• MustGrow Biologics (MGRO) reports positive tobacco field trial results versus synthetic chemical “Chloropicrin”
  • MustGrow’s tobacco crop protection program is being funded by and conducted through a 3rd party research organization
  • Plant growth, phytotoxicity, nematodes–forms of parasitic roundworms–and soil fungi were evaluated periodically, and dry leaf yield weight was assessed at harvest
  • The need for biopesticides is increasing as farmers, consumers and regulators seek ‘natural biological’ alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides
  • Several harmful synthetic chemicals are being banned or deregistered, leaving tobacco farmers with limited viable crop protection options
  • MustGrow Biologics Corp. (MGRO) is in the grey and is trading at C$2.00 at 12:51 pm ET

MustGrow Biologics Corp (MGRO) has completed a field trial study of its mustard plant-based biopesticide.

The study compared MustGrow’s mustard plant-based biopesticide to one of the leading soil fumigation synthetic chemicals, Chloropicrin 100 band.

As previously reported in June 2020, MustGrow’s tobacco crop protection program is being funded by and conducted through a 3rd party research organization (PRO).

The 3rd PRO conducted a field study to evaluate the effectiveness of MustGrow’s biofumigant and bionematicide applied pre-transplanting at rates of 5.0 gal/acre (46.77 L/ha) and 2.5 gal/acre (23.38 L/ha) and subsequently 28 days after transplanting, at a rate of 2.5 gal/acre (23.38 L/ha).

The MustGrow treatments were compared to Chloropicrin.

Plant growth, phytotoxicity, nematodes–forms of parasitic roundworms–and soil fungi were evaluated periodically, and dry leaf yield weight was assessed at harvest.

Overall, the 3rd PRO found similar or comparable efficacy and yield results evaluating MustGrow’s natural mustard-derived biological products versus the widely-used synthetic fumigation chemical, Chloropicrin.

MustGrow and the PRO will further evaluate MustGrow’s products during the 2021 growing season to assess tobacco leaf yield and chemistry data once the tobacco leaves have been cured.

Field trial data will be used to potentially achieve a product registration to control diseases and insect pests that affect tobacco production.

The need for biopesticides increases as farmers, consumers and regulators seek ‘natural biological’ alternatives to synthetic chemical pesticides.

Several harmful synthetic chemicals are being banned or deregistered, leaving tobacco farmers with limited viable crop protection options. 

Chloropicrin is a widely-used synthetic chemical in agricultural soil fumigation.

As a potent skin irritant, Chloropicrin toxicity through dermal, inhalation and eye exposure can induce vomiting, bronchitis, internal corrosive effects, and fatal pulmonary edema in humans(2).

Nematodes infect a tobacco plant’s root system, which reduces water and nutrient movement into the plant, resulting in immature plants and lower yields.

Yield-destruction from nematodes has been reported from eleven tobacco-producing countries on four continents, including the United States and Canada.

Despite extensive synthetic chemical pesticide use to combat this parasitic disease, nematodes continue to cause damage to global tobacco farming, an industry size estimated at US$28 billion.

MustGrow is a publicly-traded agriculture biotech company focused on providing natural science-based biological solutions for high-value crops, including fruits & vegetables and other industries.

MustGrow Biologics Corp. (MGRO) is in the grey and is trading at C$2.00 at 12:51 pm ET.

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