March 15, 2000

 New Inoculant Also Helps Control Plant Diseases

Memphis, TN--HiStick NT, a new high-powered inoculant that includes Bacillus subtilis for extended root protection against soil diseases, has been introduced by Helena Chemical Company.  This means that legume growers can get the benefits of inoculation and biological disease protection in one planter-box application.

The innovative product recently received EPA approval and will be available to help increase yield potential in many legume crops—soybeans, peanuts, dry beans and alfalfa.  The company guarantees that HiStick NT will contain two billion viable Rhizobium cells, and 200 million viable cells of Bacillus subtilis per gram of product from the original manufacturing date.

Bacillus subtilis, a naturally occurring beneficial organism, helps control “damping off” diseases through direct and indirect activity.  Those diseases included Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Alternaria and others. 

After planting, the Bacillus subtilis attaches itself quickly to plant roots and begins to colonizes the root system.  This provides early disease protection and extended protection into the season.  It works by physically blocking entry sites into the root by disease pathogens. In addition, Bacillus subtilis also has an anti-biotic, repellent effect on many diseases. 

The Bacillus subtilis in HiStick NT is designed to complement standard seed treatment fungicides, which begin to lose activity two to three weeks after planting.  Since the Bacillus subtilis continues to colonize plant roots, its disease protection activity is extended much later into the growing season than standard seed treatments.

With extended disease protection of plant roots, the high-potency Rhizobium in HiStick NT has a greater opportunity to attach to more physical sites on roots.  This can increase nodulation and yield potential.

Yield research was conducted with HiStick NT in 1998 across a nine-state area that included six Land Grant Universities.  Compared with standard seed treatments and untreated check plots, both with and without inoculant, the HiStick NT plots had higher stand counts and higher yields.  In fact, the HiStick NT plots had twice the yield increase as the plots treated with standard seed treatments and inoculant.  Yields from HiStick NT were significantly higher than untreated check plots.

HiStick NT comes in 14-oz. packs that will treat either 500 lbs. of soybean seed, 200 lbs. of peanut or dry bean seed, or 100 lbs. of alfalfa seed.  It includes a patented sticker system for uniform adhesion on seed in the planter box.  Plus, a safener helps protect the viability of the Rhizobium and Bacillus subtilis from most chemical seed treatments.  HiStick NT can be used in all planter types, including air seeders.

HiStick NT is the first product of its kind on the market.  It is non-toxic, made with naturally occurring organisms and contains no genetically modified technology.

Helena Chemical Company is a nationwide formulator and distributor of crop production and crop protection products.  Headquartered in Memphis, TN, Helena markets crop protection chemicals, fertilizer and related services, seed and other information services.  Its Proprietary Products Department markets products in five categories—Adjuvants, BioScience, Nutritionals, Seed Treatments and Value-Added Generics. 

HiStick is a registered trademark of MicroBio Ltd.  Always read and follow label directions.

Contact:            
Aileen Lonergan   (303) 417-0146  Boulder, CO
Marty Robinson   (319) 395-7370  Cedar Rapids, IA
Jim Davis             (843) 423-2036  Marion, SC

<< Go Back