CH619838A5 - Plant growth regulators. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to agents for regulating plant growth and agents for weed control. The invention also relates to a method for producing such agents and a method for regulating plant growth and weed control using such agents.

In Ann. Appi. Biol. (1968), Vol. 61, pages 295-302 describes the plant growth-regulating action of substituted anthranilic acids. According to page 298, Table 2 of this reference, 6-methylanthranilic acid, i.e. H. 6-amino-o-toluic acid, clearly ineffective in this regard.

In contrast, it was found, quite surprisingly, that the compound mentioned above has a plant growth-regulating action.

According to the invention, an agent for regulating plant growth and for weed killing contains an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid and inert carrier material. These agents are particularly useful as post-emergence and pre-emergence plant growth regulators, and as weed control agents. However, the post-emergence growth regulating effect prevails.

According to the invention, the method for regulating the growth of intact plants or for destroying weeds is characterized in that the intact plants, the growth of which is to be regulated, or the weed which is to be killed, with an effective amount of 6-amino-o -toluic acid or an above-mentioned plant growth regulating agent or a weed control agent.

The term "plant growth regulator" as used here refers, for example, to a compound that either delays or stimulates the growth of main or secondary branches, or sprouts of plants. Such a connection is capable of (delaying or stimulating) flower formation, flowering, sprout or branch formation, parthenocarpy, fruit and / or leaf fall and fruit and / or leaf ripening. Furthermore, effects and influences on the transport of substances within the plant, for example a stimulation of the latex flow and / or the metabolism or, for example, an increase in the sugar content within the plant, etc. are to be understood. The compound stabilizes the plants against drought and frost, as well as against substances known as "air pollution", such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, etc. For example, in bush plants, this regulating activity delays the growth in length while stimulating lateral growth. 6-Amino-o-toluic acid is particularly active in stimulating latex flow.

The term "intact plant" denotes a normal growing plant as opposed to one of the plant

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separated part such as shoots, coleoptiles or other isolated parts of plants.

The plant growth regulating and weed-killing agents of the present invention are particularly useful for regulating plant growth. Although they have pre-emergence plant growth regulating effects, they are particularly useful if they are used as post-emergence plant growth regulators.

These agents are particularly active in and against the following plants (especially young plants):

a) cereals such as grain, rice, wheat, rye, barley, oats, etc .;

b) trees and shrubs such as fruit trees such as apples, pears, peach, cherries and citrus, as well as cocoa, tea, coffee, bananas, gum, olives and nut trees;

c) ornamental plants such as privet, white beech, cedar, juniper, rose, azalea, chrysanthemum, poinsettia, cyclamen, pyracantha, forsythia, magnolia, petunia and bromeliad;

d) field plants such as cotton, soybean, peanuts, tobacco, flax, sugar beet and pineapple;

e) vegetables such as Solanaceae (e.g. tomatoes), legumes, pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, etc .;

f) berries such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and currants; and g) grasses.

The agents for regulating plant growth and for combating weeds are produced according to the invention by mixing an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid with an inert carrier material.

In order to achieve a uniform distribution of the active compound in the growth-regulating agents and the weed control agents, the compound is mixed with conventional inert, solid or liquid auxiliaries, modifiers, diluents or conditioning agents which are customary for growth regulators, and so to give solutions, emulsions, emulsifiable concentrates, dispersions , Dusts, granules or wettable powder. Plant growth regulators and weed control agents in the form of liquid formulations for direct spraying can be used, for example, as aqueous solutions - wherever possible - or as solutions in solvent mixtures (such as acetone, methanol, dimethylformamide in the ratio 90: 8: 2, [volume / volume]) getting produced. Emulsifiable concentrates which contain 5-50% or more of active ingredient depending on its solubility can be prepared in suitable solvents, for example in n-methylpyrrolidine, dimethylformamide, cyclo-hexanone, etc. surface-active substances, for example wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, etc. are added in sufficient quantities to achieve the desired characteristics of the formulation.

The agents according to the invention preferably contain an inert carrier material with a molecular weight of 200 or more.

