Benary's ApeX Seed Technology aims at increasing the overall profitability of plug production. The ApeX quality mark is only given to varieties that offer considerable economic benefits:

• Faster germination and higher germination capacity
• Improved Transplantable Plug (TP) Standard
• Improved plug quality
• Reduced plug production costs
• Reliable production planning

The added value of ApeX Seed over raw seed or similar products plays a pivotal role in the profitability of ApeX Seed. Following comprehensive in-house trials run in Trialing, twelve Benary items are now being offered in ApeX Quality, including six ApeX novelties for the 2005-2006 season. With ApeX Seed of Trollius 'Golden Queen', growers can obtain up to 45% more plugs compared to raw seed. 30% more plugs are achieved with ApeX Seed of Geranium 'Vision'®, the new introduction Penstemon 'Mystica' or several Lavender varieties. Growers using ApeX Seed of Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm' obtain 25% more transplantable plugs. Geum 'Cooky' produces 20% more plugs. For Lewisia 'Special Mix', Verbena rigida and Alchemilla mollis 'Thriller', you can rely on 15% more transplantable plugs.

The visitors to the pack trials will have the chance to see for themselves the germination capacity of experimental ApeX varieties. Benary offers some insight into the ongoing ApeX product developments that produce excellent results even at the trial stage. Provided future trials will confirm the current results, ApeX Seed of Sidalcea 'Partygirl', yielding a 60% higher TP standard, is going to skyrocket to the very top of the list of ApeX varieties. Following closely will be Benary's Verbena bonariensis at 55% higher young plant yields. The current results obtained with Thalictrum aquilegifolium 'Hybridum' with a 41% higher transplantable plug standard, or Aconitum napellus 'Newry Blue' with a 35% higher transplantable plug standard, offer a revealing outlook for a future of improved overall profitability. Be sure to profit from the benefits of ApeX Seed by placing your order for any existing ApeX items early.

Along with showing how Benary's ApeX Technology exploits the maximum germination potential of seed, Benary's "Art of Science" display will be presenting investigation results relating to the optimization of growing conditions. Comprehensive plug tests have been conducted with the new Pentas series 'Graffiti'® and 'Kaleidoscope'. Even under regular growing conditions, germination rates in soil at 20-21 °C / 68-70 °F are excellent, while plug development also meets the current standards for reliable production. Germination tests in plug trays reveal that seedling development can be further improved by increasing the germination temperature to 25 °C / 77 °F during the germination phase. Plug producers can rely on the following results to occur when germinating Pentas at 25 °C / 77°F:

• Even higher germination rates
• Clearly reduced critical germination phase
• Very uniform young plants
• Highest numbers of vigorous and healthy transplantable plants.

With these test results, Benary's Seed Technology Department is showing plug producers and growers how to produce more economically and boost profits. By making additional regular innovative quality inspections, Seed Technology ensures that seed reliability is high. No extra tests at the plug producer's or grower's site required.