Method for improving plant growth

Details Method for improving plant growth Method for improving plant growth

2002-04-10

2004-06-22

Clardy, S. Mark (Department: 1616)

Plant protecting and regulating compositions

Plant growth regulating compositions

Organic active compound containing

C504S222000, C504S223000, C504S230000, C504S231000, C504S244000, C504S266000, C504S294000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06753296

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of improving the growth of plants comprising applying to the plants or the locus thereof at least one compound selected from the class of the neonicotinoids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Certain methods of improving plant growth are described in the literature. These methods are usually based on conventional fertilizing. The biological effects of those known methods are however not entirely satisfactory in the area of agriculture. There is therefore still a need to improve the growth of the plants basically for obtaining higher crop yields, as well as the reduction of the use of fertilizers needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a new method of improving plant growth, more specifically, a method for improving plant growth of crops such as canola (rape) seed, eggplants, rice, potatoes and soybeans, wherein at least one neonicotinoid compound is applied to the plant or the locus thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Preferred is a method of improving the growth of plants wherein at least one neonicotinoid compound of formula (I)
wherein
A is 2-chloropyrid-5-yl, 2-methylpyrid-5-yl, 1-oxido-3-pyridinio, 2-chloro-1-oxido-5-pyridinio, 2,3-dichloro-1-oxido-5-pyridinio, tetrahydrofuran-3-yl, 5-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl or 2-chlorothiazol-5-yl group,
R is hydrogen, C
1
-C
6
alkyl, phenyl-C
1
-C
4
alkyl, C
3
-C
6
cycloalkyl, C
2
-C
6
alkenyl or C
2
-C
6
alkynyl;
Y is —N(R)(R
2
) or SR
2
;
R
1
and R
2
are independently of each other C
1
-C
4
-alkyl, C
1
-C
4
-alkenyl, C
1
-C
4
-alkinyl, —C(═O)—CH
3
or benzyl; or together form a group —CH
2
—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—CH
2
—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—O—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—S—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—NH—CH
2
— or —CH
2
—N(CH
3
)—CH
2
—; and
X is N—NO
2
or N—CN or CH—NO
2
; or, where appropriate, a tautomer thereof, in each case in free from or in salt form, is applied to the plant or the locus thereof.
The compounds (I) may be in the form of tautomers. Accordingly, hereinbefore and hereinafter, where appropriate the compound compounds (I) are to be understood to include corresponding tautomers, even if the latter are not specifically mentioned in each case.
The compounds of the formula (I) are capable of forming acid addition salts. Those salts are formed, for example, with strong inorganic acids, such as mineral acids, for example perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, nitrous acid, a phosphoric acid or a hydrohalic acid, with strong organic carboxylic acids, such as unsubstituted or substituted, for example halo-substituted, C
1
-C
4
alkanecarboxylic acids, for example acetic acid, saturated or unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, for example oxalic, malonic, succinic, maleic, fumaric or phthalic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acids, for example ascorbic, lactic, malic, tartaric or citric acid, or benzoic acid, or with organic sulfonic acids, such as unsubstituted or substituted, for example halo-substituted, C
1
-C
4
alkane- or aryl-sulfonic acids, for example methane- or p-toluene-sulfonic acid. Furthermore, compounds of formula (I) having at least one acidic group are capable of forming salts with bases. Suitable salts with bases are, for example, metal salts, such as alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salts, for example sodium, potassium or magnesium salts, or salts with ammonia or an organic amine, such as morpholine, piperidine, pyrrolidine, a mono-, di- or tri-lower alkylamine, for example ethyl-, diethyl-, triethyl- or dimethyl-propyl-amine, or a mono-, di- or tri-hydroxy-lower alkylamine, for example mono-, di- or tri-ethanolamine, In addition, corresponding internal salts may also be formed. Preference is given within the scope of the invention to agrochemically advantageous salts. In view of the close relationship between the compounds of formula (I) in free form and in the form of their salts, any reference hereinbefore or hereinafter to the free compounds of formula (I) or to their respective salts is to be understood as including also the corresponding salts or the free compounds of formula (I), where appropriate and expedient. The same applies in the case of tautomers of compounds of formula (I) and the salts thereof. The free form is generally preferred in each case.