Typical ways in which the plant growth and weed control agents according to the present invention can be formulated are:

a) concentrates containing 10-65% (weight percent) of the active ingredient, in particular aqueous concentrates containing 10-50% (weight percent) of the active ingredient, and emulsifiable concentrates containing 5-50% (weight percent) of the active ingredient;

b) ready-to-spray solutions which contain 0.0001-15% (percent by weight), in particular 0.0001-10% (percent by weight) of the active ingredient; Particularly preferred ready-to-spray solutions contain 0.01-10%, 0.1-5%, 0.1-2%, 0.1-1% or 0.1-0.5% (percentages by weight) of active ingredient.

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c) water-soluble powders containing 10-90% (weight percent) of active ingredient;

d) sprayable powders containing 35-65% (weight percent) of the active ingredient;

e) dusts or granules containing 2-10% (weight percent) of active ingredient;

f) Homogeneous, pourable preparation which is dispersible in water to ready-to-use spray liquors and which contains 10-40% (percent by weight) of active substance.

Different types of application can be better adapted to the numerous purposes for which 6-amino-o-toluic acid can be used by adding compounds which improve dispersion, adhesion, resistance to rain and penetration. such as fatty acids, waxes, resins, wetting agents, emulsifiers, mineral or vegetable oils, binders etc. In the same way, the biological spectrum of these agents can be greatly broadened or by adding substances which have bactericidal, herbicidal, fungicidal properties and other plant growth regulators by adding fertilizers, chelating agents and / or other plant growth regulators.

Examples of growth regulators which can be added to the agents according to the invention are: 2,2-dichloropropionic acid,

N- (4-aminobenzenesulfonyl) methyl carbamate,

2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-l, 3,5-triazine,

4-chloro-2-oxobenzothiazolin-3-yl-acetic acid,

5-bromo-6-methyl-3- (l-methyl-n-propyl) uracil,

3.5-dibromo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile, D, N-ethyl-2- (phenylcarbamoyloxy) propionamide, N- (4-bromo-3-chlorophenyl) -N'-methoxy-N'-methyl-urea, methyl-2-chloro -9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylate, N'-4- (4-chlorophenoxy) phenyl-N, N-dimethylurea, isopropyl-N- (3-chlorophenyl) carbamate, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloroterephthalic acid - dimethyl ester (DCPA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid,

4-isopropylamino-6-methylamino-2-methylthio-l, 3,5-triazine,

n-butyl-9-hydroxyfluorene-9-carboxylate,

Ethylene,

Naphthoxy acetic acid,

3.6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid, (±) -2- (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid,

9,10-dihydro-8a, 1 Oa-diazoniaphenanthrene-2 A,

N '- (3,4-dichlorophenyl) -N, N-dimethylurea,

Gibberellic acid,

Indolylacetic acid,

Indolyl butyric acid,

4-hydroxy-3,5-di-iodobenzonitrile,

N '- (3,4-dichlorophenyl) -N-methoxy-N-methylurea,

4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid,

4- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) butyric acid,

(±) -2- (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) propionic acid,

N- (BenzothiazoI-2-yl) -N, N'-dimethylurea, N '- (3-chloro-

4-methoxyphenyl) -N, N-dimethylurea,

l, 2,3,6-tetrahydro-3,6-dioxopyridazine,

N '- (4-chlorophenyl) -N-methoxy-N-methylurea,

N '- (4-chlorophenyl) -N, N-dimethylurea,

Naphthylacetic acid,

N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid,

2,4-dichlorophenyl-4-nitrophenyl ether,

1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridylium-2A,

3- (m-tolylcarbamoyloxy) phenyl carbamate,

4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid, 4,6-bis-isopropylamino-2-methylthio-l, 3,5-triazine, N- (3,4-dichlorophenyl) propionamide,

Isopropy 1 -N-phenylcarbamate,

5-amino-4-chloro-2-phenylpyridazin-3 (2H) -one,

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N-dimethylamino succinic acid,

2-chloroethylphosphoric acid,

TributyI-2,4-dichlorobenzylphosphonium chloride,

2.4.5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid,

2.3.6-trichlorobenzoic acid, 2-chloro-4,6-bis-ethylamino-l, 3,5-triazine,

Sodium chloroacetate,

2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid,

5-chloro-6-methyl-3-t-butyluracil, 4-ethylamino-2-methylthio-6-t-butylamino

1,3,5-triazine (tertbutryn),

2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, 1,1,4-trimethyl-6-isopropyl-5-propionyl-indane.

