Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG Plant Growth Regulator

Item	Product Information
Product Name	Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG
Active Ingredient	Maleic Hydrazide
Active Content	80% w/w
Equivalent Concentration	800 g/kg
Formulation	WDG / WG, Water-Dispersible Granules
Product Type	Plant Growth Regulator
Main Function	Pre-Harvest Sprout Suppression
Main Biological Direction	Inhibition of Cell Division
Core Crop Direction	Potato and Onion
Supporting Crop Direction	Shallot, Garlic, Tobacco, and other approved crops
Main Application Position	Pre-Harvest Foliar Treatment
Main Commercial Role	Field-to-Storage Sprout Management
Application Requirement	Active foliage and correct crop maturity
Supply Direction	SunAgro branded product for registration, import, and distribution
Document Support	COA, SDS/MSDS, TDS, specification, batch data, and available registration documents

Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG may also be expressed as Maleic Hydrazide 800 g/kg WG, because both values describe the same active concentration on a weight basis.

Final application timing, crop maturity, PHI, dose, rainfall restrictions, seed-crop restrictions, residue requirements, and other use directions must follow the approved destination-market label.

Qualified buyers can review the wider SunAgro plant growth regulator portfolio when building complementary crop-development and storage-quality programs.

What Is Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG Used For?

The main commercial purpose of Maleic Hydrazide is growth suppression rather than growth promotion.

Important registered directions may include:

• Potato sprout suppression before storage
• Onion sprout suppression before storage
• Shallot and garlic storage programs
• Reduction of unwanted vegetative regrowth
• Tobacco sucker suppression
• Other approved growth-management uses

The product should not be positioned like GA3, NAA, CPPU, or other PGRs used primarily to stimulate elongation, rooting, fruit set, or fruit enlargement.

Its role is different:

Maleic Hydrazide → suppresses cell division in actively growing tissues

This makes it especially valuable in storage-crop markets.

How Does Maleic Hydrazide Work?

Foliar Uptake

Maleic Hydrazide is normally applied to living foliage before harvest.

Correct foliar condition matters because the product must first enter the plant before it can reach the tissues where sprouting will later occur.

Systemic Translocation

After uptake, Maleic Hydrazide can move within the plant toward active meristematic tissues and storage organs.

A simplified process is:

Foliar application
→ leaf uptake
→ systemic translocation
→ movement toward tubers, bulbs, or active buds
→ cell division is suppressed
→ later sprout development is reduced

The product should therefore not be treated as a simple contact growth suppressant.

Cell Division Suppression

Maleic Hydrazide mainly affects actively dividing plant tissues.

Its action reduces the ability of buds and sprouts to continue normal development after harvest.

This explains why the product is strongly dependent on:

• Crop growth stage
• Foliage condition
• Application timing
• Plant uptake
• Time available for translocation

Potato Sprout Suppression Before Storage

Potato is one of the most important commercial directions for Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG.

The product is applied in the field before harvest so that the active ingredient can move into developing tubers.

After successful uptake and translocation, the treatment can help reduce sprouting pressure during subsequent storage.

This is especially relevant to:

• Ware potatoes
• Processing potatoes
• Potatoes intended for extended storage
• Storage programs requiring early sprout-management planning

The key commercial concept is:

sprout management begins in the field, before potatoes enter storage.

Maleic Hydrazide is not an in-store sprout killer.

It is designed to establish a pre-harvest sprout-suppression foundation.

Why Application Timing Matters in Potatoes

Timing is one of the most important performance factors.

If Applied Too Early

An excessively early treatment may interfere with continued crop development.

Potential concerns may include:

• Reduced tuber growth
• Yield impact
• Premature growth suppression
• Uneven crop response

For this reason, Maleic Hydrazide should not be applied simply because the crop has entered a broad calendar window.

Correct Crop Development

The preferred situation generally requires:

• Tubers sufficiently developed
• Crop still physiologically active
• Healthy foliage available for absorption
• Enough time before harvest for translocation

The exact growth criteria must come from the registered label.

If Applied Too Late

A late treatment can also reduce performance.

Potential problems include:

• Reduced leaf area
• Declining foliage activity
• Insufficient uptake
• Insufficient translocation
• Weaker sprout suppression during storage

The correct application window therefore sits between:

continued crop development
and
loss of active foliage

SunAgro does not recommend one global “days before harvest” interval because varieties, climate, crop maturity, and local registrations differ.

Onion Sprout Suppression Before Storage

Onion is the second core market for Maleic Hydrazide.

The product may be applied before harvest to reduce later sprout development in storage bulbs.

Important commercial objectives include:

• Better storage stability
• Reduced sprouting losses
• Improved marketability during extended storage
• Support for long-distance distribution programs

SunAgro’s onion pre-harvest storage-quality programs provide a broader crop-level context for positioning Maleic Hydrazide within onion production.

