The treatment was developed by a British team at Lancaster University and Stockbridge Technology Centre. The compound, jasmonic acid, is a plant hormone that switches on a plant’s natural defence mechanism, making it act more quickly when under attack from pests. Spraying the chemical on plants can cause phytotoxicity and growth reduction but soaking seed has no negative effects.

Research at Lancaster, funded by HDC and the Natural Environment Research Council, found that red spider mite fed and reproduced less on tomato plants grown from dipped seed. Protection can last for up to eight weeks after germination.

Becker Underwood carried out trials on major agricultural crops in the US, so these crops are likely to benefit first from the treatment.

Nigel Paul, of Lancaster University’s Department of Biological Sciences, said Defra-funded work is looking to see if jasmonic acid can help plants defend themselves better against disease infection. He said: “It might contribute to botrytis control in tomatoes.”

Becker Underwood has also won the rights to commercialise a nitrogen-fixing inoculant, developed at McGill University in Canada, which can enhance pea yields. It uses a fatty acid that stimulates formation of the nitrogen-fixing root nodules.