Exemplary fungicides which can be added to the compounds according to the invention are: 2,4-dichloro-6- (o-chloroaniline) -S-triazine, 2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalic acid nitrile, p-dimethylaminophenyldiazo-sodium sulfonate, 1,4-dichloro -2,5-dimethoxybenzene, manganese-ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate, zinc-ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate,

Coordination product made of zinc and manganese-ethylene-bis-

dithiocarbamate, methyl-l- (butylcarbamoyl) -2-benzimidazole-carbamate, 2 - (4-thiazole) -benzimidazole, cis-N - [(trichloromethyl) -thiol-4-cyclohexane-l, 2-di-

carboximide.

The process according to the invention is preferably carried out using a spray-ready formulation. These formulations can be liquid, e.g. B. in the form of a solution, suspension or emulsion, or may be solid, e.g. B. in the form of a dust, granules or micro-granules.

The use amounts given below are based on the results presented here and are not described so broadly that all possible cases are included, since numerous factors influence the use amounts. For example, the amount can vary not only between different plant species, but also within a certain species, for example depending on factors such as plant size and the age of the plant, the season, the soil type and the climatic conditions at the time of use, such as air temperature, light intensity, Rain and wind. Furthermore, if the compounds or the agents are used by soaking the soil, higher concentrations are necessary, since in this type of application the plant is treated indirectly compared to a direct treatment when the agent or the compound is applied to leaves and stems, for example by Spray on the plant.

The amount of active ingredient in plant growth regulating agents accordingly varies depending on the plants to be controlled, the required application amount, the type of application, the active ingredient used and the degree of control of the plant growth which is sought. In general, the agents contain less than 50% active ingredient in the ready-to-spray form. For example, 35-65% (weight percent) are preferred when applied in powder form and up to 10% (weight percent) of active ingredient when applied in liquid form.

Basically, the amount of active ingredient that is used is selected so that an effective control of plant growth is achieved. Accordingly, the selection of the minimum amount used is determined by the minimum amount of active ingredient which is able to bring about the lowest limit of the desired growth retardation. The selection of the maximum use amount is determined accordingly by the amount of active ingredient.

which creates the upper limit of the desired growth retardation. In the case of grasses which are used for ornamental lawns, this means the amount which avoids a barren appearance of the ornamental lawn, but on the other hand prevents too rapid lawn growth and avoids undesirable chlorosis (i.e. turning the lawn yellow). For the control of the lawn, it is expedient to use an amount of active ingredient which delays the normal growth rate by 40-60%. With grass there is a growth delay below 40%

is not considered sufficient, since manual treatment of the lawn cannot be eliminated with it. On the other hand, if the growth delay in turf exceeds 60%, this must be considered too pronounced due to the aesthetic result.

Another disadvantage of the too slow growth of a lawn can be seen in the easier immigration of weeds.

The amount of active ingredient that meets these criteria is determined from such points of view, for example on the tomato plant. To achieve the greatest post-growth regulating effect, amounts of 0.5-10 kg or more per hectare of 6-amino-o-toluic acid are used. These amounts are based on the weight of the active compound. In the same way, the greatest wake of growth-regulating activity is generally obtained with amounts which are between 1-5 kg or more of active ingredient per hectare. A preferred dosage interval of the spray solutions is between 1-150,000 ppm depending on the plant species to be treated. A particularly preferred dosage amount is generally between 100 and 10,000 ppm.

