Biostimulant Solution South Africa
Cutting edge biostimulant solution
Data driven & rigorously tested for 20 years
Unlock your plants full genetic potential
A CLOSER LOOK AT C4L
Unlocking genetic potential: a certified flavonoid plant supplement
C4L is a cutting-edge biostimulant solution designed to unlock your plants' full genetic potential across varying environmental conditions. It enhances plant and soil health by optimising natural processes, leading to increased production, resilience, and product quality. Formulated as a flavonoid plant supplement, C4L combines unique flavonoids, plant extracts including citrus aurantium, and organic acids into an organic foliar spray suspension concentrate — qualifying it among certified organic farming inputs without compromising scientific rigour. Much of C4L's IP lies in its delicate and precise formulation process, ensuring superior stability and bioavailability. C4L has excellent tank-mix compatibility across numerous applications without adverse effects. It is a data-driven organic crop treatment, rigorously tested over two decades across 48 different crops.
GENE MAP (HEAT MAP)
Its recommendations, derived from extensive research, ensure optimal and consistent results. A PhD study conducted at Stellenbosch University, a landmark organic crop treatment South Africa trial, revealed that the expression of more than 2,500 genes was altered following application of C4L, highlighting its profound molecular impact. Using a gene map or heat map, researchers identified the primary areas affected in Arabidopsis thaliana, providing valuable insights into the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying C4L technology's effects.
ENHANCED PHOTOSYNTHESIS (ORGANIC FOILAR SPRAY CROPS RESPONSE)
In this representation, green indicates upregulated genes, while red signifies down-regulated ones with varying intensity levels. The first focus area dramatically impacted by the application of this organic foliar spray was photosynthesis. Numerous genes are upregulated, particularly those associated with chlorophyll synthesis. This results in enhanced chlorophyll content, ultimately leading to improved light harvesting. Examining the graph first: under no-stress conditions treated with only water (the red bar), chlorophyll content increases significantly when C4L is applied (the dark green bar). Introducing 50 mM sodium chloride, a moderate stressor (the black bar), immediately suppresses chlorophyll content. However, applying C4L under the same salt-stress conditions restores chlorophyll content to levels comparable to the no-stress condition (the red bar). The images confirm that plants treated with C4L are markedly greener under both stress and no-stress conditions.
ENHANCED PHOTOSYNTHESIS LEADS TO:
Increased energy production
INCREASED ENERGY
A significant increase in energy production is evident on the gene map, reflected by numerous upregulated genes. Plants possess remarkable physiological processes to tackle environmental challenges; however, these mechanisms demand energy. As a certified organic farming input, C4L enables this energetic advantage naturally, the surplus energy derived from enhanced photosynthesis is channelled towards energy-expensive processes such as hormone biosynthesis and secondary metabolism.
SURPLUS ENERGY IS CHANNELED TOWARDS COMPLEX METABOLIC PROCESSES SUCH AS ...
Secondary & hormone metabolism
SECONDARY METABOLITE SYNTHESIS
There is a concurrent shift towards secondary metabolism while primary metabolism is maintained. Secondary metabolism renders plants more competitive in their environment. Applied as an organic foliar spray across crops, C4L increases the production of various secondary metabolites, each serving distinct physiological functions.
ENHANCED SIGNALLING & HORMONE METABOLISM
The upregulation of signalling pathways and hormone production leads to increased biosynthesis, modification, or activity of plant hormones. Plant hormones function as signalling molecules, coordinating systemic responses. This enhanced signalling improves communication within the plant, strengthening its capacity to respond and adapt to environmental changes, optimise growth and development, improve nutrient uptake and utilisation, increase stress tolerance, and fortify defense mechanisms, outcomes consistent with the performance expected of certified organic farming inputs validated under controlled trial conditions.
BROAD PRIMING RESPONSE
Ultimately C4L activates a broad priming response, enhancing the plant's overall resilience, adaptability, and capability to cope with both biotic and abiotic stresses, a hallmark of effective organic crop treatment in South Africa's diverse agricultural environments.
Stress priming
STRESS PRIMING: BIOTIC
C4L enhances plant resilience to biotic stress by strengthening physical barriers such as cell walls and cuticles, activating defense proteins (e.g., PR proteins), and boosting antimicrobial secondary metabolites. Applied as an organic foliar spray across crops, it improves nutrient uptake, particularly calcium, enhances trichome density for added protection, and stimulates root exudates that suppress soil-borne pathogens and nematodes. These mechanisms collectively fortify the plant's defenses and reduce damage from pests and diseases. A 2024 trial on French Colombard at California State University, Fresno, demonstrated that C4L reduced powdery mildew leaf incidence by 31.5%, cluster incidence by 44.8%, and severity by 38.2%, underscoring its efficacy as a flavonoid plant supplement in biotic stress priming.
STRESS PRIMING: ABIOTIC
Abiotic stress priming enhances tolerance to environmental stressors. As an example, the PhD study on Arabidopsis thaliana, conducted as part of an organic crop treatment South Africa research programme, investigated salinity stress and found that C4L helps plants manage salt stress by upregulating two salinity-related genes, even in the absence of salt. This priming effect prepares the plant for stress, leading to improved tolerance when stress does occur.
UPREGULATION OF CELL WALL METABOLISM
Cell wall metabolism
CELL WALL METABOLISM
Alongside photosynthesis, cell wall metabolism was significantly influenced by the application of this certified organic farming input, with many genes upregulated. This implies thicker and stronger cell walls, offering enhanced protection against pathogens while benefiting structural integrity, fruit firmness, and shelf life.
BEAN SEEDLING
This image compares untreated and C4L-treated bean seedlings at 200x magnification, highlighting the differences in leaves, stems and roots.
ROOT EXUDATES
Increase and modification of root exudates
IMPROVED SYMBIOTIC PLANT-MICROBE RELATIONSHIPS
INCREASE IN MODIFICATION IN ROOT EXUDATES
The second benefit of enhanced photosynthesis is an increase and modification of root exudates. Elevated root exudate activity has a major positive impact on the rhizosphere microbial community. Research demonstrates that C4L, as a flavonoid plant supplement applied via organic foliar spray, enhances symbiotic plant-microbe relationships, boosts colonisation by beneficial soil organisms such as mycorrhizae, and suppresses harmful microbes.
These combined effects significantly enhance the plant's overall health and resilience under varied environmental conditions, leading to increased production and product quality, confirming C4L as a scientifically validated organic crop treatment South Africa growers can deploy with confidence.