Plants can make thier own Aspirin to fight of pthogens

I read everything I can get my hands on about plant health, I found this article on Clean Air Gardening.

It sounds like a weird idea, but recent research suggests that the old adage “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” works just as well for plants as it does for us. Not only does aspirin appear to speed germination, it seems that it can also boost a plant’s immune system, helping it resist the onset of fungal and bacterial diseases. This may also be why adding an aspirin to a vase of cut flowers helps them stay perky longer: the aspirin fights microbes that would otherwise enter through the cut ends.

It turns out that most plants naturally start synthesizing salicylic acid, the active ingredient in aspirin, when under stress. Sometimes, though, they don’t make enough to help in time, and as a result they fall prey to disease. That’s why a couple of aspirin occasionally can help an ailing plant. But don’t overdo it: 1.5 uncoated aspirins tablets in two gallons of water are sufficient. You should add a few teaspoons of liquid soap to the mix to help it stick to the plants, and apply it as a foliar spray every three weeks or so.

What is Salicylic Acid?

Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic phytohormone and is found in plants with roles in plant growth and development, photosynthesis, transpiration, ion uptake and transport. SA also induces specific changes in leaf anatomy and chloroplast structure. SA is involved in endogenous signaling, mediating in plant defense against pathogens.[3] It plays a role in the resistance to pathogens by inducing the production of pathogenesis-related proteins.[4] It is involved in the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in which a pathogenic attack on one part of the plant induces resistance in other parts. The signal can also move to nearby plants by salicyclic acid being converted to the volatile ester, methyl salicylate.[5]

Salicylic acid is biosynthesized from the amino acid phenylalanine.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salicylic_acid

Sulfur is a building block of amino acids. To ensure your plants are as healthy as possible make sure you are providing them a good source of sulfur like SuperCal SO4.

Other Related Artilces:

http://blog.calciumproducts.com/posts/take-2-calcium-and-call-me-in-the-morning.cfm