Since 1980 KeyPlex has been serving citrus and vegetable growers with a highly effective plant nutritional product line. As a result of our deep commitment to research and development, KeyPlex continues to improve and expand its product line. Scientific studies have confirmed that KeyPlex 350 elicits systemic acquired resistance in plants. It has evolved into a patented product that integrates proven elicitors that stimulate the plant's immune systems and micronutrients that enhance growth. We believe that by increasing the health of the plant in an environmentally safe way, we are helping both the agricultural and consumer communities to address major concerns with traditional pesticides.

About SAR

Like humans, plants have an immune system that protects it from disease. Discovered in the early part of the 20th century, this process 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 as alpha-keto acids.

Why is SAR important to the agricultural communities?

Consumer and medical groups are lobbying both State and Federal Government that may affect our health and especially those that have been shown to affect the health of our children. They are looking for alternative(s) that are commercially variable and environmentally safe.

The agricultural communities are responding to consumer demand by relying on EPA approved commercially available products that integrate both the SAR properties and micronutrients. KeyPlex meets these commercial demands.

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may98/prot0598.htm