MXPA97000139A - Growth retardants of the plant in combination with biosynthesis inhibitors or etil action - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for improving a plant growth factor. The compositions and methods contain combinations of plant growth regulators, such as retarders and inhibitors of biosynthesis growth or ethylene action. Ethylene inhibitors comprise substituted oxime-ether having the general formula: (I) and (II), wherein R 1 and R 2 independently of each other are alkyl of carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and R 3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 atom of carbon to 6 carbon atoms. Specific inhibitors of biosynthesis or ethylene action include: [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy ester} -acetic-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} Acid, acetic-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl, ((methoxy) -2-oxoethyl ester of ((cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy} - ester-acetic acid-2 - [(isopropyloxy) -2- oxiethyl, aminooxyacetic acid, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, rhizobitoxine, silver ions (eg, silver thiosulfate), and 2,5-norbornadiene.The plant growth retardants include: compounds with quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulfonium residues, such as such as mepiquat chloride and chloromequat chloride, compounds containing a nitrogen-containing heterocycle such as paclobutrazol, uniconazole and ancymidol, compounds such as acylcyanohexandiones (e.g., trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-CA) and daminozide. of low regime of methods and composition

Description

"RETARDANTS OF GROWTH OF THE PLANT IN COMBINATION WITH INHIBITORS OF BIOSYNTHESIS OR ACTION OF ETHYLENE This application claims the benefit of the Provisional North American Application Number 06/009298 filed on December 21, 1995.

NOTICE OF COPENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS The following patent applications are co-pending with the United States Patent and Trademark Office with this application: 1. Low-Level Application of Biosynthetic Inhibitors or Ethylene Action, US Patent Application Serial Number, filed on the same date that the present and incorporated herein by reference; 2. Encapsulated Plant Growth Regulatory Formulations, North American Patent Application Serial Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 3. Encapsulated Plant Growth Regulatory Formulations and Applications, North American Patent Application Serial Number. filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference. 4. Plant Growth Regulatory Formulations Encapsulated in Combination with Retarders of Plant Growth, North American Patent Application Serial number, presented on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference. 5. Regulators of Plant Growth in Solvents': of Pyrrolidone, US Patent Application Number 10, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 6. Improvement of the Germination Regime of Seeds With Application of Biosynthesis Inhibitors Ethylene, North American Patent Application Number i »15, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by referendum; and .7. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine in combination with a Plant Growth Regulator, Patent Application North American Number, presented in the The same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally related to the field of agriculture and specifically to compositions and use of plant growth regulators. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Farm workers actively seek - • ways to improve the economic performance of crops commercials For example, in cotton crops, workers seek to improve such growth factors as increased capsule solidification, increased floral initiation, decreased floral cut or abscission, abscission or decreased capsule cutting, and root growth improved. The workers also seek to increase the tolerance of the plants to the environmental effort. Formulations containing plant growth regulators (PGRs) have been developed to improve the economic performance of agricultural plants. The 0 retarders and plant growth inhibitors of biosynthesis or ethylene action are of two types of PGRs. Some plant growth retarders have been shown to inhibit the biosynthesis of gibberiline, resulting in the reduction of shoot height in small grains and cotton. This reduction at the height of the outbreak has an intense economic benefit, since it provides less lodging in small grains and reduction of excessive vegetative growth. It also provides more uniform maturation in cotton. Three groups of inhibitors of gibberiline biosynthesis are known. The first group includes compounds with quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulfonium residues. An example of a compound of this group is mepiquat chloride, described in U.S. Patent No. 3,905,798 and incorporated herein by reference. Mepiquat chloride can increase cotton yields, capsule loading, cotton fiber yield and seed yield. Mepiquat chloride is also known to reduce vegetative growth, the height of the plant and the putrefaction or decomposition of the capsule. Mepiquat chloride also induces early uniform maturity if the plants are treated early during their development. Chloromequat chloride is also a representative compound of this group. The second group of plant growth retardants encompasses compounds with a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, such as flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, uniconazole and ancymidol.

The third group encompasses acylcyclohexanediones (such as trinexapac-ethyl and prohexanedione-Ca) and daminozide. It is known that ethylene is involved in plant stress reactions and plant senescence. Ethylene is also involved in abscission or cutting of leaves, flowers and fruits. Therefore, agents that inhibit or regulate the production of ethylene or control its action in plants have been developed in an effort to improve the yield of agricultural crops. Ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors include substituted oxime-ethers as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,744,811, incorporated herein by reference. These compounds are also described in PCT Application WO 95-02211, which is incorporated herein by reference as being soil modification compositions that increase nitrogen uptake by higher plants. Other inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis or action include inoethoxyvinylglycine ("AVG"), aminooxyacetic acid ("AOA"), rhizobitoxin, and methoxyvinyl glycine ("MVG"). Silver ions (e.g., silver thiosulfate) and 2,5-norbornadiene inhibit the action of ethylene.

