Why It Works for Reducing Summer Stress and Decline

Chipco Signature is a effective solution for managing summer stress and decline in cool season turfgrass. Its multiple modes of action for reducing disease and plant stress come from the combination of the active fungicidal ingredient and StressGard Formulation Technology. Directly controlling Pythium, inducing resistance, managing radiation and improving carbohydrate accumulation are all parts to what make Chipco Signature a highly effective and unique product for summer stress management.

Summer is nearly upon the Mid-Atlantic and soon we'll be fighting turf stresses that come with high temperatures and humidity. Chipco Signature is a popular solution for controlling diseases and managing plant stress, and it has become a regular part of summer programs since its introduction in 1997. Although it's been used successfully for many years, I often get questions on how Chipco Signature works. It's not a simple answer, but I'll do my best to pull back the curtain and show the science behind what makes it work.

Basically, the combination of its unique active ingredient and StressGard Formulation Technology provide (i) direct control of Pythium, (ii) induced disease resistance, (iii) radiation management and (iv) improved carbohydrate accumulation. These all contribute to why turf treated with Chipco Signature can retain color, density and quality under summer stress.

Control of Pythium Diseases. The active fungicide in Chipco Signature is fosetyl-Al, a potent fungicide for controlling Pythium, a constant source of plant infections under wet conditions and contributor to summer decline of turf. There's a lot of different Pythium species that can cause problems: Dr. Eric Nelson at Cornell University identified 49 species of Pythium from plants that were pathogenic to cool season turfgrass. These species range from being super aggressive to opportunistic pathogens, and under wet conditions, Pythium infections can outright kill plants or weaken their root systems enough to make them susceptible to other environmental stresses. Chipco Signature provides preventive control of Pythium species and reduces a source of stress and disease that complicates turf management under summer conditions. Furthermore, (i) resistance to Chipco Signature has not been an issue, making it a valuable rotation partner with other Pythium fungicides to manage resistance and (ii) fosetyl-Al is unique in having downward systemic movement in the plant, so applications made to the foliage also protect the roots. Induced Resistance. In addition to directly controlling Pythium, Chipco Signature activates plant defenses to provide protection against other summer diseases. That's a big part of why it's a cornerstone for the control of a non-Pythium disease like anthracnose. Fosetyl-Al has been shown in studies activate phytoalexin production, papillae formation, phenyl ammonium lyase and other plant defense responses which collectively reduce the impact and severity of opportunistic pathogens and stress diseases.

Radiation Management. The StressGard Formulation Technology in Signature helps provide visual color to turf, but more importantly shields plants from UV-A and UV-B radiation that can cause damage. Excess levels of UV-light cause direct oxidative damage to plant cells through the generation of active oxygen species. StressGard Formulation Technology selectively blocks a significant portion of UV-A and UV-B radiation, but at the same time allows much of the red and blue wavelengths of light to pass into the plant for use in photosynthesis.

Improved Photosynthesis and Carbohydrate Accumulation. Chipco Signature has also been shown to help increase photosynthesis, chlorophyll production and carbohydrate accumulation in treated plants. This is most likely a function of the selective radiation and light management provided by the StressGard Formulation Technology. In studies conducted by Bingru Huang at Rutgers, Chipco Signature was shown to increase photosynthesis in plants under low and high light conditions and help maintaining the shoot mass of plants exposed to consistent heat stress at 95°F. In other studies conducted at Ohio State University by Dr. Karl Danneberger, shaded plants treated with Chipco Signature were able to maintain turf quality and cellular function, reflecting the improved photosynthesis provided by the product.

In a nutshell, Chipco Signature works for managing summer stress and decline because it has four modes of action that provide disease control and plant health. It should be used as part of an integrated management program at 4 - 8 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. every 14 days, but see the label for the complete instructions. I hope this sheds some light on how Chipco Signature works and why it's a solid solution for summer stress in the Mid-Atlantic.