News

Ultraviolet light helps seeds express desirable traits

A company has developed new technology that can treat seeds with light to unlock desirable traits. 

BioLumic founder and Chief Science Officer Jason Wargent tells Brownfield they found it was possible to have plants express desirable traits without genetically modifying them, with very positive results. “We see these initially staggering gains in yield. We really feel like we might have stumbled across a way to hack heterosis if you like, to enhance hybrid vigor beyond any level that we’ve probably ever previously imagined, actually. A whole new doorway for agricultural traits.”

Wargent says the technology doesn’t involve any genetic modification, chemistry, or additional plant material.

CEO Steven Sibulkin says the ability to up-regulate or down-regulate genetic expression through a one-time application of ultraviolet light on seeds is unique. “The traits that we’ve embedding into the seed are important. Yield and establishment, and compositional traits, and doing so in a way that doesn’t change the underlying genetics of the plant means we can bring this innovation faster, there’s less regulatory resistance, there’s less disruption for the farmer.”

And Wargent says they’ve found the newly-expressed traits show up in later generations. “We’re seeing these genes expressed in those hybrids, but they were never treated. Their parents were treated.”

BioLumic has partnered with Gro Alliance to bring treated corn seed to market this year, and they’re hoping to commercialize soybean and forage seed soon.

AUDIO: Jason Wargent and Steven Sibulkin from BioLumic and Jim Schweigert from Grow Alliance discuss the use of ultraviolet light to express seed traits for better yields and plant stamina with Brownfield’s Larry Lee