Ethic 480 Turfgrass Growth Regulator

Ethic 480 is a plant growth regulator containing 480g/L of the active ingredient Ethephon.

It is registered for the control of wintergrass (Poa annua) seedhead in Cool Season turf and Golf Green situations. Ethic 480 also helps to control growth of desirable cool season turfgrasses, providing a denser, tighter-knit and more playable surface in sportsturf swards.

Key features and benefits of Ethic 480 Turfgrass Growth Regulator

• Unique Mode of Action
• Prevents wintergrass seedhead emergence
• Reduces the quantity of wintergrass seed entering the soil’s seed bank
• Enhances playability characteristics of sportsturf surfaces
• Improves aesthetic appearance of sportsturf surfaces
• Safe for use on all turfgrass species
• Liquid form for ease of use and application accuracy

Mode of Action of Ethic 480 Turfgrass Growth Regulator 

Ethic 480 TGR is classified as having a Class E mode of action. Ethephon, the active ingredient in Ethic 480 TGR, breaks down to ethylene within both wintergrass (Poa annua) and other cool season turfgrasses.

As daylength increases in spring, Wintergrass undergoes a reproductive phase in its lifecycle, where the seedhead forms, emerges and becomes viable.

The start of this phase is called ‘boot stage’. The boot stage occurs within the wintergrass plant, when ethylene levels decline during this early spring period.

By applying Ethic 480 TGR, which breaks down to ethylene inside the plant in early spring, the levels of ethylene within the plant are artificially higher than normal at that time of the year.

This therefore tricks the wintergrass plant into delaying or preventing the initial boot stage in the reproductive phase from taking place. As a result, wintergrass seedhead emergence is restricted and the negative impacts that it usually provides in sportsturf surfaces, such as poor ball roll and reduced aesthetic appearance is no longer a problem.