Trial Results

RNS Number : 5003G

Plant Health Care PLC

02 February 2010

 



2 February, 2010

Plant Health Care plc ("Plant Health Care" or "the Company")

PLANT HEALTH CARE REPORTS VERY ENCOURAGING RESULTS

WITH BOTH MYCONATE AND HARPINS IN SUGARCANE

Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC), a leading provider of naturally derived products to the agriculture and landscape industries announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Plant Health Care Inc, has achieved very encouraging results in an independent field trial of its Myconate and harpin products on sugarcane in Louisiana, USA.

The Plant Health Care board believes that these results further demonstrate the potential of Plant Health Care's two key technologies in another important global food and energy crop.

The field trial is the first of a series Plant Health Care has planned for sugarcane. In the trial, Myconate and harpin were applied, both separately and combined, as an in-furrow spray over the cane stalk segments at planting time before being covered with soil. In another treatment, harpin was applied as a post-emergent foliar spray to the growing plants. All treatments increased the number of productive plants and stems per acre, boosted plant height through to harvest and increased cane yield by between 8% and 12% over that of an untreated control. In addition, the yield of sugar per ton of cane was increased such that the final result was a boost in sugar production per acre of 19% - 23% depending upon the treatment. All results were statistically significant.

Plant Health Care's novel Myconate technology helps crops to develop a larger root mass enabling treated crops to prosper under stressful conditions. Myconate works by triggering the colonisation of plant roots by beneficial microorganisms called mycorrhizal fungi. With more mycorrhizal fungi at work, each plant can draw more nutrients and moisture out of the soil. The harpin technology offers benefits, including the suppression of pests like nematodes and yield-inhibiting diseases, as well as additive plant health benefits. The technology is a specific protein that activates a plant's innate ability to protect itself and enhance growth and yield.

John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care commented: "We are very pleased with the outcome of this first test and are hopeful that these results will be repeated over seasons, locations and varieties as we apply more focus to this crop. These results come at a time when major seed and agricultural chemical companies are giving greater attention to sugarcane. The crop is not only an important source of sugar products for humans and animal nutrition but is also the crop upon which the successful bio-ethanol business in Brazil is founded."

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For further information, please contact:

Plant Health Care plc
John Brady, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]

Evolution Securities	Tavistock Communications
Tim Worlledge / Tim Redfern	Jeremy Carey/Matt Ridsdale
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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 90 employees and has operations in the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the Netherlands. The Company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in July 2004. Ticker symbol is PHC.

PHC's products are aimed at the agriculture and landscape 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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