New Biological Plant Activator LifeGard

Recently registered with EPA is LifeGard, the first foliar-applied biological plant activator available on the market for potatoes, sugar beets, fruiting vegetables and other specialty crops to control disease.

Western Region Field Development Representative for Certis USA Scott Ockey shares the unique aspect of this product is that the active ingredient actually triggers the the plant's natural immune response.

Ockey: On the label it is listed as a biological plant activator — essentially what that means is the plant is induced by this bacterium to create metabolites which fight of fungi and bacteria. So the plant is doing all the work. The benefit for this is once the Bacillus that is in this LifeGard hits the plant that induction initiates. So within three hours, if it gets washed off the plant it doesn't matter because the plant's been induced and doing all the work at that point."

Another unique feature of this product is that it can be used in both conventional and organic production methods as Ockey explains

Ockey: "We are NOP approved and OMIR listed so we can go into organic systems without any issues. Conventionally we will be using it to hopefully reduce some of those conventional materials that are out there. So what that will do is it will help with resistance management. Since it is a new mode of action, there is nothing else that is going to be interfering with it as far as creating resistance plus since the plant is doing the work the resistance potential is very low.

If you'd like to learn more go to CertisUSA.com