MXPA97000144A - Regulatory growth formulations encapsulated and applications and in combination platform growth concessioners - Google Patents

Abstract

A plant growth regulator formulation comprising a plant growth regulator dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than one micron is provided herein. The present invention also includes an emulsion containing an aqueous dispersion of PVA encapsulated plant growth regulating particles, wherein the particles have an average diameter greater than one micron. The aforementioned formulations are used in methods for improving a plant growth factor in a plant. Also provided herein is a method for improving at least one plant growth factor in a plant, by administering to the plant a first plant growth regulator comprising an ethylene biosynthesis or action inhibitor. The ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor is dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than one micron. The formulations also contain a second plant growth regulator comprising a plant growth retardant.

Description

"REGULATING GROWTH FORMULATIONS ENCAPSULATED AND APPLICATIONS AND IN COMBINATION WITH RETARDERS OF PLANT GROWTH " This application claims the benefit of the US Provisional Applications Nos. 60 / 008,991; 60/008/993 and 60 / 009,019 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. Plant Growth Retardants in Combination with Biosynthesis or Ethylene Action Inhibitors, US Patent Application Number Series, presented on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 2. Application of Low Regime of Biosynthesis or Ethylene Action Inhibitors, Patent Application North American Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 3. Regulatory Formulations of Encapsulated Plant Growth, North American Patent Application Serial number, presented on the same date as the present one and incorporated here by reference. 4. Plant Growth Regulatory Formulations Encapsulated in Combination with Plant Growth Retarders, US Patent Application Serial Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference.

. Regulatory Formulations of Encapsulated Plant Growth and Applications, Patent Application North American Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 6. Regulators of Plant Growth in Solvents of Pyrrolidone, American Patent Application Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated here by referendum; and 7. Improvement of the Seed Germination Regime with Application of Ethylene Biosynthesis Inhibitors, North American Patent Application Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; and 8. Aminovinylglycine in combination with a Plant Growth Regulator, Patent Application North American Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference; 9. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine in combination with a Plant Growth Regulator, Patent Application North American Number, filed on the same date as the present one and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of agriculture and specifically to compositions and use of plant growth regulators.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Agricultural workers actively seek ways to improve the economic performance of commercial crops. For example, in cotton crops, workers seek to improve such growth factors as increased capsule solidification, increased flower initiation, decreased floral cut or abscission, decreased abscission or capsule cutting, and improved root growth. 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 retarders and growth inhibitors of biosynthesis or ethylene action plants are of two types of PGRs. Some plant growth retarders have been shown to inhibit gibberiline biosynthesis, 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 covers compounds with quaternary ammonium residues, phosphonium or sulfonium. 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, height of the plant and rot or decay 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 Number 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 biosynthesis or ethylene action include aminoethoxyvinylglycine ("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 or Action and Use of Growth Retardants in Reducing the Effects on Environmental Stress in Horticultural Crops: Karssen CN et al. (Editors) Progress in Plant Growth Regulatory, pages 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.

Even though PGRs have been developed as a means to improve the yields of the agricultural harvest, certain obstacles make the effective use of the PGR prohibitive. For example, many of the compounds exhibit phytotoxicity. Other compounds are difficult to synthesize. Many compounds require high-regime applications to be effective. For example, the PCT Application Number WO 93/07747, incorporated herein by reference, 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 a spraying volume of 500 liters per hectare will be used, the application regimes described in Patent Number WO 93/07747 would be approximately 62.5 to 500 grams of 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. Herbicides, pesticides and encapsulated plant growth regulators have been described in the prior art. The use of interfacial polymerization to microencapsulate both water-soluble and water-insoluble materials using polymers is known. Others have described water-insoluble PGRs trapped in starch. U.S. Patent Number 4,382,813. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been described as: a protective colloid in an emulsion formed by the dispersion of an organic solution containing a plant growth regulator, US Patent Number 5,160,529; as a dispersant in an oil in water emulsion, U.S. Patent Number 4,871,766; as an ingredient in powders, granules or latexes, US Patent Number 4,486,218; and as an ingredient in oil-in-water emulsions having particles of 1 to 200 microns, wherein the emulsion also contains a thickener, US Patent Number 4,283,415.

