The exogenous intake of free L-α-amino acids from the products of the Terra-Sorb® (foliar or root) range, either by spraying or fertigation, helps plants to overcome stressful situations much more successfully and quickly. 
Generally speaking, energy costs in plants that must adapt to cope with stress are quite considerable, and this prevents them from developing as they would normally do if they did not need these internal physiological adjustments.
Plants synthesise their own amino acids from inorganic nitrogen.
The process includes the transformation of nitrate into nitrite and ammonium and its incorporation later into an organic molecule, giving rise to glutamic acid. The plant synthesises all the rest from this amino acid, through transamination processes.
This process is carried out with a high energy cost, and therefore during times of stress for the plant, the exogenous application of the Bioibérica amino acids enables it to maintain the energy necessary for carrying out other, more productive physiological processes.
Obtainig amino acids
Methods for obtaining amino acids
Amino acids may be present in a free form or bound in the form of proteins. Most of these proteins are formed by chains ranging from 100 to 5,000 amino acids.
A protein is formed by amino acids bound by peptide links. Amino acids can be obtained in two ways:
- by hydrolysis, or the division of an already-existing protein
- by synthesis, through the creation of a "new" amino acid
The hydrolysis method is the one most often used in agriculture. It is based on an existing protein, which is broken up into different pieces to obtain amino acids.
There are different forms of hydrolysis:
- acid hydrolysis
- controlled acid hydrolysis
- enzymatic hydrolysis
The synthesis method is suitable for obtaining certain specific amino acids. The only problem with this system is that a racemic mixture is obtained (in both L and D forms), i.e., only 50% are biologically active. In addition, for the production of certain amino acids, this method is quite expensive and only the pharmaceutical industry can afford to use it. The amino acids used in agriculture that are using this system are few in number, and plants require all the protein amino acids, and not just a few.
Biologically active amino acids:
L-α-amino acids
Amino acids are, together with carbohydrates the group of organic molecules that is in most supply in living beings, and are thus biomolecules that are found spontaneously and abundantly in nature.
Amino acids take part in many physiological processes in plants. The limiting factor is that the only ones that are biologically active are L-α-amino acids. 
Graphic representation of D and L- α - amino acids
Most amino acid-based products are obtained through processes that break down the protein using strong chemical attacks (acids or alkalis). Due to this, formulas with a very low percentage of free amino acids with respect to the total original protein are obtained. Racemisation of the L and D forms may occur, leading to a loss in their biological activity. In this process, the most labile amino acids (mainly tryphtophane, histidine and cystein) are easily broken down using these more aggressive methods.
Bioiberica uses an exclusive process for obtaining amino acids through enzymatic hydrolysis.
The process is completely natural as it simulates the method used by living beings to hydrolyse proteins for obtaining amino acids. The enzymes break the peptide link as if it were dissolving the "cement" that binds the different amino acids, releasing a large quantity of L-α-amino acids.
To ensure the correct activity of the enzymes, a strict control of time, pH and temperature is necessary. On an industrial scale, this process must be carried out in pharmaceutical facilities, as is the case of Bioiberica.
Our company uses enzymes that are specific and able to recognise the binding point between one amino acid and another, so that amino acids are released during the process, without suffering any alteration whatsoever; the amino acids maintain their original spiral conformation, and are directly absorbed and added to the plant’s metabolic processes.
Furthermore, this exclusive process does not break down the puric and pyrimidinic bases present in the starting materials, which come from the cellular DNA. These substances cause activity inside the plant as hormone precursors and therefore it is important to prevent them from being lost and/or broken down in the extraction system.
All the biologically active amino acids are L-α-amino acids, as only these amino acids can form a part of the proteins.
In acid hydrolysis, the protein is divided up by breaking up "senseless" pieces.
During the process, a large quantity of salts and chlorides are generated that are harmful to plants and in addition, a very low degree of hydrolysis is obtained, i.e., the ratio of free amino acids compared to total amino acids is very low.
Controlled acid hydrolysis is similar to the above, but not as aggressive.
Enzymatic hydrolysis is the only hydrolysis process in which a great amount of free and L (biologically active) amino acids can be obtained.
What are the characteristics that add quality to an amino acid-based product?
- A high ratio between the free and total amino acids.
- The presence of all the vital amino acids in large quantities.
- The amino acids must be of the L type, which is the only biologically active form.
- They must not contain harmful substances (e.g., salts, heavy metals, etc.) that come from the raw materials or preparation process.
- A robust manufacturing process that will enable homogenous production batches to be obtained.
- Proven agronomic efficacy.
