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Do Biostimulants Really Work?

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nomic issues and problems. Production,
business management and safety are just a
few topics for consideration.
where experiments have to be conducted
in order to fine-tune the rate of applica-
tion, timing of application, tank-mix
compatibility, and synergistic responses
with other products. Often you will
come across products, which claim that
they contain 50 different strains of
microorganisms. These microorganisms
are generally spore formers and the prod-
ucts are formulated as a dry powder con-
taining the spores. My question to these
companies is, "Why do you need so many
during the pre-stress period (spring for
cool-season grasses and fall for warm-sea-
son grasses) (Figures 4 and 5). Once the
plants undergo stress it is very difficult to
observe any effects, since at that point the
plants are struggling to survive and gener-
ally use up their carbohydrate reserves.
When the bacterium is applied during
the pre-stress period, the plants tend to
perform better during the stress period.
Ask the Expert continued on page 72

microorganisms?" It seems like the

Part I "Do Biostimulants Really
Work?" was provided by: Dr. Sowmya
(Shoumo) Mitra, assistant professor,
Department of Horticulture/Plant and
Soil Sciences, California State
Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA
91768; smitra@csu'IJomona.edu
Part II "What Does Research Indicate
About Primo and Biostimulants" was
provided by Dr. Erik H. Ervin.
approach is to throw in as many species
of microorganisms as possible and hope
that one of them works. A lot of these
biostimulants contain iron or other
micronutrients and the sales representa-
tive will show you nice pictures from
demonstration trials conducted at a cus-
tomer's site. Just by looking at the pic-
tures it is almost impossible to differenti-
ate the effect of the biostimulant from the
response due to the nutritional compo-

.
nent. The observed effect is an overall
response and in order to differentiate the

Q•
What are biostimulants, and do effects separate treatments have to be
they really work? applied and the treatments have to be
replicated .
Having worked with biostimulants

A
The word "Biostimulants" is
• used in the turf industry to
• describe any additives that stim-
ulate turfgrasses. These include live bio-
logical organisms, plant extracts, spores of
microorganisms, plant growth regulators
and even nutritional supplements. A
number of small and large companies
have introduced a myriad of products,
which claim to not only stimulate the
plants but also prevent some diseases by
promoting plant health. Often the claims
are not supported by any research infor-
mation. Companies even state "Research
was conducted by "X" professor at a "Y"
university." Statements like this are often
misleading and actually do not show any
data substantiating their claims.
Companies do not want to spend time
and money to develop the products and
end up launching products that have not
been developed properly. Each product
has to go through a development process
during the last few years my experience
has actually been very positive. I person-
ally do not like the term biostimulants,
due to its non-descriptive nature and
hence in this article I will refer to the
products as live biological organisms like
Azospirillum spp. or spores of microor-
ganisms like mycorhizzae, or plant growth
regulators like cytokinins.
During the last three years I have
worked extensively with a live organism
called Azospirillum spp., which is a plant
growth promoting rhizobacterium
(PGPR). Azospirillum colonizes the roots
of turf grasses and increases the synthesis
of hormones mainly indole acetic acid
(IAA), which is an auxin. It promotes
root development and the effects can be
observed in both cool and warm-season
grasses (Figures 1, 2 and 3A-B). The
most important key to success is the
application timing. Optimum results are
observed when the bacterium is applied

TPI Tuif News: January / February 2003


Ask the Expert continuedfrom page 71
Physiologically the plants have been
observed to increase chlorophyll content
and, as a result, photosynthetic efficiency
increases due to the application of the
bacterium. When live biological organ-
isms are used proper care should be taken
during application. These products
should be applied during late evening or
early morning to avoid harmful UV rays
and high temperature desiccation of the
organisms. These products should not be
tank-mixed with other pesticides and
should be watered-in as soon as possible
after application. Plant responses due to
What Does Research Indicate
bout Primo and Biostimulants
By Dr. Erik H. Ervin. Ph.D., assistant
professor, Turfgrass Ecology and
Physiology, Virginia Polytechnic
Institute and State University.
72
ASK THE EXPERT
these applications will be
dictated by the method of
application.
Some of these microor-
ganisms are very specific to
their host hence the same
product might not work
for all plant species.
Micorrhizae are beneficial
fungus, which colonize the
roots of certain turf grasses Figure 4
and increases the physical Root and shoot growth and development of cool-season turfgrasses
surface area of roots. as affected by seasonal fluctuations.
There are two types of
micorrhizae, ecto and
endo-mycorrhizae. Ecto-
mycorrhizae colonize the
roots of certain trees and
endo-mycorrhizae colonize
on turf grass roots.
Vesicular arbuscular mycor-
rhizae (VAM) are a type of
endo-mycorrhizae, which
colonize the roots of both
warm and cool-season turf-
grasses. The best way to
apply the spores of mycor-
rhizae is during final land Figure 5
preparation. The spores Root and shoot growth and development of warm-season
can be mixed into the soil turfgrasses as affected by seasonal fluctuations.
in order to get proper contact with turf- region and split it into two halves, keep
grass roots. one portion untreated and treat the other
There are some biostimulants, which half. Observe any visual symptoms, pull
contain plant growth regulators like out root plugs and wash them to observe
cytokinins and auxins. Researchers have any changes in root development. Rate
reported that application of cytokinins the turf based on color and quality on a
may provide some beneficial physiological visual rating scale.
effects when applied during stress periods. ttTP1
Ask the sales representative for any
research data before you buy a product.
Info Central
If possible conduct a demonstration trial
Key Words: biostimulants, growth
regulators
on a small area before you apply the
Category Codes: RS
product on a large area. Mark out a
Q
In my quest for profitability, two of my biggest road
• blocks are the time it takes to establish a harvestable bluegrass or fescue sod and
• poor summer shelf life. Recently I was told that Primo and some biostimulants
might provide help in these areas. Has any research been done on these topics?
If so, what has been found?
A
Dear reader, you are in luck, I have conducted research on these particular top-
• ics over the last six years. Specifically, I have found that multiple applications
• of Primo (trinexapac-ethyl) have increased tiller density of Kentucky bluegrass
TPI Turf News: January I February 2003