JP6018874B2 - Plant growth regulator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant growth regulator.

  In the agricultural field, controlling plant growth is an important technique for improving productivity. At present, various types of plant growth regulators aimed at suppressing plant growth have been put into practical use, contributing to the improvement of crop yield and product quality.

  However, plant growth regulators that promote root development have a small number, are not sufficiently effective, and sometimes have undesirable effects. For example, auxin compounds that are widely used as rooting agents at present, depending on the type and state of the plant, depending on the concentration applied, uneven growth of leaves, torsion and cracking of stems, induction of root nodules, and even death Such an undesired effect may be exerted, so that there are limitations on the method of use, amount of use, etc., and the effect of promoting root development was not satisfactory.

  In addition, plant seeds are problematic because germination due to the influence of weather conditions after sowing leads to a decrease in yield, but there are few plant growth regulators that improve germination irregularity, The effect was not sufficient.

  By the way, although phenyllactic acid is known to have a plant rooting promoting action (Non-patent Document 1), since its action is weak, it has not been put into practical use as a plant growth regulator alone. On the other hand, it has been reported that when tryptophan is mixed with phenyl lactic acid, a synergistic action is observed, and when a microorganism culture solution containing phenyl lactic acid or a partially purified product thereof is mixed with tryptophan, a plant growth regulating action is observed (patent) Document 1) has been desired to further enhance the effect.

  In addition, ethylene is known to have a rooting promoting action and a germination promoting action depending on the kind of plant and its state (Non-patent Document 2), but such an effect is generally exerted on the precursor methionine. Is not allowed. In particular, when methionine is irrigated with soil at a high concentration, root growth may be suppressed, and it has not been put into practical use as a plant growth regulator.

International Publication No. 2009/104405 Pamphlet

Mikami et al. 1970. Several synthetic hydroxy-acids as plantgrowth regulators. Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 34: 977-979. Phatak et al. 1981. Flowering and adventitious root growth of tomato cultivars as influenced by ethephon. Hort. Science 16: 181-182.

  The subject of this invention is providing the plant growth regulator excellent in the effect which accelerates | stimulates root development.

  As a result of diligent research to solve such problems, the present inventors have surprisingly enhanced the rooting promoting effect of plants by using phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof in combination. As a result, the present invention has been completed.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a plant growth regulator comprising a combination of phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof.

  The present invention also provides a plant growth adjustment method characterized by applying phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof to a plant.

  The plant growth regulator of the present invention has a high rooting promoting activity of plants and has extremely weak side effects such as an action of promoting the upward growth of leaves. Therefore, it is used throughout the growth period as a plant growth regulator, particularly as a rooting promoter. it can. It is particularly useful as a rooting promoter during seedling and transplanting. It is also useful as a germination promoter for plants. Further, it has high rooting promoting activity of plants, and is useful as an agrochemical, a fertilizer additive, and a fertilizer.

  The active ingredient of the plant growth regulator of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “plant growth regulator”) is phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof.

Among the plant growth regulators used in the present invention, methionine may be D-form, L-form, or a mixture of both, but L-form is preferred.
The methionine may be a commercially available product or may be produced by organic synthesis or microbial fermentation. In addition, a composition containing methionine or a salt thereof may be used, for example, a microbial fermentation broth containing methionine, a protein / peptide (so-called protein state) containing methionine as a constituent, or a degradation product thereof, Among these, methionine or a salt thereof, or a culture solution containing methionine or a salt thereof is particularly preferable instead of a protein form.

  The salt of methionine is not particularly limited, but alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium; ammonia; organic acid salts such as citric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid; Examples thereof include mineral acid salts such as phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.

  As a method for producing methionine, for example, a DL isomer is industrially synthesized by a known method and further optically resolved to obtain a D isomer and an L isomer [Oki et al. (Ed.). "Chemical Dictionary" Tokyo Chemical Doujin]. L-forms can also be obtained by fermentation methods using microorganisms, microorganism conversion methods, and enzyme methods using microorganism-derived enzymes [Ishio Isamu 1986. Methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine fermentation. Aida et al. "Amino acid fermentation" pp. 343-360. Academic Publishing Center].

