U.S. patent application number 14/707958 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-08 for methods of treating crop plants.
The applicant listed for this patent is Dow AgroSciences LLC. Invention is credited to Richard Martin Basel, Todd Bryan Edgington, Jon Frederick Fobes, Al Green, Edward Charles Kostansek, Timothy Malefyt, Robert Lynn Oakes, Arden Nathan Reed.
Application Number | 20150282479 14/707958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54208538 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150282479 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Basel; Richard Martin ; et
al. |
October 8, 2015 |
METHODS OF TREATING CROP PLANTS
Abstract
A method of treating dicot seedlings comprises contacting dicot
seedlings with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
one or more times prior to transplanting the dicot seedlings. A
method of treating crop plants comprises contacting crop plants one
or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene while the crop plants are at a specific development
stage, such as reproductive stage.
Inventors: |
Basel; Richard Martin;
(Fostoria, OH) ; Fobes; Jon Frederick; (Lower
Gwynedd, PA) ; Kostansek; Edward Charles;
(Buckingham, PA) ; Oakes; Robert Lynn;
(Doylestown, PA) ; Reed; Arden Nathan; (Wenatchee,
WA) ; Edgington; Todd Bryan; (Research Triangle Park,
NC) ; Malefyt; Timothy; (Stroudsburg, PA) ;
Green; Al; (Des Moines, IA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dow AgroSciences LLC |
Indianapolis |
IN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54208538 |
Appl. No.: |
14/707958 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11801515 |
May 10, 2007 |
9055741 |
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14707958 |
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11801773 |
May 11, 2007 |
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11801515 |
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60800516 |
May 15, 2006 |
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60800516 |
May 15, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
504/357 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01N 27/00 20130101;
A01N 27/00 20130101; A01N 27/00 20130101; A01N 2300/00 20130101;
A01N 25/00 20130101; A01N 25/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A01N 27/00 20060101
A01N027/00 |
Claims
1. A method of treating dicot seedlings, comprising contacting
dicot seedlings with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene one or more times prior to transplanting the dicot
seedlings.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is a liquid
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is a gaseous
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises about
50 ppm of at least one cyclopropene.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprising at
least one cyclopropene is a composition comprising
1-mehtylcyclopropene (1-MCP).
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises
least one molecular encapsulating agent.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises
least one metal-complexing agent.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting dicot seedlings with a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene comprises
contacting the dicot seedlings with the composition minutes to 7
days prior to transplanting.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the dicot seedlings comprise
dicot seedlings for vegetable plants.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the dicot seedlings comprise
dicot seedlings for the crops selected from the group consisting of
solanaceous crops, cucurbits crop, and cruciferous crops.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dicot seedlings comprise
dicot seedlings for a plant selected from the group consisting of
tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower,
cabbage, and brussel sprout.
12. A method of treating crop plants, comprising: contacting crop
plants one or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene, while the crop plants are at one or more reproductive
stages.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting soybean plants one or more times with the
composition while the soybean plants are at one or more
reproductive stage selected from R2 (full bloom), R3 (beginning
pod), or R5.5 (between beginning seed and full seed).
14. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting tomato plants one or more times with the
composition at one or more of the following times: during the
period from initiation of the first bloom period to seven days
after the initiation of the first bloom period; and during the
period from 28 days before anticipated harvest until harvest.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting bell pepper plants one or more times with the
composition while the bell pepper plants are at the initiation of
the first bloom period.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting watermelon plants one or more times with the
composition within 14 days after flowering of watermelon
plants.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting cantaloupe plants one or more time with the
composition after bud initiation but before blossom opening.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein contacting crop plants one or
more times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
comprises: contacting crop plants one or more times with a liquid
composition comprising 1-mehtylcyclopropene (1-MCP), while the crop
plants are at one or more reproductive stages.
19. A method of treating crop plants, comprising contacting crop
plant one or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene while the crop plants are at a specific development
stage, wherein: when the crop plants are corn plants, the specific
development stage is selected from V12 (the twelfth leaf emerges),
VT (tasselling), R3 (milk), or a combination of any of these
development stages; or when the crop plants are cotton plants, the
specific development stage comprises at no more than 3 days after
appearance of early bloom on the cotton plants for a first contact,
at 14 days after the first contact, and at 28 days after the first
contact.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising contacting crop plants one
or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene comprises: contacting crop plants one or more times
with a liquid composition comprising 1-mehtylcyclopropene (1-MCP),
while the crop plants are at the specific development stage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/801,515 filed on May 10, 2007,
which claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/800,516 filed on May 15, 2006, and U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 11/801,773 filed on May 11, 2007, which
claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/800,516 filed on May 15, 2006, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety
by this reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates to methods of treating crop plants
and to methods of treating dicot seedlings to improve quality,
yield and/or environmental stress tolerance of crop plants.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Plants are often treated with chemical compositions to
control attack from pests (e.g., insects) and/or vegetation (e.g.,
weeds or fungi), as well as to promote plant growth and/or yield.
It is also desirable to protect plants from abiotic environmental
stress (e.g., heat, cold, high wind, salinity, drought, or flood)
that may adversely affect their growth and productivity. Further,
plants may suffer and/or die from transplant shock when they are
transplanted from one location to another location. When plants are
under such environmental stress, significant losses in quality and
yield are commonly observed.
[0004] L. Pozo et al. report that the citrus trees treated with
liquid solutions containing an abscission agent and 1-methyl
cyclopropene (1-MCP) showed low fruit detachment force and low
levels of leaf abscission. L. Pozo et al., Differential Effects of
1-Methylcyclopropene on Citrus Leaf and Mature Fruit Abscission, J.
Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci., 2004, 129(4), pp. 473-478.
[0005] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0160704 discloses methods
of increasing crop yield of non-citrus plants by contacting
non-citrus plants with a composition comprising cyclopropene and a
composition comprising a plant growth regulator that is not a
cyclopropene.
[0006] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0304975 discloses methods
for increasing the abiotic environmental stress tolerance of plants
by foliar field spraying plants with a composition comprising a
xyloglucan derivative between 1 hour and 72 hours before the
abiotic environmental stress arrives.
[0007] U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0298290 discloses methods
of increasing the abiotic environmental stress tolerance of plants
by adding cyclopropene in the plant irrigation water.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 8,119,855 discloses methods for conferring
tolerance to abiotic stress to plants by transforming plants with a
nucleotide sequence encoding an RKS protein, especially an RKS
subgroup II protein (more specifically RKS1, RKS4 or truncated
RKS4), or an RKS subgroup III (more preferably RKS12).
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 8,889,949 discloses methods for increasing
resistance of monocot plants against abiotic stress by transforming
the monocot plants with a recombinant plasmid containing a fused
gene (TPSP) of trehalose-6 phosphate synthetase (TPS) gene and
trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) gene to express the TPSP
gene, while maintaining normal plant growth and development
characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0010] In one aspect for present disclosure, a methods of treating
crop plants comprises contacting crop plants one or more times with
a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene, while the crop
plants are at a particular development stage appropriate for such
crop plants.
[0011] In other aspect for present disclosure, a methods of
treating crop plants comprises contacting crop plants one or more
times with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropenes,
while the crop plants are at one or more reproductive stage.
[0012] In yet other aspect for present disclosure, a method of
treating crop plants or seedlings comprises contacting the crop
plants or seedlings one or more times with a composition comprising
at least one cyclopropenes, and transplanting the crop plants or
seedlings from one location to another location.
[0013] In further aspect for present disclosure, a method of
treating dicot seedlings comprises contacting dicot seedlings one
or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropenes from minutes to 7 days prior to transplanting the
dicot seedlings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] As used herein, the term "seedling" or grammatical
variations thereof means and includes a young plant sporophyte
developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development
starts with germination of the seed, which is commonly performed in
a controlled environment, e.g., greenhouse, hotbed, cold frame.
[0015] As used herein, the term "transplanting" or grammatical
variations thereof means and includes moving a plant from one
location and replanting it at another location.
[0016] As used herein, the term "abiotic stress" or grammatical
variations thereof means and includes the impact of non-living
factors on plants in a specific environment that is beyond its
normal range of variation and results in a significant adverse
effect on the performance of a plant population or the individual
physiology of a plant. Example of abiotic stress may include, but
are not limited to, heat, cold, high wind, salinity, drought,
flood, osmotic stress, or salinity.
[0017] As used herein, the term "crop plants" or grammatical
variations thereof means and includes plants that are grown for the
purpose of removing one or more plant parts, when such parts are
considered a useful product.
[0018] As used herein, the term "horticultural crops",
"horticultural crop plants" or grammatical variations thereof means
and includes agricultural products that are not agronomic crops and
are not forestry products. Agronomic crops are herbaceous field
crops, including grains, forages, oilseeds, and fiber crops.
Forestry products are forest trees and forest products.
Horticultural crop plants are usually relatively intensively
managed plants that are cultivated for food or for aesthetic
purposes. Some typical horticultural crops are fruits, vegetables,
spices, herbs, and plants grown for ornamental use.
[0019] As used herein, the term "harvesting" or grammatical
variations thereof means and includes an act of removing useful
plant parts from crop plants.
[0020] As used herein, the term "cyclopropene" means and includes
any compound with the following formula
##STR00001##
[0021] where each R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is
independently selected from the group consisting of H and a
chemical group of the formula
-(L).sub.n-Z
[0022] wherein:
[0023] n is an integer from 0 to 12;
[0024] each L is independently selected from the group consisting
of D1, D2, E, and J;
[0025] where D1 is of the formula
##STR00002##
[0026] where D2 is of the formula
##STR00003##
[0027] where E is of the formula
##STR00004##
[0028] where J is of the formula:
##STR00005##
[0029] where each X and Y is independently a chemical group of the
formula
-(L).sub.m-Z,
[0030] m is an integer from 0 to 8, and no more than two D2 or E
groups are adjacent to each other and no J groups are adjacent to
each other; and
[0031] each Z is independently selected from the group consisting
of hydrogen, halo, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azido, chlorate, bromate,
iodate, isocyanato, isocyanido, isothiocyanato, pentafluorothio,
and a chemical group G, wherein G is a 3 to 14 membered ring
system, where the total number of heteroatoms in -(L).sub.n-Z is
from 0 to 6, and where the total number of non-hydrogen atoms in
the compound is 50 or less.
[0032] For the purposes of this disclosure, in the structural
representations of the various L groups, each open bond indicates a
bond to another L group, a Z group, or the cyclopropene moiety. For
example, the structural representation
##STR00006##
indicates an oxygen atom with bonds to two other atoms; it does not
represent a dimethyl ether moiety.
[0033] Among embodiments in which at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is not hydrogen and has more than one L group,
the L groups within that particular R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or
R.sup.4 group may be the same as the other L groups within that
same R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 group, or any number of L
groups within that particular R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4
group may be different from the other L groups within that same
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 group.
[0034] Among embodiments in which at least one of R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 contains more than one Z group, the Z groups
within that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 group may be the
same as the other Z groups within that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or
R.sup.4 group, or any number of Z groups within that R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 group may be different from the other Z
groups within that R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 group.
[0035] R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 groups are
independently selected from the suitable groups. R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 groups may be the same as each other, or any
number of them may be different from the others. Examples of groups
that are suitable for use as one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may include, but are not limited to, aliphatic
groups, cycloaliphatic groups, aliphatic-oxy groups,
alkylphosphonato groups, alkylsulfonyl groups, cycloalkylsulfonyl
groups, alkylamino groups, cycloalkylamino groups,
alkylaminosulfonyl groups, alkylcarbonyl groups, heterocyclic
groups, aryl groups, heteroaryl groups, halogens, silyl groups,
other groups, and mixtures and combinations thereof. Groups that
are suitable for use as one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3
and R.sup.4 may be substituted or unsubstituted. Independently,
groups that are suitable for use as one or more of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 may be connected directly to the
cyclopropene ring or may be connected to the cyclopropene ring
through an intervening group such as, for example, a
heteroatom-containing group.
[0036] Examples of aliphatic groups may include, but are not
limited to, alkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl groups. Suitable aliphatic
groups may be substituted or unsubstituted. Some suitable
substituted aliphatic groups may include, but are not limited to,
acetylaminoalkynyl, acetylaminoalkyl, acetylaminoalkynyl,
alkoxyalkoxyalkyl, alkoxy alkenyl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkynyl,
alkoxycarbonylalkenyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, alkoxy carbonylalkynyl,
alkylcarbonyloxyalkyl, alkyl(alkoxyimino)alkyl, carboxyalkenyl,
carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkynyl, haloalkoxyalkenyl, haloalkoxyalkyl,
haloalkoxyalkynyl, haloalkenyl, haloalkyl, haloalkynyl,
hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkynyl, trialkylsilylalkenyl,
trialkylsilylalkyl, trialkylsilylalkynyl, dialkylaminoalkyl,
alkylsulfonylalkyl, alkylthioalkenyl, alkylthioalkyl,
alkylthioalkynyl, haloalkylthioalkenyl, halo alkylthioalkyl, or
haloalkylthioalkynyl.
[0037] Examples of aliphatic-oxy groups may include, but are not
limited to, alkenoxy, alkoxy, alkynoxy, and alkoxycarbonyloxy.
Examples of alkylphosphonato groups may include, but are not
limited to, alkylphosphonato, dialkylphosphato, or
dialkylthiophosphato. Non-limiting example of alkylamino groups may
be dialkylamino or monalkylamino. Non-limiting example of
alkylsulfonyl groups may be dialkylamino sulfonyl.
[0038] Examples of cycloaliphatic groups may include, but are not
limited to, cycloalkenyl, cycloalkyl, and cycloalkynyl. Suitable
cycloaliphatic groups may be substituted or unsubstituted. Among
the suitable substituted cycloaliphatic groups are, for example,
acetylaminocycloalkenyl, acetylaminocycloalkyl,
acetylaminocycloalkynyl, cycloalkenoxy, cycloalkoxy, cycloalkynoxy,
alkoxyalkoxycycloalkyl, alkoxycycloalkenyl, alkoxycycloalkyl,
alkoxycycloalkynyl, alkoxycarbonylcycloalkenyl,
alkoxycarbonylcycloalkyl, alkoxycarbonylcycloalkynyl,
cycloalkylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxycycloalkyl,
carboxycycloalkenyl, carboxycycloalkyl, carboxycycloalkynyl,
halocycloalkoxycycloalkenyl, halocycloalkoxycycloalkyl,
halocycloalkoxycycloalkynyl, halocycloalkenyl, halo cycloalkyl,
halocycloalkynyl, hydroxycycloalkenyl, hydroxycycloalkyl,
hydroxycycloalkynyl, trialkylsilylcycloalkenyl,
trialkylsilylcycloalkyl, trialkylsilylcycloalkynyl,
dialkylaminocycloalkyl, alkylsulfonylcycloalkyl,
cycloalkylcarbonyloxyalkyl, cycloalkylsulfonylalkyl,
alkylthiocycloalkenyl, alkylthiocycloalkyl, alkylthiocycloalkynyl,
haloalkylthiocycloalkenyl, haloalkylthiocycloalkyl, or
haloalkylthiocycloalkynyl.
[0039] Examples of heterocyclyl groups (i.e., non-aromatic cyclic
groups with at least one heteroatom in the ring) may include, but
are not limited to, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkylsulfonyl
groups or cycloalkylamino groups, such as, for example,
dicycloalkylaminosulfonyl or dicycloalkylamino. Suitable
substituted heterocyclyl groups may be substituted or
unsubstituted. Among the suitable substituted heterocyclyl groups
are, for example, alkenylheterocyclyl, alkylheterocyclyl,
alkynylheterocyclyl, acetylaminoheterocyclyl,
alkoxyalkoxyheterocyclyl, alkoxyheterocyclyl,
alkoxycarbonylheterocyclyl, alkylcarbonyloxyheterocyclyl,
carboxyheterocyclyl, haloalkoxyheterocyclyl, haloheterocyclyl,
hydroxyheterocyclyl, trialkylsilylheterocyclyl,
dialkylaminoheterocyclyl, alkylsulfonylheterocyclyl,
alkylthioheterocyclyl, heterocyclylthioalkyl, or
haloalkylthioheterocyclyl.