Why Onion Maturity Matters

Correct onion maturity is critical.

The crop must be mature enough for storage preparation, but foliage must still retain sufficient physiological activity for uptake.

Too Early

Treatment of immature onions may interfere with normal bulb development and storage quality.

Suitable Timing

The crop should have:

• Adequate bulb development
• Physiologically active leaves
• Sufficient time for translocation before harvest

Too Late

If foliage has largely senesced or dried down:

• Absorption may be insufficient
• Translocation may decline
• Sprout suppression may become less reliable

The exact maturity indicators must follow the approved product label.

From Field Application to Storage Performance

Maleic Hydrazide should be understood as part of a field-to-storage management system.

The practical sequence is:

Healthy crop
→ correct pre-harvest timing
→ foliar treatment
→ active uptake
→ systemic translocation
→ tuber or bulb exposure
→ suppression of cell division
→ reduced sprouting pressure after harvest

This makes Maleic Hydrazide different from products applied directly inside storage facilities.

Its performance during storage starts with what happens in the field.

What Maleic Hydrazide Does Not Replace

Maleic Hydrazide can support storage programs, but it does not replace good storage management.

It does not replace:

• Proper curing
• Temperature control
• Humidity management
• Ventilation
• Storage hygiene
• Disease management
• Wound healing
• Appropriate pile or box management
• Additional postharvest sprout strategies where required

It also should not be promoted as a treatment for storage diseases.

The product manages plant growth physiology, not fungal or bacterial storage pathogens.

Additional Tobacco Sucker-Control Direction

Maleic Hydrazide may also be used in registered tobacco programs to suppress unwanted sucker growth after topping.

This is a separate application concept from potato and onion sprout suppression.

Tobacco use depends on:

• Tobacco type
• Topping stage
• Sucker development
• Application method
• PHI
• Local residue requirements

The tobacco market should therefore remain a secondary direction on this page.

Maleic Hydrazide vs Postharvest Sprout Treatments

Dimension	Maleic Hydrazide	Postharvest Sprout Treatment
Application Timing	Before harvest	After harvest
Application Location	Field	Storage facility
Uptake Route	Living foliage	Direct storage environment or tuber surface
Main Role	Establish baseline sprout suppression	Maintain storage sprout control
Active Foliage Required	Yes	No
Existing Sprout Control	Not the main role	Product dependent
Storage Management Still Required	Yes	Yes

These approaches may be complementary rather than direct substitutes.

Maleic Hydrazide is most valuable when the storage strategy is planned before harvest.

Maleic Hydrazide vs 1-MCP

Both products may appear in storage-quality portfolios, but they work differently.

Dimension	Maleic Hydrazide	1-MCP
Main Function	Sprout suppression	Ethylene-response management
Main Biological Direction	Cell division suppression	Ethylene perception inhibition
Typical Timing	Pre-harvest	Mainly postharvest
Main Crop Objective	Reduce bud / sprout growth	Slow ripening or senescence
Main Commercial Role	Storage sprout management	Postharvest quality management

They should not be treated as direct replacements for each other.

Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG vs Liquid Formulations

Maleic Hydrazide is also marketed in liquid and salt-based formulations in some markets.

Dimension	80% WDG	Liquid / Salt Formulation
Active Loading	High	Often lower
Physical Form	Dry granules	Liquid
Measurement	Weight based	Volume based
Freight Efficiency	Compact dry product	Higher liquid transport volume
Dust Potential	Low when granulation is good	No dry dust
Tank Preparation	Requires dispersion	Product specific
Market Fit	Dry formulation channels	Liquid-product channels
Registration	Product specific	Product specific

The correct choice depends on market registration, channel preference, handling expectations, and formulation economics.

Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG vs 80% WP

Dimension	80% WDG	80% WP
Physical Form	Granules	Fine powder
Dust Potential	Generally lower	More dust-sensitive
Flowability	Usually easier	Powder dependent
Tank Preparation	Granule disintegration + dispersion	Wetting + suspension
Moisture Protection	Important	Important
Transport Durability	Granule strength matters	Caking and powder integrity matter
Buyer Position	Modern dry formulation	Conventional powder format

Neither format should be described as universally superior.

WDG Formulation Features

WDG means Water-Dispersible Granules and is also commonly represented by the standard formulation code WG.

The granules are designed to break apart and disperse after addition to water.

A WDG is not necessarily fully soluble.

