PGA PLUS RESEARCH AT UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (TRIAL 2)

Protocol:

Organica Plant Growth Activator Plus (PGA PLUS) & other bio-control agents were applied to 10 week - old Lisianthus "Maurine Blue" grown in 6 packs containing a peat based medium.

A randomized complete block design with 6 replications consisting of an individual six-pack per treatment and non-treated control replication was used. The plants were maintained at 28 degrees C / 82 degrees F and and a 12 hour photoperiod. .

The plants were inoculated with 15 ml soil drench containing 1x 10 to the 5Th microconidia / ml of the active fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (a very high dose).

Plants were examined for disease incidence and mortality once a week for 6 weeks. . All products tested were bio-control agents. Controls and plants in soil into which bio-controls were incorporated received only water.

Applications Rates & Timing of PGA PLUS

1) Initial Application Of PGA +:

• 1 - 3 days after transplantation into 6 packs
• 1 month prior to inoculation of pathogen
• 24 hours prior to inoculation of pathogen
• At 2 week intervals after inoculation of pathogen

2) Application Rate of PGA+:

• Applied as a 10 ml soil drench (1.2 grams of product dissolved in 1 liter of water)
• Equivalent to label rate of 2 ounces per 1000 square feet / 5.5 lbs per acre

Test Results - Comparison to Other Biological Control Agents

PRODUCT	FINAL MORTALITY	AUMPC	AUMPC
Control	94.4 %	1749	674
Soil Guard	83.3 %	1784	697
Root Shield	66.6 %	1746	486
PGA PLUS	52.8 %	1658	340

1) AUDPC is an indicator of how rapidly disease progresses (the lower the # the better)

2) AUMPC is an indicator of how rapidly plants die (the lower the # the better)

3) AUMPC RESULTS: Organica's PGA PLUS reduced the rate of plant death by 50 %, Bioworks Rootshield reduced it 28 % & Plant Health Cares Soil Guard increased rate 3 %

4) MORTALITY RESULTS: Organica PGA PLUS reduced mortality 44 %, Bioworks Rootshield reduced it 29 % & Plant Health Cares Soil Guard reduced it 12 %

5) Both Rootshield and Soil Guard are EPA Registered Fungicides, PGA PLUS is not

6) Test performed by Dr. R.J. McGovern, T.E. Seijo, D.S. Meyers and B.K. Harbaugh @ the University of Florida - IFAS Gulf Coast Research & Education

Return to: PGA (Plant Growth Activator)

or to - Step 1- Treat your Soil

For more information on the effectiveness of PGA+, please see the latest research studies -

Lisianthus "Maurine Blue"- PGA PLUS Research - University of Florida (Trial 1)

Basil Seed Research using PGA (Plant Growth Activator) - University Of Florida

Baron Kentucky Bluegrass - PGA PLUS Research at Rutgers

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