Among the plant growth regulators used in the present invention, phenyllactic acid (3-phenyllactic acid) may be D-form, L-form or a mixture of both, but D-form is preferred.
The phenyl lactic acid may be a commercially available product or may be produced by organic synthesis or microbial fermentation.
Further, a composition containing phenyl lactic acid or a salt thereof as a plant growth regulator may be used. For example, corn steep liquor, vinegar contains phenyl lactic acid, these may be used as they are, and concentrated, diluted or diluted. It may be used after being suspended. At this time, it is desirable to inoculate lactic acid bacteria having a high ability to produce phenyl lactic acid at the time of producing corn steep liquor.

  The salt of phenyl lactic acid is not particularly limited, but alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium; alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium; ammonia; organic such as citric acid, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid and acetic acid Acid salts; mineral acid salts such as phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.

  Phenyllactic acid can be obtained by pyrolyzing a diazonium salt obtained by diazotizing phenylalanine in an acidic aqueous solution [Kimura and Tamura 1973. Isolation of L-β-phenyllactic acid and tyrosol as plant growth regulators from Gloeosporium laeticolor Agricultural and Biological Chemistry 37: 2925]. It can also be obtained by the so-called van Slyke method by dissolving phenylalanine in sulfuric acid and adding sodium nitrite [Koga et al. 1971. Examinations on the neighboring aryl group participation in nitrous acid deaminations of L-phenylalanine and its p-nitro and p-methoxy derivatives. Tetrahedron Lett. 25: 2287-2290.].

  In addition, since phenyllactic acid can be obtained by culturing a phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism in a commonly used medium, a culture solution of the phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism can also be used. At this time, a commonly used medium (MRS medium, GYP medium or the like) can be used as the medium, and a corn extract or okara extract can also be used. In addition, if the addition amount of phenylalanine (the Chemical Society of Japan (ed.) 1997. “Cell function and metabolism map (I)” Tokyo Kagaku Dojin) is added to the medium, the amount of phenyllactic acid obtained increases. It can be made.

  Examples of the microorganism include lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Enterococcus, and preferably Lactobacillus. Specifically, as Lactobacillus genus bacteria, for example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum [Valerio et al. 2004. Production of phenyllactic acid by lactic acid bacteria: an approach to the selection of strains contributing to food quality and preservation.FEMS Microbiol Lett. 233: 289-295.], Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis as the genus Lactococcus, and Enterococcus faecalis [JP-A 2000-300284] as the genus Enterococcus, among which Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum Lactobacillus paracasei, in particular, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (FERM P-13245) strain, Lactobacillus plantarum (FERM P-18930) strain, Lactobacillus plantarum (FERM P-19645) strain, and Lactobacillus paracasei (NITE BP-1109) strain, Of these, the former 3 shares are the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Patent Biological Deposit Center (Address: 1-1-1 Higashi Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture) In the center No. 6), the latter one was deposited at the Patent Microorganism Deposit Center NPMD, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation.

Corn steep liquor is one of the by-products in the production of corn starch, and is the product of lactic acid fermentation in the manufacturing process (Yasuzo Miwa 1979. By-product of corn processing industry. “Mixed feed course (second volume)” 265 -269. Chikusan Publishing Co., Ltd.) has already disclosed that phenyllactic acid is contained [Patent Document 1], and this can also be used.
Moreover, it is known that phenyllactic acid is contained in vinegar, and vinegar can be utilized.