Regulators of plant growth have also been used to protect crops from the effects of environmental stress. T.J. Gianfagna et al., "Mode of Action and Use of Growth Retardants in Reducing the Effect of Environmental Stress on Horticultural Crops: Karssen CN et al. (Editors) Progress in Plant Growth Regulation, pp. 778-87 (1992). The researchers found that if ethephon is applied at a low rate (0.08 mM), it significantly retards flowering in the peach and reduces side effects.The researchers also found that ethephon increased the yields and resistance of several horticultural plants. PGRs have been developed as a means to improve crop yields, certain obstacles make effective use of PGR prohibitive, for example, many of the compounds exhibit phytotoxicity, and other compounds are difficult to synthesize. to be effective, for example, PCT Application Number WO 93/07747, incorporated herein by reference This report describes an improvement in a plant growth factor by applying aminoethoxyvinylglycine ("AVG"), an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis, to cotton plants. As the AVG treatment regimen increased, so did the improvement (WO 93/07747, Examples 2 to 4). Assuming that a spray volume of 500 liters per hectare was used, the application regimes described in Patent Number WO 93/07747 would be from about 62.5 to 500 grams ai / hectare (ai = active ingredient). The response of the maximum regime occurs at the highest rates. High-speed applications can result in significant waste of material and can result in the discharge of PGRs into the surrounding environment. Also, even though many of these compounds can induce a habit of beneficial growth, they do not provide a consistent improvement in plant growth factors. Other compounds may lose their effectiveness or cause a reduction in performance when applied to species that are under some form of environmental stress. Therefore, an object of the invention is to formulate a PGR that not only improves a plant growth factor, but also reduces toxicity. It is also an object of the present invention to provide in a PGR that has lower application regimes and has limited environmental impact.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A method is provided herein for improving at least one plant growth factor in a plant comprising administering to the plant a first plant growth regulator comprising an inhibitor of biosynthesis or ethylene action and a second plant growth regulator comprising a plant growth retardant. HE . it also provides a composition comprising a plant growth retardant and an ethylene biosynthesis or action inhibitor wherein the composition provides a consistent improvement of a plant growth factor when applied to an agricultural plant. An improvement in a plant growth factor is defined as an agronomic improvement or plant growth such as increased floral initiation (picture) increased flower retention, increased fruit retention, increased frame retention, increased capsule retention, increased root growth, decreased length of internode, increased exercise tolerance, decreased wilting, decreased senescence, darker green pigmentation, increased germination regime, increased tolerance to low temperatures, increased harvest yield. That is, a favorable alteration of the physiology or growth of plants or an increase or decrease in the growth of the plant that leads to an economic and agronomic benefit. The improvement in growth factors resulting from the inhibition of ethylene production is preferred.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The modalities of the invention contain a first plant growth regulator that includes plant growth regulators comprising an inhibitor of synthesis or action of ethylene. A preferred inhibitor comprises a substituted oxy-ether having the formula: wherein R1 and R2 independently of one another are alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and R3 is hydrogen or of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms. Preferably, the substituted oxime-ether comprises: 1) ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy) -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl represented by the structure: 2) ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -aminojoxy) acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl represented by the structure: and 3) ester of. { (cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy-acetic acid- (isopropyloxy) -2-oxyethyl, (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl ester represented by the structure: Other embodiments of the invention include as inhibitors of ethylene biosensors, talc compounds such as [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy acetic acid represented by the structure: and the aminooxyacetic acid represented by the structure: HO H - (Vil) .N-0 Other ethylene synthesis or action inhibitors that can be used to carry out the present invention include aminoethoxyvinylglycine ("AVG"), rhizobitoxin, methoxyvinyl glycine ("MVG"), silver ions (e.g. silver), and 2, 5-norbornadiene. The especially preferred ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor for use in the invention comprises ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl.

The second growth regulator comprises growth retarders such as compounds with quaternary ammonium phosphonium or sulfonium residues. Examples of these compounds include mepiquat chloride and chloromequat chloride. The invention also includes other plant growth retardants such as those compounds that contain a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. Examples of these compounds include flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, uniconazole and ancymidol. The invention may also contain plant growth retarders such as acylcyclohexanediones (e.g., trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-Ca) and daminozide. Of the aforementioned compounds, mepicuat chloride is especially preferred. The method and composition of the present invention are best carried out at low regime applications. The low-regime application is defined as an individual application regimen of less than about 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. An effective number of low-level applications can be made through the growing season. Preferably, the low-regime application is carried out from one to about ten times during the growing season, and more preferably from one to about four times during the growing season. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise individual application regimes ranging from about 100 milligrams to about 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare, which are applied one to four times during a growing season and which vary from about 500 milligrams of the ingredient active per hectare to approximately 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare applied one to four times during a season. increase. Other regimens useful for carrying out the invention include a regimen of less than or equal to about 2 grams of the active ingredient per hectare and up to about 100 milligrams of the active ingredient per hectare that is applied one to four times during a growing season. The particularly preferred individual application regimen is from about 500 milligrams per hectare to about 1.5 grams of the active ingredient per hectare which is applied for one to four times during a growing season. The present invention finds its best results in horticultural and agricultural plants and crops. The invention provides a very consistent improvement of at least one plant growth factor in the following plants: cotton, soybeans, peanuts, pepper, tomatoes, wheat, barley, rice plants, apples, citrus fruits, grapes and corn borer. There is also improvement in peat or turf. Preferred formulations of the low-regime application include those formulations that provide an ethylene inhibitor in an effective amount to obtain a compatible improvement in a plant growth factor, ie, those formulations that provide a statistically significant improvement (v. ., where P = 0.15 or less) when compared to untreated plants where the improvement is obtained more than about 50 percent of the time, preferably more than 60 percent of the time, more preferably more 75 percent of the time and most preferred, more than 90 percent of the time. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the enhancement of the plant growth factor varies from about 10 percent to about 60 percent relative to untreated plants or those plants treated with mepiquat chloride. Tests carried out at 50 grams of the active idient per hectare and larger quantities gave incompatible results.

