Giant Knotwood Extract Regalia Biopesticide

Filed in archive Food and Agriculture on September 26, 2008

Marrone Organic Innovations, Inc. has launched Regalia® SC, a new biopesticide for controlling both fungal and bacterial disease in a wide range of fruit, ornamental and vegetable crops.

The EPA-registered product is an extract of giant knotweed, Reynoutria sachalinensis, which effectively
controls powdery mildew, bacterial diseases, rusts, gray mold and other crop diseases. Compounds
that are extracted from the knotweed have been proven to stimulate the crops' natural defense system
against plant pathogens.

Regalia is said to prevent these crop diseases by "switching on the plant's own natural defense mechanisms so plants produce and accumulate higher levels of natural proteins and other compounds that inhibit disease development."

According to their press release (pdf file), Regalia will be initially available for use on vegetables and ornamentals, but for the 2009 season, grapes, tree fruits and other crops will be a focus.