PyGrow Application Guide

Background

PyGrow is a unique pyroligneous acid extracted from biomass in the early stages of pyrolysis within a precise temperature range. Pyro refers to heat, and lysis refers to the decomposition or splitting of biomass molecules into smaller molecules. These molecules are released from biomass as gases, which are similar to smoke from a fire, and PyGrow is condensed into a liquid by cooling these gases.

All plant life today evolved from ancestors that were exposed to countless wildfires over 800 million years. These wildfires were likely very frequent in periods when our world was hotter than it is today. The species that survived were the ones that responded to residues of fire in their environment by producing more seeds, to ensure the survival of the next generation. Today's plant species retain this genetic imprint, allowing us to leverage natural selection to economically and organically improve crop yields.

All plants need is a trace amount of these smoke molecules as an epigenetic signal: There's been a fire! This is exactly what PyGrow provides. They respond by upregulating photosynthesis, increasing the sugar and metabolite content in their sap, producing more foliage, flowers, fruits and therefore seeds, and also releasing more root exudates into the soil to nourish and perhaps signal the microbial community in their root zone. Plant associated microbes, which evolved along with plants under fire stress and are dependent on them, get busy fixing nitrogen and making bound mineral nutrients plant-available. I would not be surprised to learn one day that plants are signalling their microbial community: There's been a fire! We need specifically these soluble nutrients so I can make more seeds and we can survive. Evidence, in the form of productivity increases (which require plant nutrients) and elevated soil organic matter, seem to suggest that this is an all hands on deck community effort.

PyGrow as a Chelation Agent

PyGrow contains a variety of organic acids, primarily acetic acid among others. It can therefore serve a dual function, both as an epigenetic signalling substance and a chelation agent to make mineral nutrients easily plant-available. Consider combining diluted PyGrow with any essential macro and micronutrients that may be needed to support photosynthesis, fruit, vegetable or grain optimization, disease resistance, etc. Our in-house trial experience suggests that this can be a very effective way to use PyGrow, particularly for seed priming and foliar applications to address micronutrient imbalances.

PyGrow as a Pesticide

Research has shown that pyroligneous acid (PA) is a natural, organic pesticide that potentially can be used to control a variety of insects and fungi. The challenge for many PA's is to find a sufficiently strong application dilution rate that will not negatively affect the treated plants. PyGrow is manufactured to minimize potential negative effects at higher concentrations to plants and livestock.

Research has shown that particularly in the case of smaller insects without a hard exoskeleton, PA exposure increases the osmotic pressure within them, causing dehydration, cellular damage, and system failure. Since it is unlikely that insects will develop resistance to this mode of action, PA may be particularly effective against insects that are resistant to synthetic pesticides, and can be used in a variety of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and grains, as well as on livestock such as chickens to control mite infestations.

PA is also a natural, organic fungicide that may be effective against a variety of fungal diseases, particularly if susceptible plants are treated early in their lifecycle before any signs of infection develop.

Because PyGrow upregulates photosynthesis, sap BRIX (sugar) levels and metabolite production, plants become naturally more resistant to both insects and diseases. At present, this is the only use case we can promote for PyGrow in this category because to date, we have not yet registered PyGrow as a pesticide in any legal jurisdiction.

Application

PyGrow needs to be diluted in water to a specific ratio before application. It can be applied to seeds, either by spraying or soaking them, to foliage as a spray, or into the root zone as a soil drench. Our objective is to provide the plant with the signal that there has been a fire, so the diluted PyGrow needs to be absorbed into the seed or seed coating, the leaves via open stoma, or into the roots through contact in the root zone. In general, it is probably best to avoid spraying open flowers, as this may inhibit pollination. If applied to foliage, PyGrow will be most effective if sprayed in the evening, on a cloudy day, or very early in the morning, as this will allow it to be absorbed more readily by the plant.

If diluted PyGrow will not adhere well to the leaves of a specific plant, then either a wetting agent or surfactant can be used in the dilution, preferably one that does not alter the pH. Alternatively, a soil drench may be applied as the preferred method of application for this type of plant.

The principle to keep in mind is that a successful application needs to deliver its molecular signal to the plant so that it can adapt its genetic expression, and generally speaking, the earlier in its lifecycle, or seasonal cycle in the case of perennials like fruit trees or bushes, the better. That said, repeat applications as a plant matures, which effectively serve as reminders to its genome, can be helpful. Research has identified a 3 week interval between applications as the most effective in some vegetable crops, but this may not be feasible, practically or economically, for other crops. In these cases, a focus on application early in the plant's life or seasonal cycle is best.

Dilution Rates

Research has identified an ideal dilution rate range between 100 and 200 parts water to 1 part pyroligneous acid, or between 1% and 0.5% for best results as a biostimulant, when used as a foliar spray or soil drench. We generally recommend applying PyGrow at a 200:1 dilution rate for these application methods.

Note that other pyroligneous acids should ideally be trialled to determine their ideal application rates for use as a biostimulant, which may be closer to 300:1 or 400:1.

When used as a seed primer, either as a soak or spray application, we recommend a 0.1% or 1000:1 dilution rate.