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HOUSTON (November 6, 2007) – StollerUSA announced today the early results of an ongoing Penn State University study indicating that Flower Power™, a product with crop growth and flower-enhancing properties, can significantly increase productivity of yellow squash crops.
Dr. Orzolek, of the Horticulture Department at Penn State University, conducted a replicated experiment in high tunnels on yellow squash designed to test whether squash fruit could be developed without bee pollination. The control treatment had research plots of squash exposed to bees, whereas the plots with weekly foliar applications of Flower Power were covered to eliminate bee pollination.
Fruit quantity was equal in both plots by the middle of July 2007. Two weeks later however, during the hottest part of the summer when cucurbitaceae crop plants normally produce less fruit than under cooler conditions, both the control (bee pollinated) and Flower Power-treated plots were inspected for the number of flowers that had developed into fruit on each plant. There were four times as many fruit on the Flower Power-treated plants than the control plants.
“Flower Power appears to increase the natural activity of auxin in all flowers, resulting in increased flower production but more surprisingly, increased fruit production without bee pollination,” said Orzolek. “This, in turn, will increase the consistency and yield of crops.”
In addition to the increased fruit and flower development found in the study, producers and bee keepers have reported an increase in honey bee activity and substantially increased honey production in fields of crops such as apples treated with Flower Power.
“As honey bee populations are threatened, Flower Power is projected to become a significant benefit to crop producers and bee keepers,” said Jerry Stoller, president of StollerUSA. “You can’t control Mother Nature, but with Flower Power you can help control the effects of Mother Nature on your crop.”
StollerUSA’s recommended Flower Power application is three pints per acre every 10 to 14 days for stronger pollination and flower development, improved fruit set and increased yield.
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In agribusiness for more than 35 years, Stoller markets a full line of products to help growers increase crop yield and quality. StollerUSA, headquartered in Houston, is actively researching and developing micronutrients and other products in more than 50 countries. For more information, please visit www.stollerusa.com. |