Another advantage of using 6-amino-o-toluic acid is the absence of any permanent effects on the plants or a regulating effect that remains in the soil. The connection decomposes slowly and there is a consequent reduction in activity. This effect has advantages since a) a short-term effect that can be extended by subsequent further treatment is achieved;

b) the normal growth conditions of the plant occur as the activity decreases;

c) there are no harmful residues either on the plant or in the ground.

The duration of the delay effect varies depending on numerous factors such as the type of plant being treated. climatic conditions etc.

Although the agents according to the invention have a plant growth-regulating activity, they are practically non-toxic to animals. However, there are weeds that, when treated as described above, die. Such weeds are described in Examples 2 and 7 below. Sorghum halepense, for example, are further examples of weeds which can be destroyed by the agent according to the invention. Imperata cylindrica, Panikum spp. and Paspalum spp.

The following examples illustrate the various formulations of the plant growth regulating agents and the weed killers according to the present invention.

A. Aqueous formulations

The amphoteric character of 6-amino-o-toluic acid allows the formation of more or less water-soluble salts by the reaction with bases or acids.

a) With bases

A typical wording is:

6-amino-o-toluic acid 200 g

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Diethanolamine water, deionized

150 g ad 1000 ml

Instead of diethanolamine, other organic bases, such as. As dimethylamine, triethanolamine, aminomethyl propanol, morpholine, etc. are used, the concentrations of active ingredient in the formulation depending on the solubility of the salts. Such formulations can be mixed with surfactants and thus the wetting power of their aqueous, ready-to-use dilution, and thus usually also their effect, can be improved. The application concentrations of the active ingredient are between 0.01 and 1% (percent by weight), preferably between 0.05 and 0.8% (percent by weight), the spray liquor normally also containing a wetting agent. Formulations of this type which are suitable for dilution are given below:

1. Formulation for an application concentration which contains 0.8% of active ingredient:

6-amino-o-toluic acid 200 g

Surfactant 6.25 g

Diethanolamine 150 g

Water, deionized ad 1000 ml

2. Formulations for an application concentration which contains 0.05% active ingredient:

6-amino-o-toluic acid 200 g

Surfactant 100 g

Diethanolamine 150 g

Water, deionized ad 1000 ml

The surfactant can be an anionic surfactant, such as alkali salts of alkyl sulfates (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate), alkali salts of alkylarylsulfonic acids (e.g. sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate). Furthermore, the surfactants can be nonionic surfactants, such as. B. ethylene oxide condensation products of alkylphenols such as nonylphenol with 8-10 moles of ethylene oxide or fatty alcohols such as stearyl alcohol with 8-10 moles of ethylene oxide.

b) With acids

Salts can be prepared with acids from 6-amino-o-toluic acid, the acids being, for example, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or acetic acid. The salts formed with hydrochloric acid are the most soluble salts and are therefore preferred. Typical formulations can be made with the following increments:

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1.

6-amino-o-toluic acid

Hydrochloric acid (32%)

Water, deionized

6-amino-o-toluic acid

Surfactant

hydrochloric acid

Water, deionized

100 g 151 g ad 1000 ml 100 g 6.25 g 151 g ad 1000 ml

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A solution is thus obtained which contains 0.8% of active ingredient.

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6-amino-o-toluic acid

Surfactant

hydrochloric acid

Water, deionized

100 g 100 g 151g ad 1000 ml

After dilution, a solution is obtained which contains 0.05% of active ingredient. The surfactant can be nonionic - as described above - or cationic, for example alkylbenzylammonium compound such as dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride.

B. Powdery, Water Soluble Formulations Using Salt Formation Two typical formulations, one containing a base and the other containing an acid, are described below:

6-amino-o-toluic acid

20.0

20.0

Soda, calcined

15.5

Sodium lauryl sulfate (surfactant)

1.0

Lactose

63.5

66.0

Sulfamic acid

13.0

Ethylene oxide propylene oxide *

1.0

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[® solid block polymer (80% polyethylene glycol ether chains) (non-ionic surfactant)]

These formulations are made by mixing and finely grinding the formulation components. Free-flowing, water-wettable and clearly dissolving powders are obtained.

