Refined Over 20 Years of Development

The Klondike platform is a comparatively new and developing technology in seed enhancement that involves encapsulation with gelatin or hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose capsules. These pharmaceutical-based delivery systems can range in size from 0.2 mL (size-4) to 1.4 mL (size-000) and can be viewed as a form of seed-coat technology (such as encrusting, film coating, and pelleting). Encapsulation offers similar benefits as other seed coating technologies including uniformity with reduced friction that enhances flow characteristics in mechanical planters, inclusion of plant protectants and other beneficial adjuvants, and minimizing exposure of workers to agrochemicals. More importantly, unlike other coatings, seed encapsulation provides often needed spatial separation between seeds and chemical additives, thereby lowering phytotoxic or inhibitory responses observed in seeds and developing plants. Encapsulation does not involve liquid/moist material that can damage seeds during application, and gelatin-based capsules have been shown to enhance plant growth because it functions as an effective biostimulant. Furthermore, seed encapsulation offers greater volumes, compared to other seed coating technologies, thus allowing for the inclusion of multiple plant-benefitting components that can be quickly optimized to meet the specific needs of individual growers. To better understand how to exploit this technology, our research has focused on a number of applied studies (some completed and others still in on-going) including the following:

• Delivery of plant-growth regulators, such as gibberellins, to promote and enhance seed germination.
  
  
• Inclusion of controlled-released fertilizers to precisely apply nutrients to field crops. In one study we observed a two-fold increase in fruit production for tomatoes, while reducing overall chemical fertilizer usage by more than 90%.
  
  
• Use of controlled-released fertilizers to reduce flowering and fruit induction times for greenhouse grown tomatoes and peppers.
  
  
• Application of hydrogels to extend plant tolerance when grown in low soil moisture conditions.
  
  
• Delivery of agrochemicals, including systemic fungicides and nematicides, to minimize plant disease in greenhouse and field crops.
  
  
• Application of soil microbes such as fungi (e.g., Trichoderma sp.) and beneficial soil bacteria to enhance plant growth in tomato and lettuce.
  
  
• Delivery of plant extracts (e.g., pyrethrin) to repel insects such a mole crickets in pine nurseries.

We recognize that we have only scratched the surface of the many possibilities of employing this technology as a delivery system for seed enhancements and believe that combinations of materials (including those depicted above) can provide cumulative benefits to seeds and developing plants. We have also shown that, with little modification, these capsules can be easily planted using conventional/ mechanical seed planters, and because of the capsules uniformity we were able to develop planters that allow for rapid and easy sowing in plant trays commonly used in greenhouses. We hope this offers you some insights into the benefits and potential use of seed encapsulation currently being developed. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about this newly emerging technology.