Correct performance depends on:

• Granule integrity
• Disintegration
• Dispersibility
• Suspensibility
• Water quality
• Tank agitation
• Storage moisture control

WDG Quality Parameters for Procurement

Quality Parameter	Procurement Value
Maleic Hydrazide Content	Confirms 80% / 800 g/kg
Active Identity	Confirms correct Maleic Hydrazide basis
Granule Size	Supports handling and dispersion
Water Content	Supports storage stability
Disintegration	Supports tank preparation
Dispersibility	Supports rapid formulation breakdown
Suspensibility	Supports uniform spray concentration
Wet Sieve	Controls oversized material
Dustiness	Supports operator handling
Attrition Resistance	Supports transport durability
Flowability	Supports measuring and packing
Persistent Foam	Supports tank filling
pH	Supports formulation quality
Accelerated Storage Stability	Supports shelf-life evaluation
Packaging Moisture Barrier	Protects granule quality

Technical Source and Hydrazine Impurity Control

Maleic Hydrazide technical quality requires attention to hydrazine, a relevant impurity controlled under applicable regulatory specifications.

For B2B registration and procurement, buyers should review:

• Technical active purity
• Technical source
• Hydrazine specification
• Batch analytical method
• Formulated-product specification
• Destination-market requirements

Acceptance limits should follow the applicable technical-source approval and local registration standard.

SunAgro does not apply one universal hydrazine limit to every market without reference to the relevant specification.

This is especially important when the project involves markets with strict active-source equivalence requirements.

Product Advantages

Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG provides a distinct position within professional PGR portfolios.

Its main advantages include:

• 80% / 800 g/kg high-active WDG
• Pre-harvest sprout-suppression positioning
• Strong potato storage-market relevance
• Onion storage-program fit
• Systemic foliar uptake
• Translocation toward storage organs
• Cell-division suppression
• Field-to-storage product positioning
• Compact dry formulation
• Clear distinction from postharvest sprout treatments
• SunAgro registration and distribution support

The product should not be described as a yield enhancer, complete sprout-prevention solution, or replacement for proper storage management.

Registration and Market Fit

Maleic Hydrazide remains commercially relevant in multiple storage-crop and tobacco markets.

A professional project should confirm:

• Current active-substance approval
• Exact 80% WDG registration status
• Approved crops
• Crop maturity requirements
• Application timing
• PHI
• MRLs
• Seed-potato restrictions
• Residue definitions
• Technical-source acceptance
• Hydrazine impurity limits
• Formulation specification

Europe can remain relevant to Maleic Hydrazide projects because the active substance continues to have an EU approval pathway, but the exact formulated product still requires the appropriate national authorization and compliance review.

Registration status must therefore be checked at both:

active ingredient level
and
formulated product level

before commercial planning.

Crop Safety and Timing Boundaries

Maleic Hydrazide performance and crop safety are strongly timing-dependent.

Important factors include:

• Crop maturity
• Variety
• Tuber or bulb development
• Foliage condition
• Crop stress
• Water availability
• Application rate
• Weather
• Time before harvest

Do not automatically transfer timing from:

• One potato variety to another
• Potato to onion
• Onion to garlic
• Ware potato to seed potato
• One climate to another

Maleic Hydrazide-treated potatoes may also be unsuitable for seed use where the label restricts that purpose because the product is specifically intended to suppress subsequent sprout growth.

Storage and Transport

The product itself should be stored in its original sealed packaging.

Recommended controls include:

• Keep it in a cool and dry warehouse.
• Protect it from moisture.
• Avoid direct sunlight.
• Prevent excessive heat.
• Keep bags or containers tightly sealed.
• Protect inner liners from damage.
• Store away from food, feed, seed, and water.
• Maintain batch identification.
• Inspect packaging after transport.

Before distribution, inspect where required for:

• Moisture ingress
• Granule breakage
• Excessive fines
• Caking
• Flowability
• Dispersibility
• Packaging integrity

Registration, Document, and Supply Support from SunAgro

SunAgro supplies branded plant growth regulators for qualified importers, distributors, registration companies, agricultural wholesalers, and local crop-protection partners.

For Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG projects, available support may include:

• Product specification
• Certificate of Analysis
• SDS or MSDS
• Technical Data Sheet
• Maleic Hydrazide technical information
• Technical-source information
• Hydrazine-related specification data where applicable
• WDG formulation information
• Granule-size data
• Dispersibility data
• Suspensibility data
• Batch quality records
• Packaging information
• Samples
• Available registration-related documents
• Export-document coordination
• Long-term supply planning

Document availability depends on the destination country, target crops, application timing, technical-source requirements, and registration pathway.

Qualified partners can discuss registration cooperation based on their potato, onion, bulb-crop, tobacco, or storage-market requirements.

Stable Supply and WDG Quality Control

Reliable Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG production requires control of the active ingredient, granule structure, moisture, dispersion behavior, impurity profile, and packaging.

