Plant Metabolism

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Extensive in-house facilities including glasshouses, outdoor enclosures and environmentally controlled plant growth chambers

Access to facilities growing permanent or semi-permanent crops enabling studies on an extensive range of fruit crops

Our chemists can optimize extraction, identification and characterization of residues to meet regulatory needs

You need to be able to demonstrate the hazard posed to animal and human health by crop protection product residues left on or in crops. This means understanding how your crop protection product is metabolized, so you can identify or characterize the residues and their potential toxicity. Data from plant metabolism studies inform the design of field studies that assess residue levels. Regulators across the globe rely on data from plant metabolism and field studies to define dietary risk and set maximum residue levels (MRLs).

Working out how to assess the dietary hazard posed by your crop protection product

Efficient extraction methods need to be developed to ensure that identification or characterization of at least 90% of the Total Radioactive Residue (TRR) in each Raw Agricultural Commodity (RAC) can be achieved. Identification of metabolites and degradation products can be challenging but are necessary to establish your PPP’s transformation pathway. You need to select the right crops and conduct the studies in line with Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).

Safe hands and green fingers ensure plant metabolism study success

An experienced team of experts assess your need; designing and conducting plant metabolism studies to satisfy regulatory requirements. This includes crop metabolism and metabolism in rotational crop studies across a wide range of crop types. The combined expertise of study directors, plant specialists, and chemists all contribute to study success.  Our synthetic chemists can advise on optimization of the position of radiolabeling of your test substance, while our analytical experts devise approaches that ensure effective residue identification and characterization. 

Plant metabolism studies in all types of crops, in all seasons

A range of facilities means that many crops can be grown throughout the year, regardless of the current season. This means nature doesn’t slow down your regulatory progress. Facilities include:

  • Aluminium-framed glasshouses with a 30m2 floor area under computerized environmental control 
  • Outdoor enclosures with a 30m2 floor area
  • Environmentally controlled plant growth chambers with LED lighting

In addition, studies in permanent and semi-permanent crops, such as fruit trees and vines, can also be conducted.

Plant metabolism studies suitable for global registration 

Labcorp has a successful track record in running plant metabolism studies to high standards. Studies offered include: 

  • OECD 501: Metabolism in crops
  • OECD 502: Metabolism in rotational crops
  • OPPTS 860.1300: Nature of the residue in plants, livestock
  • OPPTS 860.1850: Confined accumulation in rotational crops

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