BioWorks launches Stemmer to improve crop resilience under environmental stress

BioWorks introduced Stemmer, a fully soluble silicon-based plant health product designed to improve crop resilience, nutrient efficiency and tolerance to environmental stress across greenhouse, nursery, high tunnel and field production systems.

The product delivers 100% water-soluble, plant-available silicon to reinforce plant cell walls, improve structural strength and support water and nutrient use efficiency. According to the company, Stemmer also improves calcium mobility within plants, supporting cell wall development, tissue quality and overall crop vigor.

BioWorks said Stemmer is intended to help crops tolerate abiotic stresses including drought, heat, frost, salinity, high electrical conductivity (EC) conditions, heavy metals and ultraviolet radiation.

Chris Rose, general manager at BioWorks, said Stemmer provides growers with an additional tool to strengthen plant structure while improving water and nutrient use efficiency under challenging growing conditions.

Company trial data showed Stemmer improved rooting performance in poinsettia cuttings. Two days after treatment, 80% of treated cuttings had initiated roots compared with 30% of untreated controls. After seven days, all treated cuttings had reached transplant-ready status with at least 10 roots, compared with 80% of untreated plants.

In two cherry field trials, Stemmer increased leaf tissue calcium by 23% and 31%, according to BioWorks. The company also reported improvements in leaf structure and fruit quality, including more uniform fruit color and firmer cherries in treated fields.

Stemmer is formulated for use with existing fertility and crop protection programs and is designed for greenhouse, nursery, high tunnel and field crop production.