YPT enables crops such as canola (pictured), maize and soybeans to turn on and off their defences against drought at an earlier development stage Photo: Johannes Wienke

The Canadian company, Performance Plants (Kingston, Ontario), has secured Canadian and US patent protection for its drought protection product, Yield Protection Technology (YPT).

YPT enables crops such as canola, maize and soybeans to turn on and off their defences against drought at an earlier development stage, allowing them to keep water longer and boost yields by 15-25%. The technology enhances the genetic control of stomata opening to improve drought tolerance. Performance Plants has licensed the technology to several of the world’s leading seed companies. YPT-enhanced crops are set for commercial cultivation in 2011. The company is also in the process of acquiring patent protection for its Water Efficient Technology and Heat Stress Technology.
By Simon Varcoe

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