NL: The effect of non-chemical inhibitors on bedding plants

The Delphy Improvement Centre in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, researches the effect of non-chemical inhibitors on bedding plants. They are testing three natural growth inhibitors, one from Koppert Biological Systems, one from Van Iperen and one from Melspring. Delphy will try a mechanical system during the trial to influence the growth of the plants.

The trial is allocated from the Arena session "replacing chemicals in bedding plants” which was held in November last year. The bedding plants sector concluded that they must strive to reduce the use of chemical growth regulators. Jeroen van Buren, manager of pot plants at Delphy: “This is necessary because of two developments. They expect that growth inhibitors will become less interesting for manufactures, which will reduce the chemical means with a legal authorization.

The sales market also puts pressure on the use of chemical growth inhibitors because they want to sell a sustainable product.” In addition to these reasons, using growth inhibitors costs the grower a considerable amount of money and labour. According to Van Buren growers of bedding plants already are using a range of alternative means for chemical growth inhibitors.

However, there is only limited independent and scientific knowledge about the effect and possible side-effects of these means. With these independent trials the effects of these alternative growth inhibitors will become clearer.

For more information:
Delphy
Agro Business Park 65
6708 PV Wageningen
T: 0317 491 578
F: 0317 460 400
www.delphy.nl