Preferred compounds of the formula (I) are those wherein
A is a pyrid-3-yl, 2-chloropyrid-5-yl, 2-chloro-1-oxido-5-pyridinio or 2-chlorothiazol-5-yl group; particularly a 2-chloropyrid-5-yl group or preferably a 2-chlorothiazol-5-yl group;
wherein R is C
1
-C
6
alkyl, phenyl-C
1
-C
4
alkyl, C
3
-C
4
alkenyl or C
3
-C
4
alkynyl;
more especially C
1
-C
4
alkyl, preferably methyl;
R
1
and R
2
are independently of each other C
1
-C
4
-alkyl or benzyl, or together a group —CH
2
—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—CH
2
—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—O—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—S—CH
2
—, —CH
2
NH—CH
2
—, —CH
2
—N(CH
3
)—CH
2
—, especially group —CH
2
—CH
2
— or —CH
2
—O—CH
2
—, particularly —CH
2
—CH
2
—; and
X is N—NO
2
or N—CN, more especially N—NO
2
.
Especially preferred is a method of improving the growth of plants comprising the application to the plant or the locus thereof of an effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of: a compound of the formula
imidacloprid, clothianidin (TI-435), nitenpyram, thiacloprid, acetamiprid and MTI-446; particularly the compound of the formula (Ia) (thiarnethoxam).
The compound of the formula (Ia) is known for instance from EP-A-5805 53;
Imidacloprid is known from The Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed. (1997), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 706;
Nitenpyram from The Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed. (1997), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 880;
TI-435 from EP-A-376,279;
MTI-446 from EP-A-649,845; and
Thiacloprid from EP-A-235,725.
Surprisingly, it has been found that the application of the compounds of the formula (I) to the plants or the locus thereof results in a quite unexpectedly enhanced plant growth. It has now been found, that the action of the compounds of the formula (I) goes far beyond their well-known pesticidal action. It has been shown, that the compounds of the formula (I) exhibit an action termed plant growth in the frame of the instant invention. Under the term plant growth there are understood various sorts of improvements of plants which are not connected to the control of pests with the said compound (I). For example such advantageous properties that may be mentioned are improved crop characteristics including: emergence, crop yields, protein content, more developed root system, tillering increase, increase in plant height, bigger leaf blade, less dead basal leaves, stronger tillers, greener leaf color, less fertilizers needed, less seeds needed, more productive tillers, earlier flowering, early grain maturity, less plant verse (lodging), increased shoot growth, improved plant vigor, and early germination; or any other advantages familiar to a person skilled in the art.
Especially preferred is the use of the said neonicotiniod compounds in a method for the improvement of the growth plants which are essentially free of insects and representatives of the order Acarina.
It has been shown, that compounds of the instant formula (I) have a good effect on the plant growth. As a rule, a good effect means at least 10% earlier emergence, crop yields, more developed root system, increase in plant height, bigger leaf blade, less fertilizers needed, less seeds needed increased shoot growth, improved plant vigor etc.
A further aspect of the invention is a method of using a neonicotinoid compound in a method for Improving the growth of plants.
A further aspect of the invention is the use of a neonicotinoid compound in a method for improving the growth of plants.
Still a further aspect of the invention is a method of using a composition comprising a neonicotinoid compound in a method for improving the growth of plants. Crops which can be improved according to the present method include cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, maize and sorghum; beet, such as sugar beet and fodder beet; fruit, for example pomes, stone fruit and soft fruit, such as appl

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Method for improving plant growth does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Method for improving plant growth, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for improving plant growth will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3353943