[0040] Examples of substituted and unsubstituted heterocyclyl
groups that are connected to the cyclopropene compound through an
intervening oxy group, amino group, carbonyl group, or sulfonyl
group may include, but are not limited to, heterocyclylcarbonyl,
diheterocyclylamino, or diheterocyclylaminosulfonyl.
[0041] Examples of substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups may
include, but are not limited to, alkenylaryl, alkylaryl,
alkynylaryl, acetylaminoaryl, aryloxy, alkoxyalkoxyaryl,
alkoxyaryl, alkoxycarbonylaryl, arylcarbonyl, alkylcarbonyloxyaryl,
carboxyaryl, diarylamino, haloalkoxyaryl, haloaryl, hydroxyaryl,
trialkylsilylaryl, dialkylaminoaryl, alkylsulfonylaryl,
arylsulfonylalkyl, alkylthioaryl, arylthioalkyl,
diarylaminosulfonyl, and haloalkylthioaryl.
[0042] Examples of heteroaryl groups may include, but are not
limited to, alkenylheteroaryl, alkylheteroaryl, alkynylheteroaryl,
acetylaminoheteroaryl, heteroaryloxy, alkoxyalkoxyheteroaryl,
alkoxyheteroaryl, alkoxycarbonylheteroaryl, heteroarylcarbonyl,
alkylcarbonyloxyheteroaryl, carboxyheteroaryl, diheteroarylamino,
haloalkoxyheteroaryl, haloheteroaryl, hydroxyheteroaryl,
trialkylsilylheteroaryl, dialkylaminoheteroaryl,
alkylsulfonylheteroaryl, heteroarylsulfonylalkyl,
alkylthioheteroaryl, or haloalkylthioheteroaryl.
[0043] Examples of substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryl groups
that are connected to the cyclopropene compound through an
intervening oxy group, amino group, carbonyl group, sulfonyl group,
thioalkyl group, or aminosulfonyl group may include, but are not
limited to, diheteroarylamino, heteroarylthioalkyl, or
diheteroarylaminosulfonyl.
[0044] Further examples of suitable R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 groups may include, but are not limited to, hydrogen,
fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo, cyano, nitro, nitroso, azido,
chlorato, bromato, iodato, isocyanato, isocyanido, isothiocyanato,
pentafluorothio, acetoxy, carboethoxy, cyanato, nitrato, nitrito,
perchlorato, allenyl, butylmercapto, diethyl phosphonato,
dimethylphenylsilyl, isoquinolyl, mercapto, naphthyl, phenoxy,
phenyl, piperidino, pyridyl, quinolyl, triethylsilyl,
trimethylsilyl, or substituted analogs thereof.
[0045] As used herein, the chemical group G is a 3 to 14 membered
ring system. Ring systems suitable as chemical group G may be
substituted or unsubstituted. Further, they may be aromatic
(including, for example, phenyl and napthyl) or aliphatic
(including unsaturated aliphatic, partially saturated aliphatic, or
saturated aliphatic); and they may be carbocyclic or heterocyclic.
Among heterocyclic G groups, some suitable heteroatoms are, for
example, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and combinations thereof. Ring
systems suitable as chemical group G may be monocyclic, bicyclic,
tricyclic, polycyclic, or fused. Among suitable chemical group G
ring systems that are bicyclic, tricyclic, or fused, the various
rings in a single chemical group G may be all the same type or may
be of two or more types (for example, an aromatic ring may be fused
with an aliphatic ring).
[0046] In some embodiments, G is a ring system that contains a
saturated or unsaturated three-membered ring, such as, for example,
a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopropane, cyclopropane, epoxide,
or aziridine ring.
[0047] In some embodiments, G is a ring system that contains a four
membered heterocyclic ring; in some of such embodiments, the
heterocyclic ring contains exactly one heteroatom. Independently,
in some embodiments, G is a ring system that contains a
heterocyclic ring with 5 or more members; in some of such
embodiments, the heterocyclic ring contains 1 to 4 heteroatoms.
Independently, in some embodiments, the ring in G is unsubstituted;
in other embodiments, the ring system contains 1 to 5 substituents;
in some of the embodiments in which G contains substituents, each
substituent is independently chosen from chemical groups in the
category X as defined herein below. Also suitable are embodiments
in which G is a carbocyclic ring system.
[0048] Examples of suitable G groups may include, but are not
limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopent-3-en-1-yl,
3-methoxycyclohexan-1-yl, phenyl, 4-chlorophenyl, 4-fluorophenyl,
4-bromophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 2-methoxyphenyl, 2-methylphenyl,
3-methyphenyl, 4-methylphenyl, 4-ethylphenyl,
2-methyl-3-methoxyphenyl, 2,4-dibromophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl,
3,5-dimethylphenyl, 2,4,6-trichlorophenyl, 4-methoxyphenyl,
naphthyl, 2-chloronaphthyl, 2,4-dimethoxyphenyl,
4-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl, 2-iodo-4-methylphenyl, pyridin-2-yl,
pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidin-2-yl,
pyrimidin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl, pyridazinyl, triazol-1-yl,
imidazol-1-yl, thiophen-2-yl, thiophen-3-yl, furan-2-yl,
furan-3-yl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl,
isothiazolyl, oxadiazolyl, thiadiazolyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl,
tetrahydrofuryl, pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, tetrahydropyranyl,
morpholinyl, piperazinyl, dioxolanyl, dioxanyl, indolinyl,
5-methyl-6-chromanyl, adamantyl, norbornyl, or their substituted
analogs such as, for example: 3-butyl-pyridin-2-yl,
4-bromo-pyridin-2-yl, 5-carboethoxy-pyridin-2-yl, or
6-methoxyethoxy-pyridin-2-yl.
[0049] In some embodiments, each G is independently a substituted
or unsubstituted phenyl, pyridyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl,
cycloheptyl, pyrolyl, furyl, thiophenyl, triazolyl, pyrazolyl,
1,3-dioxolanyl, or morpholinyl. Among these embodiments include
those embodiments, for example, in which G is unsubstituted or
substituted phenyl, cyclopentyl, cycloheptyl, or cyclohexyl. In
some of these embodiments, G is cyclopentyl, cycloheptyl,
cyclohexyl, phenyl, or substituted phenyl. Among embodiments in
which G is substituted phenyl are embodiments, for example, in
which there are 1, 2, or 3 substituents. Independently, also among
embodiments in which G is substituted phenyl are embodiments, for
example, in which the substituents are independently selected from
methyl, methoxy, and halo.
[0050] In some embodiments, one or more cyclopropenes are used in
which one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is
hydrogen. In some embodiments, R.sup.1 or R.sup.2 or both R.sup.1
and R.sup.2 is hydrogen. Independently, in some embodiments,
R.sup.3 or R.sup.4 or both R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is hydrogen. In some
embodiments, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 are hydrogen.
[0051] In some embodiments, one or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2,
R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a structure that has no double bond.
Independently, in some embodiments, one or more of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is a structure that has no triple
bond. Independently, in some embodiments, one or more of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a structure that has no halogen
atom substituent. Independently, in some embodiments, one or more
of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a structure that has no
substituent that is ionic. Independently, in some embodiments, one
or more of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is a structure
that is not capable of generating oxygen compounds.
[0052] In some embodiments of the disclosure, one or more of
R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is hydrogen or
(C.sub.1-C.sub.10) alkyl. In some embodiments, each of R.sup.1,
R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is hydrogen or (C.sub.1-C.sub.8)
alkyl. In some embodiments, each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 is hydrogen or (C.sub.1-C.sub.4) alkyl. In some
embodiments, each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is
hydrogen or methyl. When R.sup.1 is methyl and each of R.sup.2,
R.sup.3, and R.sup.4 is hydrogen, the cyclopropene is known herein
as 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).
[0053] In some embodiments, a cyclopropene is used that has boiling
point at one atmosphere pressure of 50.degree. C. or lower; or
25.degree. C. or lower; or 15.degree. C. or lower. Independently,
in some embodiments, a cyclopropene is used that has boiling point
at one atmosphere pressure of -100.degree. C. or higher;
-50.degree. C. or higher; or -25.degree. C. or higher; or 0.degree.
C. or higher.
[0054] The cyclopropenes applicable to this disclosure may be
prepared by any method. Some suitable methods of preparation of
cyclopropenes are the processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,518,988 and 6,017,849. Any compound that is not a cyclopropene is
known herein as a "non-cyclopropene."
[0055] The composition of present disclosure comprises at least one
cyclopropene. The composition may be a gaseous composition, a
liquid composition, or a solid composition.
[0056] Plants are subject to various biological processes such as,
for example, growth, ripening, senescence, maturation, abscission,
and degradation. Altering biological processes in plants or plant
parts by contacting them with one or more chemical compositions is
known as plant growth regulation. Chemical compositions that are
effective at causing plant growth regulation are known herein as
"plant growth regulators."
[0057] Some examples of classes of plant growth regulators that are
not cyclopropenes are as follows:
[0058] (I) Ethylene, non-cyclopropene ethylene release agents, and
non-cyclopropene compounds with high ethylene activity, including,
for example, ethephon, abscisic acid, propylene, vinyl chloride,
carbon monoxide, acetylene, or 1-butene.
[0059] (II) Non-cyclopropene compounds that inhibit ethylene
synthesis or ethylene receptor site action or both, including, for
example, aminoethoxyvinylglycine or aminooxyacetic acid.
[0060] (III) Non-cyclopropene compounds with cytokinin activity,
including, for example, benzyl adenine, kinetin, zeatin, adenine,
dihydrozeatin, tetrahydropyranylbenzyladenine,
dimethylallyladenine, methylthiozeatin, ethoxyethyladenine,
benzylamino benzimidazole, chlorophenylphenylurea,
benzthiozolyoxyacetic acid, or fluorophenyl biuret compounds that
elicit cytokinin response.
[0061] (IV) Non-cyclopropene auxins, including, for example,
indoleacetic acid, indolepropionic acid, indolebutyric acid,
naphthaleneacetic acid, beta-naphthoxyacetic acid,
4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-dichlorooxyacetic acid,
trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, trichlorobenzoic acid, or 4
amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid.
[0062] (V) Gibberellins, including, for example, GA.sub.2,
GA.sub.3, GA.sub.4, GA.sub.5, GA.sub.7, and GA.sub.8 having
variously substituted giberellin backbone structures,
helminthosporic acid, phaseolic acid, kaurenoic acid, or
steviol.
[0063] (VI) Cofactors and inhibitors of IAA oxidase, including, for
example, chlorogenic acid, coumaric acid, quercitin, or caffeic
acid.
[0064] (VII) Non-cyclopropene secondary growth inhibitors,
including, for example, methyl jasmonate.
[0065] (VIII) Non-cyclopropene natural growth hormones, including,
for example, natural growth hormones derived from, for example,
kelp, algae, or bacteria.
[0066] In some embodiments, the practice of the present disclosure
involves the use of a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene and without using any plant growth regulator that is
not cyclopropene. In some embodiments, the practice of the present
disclosure involves the use of at least cyclopropene and the use of
at least one plant growth regulator that is not a cyclopropene.
Such embodiments may or may not use one or more members of the
remaining classes of plant growth regulators that are not
cyclopropenes. For example, embodiments are envisioned that do not
use any member of class I (defined herein above), but such
embodiments may or may not use one or member of any of classes
II-VIII.
[0067] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
comprises the use of a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene and the use of a composition comprising at least one
fungicidally active compound. Independently, in some embodiments,
the composition of present disclosure does not include
aminoethylvinylglycine. Independently, in some embodiments, the
composition of present disclosure does not include any derivatives
of vinylglycine.
[0068] Independently, in some embodiments, the composition does not
include any compound that is a strobilurin. Strobilurins are known
in the art and are defined, for example, by Harden et al. in WO
2005/044002.
[0069] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
has no abscission agent.
[0070] In the practice of the present disclosure, the composition
may be contacted with a plant in a variety of ways. For example,
the composition may be a solid, a liquid, a gas, or a mixture
thereof.
[0071] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
is a gaseous composition. In such embodiments, crop plants may be
surrounded by a normal ambient atmosphere (at approximately one
atmosphere pressure) to which the composition of present disclosure
has been added. In some embodiments, the concentration of
cyclopropene is 0.1 nl/l (i.e., nanoliter per liter) or higher; or
1 nl/l or higher, or 10 nl/l or higher; or 100 nl/l or higher.
Independently, in some embodiments, the concentration of
cyclopropene is 3,000 nl/l or lower; or 1,000 nl/l or lower.
[0072] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
is a liquid composition. Such compositions may be liquid at a
temperature of 25.degree. C. In some embodiments, the composition
is liquid at the temperature at which the composition is used to
treat plants. Because plants are often treated outside of any
buildings, plants may be treated at temperatures ranging from about
1.degree. C. to about 45.degree. C. Suitable liquid compositions
need not be liquid over such entire range, but they are liquid at
some temperature from about 1.degree. C. to about 45.degree. C.
[0073] The liquid composition of present disclosure may be a single
pure substance, or it may contain more than one substance. If
containing more than one substance, the liquid composition may be a
solution or a dispersion or a combination thereof. If, in the
liquid composition, one substance is dispersed in another substance
in the form of a dispersion, the dispersion may be of any type,
including, for example, a suspension, a latex, an emulsion, a
miniemulsion, a microemulsion, or any combination thereof.
[0074] The amount of cyclopropene in the liquid composition may
vary widely, depending on the type of composition and the intended
method of use. In some embodiments, the amount of cyclopropene,
based on the total weight of the composition, is 4% by weight or
less; or 1% by weight or less; or 0.5% by weight or less; or 0.05%
by weight or less. Independently, in some embodiments, the amount
of cyclopropene, based on the total weight of the composition, is
0.000001% by weight or more; or 0.00001% by weight or more; or
0.0001% by weight or more; or 0.001% by weight or more.
[0075] Among embodiments of the present disclosure that use a
liquid composition comprising water, the amount of cyclopropene may
be characterized as parts per million (i.e., parts by weight of
cyclopropene per 1,000,000 parts by weight of water in the
composition, "ppm") or as parts per billion (i.e., parts by weight
of cyclopropene per 1,000,000,000 parts by weight of water in the
composition, "ppb"). In some embodiments, the amount of
cyclopropene is 1 ppb or more; or 10 ppb or more; or 100 ppb or
more. Independently, in some embodiments, the amount of
cyclopropene is 10,000 ppm or less; or 1,000 ppm or less.
[0076] In some embodiments, the composition may further include at
least one molecular encapsulating agent. Independently, in some
embodiments, the composition may not include any molecular
encapsulating agent. When a molecular encapsulating agent is used,
suitable molecular encapsulating agents include, for example,
organic and inorganic molecular encapsulating agents. Suitable
organic molecular encapsulating agents include, for example,
substituted cyclodextrins, unsubstituted cyclodextrins, and crown
ethers. Suitable inorganic molecular encapsulating agents include,
for example, zeolites. Mixtures of suitable molecular encapsulating
agents are also suitable. In some embodiments of the disclosure,
the encapsulating agent is alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin,
gamma-cyclodextrin, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments,
particularly when the cyclopropene is 1-methylcyclopropene, the
encapsulating agent is alpha-cyclodextrin. The preferred
encapsulating agent will vary depending upon the structure of the
cyclopropene or cyclopropenes being used. Any cyclodextrin or
mixture of cyclodextrins, cyclodextrin polymers, modified
cyclodextrins, or mixtures thereof may also be utilized pursuant to
the present disclosure. Some cyclodextrins are available, for
example, from Wacker Biochem Inc., Adrian, Mich. or Cerestar USA,
Hammond, Ind., as well as other vendors.
[0077] In some of the embodiments in which a molecular
encapsulating agent is present, at least one molecular
encapsulating agent encapsulates one or more cyclopropenes. A
cyclopropene or substituted cyclopropene molecule encapsulated in a
molecule of a molecular encapsulating agent is known herein as a
"cyclopropene molecular encapsulating agent complex." In some
embodiments, the composition of present disclosure is a liquid
composition in which some or all of the cyclopropene is
encapsulated in one or more encapsulating agent. The cyclopropene
molecular encapsulation agent complexes may be prepared by any
means.
[0078] In one method of preparation, for example, such complexes
are prepared by contacting the cyclopropene with a solution or
slurry of the molecular encapsulation agent and then isolating the
complex, using, for example, processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,017,849. For example, in one method of making a complex in which
1-MCP is encapsulated in a molecular encapsulating agent, the 1-MCP
gas is bubbled through a solution of alpha-cyclodextrin in water,
from which the complex first precipitates and is then isolated by
filtration. In some embodiments, complexes are made by the above
method and, after isolation, are dried and stored in solid form,
for example as a powder, for later addition to useful
compositions.
[0079] In some embodiments, the composition comprises at least one
cyclopropenes and at least one molecular encapsulating agent. In
some of such embodiments, the amount of molecular encapsulating
agent may usefully be characterized by the ratio of moles of
molecular encapsulating agent to moles of cyclopropene. In some
embodiments, the ratio of moles of molecular encapsulating agent to
moles of cyclopropene is 0.1 or larger; or 0.2 or larger; or 0.5 or
larger; or 0.9 or larger. Independently, in some of such
embodiments, the ratio of moles of molecular encapsulating agent to
moles of cyclopropene is 2 or lower; or 1.5 or lower.
[0080] In some embodiments, the composition may further include at
least one ionic complexing reagent. An ionic complexing reagent
interacts with a cyclopropene to form a complex that is stable in
water. Some suitable ionic complexing reagents, for example,
include lithium ion. In some embodiments, no ionic complexing
reagent is used.
[0081] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
further includes one or more metal-complexing agents. In some
embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure do not
include any metal-complexing agent. A metal-complexing agent is a
compound that is capable of forming coordinate bonds with metal
atoms. Some metal-complexing agents are chelating agents. As used
herein, a "chelating agent" is a compound, each molecule of which
is capable of forming two or more coordinate bonds with a single
metal atom. Some metal-complexing agents form coordinate bonds with
metal atoms because the metal-complexing agents contain
electron-donor atoms that participate in coordinate bonds with
metal atoms. Suitable chelating agents include, for example,
organic and inorganic chelating agents. Among the suitable
inorganic chelating agents are, for example, phosphates such as,
for example, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate,
and hexametaphosphoric acid. Among the suitable organic chelating
agents are those with macrocyclic structures and non-macrocyclic
structures. Among the suitable macrocyclic organic chelating agents
are, for example, porphine compounds, cyclic polyethers (also
called crown ethers), and macrocyclic compounds with both nitrogen
and oxygen atoms.
[0082] Some suitable organic chelating agents that have
non-macrocyclic structures are, for example, aminocarboxylic acids,
1,3-diketones, hydroxycarboxylic acids, polyamines, aminoalcohols,
aromatic heterocyclic bases, phenol, aminophenols, oximes, Shiff
bases, sulfur compounds, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments,
the chelating agent includes one or more aminocarboxylic acids, one
or more hydroxycarboxylic acids, one or more oximes, or a mixture
thereof. Some suitable aminocarboxylic acids include, for example,
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA),
hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid (HEDTA), nitrilotriacetic
acid (NTA), N-dihydroxyethylglycine (2-H.times.G),
ethylenebis(hydroxyphenylglycine) (EHPG), and mixtures thereof.
Some suitable hydroxycarboxylic acids include, for example,
tartaric acid, citric acid, gluconic acid, 5-sulfoslicylic acid,
and mixtures thereof. Some suitable oximes include, for example,
dimethylglyoxime, salicylaldoxime, and mixtures thereof. In some
embodiments, EDTA is used.
[0083] Some additional suitable chelating agents are polymeric.
Some suitable polymeric chelating agents include, for example,
polyethyleneimines, polymethacryloylacetones, poly(acrylic acid),
and poly(methacrylic acid). Poly(acrylic acid) is used in some
embodiments.
[0084] Some suitable metal-complexing agents that are not chelating
agents are, for example, alkaline carbonates, such as, for example,
sodium carbonate.
[0085] Metal-complexing agents may be present in neutral form or in
the form of one or more salts. Mixtures of suitable
metal-complexing agents are also suitable.
[0086] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
does not contain any water. In some embodiments, the composition of
present disclosure contains water. In some of such embodiments,
water may contain one or more metal ions, such as, for example,
iron ions, copper ions, other metal ions, or mixtures thereof. In
some embodiments, the water contains 0.1 ppm or more of one or more
metal ions.
[0087] Among embodiments that use one or more metal-complexing
agent, the amount of metal-complexing agent used may vary widely.
In some embodiments in which at least one liquid composition is
used, the amount of metal-complexing agent in that liquid
composition will be adjusted to be sufficient to complex the amount
of metal ion that is present or expected to be present in the
liquid composition that contains the metal-complexing agent. For
example, in some embodiments in which a liquid composition of the
present disclosure is used that includes water that contains some
metal ion, if a relatively efficient metal-complexing agent is used
(i.e., a metal-complexing agent that will form a complex with all
or nearly all the metal ions in the water), the ratio of moles of
metal-complexing agent to moles of metal ion will be 0.1 or
greater; or 0.2 or greater, or 0.5 or greater, or 0.8 or greater.
Among such embodiments that use a relatively efficient
metal-complexing agent, the ratio of moles of metal-complexing
agent to moles of metal ion will be 2 or less; or 1.5 or less; or
1.1 or less. It is contemplated that, if a less-efficient
metal-complexing agent is used, the ratio of moles of
metal-complexing agent to moles of metal ion could be increased to
compensate for the lower efficiency.
[0088] Independently, in some embodiments in which a liquid
composition is used, the amount of metal-complexing agent is, based
on the total weight of the liquid composition, 25% by weight or
less; or 10% by weight or less; or 1% by weight or less.
Independently, in some embodiments, the amount of metal-complexing
agent is, based on the total weight of the liquid composition,
0.00001% or more; or 0.0001% or more; or 0.01% or more.
[0089] Independently, in some embodiments in which a liquid
composition that includes water is used, the amount of
metal-complexing agent may usefully be characterized by the molar
concentration of metal-complexing agent in the water (i.e., moles
of metal-complexing agent per liter of water). In some of such
liquid compositions, the concentration of metal-complexing agent is
0.00001 mM (i.e., milli-Molar) or greater; or 0.0001 mM or greater;
or 0.001 mM or greater; or 0.01 mM or greater; or 0.1 mM or
greater. Independently, in some embodiments in which a liquid
composition of the present disclosure includes water, the
concentration of metal-complexing agent is 100 mM or less; or 10 mM
or less; or 1 mM or less.
[0090] In some embodiments, one or more adjuvants are also included
in the composition of present disclosure. The use of adjuvants is
considered optional in the practice of the present disclosure.
Adjuvants may be used alone or in any combination. When more than
one adjuvant is used, it is contemplated that any combination of
one or more adjuvants may be used. Examples of suitable adjuvants
may include, but are not limited to, surfactants, alcohols, oils,
extenders, pigments, fillers, binders, plasticizers, lubricants,
wetting agents, spreading agents, dispersing agents, stickers,
adhesives, defoamers, thickeners, transport agents, or emulsifying
agents.
[0091] In some embodiments, the composition of present disclosure
contains at least one adjuvant selected from alcohols, oils, or
mixtures thereof. Such a composition may or may not additionally
contain one or more surfactant.
[0092] Among embodiments in which a liquid composition is used, any
one or more of the following liquid composition may be used: liquid
compositions that contain one or more surfactant but no oil and no
alcohol; liquid compositions that contain one or more oil but no
surfactant and no alcohol; or liquid compositions that contain one
or more alcohol but no surfactant and no oil. In some embodiments,
one or more liquid compositions are used that each contain one or
more surfactant and one or more oil; or one or more liquid
compositions are used that each contain one or more surfactant and
one or more alcohol. In some embodiments, one or more liquid
compositions are used that each contains one or more surfactant,
one or more oil, and/or one or more alcohol.
[0093] In some embodiments, the liquid composition does not contain
any organosilicate compound. In some embodiments, the liquid
composition contains at least one organosilicate compound.
[0094] In some embodiments, one or more surfactants are used.
Suitable surfactants include, for example, anionic surfactants,
cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants,
or mixtures thereof. Mixtures of suitable surfactants may also be
used. In some embodiments, one or more anionic surfactant is
used.
[0095] One group of suitable anionic surfactants is the
sulfosuccinates, including, for example, alkaline salts of mono-
and dialkyl sulfosuccinates. In some embodiments, sodium salts of
dialkyl sulfosuccinates are used, including, for example, those
with alkyl groups with 4 carbons or more, or 6 carbons or more. In
some embodiments, sodium salts of dialkyl sulfosuccinates are used,
including, for example, those with alkyl groups with 18 carbons or
fewer; or 14 carbons or fewer; or 10 carbons or fewer. Example of
suitable sodium salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate is, for example,
sodium di-hexyl sulfosuccinate. One other suitable sodium salt of a
dialkyl sulfosuccinate is, for example, sodium di-octyl
sulfosuccinate.
[0096] Another group of suitable anionic surfactants are the
sulfates and sulfonates, including, for example, alkaline salts of
alkyl sulfates. In some embodiments, sodium salts of alkyl sulfates
are used, including, for example, those with alkyl groups with 4
carbons or more, or 6 carbons or more, or 8 carbons or more. In
some embodiments, sodium salts of alkyl sulfates are used,
including, for example, those with alkyl groups with 18 carbons or
fewer; or 14 carbons or fewer; or 10 carbons or fewer. One suitable
sodium salt of an alkyl sulfate is, for example, sodium dodecyl
sulfate.
[0097] Some suitable surfactants are, for example, sodium di-octyl
sulfosuccinate, sodium di-hexyl sulfosuccinate, sodium dodecyl
sulfate, polyglycerol esters, alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol
ethoxylates (such as, for example, TRITON.TM. X-100 from Dow),
cetyl pyridinium bromide, ethoxylated alkyl amines, alcohol amines
(such as, for example, ethanolamines), saponins, and silicone-based
surfactants (such as, for example, SILWET.TM. L-77 surfactant from
OSi Specialties).
[0098] Suitable surfactants have various properties. For example,
some are excellent at enabling cyclopropene to remain in contact
with certain plants or plant parts; some are readily soluble in the
other ingredients of the formulation; some do not cause
phytotoxicity in plants or plant parts. Very few surfactants excel
in every property, but, when one or more surfactants are used, the
practitioner will readily be able to choose a surfactant or mixture
of surfactants with the balance of properties most appropriate for
the desired use, taking into account, for example, the species
desired to be treated and the other ingredients intended to be used
in the composition.
[0099] Among embodiments in which one or more liquid compositions
are used that include one or more surfactants, some liquid
compositions contain surfactant in amounts, by weight based on the
total weight of the liquid composition, of 0.025% or more; or 0.05%
or more; or 0.1% or more. Independently, some liquid compositions
use surfactant in amounts, by weight based on the total weight of
the liquid composition, of 75% or less; or 50% or less; or 20% or
less; or 5% or less; or 2% or less; 1% or less; or 0.5% or less; or
0.3% or less.
[0100] In some of the embodiments in which a liquid composition is
used, no oil is included in the composition.
[0101] Independently, in some of the embodiments in which a liquid
composition is used, one or more oils are used. As used herein, an
"oil" is a compound that is liquid at a temperature of 25.degree.
C. and one atmosphere pressure, and that has a boiling point
temperature of 30.degree. C. or higher at one atmosphere pressure.
As used herein, "oil" does not include water, does not include
surfactants (as described herein above), and does not include
alcohols (as described herein below). Some oils are hydrocarbon
oils, while other oils are non-hydrocarbon oils. Hydrocarbon oils
may be straight, branched, or cyclic alkane compounds with 6 or
more carbon atoms. As used herein, "non-hydrocarbon" means and
includes any compound that contains at least one atom that is
neither hydrogen nor carbon.
[0102] In some embodiments in which a liquid composition is used,
one or more hydrocarbon oils are included in the composition. In
some embodiments, hydrocarbon oils are obtained from petroleum
distillation and contain a mixture of alkane compounds, along with,
in some cases, impurities. In some embodiments, hydrocarbon oils
are used that contain 18 or fewer carbon atoms. Some suitable
hydrocarbon oils include, for example, hexane, decane, dodecane,
hexadecane, diesel oil, refined paraffinic oil such as
ULTRAFINE.TM. spray oil from Sun Company, or mixtures thereof.
[0103] In some embodiments in which a liquid composition is used,
one or more non-hydrocarbon oils are included in the composition.
In some embodiments, non-hydrocarbon oils have boiling point
temperature of 50.degree. C. or higher; or 75.degree. C. or higher;
or 100.degree. C. or higher. Independently, in some embodiments,
non-hydrocarbon oils have molecular weight of 100 or higher; or 200
or higher; or 500 or higher.
[0104] Some suitable non-hydrocarbon oils are, for example, fatty
non-hydrocarbon oils. The term "fatty" as used herein means and
include any compound that contains one or more residues of fatty
acids. Fatty acids are long-chain carboxylic acids, with chain
length of at least four carbon atoms. Typical fatty acids have
chain length of 4 to 18 carbon atoms, though some have longer
chains. Linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic groups may be
attached to the long chain. Fatty acid residues may be saturated or
unsaturated. Further, fatty acid residues may contain functional
groups, including for example alkyl groups, epoxide groups,
halogens, sulfonate groups, or hydroxyl groups, that are either
naturally occurring or that have been added. Some suitable fatty
non-hydrocarbon oils are, for example, fatty acids; esters of fatty
acids; amides of fatty acids; dimers, trimers, oligomers, or
polymers thereof; or mixtures thereof.
[0105] Some of the suitable fatty non-hydrocarbon oils, are, for
example, esters of fatty acids. Such esters include, for example,
glycerides of fatty acids. Glycerides are esters of fatty acids
with glycerol, and they may be mono-, di-, or triglycerides. A
variety of triglycerides are found in nature. Most of the naturally
occurring triglycerides contain residues of fatty acids of several
different lengths and/or compositions. Some suitable triglycerides
are found in animal sources such as, for example, dairy products,
animal fats, and fish. Further examples of suitable triglycerides
are oils found in plants, such as, for example, coconut, palm,
cottonseed, olive, tall, peanut, safflower, sunflower, corn,
soybean, linseed, tung, castor, canola, citrus seed, cocoa, oat,
palm, palm kernel, rice bran, cuphea, or rapeseed oil.
[0106] Among the suitable triglycerides, independent of where they
are found or how they are made, are those, for example, that
contain at least one fatty acid residue that has 14 or more carbon
atoms. Some suitable triglycerides have fatty acid residues that
contain 50% or more by weight, based on the weight of the residues,
fatty acid residues with 14 or more carbon atoms, or 16 or more
carbon atoms, or 18 or more carbon atoms. One example of a suitable
triglyceride is soybean oil.
[0107] Suitable fatty non-hydrocarbon oils may be synthetic or
natural or modifications of natural oils or a combination or
mixture thereof. Among suitable modifications of natural oils are,
for example, alkylation, hydrogenation, hydroxylation, alkyl
hydroxylation, alcoholysis, hydrolysis, epoxidation, halogenation,
sulfonation, oxidation, polymerization, and combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, alkylated (including, for example, methylated
and ethylated) oils are used. One suitable modified natural oil is
methylated soybean oil.
[0108] Also among the suitable fatty non-hydrocarbon oils are
self-emulsifying esters of fatty acids.
[0109] Another group of suitable non-hydrocarbon oils are silicone
oils Silicone oils are oligomers or polymers that have a backbone
that is partially or fully made up of --Si--O-- links Silicone oils
include, for example, polydimethylsiloxane oils.
Polydimethylsiloxane oils are oligomers or polymers that contain
units of the form
##STR00007##
[0110] where at least one of the units has X1=CH.sub.3. In other
units, X1 may be any other group capable of attaching to Si,
including, for example, hydrogen, hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy,
hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkoxy, alkylpolyalkoxyl, substituted versions
thereof, or combinations thereof. Substituents may include, for
example, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, polyethoxyl, ether linkages, ester
linkages, amide linkages, other substituents, or any combination
thereof. In some suitable polydimethylsiloxane oils, all X1 groups
are methyl. In some suitable polydimethylsiloxanes, at least one
unit has an X1 group that is not methyl; if more than one
non-methyl X1 unit is present, the non-methyl X1 units may be the
same as each other, or two or more different non-methyl X1 units
may be present. Polydimethylsiloxane oils may be end-capped with
any of a wide variety of chemical groups, including, for example,
hydrogen, methyl, other alkyl, or any combination thereof. Also
contemplated are cyclic polydimethylsiloxane oils.
[0111] Mixtures of suitable oils may also be used, such as, for
example, mixtures of plural hydrocarbon oils, mixtures of plural
non-hydrocarbon oils, or mixtures of one or more hydrocarbon oil
with one or more non-hydrocarbon oil.
[0112] Some embodiments use oil in amounts, by weight based on the
total weight of the composition, of 0.25% or more; or 0.5% or more;
or 1% or more. Independently, some embodiments use oil in amounts,
by weight based on the total weight of the composition, of 90% or
less; or 50% or less; or 10% or less; or 5% or less; or 4% or less;
or 3% or less.
[0113] Among embodiments in which one or more liquid compositions
are used, in some liquid compositions, one or more alcohols are
used. Suitable alcohols include, for example, alkyl alcohols and
other alcohols. As used herein, alkyl alcohols are alkyl compounds
with one hydroxyl group; the alkyl group may be linear, branched,
cyclic, or a combination thereof; the alcohol may be primary,
secondary, or tertiary. In some embodiments, alkyl alcohols are
used which have alkyl groups with 2 or more carbon atoms. In some
embodiments, ethanol, isopropanol, or a mixture thereof is used. In
some embodiments, one or more alkyl alcohols are used which have
alkyl groups with 20 or fewer carbon atoms; or 10 or fewer carbon
atoms; or 6 or fewer carbon atoms; or 3 or fewer carbon atoms.
[0114] Among liquid compositions that use alcohol, some liquid
compositions use alcohol in amounts, by weight based on the total
weight of the liquid composition, of 0.25% or higher; or 0.5% or
higher, or 1% or higher. Among liquid compositions that use
alcohol, some liquid compositions use alcohol in amounts, by weight
based on the total weight of the liquid composition, of 90% or
less; or 50% or less; or 10% or less; or 5% or less; or 4% or less;
or 3% or less.
[0115] The ingredients of the disclosed composition may be admixed
by any means, and in any order.
[0116] Disclosed herein are methods of treating crop plants that
comprise contacting crop plants one or more times with a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene.
[0117] In the practice of the present disclosure, any method may be
used that allows the disclosed composition to contact crop plants.
Examples of such contact methods may include, for example,
spraying, foaming, fogging, pouring, brushing, dipping, similar
methods, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, spraying or
dipping or both is used. In some embodiments, spraying is used.
[0118] Among embodiments in which the disclosed composition is
sprayed, any spray conditions may be used. For example, nozzle size
and pressure may be chosen by the practitioner of the present
disclosure to achieve desired results. Some useful nozzle types
are, for example, flat fan, pre-orifice flat fan, hollow cone, full
cone, air inclusion, low drift, or flooding. Independently, some
useful spray pressures are, for example, 127 kPa (15 psi), 422 kPa
(50 psi), 844 kPa (100 psi), 1689 kPa (200 psi), and 2534 kPa (300
psi). Spray pressures that are intermediate between any pair of
these useful spray pressures are, in some embodiments, also useful.
Independently, in some embodiments, the spray conditions are chosen
to achieve certain droplet size; some useful droplet sizes are, for
example, 50 micrometers, 100 micrometers, 200 micrometers, 300
micrometers, 400 micrometers, 600 micrometers, and 800 micrometers.
Droplet sizes that are intermediate between any pair of these
useful droplet sizes are, in some embodiments, also useful.
[0119] After crop plant is contacted with the disclosed
composition, any ingredients of the disclosed composition that
interact with the crop plant may begin that interaction right away.
Alternatively, ingredients of the disclosed composition may,
independently of each other, interact with the crop plant at a
different time. For example, the liquid composition may form a
release coating on all or part of the crop plant, and one or more
ingredients may become available, over time, to interact with the
crop plant.
[0120] In the practice of present disclosure, the composition may
be contacted with the entire plant or may be contacted with one or
more plant parts. Plant parts include any part of a plant,
including, for example, flowers, buds, blooms, seeds, cuttings,
roots, bulbs, fruits, vegetables, leaves, and combinations
thereof.
[0121] In some embodiments, the composition of the present
disclosure is a liquid, and the liquid is sprayed onto crop plants
growing in a field. Such a spraying operation may be performed one
time or more than one time on a particular group of crop plants
during a single growing season. In some embodiments, the amount of
cyclopropene used in one spraying operation is 0.1 gram per hectare
(g/ha) or more; or 0.5 g/ha or more; or 1 g/ha or more; or 5 g/ha
or more; or 25 g/ha or more; or 50 g/ha or more; or 100 g/ha or
more. Independently, in some embodiments, the amount of
cyclopropene used in one spraying operation is 6000 g/ha or less;
or 3000 g/ha or less; or 1500 g/ha or less.
[0122] The disclosed composition may be applied to crop plants
prior to the harvesting of the useful plant parts. If a composition
is brought into contact with a portion of the plant, that portion
may or may not include the useful plant part intended to be
harvested. At least one treatment of crop plants with the disclosed
composition may be performed before any useful plant parts are
harvested.
[0123] The crop plants that are treated may be any crop plants that
produce a useful product. Normally, a specific part of the plant
forms the useful product. A plurality of useful plant parts, after
removal from a plurality of plants, is known as a "crop." Some
types of crop plants have a single type of useful plant part, while
other types of crop plants have plural types of useful plant
parts.
[0124] Among the crop plants that are suitable for use in the
present disclosure are, for example, those with plant parts that
are edible, those with plant parts that are non-edible but useful
for some other purpose, and combinations thereof. Also contemplated
as suitable crop plants are those from which useful materials can
be extracted; such useful materials may be, for example, edible
materials, raw materials for manufacturing, medicinally useful
materials, and materials useful for other purposes.
[0125] Further contemplated as suitable crop plants are those that
yield plant parts that are useful for their beauty and/or
ornamental properties. Such ornamental plant parts include, for
example, flowers and other ornamental plant parts such as, for
example, ornamental leaves. Some of such plants produce useful
bulbs. In some embodiments, an entire ornamental plant is
considered to be the useful plant part.
[0126] Also suitable are crop plants that produce edible plant
parts. Crop plants that produce all types of edible plant parts are
contemplated as suitable for use in the present disclosure.
[0127] Suitable crop plants for present disclosure may be crop
plants that produce fruits, vegetables, spices, herbs, or plants or
plant parts grown for ornamental use. In some embodiments, crop
plants produce fruits or vegetables. In some embodiments, crop
plants produce vegetables.
[0128] Many of the plants that are suitable for use in the practice
of the present disclosure can be usefully divided into categories
or groups. One useful method for defining such groups is the
"Definition and Classification of Commodities," published on or
before Mar. 23, 2006, by the Food and Agriculture Organization
("FAO") of the United Nations as a "Draft."
[0129] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the crop
plants may produce one or more crops that fall within any one of
the following crop groups.
[0130] Also contemplated are embodiments in which crop plants that
produce two or more crops are used. In such embodiments, a single
crop plant type that produces two or more crops may be used, or a
mixture of two or more plants that produce different crops from
each other may be used, or any combination thereof. Independently,
if two or more crops are used, they may be from the same crop group
or from different crop groups.
[0131] Crop Group 1 is cereals, including, for example, wheat,
rice, barley, corn, popcorn, rye, oats, millet, sorghum, buckwheat,
quiona, fonio, triticale, canary seed, canagua, quihuicha, adlay,
wild rice, and other cereals. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure, suitable plants are those that produce wheat or rice or
corn or sorghum. In some embodiments, corn plants are suitable. In
some embodiments, wheat plants are suitable.
[0132] Crop Group 2 roots and tubers, including, for example,
potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, yautia (cocomay), taro
(cocoyam), yams, and other roots and tubers. Also considered herein
as a suitable root crop is Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis
dulcis).
[0133] Crop Group 3 is sugar crops, including, for example, sugar
cane, sugar beet, sugar maple, sweet sorghum, sugar palm, and other
sugar crops.
[0134] Crop Group 4 is pulses, including, for example, beans
(including, for example, kidney, haricot, lima, butter, adzuki,
mungo, golden, green gram, black gram, urd, scarlet runner, rice,
moth, tepary, lablab, hyacinth, jack, winged, guar, velvet, yam,
and other beans), horse-bean, broad bean, field bean, garden pea,
chickpea, bengal gram, garbanzo, cowpea, blackeyed pea, pigeon pea,
cajan pea, congo bean, lentil, bambara ground nut, earth pea,
vetches, lupins, and other pulses.
[0135] Crop Group 5 is nuts, including, for example, brazil nuts,
cashew nuts, chestnuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios, kola nuts,
hazelnuts, areca nuts, pecan nut, butter nut, pili nut, Java
almond, paradise nut, macadamia nut, pignolia nut, and other
nuts.
[0136] Crop Group 6 is oil-bearing crops, including, for example,
soybeans, groundnuts (including peanuts), coconuts, oil palm fruit,
olives, karite nuts, castor beans, sunflower seeds, rapeseed,
canola, tung nuts, safflower seed, sesame seed, mustard seed, poppy
seed, melonseed, tallowtree seeds, kapok fruit, seed cotton,
linseed, hempseed, and other oilseeds. In some embodiments, soybean
plants are suitable.
[0137] Crop Group 7 is vegetables, including, for example,
cabbages, artichokes, asparagus, lettuce, spinach, cassava leaves,
tomatoes, cauliflower, pumpkins, cucumbers and gherkins, eggplants,
chilies and peppers, green onions, dry onions, garlic, leek, other
alliaceous vegetables, green beans, green peas, green broad beans,
string beans, carrots, okra, green corn, mushrooms, watermelons,
cantaloupe melons, bamboo shoots, beets, chards, capers, cardoons,
celery, chervil, cress, fennel, horseradish, marjoram, oyster
plant, parsley, parsnips, radish, rhubarb, rutabaga, savory,
scorzonera, sorrel, watercress, and other vegetables.
[0138] Crop Group 8, is fruits, including, for example, bananas and
plantains; citrus fruits; pome fruits; stone fruits; berries;
grapes; tropical fruits; miscellaneous fruits; and other fruits.
Citrus fruits include, for example, orange, tangerine, mandarin,
clementine, satsumas, lemon, lime, grapefruit, pomellow, bergamot,
citron, chinotto, kumquat, and other citrus fruits. Pome fruits
include, for example, apple, pear, quince, and other pome fruits.
Stone fruits include, for example, apricot, cherry, peach,
nectarine, plum, and other stone fruits. Berries include, for
example, strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry, currant, blueberry,
cranberry, blackberry, loganberry, mulberry, myrtle berry,
huckleberry, dangleberry, and other berries. Tropical fruits
include, for example, fig, persimmon, kiwi, mango, avocado,
pineapple, date, cashew apple, papaya, breadfruit, carambola,
chrimoya, durian, feijoa, guava, mombin, jackfruit, longan, mammee,
mangosteen, naranjillo, passion fruit, rambutan, sapote, sapodilla,
star apple, and other tropical fruits. Miscellaneous fruits
include, for example, azarole, babaco, elderberry, jujube, litchi,
loquat, medlar, pawpaw, pomegranate, prickly pear, rose hips,
rowanberry, service-apple, tamarind, and tree-strawberry.
[0139] Crop Group 9 is fibers, including, for example, cotton,
flax, hemp, kapok, jute, ramie, sisal, and other fibers from
plants. In some embodiments, cotton plants are suitable.
[0140] Crop Group 10 is spices, including, for example, pepper,
pimento, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cardamon, cloves, anise,
badian, fennel, ginger, bay leaves, dill seed, fenugreek seed,
saffron, thyme, turmeric, and other spices.
[0141] Crop Group 11 is Fodder crops. Fodder crops are crops that
are cultivated primarily for animal feed. Natural grasslands and
pastures are included in crop group 11, whether they are cultivated
or not. Fodder crops also include, for example, corn for forage,
sorghum for forage, rye grass for forage, clover for forage,
alfalfa for forage, other grasses for forage, green oilseeds for
silage, legumes for silage, other crops for silage, cabbage for
fodder, pumpkins for fodder, turnips for fodder, beets for fodder,
carrots for fodder, swedes for fodder, other vegetables or roots
for fodder, and other fodder crops.
[0142] Crop Group 12 is stimulant crops, including, for example,
coffee, cocoa bean, tea, mate, other plants used for making
infusions like tea, and other stimulant corps.
[0143] Crop Group 13 is tobacco and rubber and other crops,
including, for example, chicory root, carob, hops, oil of
citronella, peppermint, spearmint, other plant oils used in
perfumery, food, and other industries, pyrethrum, tobacco, natural
rubber, natural gums (including, for example, balata, cerea,
chicle, guayule, gutta-percha, and jelutong), other resins
(including, for example, copaiba, gum tragacanth, incense, myrrh,
opopanax, mecca balsom, tolu balsam, and peru balsam), and
vegetable waxes (including, for example, candelilla, carnauba,
urucury, and palm wax).
[0144] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves
treatment of any non-citrus plant (i.e., any plant that is not in
the genus Citrus).
[0145] In some of the embodiments in which apple trees are used,
the composition of present disclosure contains no
aminoethoxyvinylglycine, or, in some embodiments, no plant growth
regulator of type II defined herein above, or, in some embodiments,
no plant growth regulator that is not a cyclopropene. In other
embodiments, no apple trees are used in the practice of the present
disclosure. In some embodiments, no pome fruit trees are used in
the practice of the present disclosure.
[0146] In some embodiments, the treated crop plants are not members
of the genus Nicotiana.
[0147] In some embodiments, crop plants that are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure include one or more of corn,
soybean, cotton, apple, pear, rice, wheat, tomato, grape, sorghum,
plum, kiwi, walnut, almond, pecan, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola,
barley, rye or triticale. In some embodiments, crop plants that are
contacted with the composition of present disclosure include one or
more of corn, soybean, cotton, apple, pear, rice, wheat, tomato,
grape or sorghum. In some embodiments, crop plants that are
contacted with the composition of present disclosure include one or
more of corn, soybean, cotton or wheat.
[0148] In some embodiments, the crop plants that are treated are
any crop plants that produce a horticultural crop. Horticultural
crops are agricultural products that are not agronomic crops and
are not forestry products. Agronomic crops are herbaceous field
crops, including grains, forages, oilseeds, and fiber crops.
Forestry products are forest trees and forest products.
Horticultural crop plants are usually relatively intensively
managed crop plants that are cultivated for food or for aesthetic
purposes. Some typical horticultural crops are fruits, vegetables,
spices, herbs, and plants grown for ornamental use.
[0149] Some embodiments involve treatment of solanaceous plants or
cucurbit plants. Solanaceous plants include, for example,
Lycopersicon esculentum plants (including, for example, tomato
plants); capsicum plants (including, for example, bell pepper,
paprika, and chile pepper plants); and Solanum melongena plants
(including, for example, eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal plants).
Cucurbit plants include, for example, Citrullus lanatus
(watermelon) plants, Cucumis sativus (cucumber) plants, Cucumis
melo (all types of melon) plants, Cucumis anguria (bur gherkin)
plants, Cucurbita (five species of squash & pumpkin) plants,
Cucurbita pepo (summer squashes, pumpkin, scallops, straightnecks,
zucchini, yellow-flowered gourd) plants, Cucurbita maxima (hubbard)
plants, Cucurbita mixta (winter squash) plants, and Cucurbita
moschata (butternut squash, banana squashes, and acorn squash)
plants.
[0150] In some embodiments, the amount of cyclopropene is chosen to
be appropriate for the particular crop that is being treated. For
example, in some of the embodiments in which the crop plants are
corn or soybean, the amount of cyclopropene is 500 g/ha or less, or
250 g/ha or less, or 100 g/ha or less, or 50 g/ha or less. For
another example, in some of the embodiments in which the crop
plants are cotton, the amount of cyclopropene is 50 g/ha or more,
or 100 g/ha or more, or 200 g/ha or more.
[0151] In some embodiments, a group of crop plants is treated
simultaneously or sequentially. One characteristic of such a group
of plants is the crop yield, which is defined as the amount (herein
called "crop amount") of useful plant parts collected from a
defined group of plants. In one useful definition of the crop
yield, the defined group of plants is the group that occupies a
certain area of ground (this definition is often used when plants
are growing in a contiguous group in a field). In another useful
definition of the crop yield, the defined group of plants is a
specific number of individually identified plants (this definition
may be used for any group of plants, including, for example, plants
in fields, in pots, in greenhouses, or any combination
thereof).
[0152] The crop amount may defined in a variety of ways. In the
practice of the present disclosure, the crop amount may be
measured, for example, by any of the following methods: weight,
volume, number of harvested plant parts, or biomass. Also
contemplated are methods in which the crop amount is measured as
the amount in the crop of a specific constituent (such as, for
example, sugar, starch, or protein). Further contemplated are
methods in which the crop amount is measured as the amount of a
certain characteristic (such as, for example, redness, which is
sometimes used to measure the amount of a crop of tomatoes).
Additionally contemplated are methods in which the crop amount is
measured as the amount of a specific portion of the harvested plant
part (such as, for example, the number of kernels or the weight of
kernels, which are sometimes used to measure the amount of a crop
of corn; or the weight of lint, which is sometimes used to measure
the amount of a cotton crop).
[0153] In some embodiments, the crop yield is defined as the crop
amount per unit of area of land. That is, the land area from which
the crop was harvested is measured, and the crop amount is divided
by the land area to calculate the crop yield. For example, a crop
amount measured as the weight of harvested plant parts would lead
to a crop yield that is reported as a weight per area (for example,
kilograms per hectare).
[0154] In some embodiments, the harvested plant parts that
contribute to the crop amount are those plant parts that meet the
minimum quality criteria that are appropriate for that type of
plant part. That is, when plant parts are harvested from certain
plants, the crop amount is, for example, the weight of the plant
parts of acceptable quality that are harvested from those plants.
Acceptable quality may be determined by any of the common criteria
used by persons who harvest or handle the plant part of interest.
Such criteria of acceptable quality of a plant part may be, for
example, one or more of size, weight, firmness, resistance to
bruising, flavor, sugar/starch balance, color, beauty, other
quality criteria, or any combination thereof. Also contemplated as
a criterion of quality, either alone or in combination with any of
the foregoing criteria, is the time over which the plant part
maintains its quality (as judged by any of the forgoing
criteria).
[0155] A few illustrative (but not limiting) examples of crop
amount are, for example, total weight of crop harvested; total
number of plant parts harvested; weight (or number) of harvested
plant parts that each meet or exceed some minimum weight for that
type of plant part; or weight (or number) of harvested plant parts
that each meet or exceed some minimum quality criterion (e.g.,
color or flavor or texture or other criterion or combination of
criteria) for that type of plant part; weight (or number) of
harvested plant parts that are edible; or weight (or number) of
harvested plant parts that are able to be sold. In each case, as
defined herein above, the crop yield is the crop amount per unit
area of land on which the crop was grown.
[0156] The methods of present disclosure may increase the crop
yield of that group of plants, compared to the crop yield that
would have been obtained from that group of plants if it had not
been treated with the methods of present disclosure. The increase
in crop yield may be obtained in any of a wide variety of ways. For
example, one way an increase in crop yield may be obtained is that
each plant may produce a greater number of useful plant parts. As
another example, one way an increase in crop yield may be obtained
is that each useful plant part may have higher weight. As a third
example, crop yield may increase when a larger number of
potentially useful plant parts meets the minimum criteria for
acceptable quality. Other ways of increasing the crop yield may
also result from the practice of the present disclosure. Also
contemplated are increases in crop yield that happen by any
combination of ways.
[0157] Another contemplated benefit of practicing some embodiments
of the present disclosure is that the general quality of the crop
may be improved. That is, a crop produced by the methods of present
disclosure may have a general or average level of quality higher
than comparable crops produced without the methods of present
disclosure, as judged by the quality criteria appropriate for that
crop. In some cases, such higher-quality crops may command higher
prices when sold.
[0158] The improvement in crop yield caused by the methods of
present disclosure may arise by any mechanism. That is, the methods
of present disclosure, in some embodiments, may cause an
improvement in some process of the plant's development, maturation,
growth, or reproduction, and such improvement in such process may,
in turn, cause improvement in crop yield. For example, the methods
of present disclosure may cause an improvement in any one or any
combination of the following processes: synchronization of
pollination (i.e., better agreement between the time period when a
plant sheds pollen and the time period when that plant is able to
receive the pollen and become fertilized), photosynthesis, nitrogen
accumulation, leaf senescence, or late-season production of green
leaves. In some of the embodiments where photosynthesis is
improved, the improvement in photosynthesis can be observed as
increased assimilation of carbon dioxide. Independently, the
improvement in crop yield may, in some embodiments, occur because
of improvement in disease resistance or drought resistance or frost
resistance or heat resistance or a combination thereof.
[0159] In some crops (such as, for example, corn), it is
contemplated that drought resistance and the resultant improvement
in crop yield arise because the methods of present disclosure
causes stomatal closure, which gives the plant its resistance to
drought. Independently, some crops (such as, for example, wheat)
experience improved frost tolerance when used in the methods of
present disclosure. Independently, some crops (such as, for
example, wheat and grapes) experience improved resistance to
disease when used in the methods of present disclosure.
[0160] Independently, in some embodiments, improvement in crop
yield may occur because of a delay in the dropping of one or more
of leaves, flowers, or fruiting structures (such as, for example,
pods, bolls, or the fruit itself).
[0161] Independently, in some embodiments, improvement in crop
yield may occur because of enhanced root nodulation, which
sometimes occurs in certain crops such as, for example,
soybeans.
[0162] Whether or not the methods of present disclosure results in
improvement in one or more of the above-mentioned processes, in
some embodiments the methods of present disclosure leads to
improvement in one or more of the following: biomass volume,
biomass quality, increased fruit, increased fruit size (when
desired), decreased fruit size (when desired), harvest timing
(advanced or delayed, as desired), reduced fruit drop, decreased
cell turgor, decreased russetting, lowered stress response, lowered
wounding response, reduced storage disorders in harvested plant
parts, increased shelf life of harvested plant parts, apical
dominance, abscission prevention, senescence prevention, yellowing
prevention, improved vigor during growth, improved vigor during
transit, improved vigor during transplant, or combinations
thereof.
[0163] The growth and development process of many crop plants can
be described by certain developmental stages. For example, many
crop plants develop through vegetative stages followed by
reproductive stages.
[0164] It has been found now that surprisingly and unexpectedly,
for some specific crop plants, there is a particular optimum stage
or stages of crop plants at which the maximum improvement in crop
yield may be achieved if crop plants are treated with the disclosed
composition while they are in such particular optimum stage(s).
This optimum stage or stages may be different for each type of crop
plant and, in some cases, depends on the specific growing
conditions.
[0165] Thus, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of
treating crop plants comprises contacting crop plants one or time
with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene, while the
crop plants are at a particular optimum stage of development to
achieve a maximum crop yield. It is contemplated that such
contacting may be performed when the ratio of the number of plants
that have reached the desired stage of development to the total
number of plants in the group is at least 0.1, or at least 0.5, or
at least 0.75, or at least 0.9 (i.e., when the portion of plants
that have reached the desired stage of development is at least 10%,
or 50%, or 75%, or 90%).
[0166] In some embodiments, crop plants are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure one or more times, while the crop
plants are at one or more vegetative stages.
[0167] In some embodiments, crop plants are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure one or more times, while the crop
plants are one or more reproductive stages.
[0168] Also contemplated are embodiments in which crop plants are
contacted with the composition of present disclosure one or more
times while the crop plants are at one or more vegetative stages,
and also contacted with the composition of present disclosure one
or more times while the crop plants are at one or more reproductive
stages.
[0169] Some crop plants develop through ripening stages after their
reproductive stages. In some embodiments, such crop plants are
contacted one or more tune with the composition of present
disclosure while the crop plants are at one or more ripening stage,
either in addition to or instead of while the crop plants are other
development stages.
[0170] Some crop plants develop through vegetative and reproductive
processes simultaneously. Such crop plants may be contacted one or
more times with the composition of present disclosure after their
germination but before harvest.
[0171] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating soybean plants.
[0172] Soybean plants develop through vegetative stages followed by
reproductive stages. Some of the vegetative stages are VE
(emergence), VC (cotyledon), V1 (fully developed leaves at
unifoliate node), and VN ("N" is the number of nodes on the main
stem that have fully developed leaves). Some of the reproductive
stages are R1 (beginning bloom), R2 (full bloom), R3 (beginning
pod), R4 (full pod), R5 (beginning seed), R5.5 (intermediate
between R5 and R6), R6 (full seed), R7 (beginning maturity), and R8
(full maturity).
[0173] In some embodiments, soybean plants are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure one or more times during one or
more of any vegetative stage, one or more of any reproductive
stage, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, soybean
plants are contacted with the composition of present disclosure
during one or more of V3, V4, V5, or V6 and, optionally, also one
or more times during one or more reproductive stage. In some
embodiments, soybean plants are contacted with the composition of
present disclosure one or more times during R1, R2, R3, R5, or
R5.5. Independently, in some embodiments, soybean plants are
contacted with the composition of present disclosure one or more
times during or after stage V3 and, optionally, at one or more
later stages. Independently, in some embodiments, soybean plants
are contacted with the composition of present disclosure one or
more times during or after stage R1 and, optionally, at one or more
later stages. Independently, some embodiments involve contacting
soybean plants with a liquid composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene, after at least 10% of said soybean plants have at
least one node on the main stem with at least one fully developed
leaf. Some embodiments involve contacting soybean plants one or
more times with a liquid composition comprising at least one
cyclopropene, after at least 10% of soybean plants have begun to
bloom.
[0174] In one particular embodiment, a method of treating soybean
plants comprises contacting soybean plants one or more time with a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene while the soybean
plants are at a reproductive stage of R2 (full bloom), R3
(beginning pod), R5.5 (between beginning seed and full seed), or a
combination of any of these reproductive stages.
[0175] As shown in Example 1, infra, soybean plants are treated
with a composition comprising 1-MCP at different dosages and while
the soybean plants are at different reproductive stages. TABLE 1
below summarizes the results of Example 1.
[0176] TABLE 1 shows increases in % crop yield, compared to the
soybean plants that are not treated with a composition comprising
1-MCP, for the soybean plants treated with the composition while
the soybean plants at different development stages: reproductive
stage of R2 (full bloom), R3 (beginning pod), R5.5 (between
beginning seed and full seed), or a combination of any of these
reproductive stages.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Development Stage(s) at which the % Increase
in Soybean Plants Composition is applied Crop Yield Untreated n/a
0.00% Treated with Adjuvant Oil R2, R3, and R5.5 1.51% Treated with
R2 2.34% Disclosed Composition R3 5.22% at 1-MCP Dosage of R5.5
1.46% 1 g/ha R2 and R3 4.97% R2 and R5.5 2.68% R3 and R5.5 4.34%
R2, R3, and R5.5 9.66% Treated with R2 1.79% Disclosed Composition
R3 4.17% at 1-MCP Dosage of R5.5 3.16% 10 g/ha R2 and R3 7.36% R2
and R5.5 5.84% R3 and R5.5 5.11% R2, R3, and R5.5 14.20% Treated
with R2 2.63% Disclosed Composition R3 3.88% at 1-MCP Dosage of
R5.5 5.84% 30 g/ha R2 and R3 14.18% R2 and R5.5 6.58% R3 and R5.5
9.41% R2, R3, and R5.5 20.51%
[0177] As shown in TABLE 1, an increase in crop yield is achieved
when the soybean plants are contacted with a composition comprising
1-MCP while they are at a reproductive stage of R2 (full bloom), R3
(beginning pod), R5.5 (between beginning seed and full seed), or a
combination of any of these reproductive stages.
[0178] Surprisingly and unexpectedly, the magnitude of crop yield
enhancement depends on the development stage at which the soybean
plants are contacted with a composition comprising 1-MCP. Even
though an increase in the soybean crop yield is achieved when the
soybean plants are treated with a composition comprising 1-MCP, the
application of the composition while soybean plants are at the
reproductive stage of R3 (beginning pod), or a combination of R3
with R2 (full bloom) and/or R5.5 (between beginning seed and full
seed), appears to be more effective for enhancing the soybean crop
yield.
[0179] Further, as shown in Example 1, treatment of soybean plants
with a composition comprising 1-MCP while the soybean plants are at
the reproductive stage of R2 (full bloom), R3 (beginning pod)
and/or R5.5 (between beginning seed and full seed) also improve the
protein content of the harvested soybean crops.
[0180] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating corn plants.
[0181] Corn plants develop through vegetative stages followed by
reproductive stages. The vegetative growth stages of corn plants
include VE (emergence), V1 (emergence of first leaf), VN (emergence
of Nth leaf), VNMAX (emergence of last leaf), and VT (tasselling).
One of these vegetative stages is V5, which begins when the fifth
leaf emerges. Another of these vegetative stages is V12, which
begins when the twelfth leaf emerges. The reproductive growth
stages of corn plants include R1 (silking), R2 (blister), R3
(milk), R4 (dough), R5 (dent), R6 (maturity).
[0182] In some embodiments, corn plants are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure during or after any of V5
(emergence of fifth leaf), V12 (emergence of 12th leaf), VT, R3, or
during or after any combination of two or more of V6, V12, VT, and
R3. Independently, in some embodiments, corn plants are contacted
with the composition of present disclosure during V12, during VT,
and during R3. Independently, some embodiments involve spraying
corn plants one or more times with a liquid composition comprising
at least one cyclopropene, after at least 10% of said corn plants
have reached the developmental stage at which the fifth leaf is
fully expanded, or after at least 10% of said corn plants have
reached the developmental stage at which the twelfth leaf is fully
expanded.
[0183] In one particular embodiment, a method of treating corn
plants comprises contacting corn plants one or more time with a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene while the corn
plants are at a development stage of V12 (the twelfth leaf
emerges), VT (tasselling), R3 (milk), or a combination of any of
these reproductive stages.
[0184] As shown in Example 2, infra, corn plants are treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP at different dosages of 1-MCP and
while the corn plants are at different development stages. TABLE 2
summarizes the results of Example 2.
[0185] TABLE 2 shows the increases in both crop yield and kernel
weight for the corn plants treated with a composition comprising
1-MCP, compared to the untreated corn plants, while the corn plants
are at different development stages: reproductive stage of V12 (the
twelfth leaf emerges), VT (tasselling), R3 (milk), or a combination
of any of these reproductive stages.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Development % % Stage(s) at Increase
Increase which the in in Composition Crop Kernel Corn Plants is
applied Yield Weight Untreated n/a 0.00% 0.00% Treated with V12
9.76% 7.26% Disclosed Composition VT 13.41% 7.66% at 1-MCP Dosage
of R3 10.37% 6.85% 10 g/ha V12, VT 10.98% 6.05% VT, R3 4.88% 9.27%
V12, VT, R3 3.66% 4.44% Treated with V12 12.20% 8.87% Disclosed
Composition VT 14.02% 11.69% at 1-MCP Dosage of R3 10.98% 6.85% 10
g/ha
[0186] As shown in TABLE 2, increases in both crop yield and kernel
weight are achieved when the corn plants are contacted with a
composition comprising 1-MCP while they are at a development stage
of V12 (the twelfth leaf emerges), VT (tasselling), R3 (milk), or a
combination of any of these reproductive stages. However, the
magnitudes of enhanced crop yield and increased kernel weight
depend on the development stage at which the corn plants are
contacted with a composition comprising 1-MCP. The treatment of
corn plants with a composition comprising 1-MCP while the corn
plants are at VT (tasselling) stage appears to be more effective
for enhancing the crop yield and kernel weight, compared to V12
(the twelfth leaf emerges) or VT (tasselling), R3 (milk) stage.
[0187] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating cotton plants.
[0188] Cotton plants are believed to simultaneously produce
vegetative and fruiting structures. However, cotton plants develop
through well-known stages. One such stage is the emergence of
seedlings. The subsequent stages are marked by the appearance of
pinhead squares and then blooming.
[0189] In some embodiments, cotton plants are contacted one or more
times with the composition of present disclosure after seedling
emergence. In some embodiments, cotton plants are contacted one or
more times with the composition of present disclosure soon (i.e.,
three days or less) after the appearance of pinhead squares. In
some embodiments, cotton plants are contacted with the composition
of present disclosure soon after the appearance of pinhead squares
and are then subsequently contacted with the composition of present
disclosure again at one or more later time (i.e., 7 days or more
after the previous treatment).
[0190] Independently, some embodiments involve spraying cotton
plants one or more times with a liquid composition comprising at
least one cyclopropene, after at least 10% of said cotton plants
have developed pinhead squares.
[0191] In one particular embodiment, a method of treating cotton
plants comprises contacting cotton plants one or more time with a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropene at no more than 3
days after the appearance of pinhead squares or early bloom on the
cotton plants, then contacting the corn plants with the composition
again at 14 days after the first contact, and optionally contacting
the corn plants with the composition one more time at 28 days after
the first contact.
[0192] In one further particular embodiment, a method of treating
cotton plants comprises contacting cotton plants with a composition
comprising at least one cyclopropene at no more than 3 days after
the appearance of early bloom on the cotton plants, then contacting
the corn plants with the composition again at 14 days after the
first contact, and further contacting the cotton plants with the
composition at 28 days after the first contact.
[0193] Cotton plants are treated with a composition comprising
1-MCP while the cotton plants are at different development stages
as shown in TABLE 3 below and Example 3, infra.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Treatment Type First Treatment Second
Treatment Third Treatment PHS 2 soon after 14 days after first none
appearance of treatment pinhead squares PHS 3 soon after 14 days
after first 28 days after first appearance of treatment treatment
pinhead squares EB 2 soon after 14 days after first none appearance
of treatment early bloom EB 3 soon after 14 days after first 28
days after first appearance of treatment treatment early bloom
[0194] TABLE 4 shows the percentage increase in lint yield for the
cotton plants treated with the a composition comprising 1-MCP
according to the treatment types as shown in TABLE 3, and at
different dosages of 1-MCP (250 g/ha, 500 g/ha, and 1250 g/ha), in
comparison the untreated cotton plants.
[0195] The crop yield was assessed as the weight of lint per
hectare. Treatment types, treatment amounts (grams of 1-MCP per
hectare), and results were as follows. Many of the treatments lead
to improvements in the yield of lint.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Dosage of 1-MCP Treatment % Increase in
(g/ha) Type Lint Yield 0 Untreated 0.00% 250 PHS 2 1.14% PHS 3
1.67% EB 2 7.59% EB 3 9.74% 500 PHS 2 12.98% PHS 3 14.91% EB 2
2.72% EB 3 14.61% 1250 PHS 2 11.36% PHS 3 5.88% EB 2 3.07% EB 3
14.34%
[0196] As shown in TABLE 4, an increase in lint yield from cotton
plants is achieved when the cotton plants are contacted with a
composition comprising 1-MCP. However, the lint yield depends on
the development stage at which the cotton plants are contacted with
the composition comprising 1-MCP. The most improved lint yield is
obtained from the cotton plants that are treated with the
composition comprising 1-MCP at no more than 3 days after the
appearance of early bloom on the cotton plants, then again at 14
days after the first treatment, and again at 28 days after the
first treatment.
[0197] One embodiment of present disclosure is directed to methods
of treating wheat plants.
[0198] Wheat plants grow through developmental stages that are
commonly described with the well-known Feekes scale. In the
practice of the present disclosure, wheat plants may be contacted
one or more times with the composition of present disclosure during
one or more stages on the Feekes scale, or during any combination
thereof. Some of the stages on the Feekes scale are, for example,
F8.0 (flag leaf visible), F9.0 (ligule of flag leaf visible), F10.0
(boot stage), and F10.5 (heading complete). In some embodiments,
wheat plants are contacted with the composition of present
disclosure during or after any one or more of F8.0, F9.0, F10.0, or
F10.5. In some embodiments, wheat plants are contacted with the
composition of present disclosure during two or more of F8.0, F9.0,
F10.0, and F10.5. In some embodiments, wheat plants are contacted
with the composition of present disclosure during each of F8.0,
F9.0, F10.0, and F10.5. Independently, in some embodiments, wheat
plants are contacted with the composition of present disclosure at
least once after at least 10% of the wheat plants have reached F9.0
growth stage. Independently, some embodiments involve spraying
wheat plants one or more times with a liquid composition comprising
at least one cyclopropene, after at least 10% of the wheat plants
have reached the developmental stage at which the flag leaf is
visible.
[0199] In some embodiments, wheat plants are treated that are
selected from one or more varieties that do not include either or
both of the varieties Halberd and Karl92. In some embodiments, the
plants that are treated do not include wheat.
[0200] As shown in Example 4, infra, an increased crop yield, as
well as an improved resistance to frost damage and disease damage
is achieved by contacting wheat plants with the composition
comprising 1-MCP while the wheat plants are at the developmental
stage of F10.5 (heading complete).
[0201] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating tomato plants. Suitable tomato plants may
include, but not limited to, processing tomato plants or fresh
market tomato plants.
[0202] Tomato plants are treated at least one time with at least
one treatment taking place at any time during any reproductive
stage. In some embodiments, tomato plants are treated at one or
more of the following times: at the initiation of the first bloom
period; seven days after the initiation of the first bloom period,
28 days before anticipated harvest, 21 days before anticipated
harvest, 14 days before anticipated harvest, and any combination
thereof. The suitable treatment rates include, for example, 5 g/ha
or more; or 10 g/ha or more; or 20 g/ha or more. Independently,
among embodiments involving treatment of tomato plants, suitable
treatment rates include, for example, 100 g/ha or less; or 60 g/ha
or less; or 30 g/ha or less.
[0203] In one particular embodiments, a method of treating tomato
plants comprises contacting tomato plants with a composition
comprising at least one cyclopropene at one or more of the
following times: during the period from initiation of the first
bloom period to seven days after the initiation of the first bloom
period; and one or more times during the period from 28 days before
anticipated harvest until harvest.
[0204] Tomato plants of different varieties are treated with the
disclosed composition comprising 1-MCP as shown in Example 5,
infra.
[0205] Example 5A shows an increase in tomato yield by treating
processing tomato plant of variety AB2 with a composition
comprising 1-MCP at one or more of the following times: (i) during
the period from initiation of the first bloom period (bloom1) to
seven days after the initiation of the first bloom period (bloom2)
and (ii) one or more times during the period from 28 days before
anticipated harvest until harvest (day28). Furthermore, Example 5A
shows that Brix yield (i.e., soluble solids, total soluble solids,
soluble solids content), which is a measurement of tomato quality,
is enhanced by treating processing tomato plant of variety AB2 with
a composition comprising 1-MCP. Thus, the disclosed methods not
only increase crop yield of the tomato plants, but also enhance
quality of tomatoes obtained from such tomato plants.
[0206] Example 5B shows that an increase in tomato yield (either
based on weight of tomato crops/planted area, or numbers of tomato
crops/planted area) is achieved by contacting processing tomato
plant of variety 410 with a composition comprising 1-MCP, while the
tomato plants are at initiation of the first bloom period (bloom1)
or at seven days after the initiation of the first bloom period
(bloom2). However, the treatment of tomato plants variety 410 at
initiation of the first bloom period (bloom1) provides superior
improvement in tomato yield, compared to the treatment at seven
days after the initiation of the first bloom period (bloom2).
[0207] Example 5C shows an increase in tomato yield by treating
fresh market tomato plant of variety FL74 with a composition
comprising 1-MCP at one or more of the following times: at the
initiation of the first bloom period; seven days after the
initiation of the first bloom period, 28 days before anticipated
harvest, and 14 days before anticipated harvest.
[0208] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating bell pepper plants.
[0209] Bell pepper plants are treated at least one time, with at
least one treatment taking place at any time during any
reproductive stage. In some embodiments, bell pepper plants are
treated at the initiation of the first bloom period.
[0210] Among embodiments involving treatment of bell pepper plants,
suitable treatment rates include, for example, 5 g/ha or more; or
10 g/ha or more; or 20 g/ha or more. Independently, among
embodiments involving treatment of bell pepper plants, suitable
treatment rates include, for example, 100 g/ha or less; or 60 g/ha
or less; or 30 g/ha or less.
[0211] Example 6, infra, shows an increase in bell pepper yield by
treating bell pepper plants at the initiation of the first bloom
period with a composition comprising 1-MCP at different dosage of
1-MCP. TABLE 5 summarizes the effect of treating bell pepper plant
at the initiation of the first bloom period on pepper yield.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Crop Yield Treatment Dosage (Total Bell
peppers/ % Increase in of 1-MCP (g/ha) planted area) Crop Yield
Untreated 176 n/a 5 292 66% 25 243 38%
[0212] As shown in TABLE 5, a significant increase in crop yield
(i.e., total number of bell peppers obtained per planted area) is
achieved by treating bell pepper plants at the initiation of the
first bloom period with a composition comprising 1-MCP
[0213] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating watermelon plants.
[0214] Watermelon plants are treated at least one time, with at
least one treatment taking place at any time during any
reproductive stage. The timing of treatments of watermelon plants
can usefully be described as "DAF"; i.e., days after flowering,
which means the number of days after the beginning of flowering. In
some embodiments, watermelon plants are treated one or more times
at 1 to 14 DAF. In some embodiments, watermelon plants are treated
at any one of or at any combination of the following timings: 1
DAF, 7 DAF, and 14 DAF.
[0215] The treatment rate may include, for example, 1 g/ha or more;
or 2 g/ha or more; or 5 g/ha or more. Independently, among
embodiments involving treatment of watermelon plants, suitable
treatment rates include, for example, 100 g/ha or less; or 60 g/ha
or less; or 30 g/ha or less.
[0216] In one particular embodiments, a method of treating
watermelon plants comprises contacting watermelon plants one or
more time with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
within 14 days after flowering of watermelon plants.
[0217] Example 7, infra, shows an increase in crop yield of
watermelon plants (based on total number of marketable watermelons
per watermelon plant, as well as total mass of marketable
watermelon per planted area) by treating watermelon plants with a
composition comprising 1-MCP at different time after the flowering
of watermelon plants. TABLE 6 summarizes the effect on crop yield
upon treating watermelon plants at different time periods after
flowering and at different dosages of 1-MCP.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 % Increase in Crop Yield based on Treatment
Treatment Time Numbers. of Mass of Dosage of (no. of days
watermelons/ watermelon/ 1-MCP (g/ha) after flowering) plant
planted area Untreated n/a n/a n/a 5 7 13.76 4.05 14 32.11 30.86 7
and 14 28.44 25.68 10 7 34.86 36.49 14 22.02 16.89 7 and 14 22.02
15.77 25 7 36.70 28.38 14 30.28 28.60 7 and 14 18.35 13.29
[0218] As shown in TABLE 6, a significant increase in crop yield of
watermelon plants, either based on total number of marketable
watermelons per plant, or total mass of marketable watermelon per
planted area) is achieved by treating watermelon plants one or more
time with a composition comprising 1-MCP within 14 days after
flowering of watermelon plants
[0219] One particular embodiment of present disclosure is directed
to methods of treating cantaloupe plants.
[0220] Cantaloupe plants are treated at least one time, with at
least one treatment taking place at any time during any
reproductive stage. In some embodiments, cantaloupe plants are
treated one or more times in the period from bud initiation to 10
days after blossom opening. In some embodiments, cantaloupe plants
are treated after bud initiation but before blossom opening. In
some embodiments, cantaloupe plants are treated 10 days after
blossom opening.
[0221] Suitable treatment rates include, for example, 5 g/ha or
more; or 10 g/ha or more; or 20 g/ha or more. Independently, among
embodiments involving treatment of cantaloupe plants, suitable
treatment rates include, for example, 100 g/ha or less; or 60 g/ha
or less; or 30 g/ha or less.
[0222] In one particular embodiments, a method of treating
cantaloupe plants comprises contacting cantaloupe plants one or
more time with a composition comprising at least one cyclopropene
after bud initiation but before blossom opening.
[0223] Example 8, infra, and TABLE 7 below show a crop yield of
cantaloupe plants (based on average first flower set) by treating
cantaloupe plants at different development stage of cantaloupe
plants with the composition comprising 1-MCP having a dosage of
1-MCP from about 5 g/ha to about 25 g/ha.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Development Stage of Cantaloupe Plants
Average First at time of Treatment Flower Set Untreated 0.137 After
Bud Initiation, but 0.161 Before Blossom Opening 10 Days After
Blossom Opening 0.0247
[0224] As shown in TABLE 7, an increase in crop yield of cantaloupe
plants is achieved by treating cantaloupe plants one or more time
with the composition comprising 1-MCP after bud initiation but
before blossom opening.
[0225] In some embodiments, rice plants are contacted one or more
times with the composition of present disclosure during one or more
vegetative stage, one or more reproductive stage, one or more
ripening stage, or any combination thereof.
[0226] In some embodiments, oilseed rape plants (also called
rapeseed plants) are contacted one or more times with the
composition of present disclosure after at least 10% of the oilseed
rape plants have begun to bloom.
