A Fine Fortress

A Fine Fortress

Fine Americas’ most recent addition to its family of PGRs, Citadel, reduces plant height by limiting internode elongation through inhibition of gibberellins biosynthesis. The result is a more compact, marketable plant that boasts darker foliage and thicker leaves.

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“Citadel is truly a fitting name for the product,” says Kevin Forney, technical manager for Fine, which also offers Concise, Configure, Dazide 85 WSG, Florgib, Fresco and Piccolo plant growth regulators for the U.S. ornamentals market. “Citadel provides a refuge for plants, giving them an improved quality and helping them to grow thicker, stronger and more dense. Citadel gives both the grower and the end consumer exactly what they want–a strong, beautiful plant.”

Everything from azaleas to poinsettias, geraniums to woody ornamentals, Citadel is effective on a wide variety of ornamental crops grown in commercial greenhouse containers. It is also effective on hibiscus, bedding plants and other herbaceous crops.

“Citadel also increases plant durability during post-production shipping by producing plants with stronger stems,” Forney says. Citadel can be applied alone or tank-mixed with other plant growth regulators such as Dazide 85WSG (85 percent daminozide) to produce high quality plants. “On certain crops, a tank mix of Dazide 85WSG and Citadel can provide a synergistic effect that results in enhanced activity.” 

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Citadel will retard plant growth through a variety of applications. As a foliar applied spray, Citadel is absorbed into the plant through young expanding leaves, mature leaves and stems. Citadel will be most effective when applied at a spray volume that thoroughly covers the plant foliage and stems. Application rates for foliar spray applications range from 600 ppm to 2,000 ppm.

When applied as a drench treatment to growth medium, Citadel is absorbed by the roots and transported to the stem tips. Application rates for drench treatments of Citadel range from 2,000 to 3,000 ppm.

Trials to determine the relative efficacy of Citadel ± Dazide to Cycocel ± B-Nine (chlormequat chloride ± daminozide) on numerous ornamental species have been conducted by key university researchers at Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, Purdue University, the University of Florida and the University of New Hampshire. Ornamental crops in which Citadel has been evaluated over the last several years include: geranium, salvia, vinca, petunia, impatiens, marigold, dianthus, begonia, osteospermum, coleus, verbena,celosia, leonotus and poinsettia; just to name a few.

The results of university studies comparing Citadel to Cycocel have consistently demonstrated that both formulations of chlormequat chloride are equally effective at controlling stem elongation in the bedding and foliage plants, potted plants, perennials and bulb crops evaluated.

Citadel contains 11.8 percent chlormequat chloride and is now available in the U.S., pending individual state registrations.

For more information on Citadel or to locate a distributor, visit www.fine-americas.com.

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