In addition, phenyllactic acid can be partially purified or purified and isolated from the culture solution containing phenyllactic acid by ion exchange resin, porous synthetic adsorbent, solvent extraction, or the like.
For example, a partially purified corn steep liquor is prepared by adjusting the pH of a corn steep liquor aqueous solution to a neutral region (pH 5 to 8) and then adsorbing it on a strongly basic ion exchange resin or weakly basic ion exchange resin. It can be obtained by elution with an aqueous alcohol solution. At this time, it is preferable to replace the ion exchange resin before adsorption with a formic acid type or an acetic acid type.
The acid concentration of the solution is preferably 0.01 to 4N, and more preferably 1 to 3N. Examples of the acid include formic acid, acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and the like.
The alcohol concentration of the solution is preferably 0 to 80% by volume, more preferably 10 to 30% by volume. Examples of the alcohol include methanol, ethanol, butanol, isopropanol and the like.
For example, the partially purified corn steep liquor is prepared by adjusting the pH of the aqueous corn steep liquor to the acidic range (pH 1 to 4), and then a polystyrene synthetic adsorbent, styrene-divinylbenzene adsorbent or methacrylic synthetic adsorbent. And then eluted with an aqueous alcohol solution or an aqueous ketone solution.
The alcohol or ketone concentration of the solution is preferably 0 to 99% by volume, more preferably 10 to 30% by volume. Examples of the alcohol include methanol, ethanol, butanol, isopropanol and the like. Examples of the ketone include acetone.

In addition, when methionine or its salt is contained in the culture solution of the phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism, the culture solution can be used as it is as the plant growth regulator of the present invention. However, when the content of methionine or a salt thereof is low in the culture solution, methionine or a salt thereof can be further added.
In addition, methionine can be added to the medium in advance when cultivating a phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism. The addition concentration is not particularly limited as long as it does not inhibit the growth of the phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism, but is preferably 0.1% by weight or more, and particularly preferably 1 to 10% by weight.

The content ratio of phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof in the plant growth regulator of the present invention is 1: 700 to 99 in terms of mass ratio from the viewpoint of plant growth regulation effect and enhancement effect by the combined use of these two components. Is preferably 1: 600, more preferably 1: 600 to 99: 1, still more preferably 1: 500 to 99: 1, still more preferably 1: 200 to 9: 1, and particularly preferably 1:50 to 9: 1. When the solution is used, it is preferable that phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof is contained in an amount of 0.1 ppm or more, and methionine or a salt thereof is preferably contained in an amount of 1 ppm or more.
In addition, since phenyllactic acid and tryptophan also exhibit a cooperative action [Patent Document 1], it is more preferable to mix tryptophan.

  The form of the plant growth regulator of the present invention may be a combination of phenyl lactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof, and a preparation (composition) containing phenyl lactic acid or a salt thereof, and methionine or a salt thereof. It may be a combination of a preparation (composition) containing it, or may be a single preparation (composition) containing phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof.

The plant growth regulator of the present invention can be produced by mixing, stirring, etc. the above plant growth regulator and other optional components according to a conventional method.
The plant growth regulator of the present invention may be a mixture of the above-mentioned plant growth regulators, but may be formulated with a carrier used in usual plant growth regulators such as wettable powder, emulsion, granule, powder and the like. .
There is no restriction | limiting also in the shape of a formulation, It can shape | mold into all formulation forms, such as a powder agent, a granule, a granule, a wettable powder, a flowable agent, an emulsion, and a paste.

  For example, as a solid carrier, mineral powder (kaolin, bentonite, clay, montmorillonite, talc, diatomaceous earth, mica, vermiculite, gypsum, calcium carbonate, phosphorus lime, etc.), vegetable powder (soy flour, wheat flour, wood flour, tobacco) Powder, starch, crystalline cellulose, etc.), polymer compounds (petroleum resin, polyvinyl alcohol resin, polyvinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl chloride, ketone resin, etc.), alumina, waxes, etc. can be used. Examples of the liquid carrier include alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, etc.), aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, benzene, xylene, etc.), chlorinated hydrocarbons (chloroform, Carbon tetrachloride, monochlorobenzene, etc.), ethers (dioxane, tetrahydrofuran, etc.), ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexane, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, etc.), acid amides (N, N-dimethylacetamide) Etc.), ether alcohols (ethylene glycol ethyl ether, etc.), water, etc. can be used.

