Download 2 PhytoBacter Products

The Company
PhytoBacter strives to implement ‘soft biotechnology’ as an alternative approach to
conventional fertilisers and growth enhancing products. By treating plants and soil with
our products, our clients should gain distinct economic advantages over the competiton.
PhytoBacter fulfils this aim in an environmentally friendly and ecologically sound manner.
Available on the market since 1999, PhytoBacter products are an international guarantee
for the health, growth and protection of plants and for healthy soil in agriculture and
horticulture
All products have in common that they are of longstanding natural origin. Our objective is
to select natural resources with specific desired effects and to harnass their properties for
customer use.
Phytobacter
Fon: +49 (0)30 / 383773-0
e-mail: [email protected]
Tegeler Weg 33
Fax: +49 (0)30 / 383773-13
http://www.phytobacter.de
D-10589 Berlin
Handelsregister:
HRB 3722 AG Neuruppin
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PHYTOBACTER Product Spectrum
PFLANZE
Schutz
Gesundheit
Wachstum
PHYTOBACTER
Biologische
Sanierung
BODEN
Figure 1: Spectrum of PHYTOBACTER products
PHYTOBACTER products can be classified as plant- or soil- specific according to their sphere
of activity.
PHYTOBACTER products strengthen and support plant growth. Products have been developed
to act specifically against certain important pathogens to ensure plant health (e.g.
Rhizoctonia solani for potato crops).
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The combination of effective organisms in a single product leads to widespread plant
protection against several pathogens and for several plant species.
Several products are available for ‘biological soil sanitation’. Our main fields of activity
are: relief of soil exhaustion, the sanitation of soil contaminated with heavy metals or
aromatics, as well as the recultivation of soil which stands shortly before karstification.
Apart from the primary field of activity of PHYTOBACTER products – protection, health,
growth, or sanitation – each product, due to its mode of action, leads to a integrated
positive effect for plants and/or soil. Our products contain microorgnisms which are
specialised in the above fields. However, these fields are interdependent, therefore a
healthy plant has also better growth and is better protected from pathogens.
Our products form a specific milieu with the root system of the plant, which severely limits
the habitat for pathogens and their nutrients. Furthermore, the product dissolves and
mobilises fresh nutrients making them available for plant uptake.
How does it work?
Certain bacteria, through evolution, have developed the capability of increasing their food
supply by producing plant-identical hormones – phytohormones. The bacteria live from
secretions from the roots of plants and, in turn, produce hormones which are taken up by
the hairs on plant roots. The influence of these hormones is the principle mode of action of
our products on the respective plant.
The modified hormone level in the plant stimulates growth and increases biomass in the
vegetative components (roots and shoots). This is documented by the increase in yield of
root crops such as potatoes.
Further metabolic products excreted by our bacteria dissolve and mobilise minerals from
the soil, primarily phosphate, potassium and iron, which would otherwise not be available
to the plants. This enhances the efficiency of the naturally present or added phosphates
and the erodible residue is reduced. The bacteria in our products suppress fungi and
bacteria detrimental to plants, for example the use of our products for potatoes reduces
the risk of infestation Rhizoctania solani und scabs.
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2.1
PhytoBacter Products
AGROBAC S.
The AGROBAC S. line of products was especially developed to meet the commercial
requirements of our clients for root crops (potatoes, sugar beet, carrots, kohlrabi) and
cereals.
The following positive effects were observed with cereals:
- higher numbers of seedlings per m2
- more – and longer – root systems of the shoots
- higher proportions of ear-carrying stalks per m2
- higher weight per thousand grains
without
AGROBAC
with AGROBAC
Figure 2: Trial with winter rye
Sort: Amilo
without AGROBAC
with AGROBAC
Figure 3: Trial with winter rye
Sort: Batis
From Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen that the treated plants have a stronger structure and
a better developed root system.
