Copper (Cu) is one of eight essential plant micronutrients. Copper is required for many enzymatic activities in plants and for chlorophyll and seed production. Deficiency of copper can lead to increased plant susceptibility to disease and bacteria.

Most bacteria are known to be sensitive to copper containing solutions. It is common knowledge that the application of copper solutions reduce, or eliminate, most disease and bacterial populations. In fact, copper compounds provide the widest ranging, and most effective control, of most disease and bacterial organisms.