Cultivate booth #2928
Biobest launches Bluestim in the USA
“Developed by Lallemand Plant Care, Bluestim enhances crop performance under environmentally stressful conditions, delivering a vast array of benefits to edible and ornamental crops”, explains Harman Gilbert, Biobest Commercial Manager for USA and Canada. “Treated plants will continue to function normally, overcoming the difficulties generated by extreme conditions, such as drought, temperature changes including frost, salinity and other water stresses.”
Bluestim contains extremely high levels of glycine betaine (97%+) - a natural extract from sugar beet that helps crops deal with a wide range of stresses. Easy to apply, through a foliar spray, it accumulates in plant cells improving the balance between water and nutrients within the plant cells, including calcium mobilization. Bluestim penetrates through the leaf surface within 24 hours after the application, and is distributed throughout the plant to help it cope with stressful conditions for 3-4 weeks.
Bluestim is already generating plenty of interest among European growers, where it is marketed as Greenstim.
“In tomato crops, fruits of treated plants are less susceptible to blossom end rot and cracking, while fruits look shinier”, says Veronica Cervantes, Bluestim Product Manager for the USA. “In Europe it has shown to reduce micro-crackings in raspberries and strawberries and produce firmer fruits with longer shelf life. Raspberries can soften and deteriorate rapidly after storage due to fungal decay. Berries grown in Belgium treated with Greenstim have shown a longer shelf life and are noticeably firmer.“
“Biobest is actively exploring and developing applications for Bluestim in other crops. Since the product can help with the movement of calcium within the plants, we are conducting tests in lettuce (tip burn) and ornamentals (crop quality during transit in cuttings and cut flowers; potted plants at retailer’s shelves). We’re also eager to collaborate to assess frost protection (blueberries and other outdoor crops) and water management in turf and landscape.
Bluestim is already approved for use in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, South Carolina and Utah, where it can be safely applied to all crops. Florida, Ohio and Maryland will soon follow.
To get more information about Bluestim, visit Biobest Booth (#2928) at Cultivate ’17 Show or check www.biobestgroup.com.