AGROBAC S. forms a specific milieu with the root system of the plant which greatly limits
the habitat and the nutrients available for harmful bacteria and fungi. This product
dissolves and mobilises fresh nutrients from the soil and produces growth hormones for
the plants. AGROBAC S. supplements agents in conventional fertilizers and pesticides to
produce larger root systems and tubers. Thus, AGROBAC S. increases the marketable
proportion of the yield both in quantity and quality.
During the 2000 vegetation period, the Schleswig-Holstein agricultural board made a
comparative study of biological plant-strengthening substances on potatoes infested with
Rhizoctonia solani. Potatoes treated with AGROBAC A.S. had a 51% higher marketable yield,
as compared to untreated controls.
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Both AGROBAC products contain natural, acclimatised microorganisms which colonise the
root area and influence the soil-root system in many ways.
without AGROBAC
Figure 4: Trials with potatoes
with AGROBAC
- Sort: Linda
Interactions which make up the typical effect profile of AGROBAC S. products:



Enhancement of plant growth
Active biological plant protection
Continuous mobilisation of nutrients
Apart from various locations in Germany, trials with AGROBAC S. are being carried out at
present in cooperation with China (different plants), Iran (potatoes, watermelons and
pistachios) and Greece (olive trees). These trials are performed and analysed by our
respective partners in these countries.
2.2
HORTOBAC TRICIS
In fruit orchards and vineyards, potential yields are often endangered by late frosts during
the blossoming period. Annual losses of cultivated plants, e.g. fruit and vegetables, due to
frost damage can run into millions. Spring frosts, which need only reach temperatures
slightly below 0 °C, are especially detrimental to yields..
The State Educational and Research Institute for Wine and Fruit-growing (consultants:
Ecological Fruit-growing e.V.) have carried out field trials with HORTOBAC TRICIS for two
vegetation periods. In 1997, the complete harvest in the region of Baden was destroyed
due to spring frosts.
Our contact person, Frau Kopp, emphasizes the urgent commercial need for a product
such as HORTOBAC TRICIS, since conventional substances for frost control are expensive and
not ecologically sound.
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Conventional frost control methods such as sprinklers or heaters are resource- and costintensive and usually impractical for the whole area under cultivation. Their aim is to stop
the transition of water from liquid to a solid state. Water requires crystallisation particles
to complete this transition and freeze. If none or only few are present, the ice-formation is
stopped or delayed. Certain micro-organisms are ice-nucleation active, i.e. form ice
crystals already at temperatures only slightly below 0 °C. If these microorganisms are
suppressed by competitive exclusion, the temperature at which ice forms sinks, since
fewer crystals are available.
Plants on the left:
control plants pretreated with bacteriafree1 water
Plants in the
middle:
treated with iceactive bacteria
Plants on the
right:
treated with nonice-active bacteria
Figure 5: Trial with summer wheat (Triticum sp.)
HORTOBAC TRICIS, based on this natural principle, can prevent the formation of celldestroying ice-nucleation particles in plants.
The product can be applied by conventional spraying and achieves frost control down to -4
°C.
The Iranian government was involved in the idea for this product and its solution Iran as
the largest pistachio exporteur world-wide has high annual lossses due to frost. It was this
considerable economic factor that convinced the Iranian government to support a
cooperation between zwischen scientific institutions in Iran and PHYTOBACTER.
2.3 HORTOBAC FORTIS
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Bacteria-free water is water which has been chemically treated to rid it of ist natural content
of microorganisms. Such water does not occurr in nature.Treatment with bacteria-free water
demonstrates that the cause of the crystallisation is primarily due to the presence of
microorganisms.
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So-called ‘vine-exhaustionen’ is a phenomenon often found in nurseries. Due to the the
one-sided nutrient leaching and the infestation of specific pathogenic microorganisms,
after three consecutive rearings, the cultivated plots cannot be used for several years.
This means a permanent area expansion and consequently increased costs for the vinenurseries. The regular cultivation of soil leads to a loss of minerals and negative effects on
the soil microclimate.
