PHC.L Regulatory News (PHC)

27 Jun 2007 07:01

Plant Health Care PLC27 June 2007 Embargoed until 7AM, 27 June 2007 Plant Health Care plc Myconate(R) produces outstanding yield gains in wheat. Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC.L), a leading provider of natural products forplants and soil, is pleased to report the first independent results of itsMyconate(R) testing programmes in wheat. Following impressive results in manyand varied crops over the past several years, the results of these trials nowdemonstrate the effectiveness of Myconate(R) in a new class of crops - the smallcereal grains. The Company now has compelling evidence of yield stimulation inthe two most important representatives of this class: wheat and sorghum. During the 2006/2007 season, Myconate(R) was evaluated in three separateindependent wheat trials in Mexico; two in Baja and one in Sonora. These trialswere conducted by local farmers and distributed across a wide range of soil andclimate conditions for this crop. In the Baja trials, the yield increases at the two locations were 21% and 16%;this resulted in increased income for the grower of US$385 per hectare andUS$326 per hectare respectively. In these cases the trials involved large plotsizes of 4 hectares (10 acres) so the response has been proven on growers farmsin a full commercial setting. In Sonora, the trials were established to determine the effect of seed rate andMyconate coating. In this test 20% less seed was planted in the Myconate treatedfields. The yield from both the control field and the Myconate reduced seedfields were essentially identical (approximately a 23% yield increase on theMyconate treated field when adjusted for seed rate) and the protein content ofthe Myconate(R) treated wheat was increased by 8.5%. As a result, the increasedincome to the grower for the higher yield and higher protein content would bearound US$600 per hectare. Further results of our cereal testing including more wheat, sorghum and barleytrials are expected as the year progresses. John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care commented on the results, "Once againMyconate has proven its ability to consistently deliver improved yields in avariety of crops and under differing soil and climatic conditions. We areespecially pleased to now have large scale tests results on the important cerealgrain crops which number in excess of 300 million acres in the North America,Europe, South America and Southern Africa regions. All of this coincides withplanned timing for further Myconate supply agreements." Myconate backgroundThrough the stimulation of endogenous mycorrhizal fungi, PHC's novel Myconatetechnology helps crops to develop larger effective rooting volume. Myconateworks by triggering the germination and growth of beneficial micro-organismscalled mycorrhizal fungi which colonize the roots of crop plants. With moremycorrhizal fungi at work, each plant can draw more nutrients and moisture outof the soil. More nutrients make for healthier plants, and significantlygreater overall yields. The Board believes Myconate could be the key tochanging the face of farming. The safety and ease of application of Myconatemeans that management practices need not be over-hauled. The procedure is astraightforward blending process, either tank mixing the Myconate with thefertilizer during planting, or applying the Myconate to the seed beforeplanting. For further information please contact: Plant Heath Care plc Tavistock CommunicationsJohn Brady, Chief Executive Jeremy Carey / Simon ComptonTel: 001 603 525 3702 Tel: 020 7920 3150 Evolution Securities LimitedTim Worlledge / Tim RedfernTel: 020 7071 4312 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange