Plant protecting and regulating compositions – Plant growth regulating compositions – Organic active compound containing
Patent
1997-03-05
1998-12-22
Robinson, Allen J.
Plant protecting and regulating compositions
Plant growth regulating compositions
Organic active compound containing
504345, 514556, A01N 3700, A01N 3702, A01N 3730
Patent
active
058519530
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 of PCT/FI95/00482 filed Sep. 7, 1995.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the use of betaine to improve the yield of plants. The invention relates especially to the use of betaine to improve the yield of tobacco plants (Nicotiana spp. ). According to the invention, the yield can be improved particularly under stress conditions, i.e. when the conditions are poor due to e.g. drought, high salinity, low temperatures, a humidity or environmental poisons interfering with the growth. The invention also relates to tobacco plants treated with betaine, to tobacco leaves and other parts of a tobacco plant, and to products prepared from these.
BACKGROUND
The environment and conditions of growth considerably affect the yield of plants. Optimum growth environment and conditions usually result in a yield that is large in quantity and high in quality. Under poor growth conditions both the quality and the quantity naturally deteriorate.
The physiological properties of a plant are manipulated by means of breeding, both with traditional breeding methods and for example with genetic manipulation.
Several different solutions concerning cultivation technique have been developed to improve the growth conditions and yield of plants. Selecting the right plant for the right growth location is self-evident for a person skilled in the art. During the growing season plants may be protected with mechanical means by utilizing for example different gauzes or plastics or by cultivating the plants in greenhouses. Irrigation and fertilizers are generally used in order to improve the growth. Surfactants are often used in connection with applying pesticides, protective agents and minerals. Surfactants improve the penetration of substances to plant cells, thereby enhancing and increasing the effect of the aforementioned agents and simultaneously reducing their harmful effects on the environment. However, different methods of cultivation technique are often laborious and impractical, their effect is limited (the economical size of a greenhouse, the limited protection provided by gauzes, etc.), and they are also far too expensive on a global scale. No economically acceptable chemical solutions for protecting plants from environmental stress conditions have been described so far.
Water supply is more important than any other environmental factor for the productivity of a crop. Irrigation is usually utilized to ensure sufficient water supply. However, there are significant health and environmental problems related to irrigation, for example a sharp decrease in water resources, deterioration of water quality and deterioration of agricultural lands. It has been calculated in the field that about half of the artificially irrigated lands of the world are damaged by waterlogging and salinization. An indication of the significance and scope of the problem is that there are 255 million hectares of irrigated land in the world, and they account for 70% of the total world water consumption. In the United States alone, there are over 20 million hectares of irrigated land mainly in the area of the 18 western states and in the southeastern part of the country. They use 83% of the total water consumption for irrigation alone. It can also be noted that the use of irrigation water increases every year especially in industrial countries. In addition to these problems, another drawback of irrigation is the high cost.
The productivity of plants in dry conditions, i.e. the sensitivity of crops to drought, varies according to the plant variety. Crop species, such as tobacco (Nicotiana spp.), that produce fresh leaves are highly sensitive to drought, and they cannot be produced commercially in areas or during seasons with a limited water supply and a high degree of evaporation.
Another serious stress factor is the salinity of soil. The salinity of soil can be defined in different ways; according to the general definition, soil is saline if it contains soluble salts in an amount sufficient to interfere with the. growth and yield of
REFERENCES:
Label, Miller GREENSTIM.TM. Liquid Fertilizer, a product of the U.K., manufactured for Miller Chemical & Fertilizer Corporation, Hanover, Pennsylvania (1992).
Hofinger et al Dept. of Gen. Biology, Institute Van Beneden, pp. 303-309 "Assigning a Biological Role to Hypaphorine and Lycine (Two Betaines)".
.ANG.berg Swedish J. Agric. Res. 12:51-61, 1982 "Plant Growth Regulators".
STN International, File WPIDS, WPIDS, accession. No. 89-312201, Chikkarin K: "Pant supported on basal be -is cultivated with nourishing liq. Contg. Betaine (s)"; & JP, A, 01228416, 890912(8943).
Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 38, No. 188, Mar. 1987, M.I. Lone et al, "Influence of Proline and Glycinebetaine on Salt Tolerance of Cultured Barley Embryos" pp. 479-490.
Plant Science Letters, vol. 25, 1982, C. Itai et al, "Responses of Water-Stressed Hordeum distichum L. And Cucmis sativus to Proline and Betaine" pp. 219-335.
J. Plant Physiol., vol. 140, 1992, Y Zhao et al, "Protection of Membrane Integrity in Medicago sativa L. By Glycinegetaine against the Effects of Freezing" pp. 541-543.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 13, No. 516, C-656, abstract of JP, A, 1-208386 (Katakura Chitsukarin K.K.) 22 Aug. 1989.
Jutila Kirsti
Pehu Eija
Virtanen Erkki
Cultor Oy
Robinson Allen J.
LandOfFree
Yield of plants does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Yield of plants, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Yield of plants will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2047518