Two plants on the
left: wine stocks in
exhausted soil with
HORTOBAC FORTIS
Two plants on the
right: wine stocksin
exhausted soil
without HORTOBAC
FORTIS
Figure 6: Wine stocks in exhausted soil
To date, no conventional pesticide or fertilizer addressed the problem of ‘vine-exhaustion’.
In laboratory trials, HORTOBAC FORTIS was shown to reduce the effects of soil exhaustion.
HORTOBAC FORTIS is at present in the development stage, whereby several investigations in
cooperation with the The State Educational and Research Institute for Agriculture,
Viniculture and Horticulture, Rheinland Pfalz with soil already showing symtoms revealed
that its implementation lead to a considerable reduction in vine/soil-exhaustion. Two
doctoral candidates from PHYTOBACTER and der Staatlichen Lehr- und Forschungsanstalt are
performing trials in parallel to bring the product to a marketable niveau.
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Considering the extent of the Weinbau regions in Europe, a significant marketing potential
is forseen for this new product.
2.4 HORTOBAC MUNDUS
When concentrations of heavy metals, salts and organic compounds exceed certain limits,
the soil is classified as contaminated. These substances - which are hardly, if at all,
decomposable by nature - accumulate, often with negative effects on the ecosystem.
Several microorganisms are capable of decomposing or solubilising such compounds so
that they or their metabolites are freely available. Depending on the system, the
substances can then be dispersed over a wide area (dilution effect) or be taken up by the
surrounding plants. These plants must then be disposed of as classified waste.
The bacteria in HORTOBAC MUNDUS help to remediate contaminated soil.
Initial promising results have been obtained with soil contaminated with heavy metals and
planted with Lolium sp., where HORTOBAC MUNDUS was shown to have a positive effect on
the decomposition of heavy metals and organic components.
These compounds were solubilised from the soil and taken up by the plants, in this case
Lolium sp. Regular cultivation ensures the decomposition of these contaminants.
At present, an extensive field project is in progress in China (Inner Mongolia) using this
product in the recultivation of areas which are shortly before desertation due their high
salt content. An immense marketing potential is behind this, to date, successful operation.
In China, only about 40 % of the total surface area is suitable for agricultural use and
intensive farming of the suitable areas results in permanent karstification and desert
formation.
Expansion of this market to other Asian countries is being prepared by our partners in the
Philippines and Vietnam.
2.5
HORTOBAC ARBORIS
In horticulture and landscaping, the risk of transplanted or grafted trees not taking root
increases considerably with the age and/or size of the transplant. Especially in municipal
landscaping and green area development, large shrubbery is often implemented to
achieve rapid visual effects.
If the soil is low in nutrients, the yield from fruit trees sinks, and in extreme cases the
trees die. Both phenomena can be successfully eliminated by the use of HORTOBAC ARBORIS.
Many trees require soil microbes such as Mycorrhiza-fungi or suitable bacteria strains
which live in close association with the plant roots in order to flourish. Both vesiculararbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) as well as certain bacteria can increase the nutrient supply
and turnover of the target plant considerably.
The endosymbiotic fungi AM penetrate the root of the plant and develop a fine mycel
network, far more complex than the fine root mesh of the associated plant. The plant
profits from the increased availablity of soil nutrients through the larger root surface. AM
itself lives from the secretions from plant roots and has a positive effect on growth and
development of the host plant.
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Due to the extremely efficient phosphate uptake and effective transport system of the
outer hyphae of the fungi, plants infested with AM have a higher phosphate uptake.
Further nutrients, such as ammonium and the micro-nutrients copper and zinc can be
taken up in higher quantities due to this symbiosis. Another important aspect is the
transfer of carbohydrates and mineral compounds, not only between plant and fungi, but
also from one plant to another, via the fungi. In a field with a high root density, a large
number of plants from the same or different species can form a network and thereby a
physiological unit.
con.
1
con.
