FAQs

This site has been designed to provide various levels of information about the MIR/Stress Guard™ system of seed enhancement. Simply select your professional expertise from the following list to review the questions most commonly asked by your peers. If you do not find your specific question, click here and complete the Inquiry Request Form and we will respond to your question shortly.

Seed Company Questions

Has there been independent, third party institutions that can confirm your statement of benefits?

A: Yes! We have compiled charts that represent a cumulative report of independent institutional findings including: 

• early growth improvement 

• stress tolerance (including a preservative effect) 

• crop yield increases. 

How easy is it to incorporate the MIR/Stress Guard™ system into my normal processing of seed?

A: Pro Seed Technologies will assist you in setting up the equipment to treat the seed and train your operators on the treating process. We'll be happy to discuss this with you in greater detail. Simply click here and complete the Pro Seed Inquiry Form.

How can I become a MIR/Stress Guard™ licensee?

A: Simply click here and complete the Pro Seed Inquiry Form and we will contact you. We often travel to our potential licensees place of business to discuss matters of this importance and travel back during installation of MIR/Stress Guard™ equipment and training of your operators. Pro Seed personnel will assist you in every step.

Grower/Farmer Questions

In laymen's terms, how does the MIR system work?

A: That is a good question without an easy answer that doesn't include talk of free radicals and antioxidant levels. So, in answer, let's talk about what the system does not include. The MIR/Stress Guard™ process uses NO CHEMICALS, not even moisture to achieve its superior results. The system enhances growth rate and uniformity, without altering the seed's genetic makeup.

What happens is that the seed is exposed to an extremely low energy shower of slow-moving electrons. These are absorbed into the seed and cause the mitochondria (the tiny energy factories inside each cell) to produce more free radicals).  Though free radicals can be harmful, here they prompt the
 cell's own natural antioxidant defenses to produce more antioxidants (like Vitamins C and E).  These gobble up the free radicals and you are left with a cell which now has fewer free radicals and more antioxidants than before. What we have found is that the seed is then better able to handle the stresses that come later, during the planting season, like flooding, drought and temperature extremes. Think of it as similar to getting a flu shot at the beginning of the fall. The idea is that your body is "shocked" by getting a small dose of the flu and builds up an immunity to it the days following the shot. Then, while others, who were not inoculated, come into contact with the flu germs get very sick, you will only experience a mild case, or not at all. 

Strengthening a plant's anti-oxidant defenses against free radicals is important, because most environmental stresses do their damage to the cell by increasing free radical production.  It is these corrosive free radicals which then tear up the
cell. By guarding against this, MIR/Stress Guard helps make plants more tolerant to stress."

In a perfect growing season, most seeds will produce. Where MIR-treated seeds shine is during times of increased stress tolerance on plants, like in drought/flood conditions and temperature extremes. MIR-treated seeds are heartier and can handle environmental stresses. Look at the example below:

Notice the control rows show more loss of nitrogen and leaf necrosis than the MIR-treated seed. The crop experienced ponding from an early season flooding.  

The technical information is fine, but show me the field data!

A: This is the bottom-line for the MIR/Stress Guard™ system. Pro Seed Technologies has had independent, third parties test and grow MIR-treated seed in a variety of environmental conditions. Here is a compilation of results:

Where can I find MIR-treated seeds?  

A: Let us help you. Complete the Pro Seed Inquiry Form by clicking here, indicating the type of crop seed(s) you are looking for and we will assist you in locating a seed company that adds the Mir/Stress Guard™ system for seed enhancement in their processing of seed.

Researcher/Academic Questions

What is the biochemical basis for MIR's action?

A: Click here for an excellent discussion on the Redox Ratio of the seed at the cellular level. 

Is there published scientific literature on the MIR system?  

A: Yes. Click here to read the abstract from the Florida State Horticultural Society Proceedings, Vol. 112, p.337.

What institutions have you used to perform your field tests?  

A: Pro Seed is proud of its affiliation with the following universities and seed companies that have performed independent field/crop trials with MIR/Stress Guard™ seeds:

• Ag Alumni Seed

• Florida University

• Iowa State University

• Mississippi State University

• Mississippi State Seed Company

• North Dakota State University

• Illinois Foundation Seed

• Purdue University

• Illinois Crop Improvement

• Hoegemeyer Hybrids

• Ohio Foundation Seed

• Seed Company

• Stine Seed