Accordingly, the present invention provides surprising and unexpected results since they obtain superior results at low regimes. The formulations described in this invention, generally, are applied to the foliage before the buds or buds, flowers or fruits that begin the development of bud or bud early (eg, head box of equalization in the cotton) in one or more applications in sequence. If applications are used in sequence, the applications are preferably synchronized at a distance of approximately 10 to 14 days, when applied by spraying, the active ingredient is usually mixed with water as a carrier solution at a dilution sufficient to cover the area. Typically, the spray volume of the aqueous treatment solution would be about 150 to 500 liters per hectare for harvests capable of plowing and up to about 1500 liters per hectare for fruit trees. Soaking the soil is another method of application that is useful when the invention is practiced. Therefore, the present invention provides a method that improves the economic or agronomic performance of agricultural crops and decreases the amount of material that needs to be used to obtain the improvement in a plant growth factor.

The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

EXPERIMENTS 1. Cotton tests. Field trials with cotton plants were carried out as follows: the cotton plots were placed at approximately four to six rows wide and from 9,144 to 12,192 meters long. In two trials, the two middle rows of four row plots were sprinkled over foliage, buds or buds, flowers and fruit with respective applications and the two outside rows were not treated to provide a buffer row between the parcels. In the remaining trials, all the rows were sprayed on top of the foliage, buds or buds, flowers and fruits but only the two centered rows were harvested. In most of the experiments, each treatment doubled four times and was organized in randomized complete block design. The first treatments were applied when the buds or buds of the flower (ie, "frames") reached the size of a "matching head", that is, when the first frame of a typical cotton plant was about the size of a matching head and when 50 percent of the plants had one or more matching head squares, In general, the formulations except mepiquat chloride were applied at 1, 10, 20, 50 and 100 grams of the active ingredient per hectare . The amount of the formulated material to be applied to each treatment was calculated based on the amount of the area to be treated with each regimen. For example, a treatment applied to a regimen of 1 gram of the active ingredient required four applications of 0.022 gram of active ingredient per hectare when four plots (137.58 square meters) were treated. Therefore, the 0.022 gram of active material was mixed with one liter of water or the amount of water needed for the treated area so that the spraying volume was equivalent to approximately 150 to 250 liters per hectare. Subsequently, to the second and / or the final applications, the numbers and locations in the plant of the boxes, flowers and capsules were recorded and when possible capsule weights or yields of the seed cotton were obtained. The tests in the greenhouse were carried out in the following way: the cotton was grown in pots of 2 to 5 liters in the greenhouse, approximately one plant per pot either in the field land or a mixture for land-free planting . Plants permenecided in the greenhouse and the matching head frame stage described in the field methods above, treatments were applied to foliage, pictures, flowers and / or capsules either by spraying in a laboratory chamber sprayer (eg, Alien Machine Works, Midland, MI) or by placing the pots in the soil outside the greenhouse and rolling with a manual spraying device. The spraying volumes were approximately equivalent to those described in the field methods. The plants were then returned to the greenhouse and capsule beads, capsule weights or seed cotton yields were obtained from the plants. 2. Soy bean trials. Bean bean trials were carried out in a greenhouse. The soybeans seeds were planted in pots of 1000 milliliter capacity in sandy clay soil, fertilized with a slow release fertilizer and allowed to germinate. The plants were thinned to two per pot. When the plants reached the third step of trifoliate, equivalent to 11 true leaves, the plants were treated with appropriate spray solutions applied above the top of the plants to the foliage. The plants were placed inside a laboratory spraying chamber (Alien Machine, of Midland, MI). As mentioned above, the foliage was sprayed above the top in order to mimic a typical field application. The plants were returned to the greenhouse. Periodic height measurements, pod numbers and general assessments of plant vigor were carried out. During maturity (approximately six to eight weeks after spraying) the pods were harvested, counted and recorded by their dry weights. The control plants were those either completely untreated or those treated with mepiquat chloride alone ("plant growth regulator" Pix®). Mepiquat chloride was applied either alone or in combination with the ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors at a rate of 12 to 200 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. When applied in combination the two compounds were applied using the same "tank mix" spraying solution, however, combinations of mepiquat chloride and ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors may also include separate applications made within 72 hours, a of the other in the same plants. Other methods and applications for cotton, soybeans and other crops will be described below.

