FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Trichoderma FAQ
Trichoderma is a naturally occurring fungus found in soils worldwide. It has been studied extensively as a contaminant in mushroom production systems, as a component of industrial cellulase production, as well as for its plant associated biocontrol and growth promotion properties.
Trichoderma can be isolated from plants and all soil types around the world. That is, it can be free-living or it can grow endophytically (inside the plant). Among endophytic strains, some grow only in the roots while others also grow into the above ground parts of the plants.
There are many strains of Trichoderma found around the globe. The differences between strains are the same as the differences between different people: genetics. Just as only a select few humans can swim the English Channel, very few strains of Trichoderma have beneficial or consistent effects in agricultural systems. The very first commercialized strain of Trichoderma was T22, developed in the 1980’s by Agrauxine’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Gary Harman, back when he was faculty at Cornell University. Subsequently, many Trichoderma products have come onto the market, some of which contain T22 or some other purified strain, and others that contain wild or uncharacterized strains or strain mixtures. One factor that distinguishes different strains is the trigger molecules they produce. These triggers are how Trichoderma communicates with its environment, including plants. Different strains produce different triggers and therefore elicit different responses from their plant hosts.
Each Agrauxine’s strains is broadly adapted so that it can thrive in environments ranging from Alabama to Minnesota to South Africa. They have been selected to give consistent performance from year to year and across environments. In addition, different strains perform best in combination with specific crop plants, therefore Agrauxine’s Trichoderma products contain different, patented strains depending on if that product is for corn or wheat or soybeans or cotton or something else.
There are many ways in which Trichoderma works with the plant including antibiosis, competitive exclusion, facilitation of nutrient absorption and uptake, and induction of plant gene expression. There is a great deal of genetic variation between strains which means that different strains may interact with plants by using some, all or even none of the above strategies. The strains that are of the most use to agriculture, influence plant gene expression to enable to plant to perform to the maximum of its genetic potential, resulting in better resistance to stress, bigger and greener plants, and increased yields. All of Agrauxine’s strains are known to work with plants in this way.
Plants can benefit from multiple Trichoderma strains because each strain is unique. That is, different strains have different genetics, which means that they possess different traits. This is the same as corn genetics: some hybrids are early maturing while others resist lodging. What underlies these different performance characters are genes. Trichoderma strains show a range of different performance characters and one may confer drought resistance whereas another may increase tillering. Inoculating plant roots with only one of these strains provides only one of these traits, however inoculating with both strains can provide an additive effect with both traits being effected. This synergy does not always occur which is why Agrauxine’s combination products are continually tested for strain compatibility and trait additivity.
Trichoderma strains with agricultural value require the presence of living plant roots. When the crop is harvested and the roots die, that season’s Trichoderma also dies. There are strains that are free-living in the soil and that do not require plant roots, however because these do not establish an endophytic, symbiotic relationship with plants, they’re of little value as agricultural biologicals.
Trichoderma can be applied as a seed treatment on farm or at the seed treater in addition to in furrow, root drench, root dip, as part of an irrigation system, and even a foliar spray. Agrauxine specializes in seed treatments, however our products are used in many different cropping systems both domestically and internationally and can often be adapted to the needs of the region and crop. Our pipeline products are being developed with these different applications in mind.
Trichoderma strains with agricultural value require the presence of living plant roots. When the crop is harvested and the roots die, that season’s Trichoderma also dies. There are strains that are free-living in the soil and that do not require plant roots, however because these do not establish an endophytic, symbiotic relationship with plants, they’re of little value as agricultural biologicals.
That’s a secret! However, it involves long term testing of candidate strains in our R&D facility, greenhouse testing, and subsequent field testing with crops of interest. A successful strain will perform at a high level in all of these situations over many environments and over many seasons. Through this process we develop strains that show enhanced performance in specific crops and these are then formulated into our crop specific products.