[0227] In some embodiments, apple trees are contacted one or more
times with the composition of present disclosure before harvest to
improve crop yield. For example, as shown in Example 9, the Golden
Delicious apple trees were treated with a composition comprising
1-MCP one week before harvest at a dosage rate of 375 gram 1-MCP
per one hectare. TABLE 8 shows the number of dropped apple fruits
per tree at different time period after the treatment. For
comparison, the results for the treatment using 1-naphthaleneacetic
acid (NAA) at 20 ppm, and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) at 125 ppm
are also reported.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 No. of Days Numbers of Dropped Apple Fruits
per Tree after NAA AVG 1-MCP Treatment Untreated treated treated
treated 0 0 0 0 0 7 18 5 5 4 62 30 11 11 9 21 45 20 23 15 28 115 65
35 20 35 195 118 45 39
[0228] As shown in TABLE 8, the apple trees treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP show about five times lower in the
number of dropped apples per trees compared to untreated apple
trees, and thereby provide a significant increase in apple yield.
Furthermore, the apple trees treated with a composition comprising
1-MCP provide lower number of dropped apples per trees compared to
the apple trees treated with 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or
amino ethoxyvinylglycine (AVG).
[0229] In some embodiments, an improvement in crop yield is evident
at the time of harvest, such as, for example, when the improvement
is an increase in weights (i.e. mass) or numbers of crops per unit
area of land as disclosed in Examples 1-9.
[0230] In some embodiments, an improvement in crop yield is
observed some time after the crop has been in storage. That is, in
some cases, the crop yield is measured as the amount of
high-quality crop that is delivered to the retail market after
storage.
[0231] Some embodiments of the present disclosure involve
pre-harvest contacting of crop plants with the disclosed
composition to provide crops that can be put in storage after
harvest and then come out of storage with higher quality than
previously obtainable.
[0232] For example, apples sometimes develop an undesirable clear
appearance in the flesh of the fruit known as "water core" while
still on the apple trees. Water core, when present, can persist
during storage after harvest. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure, apple trees are contacted with the composition of
present disclosure prior to harvest, and the resulting crop of
apples has an improved resistance to developing water core. As
shown in Example 10, upon treating Scarletspur Delicious apple
trees with a composition comprising 1-MCP at a dosage rate of 375
gram 1-MCP per one hectare immediately before harvest timing, a
higher percentage of water core-free apples may be achieved.
[0233] Similarly, some varieties of apples (such as, for example,
Fuji apples) develop undesirable red spots known as "staining"
during storage after harvest. In some embodiments of the present
disclosure, apple trees are contacted with the composition of
present disclosure prior to harvest, and the resulting crop of
apples has an improved resistance to developing red spots during
storage. As shown in Example 11, Fuji apple trees treated one or
two times with a composition comprising 1-MCP at a dosage rate of
211 gram 1-MCP per one hectare prior to harvest, provides a lower
percentage of apples with staining compared to the untreated Fuji
apple trees.
[0234] Also contemplated are embodiments in which the composition
of present disclosure is applied to crop plants or seedlings prior
to transplanting from one location to another location.
[0235] Thus, in other aspect for present disclosure, a method of
treating crop plants or seedlings comprises contacting the crop
plants or seedlings one or more times with a composition comprising
at least one cyclopropenes, and transplanting the crop plants or
seedlings from one location to another location. The composition
may be a gaseous composition, a liquid composition, or a solid
composition.
[0236] Plants are subjected to transplant shock when they are
transplanted from one location to another location. Transplant
shock involves various abiotic environment stresses, such as heat,
drought, cold, low or high solar radiation, air pollutants, or
water pollutants (high salt, metals, etc.)
[0237] Upon treating crop plants or seedlings one or more times
with the disclosed composition, fast recovery of the crop plants or
seedlings from transplant shock may be achieved. Indications of
fast recovery may include, but are not limited to, one or more of
following: [0238] a. faster shoot growth, production of green
tissue (leaves+stems), and height; [0239] b. faster root growth;
[0240] c. less damage on existing leaves (e.g., less yellowing, tip
burn); [0241] d. quicker establishment of upright position; [0242]
e. less wilting in days following transplantation; [0243] f.
greater biomass accumulation; [0244] g. faster time to flowering
and reproductive stages; or [0245] h. more fruit set per plant and
higher yield.
[0246] The methods of present disclosure may provide a transplant
shock protection to the treated crop plants against various
stresses, including, but not limited to heat, drought, cold, low or
high solar radiation, air pollutants, and water pollutants.
[0247] The methods of present disclosure may provide a transplant
shock protection across all vegetable species, but most importantly
in solanaceous (tomato, pepper, eggplant), cucurbits (melon,
cucumber), and cruciferous crops (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage,
brussel sprouts).
[0248] The methods of present disclosure may provide a transplant
shock protection for transplanting crop plants to either greenhouse
production environment, field environment, or both.
[0249] In some embodiments, the disclosed composition may be
applied to plants while the plants are growing in a container,
e.g., pots, flats, or portable beds. In some of such embodiments,
when treated plants are subsequently transplanted to open ground,
the treated plants show enhanced resistance to transplant shock
over the untreated plants.
[0250] In one embodiment of such aspect, a method of treating crop
plants or seedlings comprises contacting seedlings of crop plants
one or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropenes, transplanting the treated seedlings from one
location to another location; and allowing the transplanted
seedlings to grow to maturity.
[0251] Suitable treatment may be performed on plants that are
planted in a control environment (e.g., seedlings in greenhouse,
hotbed, cold frame), in open ground, in one or more containers
(such as, for example, a pot, planter, or vase), in confined or
raised beds, or in other places.
[0252] In further aspect of the present disclosure, a method of
treating dicot seedlings comprises contacting dicot seedlings one
or more times with a composition comprising at least one
cyclopropenes prior to transplanting the dicot seedlings (e.g.,
from minutes to 7 days prior to transplanting the dicot seedlings).
The composition may be a gaseous composition, a liquid composition,
or a solid composition.
[0253] While there have been reports of using 1-MCP for treating
plants, the reports are directed to the immediate effect of 1-MCP
on plants wherein plants are treated with 1-MCP at or near their
reproductive stage to increase photosynthetic efficiency, reduce
cell damage, and lower abortion of reproductive structures
(flowers, pods, bolls, kernels). The effect of the treatment is
reported to last only a few days and is not a long term effect such
as two to three months after the application.
[0254] In the methods of present disclosure, upon applying a
composition comprising at least one cyclopropenes (e.g., 1-MCP) to
dicot seedlings prior to transplanting, a dramatic increase in
yield is achieved many weeks or months after the application.
Example 12 shows the treatment of tomato seedlings with a
composition comprising about 50 ppm of 1-MCP three days before
transplanting the seedlings to hot stress conditions in greenhouse.
At the end of 21 days after transplanting, the tomato plants grown
from the treated tomato seedlings show higher height, numbers of
branches and leafs, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight than the
tomato plants grown from untreated tomato seedlings. Example 13
shows the treatment of tomato seedlings with a composition
comprising about 50 ppm 1-MCP at three days before the seedling are
transplanted to a field and grown to maturity. The transplanted
tomato plants grown from the treated seedlings provided higher
percentage of large-size tomatoes compared to the transplanted
tomato plants grown from untreated seedlings. Furthermore, the
amount of large-size tomatoes obtained from the transplanted tomato
plants grown from the treated seedlings are double the amount
obtained from the transplanted tomato plants grown from untreated
seedlings. Example 14 shows the treatment of cabbage seedlings with
a composition comprising about 50 ppm 1-MCP immediately before the
seedling are transplanted to a field and grown to maturity. The
transplanted cabbage plants grown from the treated seedlings
provide the cabbage crop with higher head weight and at higher mass
yield compared to the transplanted cabbage plants grown from
untreated seedlings.
[0255] Thus, applications of a composition comprising 1-MCP at
minutes to 7 days before transplanting dicot seedlings (e.g.,
tomato, pepper, crucifer, and cucurbit crops) improve the crop
yield by 5-70%. The significant increase in yield is largely due to
the substantial increase in fruit numbers which are set months
after the application of a composition comprising 1-MCP. These
results are unexpected in that the effect is a long term effect of
significantly higher yields in dicot seedlings that were treated as
small seedlings prior to transplantation. This in spite of the
dicot seedlings being grown in cells where roots are not damaged
prior to transplantation (i.e., little to no seedling damage).
These significant effects on crop yield is not observed in rice.
Further, the treatment has large effects on fruit numbers, in spite
of the fact that the fruit are set months after the 1-MCP
treatment.
[0256] The disclosed methods of treating dicot seedlings (e.g.,
vegetable seedlings) one or more time with a composition comprising
at least one cyclopropenes (e.g., 1-MCP) prior to transplanting the
dicot seedlings help the dicot seedlings overcome transplant shock
by recovering from transplant shock faster, flowering earlier,
producing more fruits, and therefore resulting in higher
yields.
[0257] It is to be understood that for purposes of the present
specification and claims that the range and ratio limits recited
herein can be combined. For example, if ranges of 60 to 120 and 80
to 110 are recited for a particular parameter, then the ranges of
60 to 110 and 80 to 120 are also contemplated. For another example,
if minimum values for a particular parameter of 1, 2, and 3 are
recited, and if maximum values of 4 and 5 are recited for that
parameter, then it is also understood that the following ranges are
all contemplated: 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 5, 3 to 4, and 3 to
5.
[0258] The following examples serve to explain embodiments of the
present disclosure in more detail. These examples should not be
construed as being exhaustive or exclusive as to the scope of this
disclosure
EXAMPLES
[0259] The following materials were used: [0260] Powder 1=powder
containing 3.8% 1-MCP by weight, available as AFXRD-038 from Rohm
and Haas Co. [0261] Powder 2=powder containing 2.0% 1-MCP by
weight, available as AFXRD-020 from Rohm and Haas Co. [0262]
Adjuvant 1=oil "AF-400," which contains an emulsified spray oil
PureSpray Spray Oil 10E (severely hydrotreated mineral oils with
added emulsifier) from Petro Canada Co., an AEROSOL.TM. OT
surfactant (sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate surfactant) from Cytec
Industries, and TOMADOL.TM. surfactant (ethoxylated alcohol
surfactant) from Tomah Co. [0263] Adjuvant 2=DYNE-AMIC.TM. spray
oil, available from Helena Chemical.
Example 1
Soybean Plants
[0264] To prepare the tested composition, spray tank was filled
with approximately two-thirds of the total volume of water
required. The amount of Powder 1 or Powder 2 was weighed according
to the rate and total volume of spray being prepared. The
appropriate amount was calculated to give 1% v/v of total spray
volume. Adjuvant 1 was added to the spray tank, which was agitated
until the mixture turned milky white. Powder 1 or Powder 2 was
added to the spray container, which was then gently (not
vigorously) agitated. The remaining water was added, making sure
all of the powder was wet and washed off of the sides of the tank
(if any had deposited there). The spray tank was then swirled or
stirred for at least two minutes (2-5 minutes) to ensure good
mixing of the composition. Between 5 and 60 minutes thereafter,
soybean plants were sprayed with the composition.
[0265] Flat fan nozzles were used to apply the tested composition
to soybean plants, producing droplet size of 100 to 500
micrometers. Spray rate of the composition was 500 liter per
hectare. Backpack sprayer was used. Spraying was performed before
10:00 am.
[0266] Soybean plants were treated with the tested composition when
the soybean plants were at one or more of the following growth
stages: R2, R3, and R5.5. The results are shown below:
TABLE-US-00009 Dosage of Development Stage(s) Yield Protein Number
1-MCP (g/ha) at Time of Application (kg/ha) Content (%) 1 Untreated
3607.20 36.93 2 Adjuvant 1 only R2, R3, and R5.5 3661.56 37.02 3 1
R2 3691.44 37.88 4 1 R3 3795.48 37.89 5 1 R5.5 3659.76 38.25 6 1 R2
and R3 3786.48 37.85 7 1 R2 and R5.5 3704.04 38.45 8 1 R3 and R5.5
3763.80 38.75 9 1 R2, R3, and R5.5 3955.68 38.4 10 10 R2 3671.64
37.67 11 10 R3 3757.68 38.64 12 10 R5.5 3721.32 38.32 13 10 R2 and
R3 3872.84 38.27 14 10 R2 and R5.5 3817.80 38.63 15 10 R3 and R5.5
3791.52 38.3 16 10 R2, R3, and R5.5 4119.48 37.87 17 30 R2 3702.24
38.08 18 30 R3 3747.24 38.33 19 30 R5.5 3817.80 37.58 20 30 R2 and
R3 4118.76 36.73 21 30 R2 and R5.5 3844.44 38.56 22 30 R3 and R5.5
3946.68 37.87 23 30 R2, R3, and R5.5 4347.00 37.48
[0267] Treatment of soybean plants with a composition comprising
1-MCP while the soybean plants were at the reproductive stage of R2
(full bloom), R3 (beginning pod) and/or R5.5 (between beginning
seed and full seed) resulted in an increase in soybean crop yield,
as well as an improvement in the protein content of the harvested
soybean crops.
Example 2
Corn Plants
[0268] Corn of hybrid variety FR1064.times.LH185 was planted at
72,000 plants per hectare (ha), and treated as described in Example
1. Powder 1 was used. Treatment stage (i.e., developmental stage at
which corn plants are treated with the disclosed composition),
treatment amounts (grams of 1-MCP per hectare), and results were as
follows. The simple measure of yield is reported as metric ton (mT)
per hectare. Other measures of yield are also shown. Treatments
lead to increase in yield by one or more measures.
TABLE-US-00010 Development Stage(s) 1-MCP at Time Dosage Yield
Kernel Kernel Protein of Application (g/ha) (mT/ha) wt (mg)
no..sup.(1) %.sup.(2) Starch %.sup.(2) Oil %.sup.(2)
Untreated.sup.(3) 0 1.64 248 444 7.8 71.7 4.6 V12 10 1.80.sup.(4)
266.sup.(4) 471 7.7 71.7 4.6 V12 25 1.84.sup.(4) 270.sup.(4)
495.sup.(4) 7.5 72.0 4.6 VT 10 1.86.sup.(4) 267.sup.(4) 480 7.5
72.1.sup.(4) 4.5 VT 25 1.87.sup.(4) 277.sup.(4) 451 7.7 71.7 4.6 R3
10 1.81.sup.(4) 265.sup.(4) 454 7.3 72.2 4.6 R3 25 1.82.sup.(4)
265.sup.(4) 471 7.6 72.1 4.7 V12, VT 10 1.82.sup.(4) 263.sup.(4)
459 7.6 71.9 4.5 VT, R3 10 1.72 271.sup.(4) 437 7.7 71.6
4.8.sup.(4) V12, VT, R3 10 1.70 259 464 7.2.sup.(4) 72.4.sup.(4)
4.6 Notes: .sup.(1)number of kernels per plant .sup.(2)weight of
protein (or starch or oil) as a percent based on the weight of the
kernels .sup.(3)untreated control. No 1-MCP was used
.sup.(4)statistically distinct from the result obtained in the
untreated corn plants
Example 3
Cotton Plants
[0269] Using methods similar to those of Example 1, cotton plants
were also tested. Each treated group of cotton plants was treated
either two or three times, as follows:
TABLE-US-00011 Treatment Time of First Time of Second Time of Third
Type Treatment Treatment Treatment PHS 2 Soon after 14 days after
first none appearance of treatment pinhead squares PHS 3 Soon after
14 days after first 28 days after first appearance of treatment
treatment pinhead squares EB 2 Soon after 14 days after first none
appearance of treatment early bloom EB 3 Soon after 14 days after
first 28 days after first appearance of treatment treatment early
bloom
[0270] The crop yield was assessed as the weight of lint per
hectare. Treatment types, treatment amounts (grams of 1-MCP per
hectare), and results were as follows. Many of the treatments lead
to improvements in the yield of lint.
