In the news

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Join as Sarah and Jim discuss Root's monitoring system and how he and others are using it to drastically reduce sprays and get early warning of threats for higher quality fruit (and better wine) with fewer resources. March 18, 2025. Listen here.

Stand by for the nitty gritty as Vonnie Estes of the International Fresh Produce Association chats with Sarah Placella, CEO of Root Applied Sciences, about how Root's technology works and how Root develops new assays. Released March 18, 2025. Listen here.

Downy mildews are major constraints on spinach and lettuce production globally. Disease management can be achieved with fungicides, but routine applications are costly and can lead to pathogen resistance... Results from air sampling revealed that the cyclone spore traps collect significantly more sporangia compared with impaction traps. Jan 17, 2024. Read more here.

How do you stop airborne pathogens from infecting precious grapevines that will turn into wine?

The team at Root Applied Sciences is here to stop that. The Bay Area startup, a member of the Onshape Startup Program, has discovered a better way to detect fungus and protect grape farmers from crop loss, and wasted time and money on unnecessary fungicide sprays. May 2, 2023. Read more here.

Access the examination here.

We have made numerous product enhancements and updates over the past six months in anticipation of this release. In addition to a redesign of the spore trap housing, information is now presented in ways that are easier to understand and for users to take mitigating action when needed. February 3, 2023. Read more.

Powdery mildew remains one of the world's most severe and persistent threats to grape production. Traditionally, fungicide applications are timed according to the Powdery Mildew Risk Index (PMI). However, the PMI leads to over-applicating fungicides when disease pressure is low. Unlike the PMI, Root's technology allows growers to monitor disease pressure and accurately assess when and where interventions are needed. Read more to find out how Root's spore traps compare to the PMI.

Root Applied Sciences’ pathogen monitoring service cuts the need for preventative fungicide application in half. Spraying for powdery mildew is a less expensive option than treating it, but it is still costly, so a solution that reduces the frequency of applying pesticides from 25-75% is a prudent financial decision for growers. November 1, 2022. Featured Content.

Innovative Technology Enables Early Detection of Airborne Powdery Mildew. Root Applied Sciences' twice-weekly monitoring reduces spraying and improves profitability. October 26, 2021. Press Release.