See the Invisible

(Sponsored) With a diverse team at the cutting edge of agriculture, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, Crop Diagnostix offers growers and agronomists breakthrough technology that uses RNA and AI to turn plant signals into actionable insights.

Rebecca Helget, VP of Agronomy at Crop Diagnostix, offers her expert insights on RNA technology and how Crop Diagnostix can elevate growers’ operations.

Q. Crop Diagnostix often uses the phrase See the Invisible. What does that mean in practical terms for a grower?

A: Much of the yield loss growers deal with starts as invisible stress. Long before visual symptoms show up, the plant is already shifting how it uses energy to respond to environmental stress. 

RNA is the plant’s earliest measurable biological response to stress. It reflects what the plant is preparing for next, before anything becomes visible in the field. Using a simple hole‑punch leaf sample, we use plant RNA to detect early stress signals while there is still time to act. This helps growers make decisions earlier and with more confidence — rather than reacting after stress has already impacted yield potential.   

Q. You describe Crop Diagnostix as providing a 360-degree or holistic view of plant health. What does that actually include?

A: Plant RNA allows us to see multiple stress signals at the same time, providing a systems-level view of the plant. Our insights include:  

• Nutrient stress 
• Pathogen stress  
• Water stress  
• Yield Response Index (YRI)  

Together, these insights show how the plant is allocating energy between growth and defense, and whether anything is quietly limiting yield potential. 

Q. How does this change in-season decision-making?

A: RNA improves both product type and timing. Earlier insight allows growers to make smaller, more targeted adjustments before stress escalates. That prevents one issue from triggering secondary problems and helps avoid unnecessary or reactive inputs later in the season.

Q. Is Crop Diagnostix mainly a nutrient management tool?

A: Nutrients are part of the picture, but not the whole story. Rather than focusing on nutrient concentrations, RNA provides insight into nutrient demand, along with whether and how effectively the plant is utilizing what is available. RNA adds context by showing how nutrient, water, and pathogen stresses affect the plant together, not in isolation. That broader view improves product selection, application timing, and overall efficiency.

Q. How does RNA help with disease management if there are no visible symptoms?

A: Plants activate defense pathways before disease symptoms appear or infections are confirmed. RNA captures that early defense response, creating an opportunity to act proactively. Because RNA also reflects the plant’s overall stress environment, growers don’t just see pathogen pressure—they see the biological context around it. That fuller picture supports smarter adjustments before yield is compromised.

Q. What is the Yield Response Index, and why does it matter?

A: The Yield Response Index (YRI) shows whether the crop’s biology is aligned with the grower’s yield goal. A crop can appear healthy and still be biologically misaligned—diverting energy to stress and defense instead of growth and photosynthesis. YRI helps growers understand whether their crop is positioned to convert inputs into yield, or whether invisible stress is quietly limiting return on investment. 

To learn more about Crop Diagnostix, visit www.cropdiagnostix.com

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