C. Solid formulations 1. wettable powder (wettable powder)

6-amino-o-toluic acid 50.0 g hydrated silica 5.0 g

Sodium lauryl sulfate (surfactant) 1.0 g

Sodium lignosulfonate (dispersant) 2.0 g

Kaolin B 24 42.0 g

The formulation components are mixed and finely ground. Free-flowing, water-wettable powders with good suspension properties are obtained.

2. Dusts After mixing and grinding, the formulation components give a powder that can be easily dusted.

6-amino-o-toluic acid 5.0 g

Talc 95.0 g

3. Granules

6-amino-o-toluic acid 5.0 g

Polyethylene glycol (PEG 500) 2.0 g

Calcium carbonate, granulated 1 mm 93.0 g

The calcium carbonate grains are sprayed uniformly with the polyethylene glycol and then mixed with finely ground 6-amino-o-toluic acid. The polyethylene glycol acts as an adhesive and binds the active substance to the carrier grain.

D. Other Formulations 1. The formulation components below are mixed and ground in a ball mill until the particle size of the active substance is 1-5 microns.

6-amino-o-toluic acid 250 g

Sodium salt of a sulfonated naphthalene form aldehyde condensation product bentonite

Water, deionized

25 g 15 g ad 1000 ml

A homogeneous, pourable preparation is obtained which is dispersible in water to give ready-to-use spray liquors.

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2. Emulsifiable concentrate 6-amino-o-toluic acid 100 g

Emulsifier (mixture of a condensation product of nonylphenol with 8-10 mol of ethylene oxide and the calcium salt of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid) 100 g

Cyclohexanone ad 1000 ml

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Active substance and emulsifier are dissolved in cyclohexanone and result in a clear solution that spontaneously emulsifies in water, later even solubilizes.

3. Ready-to-spray solutions

6-amino-o-toluic acid 2.0 g

Acetone 97.9 g

Tensiofix AS (surfactant) 0.1 g

(Tensiofix AS is a mixture consisting of non-ionogenic alkylphenol derivatives, polyethylene oxide alkylphenol condensation product and anionic dodecylbenzenesulfonate; the mixture also contains unspecified small amounts of n-butanol and carbon tetrachloride). The formulation is normally diluted immediately before application and a concentration of active ingredient of 0.1-0.2% (percent by weight) is obtained, the dilution being carried out with water and Tween 20.

The following examples show the particular advantage of the plant growth-regulating agents according to the invention. These advantages are a pre-emergence and post-emergence plant growth regulating effect, the 5 agents can be used in numerous plants. In order to underline the plant growth-regulating and herbicidal activity of the compositions according to the invention, results of experiments in greenhouses are described in the examples below.

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example 1

Several concentrations of 6-amino-o-toluic acid are sprayed onto the plant in such a way that a complete spray coating is obtained. The spray solution contains 1.0; 0.5 15 or 0.25% (percent by weight) of 6-amino-o-toluic acid, 0.1% Tensiofix AS (see explanation above), 48.9%, 49.4% or 49.65% acetone and 50 % Water. Three weeks after the treatment, the plants are assessed for the herbicidal activity of the composition. The results are summarized in Table I below.

Table 1

Test plants dosage dosage dosage

(kg / hectare) (kg / hectare) (kg / hectare)

2.5 * 5 * 10 *

Sorghum halepense 80 90 100

Rumex obtusifolius 80 100 100

Chrysanthemum segetum 100 100 100

Panicum miliaceum 90 100 80

('■' percent necrosis on the leaf surfaces)

Example 2

To show the growth retarding effect in percent based on untreated plants, wheat, barley and blue grass are mixed with a solution containing 0.4% 6-amino-o-toluic acid, 49.5% acetone, 0.1% Tensiofix AS and Contains 50% water. This concentration of 6-amino-o-toluic acid corresponds to an amount of approximately 4 kg per hectare. The results are summarized in Table II below.

