a 5,000 ton storage building. These results were achieved in trials conducted by independent crop consultants using commercial production practices in grower fields in Washington and Idaho.

Harpin technology is available for all major crops. The Harpins bind to receptors on the surface of the plant leaf, causing a reaction where the plant gears up to defend itself against disease. This is the well-documented Systematic Acquired Resistance (SAR) response, which affects the yield quality and shelf life of the crops. PHC currently has several testing agreements with major companies looking at disease control, yield increase and longer, post- harvest, shelf life achieved through the combined use of Harpin and fungicide.

Paul Bystrak, PHC Field Scientist, commented: "We had already seen evidence in smaller-scale studies that the long-term storability of potatoes increased following in-field Harpin treatment, so it is very encouraging to have those results verified on a larger scale.  We have also demonstrated similar results in a variety of crops ranging from lettuce to citrus, so the financial savings potential for the grower should prove to be very attractive."

Steve Holland, a crop consultant who conducted several of the trials, commented:"The growers we worked with in the Columbia Basin have become extremely proficient at storing potatoes, so it was heartening to see the additional benefits realized by the use of Harpin in storage. In addition, substantial benefits were also realized in each of the other trials that were  focused solely on studying the yield benefits."

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For further information please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer	Tel: [phone]
	[e-mail]
Stephen Weaver, Finance Director	Tel: [phone] x151
	[e-mail]
Nomura Code Securities	Tel: [phone]
Clare Terlouw / Chris Golden
www.nomuracode.com
Powerscourt	Tel: [phone]
Paul Durman / Nick Dibden

About Plant Health Care plc:

Plant Health Care plc ("PHC") is a leading provider of naturally-derived products for plants and soil. Established in 1995 in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) in the United States, PHC currently has approximately 40 employees and has operations in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. The Company's ordinary shares have been quoted on the Alternative Investment Market ("AIM") of the London Stock Exchange since July 2004 and listed on the Official List of the Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX") since February 2010 (ticker symbol/ mnemonic: PHC).

PHC's products are aimed at agriculture industries and are environmentally beneficial. Through the commercialisation of these products, PHC is capitalising on current long-term trends toward natural systems and biological products for plant care and soil and water management. Further information is available at: www.planthealthcare.com.

 

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