EXAMPLE 1 The formulations containing a mixture of the ester of . { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality; BASF Corporation) and mepiquat chloride (PIX® plant growth regulator) were repaired by adding both active ingredients to an aqueous spray solution. The cotton plants were treated with from 1 to 100 grams of the active ingredient per hectare of the substituted oxime-ether and 12, 100 or 200 grams of the active ingredient per hectare of mepiquat chloride (when used alone or in combination with oxime- The formulations were applied with either two, three or table applications during the course of the experiment at field test sites and in a greenhouse.Mepiquat chloride was used as a control.The number of tables, number of capsules, yield, plant height and capsule weight were calculated.The yield data were measured either as kilograms per plot or pounds per acre.The results are listed in Tables 1 to 4. The results are presented as a percentage of the plants treated with mepicuat chloride ("me") alone.

TABLE 1 Number of Paintings ^ Regimen (kg.-gram of active ingredient / hectare 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 me 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 me + tec 10.3 8.2 8.11 9.0 8.2 (124%) (99%) (98% (108%) (99%) 1 map data carried out after the second of 4 applications (Field Data) e = mepiquat chloride TABLE 2 Number of Capsules Regimen (kg of active ingredient / hectare) 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 mcl 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 mc + Tec1 10.7 9.5 8.3 8.5 9.3 (137%) (122%) (106%) (109%) (119%) me2 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 me + tec ^ 4.9 4.4 5.3 5.5 5.3 (122%) (107%) (129%) (134%) (129%) me3 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 me + tec.3 5.5 6.5 5.5 5.8 5.8 ( 77%) (90%) (77%) (80%) (80%) me + tec ^ 86% 82% 1 Four applications (field test) 2 Three applications (field test) 3 Four applications (greenhouse) 4 Two applications (greenhouse) me = mepiquat chloride TABLE 3 Yields Regimen (kg of active ingredient / hectare) 0.0010 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.1 cl 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 3.6 mc + tec.1 4.0 4.1 4.3 3.7 3.4 (111%) (114%) (119%) (103%) (94%) mc ^ 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 c + tec'2 2.66 2.33 2.67 2.88 2.39 (123%) (107%) (122%) (132%) (109%) 1 Four applications (field test) 2 Three applications (field test) me = mepiquat chloride TABLE 4 Weight of Capsules ^ - regime (kilograms of active ingredient per hectare) 0.010 0.10 me (0.200 kilogram of active ingredient / hectare) 87% 83% mc + tec. 116% 97% tec. 99% 93% 1 Two applications (greenhouse) me = mepiquat chloride The data show that application regimes of less than 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare provided the most compatible and maximum response. Two thirds of the cases for the number of capsules showed an improvement at application regimes of less than 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. Similarly, two thirds of the cases for the performance data showed a considerable improvement. An improvement was demonstrated in more than half an hour of the tests for substituted oxime-ether that is applied to regimes less than 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. Performance studies on cotton were also carried out using an encapsulated PVA composition (54OS as described above). Thirty-seven trials were generally carried out as described above for cotton field studies. The average relative yields were calculated in comparison with the values obtained for the untreated plants. The results are presented in Table 5.

TABLE 5 (Cotton) performance Regimen (gram / 0.5 10 20 50 hectare) Relative Performance 96% 100% 105% 97% 95% Frequency of Positive Performance 18% 43% 59% 18% 25% The best performance results (5 percent) were obtained at schemes of application of 10 grams per hectare. Likewise, the formulation applied at 10 grams per hectare had the highest frequency of positive results. The yields for the formulations applied at 0.5, 20 and 50 grams per hectare regimes were lower than for the untreated plants. The results for the plants treated with regimes of application of one gram per hectare were the same as the results obtained for the untreated plants. The same formulations were used to treat soybean plants and were compared with the untreated plants, the plants treated with mepiquat chloride and the plants treated with the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl. The results are listed in Table 6.

TABLE 6 (Soybeans) Number of pods1 Regimen kilogram of active ingredient / hectare 0.001 0.010 0.020 control 18.2 18.2 18.2 me (0.012 kilogram of active ingredient / hectare) 19.2 19.2 19.2 (105%) (105%) (105%) technical quality 23.2 18.4 21.6 (127%) (101 %) (119%) tec. + me 22.6 16.8 19.6 (124%) (92%) (108%) 1 One application (greenhouse) me = mepiquat chloride In this experiment, the treatment at low rate (1 gram of the active ingredient per hectare) using the combination of oxime-ether and mepiquat chloride provided a significant improvement (27 percent) in the number of pods when compared to the control not treated and compared with regimen of application greater than 1 gram of the active ingredient per hectare.

EXAMPLE 2 Seed cotton yield studies were carried out using a combination of the. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade; BASF Corporation) and mepiquat chloride using three applications in sequence. The oxime-ether was applied at rates of 50, 100 and 200 grams per hectare. Mepiquat chloride was also applied to plants alone. Mepiquat chloride was applied at 25 grams per hectare in all plants. The results are presented in Table 7.