SabrEx® for Corn FAQ
SabrEx® for Corn is an inoculant, or seed treatment, applied to the seed before planting. The seed treatment is a unique formulation of two (2) carefully selected, specific, patented, proprietary biological fungi strains called Trichoderma.
SabrEx® for Corn can be used on commercial corn, sweet corn and popcorn.
Trichoderma is a fungi that is found in soils all over the world. There are thousands of known Trichoderma strains but only a few are beneficial to plants. Trichoderma colonizes with the plants root system and develops a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The Trichoderma feed from the starches and sugars produced by the plant while exuding beneficial enzymes and proteins for the host plants use. As a result the plant produces a larger root system and improves its nitrogen and water use efficiency, thus resulting in higher yields.
Agrauxine, in working with Dr. Gary Harman of Cornell University, has developed the technology to isolate and identify specific strains of beneficial Trichoderma. Once the strains are identified and isolated, Agrauxine tests each strain with various crops to determine which crop receives the most benefit from each strain of Trichoderma. After thorough testing, a formulation is produced and brought to market to benefit farmers.
Over the past 3 years, in over 181 trials, SabrEx® for Corn has been averaging 7.97 bushels/acre higher yield than untreated plots. In 2012, even with the drought, we are seeing a higher yield response. With today’s corn market at an average of $7.00/bushel, a farmer can typically see a net return on investment of up to $51/acre.
SabrEx® for Corn is available in two different formulations:
SabrEx® for Corn PB is a planter box treatment that can be added just before planting at the planter box. It consists of a talc/graphite formulation as the carrier for the Trichoderma. You will add .5 oz. of SabrEx® for Corn PB for every 80K kernel unit of seed you add to your planter. Make sure to mix the SabrEx® for Corn PB into the seed corn thoroughly. It should be noted; The talc/graphite formulation also helps to lubricate your planter equipment and also helps provide seed flowability. SabrEx® for Corn PB will not replace your talc or graphite that you’ve been using, however it will complement your treatment.
SabrEx® for Corn LQ is a liquid high concentrate formulation for commercial treaters only. It has a low application rate of 0.16 fl/oz./80k unit of seed. One 32 oz. jug will treat 200 units of corn. Once on the seed, SabrEx® for Corn LQ will not expire for two planting seasons. Applying SabrEx® for Corn LQ to the seed is a convenience to the grower. Refer to the SabrEx® for Corn LQ label for specific rates and directions for use.
You can contact your Seed Company as many seed companies now apply SabrEx® to their corn in the bag. To find SabrEx® for Corn PB please contact your local ag retailer or co-op or give Agrauxine a call at 877-617-2461.
SabrEx® for Corn PB is available in two different package sizes.
A 12 oz. pouch that treats 24 units of seed. One case contains 6 pouches that will treat a total of 144 units of seed.
A 1 oz. pouch that treats 2 units of seed. One case contains 50 pouches that will treat a total of 100 units of seed.
SabrEx® for Corn LQ is a liquid high concentrate formulation for commercial treaters only. It has a low application rate of 0.16 fl/oz./80k unit of seed. One 32 oz. jug will treat 200 units of corn. Once on the seed, SabrEx® for Corn LQ will not expire for two planting seasons. Applying SabrEx® for Corn LQ to the seed is a convenience to the grower. Refer to the SabrEx® for Corn LQ label for specific rates and directions for use.
Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans FAQ
Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans is an inoculant, or seed treatment, containing a specially formulated blend of Excalibre® Soybean inoculant plus SabrEx® Root Inoculant formulated in a talc-graphite carrier. Graph-Ex SA® is comprised of both proprietary beneficial bacteria (Bradyrhizobia) and beneficial fungi (Trichoderma) that provide a more efficient use of soil nutrients for the host plant.
Bradyrhizobia are soil bacteria that fix nitrogen after becoming established inside root nodules of legumes. Rhizobia require a plant host; they cannot independently fix nitrogen.