TABLE-US-00012 Dosage of Treatment Lint Yield 1-MCP (g/ha) Type
(kg/ha) 250 PHS 2 230.6 250 PHS 3 231.8 250 EB 2 245.3 250 EB 3
250.2 500 PHS 2 257.6 500 PHS 3 262.0 500 EB 2 234.2 500 EB 3 261.3
1250 PHS 2 253.9 1250 PHS 3 241.4 1250 EB 2 235.0 1250 EB 3 260.7 0
Untreated 228.0 0 Adjuvant 1 only 245.1
Example 4
Wheat Plants
[0271] Using methods similar to those of Example 1, wheat plants
were sprayed at stage F10.5. Frost damage was assessed by examining
the portion of the seed head damaged, and reported as the
percentage of barren husks. Damage from fusarium disease was
assessed as a percentage of seed heads damaged by the disease
organism. The following table shows that the treated wheat plants
showed higher yield, lower frost damage, and lower disease
damage.
TABLE-US-00013 Dosage of 1- Crop Yield Frost Damage Disease Damage
MCP (g/ha) (kg dry weight/ha) (%) (%) 0 3890 21 6 10 4458 6 0.5 25
4522 3 3
Example 5
Tomato Plants
[0272] To prepare the tested composition, a spray tank was filled
with approximately two-thirds of the total volume of water
required. The amount of Powder 1 or Powder 2 was weighed according
to the intended treatment rate and total volume of spray being
prepared. The appropriate amount was calculated to give 0.38% v/v
of total spray volume. Adjuvant 2 was added to the spray tank,
which was agitated until the mixture turned milky white. Powder 1
or Powder 2 was added to the spray container, which was then gently
(not vigorously) agitated. The remaining water was added, making
sure all of the powder was wet and washed off of the sides of the
tank (if any had deposited there). The spray tank was then swirled
or stirred for 2 to 5 minutes to ensure good mixing of the
composition Between 5 and 60 minutes thereafter, tomato plants were
sprayed with the composition.
[0273] Flat fan nozzles were used to apply the composition to
tomato plants, producing droplet size of 100 to 500 micrometers.
Spray rate of the composition was 187 to 373 liter per hectare (20
to 40 gallons per acre). Carbon dioxide-powered backpack sprayer
was used. Spraying was performed before 10:00 am.
[0274] The tomato plants were treated with the composition while
the tomato plants at the following time:
TABLE-US-00014 bloom1 = initiation of the first bloom period bloom2
= 7 days after initiation of the first bloom period day28 = 28 days
before anticipated harvest day21 = 21 days before anticipated
harvest day14 = 14 days before anticipated harvest
[0275] A. Tomato Plants of Variety AB2
[0276] Tomato plants of variety AB2 were grown in Gainesville, Fla.
Brix is soluble solids (also called total soluble solids or soluble
solids content) and is a measurement of tomato quality. Treatment
was conducted by spraying tomato plants with the tested composition
at the 1-MCP dosage of 25 g/ha (9.4 oz/acre).
[0277] Results were as shown in the following tables, wherein the
fruit yield is reported as mT/ha (tons/acre), the Brix yield is
reported as solids weight per unit land area, i.e., mT/ha
(tons/acre), and the delay in harvest is reported as % mature
green.
[0278] Trial 1
TABLE-US-00015 Treatment Timing Fruit Yield Brix Yield Delay bloom1
243 (44) 12.1 (2.18) 10 bloom1 and bloom1 227 (41) 12.0 (2.17) 11
day28 221 (40) 11.6 (2.10) 9 Untreated 199 (36) 10.5 (1.89) 8
[0279] Trial 2
TABLE-US-00016 Treatment Fruit Yield Brix Yield Delay bloom1 194
(35) 11.0 (1.99) 4 bloom1 and bloom1 205 (37) 11.5(2.08) 3 day28
183 (33) 10.9 (1.97) 4 Untreated 177 (32) 9.4 (1.70) 5
[0280] Trial 3
TABLE-US-00017 Treatment Fruit Yield Brix Yield Delay bloom1 and
bloom2 111 (20) 6.4 (1.15) 13 day 28 116 (21) 6.3 (1.14) 17
Untreated 105 (19) 5.8 (1.04) 15
[0281] Trial 4
TABLE-US-00018 Treatment Fruit Yield Brix Yield Delay bloom1 and
bloom2 304 (55) 14.9 (2.7) 5 Untreated 288 (52) 14.4 (2.6) 4
[0282] Tomato plants of variety AB2 that were treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP showed improvement in fruit yield as
well as Brix yield, compared to the untreated tomato plants of
variety AB2.
[0283] B. Tomato Plants of Variety 410
[0284] Tomato plants of variety 410 were grown and treated as
described above. Results were as shown in the following tables,
wherein the fruit yields are reported as Fruit Mass in mT/ha
(tons/acre) unit, and as Fruit Number in thousands of fruit per
hectare (thousands per acre) unit.
[0285] Trial 5
TABLE-US-00019 Treatment Fruit Mass Fruit Number bloom1 354 (64)
2245 (909) bloom2 376 (68) 2406 (974) Untreated 327 (59) 2062
(835)
[0286] Tomato plants of variety 410 that were treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP showed improvement in tomato yield
(based on either the amounts of tomato mass/acre or the numbers of
tomatoes/acre), compared to the untreated tomato plants of variety
410.
[0287] C. Tomato Plants of Variety FL 47
[0288] Tomato plants of variety FL 47 were grown in Florida and
were treated as described above. Yield is reported as mT/hectare
(Cwt/acre, i.e., number of hundred-pound groups per acre) Results
were as follows:
[0289] Trial 6
TABLE-US-00020 Treatment Yield bloom1 27.0 (241) bloom2 21.5 (192)
bloom1 and bloom2 23.3 (208) Untreated 19.4 (173)
[0290] Trial 7
TABLE-US-00021 Treatment Yield bloom1 18.3 (163) bloom2 18.6 (166)
bloom1 and bloom2 17.2 (154) Untreated 15.8 (141)
[0291] Trial 8
TABLE-US-00022 Treatment Yield day 21 24.2 (216) day 14 20.4 (182)
day 21 and day 14 22.3 (199) Untreated 19.4 (173)
[0292] Tomato plants of variety FL47 that were treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP showed improvement in tomato yield,
compared to the untreated tomato plants of variety FL47.
Example 6
Bell Pepper Plants
[0293] Bell Pepper plants of Lady Bell variety was grown in
Fostoria, Ohio on a small plot and treated with the tested liquid
compositions, as described in Example 5, with one treatment at the
initiation of the first bloom period. Treatment rates are reported
as g/ha (oz/acre). Results are reported as Total Fruit (total
number of bell peppers grown on the entire plot), Fruits per Plant
(average number of bell peppers per one plant), and Total Plants
(total number of plants grown on the entire plot). "NS" means that
the liquid composition contains no surfactant. Results were as
follows:
TABLE-US-00023 Dosage of 1-MCP in g/ha (oz/acre) Total Fruits
Fruits per Plant Total Plants Untreated 176 6.1 16 5 (1.9) 292 10.1
23 25 (9.4) 243 8.4 22 25 (9.4)NS 231 8 22
[0294] Bell pepper plants that were treated with a composition
comprising 1-MCP provided higher numbers of bell peppers per
planting plot and per plant, compared to the untreated bell pepper
plants. Thus, an increase in crop yield of bell pepper plants was
achieved by contacting bell pepper plants with a composition
comprising 1-MCP increased at the initiation of the first bloom
period of bell paper plants.
Example 7
Watermelon
[0295] Watermelon (variety triploid cv. SS 7187) plants were
treated as described in Example 5. Treatment rates are reported in
grams 1-MCP per hectare. Timing is reported as DAF (days after
flowering). A marketable melon is a harvested melon with mass of
4.54 kg or greater. A cull is a harvested melon with mass less than
4.54 kg or an unharvested melon that had diameter greater than 5
cm. The following results are reported:
TABLE-US-00024 Num25= number of fruit of diameter greater than 5 cm
per plant, assessed before harvest, at 25 DAF, also known as "fruit
set" NumTot= Harvested and Unharvested Fruits, 42-56 Days, with
diameter greater than 5 cm NumMark= number of marketable melons per
plant NumCull= number of culls per plant Size= average size of
fruit, in kg Yield= mass of marketable melons, in metric tons per
hectare
TABLE-US-00025 Timing (no. days Treatment after Rate flowering)
Num25 NumMark NumCulls Yield Size Untreated -- 1.25 1.09 0.78 44.4
7.46 5 7 1.25 1.24 0.64 46.2 6.83 5 14 1.83 1.44 0.58 58.1 7.44 5 7
and 14 1.58 1.40 0.71 55.8 7.26 10 7 1.17 1.47 0.71 60.6 7.56 10 14
1.42 1.33 0.64 51.9 7.09 10 7 and 14 1.67 1.33 0.78 51.4 7.10 25 7
1.58 1.49 0.58 57.0 7.08 25 14 1.75 1.42 0.58 57.1 7.41 25 7 and 14
1.92 1.29 0.60 50.3 7.15
[0296] As shown in the table above, the watermelon plants treated
with a composition at 1-MCP dosage rate of 25 g/ha resulted in a
significant increase in fruit set over the untreated watermelon
plants. The treated watermelon plants also showed a significant
increase in the number of marketable fruit over the untreated
watermelon plants. Furthermore, the treated watermelon plants
showed a significant increase in yield over the untreated
watermelon plants. Differences in fruit size between the treated
watermelon plants and the untreated watermelon plants were not
significant.
Example 8
Cantaloupe Plants
[0297] Cantaloupe plants were treated as described in Example 5.
Timing of treatment was before blossom opening or ten days after
blossom opening. The average first flower set was measured. Results
were as follows:
TABLE-US-00026 Development Stage of Cantaloupe plants at the Time
of Treatment Average First Flower Set Untreated 0.137 Before
blossom opening 0.161 10 days after blossom opening 0.0247
[0298] As shown in the table above, the cantaloupe plants treated
with a composition comprising 1-MCP before blossom opening provided
improved average first flower set over the untreated cantaloupe
plants.
Example 9
Golden Delicious Apple Trees
[0299] Golden Delicious apple trees were sprayed with a composition
comprising 1-MCP one week before they were harvested using methods
similar to those described in Example 1. The composition comprising
1-MCP was prepared from Powder 1 and tested at a dosage rate of 375
gram 1-MCP per one hectare. For comparison, 1-Naphthaleneacetic
acid (NAA) at 20 ppm, and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) at 125 ppm
were also tested.
[0300] The treated apples were left on the trees to observe
postharvest drop. Numbers of dropped apple fruits per tree were
determined after different time period after the treatment as shown
in the following table.
TABLE-US-00027 No. Days Numbers of Dropped Fruit per Tree after
Powder Treatment Untreated NAA treated AVG treated 1 treated 0 0 0
0 0 7 18 5 5 4 62 30 11 11 9 21 45 20 23 15 28 115 65 35 20 35 195
118 45 39
[0301] As shown in the table above, apple trees treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP showed the least amount of dropped
apple fruit per tree and thereby the highest crop yield.
Example 10
Scarletspur Delicious Apple Trees
[0302] Scarletspur Delicious apple trees were sprayed with a
composition comprising 1-MCP immediately before commercial harvest
timing using methods similar to those described in Example 1. The
composition comprising 1-MCP was prepared from Powder 1 and tested
at a dosage rate of 375 gram 1-MCP per one hectare.
[0303] The harvested apples were evaluated for the presence of
water core. The following table shows the percentage of apples
(based on the number of apples in storage) that showed no water
core as a function of days after harvest. The treated apples showed
a comparable or higher percentage of water core-free apples.
TABLE-US-00028 Days % Apples in the Storage that are free of Water
Core After Apple Tree Harvest Untreated Apple Trees Treated with
1-MCP 4 98 95 8 98 98 12 82 98 15 70 98 19 66 95 24 40 98 29 20 98
34 10 42
Example 11
Full Apples Trees
[0304] Fuji apple trees were sprayed were sprayed with a
composition comprising about 250 ppm of 1-MCP, either one or two
times, prior to harvest using methods similar to those described in
Example 1. Each spraying provided a dosage of 1-MCP of
approximately 211 g/ha (520 g/acre). After harvesting and storage,
the apples were inspected for staining. The percent of apples that
showed staining was as follows:
TABLE-US-00029 Treatment of the % Apples in Storage with Apple
Trees Appearance of Staining Untreated 12 1 spray application 8.5 2
spray applications 3
[0305] As shown in the table above, the apple trees treated with a
composition comprising 1-MCP, either one or two times, provided
lower amount of apple fruits with staining compared to the
untreated apple trees.
Example 12
Tomato Plants Transplanted to Heat Stress Environment in
Greenhouse
[0306] Tomato seedlings were grown under optimal conditions until
4-6 inches in height. A composition comprising about 50 ppm of
1-MCP was applied to the tomato seedling. At three days after the
application, tomato seedlings were transplanted and moved into hot
stress conditions in greenhouse where they were grown for 21 more
days. At the end of 21 days, various variable of the tomato plants
grown from the treated tomato seedlings were measured and compared
to those of the tomato plants grown from the untreated tomato
seedlings. The percentage increase in different variables of the
tomato plants grown from the treated tomato seedlings over the
tomato plants grown the untreated tomato seedlings as shown in the
table below.
TABLE-US-00030 Variable % 1-MCP Increase Height (cm) 24% Numbers of
Branches 23% Numbers of Leafs 10% Shoot Dry Weight 59% Root Dry
Weight 54%
[0307] At the end of 21 days after transplanting to heat stress
environment in greenhouse, the tomato plants grown from the treated
tomato seedling showed higher height, numbers of branches and leaf,
shoot dry weight, and root dry weight over the tomato plants grown
the untreated tomato seedlings.
Example 13
Tomato Plants Transplanted to Field Environment
[0308] Tomato seedlings were grown under normal production plant
house conditions until 4-6 inches tall. A composition comprising
about 50 ppm of 1-MCP was applied to the tomato seedling. At three
days after the application, the seedlings were transplanted into
field production facility in Florida and grown to maturity.
Tomatoes were harvested using standard commercial hand picking
practices for fresh tomatoes. The table below showed that the
transplanted tomato plants grown from the treated seedlings
provided higher percentage of large-size tomatoes compared to the
transplanted tomato plants grown from the untreated seedlings.
Furthermore, the amount of large-size tomatoes obtained from the
transplanted tomato plants grown from the treated seedlings were
double the amount obtained from the transplanted tomato plants
grown from the untreated seedlings.
TABLE-US-00031 Numbers of Tomatoes Produced for Transplanted Tomato
Seedlings (percentage) Values Treatment with 1-MCP Untreated Large
16,453 (55%) 8,077 (48%) Medium 10,305 (34%) 5,918 (35%) Small
3,350 (11%) 2,882 (17%)
Example 14
Cabbage Plants Transplanted to Field Environment
[0309] Cabbage seedlings were grown under normal plant house
production practices until ready to transplant to field. A
composition comprising about 50 ppm of 1-MCP was applied to the
tomato seedlings. Immediately after the application, the seedlings
were transplanted into the field trial in Florida and grown to
maturity. Cabbage were harvested using standard commercial hand
picking practices. The average head weight of cabbage (lb) and the
total weight of cabbage obtained per acre were reported below.
TABLE-US-00032 Avg. Head Weight Total (lbs) Lb/A Treatment with
1-MCP 16,453 8,077 Untreated 10,305 5,918 % Increase by 1-MCP
Treatment 50% 50%
[0310] As shown in the table above, the transplanted cabbage plants
grown from the treated seedlings provided the cabbage crop with
higher head weight and at higher mass yield compared to the
transplanted cabbage plants grown from the untreated seedlings.
* * * * *