2
Br 1
Sy
167
Control 1: sterilized soil without
inoculum
Control 2: not sterilized soil without
inckulum
Mechernich Schwermetallboden
inoculated with the Glomus-isolate
from Galmei violets
Mechernich Boden inoculated with
Glomus intraradices Sy 167 as
control isolate
Figure 7: Trial with maize and soil contaminated with heavy metals from
Mechernich Eifel (4-month-old maize plants; Photo: Prof. Bothe, Univ. Cologne
The combination of AM with bacteria has two positive effects. The presence of bacteria
accelerates the infestation of the plant roots with AM and a life-preserving partner is
readily available for the plants (Figure 7).
Field trials in Greece with endangered olive trees showed a considerable increase in yield
and regeneration after only a single treatment with AGROBAC ARBORIS.
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2.6
AGROBAC GRAMINIS
Vegetation development by planting grass and other suitable plants suitable in areas of
erosion often proves to be a costly process since the hardened or gravelly ground in these
areas hardly allows anything to take root. The same holds true for grass areas in sport
stadiums and golf courses both of which are subject to hard wear. Growth, maintenance,
and regeneration of grass or green areas is time-consuming and cost-intensive.
With our cooperation partner GreenCorner Rasensysteme GmbH, which is primarily
concerned with the problems of extreme greenery und erosion protection, we were able to
demonstrate the successful application of AGROBAC GRAMINIS (Figure 8).
Figure 8 shows
in loose stony
controls show
development of
that AGROBAC GRAMINIS helps grass (Pos, Lolium und Festuca) to take root
ground and even on very hard stony ground. Comparisons as well as
little to no success. AGROBAC GRAMINIS also improves root system
wall vegetation inside the aligned’vegetation-blocks’ (gravel systems)
Further trials with AGROBAC GRAMINIS on rolled grass for sports fields and golf courses and
the greening of man-made cliffs.
Trials on loose stony ground
Trials on very hard stony ground
Soil sample left:
Treatment with
AGROBAC GRAMINIS
Soil sample midddle:
Treatment with a
product from the
company Bycobac
Soil sample right:
Untreated
control
Figure 8: Sowing grass on stony ground
At present, our cooperation partner is negotiating with marketing chains for the building
and gardening sectors to sell his own product in combination with AGROBAC GRAMINIS as a
set..
Apart from activity in Germany, extensive trials are being carried out in China. Here the
emphasis lies on vegetation development in karsified areas. If the earth can be protected
from erosion and therefore from further desertation, the first step will have been made to
return these areas to a suitable state for agricultural purposes
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2.7 HORTOBAC DEFENSUS
Most of the microorganisms that we have isolated have, apart from their specific effect,
the effect of providing protection for plants and soil from pathogens. The principle of this
protection can be based either on strengthening the plant’s own defence mechanisms or
on an additional, cumulative defence mechanism for plant and soil. At present in the
development stage, HORTOBAC DEFENSUS has the aim of combining the protection
mechanisms of all our microorganisms in a single product, which would then be effective
against several different illnesses and pathogens.
HORTOBAC DEFENSUS is a biological pesticide: environmentally friendly and of natural origin.
Due to the universal criticism of chemical pesticides, HORTOBAC DEFENSUS, has a high
market potential as an effective alternative.
Results from the Schleswig Holstein agricultural board showing that potatoes plants
infested with Rhizoctonia solani and treated with AGROBAC S. have an increase in yield of
51 % compared with untreated controls, demonstrate the efficacy of this product
innovation. PHYTOBACTER has already a biologically effective pesticide at its disposal and
has high expectancies for its further successful development.
2.8
HORTOBAC GLOME
Nematodes cause significant losses in agriculture. Even the consistent adhrerence to
Fruchtfolgen, to date the only successful measure, does not bring about satisfactory
results with root gallen nematoden. In the USA alone, up to 25 % loss of annual yield is
attributed to nematodes.
This prompted us to develop a product, HORTOBAC GLOME, to control nematodes. HORTOBAC
GLOME originates from our research on HORTOBAC DEFENSUS. Its mode of action is probably
based on the stimulation of the plants’ own defence mechanisms and prevents or delays
the penetration of the nematode larvae into the plant.
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