At Agrauxine, our proprietary Bradyrhizobia for soybeans is specific to these crops in helping the plant to establish nitrogen fixing nodules that will convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrogen that is useable by the plant.
The SA means that Agrauxine has also added our proprietary, patented Trichoderma strain found in SabrEx® root inoculant found to be beneficial in soybean production.
Trichoderma is a fungi that is found in soils all over the world. There are thousands of known Trichoderma strains but only a few are beneficial to plants. Trichoderma colonizes with the plants root system and develops a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The Trichoderma feed from the starches and sugars produced by the plant; while exuding beneficial enzymes and proteins for the host plant. As a result the plant produces a larger root system and improves its nitrogen and water use efficiency, thus resulting in higher yields.
Agrauxine, in working with Dr. Gary Harman of Cornell University, has developed the technology to isolate and identify specific strains of beneficial Trichoderma. Once the strains are identified and isolated, Agrauxine tests each strain, or combinations of strains, with various crops to determine which crop receives the most benefit from each strain of Trichoderma. After thorough testing, a formulation is produced and brought to market to benefit farmers.
GraphEx-SA® for Soybeans is a planter box treatment that can be added just before planting at the planter box. It consists of a talc/graphite formulation as the carrier for the Bradyrhizobia and Trichoderma. You will add 0.5 oz. of Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans to every 140k unit of seed you add to your drill/planter. Make sure to mix Graph-Ex SA™ for Soybeans thoroughly with the seed. It should be noted; the talc/graphite formulation also helps to lubricate your planter equipment and also helps provide seed flowability. This is important as it will minimize seed hang-ups in your equipment and reduces the wear and tear on your units.
To maximize yield potential: Agrauxine recommends a double (2x) inoculant rate when planting soybeans under the following soil conditions:
- Soil that has not hosted the specific legume for more than 3 years.
- Soil pH of less than 5.8 or greater than 8.5
- Organic matter less than 1%
- Drought or flooding
- Soil Temperatures exceeding 80°F
- Eroded soil
- Use of soil treatments and chemicals injurious to soil bacteria and inoculants
Yes. Using a different source of inoculant is a good choice.
Once you have applied Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans to your seed it is best to plant it immediately. Occasionally, delays can be expected in farming, however after 72 hours you will need to re-treat your seed with Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans.
Yes. Apply Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans to your seed only after the pesticide products have dried.
Agrauxine does not sell directly to the grower. You can contact your Seed Company, local ag retailer or co-op to purchase Agrauxine products. Still can’t find it? Feel free to give us a call at 866-335-5994 and we will point you to the nearest location for purchase.
Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans is packaged in 25 oz. pouches. One pouch will treat 50-units of seed. One case contains 6 pouches that will treat a total of 300-units units of seed.
Graph-Ex SA® for Soybeans is good for one planting season. What you don’t use will not be good for the next year. Each package is stamped with its expiration date.
Naturall™ for Vegetables FAQ
Naturall™ for Vegetables is an inoculant, or seed treatment, containing proprietary and patented biologicals called Trichoderma that colonize the root system of plants. Crop stress such as dry weather can be alleviated, and often systemically so that root colonization of the treatment benefits the physiology of the whole plant resulting in higher yields.
Trichoderma is a fungi that is found in soils all over the world. There are thousands of known Trichoderma strains but only a few are beneficial to plants. Trichoderma colonizes with the plants root system and develops a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The Trichoderma feed from the starches and sugars produced by the plant while exuding beneficial enzymes and proteins for the host plants use. As a result the plant produces a larger root system and improves its nitrogen and water use efficiency, thus resulting in higher yields.
Agrauxine, in working with Dr. Gary Harman of Cornell University, has developed the technology to isolate and identify specific strains of beneficial Trichoderma. Once the strains are identified and isolated, Agrauxine tests each strain with various crops to determine which crop receives the most benefit from each strain of Trichoderma. After thorough testing, a formulation is produced and brought to market to benefit farmers.
