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Ontario, Canada.

Calcium with Amino Acid Chelates
and the Translocation of Ca.

The two highways in giants are the two way phloem and the one way xylem. They extend out widely to all parts of the
plants extended vascular network. Nutrients are carried throughout the network by Chelation or joining together the
elements to form molecules. This is natural process as the soils elements are naturally transformed by the plant into
amino acids before entering the plants root system.
Glycine chelates (amino acids) are a type of natural chelator that has been proven to be the most effective in
supplying mineral nutrients to plants in order to correct nutrient deficiencies. Glycine is the smallest amino acid with a low molecular weight. Claims abound about glycines ability to transport Ca through the leaf structures and into the phloem.

Kahuna's take: There is scant, hard, peer reviewed evidence of translocation form the leaf surface into the phloem.

In truth, if Ca and Amino Acid foliar solutions actually translocate into and move into the plants phloem networks including the fruit sink this could be exciting news.

But Where is the science?

3/22/2014 1:54:13 PM

Glosta

I agree with you on this. Usually the tests are done on plants that are calcium deficient. The companies claim increased yeilds from using their product. This is not a lie. If you have a calcium deficiant plant and you are able to get calcium to the leaves then the remainder of the calcium is able to go to other needed areas. Which in turn icreases yeild. So is it really phloem mobile or is it filling one void to make xylem mobile calcium available to other areas? I would like to see proof in the means of a tracer to show the actual foliar applied calcium moving from leaf to the rest of the plant.

With all that being said if your plants are calcium deficient a foliar calcium product will probably benefit you because of the void filling ability not generally the mobility factor. Until I see hard evidence of phloem mobile calcium this is my stance.

3/24/2014 6:11:34 PM

Corbin, KY

http://psf.lifescifeed.com/fulltext/PSF-2012-002-019.pdf

3/25/2014 10:28:37 AM

Glosta

Tim I think amino acids are great for plants and definitely help with a plants absorption of nutrients. Its the translocating part that i am trying to nail down. i've used aminos acids for 3 years now and have only seen a positive effect. That study you posted is great and proves that aminos are beneficial however it still leaves the void weather calcium, which is the most plant immobile element, can be translocated from foliar applications.

3/25/2014 6:07:50 PM

Ontario, Canada.

It appears that there is no evidence yet of Ca mobility into the Phloem regardless of various claims each manufacturer makes. My objective is to find peer reviewed and cited references that reinforce these statements. To date I have found none.

Treating plants by foliar with Ca and expecting it to cure a fruit problem has simply not yet been proven and may never be. Treated and solving a leaf deficiency with AA chelates "YES". However, solving and issue mobility and of low Ca in a fruits distal end and reversing BES has not been demonstrated.

Tim thanks for the article. Amino acids are indeed good for plants and definitely help with a plants absorption of nutrients into leaf and root structures. The translocation of Ca is a huge factor and is however the key we need to find.

I agree with Bry, that the link you posted still leaves open the question of Ca mobility.

3/26/2014 8:42:08 AM

Ontario, Canada.

Regardless, Ca supplements by foliar and the effect on the xylem flow of Ca is apparently nil. Ca is up-taken and distributed in the most evaporative sink parts of the plant. This depends entirely upon the plants environmental factors and transpiration at the time.

Ca has been sprayed by foliar infinitely by growers for years yet they still suffer BES and low fruit weights.

AA chelated products may simply provide a better and faster means of uptake of Ca and not mobility. I will therefore begin to recommend growers incorporate it use because of this. Higher availability of Ca in the root zone is ultimately beneficial to the sink as long as evapotranspiration is kept under control.

For years I have tried to find a solution to low fruit weights and reduce BES. DR. Linderman suggested to me that there is a possibility that smaller molecules such as fulvic acid may allow Ca to hitch a ride with it and through the leaf and into the phloem.

As a result of his conversation I have tried to supplement by foliar and drench my own micro nutrients with self made Fulvic acid concoctions.

AA-Ca chelates presented another avenue of delivery that on surface seamed exciting yet they still leave me searching for answers.

Russ

3/26/2014 9:02:37 AM

Corbin, KY

Thes folks say there Calcium Metalosate will pass through the leaf into the phloem and into other parts of the plant including the fruit.

http://www.albionplantnutrition.com/plant-nutrition/efficacy/#video

see there claims in this video.

3/26/2014 10:45:51 AM

Ontario, Canada.

I have been aware of these claims by other manufacturers as well. Until we see some studies that review the claims and or support the findings through peer reviewed and cited studies I remain skeptical.

3/26/2014 12:10:44 PM