The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has granted Agribiotics Inc. a registration for PulseSignal, a new seed applied technology for field peas and lentils that has demonstrated significantly higher yields in five years of research.

“PulseSignal is the first technology of its kind available to pea and lentil growers in Western Canada,” explains Agribiotic’s CEO, Hannah McIver. “We are very excited about the opportunities and we are proud to have developed this technology here in Canada.”

PulseSignal harnesses the natural plant signals involved in the nodulation process when applied to seed in the same manner as traditional inoculants. These signal molecules stimulate rhizobia already present in the soil or applied to the seed, leading to earlier nodulation and nitrogen fixation. This effectively eliminates the 2-4 week lag time typically associated with traditional inoculants.

Under the low soil temperature conditions typically present at sowing, PulseSignal promotes earlier nodule formation, reducing the nitrogen deficiency period normally experienced early in the growing season. This leads to an earlier and more consistent supply of available nitrogen, better early season plant growth, and improved crop yields. In five years of Canadian research, PulseSignal increased yields in independent research trials an average of over seven bushels per acre.

PulseSignal will be distributed in Western Canada by Engage Agro Corporation and will be available for large scale field demonstrations in 2006.