PGRs:The Overlooked Piece Of The Biopesticides PuzzleYield and quality can be as important to growers as crop protection

摘要

So much of the focus of biopesticides falls on crop protectants that another valuable production tool is often overlooked in the discussion: plant growth regulators (PGRs). While PGRs aren't technically biopesticides, they are a growing segment of thebiological controls business.Part of the confusion stems from the fact that EPA classifies PGRs as biochemi-cals under the umbrella of biopesticides."I think of'biopesticide' more as an EPA classification than anything else," says Kevin Forney, technical services manager with Fine Americas."There's a fine line between crop protection and crop production. That's why we prefer the term 'biorational' as opposed to 'biopesticide' — these products are not pesticides," agrees Johan Pienaar, global business manager, plant growth regulators for Valent Biosciences Corporation.That misnomer may be masking the opportunity offered by PGRs as another useful bio-based tool for growers.