making turf matter
NEWS NEWS
www.turfmatters.co.uk
ICL backs four-year research into seaweed solutions ICL has joined forces with Royal Holloway, University of London to embark on a unique four-year research project which will look in detail at the effects of seaweed products on turfgrass plant parasitic nematodes. The project is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and ICL. “It came about following a discussion with Andy Owen, ICL International Technical Manager, at a greenkeeper meeting a couple of years ago,” said Alan Gange, Professor of Microbial Ecology at Royal Holloway. “We started talking about the need for turfgrass research, particularly focused on nematodes because we had noticed that in the last ten years greenkeepers and groundsmen have become much more aware of these and they appeared to be becoming a real problem.” Alan believes that the rise of nematodes could potentially be attributed to the loss of certain chemicals and the effects of climate change. As it stands, there are few options available for the turf manager who has a nematode problem but Alan feels that seaweed could well offer a sustainable solution. “There are scattered reports that some seaweed products or extracts, contain various chemicals which can protect plants against pests and diseases. We think that when the right seaweed is applied to a grass plant it could change the resistance of the plant to disease and insect attack. Nematode infection could then be reduced when the seaweed product is applied. So that is the essence of what we are trying to do here in sports turf. Someone
asked me a while ago if we are creating antibiotics for plants and in a way that is indeed what we are trying to do – we are trying to harness the plant’s natural resistance mechanism and improve it.” ICL’s SeaMax product, which is used as a biostimulant and fertiliser, has been a huge success in the sports turf industry. It contains a premium high concentration of Atlantic Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract, sustainably harvested from renewable resources by Acadian Seaplants. “We have already shown many turf benefits through using Seamax and we wanted to explore its capabilities further, with a more detailed research
“the rise of nematodes could potentially be attributed to the loss of certain chemicals and the effects of climate change.” project with Royal Holloway,” explained Andy Owen, Integral to the research project is student Tamsin Williams, who was appointed following a rigorous interview process: “In my previous role I was working on pathogen and insect bio-control using fungal bio-pesticides. I had also worked with plant parasitic nematodes before, so when I heard this was a bio-control project for nematodes I felt that it was perfect and it made so much sense to apply,” explained Tasmin. “Nematology is one
of my main interests, but it’s also the fact that seaweed products are sustainable – we could be finding an environmentally friendly solution for a serious turf problem, which potentially could transfer to other crops as well. This makes it a really valuable research topic.” Andy Owen said: “We will start with a proof of concept to gather further evidence that it does indeed work. In subsequent years there will be a focus on investigating the modes of action that are occurring, and then optimising applications
in terms of rates, timings and frequency, so that we can provide the right advise to the end-user. “As an ecologist it concerns me that many biological products, which contain microbes, are being sold in the turf marketplace with little or no supporting research. It is never published in reviewed journals and therefore with most of the products, one has suspicions about them because you just don’t know what independent research has been conducted. However, ICL genuinely want to find out more about their own products and they are committed to research.” In re-iterating Alan’s sentiments, Andy confirmed that ICL will look to publish this work where possible and intend to present the data openly at a number of events. The industry will be able to gain a greater insight into the project in January 2019 when Alan’s research group will speak at BTME’s Continue to Learn education programme.
Andy Owen and Tamsin Williams
Turf Matters | JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2019 | 13