Plant pathology and nutrition

Laboratory capacity to support your R&D programs

To support research programs before or after product registration, the Staphyt laboratory has all the necessary equipment and expertise to test, select, evaluate the active substances and conventional and biological formulated products. The tests under controlled conditions are performed before the field-trials phase and are complementary to them. Our team is able to design specific tests on request and propose monitoring tailor-made to the characteristics of your products.
The laboratory located in France (Martillac, Bordeaux) has an infrastructure of more than 800 m² and additional capacity for testing under controlled conditions and greenhouse.

Testing of plant protection products

A marketing of plant protection products begins with a perfect understanding of the product and its mode of action. Our experimental devices allow us to test the product under the most favourable conditions to determine, quantitatively and qualitatively, the efficacy of your product.

Screening of active substances with in vitro and in vivo tests;
Understanding product mode of action, molecular target research,
Determination of the method of use: preventive, curative,
Efficacy test to study conventional and alternative plant protection products;
Growth regulator trials,
Elicitor studies on potted plants, use of biomolecular tools;
Tests for soil diseases;
Seed treatment assays,
Rainfastness resistance tests (rainfall from 10 mm/h to 100 mm/h);
Phytotoxicity studies;
Study of biological and physical compatibility of products (static and dynamic),
Tests on the spray quality of adjuvants and plant protection products (retention, dispersion/cover, penetration test).
30 pathogens available with a library of hundreds of strains.

Detection and monitoring of resistance

To prevent the appearance of resistance to fungicides and herbicides and thus prolong the effectiveness of products in the field, it is necessary to monitor pathogen populations and verify their sensitivity to products. When this resistance is proven, a quantitative monitoring of this resistance is implemented to track its evolution.
With a 30-year history in resistance monitoring, our team performs this work with the aid of in vitro, in vivo and in-planta tests. Molecular tools such as sequencing and qPCR allow the identification and detection of of the origins of the mutation and quantification of these resistances.

Bibliographic Study,
Research of the most appropriate method for monitoring;
Determination of the Baseline;
Search for the mode of action and search for the target,
Collection of historical pathogens for reference strains,
Pathogen sampling capacity across the EU,
Multi-annual monitoring and follow-up,

Bioassay in plant nutrition (Fertilisers and biostimulants)

A series of tests under controlled conditions and using various plant models (monocotyledons and dicotyledons) allow testing the safety and efficacy of fertilisers and biostimulants:

Determine the mode of action of the product;
Define the doses, modes and stages of application;
Demonstrate its effectiveness by optimizing the use of nutrients already present in the soil or applied via fertilisation (e.g. phosphorus export);
Test products under abiotic stress (water, drought, light, saline, chemicals…)
Test product efficacy in improving agronomic parameters (leaf surface, height, biomass)

Standardised tests also available

Test on root elongation (NF EN ISO 11269-1);
Test on the emergence and growth of higher plants (NF EN ISO 11269-2);
Germination test of Glomus spores (XP ISO 10832);
Determination of nitrogen mineralisation and nitrification in soils (NF EN ISO 14238);
Glomus mycorrhisation assay (FD X 31-205-2);

Various tools are available to monitor and analyse trials

Measurement of chlorophyll index (SPAD) and normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI);
Software to measure leaf and root development (WinRhizo);
Determination of the nutritional content;
Molecular markers (phosphate deficiency, water stress…) and metabolic (proline, phytohormones…),
Ability to develop tailored markers (R&D team).

Biological products

Bioactive products require a particular technical and experimental approach; therefore, we offer a team dedicated to these products (BioTeam). Our experts in plant physiology and phytopathology assist in preliminary screening and pot testing of biopesticides and biostimulants.

Biocontrol products

A screening adapted to the nature of the product.
A protocol dedicated to biocontrol products: control of parasitic pressure, increased number of plants per condition, perfect control of growth conditions.
A study of physico-chemical and biological compatibility with conventional products

Elicitors

Screening test with GUS elicitation pathway search system
Molecular monitoring and quantification of elicitation
Efficacy tests with potted plants and dedicated protocol

Biostimulants

We test a wide variety of biostimulants from different sources: microorganisms, plant/algal extracts, organic and inorganic matter…

Screening tests adapted to the nature of the products and applications,
Germination tests on treated or untreated seeds,
Efficacy tests with potted plants and a dedicated protocol (abiotic, water, saline…), nutritional and qualitative parameter measurements (agronomic and commercial criteria)…

Molecular tools

A molecular biology platform completes the classical analysis device. Various services using molecular tools are available and allow:

the understanding of the modes of action of the products by research of target genes,
the detection and quantification of resistances,
the detection and quantification of the activation of plant defenses,
demonstrate the activity of biostimulant products by activating genes involved in nutrition or resistance to abiotic stress.

Support for R&D - Tailor-made testing

The development of R&D at Staphyt allows us to anticipate the demands of our clients and go ever further in the characterisation of conventional or biological products.
We work proactively, monitoring technology and science in our industry, but also in response to specific requests.

Examples of tailor-made services offered by R&D Staphyt:

Design of new pathosystems to evaluate the efficacy of products in planta (apple scab, wheat septoriasis, wheat fusariosis…),
Molecular tests for detection of resistance to Active Substances (Qil for fungicides, ALS for herbicides…),
Implementation of a fluorescence module to assess spray quality,
Design of bacterial viability tests for biostimulants.

Test, screen and evaluate efficiently thanks to our deep expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.

Analytical chemistry >

Ecotoxicology & environmental Fate >

Endocrine Disruptors >

Agri-food processing >

Physical Chemistry >

Seeds care >

Stability and storage >

Explore our other services

The combination of our expertise allows us to support our clients from start to finish to secure their product development.

Field services

Quality driven, we provide customised services for your agricultural research.

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Regulatory services

Working with our clients to define the best regulatory strategy and successfully bring their products to market.

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