Novel Plant Growth Regulator for Grapes Makes Short List for Chicago Innovation Awards

October 6, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIBERTYVILLE, IL., – October 6, 2010 – A plant growth regulator that enhances the color of table grapes, introduced this year by Valent BioSciences Corporation, is a finalist in a program designed to recognize innovative new products.

ProTone^TM plant growth regulator has earned finalist status in the Chicago Innovation Awards program, which is designed to bring attention to the locally developed product and service innovations that are making a global impact. ProTone also is a candidate for the People’s Choice Award, with online voting continuing through October 14 at the program website, http://www.chicagoinnovationawards.com/nominations/view/279. Awards will be presented November 1.

ProTone is a low-risk, environmentally friendly product that enhances the red coloration of red grapes by stimulating the natural pathway in plants that leads to anthocyanin (color) biosynthesis. Since consumer acceptance of red grapes is dependent upon the intensity and uniformity of color, grapes with substandard color are downgraded to a lower price point. In some cases grapes are not even harvested because they never develop marketable color. ProTone provides grape growers with a tool to minimize the impact of slow or uneven color development.

ProTone is the first commercial product based on Valent BioSciences Corporation’s newest active ingredient, abscisic acid (S-ABA), which naturally occurs in plants. In addition to anthocyanin development in grapes, S-ABA regulates numerous processes in plants, including responses to stress conditions, dormancy, maturation, abscission and growth. Valent BioSciences Corporation is developing a line of S-ABA based products that will have both quality and stress management applications in many types of agricultural and horticultural crops.

About Valent BioSciences Corporation
About Valent BioSciences Corporation: Headquartered in Libertyville, IL, Valent BioSciences is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Company. Valent BioSciences is the worldwide leader in the development, manufacturing and commercialization of biorational products, with sales in 95 countries around the world.

Valent BioSciences is an ISO 9001:2008 Certified Company. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.valentbiosciences.com.

Media Contact:
Barbara Wendling
Valent BioSciences Corporation
847-968-4793
Email: barbara.wendling@valentbiosciences.com

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