Azospirillum brasilense - Azo Root for Horticulture
6/27/2024 - By Dr. Aaron Palmateer
Harrell’s is excited to launch our newest biological based product called Azo Root, which introduces two unique innovations into one solution to help plants grow. Azo Root contains the beneficial bacterium Azospirillum brasilense, which is a species of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), that is well studied and widely used in agriculture. One characteristic about Azospirillum brasilense that benefits plants is that it acts like a biological fertilizer because it can fix atmospheric nitrogen into plant available forms. Unlike other nitrogen fixing bacteria such as the plant host specific Bradyrhizobium species associated with legumes, Azospirillum brasilense is compatible with all plants including ornamentals.
What Does Azospirillum brasilense do for Plants?
Besides nitrogen fixation, Azospirillum brasilense produces a phytohormone called indole-3 acetic acid (IAA), which is one of the most important auxins found in plants. IAA plays a significant role in root initiation and development by promoting the formation of lateral roots and root hairs, which are important for nutrient uptake and plant stability. Further Azospirillum brasilense has been found to help plants tolerate various environmental stresses including drought, salt, and temperature extremes due to its ability to trigger a defense response that protects plants from oxidative stress and maintains essential cellular functions under adverse conditions.
Supporting conditions for greater root mass and initiation, faster establishment and recovery, abiotic stress mitigation and enhanced nutritional efficiency are the beneficial characteristics that make Azo Root a smart choice for application during plant propagation and transplanting. In fact, recent demonstrations in plant propagation have shown a single application of Azo Root shortened the duration of liner production for cocoplum and podocarpus by as much as two weeks when compared to the grower’s standard program.
What Does Azospirillum brasilense do for Plants?
Besides nitrogen fixation, Azospirillum brasilense produces a phytohormone called indole-3 acetic acid (IAA), which is one of the most important auxins found in plants. IAA plays a significant role in root initiation and development by promoting the formation of lateral roots and root hairs, which are important for nutrient uptake and plant stability. Further Azospirillum brasilense has been found to help plants tolerate various environmental stresses including drought, salt, and temperature extremes due to its ability to trigger a defense response that protects plants from oxidative stress and maintains essential cellular functions under adverse conditions.
Supporting conditions for greater root mass and initiation, faster establishment and recovery, abiotic stress mitigation and enhanced nutritional efficiency are the beneficial characteristics that make Azo Root a smart choice for application during plant propagation and transplanting. In fact, recent demonstrations in plant propagation have shown a single application of Azo Root shortened the duration of liner production for cocoplum and podocarpus by as much as two weeks when compared to the grower’s standard program.
How Does Azo Root work?
Saving the best part for last is that Harrell’s partnered up with 3Bar Biologics to use their Live-MicrobeTM packaging innovation. 3Bar Biologics is a company dedicated to solving the issue of growth and delivery of beneficial microorganisms. Their patented Live-Microbe Technology allows for just-in time activation of microbes in the package to ensure fresh, pure, maximum concentrations of the beneficial organism prior to application. Here is how it works in Azo Root:
How Does Azo Root work?
Saving the best part for last is that Harrell’s partnered up with 3Bar Biologics to use their Live-MicrobeTM packaging innovation. 3Bar Biologics is a company dedicated to solving the issue of growth and delivery of beneficial microorganisms. Their patented Live-Microbe Technology allows for just-in time activation of microbes in the package to ensure fresh, pure, maximum concentrations of the beneficial organism prior to application. Here is how it works in Azo Root:
Most beneficial biologicals require exceedingly high concentrations (think billions per droplet of water) to effectively get into and onto our plants to deliver the desired result. Some products may start with fresh, high concentrations of active microbes, but die or decline quickly when subjected to the challenges of our traditional supply chains.
The freeze-dried concentration of Azospirillum brasilense can remain viable for 9 months from the date of manufacture, solving the major shelf-life issue other products face. Once activated, the bacteria grow in a closed, sterile environment to peak concentrations after just 72 hours. This avoids contamination and ensures optimal concentrations upon application for better results.
Azo Root is Now Available from Your Harrell’s Rep
Azo Root is now available and has a fit in most greenhouse and nursery production systems. Whether trying to enhance establishment to speed up propagation, minimizing stress after stepping plants up to larger containers, or remediating stress from shipping or transplanting into the landscape – Azo Root can help. It can be easily incorporated into broader, soil-targeted spray applications given its extensive tank-mix compatibility. For more information on Azo Root and the ever-expanding portfolio of Harrell’s offerings, be sure to reach out to your Harrell’s territory manager.
Related Resources
In addition to being the nation’s largest distributor of branded fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, Harrell’s produces custom-blended fertilizers, specialty liquids, and wetting agents. Additionally, Harrell’s is the exclusive US owner, formulator, and distributor of all POLYON® branded products.
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