Naturall™ for Vegetables can be used on many types of vegetables such as Cucurbits, Leafy Vegetables and Cole Crops, Bulb Crops, Root Crops, and Tuber Crops.
Naturall™ for Vegetables comes in three different formulations:
Naturall™ for Vegetables PB is a planter box treatment that can be added just before planting at the planter box. It consists of a talc/graphite formulation as the carrier for the Trichoderma. Specific rates for each vegetable crop can be seen on the Naturall™ for Vegetable label. Make sure to mix the Naturall™ for Vegetables PB thoroughly with the seed. It should be noted; The talc/graphite formulation also helps to lubricate your planter equipment and also helps provide seed flowability. Naturall™ for Vegetables PB will not replace your talc or graphite that you’ve been using, however it will complement your treatment.
Naturall™ for Vegetables HC is a high concentrate formulation specifically formulated for transplant crops. It can be applied in-furrow or as a root dip, with or without a starter solution prior to transplanting. When using water, use only non-chlorinated water. See Naturall™ for Vegetables label for specific crop rates.
Naturall ™ for Vegetables LQ is a high concentrate formulation specifically formulated for seed treatment and transplant crops. It can be applied to seed, in-furrow or as a root dip, with or without a starter solution prior to transplanting. When using water, use only non-chlorinated water. See Naturall ™ for Vegetables label for specific crop rates.”
Naturall™ for Vegetables PB is packaged in 16 oz. pouches that include a measuring scoop. One pouch can treat up to 200 lbs. of seed depending on the crop. One case contains 6 pouches. Naturall™ for Vegetables HC comes in two package sizes: 4 oz. and 16 oz. pouches. There are 12-4 oz. pouches in a case and 6-16 oz. pouches in a case.
Naturall™ for Vegetables PB and HC have a two planting season expiration date in the container. You will need to store the unused product in a cool dry place until next season. Each package is stamped with its expiration date for your convenience.
Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans FAQ
Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans is an inoculant, or seed treatment, containing a specially formulated blend of Excalibre™ Dry Beans Inoculant plus SabrEx® Root Inoculant formulated in a talc-graphite carrier. Graph-Ex SA® is comprised of both beneficial bacteria (Rhizobia) and beneficial fungi (Trichoderma) that provide a more efficient use of soil nutrients for the host plant.
Rhizobia are soil bacteria that fix nitrogen after becoming established inside root nodules of legumes. Rhizobia require a plant host; they cannot independently fix nitrogen.
At Agrauxine, our proprietary Rhizobia for dry beans is specific to these crops in helping the plant to establish nitrogen fixing nodules that will convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrogen that is useable by the plant. The Rhizobia in Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans is a different type of Rhizobia than is used for soybeans.
The SA means that Agrauxine has also added our proprietary, patented Trichoderma strain found in SabrEx® root inoculant found to be beneficial in soybean production.
Trichoderma is a fungi that is found in soils all over the world. There are thousands of known Trichoderma strains but only a few are beneficial to plants. Trichoderma colonizes with the plants root system and develops a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The Trichoderma feed from the starches and sugars produced by the plant while exuding beneficial enzymes and proteins for the host plants use. As a result the plant produces a larger root system and improves its nitrogen and water use efficiency, thus resulting in higher yields.
Agrauxine, in working with Dr. Gary Harman of Cornell University, has developed the technology to isolate and identify specific strains of beneficial Trichoderma. Once the strains are identified and isolated, Agrauxine tests each strain with various crops to determine which crop receives the most benefit from each strain of Trichoderma. After thorough testing, a formulation is produced and brought to market to benefit farmers.
Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans contains the Rhizobia species Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli and will effectively nodulate Black beans, Cranberry beans, Field/canning beans, Garden or string beans, Great Northern beans, Kidney beans, Navy beans, Pink beans, Pinto beans, Scarlet runner beans, Snap beans, and Wax beans.
