Rovensa Next helps growers put this into action with products like phylgreen, based on extracts of the Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed, that triggers alterations in the crop’s metabolism.
However, the world is not perfect, and sometimes we miss the preparation window and need to support crops during or after an abiotic stress event that has reduced growth and yield potential. This is where the curactive effect comes into play.
What is the curactive effect?
The curactive effect is used to describe the combined mode of action of Rovensa Next biostimulant products that directly help crops during an abiotic stress event, or with the recovery after. The individual modes of action centre around the combined different effects of a diverse aminogram of L-α free amino acids such as:
- Osmolyte effect where our solutions help cells to maintain correct water balance during abiotic stress, protecting vital structures such as proteins and cell membranes.
- Gene signalling molecules triggering abiotic stress responsive gene expression such as altering expression of genes that produce compounds like heat shock proteins that help to resist high temperatures, altering regulation of stress-related enzymes, all of which help protect plants from heat stress.
- Complexing agents that can help bind to, and detoxify, harmful negative stress chemicals such as reactive oxygen species or free radicals produced by abiotic stress.
Which crop solutions have a Curactive Effect?
Biostimulants like our highly concentrated amino acid range, including vegenergy or delfan plus, offer the curactive effect to growers. Rich in various L-α free amino acids, when foliar applied during or after stress events, these solutions can help reinforce the crops’ own coping mechanisms to relieve the negative effects of abiotic stress.
These curactive effect solutions have a diverse aminogram, providing more than 17 different building block amino acids that can be utilised to make all proteins that are needed for plant growth, stress alleviation, yield, and quality. Beyond the modes of action mentioned above, L-α free amino acids represent an energy saving to the plant and are particularly effective in helping to restart a crop’s ability to metabolise carbohydrates and nitrogen when it has been disrupted, such as when plant protection products (PPP) are applied. These form a critical part of a crop’s self-coping mechanism against abiotic stress, which the curactive effect can help to restart or reinforce.
When and how do I use curactive effect products for the best effect?
Curactive effect products are most effective when foliar applied during or after abiotic stress events. Particularly, to optimally manage products that have a high risk of causing phytotechnical stress, where compatible, it is best to apply them as a tankmix where the curactive effect will help to keep the plant’s carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism pathways from being disrupted.
While exact dosing will need to be verified with your local Rovensa Next technicians, in general, application during or after abiotic stress events is in the order of 1 – 2 L /ha, while crops that have already suffered a setback can benefit from two doses of 2 – 4 L /ha, spaced seven days apart.
How do I know which approach I should take when it comes to abiotic stress?
When an abiotic stress is approaching, or if a Grower wants to ensure that their crop is ready to directly resist abiotic stress, it is best to consider a foliar application of primactive effect biostimulant solutions such as the phylgreen range before the stress arrives.
If the abiotic stress is already here, or has passed, this is where recovery of the crop is warranted, and curactive effect biostimulant solutions such as vegenergy or delfan plus should be applied during or after the stress.
While these are great solutions, best results in agronomic management will come from combining these direct management options with indirect management options in an integrated stress management program.