Fire Blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, can reduce fruit yield or in the worst cases, cause growers to cut-down or burn infected orchards. Primary control methods for the management of Fire Blight involve spraying orchards with antibiotics such as Streptomycin or Oxytetracycline. However, in many fruit producing regions around the world, the bacteria that cause Fire Blight have developed resistance to these antibiotics. For example, over 40% of fruit trees in Canada’s Okanagan Valley have been shown to be infected with Fire Blight organisms that are resistant to Streptomycin.
“When applied once during full bloom, at very low concentrations, Agress® showed comparative if not better results than the antibiotic standards, while exhibiting no toxic effects on plant growth,” said Dr. Claudia Nischwitz, Plant Pathology Specialist at Utah State University and Principle Investigator for the trial. “Based on these trial results, not only is Agress® an excellent candidate when considering a replacement for existing antibiotic treatments for Fire Blight, but also when choosing the most effective options to reduce or prevent the devastation caused by this disease, which often results in significant financial losses.”
Innovotech and its partner, Syngenta, one of the world’s leading crop protection companies, continue to expand the potential treatment uses for Agress®, an environmentally friendly seed treatment and plant spray designed to protect crops against both bacterial and fungal infections. Research efforts for Agress®, a product that is cost competitive with existing treatments, have focused on high priority diseases of “high-value added” crops such as fruits, vegetables and potatoes in addition to pulse crops, including dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas and lentils.
About Innovotech Inc.
Innovotech Inc. is a pioneer in the field of biofilm product development, focused on providing innovative and practical solutions to medical, agricultural and industrial problems caused by microbial biofilms. Biofilms are organized communities of microorganisms that exist in virtually every natural environment and are responsible for a host of diseases in human health, animal health and agriculture. There are few products or regulatory standards, aside from those of Innovotech, designed specifically for biofilm-forming organisms.
Innovotech has a broad range of products that address the issue of biofilms within a number of different industries, including commercially available products in three market segments; the MBEC Assay™, bioFILM PA™ and InnovoSCEPT veterinary kits. The MBEC Assay™ is a high throughput biofilm growth device that was recently approved as an ASTM International standard. bioFILM PA™ is the first diagnostic test to assist physicians in the selection of the most effective combination antibiotic treatment of patients with biofilm-based chronic lung infections, while the InnovoSCEPT veterinary tests are designed to determine the most effective antibiotic treatment for infections in both large and small animals.
Innovotech also has three products in advanced stages of development; InnovoSCEPT human tests have been designed specifically to address antibiotic treatment for human infections, Agress® is a unique, environmentally friendly seed treatment and plant spray designed to protect crops against both bacterial and fungal infections and Sani-Lux™ is a light-activated, natural hard surface sanitizer.
For more information contact:
Ken Boutilier, President and CEO
Innovotech Inc.
Phone: (780) 448-0585 ext. 221
Fax: (780) 424-0941
Email: ken.boutilier@innovotech.ca
Amanda Stadel, Communications Officer
Innovotech Inc.
Phone: (780) 448-0585 ext. 224
Fax: (780) 424-0941
Email: amanda.stadel@innovotech.ca
Connect with us:
Website: www.innovotech.ca
Blog: www.cf-test.ca
Twitter:www.twitter.com/innovotech
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