Green Elite: the biostimulant for stronger turf root development
Keeping turf dense and even starts with the roots. Green Elite is a foliar biostimulant developed by Fytofend to support root development in turfgrass on greens, tees, fairways and sports pitches. It joins the Fytofend biosolutions portfolio.
Promotes the formation of a more developed root system.
Designed for surfaces under frequent mowing and heavy traffic.
Tested across several turfgrass species, including creeping bentgrass.
Green Elite is an innovative biostimulant developed by Fytofend, based on oligosaccharide compounds. As a derivative of Fytofend’s biocontrol technology, Green Elite is designed to boost chlorophyll content, enhance the “green” effect on golf courses and increase turf vigour.
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2019/1009.
Key benefits
Supports turf photosynthesis
Green Elite promotes chlorophyll function and energy production in turfgrass, contributing to improved vigour and canopy density. This activity is associated with a commonly observed “green” effect.
Boosts plant immunity
Green Elite strengthens the plant’s innate immune response, especially on healthy tissues, allowing turf to proactively defend itself before any visible stress appears.
Complies with organic standards
Green Elite is suitable for use in sustainable practices on golf courses and sports pitches where chemical inputs are minimized.
Backed by turf-specific trials
Built on patented, university-validated technology, confirmed in several trials across different turfgrass varieties.
Golf
Greens, tees and fairways
Sports pitches
Football, show-jumping arenas, rugby, training and multisport grounds
Turf professionals
Superintendents, head greenkeepers, grounds managers and specialist distributors
What the first turf trials show
Green Elite was tested at the Fytofend R&D centre, first in a preliminary study covering five turfgrass species. These included: creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), red fescue (Festuca rubra), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), and a sports-turf blend, sprayed with Green Elite under controlled conditions. The photo opposite compares untreated turf (top) with Green Elite-treated turf (bottom). A follow-up study then focused on creeping bentgrass, with multiple replicates, successive mowings, and growth monitored over time by Phenospex to quantitatively verify the observations.
Seven days after the third treatment, photos show markedly more developed roots in the Green Elite-treated pots, reaching all the way to the bottom of the container. The visual signal is clear. Full quantitative analysis confirms the size of the effect.
Untreated turf (top) compared with Green Elite-treated turf (bottom), Fytofend trial GZN-26-04
Additional images from the GZN-26-04 multi-species screening.
Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera): left-hand sample treated with Green Elite, Fytofend trial GZN-26-04
What the research tells us about the mode of action
The turf trials are part of a wider research programme run by Fytofend. RNA-seq analyses (transcriptomics) on several crops (potato, tomato and sugar beet) made it possible to observe how the treatment changes plant gene expression. Depending on species, 14 to 20% of expressed genes were affected after treatment. Several affected pathways are directly linked to the plant’s stress response:
Antioxidant defence
Increased expression of several enzymes, including catalase, superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, as well as the glutathione pathway — useful for managing oxidative stress (heat, high light, drought, salinity).
Water-stress management
Activation of LEA proteins, dehydrins and aquaporins, involved in maintaining cell function when water becomes less available.
Cell structure
Increased pathways related to lignin, suberin and cell-wall structural proteins, making the plant mechanically more resistant.
A practical benefit for turf management
For a greenkeeper or grounds manager, the benefit is simple: turf that grows more roots and is better able to cope with oxidative, water and mechanical stress has a better foundation to stay dense and even despite mowing, traffic and changing conditions.
Green Elite can therefore integrate into an existing maintenance programme alongside the other agronomic tools used on the surface. This biostimulant is also easy to incorporate in support of a management programme for the fungal disease known as dollar spot.
Where Green Elite fits
Want to try Green Elite on your turf?
Contact the Fytofend team or your local distributor to discuss your surface type, the species present, and your maintenance programme, or email support@fytofend.com.