  As the surfactant used for the purpose of emulsification, dispersion, diffusion, etc., any of nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric can be used. Examples of surfactants that can be used in the present invention include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene Sorbitol fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, oxyethylene polymer, oxypropylene polymer, polyoxyethylene alkyl phosphate ester, fatty acid salt, alkyl sulfate ester salt, alkyl sulfonate, alkyl aryl sulfonate, alkyl phosphate, alkyl phosphorus Acid ester salts, polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfates, quaternary ammonium salts, oxyalkylamines, lecithin, saponins, and the like. Moreover, gelatin, casein, sodium alginate, starch, agar, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. can be used as an adjuvant as needed.

  When the plant growth regulator of the present invention is used as an aqueous solution or suspension, the pH (25 ° C.) is preferably 2 to 8. Buffers for adjusting the pH include acetic acid, citric acid, and fumaric acid. , Organic acid salts such as malic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid and tartaric acid, inorganic salts such as phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, ammonia or aqueous ammonia, etc. Two or more species may be used in combination, and may be appropriately combined with other pH adjusters.

The plant growth regulator of the present invention has an action of increasing the amount of roots, an action of promoting overall growth, and the like, and is particularly preferably used as a rooting promoter.
Moreover, since the plant growth regulator of the present invention contains an amino acid, it can be used as a fertilizer.

When the plant growth regulator of the present invention is applied to plants, it may be used directly as it is, or may be used after diluting or suspending to a predetermined concentration with water.
Alternatively, phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof may be prepared as separate preparations and used in combination with plants.

  When applied to a plant, it can be used as a soil treatment agent, a foliar treatment agent, a seed treatment agent before sowing, a treatment agent for a plant before transplantation, a treatment agent for a plant at the time of transplantation, or the like. In hydroponics, it may be used by mixing with a hydroponic solution, and in tissue culture, it may be suspended or dissolved in a medium.

  The concentration used when the plant growth regulator of the present invention is used for spraying is preferably 0.01 to 100,000 ppm, more preferably 1 to 10,000 ppm, particularly preferably as the total concentration of phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof. Can be in the range of 5-1000 ppm. In particular, when used for seedlings in the growing season, it is desirable to spray 50 to 200 mL of the diluted solution having the above concentration per 1 L of the culture soil. In these cases, a spreading agent may be used, and the type and amount of the spreading agent to be used are not particularly limited.

  The amount used when directly applied to soil, including when mixed with fertilizer, is preferably 100 to 10,000 g, particularly 500 to 5000 g per hectare, as the total concentration of phenyllactic acid or its salt and methionine or its salt. . In particular, when used for seedlings at the seedling raising stage, it is desirable to use 0.001 to 10 g per liter of culture soil. In this case, it may be preliminarily mixed in the culture soil before sowing or may be sprayed during the seedling raising period.

  When used for seed treatment before sowing, phenyl on a liquid carrier such as water, alcohols (methanol, ethanol, etc.), ketones (acetone, etc.), ethers (diethyl ether, etc.), esters (ethyl acetate, etc.) Diluted or suspended so that the total concentration of lactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof is 0.01 to 100000 ppm and sprayed on the dried seed, or the dried seed is immersed in a diluent and absorbed by the seed. . Although it does not restrict | limit especially as immersion time, 1 second-30 minutes are preferable. In addition, the liquid seed may be evaporated from the treated seeds by air drying, vacuum drying, heat drying, vacuum drying, or the like. Moreover, what was formulated using the solid support | carrier of mineral substance powders, such as clay, can also be used by making it adhere to the seed surface. Moreover, it can also mix | blend with the seed coating agent and seed coating film which are used normally, and can also coat | cover a seed.

