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gwl-g - [gwl-g] RE: Messenger and tomatoes

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  • From: "Jeff McClellan" <mcclellanj@edenbio.com>
  • To: <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [gwl-g] RE: Messenger and tomatoes
  • Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 11:56:19 -0700

Hello all;

First off, in the interest of full disclosure, I'll pre-qualify everything
in this reply: I'm a newbie to the list-serve, so if I don't get the
protocol right, I apologize. Likewise for the long winded response. You
also need to know that I work for EDEN BIOSCIENCE, the company that
developed Messenger.

With that said, I'd like to say thanks very much to Joan for her
observations on Messenger. Her experience on tomatoes is unusual but not
unique, and I wanted to add some food for thought about why this might
happen.

Many people use Messenger routinely on tomatoes with great effect. In fact
we just got done filming a segment for the DIY network on tomato production.
We were invited to participate in the show because the shows host learned
from a "renowned" tomato grower that his production and quality has
increased dramatically in the last two years, and the grower attributes
that to having discovered Messenger. The grower called Messenger one of the
most important tools he has for growing tomatoes and the reason his
production has moved to the next level. The usual response on most flowering
plants (including tomato) is that Messenger increases the rate of growth,
speeds up and amplifies the reproductive process, and extends the time the
plant
is productive (blooms or produces over a longer period of time).

On the other hand, we do get occasional reports from people that experience
what Joan is describing...plants look very healthy, vigorous and robust,
but the early flowering and fruit set seems to be lighter than normal.

I'll admit up front that we don't know exactly why this happens, although
Messenger treated plants invariably seem to catch up and produce bigger
yields than untreated plants over the course of the season. All I can do
is offer a theory on why this might occur, so here goes:

I'll start with some background: Messenger triggers a plant to respond to
what the plant "perceives" as an attack by a disease organism. We know that
this involves natural plant processes that regulate stress defense (against
the attack), growth, and reproduction. The foundation for providing the
energy for these processes involves an increased level of photosynthetic
activity in the plant. Increasing the photosynthetic activity is how the
plant funds all of the other processes being geared up to fight off the
attack. In nature, increasing photosynthesis helps make up for the drain on
resources that the disease might be causing, allowing the plant to survive
long enough to reproduce successfully. Trigger that response (more
photosynthesis) in a healthy plant, and the plant will put that extra energy
to use.

Secondly, all of the processes that the plant activates are processes that
occur anyway, just at a reduced level. Plants grow vegetatively (sp?),
plants routinely survive low levels of stress (i.e. in the heat of the day),
and plants ultimately flower and reproduce...all part of the lifecycle.
When plants are sprayed with Messenger early in the season (when they tend
to be vegetative anyway), the growth mechanism is already stronger than the
other responses that Messenger will call into play, so the growth response
can be especially strong...the growth response has a head start on the other
processes. Plants that are growing rapidly, are healthy, and are vigorous
might tend to resist early flowering to take advantage of the opportunity to
build more vegetation. In other words, "times are good, so take advantage
of the opportunity". Increased vegetative growth early increases the plants
potential to produce high yields if conditions remain favorable the rest of
the season. Once the plant becomes reproductive, sprays of Messenger are
likely to magnify the reproductive processes more than others. Likewise,
late season sprays on perennial plants apparently boosts the level of
carbohydrate and root reserves the plant is actively storing for the winter.
Messenger turns up the amplifier on whatever tune is playing at the time.

Third, and this is the real complicating factor, there are variables that
influence how individual plants respond that we don't fully understand...
differences between varieties or hybrids within a species and how
environmental conditions may influence those individuals. On top of that,
expert gardeners that already grow plants close to their potential may not
see the same effects as gardeners with less skill or ideal conditions.

Sorry for the long-winded answer. I'd be interested to hear what others
have experienced or ideas that might shed some light.

Thanks,

Jeff McClellan
EDEN BIOSCIENCE Corp.
814-349-5849

mcclellanj@edenbio.com
EDEN Bioscience Corporation
www.edenbio.com
3830 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021


mcclellanj@edenbio.com
EDEN Bioscience Corporation
www.edenbio.com
3830 Monte Villa Parkway
Bothell, WA 98021

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