TABLE 7 performance Regime (gram per hectare) 0 100 200 Technical quality 103 103 97 me (25 grams / hectare) 111 111 111 technical quality + me 124 120 114 EXAMPLE 3 Ester formulations were prepared . { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 99 percent Technical Quality; BASF Corporation) as described in the North American Patent Application entitled "Encapsulated Plant Growth Regulator Formulations" provisionally filed on the same date as the present one. Briefly, a 10 percent solution of PVA in water was prepared and the pH adjusted to about 4.1 using dibasic sodium phosphate as a stabilizer system. The oxime-ether was mixed in the PVA solution under high shear until a finely dispersed emulsion was obtained. A biocide (Proxel® GXI biocide) was added to the emulsion and mixed. The solution was once passed through a high-shear Eiger Mini 50 mill (e.g., a bead mill with 85 percent of the glass bead chamber charge of 1 millimeter) to 3000 revolutions per minute. A milky solution was obtained and passed through a 0.45 micron sieve. A typical particle size obtained was 10 microns. The formulations prepared contained about 5 percent substituted oxime-ether, about 5 percent PVA, about 0.12 percent biocide, and about 0.26 percent dibasic sodium phosphate and about 89.62 percent water. The ester formulations of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} Acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated were combined with mepiquat chloride and mixed in one liter of water. Two formulations were prepared. The first formulation contained PVA with a molecular weight of 44-66 K of a partial degree of hydrolysis (87 percent to 89 percent ((AIRVOL® 523S polyvinyl alcohol).) The second formulation contained PVA with a molecular weight of 70 90 K and partially hydrolyzed (87 percent to 89 percent) Cotton plants were treated as described above Plants were treated and compared with plants that were treated with mepiquat chloride (application rate of approximately 0.012) kilogram of the active ingredient per hectare in all studies.) The number of tables and capsules was measured and the results as a percentage of the plants treated with mepiquat chloride are only presented in Tables 6 to 8. TABLE 8 (cotton) Number of Tables1 Diet (kg of active ingredient / hectare) 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 me 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 me + encap. 11.3 10.7 8.7 9.8 8.9 with / 523S (136%) (129%) (105%) (118%) (107%) me + encap. 9.8 10.5 8.2 10.1 7.0 with / 540S (118%) (126%) (99%) (122%) (84%) 1 Measured after two to four sequence applications (field test); me = mepiquat chloride TABLE 9 (Cotton) Number of capsules "d Diet (kilogram of active ingredient / hectare) 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 me1 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 me + encap with / 15 523 S1 10.0 8.1 7.3 7.6 9.2 (128%) (104%) e + encap. 540S1 9 .9 7 .6 9.0 7.3 6.9 (127%) (97% (115%) (94%) (88%) mc¿ 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 me + encap. with / 523S2 5.7 5.3 5.8 6.2 6.4 (139%) (129%) (142%) (151%) (156%) me + encap. with / 54? S2 6.2 8.3 6.1 6.2 5.9 (151%) (202%) (149%) (151%) (144%) me3 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 me + encap. with 523S3 6.2 7.2 6.5 6.5 6.2 (86%) (100%) (90%) (80%) (86%) me + encap. with 540S3. 9.0 7.0 7.8 6.8 7.3 (125%) (97%) (94%) (94%) (101%) me ^ 3.35 3.5 3.35 me + encap. with / 523S4 3.65 3.90 3.95 (109%) (116%) (118%) me + encap. with / 540S4 4.22 3.60 3.30 (126%) (108%) (99%) 1 Four applications (field data) 2 Three applications (field data) 3 Four applications (field data) 4 Collected after the second of the two applications in sequence me = mepiquat chloride TABLE 10 (Cotton) performance Diet (kilograms of active ingredient / hectare) 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 me1 1365 1365 1365 1365 1365 me + 523S1 1669 1252 1290 1138 1252 (122%) (92%) (94%) (83%) (92%) mc + 540S1 1024 1290 1328 1138 1100 (75%) (94%) (97%) (83%) (81%) me2 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 me + 5232 2.87 3.25 2.8 2.76 2.82 (131%) (149%) (128%) (127%) (129%) me + 5402 3.43 3.44 3.57 3.4 3.27 (157%) (158%) (164%) (156%) (150%) 1 Four applications (field test) 2 Three applications (field test) me = mepiquat chloride The examination of the data in Tables 6 to 8 confirms that the present invention provides compatible improvement in a plant growth factor at low regimes. During the low-rate application of one gram of the active ingredient per hectare, the formulation provides a significant improvement (about 10 percent to about 60 percent) in relation to plants treated with mepiquat chloride. Thirty-four additional field tests were carried out using the formulations encapsulated with PVA (54OS) in combination with mepiquat chloride. Mepiquat chloride was applied for all tests at a rate of 12 grams per hectare. The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid -2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl was applied at 0.5 gram per hectare, 1 gram per hectare, 10 grams per hectare, 20 grams per hectare and 50 grams per hectare. The results are presented as a percentage in Table 11.