Raw Material Control

Incoming materials may be checked for:

• Maleic Hydrazide identity
• Technical purity
• Hydrazine where applicable
• Relevant impurities
• Carrier materials
• Dispersants
• Wetting agents
• Binders

WDG Production

Production controls may include:

• Raw-material weighing
• Milling
• Blending
• Granulation
• Drying
• Granule-size control
• Moisture control
• Homogeneity

Batch Quality Inspection

Relevant tests may include:

• Maleic Hydrazide content
• Water content
• pH
• Granule size
• Disintegration
• Dispersibility
• Suspensibility
• Wet sieve
• Dustiness
• Attrition resistance
• Flowability
• Persistent foam
• Accelerated storage stability

Packaging and Shipment

Packaging checks may include:

• Moisture-barrier performance
• Inner-liner integrity
• Seal strength
• Pack weight
• Batch coding
• Label accuracy
• Carton strength
• Transport durability

Stable supply means repeatable 800 g/kg active content, reliable WDG dispersion, controlled impurity parameters, consistent documentation, and coordinated export planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG?

It is a high-active systemic plant growth regulator used mainly for registered pre-harvest sprout-suppression programs in potatoes and onions.

Is Maleic Hydrazide a plant growth regulator?

Yes. Its main commercial role is growth suppression rather than growth promotion.

Is Maleic Hydrazide a herbicide?

Maleic Hydrazide has had growth-suppression and historical herbicidal uses, but this 80% WDG page is positioned primarily as a plant growth regulator for sprout-management programs.

What is Maleic Hydrazide mainly used for?

The strongest directions are pre-harvest potato and onion sprout suppression, with additional crop uses depending on local registration.

How does Maleic Hydrazide suppress sprouting?

It is absorbed through foliage, translocated within the plant, and suppresses cell division in actively growing tissues such as buds and sprouts.

Is Maleic Hydrazide systemic?

Yes. Systemic translocation is essential to its pre-harvest sprout-suppression role.

Does Maleic Hydrazide move into potato tubers?

Yes, successful potato use depends on foliar uptake and movement toward the developing tubers before harvest.

Can it be used on onions?

Yes, where the exact product is registered for pre-harvest onion sprout suppression.

When should Maleic Hydrazide be applied to potatoes?

Application should occur during the registered crop-development window when tubers are sufficiently developed but foliage is still active enough for uptake and translocation.

What happens if it is applied too early?

Overly early application may interfere with continued crop or tuber development and may affect yield or crop performance.

What happens if it is applied too late?

Late treatment may result in insufficient foliage, uptake, and translocation, reducing storage sprout suppression.

Is Maleic Hydrazide applied before or after harvest?

Its core potato and onion positioning is pre-harvest field application.

Can Maleic Hydrazide stop sprouts that have already developed in storage?

That is not its main function. It is intended to reduce future sprout development following successful pre-harvest treatment.

Does Maleic Hydrazide replace cold storage?

No. Temperature, humidity, ventilation, curing, storage hygiene, and other storage-management practices remain important.

Can treated potatoes be used as seed?

This may be restricted because the purpose of Maleic Hydrazide is to suppress sprouting. Follow the exact local label and seed-use restrictions.

Can Maleic Hydrazide be used for tobacco sucker control?

Yes, in markets where tobacco sucker suppression is specifically registered.

What is the difference between 80% WDG and liquid Maleic Hydrazide?

The main differences are formulation, active loading, handling, transportation, measurement, and market registration. Efficacy claims should follow the exact registered formulation.

What is the difference between WDG and WP?

WDG consists of water-dispersible granules, while WP is a fine wettable powder. WDG normally offers lower dust and better flowability when properly formulated.

Why is hydrazine impurity control important?

Hydrazine is a relevant impurity in Maleic Hydrazide technical material and may be subject to strict limits under destination-market technical-source specifications.

What documents can SunAgro provide?

Depending on the project, SunAgro may provide COA, SDS/MSDS, TDS, product specifications, WDG quality data, technical-source information, relevant impurity data, samples, packaging information, batch records, and available registration-related documents.

Request Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG Product Details

Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG is suitable for qualified companies developing professional pre-harvest sprout-management programs for potato, onion, bulb crops, tobacco, and other approved markets.

To evaluate the product, please provide:

• Target country
• Company type
• Registration status
• Target crop
• Potato or onion market
• Storage duration
• Crop maturity requirements
• Current sprout-management program
• Seed or ware potato status
• Required technical-source information
• Hydrazine specification requirements
• MRL or residue requirements
• Required pack size
• Expected annual volume
• Required technical documents
• Planned distribution channel

Request the product specification to review whether SunAgro Maleic Hydrazide 80% WDG fits your registration pathway, pre-harvest timing requirements, storage-crop program, WDG quality standards, and long-term distribution plan.