KELPAK PRESENTATION

NORTHWEST 2010
Presentation by
Riaan Lourens Kelp Products Pty Ltd South Africa

CONTENT
Plant growth regulators Natural biostimulants Seaweed product differentiation Kelpak plant responses

International trial results

Optimum Kelpak application

DEFINITION OF PGR
A compound that stimulates a physiological response in a plant part at very low rates, natural compounds = plant hormones
Levels needed for plant response: Macro nutrients: 1-20 g/kg tissue Micro nutrients: 10-50 mg/kg PGRs: <1-1000 ug/kg

GROUPS OF PGRs

Auxins (AX) Cytokinins (CK) Gibberellins (GA) Ethylene (ET or EI) Abscisic acid

AUXINS
Cell division (with CK) Lateral root development Cell enlargement Flower initiation Fruit set/thinning Fruit development

CYTOKININS

Cell division (with AX)

Lateral bud development Leaf expansion Delay of senescence Change fruit size, shape

GIBBERELLINS
Cell elongation Break dormancy Promote flowering Fruit thinning

Fruit enlargement

ETHYLENE

Fruit ripening & colouring

H H \ / C = C / \ H H

ABSCISIC ACID

General growth inhibitor

Colour development

Plant Hormone Interactions

pre-CK pre-GA CK pre-AUX GA AUX pre-ETH pre-ABA inactive AUX ETH ABA
Because of interaction, ratios of groups are more important than single presence stimulate inhibit

NATURAL HORMONES (Biostimulants)

Various seaweed products

Some plant extracts Microbial/earthworm secretions

SEAWEED PRODUCTS Different sources:

Ascophyllum nodosum Ecklonia maxima Macrocystis pyrifera (cold & warmer waters) Durvillea potatorum (storm cast) Other species in blends

GLOBAL SEAWEED RECOURCES

La
A

A
A M La A A La

Le Le E

D
M
D

A D

Ascophylum Durvillea

E
La

Ecklonia
Laminaria

M Macrocystis
Le Lessonia

Ecklonia maxima

SEAWEED PRODUCTS Different extractions:

Heat Alkaline digestion Freezing Pressure differential (patented) Fermentation

KELPAK

Fresh Ecklonia maxima source

Pressure differential extraction

Stringent quality control procedures

Auxin dominant
11 mg Auxin biological equivalent 0.03 mg Cytokinin equivalent

Major auxins in Kelpak

IAA IAAA

Indole-3-acetic acid Indole-3-acetyl-L-aspartic acid Indole-3-pyruvic acid Indole-3-acetylglycine Indole-3-propionic acid Indole-3-lactic acid

IPia
IAGly IPA

ILA

Synthetic auxin effects

Different auxins have different plant responses Auxin IAA IBA
Cell division Bigger cells Lateral rooting Fruit set Fruit retention Bigger fruit Fruit thinning

CPA
NAA NAD

+++ ++ +++ + +

+++ + +++ ? +

+ +++ 0 ++ +

++ + 0 + 0

0 0 ? ++ 0

+ 0 ++ + ++

0 0 0 ++ +++

Organic Approval

Organic Food Program Registered Material

In accordance with chapter 15.86 Revised Code of Washington and rules as set forth in chapter 16-160 WAC, the following material has been verified to comply with 7 CFR, Part 205 United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program.

Kelpak
Material Type: Fertilizer & Soil Amendment Material Sub-Type: Kelp

Restrictions on Use: None Registered by: Caltec Agri Marketing Services John Monnich 1420 F Street #100 Modesto, CA 95354
Registration valid through October 31, 2010. Issue date: January 17, 2010

Miles McEvoy Organic Program Manager

Kelpak plant responses

Typical plant responses:
Prolific lateral rooting Improve plant vigour Increase fruit/seed set Increase fruit retention Increase fruit/tuber size/yields Improve fruit colour Improve crop storage quality

Plant Hormonal Activity

Auxins

Cytokinins

Plant Hormonal Activity

Auxins/Kelpak

Root growth stimulated

Mung bean rooting response

Kelpak
Typical plant responses:
Prolific lateral rooting Improve plant vigour Increase fruit/seed set Increase fruit retention Increase fruit/tuber size/yields Improve fruit colour Improve crop storage quality

Secondary Effect

Increase in foliar growth

More root tips, More cytokinin production Higher cytokinin levels

Top growth 15 d after treatment

Kelpak
Typical plant responses:
Prolific lateral rooting Improve plant vigour Increase fruit/seed set Increase fruit retention Increase fruit/tuber size/yields Improve fruit colour Improve crop storage quality

Fruitset/retention

Control

Kelpak

Kelpak
Typical plant responses:
Prolific lateral rooting Improve plant vigour Increase fruit/seed set Increase fruit retention Increase fruit/tuber size/yields Improve fruit colour Improve crop storage quality

Auxin application interactions

Fruit sizing

CK

GA
More root tips

Feathering Foliar growth

pre-GA
primary secondary

pre-CK

More chlorophyll, photosynthesis

AUX
pre-ETH
Fruit set, retention

pre-ABA

ETH ABA
Fruit colour development Fruit maturation (starch to sugar)

Kelpak trials up to 2000

Early applications focused on rooting, vegetative growth and yields of:

Cereals

Row crops
Vegetables Nursery and new plantings

Potatoes - Germany
Unreplicated trial on 60 potato varieties
Applications: Kelpak 4 L/ha at 10-12 cm crown Kelpak 4 L/ha at 10-12 cm crown and 2 L/ha 14 days later Results: 17% yield increase over all varieties 16% tuber number increase over all varieties 42 varieties had yield >10% for either 1 or 2 applications 53 varieties had yield >5% for either 1 or 2 applications 7 varieties did not respond with either 1 or 2 applications

Kelpak trials from 2000

Applications focused on perennial crops:
Pre-flowering for root and shoot development (strawberries, wine grapes) From flowering to set to increase set (nuts, cherries, berries)

From set to increase fruit retention and size (pome, stone, nuts, table grape)
Verasion and after for fruit colour and sugar (table grape, cherries, stone)

Kelpak on Almonds in CA
Ave of 9 evaluations; 4 locations; 3 varieties
Kelpak @ 2 to 3 L/ha X 3 +27%

Optimum Kelpak Application

pH lower than 7
Do not dilute more than 1:500 (0.2%) Not too frequent 14 day interval Compatible with most agrochemicals