Prohexadione calcium: an innovator in the late inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

Prohexadione calcium, a new plant growth regulator launched in Japan in 1994, was carefully developed by Kuiba Chemical Industries, Ltd. It belongs to the acylcyclohexanedione growth retardant, which is very different from traditional plant growth retardants such as quaternary ammonium salts (such as Chlormequat Chloride (CCC), Mepiquat chloride (PIX)) and triazoles (such as Paclobutrazol, Uniconazole), and has opened a new chapter in the late inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis. Today, this innovation has been commercialized in Europe and the United States and other countries, and is widely used in fields, fruit trees, flowers, Chinese medicinal materials and cash crops.

Prohexadione calcium works by foliar treatment, which can effectively shorten the stem elongation of many plants, thereby inhibiting their growth. At the same time, it can also promote the growth and rooting of lateral buds, keeping the stems and leaves green. It is worth mentioning that Prohexadione calcium has no residual toxicity to rotation plants and is environmentally friendly and pollution-free. This significant advantage makes it likely to replace triazole growth retardants in the future and become a new favorite in the market.


Professor Zhang Jun of China Agricultural University pointed out: "Green environmental protection is the core concept of Prohexadione calcium. The half-life of Prohexadione calcium in the soil is only 24 hours, and its low toxicity and low residue characteristics make it have significant advantages in environmental protection." With the in-depth study of the mechanism of action of Prohexadione calcium, people's understanding of it is also deepening. Prohexadione calcium can not only directly regulate plant photosynthesis, but also widely regulate a variety of plant hormones, such as active gibberellins, ethylene, auxin, etc., thereby showing significant disease resistance, insect resistance and stress resistance. Only by deeply understanding the mechanism of action of prohexadione calcium can its excellent effect be fully exerted.


The application of Prohexadione calcium has been registered and promoted in many countries and regions around the world. In Japan, Prohexadione calcium is marketed in the form of 1% and 5% water suspension and 0.12% powder, and is widely used in wheat, barley, rice, cabbage, strawberry, chrysanthemum and other crops. In 2000, BASF registered the use of Prohexadione calcium in crops such as apples, pear trees, peanuts, sowing grass, strawberries, sweet cherries and watercress in the United States. By the end of 2006, Canada also approved the registration of Prohexadione calcium.