Senescence – Post-Harvest Foliar Trace Element Fertilising
Spray High K Foliar fertiliser now to maximise the full genetic potential of next season’s crops.
All cells, tissues and organs in plants, senesce (grow old).
Senescence is actually regarded as an evolutionary acquired process that is CRITICAL for plant fitness. Understanding its detailed molecular nature is not only fundamental but also pivotal for improvement of crop yield, nutritional density and post-harvest storage.
Impressive progress has been made in recent years in revealing molecular regulatory mechanisms that were previously unknown. Senescence is the last stage of a developmental programme in the plant and occurs in a coordinated way via enzymes and growth regulators.
During senescence, leaf cells are subject to massive physiological and biochemical changes including a dramatic transition from anabolism to catabolism resulting in nutrient redistribution to newly developing organs.
That is, next year’s crop.
Many growers we talk to tell us they’ve sprayed the calcium and boron mix once or twice and assume the tree is ready for the coming spring growth. However, a supply of all the trace elements is still crucial at or pre- senescence and cannot be underestimated. Research by John Kempf in USA and other horticultural areas around the world suggests that most crops achieve less than 50% of their potential genetic growth by ignoring this step.
At Kendon we believe you can improve the potential of the trees for the next season by using Kendon High K, a post-harvest-pre-senescence foliar spray containing EDTA Trace Elements. It is critical to spray prior to senescence,while the leaves are still using the chlorophyll in the biochemistry within the leaves. The sugars and other metabolites produced at this stage of the life cycle of the tree all go to the embryos for next year’s fruit and to the roots and out to the soil micro-flora, that will play such a big role in the health of the tree for the next season.
(Note: definitely no nitrate at this stage and probably never, and certainly with discretion.)
Post harvest, the leaves still need all the trace elements they required during the growth phase for energy and nutrient production and to redistribute those nutrients during the pre-senescence part of the cycle prior to falling. This is really important.
Kendon High K Foliar Fertiliser contains all those EDTA trace elements required for this part of the life cycle. We recommend two sprays alternated with your calcium/boron mix.
Remember that pre-senescence is the time the tree is setting up next year’s crop. This is an exciting time to nurture your trees to improve yield and quality while the chloroplasts are still making chlorophyl and energy for the tree.
Encourage your customers:
Act now while the leaves are still green and
allow your trees to achieve their full genetic potential.
Reference: 1. Singh S, Singh M, Bisht S, Sharma JG. Leaf senescence and its regulation with phytohormones and essential elements: An overview. J Appl Biol Biotech 2022; 10(02): 185–197.