Strengthening Plants from Within: How Indra Reduces Disease Susceptibility

In modern agriculture, controlling disease has traditionally meant applying fungicides and pesticides. But what if the first and most powerful line of defense is the plant itself? With Indra, Levity Crop Science offers a new approach—arming the plant with the ability to defend itself by mitigating stress, thus reducing susceptibility to disease from the inside out.

The Hidden Link Between Stress and Disease

Plant stress—whether caused by drought, salinity, heat, or poor nutrition—weakens cellular structures and disrupts metabolism. Two major changes occur under stress: 1. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) like hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, which damage plant cells. 2. Ethylene-induced calcium loss from cell walls, leaving them thin and easy for pathogens to penetrate. Together, these effects not only reduce yield but also make plants far more vulnerable to a wide array of diseases.

How Indra Works: OxyGon Technology in Action

Indra is a foliar-applied functional fertiliser containing essential micronutrients (B, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe) coupled with Levity’s proprietary Oxygon Technology. It strengthens plants through two complementary mechanisms: – Anthocyanin induction: Indra stimulates production of natural antioxidants that detoxify harmful ROS. – Polyamine stimulation: Polyamines reinforce and repair cell walls, acting as calcium surrogates and physical barriers to infection. The result? Plants that are less stressed, more structurally resilient, and therefore less attractive and less susceptible to pathogens.

What the Research Shows: Disease Reduction Across Crops

🦠 Powdery Mildew – Wheat (UK Research studies)

Powdery mildew thrives on stressed cereal crops. In repeated experiments, Indra-treated wheat showed significantly reduced mildew severity and slower disease progression, as measured by the Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC). The figure below clearly illustrates this:

Interpretation: While untreated plants experienced a steep rise in disease pressure starting in mid-October, Indra maintained low infection levels throughout the study period. By bolstering plant health and minimising stress, Indra significantly slowed epidemic development—without any fungicidal action.

Septoria – Wheat (UK Field Trials, 2022)

Septoria is the most damaging foliar disease in UK wheat, often requiring 6–7 fungicide applications. A reduced spray programme (4 fungicides) supplemented with Indra performed equally well as a standard 7-spray regime. Indra helped maintain low Septoria levels while enabling reduced chemical inputs—an important step toward integrated disease management (IDM).

Ramularia – Barley (UK Field Trials, 2023)

Ramularia, triggered by oxidative stress, leads to rapid leaf senescence and yield loss. In replicated trials, Indra replaced Folpet (a key fungicide) in the spray program and kept Ramularia levels just as low. Notably, Indra outperformed Folpet on yield and grain size, highlighting benefits beyond disease control.

Panama Disease – Banana (Brazil Trials)

Panama disease has devastated banana crops globally and has no chemical cure. In Brazilian trials, Indra applied at 0.5–1.6 L/Ha reduced disease incidence by up to 80%—comparable to Flutriafol. The product was especially effective when applied at 20-day intervals, supporting its use in tropical stress conditions.

A Tool for Sustainable Plant Health

Indra is not a fungicide—and that’s its strength. By working through the plant’s own stress-response pathways, it:

• Reduces oxidative and structural stress.
• Enhances resilience to pathogens.
• Makes crops less attractive to pests and less prone to infection.

This mode of action makes Indra ideal for:

• Low-input systems
• Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM)
• Organic-transition growers
• Crops under frequent environmental stress

Conclusion

As climate variability increases and fungicide resistance rises, new solutions are needed. Indra offers a proven, science-based way to protect plant health from the inside out, reducing disease naturally by keeping crops strong, stress-free, and structurally sound. In doing so, it opens the door to lower input use, higher resilience, and more sustainable yields—no matter what challenges the season brings.