TABLE 11 Relative Performance Percentage Regimen (gram per hectare) 0.5gr 1 gr 10 gr 20 gr 50 gr me (12 grams per hectare) 103% 103% 103% 104% 103% me + Encapsulated forms with PVA 110% 105% 106% 99% 90 % Frequency of Positive Returns 64% 72% 77% 56% 25% me = mepiquat chloride The results for plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone had a mean value of 103 percent when compared with untreated plants with a positive frequency of 60 percent of those not treated. The maximum yield for the combination was at a rate of 0.5 gram of hectare. A significant increase was seen with the combination of less than 20 grams per hectare. The formulations were also tested on soybeans at rates of 1, 10 and 20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare (greenhouse) and compared with the untreated control. The formulations showed an improvement relative to the untreated control and were comparable to plants treated with mepiquat chloride. Another greenhouse study of soybeans was repeated with the 540S formulations. An average yield data (seed weight) was obtained at 1, 10 and 50 grams per hectare. The data obtained showed a decrease in yield when measured as a percentage of untreated plants (26 percent m, 30 percent abd, 24 percent at tge regimes of 1 m 10 and 50 grams per hectare respectively). The invention has also been described with reference to different specific modalities. However, many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the scope and spirit of the invention.

EXAMPLE 4 A greenhouse trial was carried out on cotton plants (Delta Pine 50 cv.). The individual plants were grown on a peat-based substrate in containers of 5 liters capacity. Uniform water and nutrients were applied as necessary. The plants were treated in their leaves with aqueous sprays of the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid -2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated with PVA (5 OS) in combination with mepiquat chloride, the plants were treated in the growth stage 61 (at the beginning of flowering) using approximately 500 liters per hectare of liquid. The plants were also treated with mepiquat chloride alone. For all studies, mepiquat chloride was applied to regimes of. 10 to 100 grams per hectare. The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl was applied at regimes of 10 and 100 grams per hectare. Two days after treatment, a system subjected to drought for a week was imposed on part of the plants by reducing the water supply to approximately 30 percent of the regular dosage.

,, The leaves of the plants in this way wilted permanently but did not move. The capsules were harvested fresh when the old plants of the control plants had reached their final size. The length of the shoot, the number of capsules per plant and the fresh weight of the capsules per plants was evaluated and calculated. The results did not show a compatible improvement in relation to those not treated. Even when it was observed some improvement in relation to plants not treated and treated with mepiquat. Decreases in shoot length and number of capsules were also observed at both regimens. For shoot length measurements, the results of the combination were 84 percent to 93 percent measured at a percentage of the untreated plants). In the treated plants subjected to drought, the results for the combination varied from 93 percent to 99 percent of the untreated plants. The results for the 540S formulations were 100 percent from untreated plants at 10 grams per hectare and 103 percent from untreated plants at 100 grams per hectare. (108 percent and 97 percent at regimes of 10 grams per hectare and 100 grams per hectare, respectively for plants subject to drought). The plants treated with mepiquat chloride only showed a decrease in the length of the shoot, 95 percent of the untreated to 10 grams per hectare and 85 percent of the untreated to 100 grams per hectare (97 percent and 96 percent for plants subjected to water The number of capsules varied from 84 percent to 102 percent of the untreated ones, for the plants treated with the combination (from 94 percent to 100 percent for plants subjected to drought, respectively) The number of capsules for plants treated with 540S was 100 percent of untreated at 10 grams per hectare and 97 percent of untreated at 100 grams per hectare (106 percent and 103 percent for plants submitted to drought.) The results for plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone were 92 percent of untreated plants for treated plants at 10 grams per hectare and 87 percent of untreated plants at 100 grams per hectare (of 102 percent and 95 percent for plants subjected to drought respectively). The fresh weight capsules per plant were measured and varied from 89 percent to 95 percent of the untreated ones for the plants treated with the combination (from 87 percent to 101 percent for plants subjected to drought respectively). The results for plants treated with 540S were 97 percent of those not treated at a rate of 10 grams per hectare and 91 percent of those not treated at 100 grams per hectare (96 percent and 103 percent for plants subjected to drought). The results for plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone were 95 percent for those not treated at 10 grams per hectare and 87 percent of those not treated at 100 grams per hectare (96 percent and 113 percent for plants subject to drought, respectively).

EXAMPLE 5 Winter wheat was grown on dry land (not irrigated) in the field. The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} Acetic acid -2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, encapsulated with PVA, prepared as described in Example 2 (540S), was applied as foliar treatments in wheat at regimes of 1, 10, 20 and 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare, beginning during the lengthening. and continuing every 14 days thereafter for four applications in sequence. The tests were carried out in a randomized complete block design, with parcels of 3,048 meters by 12,192 meters duplicated 4 times. The compositions were applied with a flat counter-packing CO2 sprayer, 20 GPA, in an aqueous carrier. Upon maturation, the wheat grain was harvested with a plot combination and the grain yield was recorded. The mean values of the yield of the treated plants compared to the values obtained for the untreated plants were recorded and the data is shown in Table 12.

TABLE 12 (Wheat) Diet 1 gr of 10 gr of 20 gr of 50 gr of ingredient ingredient ingredient active ingredient per asset per asset per active hectare hectare hectare hectare Rendition 110% 107% 113% 111% (The regimes expressed according to the application, and each application being a total of 4 times) The results show an improvement in performance up to 13 percent of the untreated control. However, the results were not significant at p = 0.05.

