KeyPlex Plant Nutrition • Systemic Acquired Resistance, Secondary and Micronutrient plant supplements, EPA Approved Plant Micronutrient BioPesticide

Citrus • Fruits & Nuts • Vegetables • Turf • Ornamentals & Nursery • Homeowner

Light and frequent applications of KeyPlex during the life of a crop will produce vigorous, robust plants which will overcome many stress conditions and given other good cultural practices, will aid in obtaining increased yields of fruits and vegetables. The concept of multi-application has been successfully implemented time and again by growers of row and tree crops.

KeyPlex is more than a measured amount of secondary and micro-nutrients in chelated form. KeyPlex contains alpha-keto acids. This makes KeyPlex unique among foliar nutritional products in that it contains more of the vital components that plants need to perform their basic functions of metabolism namely, photosynthesis and respiration.

The entire process of plant life begins with photosynthesis whereby a plant utilizes sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to grow and yield crops. Respiration in plants is the utilization of food sources to release energy used to create that growth.

Nutrients in KeyPlex

Many of the roles of secondary nutrients and micronutrients in plant metabolism are well understood by plant scientist. Magnesium, for example, is the very heart of the chlorophyll molecule as seen in the following structural formula for chlorophyll a.

The very synthesis of chlorophyll is heavily dependent on the presence of manganese in plant tissue. In addition, the roles of manganese are those of primary or secondary catalyst, playing a direct part in oxidation-reduction activity of iron compounds. Manganese is also an enzyme activator, as are the other micronutrients, and is vital to the functions of certain dehydrogenases and carbosylases.

Alpha- Keto Acids

The alpha-keto acids in KeyPlex are manufactured by a patented process using natural protein as raw material. Years ago our scientist discovered the usefulness of alpha-keto acids in commercial agriculture. They found that plants treated with this material were invigorated and yielded more than those which were not treated, but otherwise managed with the same cultural practices.

Plant metabolism is a maze of interwoven reactions which result in cordinated growth. In order for these reactions to proceed smoothly, the plant must have sufficient quantities of light, air, water, macronutrients, secondary nutrients and micronutrients. Practically speaking, we cannot control light and air in commercial agriculture, but we can control water and nutrition levels.

The word “chelate” is derived from the Greek word, chele, meaning claw. This word is used to signify that a chelated element is one that is “held”, as by a claw, and thereby isolated or sequestered from other elements or combinatiions of other elements, not permitting the chelated element to chemically combine with them. In agricultural use, we relate chelation to availability of elements to plants. In other words, chelated elements tend to reamin available to plants longer than they would in their ionic state because they resist combining with other ions or radicals which may result in unavailable compounds, commonly referred to as tied up.

J. Von Liebig's Law of the Minimum

“The yield of a crop is LIMITED by the deficiency of any one element even though all of the other necessary elements are present in adequate amounts”.

Later researchers extended this theory to apply to various factors which affect the rate of plant metabolism, and surmised that if one metabolic process were to slacken its pace, the entire metabolism would slacken to match that slower pace, just as a sluggish factory conveyor will slow the down-line output.

Systemic Acquired Resistance
Why is SAR so important?
Health and Safety
Today's Integration

Plants are endowed with defensive mechanisms that we can roughly equate to the human immune system that protect them from disease. In the early part of the 20th century plant scientists discovered that certain compounds could induce plants to activate these defense mechanisms.

This phenomenon in plants is called Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR). In 1961, Ross explained, “that plants possess a range of defenses that can be activated to protect it from disease.”

Today, great strides have been made in understanding the physiological and biochemical basis of SAR. Much of this knowledge is due to the identification of a number of chemical and biological elicitors.

Why is SAR so important?

With an ever increasing amount of pressure from community activist, environmental awareness groups and end users, it is absolutely essential that the professional trades and growers embrace and utilize every tool possible to mitigate environmental damage and create a safe, sustainable growing system.

The health and safety of children and adults should always be the determining factor when it comes to choosing maintenance options. KeyPlex makes that decision a no brainer. Using environmentally safe ingredients and the plants own immune system to reduce diseases and increase plant health KeyPlex is the clear choice for a better world.

Products that integrate both elicitor properties and plant nutrients will be the standard in the near future. But why wait? KeyPlex has a complete line available now, call your local distributor today and start using the most advanced plant nutrients available.

Grower Discussion

KeyPlex Grower Focus

Plant Health Plan
Consolidated Citrus has placed an emphasis on year-round psyllid control. Foliar nutrition applications are piggy-backed in a few of these applications throughout the year. Here is the timing of its current foliar program.

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Product Applications

Systemic Resistance

Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) is a phenomenon whereby the plant is induced to manufacture greater-than-normal amounts of defensive substances that would include proteins such as chitinases, glucanases, defensins, peroxidases, etc. (collectively termed pathogenesis-related proteins). These defensive proteins can be enzymes that fend off diseases, and perhaps some insects.

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KeyPlex HG

Quart sized hose-end sprayers for the Home grower and gardener! Shop online...