Table II

Test plants percent growth retardation based on untreated controls

Wheat (triticum aestivum) 25 Barley (Hordeum distichon) 40 Blue grass (Poa pratensis) 75

35 Example 3

The growth-retarding effect of 6-amino-o-tolu-ylic acid compared to that of known plant growth regulators, in particular 2-chloroethyl-trimethylammonium chloride (CCC), is tested on wheat (Triticum aestivum) and 40 barley (Hordeum distichon). Solutions containing 2% active substance are made by dissolving the active substance in acetone-water mixtures. 0.2% (weight percent) "Tween" 20 is added to these solutions as a surface active ingredient. These solutions are used to treat the 45 plants in the greenhouse at an average humidity of 70%, an average night temperature of 18 ° and a daytime temperature of 22-26 °. The plants are treated twice at one of two growth stages, either the three-leaf stage or the six-leaf stage, and the average length of the plants (6 in each group) is determined in each case 3 weeks after the drug application. The results are summarized in Table III below.

Table III

Test plants

Average wax length in cm - CCC

Stage is 1000 ppm

6-amino-o-toluic acid 1000 ppm 500 ppm

250 ppm

Triticum aestivum 3 leaves 15.9 9.9

Triticum aestivum 6 sheets 24.0 19.2

Hordeum ditichon 3 sheets 19.8 16.0

Hordeum ditichon 6 sheets 33.4 26.5

5.6

16.2 9.2

14.3

7.2 23.5 9.8 25.3

12.1 25.8

18.7

29.8

The table shows that at 1,000 ppm 6-amino-o-toluic acid is superior to 2-chloroethyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride. This applies to both plant types and for both growth stages.

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Example 4

The growth retarding effect of 6-amino-o-toluic acid is tested on four types of grass, which are given in Table 4 below. The well-known growth regulator “SUSTAR” (3- [trifluoros methylsulfonamide] -p-acetotoluide) is included as a reference substance. Solutions containing the active ingredient are prepared in the same manner as described in Example 3, but only 0.1%

"Tween" 20 added. The plants are in the greenhouse

Poa pratensis 0 44

Lolium perenne 0 29

Agrostis tenuis 0 71

F-estuca 0 50

The table shows that 6-amino-o-toluic acid at a concentration of 1 kg per hectare is superior to the well-known growth regulator «SUSSTAR» at a concentration of 2 kg per hectare with regard to all four plant species tested.

Example 5 35

The parthenocarpic activity of 6-amino-o-toluic acid is tested in comparison with the known gibberilinic acid (GA3) on the tomato plant Lycopersikum esculentum "Tiny Tim" under the same greenhouse conditions as described in Examples 3 and 4. The solutions used in 40 contain 2% active substance in an acetone / water mixture and an additional 0.2% «Tween» 20.

As soon as the tomato plants show flowers and green fruits, 10 flower buds per plant are exposed and 2 drops of active ingredient solution are applied to each bud using a 45 micropipette. When the fruits started ripening 59 days later, they are counted, opened and put on the. Checked for the presence of seeds. The results are summarized in Table V below.

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Table V

Number of fully developed fruits GA3 (ppm a.i.®) 6-amino-o-toluic acid (pmm a.i. *)

50 10 1000 100 10 1 0

0 0 8 9 7 10 0

(:; a.i. = active ingredient)

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The table shows that only those plants produce fruits which have been treated with 6-amino-o-toluic acid. The table also shows that all these fruits showed parthenocarpy (without seeds).

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Example 6

“Tiny Tim” tomatoes are sprayed with a complete spray coating of a solution of 100 ppm 6-amino-o-tolu-

treated with an average relative humidity of 70%, an average night temperature of 18 ° and a daytime temperature of 22-26 °. The various treatments are carried out as soon as the plants are 4 cm high. Three weeks later, the heights of the plants are determined again and the average height of 6 plants is noted in each case. Table IV below shows these results, together with the percentage reduction in growth in relation to untreated plants.

