Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu
A new tool is available for reducing transplant shock. The chemical 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) which is marketed as the product LandSpring by the AgroFresh company reduces ethylene production and stress on young plants. Ethylene in the plant hormone released when plants are injured or are under stress, as is common during transplanting. Excess ethylene can cause leaf drop and wilting and can increase transplant losses. The way 1-MCP works is that it has a similar molecular structure to ethylene but without the negative effects on the plant. It binds to ethylene receptors in the plant and thus blocks ethylene from causing damage.
LandSpring is labelled on broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, muskmelon, bell pepper, nonbell pepper, summer squash, tomato and watermelon. According to the company “When applied to seedlings 1-5 days before transplanting, LandSpring WP helps decrease transplant shock enabling plants to more rapidly establish and grow. Observed benefits include increased crop biomass due to better root and shoot development when plants are subjected to stress.in the weeks following transplantation”.
The label can be found at this site: https://agrofresh.octochemstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/LandSpring-_epa-approved-seedling-label.pdf
More information can be found at: http://www.landspring.info/