Naturall™ for Vegetables PB and HC have a two planting season expiration date in the container. You will need to store the unused product in a cool dry place until next season. Each package is stamped with its expiration date for your convenience.
Once you have applied Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans to your seed it is best to plant it immediately. Occasionally, delays can be expected in farming, however after 24 hours you will need to re-treat your seed with Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans.
Yes. Apply Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans to your seed only after the pesticide products have dried.
Agrauxine does not sell directly to the grower. You can contact your Seed Company, local ag retailer or co-op to purchase Agrauxine products. Still can’t find it? Feel free to give us a call at 866-335-5994 and we will point you to the nearest location for purchase.
Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans is packaged in 25 oz. pouches. One pouch will treat 50-50# of seed. One case contains 6 pouches that will treat a total of 300-50# units of seed.
Graph-Ex SA® for Dry Beans is only good for one planting season so what you don’t use will not be good for the next year. Each package is stamped with its expiration date.
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops FAQ
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops contains a specially formulated blend of Rhizobia specific for legume cover crops within a talc-graphite carrier.
Rhizobia are soil bacteria that establish inside the root nodules of legumes to fix nitrogen for the plant. Rhizobia is unable to independently fix nitrogen and requires a plant host.
Our proprietary Rhizobia for legume cover crops is specific to these crops in helping the plant to establish nitrogen-fixing nodules that will convert the nitrogen to a useable form for the plant. The Rhizobia in Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops is a different type of Rhizobia than is used for soybeans.
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops, under proper handling, storage, application and soil conditions, will inoculate these crops:
Austrian winter pea, chickling vetch, faba bean, field pea, flat pea, garden pea, hairy vetch, lentil, manantha vetch, narrowleaf vetch, purple vetch, rough pea, specter pea, sweet pea, tangier pea, trapper pea;
Cowpeas & Lespedeza
Acacia, adzuki bean, alyce clover, asparagus-bean, black eyed peas, centrosema, common lespedeza, cowpea, desmodium spp., hairy indigo, jackbean, jointvent (aeschynomene), Korean lespedeza, kudzu, mung bean, partridge pea, peanut, pigeon pea, pink eyed purple hull pea, sericea lespedeza, siratro, slender blushclover, sunn hemp, tepary bean, velvet bean, wild indigo, winged bean, winged crotalaria;
True Clover
Alsike clover, Ball Clover, Berseem clover, Bigflower clover, Carolina clover, Cluster clover, Rabbitfoot clover, Hop clover, Hungarian clover, Ladina, Large hop clover, Persian clover, Puff clover, Red clover, Seaside clover, Small hop clover, White clover, Zigzagg clover, Crimson clover;
Grasses
Treats all grasses grown for grain and forage.
No. If planting radishes you would be better suited to use Naturall™ for Vegetables PB.
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops is a planter box treatment that can be added right at the planter just before planting. You will add 4 oz for every 100# of seed or 40 oz for every 1,000# of seed added to your drill.
As an added benefit utilizing a talc/graphite formulation as the carrier helps to lubricate your planter equipment and improves seed flowability. This is important, as it will minimize seed hang-ups in your equipment and reduce wear and tear
Once you have applied Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops to your seed it is best to plant it immediately. Occasionally, delays can be expected in farming, however, after 48 hours you will need to retreat your seed.
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops is packaged in two convenient package sizes:
4 oz packets – One packet will treat 100# of seed. One case contains 12 packets that will treat a total of 1200# of seed.
40 oz pails – One pail will treat 1,000# of seed. One case contains 6 pails that will treat a total of 6000# of seed.
Graph-Ex SA® for Cover Crops has a shelf life equivalent to one planting season. Each package is stamped with its expiration date.
You can contact your Seed Company, local ag retailer or co-op, or click here to contact ABM® and we will point you in the direction of your nearest Agrauxine distributor. Agrauxine does not sell directly to growers.