0.25 5 27 13 11

28

80

80

80

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76

57

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75

75

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Provide ylic acid as soon as half of the first fruit curtain has turned red. The ripe fruit is removed over the next 19 days. After 19 days, 27.2% of all fruits in the treated plants were fully ripe, while this was only the case for 22.9% of the control plants. Since the ripening of the fruit goes hand in hand with the ethylene production of the plant, it can logically be assumed that all other effects based on the ethylene production also occur, i.e. H. the stimulation of the latex flow, fruit fall, leaf fall, especially in cotton and in plants that have a stem or stem.

Example 7

The post-emergence herbicidal action of 6-amino-o-toluic acid can be achieved by spraying Digitaria sanguinalis in the 3-leaf stage and Rumex optusifolius in the 2-leaf stage with a spray mixture which contains 3 kg of active ingredient (per hectare) in a volume of 1000 lt per hectare. contains. The plants are examined 3 weeks after the treatment and it is found that 70 or 100% killing of these plants has occurred.

The 6-amino-o-toluic acid can be sold in different sizes in packs or containers which are suitable for agrochemical purposes. These packages or containers can be made of paper, plastic, glass or metal. The 6-amino-o-toluic acid contained in these packages or containers can be used to regulate the growth of plants or as a weed control.

In a preferred embodiment, the agents for regulating plant growth or for weed control contain an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid together with at least one inert carrier material whose molecular weight is 200 or more.

An experiment has been described in the literature to show that 6-amino-o-toluic acid has some plant growth regulating effect. In this reference, however, it is reported that 6-amino-o-toluic acid shows no plant growth-regulating effect. This contradicts the information given above.

Table IV

Test plant

Length of plants in cm untreated «Sustar»

6-Amino-o-toluic acid kg active ingredient / hectare

0

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0.5

Poa pratensis

25th

14

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5

5

Lolium perenne

28

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26

21st

26

Agrostis tenuis

21st

6

7

5

9

Festuca rubra

20th

10th

16

5

5

Growth reduction in% based on untreated controls

Claims (21)

619 838 2nd PATENT CLAIMS 1. Means for regulating plant growth and for weed killing, characterized in that it contains an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid and inert carrier material. 2. Composition according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains at least one inert carrier material with a molecular weight of 200 or more. 3. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in concentrate form, characterized in that it contains 10-65% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 4. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a ready-to-spray solution, characterized in that it contains 0.0001-15% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 5. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a water-soluble powder, characterized in that it contains 10-90% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 6. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a sprayable powder, characterized in that it contains 35-65% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 7. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a powder or granules, characterized in that it contains 2-10% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 8. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of a homogeneous, pourable preparation which is dispersible in water to ready-to-use spray liquors, characterized in that it contains 10-40% - (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 9. Composition according to claim 1 or 2 in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, characterized in that it contains 5-50% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 10. Composition according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that it contains, in addition to the inert carrier material, further plant growth-regulating, bactericidal, herbicidal or fungicidal compositions. 11. A process for the preparation of an agent according to claim 1 for regulating plant growth or for weed killing, characterized in that an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid is mixed with inert, solid or liquid auxiliaries, modifiers, diluents or conditioning agents. 12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one inert carrier material has a molecular weight of 200 or more. 13. Use of an agent according to claim 1 for regulating the growth of intact plants or for exterminating weeds, characterized in that the intact plants, the growth of which is to be regulated, or the weed which is to be killed, with an effective amount of 6-amino-o-toluic acid treated. 14. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a ready-to-spray solution which contains 0.0001-15% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 15. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a spray-ready solution which contains 0.01-10% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 16. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a ready-to-spray, which contains 0.1-5% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-to-luyl acid. 17. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a spray-ready solution which contains 0.1-2% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 18. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a spray-ready solution which contains 0.1-1% (weight percent) 6-aminio-o-toluic acid. 19. Use according to claim 13, characterized in that the intact plants or weeds are treated with a spray-ready solution which contains 0.1-0.5% (weight percent) 6-amino-o-toluic acid. 20. Use according to one of claims 13-19, characterized in that the ready-to-spray formulation is in the form of a solution, suspension or emulsion. 21. Use according to one of claims 13-19, characterized in that the ready-to-spray formulation is in the form of a dusting agent, granules or micro-granules.