Build, protect and recover your turf with HICURE®

For decades, turfgrass management has relied on conventional inputs - fertilisers, fungicides, and growth regulators - to keep surfaces performing. But as the science of plant biology has advanced, so too has our understanding of what turf really needs to thrive under pressure. Enter biostimulants: a category built not on chemistry, but on the plant's own language.

HICURE® from Syngenta is the latest word in that conversation.

What Makes HICURE® Different

At its core, HICURE® is a highly concentrated biostimulant formulated from amino acids and peptides - the fundamental building blocks of plant proteins. Unlike conventional inputs that work around the plant, HICURE® works within it, supporting the natural physiological processes that govern growth, stress response, and recovery.

The product is derived from collagen hydrolysis, a raw material exceptionally rich in amino acids, making it a product of highly natural origin. It contains 19 amino acids accounting for 62.5% w/w of the total formulation - a profile that gives it both immediate and sustained action.

Syngenta removes the uncertainty around biostimulants by clearly stating what is in HICURE®. This transparency gives us confidence in the plant health benefits HICURE® can deliver.

Figure 1: HICURE® Aminogram. Syngenta clearly outline what HICURE® contains, including the ingredient ratios, removing the uncertainty often associated with biostimulants.

Three Tiers of Action

What sets HICURE® apart is the layered way it works. The formulation delivers amino acids and peptides in three distinct forms, each operating on a different timeframe:

Free amino acids are immediately available to the plant, moving rapidly into leaf and root tissue to protect cells and maintain essential plant processes which can be inhibited when stress hits.

Short chain peptides absorb more slowly over 7–10 days, gradually forming proteins as the plant requires them - a built-in reserve for when conditions deteriorate and to further support the processes sustained by the Free Amino Acids already utilised.

Long chain peptides take weeks to fully absorb, acting as a slow-release reservoir while also exhibiting surfactant qualities on leaf surfaces, creating a physical barrier that reduces transpirational water loss.

This three-tier delivery means a single application of HICURE® isn't a one-and-done event - it's a sustained conversation with the plant that continues long after the sprayer has moved on.

The Role of Amino Acids: More Than a Building Block

Amino acids are often described simply as the precursors to protein, but their role in plant physiology runs much deeper. Once absorbed through leaves and roots, free amino acids and short chain peptides rapidly become the foundations of enzymes and structural proteins that drive photosynthesis, nutrient transport, and cellular repair.

HICURE® is particularly rich in two amino acids that punch above their weight.

L-Proline is present at high levels and has been shown to regulate antioxidant activity during stress. It acts as a signaling molecule - influencing cell growth, modulating mitochondrial function, and triggering gene expression that delays senescence. In practical terms, it keeps turf alive and green when heat, drought or other stresses are doing their worst.

L-Glycine, the smallest of all amino acids goes beyond its role in protein production and chlorphyll synthesis as an outstanding organic chelator. It binds around micronutrient molecules, facilitating rapid movement into the leaf - making it an ideal tank mix partner when nutrient availability is restricted by dry, wet soils or root stress.

Proven Under Pressure

Trial data from Spain (2016MM35) tells a clear story. When applied preventatively over four weeks prior to heat stress, HICURE®-treated bentgrass showed significantly less injury than untreated plots. Similarly, under drought stress, preventative applications maintained turf colour and supported continued growth where untreated turf struggled.

The lesson from the data is consistent: HICURE® rewards a proactive approach. Waiting until stress is visible is waiting too long. The best results come from building the program in advance - regular applications at 14–28 day intervals, starting before the pressure begins whether that’s winter, spring or summer.

How to Use It

HICURE® is a liquid formulation available in 10 L packs, suited to both professional spray equipment and garden applicators.

It is compatible with a wide range of tank mixes, safe on all turf types, safe to beneficial micro-organisms, and fits cleanly into IPM programs - making it an easy addition to an existing management calendar rather than an overhaul of it.

The Bottom Line

Turf doesn't fail all at once. It accumulates stress - through heat or cold events, dry or wet spells, and traffic - until the margin for recovery runs out. HICURE® is designed for exactly this reality: a biostimulant that builds the plant's capacity to cope before it needs to and helps it bounce back faster when conditions improve.

For turf managers looking to add resilience to their programs without complicating them, HICURE® makes a compelling case.

For more information, visit www.syngentaturf.com.au or speak with your local Syngenta Territory Sales Manager.

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