Drought stress can severely impact plant growth and productivity. When a plant undergoes stress whether from drought, frost, herbicide injury, fertilizer burn, it responds by producing ethylene. Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that regulates various growth processes. But in stressful conditions excess ethylene can trigger a train reaction that negatively affects the plant.

One of the major consequences of elevated ethylene levels is a stimulation of ABA or acidic acid production. ABA often called the senescence hormone or death hormone is responsible for signaling the plant to enter dormancy or maturity at the end of the season. However when ABA is pulled up in response to stress during the active growing phase it can slow down or even halt the essential growth processes. This premature sequence can reduce the yield, lower forage quality, and make the plant more vulnerable to further stressors.

The plant's natural defense against excessive ethylene is cell respiration - a process where the plant cells break down stored sugars to generate energy and maintain proper physiological function. However, when ethylene levels spiked beyond a manageable threshold, respiration becomes restricted. The plant struggles to eliminate ethylene efficiently - leading to further stress and imbalance.

For optimal growth plants require a delicate balance between different hormones. Cytokinins produced in the root tips, and auxins produced in the leaf tips, work together to regulate cell division, elongation and overall development. When ethylene spikes due to stress it throws this balance off disrupting normal growth patterns.

While traditional approaches to plant health focus on boosting auxins and cytokinins to counteract stress - RootAMax takes a different approach by enhancing the cell respiration. By increasing the plant's ability to breathe RootAMax helps remove excess ethylene more efficiently.

As ethylene levels drop, ABA levels also decrease - preventing premature senescence and allowing the plant to return to its normal growth cycle.

Additionally RootAMax helps reduce excess lignen - a rigid structural compound that can make plant tissue tough and fibrous. This leads to softer more digestible forage improving the overall quality of hay and pasture grasses.

By promoting efficient respiration and restoring hormone balance more quickly RootAMax allows plants to recover from stress events faster and continue growing optimally. The result is healthier, more resilient plants with improved growth, yield, and forage quality - especially under challenging conditions like drought.