Lactoplant: Effective Against Plant Disease

Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease of banana that affects fruit production. Plants with leaves damaged by the disease may have up to 50% lower yield. Sigatoka is caused by a fungus called Mycosphaerella fijiensis. The disease, called ‘Badio’ locally, causes dark spots in infected plants. Leaves turn yellow and brown and the plant eventually dies. The disease spreads quickly to nearby plants as the fungus is carried by wind and water.

Controlling such disease is a multi-million dollar industry. Around the world, chemical fungicides are used. However, as the fungus become resistant to the fungicide, more and more quantities of chemicals are being used to control the disease. The fungicide application is expensive. It is estimated that 15-20% of the final price of the product comes from the control of the disease. Moreover, this takes a heavy toll on the health of the farmers who are exposed to these chemicals on a daily basis.

Lactopafi researchers may have found an effective, less expensive, and safer way to destroy the Sigatoka disease. Last year, the company introduced Lactoplant, a microorganism-based plant growth enhancer. The product was formulated to promote plant growth and at the same time act as an organic bio-pesticide. The premise of the technology was that beneficial microorganisms will enhance plant growth through the creation and conversion of nutrients, suppression of growth-deterrent pests, and improved absorption of nutrients in plants.

Lactoplant is already proven to increase plant growth as shown by the Fertilizer Efficacy Test in 2007.

A bioassay test was conducted at the Agricultural Research Center of the University of Southern Mindanao, concluded that ‘Lactoplant exhibited bio-efficacy’ when tested against the Sigatoka fungi pathogen. It was comparable to other fungicides in terms of dosage of efficacy. Lactoplant clearly inhibited the growth of the Sigatoka fungus.

Lactoplant is far less expensive than commercial fungicides. It is organically processed and formulated using natural ingredients. The study showed that it has become the safest fungicide. With Lactoplant, the future is bright for banana farmers here and around the globe.