Case Study: Using Foliar Enzyme Technology to Address Herbicide Stress in Wine Grapes

1. Farmers Combat Herbicide
Drift Stress with Proven
Technology
For many US growers, beyond contending with weather events such as
severe rainstorms, flooding, extreme temperatures and during the summer
excessive heat and drought, stress from herbicide applications and
herbicide drift can cause crop loss. Many growers are finding solutions
to combat crop stress from both abiotic and herbicide stress in proven
technologies such as CROP+.
For Andis Applewhite, owner of Half Circle Cross Vineyard, in northwest Texas, the issue of herbicide
drift became a serious concern in 2016 when she first planted and remains an ongoing threat.
Applewhite grows cabernet franc wine grapes, requiring less water than other regional crops, are a
hearty variety and are economically appealing. However, she has seen poor performance of her vines
due to injury from neighboring grower’s herbicide applications throughout the season, leaving them
smaller and greatly reducing grape production.
“I want these vines to do well. My great grandfather bought this farm in 1903,” Applewhite said. “It’s
not a hobby for me. I want to improve on my production quality and plant more acres, but I have been
holding off until there is a solution to this drift problem and the crop damage it causes.”
“Some growers do not spray to label. They are not attentive to wind, weather, timing and other issues
to consider before spraying herbicide.”
Growth of her vines was slow and reduced by about one-third of where they should be according
to her crop advisors. For help, Applewhite reached out to neighboring friends, growers and retailers
to get her vines started, and for ongoing input management. In August of 2018, she was introduced
to CROP+, a foliar nutritional supplement designed to support plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
She made two late in-season applications of the technology to the vines showing the signs of
herbicide drift exposure: burn, leaf cupping, deformation and stunted growth, and one pre-dormancy
application. After her applications of CROP + last year, Applewhite’s vines are showing greater
flowering, more flower sets, and signs of new growth than in the previous years.
“CROP+ reduced the impact of the herbicide drift, with more buds and flowers visible than seen
previously,” said Applewhite. “I intend to make more applications of CROP+ this season and continue
evaluating the results.
Applewhite is also concerned about nutrition in season. “We’ve received a lot of rain this year, about
6.7 inches in a short window,” said Applewhite. “The fact that CROP+ contains a healthy amount of
zinc is important for improved nutrient uptake.”

2. About Verdesian
Verdesian Life Sciences enables a sustainable future for farmers through nutrient use efficiency
(NUE™). Grown from the ground up in 2012, Verdesian Life Sciences offers farmers and growers
biological, nutritional, seed treatment and inoculant technologies that maximize performance on high-
value row crops and specialty crops, as well as turf and ornamental plants. With its headquarters in
Cary, North Carolina, Verdesian is committed to researching and developing environmentally and
financially sustainable products. For more information visit http://www.vlsci.com.
About Cytozyme
For over 40 years Cytozyme, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been committed to accelerating
the adoption of sustainable products and processes in agriculture to help growers feed the world
responsibly by delivering high performance, proven crop solutions with innovative technology and
developed with rigorous quality controls. For more information, visit http://www.cytozymeag.com
“The multi-disciplinary approach is something that sets CROP+ apart from other technology and give
plants, whether they’re a specialty crop like wine grapes in Texas, or corn and soybeans in Iowa, the
best chance to get through harsh climate conditions and better tolerate other threats like herbicide
drift,” according to Ron Delfs, Business Manager for CROP+ in the US.
“The technology in CROP+ maximizes genetic potential by activating a plant’s metabolic pathways
and has several modes of action that impact photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, antioxidant activity and
genes involved in plant responses to stress,” Molly McGrath, Ph.D., Technical Development Manager
for Verdesian Life Sciences. “It is widely understood that the impact of stress is generally negative for
crops. Reduced root growth and nutrient tends to reduce yields. Boosting a plant’s ability to overcome
stressors with a product like CROP+ results in better performance that can minimize yield loss.”
As part of Verdesian Life Science’s specialized Nutrient Use Efficiency or NUE™ grower solutions,
CROP+ technology is specifically designed to help growers produce more resilient, healthy plants
during critical stages of phenological development, capable of withstanding both abiotic and
herbicide stressors throughout the season. Patented by Cytozyme Laboratories, CROP+ chemistry
contains biologically derived nutritional supplements, fermentation metabolites, naturally chelated
micronutrients, plant extracts and natural adjuvants to aid in plant photosynthesis, impact key
metabolic pathways, nutrient uptake and the reduction of destructive free radicals generated during
stress conditions. CROP+ is widely used across the globe in China, central and South America.
Published June 25, 2019.
CROP+ are trademarks of Cytozyme Labritories. Verdesian Life Sciences is a registred trademark.
Data on file. Important: Always read and follow label use directions.
© 2019 Verdesian Life Sciences. All rights reserved. VLS 5.25.2019