EXAMPLE 6 Cherry tomatoes were grown in a greenhouse in large pots and treated with foliar spraying applications (20 GPA) of the ester. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated with PVA prepared as described in Example 2 (540S). The plants were treated when they were in the third bunch of fruit (younger during the time of application) was in the third stage of bud or bud. The first and second clusters were flowering. The foliar applications were 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 grams per hectare in aqueous solutions. The fruits were harvested at maturity, counted and the weights of the fresh fruit were recorded and compared with the untreated plants. The results, in relation to the untreated plants are presented in Table 13.

Table 13 (Tomatoes) Regime 1 3 10 30 100 gram grams grams grams Yield of the third cluster 97% 121% 105% 85% 85% # of Fruit 127% 110% 103% 111% 79% Performance of the second cluster 89% 109% 109% 93% 90% # Fruit 92% 96% 98% 91% 95% of the first cluster 101% 86% 90% 94% 98% # of Fruit 97% 82% 100% 100% 105% The improvement of the weight of the fresh article was obtained at 3 and 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare in the second and third bunch, and the number of fruits improved in the first bunch (30-100 grams per hectare) and the third bunch (1 gram per hectare). The best results were obtained with a foliar application in the young button stage at regimes equal to or less than 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. A similar test was carried out in the greenhouse on beefsteak tomatoes, resulting in no improvement in fruit yields or fruit numbers.

EXAMPLE 7 Ester was applied. { [(isopropolidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (Technical Quality, BASF Corporation) as a foliar spraying application to pepper plants (button stage) that were made - 44 - of the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl at rates of 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. The fruit was harvested at maturity, counted and the weights of the fresh item were recorded. The results were calculated as a percentage of the untreated plants and are presented in Table 14.

TABLE 14 Regime (gram / 1 3 10 30 100 hectare) # Fruit 121% 115% 124% 112% 117% Yield 118% 110% 123% 107% 95% Improvements in both the number of fruits and yields of the fresh article weight were obtained, particularly at regimes of 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare and lower (not significant at p = 0.05).

EXAMPLE 8 The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade, BASF) and encapsulated formulations (205S, 523S and 54OS) prepared as described in Example 2, were applied in 4 to 6 applications foliar in sequence in three field trials of small plot in the established lawn (fescue, compressed poa and zoysia lawns). The experiments were carried out in a complete block at random with four duplicates. The treatments were applied as a foliar spraying application with a spray volume of approximately 373.60 liters per hectare in an aqueous solution at rates of 1, 5, 10 and 20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare per application. After the final application, two ground cores of 5.08 centimeters were taken from the first application of each test. The cores were washed and visually evaluated for increases in root mass. Visually evident increases in root mass were observed in the fescue in the treatments with the formulations 523S and 540S, in the poa compressed with the technical quality (10 grams and less) and in zoysia (technical quality less than 10 grams). per hectare and 523S formulations to all regimes). Additional controlled studies were carried out in the greenhouse on common agrostis and white grass that had been established and reaped several times in 10.16 centimeter plots. The study doubled seven times. The PVA 523S formulation was applied at 1, 5, 10 and 20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. In one treatment method, the compound was applied in an aqueous foliar spraying 24 hours before being cut and transplanted from the original container. In the second treatment method, the grass was cut and transplanted and then sprayed by an aqueous foliar application. In the third treatment method, the turf was cut and transplanted and treated with a volume of 50 milliliters of the aqueous solution with the equivalent active ingredient as applied in the spraying applications. The transplanted grass was removed from the pots, washed, visual observations were made. The dry weights of the shoot and the root and root lengths were measured. The results of common agrostis are presented in Table 15.

TABLE 15 Regime 1 5 10 20 (gram / hectare) gram gram grams gram Dry weight of the root 205% 331% * 131% 280% * Root length 134% 153% * 144% * 123% Dry weight of the shoot 149 * 129 * 115 * 145 * All values relative to the control treated with the amount of water equivalent. * represents the meaning at p = 0.05. The data shows a significant increase (p = 0.05) in the dry weight of the root and the length and dry weight of the bud in common agrostis when using the flood method. The data also shows a significant increase in the dry weight of the root and the length in the white grass with the application of flood (20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare) and an increase in the dry weight of the root with application before of cutting (1 gram of the active ingredient per hectare). For example, the dry weight of the treated turf shoot showed an increase relative to the untreated of 49 percent, 29 percent, 15 percent and 45 percent at 1, 5, 10 and 20 grams per hectare regimes. Of applications.

EXAMPLE 9 A composition containing the ester of. { t (isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade, BASF) in a solvent having an emulsifier was prepared of course. A C8 pyrrolidone solvent (AGSOLEX® was mixed with an emulsifier system containing a block copolymer (PLURAFAC® LF-700, BASF) and an emulsifier comprising a mixture of 80 percent nonylphenol ethoxylate (MAKON®, Stepan Chemical) and 20 percent dioctyl sulfosuccinate (AERSOL® OT 100). The resulting solution was mixed until a homogeneous crystalline solution was formed. Ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade, BASF) to the crystalline solution and mixed until a homogeneous crystalline solution was formed. The resulting composition contained about 82.6 percent of C8 pyrrolidone, about 8.3 percent of the block copolymer emulsifier, about 4.1 percent of the emulsifier and about 5.0 percent of the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl. This resulting composition was mixed with the mepiquat chloride plant growth regulator PIX® (BASF Corporation) in such a way that the mepiquat chloride was applied to the cotton in the field studies at the rate of 12 grams per hectare and the ester of . { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl content in the solvent with an emulsifier system was applied at 1 and 10 grams per hectare. The results are presented in Table 16.