  When used at the time of tissue culture or cell culture, it is preferable to use phenyl lactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or the like as a medium concentration in a commonly used medium for plant tissue culture (MS medium, white medium, Gamborg B5 medium, etc.). The total salt concentration can be used by dissolving or suspending in the range of 0.01 to 10000 ppm, particularly preferably 0.1 to 1000 ppm. In this case, as usual, saccharides (sucrose, glucose, etc.) as a carbon source, cytokinins (benzyladenine, kinetin, etc.), auxins (indole acetic acid, naphthalene acetic acid, etc.), gibberellins (GA3) as various plant hormones , GA4, etc.), abscisic acid and the like can be added as appropriate.

  When directly absorbing the plant before transplantation, use the root or whole of the plant immersed in a solution diluted or suspended to 0.1 to 1000 ppm as the total concentration of phenyllactic acid or its salt and methionine or its salt. can do. Moreover, if it is a cutting head, cutting bud, cutting, etc., a base part or the whole can be immersed and used. In this case, the immersion time is preferably 1 second to 1 week, particularly 1 minute to 3 days. Moreover, what was formulated using the solid support | carrier of the mineral substance powder may be made to adhere to a root part, and in the case of cuttings, cuttings, cuttings, cuttings, etc., you may make it adhere to a stem base.

  As the administration time of the plant growth regulator of the present invention, it can be used at any time during the growth period, but particularly when applied as a rooting promoter, before sowing, at the time of sowing, at the time of seedling growth, transplanting It is particularly effective before and after work involving cultivated rooting, such as when root growth is hindered or a root is damaged by weather factors.

  If the plant growth regulator of the present invention is applied to a plant as a rooting promoter, the amount of roots and root density increase through an increase in the number of roots such as the number of lateral roots and the number of adventitious roots. , Healthy seedling growth, growth promotion, improvement of water absorption, improvement of fertilizer absorption, improvement of fertilizer component utilization rate, retention of green color, improvement of photosynthetic ability, improvement of water stress tolerance, prevention of lodging, increase of yield, etc. It is done.

  The plant to which the plant growth regulator of the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. For example, eggplants such as tomatoes, peppers, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, melons such as watermelons, celery, parsley Fresh vegetables such as lettuce, spicy vegetables, leeks such as leek, onion, garlic, beans such as soybeans, peanuts, green beans, peas, azuki bean, other fruit vegetables such as strawberries, radish, turnip, carrots, burdock etc. Roots, taros, cassava, potatoes, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc., asparagus, spinach, honeybees, etc., Eustoma, stock, carnation, chrysanthemum, rice, wheat, barley, oats, corn Oil such as cereals such as bentgrass, turf such as corn borer, rapeseed, sunflower Sugar crops such as sugarcane and sugar beet, fiber crops such as cotton and rush, feed crops such as clover, sorghum and dent corn, deciduous fruit trees such as apples, pears, grapes and peaches, citrus Examples include citrus fruits such as lemon and grapefruit, and woody materials such as satsuki, azalea and cedar.

  Among these, when applied as a rooting promoter, tomato, pepper, capsicum, eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, melon, watermelon, celery, parsley, lettuce, leek, onion, asparagus, eustoma, stock, rice, bentgrass It is particularly effective for plants that are transplanted during cultivation, such as corn borer and sugar beet, and plants that grow by rooting from cuts and cuttings such as chrysanthemum, carnation, satsuki, azalea, and grape. .

  Further, for the purpose of improving the effect of the present invention, it can be used in combination with other plant growth regulators, and in some cases, a synergistic effect can be expected. For example, when applied as a rooting promoter, when raising seedlings under conditions that are very easy to grow, such as high planting density, high humidity, lack of sunlight, etc. You may use together with anti- gibberellins (paclobutrazol, uniconazole P, ansimidol, etc.), growth inhibitors (daminozide, etc.), ethylene generators (ethephon etc.) which have a strong stem elongation inhibitory action. Further, at the time of cuttings, cuttings, cuttings, and tissue culture, auxin compounds (such as indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, naphthylacetamide, naphthalene acetic acid, etc.) may be used in combination for the purpose of enhancing the rooting promoting effect. Moreover, you may use together with the gibberellin agent which has a germination promotion effect | action at the time of the seed treatment before sowing. These are merely examples, and other plant growth regulators that can be used in combination with the plant growth regulator of the present invention are not limited thereto.

  In addition, the plant growth regulator of the present invention can be mixed or used in combination with various insecticides, fungicides, microbial pesticides, fertilizers and the like. In particular, when applied as a rooting promoter, combined use with hydroxyisoxazole, metasulfocarb, metalaxyl and the like, which have been reported to have a root promoting effect in addition to the bactericidal action, is effective. In addition, it is particularly effective to mix with an insecticide and fungicide used during the seedling raising period. Further, when used in combination with a fertilizer, the combined use with a seedling fertilizer for the purpose of raising healthy seedlings and the use with a fertilizer applied immediately before transplanting for the purpose of promoting survival are particularly effective. In addition, mixing with a slow-acting fertilizer for the purpose of maintaining the efficacy of the plant growth regulator of the present invention for a long period of time and improving the fertilizer component utilization rate is particularly effective.

  EXAMPLES Next, although an Example is shown and this invention is demonstrated further in detail, this invention is not limited to a following example.

Production Example 1
<Production method by cultivation of lactic acid bacteria using rice bran, rapeseed oil cake, okara extract>
Autoclave sterilization with 4% aqueous solution containing 2% rice bran, 2% rapeseed oil cake (Nisshin Oillio Group Co., Ltd.) and 3% dried okara (Sato Snow Food Co., Ltd.) at 121 ° C for 15 minutes Then, Lactobacillus paracasei NITE BP-1109 strain was inoculated and cultured at 37 ° C. for 7 days.
The culture solution was adjusted to pH 3.0 using hydrochloric acid and then centrifuged at 8,000 G to obtain a supernatant. Separately, styrene-divinylbenzene synthetic adsorption resin Diaion (registered trademark) HP-20 was washed with methanol, packed into a column (inner diameter 45 mm x length 550 mm), and adjusted by passing pH 3.0 acetic acid water through. did. Phenyllactic acid was adsorbed by flowing the above culture supernatant through this column. The column was washed with 1 L of pH 3.0 acetic acid water, and phenyllactic acid was eluted with 2 L of 20% isopropanol. The eluate was concentrated to 50 mL with an evaporator to obtain a partially purified lactic acid bacteria culture solution.
In order to confirm the phenyllactic acid concentration in this partially purified product, a part thereof was adjusted to pH 8.0 using an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, extracted three times with ethyl acetate, and the ethyl acetate layer was discarded. The remaining aqueous phase was adjusted to pH 2.5 with hydrochloric acid and extracted three times with ethyl acetate. The obtained ethyl acetate layer was dehydrated using anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and then the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in a small amount of 10% methanol, passed through a SepPak C18 cartridge (manufactured by Waters) prepared by passing 10% methanol, and further eluted with 20 mL of 10% methanol. The eluate was dried under reduced pressure.

  This sample was purified by HPLC (column, YMC ODS-A inner diameter 10 mm × length 250 mm (manufactured by YMC); column temperature, room temperature; mobile phase, 60% methanol containing 1% acetic acid; flow rate, 3 mL / min), phenyl Lactic acid equivalent fractions (retention time 7-9 minutes) were collected. Further, the fraction collected was HPLC (column, Polar RP inner diameter 4.6 mm × length 250 mm (manufactured by Phenomenex)); column temperature, 40 ° C .; mobile phase, 40% methanol containing 1% acetic acid; flow rate, 0.8 mL / Min). A peak was observed at 10.48 minutes, which almost coincided with the reagent phenyllactic acid (Sigma Aldrich Japan). When the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of this peak was measured, an absorption maximum was observed at 259 nm, which was consistent with the reagent phenyllactic acid. When the peak area measured at 260 nm was compared with a calibration curve created with the reagent phenyllactic acid, the phenyllactic acid concentration in the partially purified product was calculated to be 6.62 mg / L.