Table 16 (Cotton) performance Regime (gram per hectare) 1 10 me Relative performance 103% 106% 102% (% compared to the untreated plant)) Positive Performance Frequency 62% 62% 38% me = mepiquat chloride The results show that the treated plants had an increase of 3 percent and 6 percent in relation to the untreated plants at rates of 1 and 10 grams per hectare respectively - with a positive yield frequency of 62 percent. hundred.

EXAMPLE 10 Field studies were carried out with mepiquat chloride (PIX ® plant growth regulator) in combination with the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl - in three formulations: 1) 99 percent Technical Quality, BASF Corporation; 2) encapsulated with PVA (540S); and 3) solvent containing an emulsifier system (as described in Example 10). Mepiquat chloride was applied at 12 grams per hectare for all applications. Plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone were also evaluated to determine performance. The mean value for the mepiquat chloride samples was 103 percent in relation to the untreated ones. The mean values of all combinations (as a percentage of yield for plants treated with mepiquat chloride) were obtained for all trials and are summarized below in Table 17.

Table 17 Performance Rate Number of Frequency (gram / hectare) (percentage) comparisons of positives 0. 5 108 11 64% 1.0 104 75 63% 10 104 83 55% The results show that the average value of the plants treated with the combination had improvements of 8 percent, 4 percent and 4 percent at the regimes of 0.5, 1 and 10 grams per hectare, respectively, when compared with the treated plants with mepiquat chloride. Where the trials included an untreated control, the combinations had improvements of 10 percent, 5 percent and 6 percent when compared to the untreated controls. The mepiquat chloride applied alone resulted in an increase in the average yield of 3 percent relative to the untreated control when all the field trials carried out are summarized. Experiments were also carried out on cotton subjected to drought. The mean values for all combinations (as a percentage of the plants treated with mepiquat chloride) were obtained for all the trials and are summarized below in Table 18.

TABLE 18 Performance Rate Frequency Number (gram / hectare) (percentage) positive comparisons 0. 5 115 3 67% 1.0 113 14 86% 10 114 14 64% The results show that the average value of the plants treated with the combination had improvements of 15 percent, 13 percent and 14 percent at rates of 0.5, 1 and 10 grams per hectare, respectively, when compared with the plants treated with Mepiquat chloride Because plants treated with mepiquat chloride only showed an average (average) increase of 9 percent (80 percent positive response, average of seven trials) relative to those not treated, these results indicated an improvement of 6 percent. percent, 4 percent and 5 percent in relation to untreated plants at rates of 0.5, 1 and 10 grams per hectare, respectively. The invention has been described with reference to different specific modalities. However, many variations and modifications can be made as long as they remain within the scope and spirit of the invention

Claims (10)

CLAIMS;

1. A method for improving at least one plan.ta growth factor in a plant comprising administering to the plant: (a) a first plant growth regulator comprising an inhibitor of biosynthesis or action of ileum; (b) a second plant growth regulator comprising a plant growth retarder.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first plant growth regulator comprises a substituted oxime-ether of the formula or wherein R 1 and R 2 independently of one another are alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and R 3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms; and

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the subtituted oxime-ether is selected from the group consisting of ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl and ester of. { [(cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (isopropyloxy) -2-oxoethyl.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the substituted oxime-ether comprises ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl.

5. The method according to claim 1, biosynthesis inhibitor or ethylene action is selected from the group consisting of [((isopropylidene) amino] oxy acetic acid and aminooxyacetic acid

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the biosynthesis or ethylene action inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of aminoethoxyvinylglycine, methoxylvinylglycine and rixobitoxin

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride. 11. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride. The method according to claim 6, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride. 13. A composition wherein the composition comprises a first plant growth regulator consisting of a plant growth retarder and a second plant growth regulator comprising an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor wherein the composition provides a compatible improvement of a Plant growth factor when applied to an agricultural plant. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is provided in compositions and methods for improving a plant growth factor. The compositions and methods contain combinations of plant growth regulators such as retarders and plant growth inhibitors of biosynthesis or ethylene action. The ethylene inhibitors comprise substituted oxime-ethers having the general formula: or wherein R 1 and R 2 independently of one another are alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and R 3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms. • Specific inhibitors of biosynthesis or action of ethylene include: ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl ester of. { (cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy} acetic acid 2- (isopropyloxy) -2-oxyethyl, aminooxyacetic acid, aminoethoxyvinylglycine, rhizobitoxine, silver ions (e.g., silver thiosulfate), and 2,5-norbornadiene. Plant growth retardants include: compounds with quaternary ammonium, phosphonium or sulfonium residues such as mepiquat chloride and chloromequat chloride; compounds containing a nitrogen-containing heterocycle such as paclobutrazol, uniconazole and ancymidol; compounds such as acylcyclohexandiones (e.g., trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-CA) and daminozide. The low rate application of the methods and compositions is preferred.