Production Example 2
<Production method by lactic acid bacteria culture>
Lactobacillus plantarum FERM P-19645 strain medium (glucose 22 g, SK yeast extract (Nippon Paper Chemical Co., Ltd.) 10 g, polypeptone N (Nippon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) 10 g, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 0.2 g, A solution obtained by adding 0 g, 1 g, 3 g, 10 g, or 30 g of DL methionine to 0.01 g of ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and 0.01 g of manganese sulfate heptahydrate is dissolved in 1 L of distilled water, 121 ° C., 15 Sterilized by minute autoclave) and inoculated at 37 ° C. for 1 day.
The number of bacteria after the culture is shown in Table 1. When this strain was cultured, it was clear that there was no problem in growth even when the methionine concentration in the medium was 3% by weight.

Example 1
<Rooting promoting effect of phenyl lactic acid / methionine mixture by azuki bean dipping treatment>
An aqueous solution in which the combined concentration of D-phenyllactic acid (Sigma Aldrich Japan) and L-methionine (Wako Pure Chemical Industries) was adjusted to 150 ppm was adjusted to pH 7 using hydrochloric acid, and azuki bean root promotion assay (Itagaki et al 2003. Biological activities and structure-activity relationship of substitution compounds of N- [2- (3-indolyl) ethyl] succinamic acid and N- [2- (1-naphthyl) ethyl] succinamic acid, derived from a new category of Root-promoting substance, N- (phenethyl) succinamic acid analogs. Plant Soil 255: 67-75.). The azuki bean slice was immersed in the test solution for 72 hours, and the number of adventitious roots generated after 7 days was counted. The number of repetitions was 5.
The test was performed twice for each concentration, and the results are shown in Table 1.
Although D-phenyllactic acid alone has a slight rooting promoting effect, mixing with L-methionine so that D-phenyllactic acid: L-methionine = 9: 1 to 1: 9 greatly enhances the rooting promoting action. It is clear from Table 2.

Example 2
<Rooting promoting effect of partially purified lactic acid bacteria culture solution / methionine mixture by azuki bean dipping treatment>
The partially purified lactic acid bacteria culture solution obtained in Production Example 1 and the purified product / L-methionine mixture were subjected to azuki bean rooting assay in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 3. Although the root refinement promoting action was recognized even in the partially purified product concentrate itself, it was clear that the effect of the lactic acid bacteria culture solution partially purified product and L-methionine mixture was higher.

Claims (12)

  A plant growth regulator comprising a combination of phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof.   The plant growth regulator according to claim 1, which is a combination of a preparation containing phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and a preparation containing methionine or a salt thereof.   The plant growth regulator according to claim 1, which is a preparation containing phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof.   The plant growth regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mass ratio of phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof to methionine or a salt thereof is 1: 600 to 99: 1.   The plant growth regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a culture solution of a phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism is used as phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof.   The plant growth regulator according to claim 5, wherein the phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism is a lactic acid bacterium.   The plant growth regulator according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the culture solution of the phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism is corn steep liquor.   The plant growth regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is a plant root promoter.   The plant growth regulator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which is a plant germination promoter. Production of plant growth adjustment agent according to any one of claims 1,3～9 which comprises culturing in a medium containing phenyl lactic acid producing microorganism methionine or a salt 0.1 wt% or more Way .   A plant growth control method comprising applying phenyllactic acid or a salt thereof and methionine or a salt thereof to a plant.   A plant growth adjustment method comprising applying a culture solution of a phenyllactic acid-producing microorganism and methionine or a salt thereof to a plant.