U.S. Patent No. 4,997,642 discloses stable oil-in-water emulsions containing a PVA, a surfactant, a salt, and an oily water-insoluble compound such as a plant growth regulator, wherein the compound is dispersed as a particle that has an average size of less than one micron. Although these formulations provide unique benefits in the art, obstacles are still encountered by those skilled in the art to develop formulations containing encapsulated plant growth regulators having a particle size greater than one micron that are stable, which provide improvements increased in plant growth factors and do not need a thickener. In addition, many of the formulations of the prior art do not provide a slow release of the active ingredient. There are still obstacles to providing formulations that are not phytotoxic. Therefore, an object of this invention is not only to provide a stable formulation but one that also provides a stable active compound in solution. It is also an object of the invention to provide a slow release formulation that improves the plant growth factor. Yet another additional object of the present invention is to provide a PGR having lower application rates, which has limited environmental impact and which has reduced plant toxicity.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION A plant growth regulator formulation comprising a plant growth regulator dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than 1 micron is provided herein. The present invention also includes an emulsion containing an aqueous dispersion of the plant growth regulating particles encapsulated with PVA wherein the particles have an average diameter greater than 1 micron. Therefore, the present invention is directed to a particle comprising a plant growth regulator contained in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix. A method for improving at least one plant growth factor in a plant comprising administering to the plant a first plant growth regulator comprising a biosynthesis or ethylene action inhibitor and a second growth regulator is provided herein. of plant comprising a plant growth retardant. A composition comprising a plant growth retardant and an inhibitor of biosynthesis or ethylene action is also provided, wherein the composition provides consistent improvement of a plant growth factor when applied to an agricultural plant. The inhibitor of the biosynthesis or action of ethylene is dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") that have an average diameter greater than 1 micron. The present invention also includes an emulsion containing an aqueous dispersion of the biosynthesis inhibitor or ethylene action encapsulated with PVA, wherein the particles have an average diameter greater than 1 micron. Therefore, the present invention is directed to a particle comprising an inhibitor of biosynthesis or action of ethylene contained in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix. The above-mentioned formulations are useful in methods for improving a plant growth factor in a plant which comprises administering to the plant a plant growth regulator formulation comprising the formulations of the present invention, i.e., a growth regulator of plant dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than 1 micron. The methods also include applying an emulsion containing an aqueous dispersion of the plant growth regulator particles encapsulated with PVA wherein the particles have an average diameter greater than 1 micron. An improvement in a plant growth factor is defined as an agronomic improvement of plant growth such as increased floral initiation (frame), increased flower retention, increased fruit retention, increased frame retention, increased capsule retention, increased growth root, decreased length of internodule, increased tolerance to effort, decreased wilting, decreased senescence, darker green pigmentation, increased germination regime, increased tolerance to low and high temperatures, and increased harvest yield. That is, a favorable alteration of the physiology or growth of the plants or an increase or decrease in the growth of the plant that leads to an economic or agronomic benefit, the best in the growth factors that results from the inhibition of the production of ethylene is preferred.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The emulsions of the present invention are particularly suitable for formulations containing inhibitors encapsulated with PVA biosintes or ethylene action, preferably substituted oxime-ethers, having the formula: 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 hydrogene or alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of other compounds that may be used include 2-i (isopropylidene) -amino] oxyacetic acid represented by the structure: Another example of a compound that can be used in the present invention is aminooxyacetic acid ("AOA"), represented by the following structure: Preferred oxime-ethers for use in the formulations include the following compounds: 1) ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, represented by the structure: 2) ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -ammo] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl, represented by the structure: "? (VD - 10 and 3) ester of ((Icylohexylidene) -amino] oxy}. -acetic acid-2- (isopropyloxy) -2-oxyethyl-ester of (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, represented by the structure: The compound especially preferred for carrying out the present invention comprises ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -oxoethyl. Other compounds that can be encapsulated according to the invention include aminoethoxyvinylglycine and methoxyvinylglycine. Even when water-soluble and insoluble compounds in water can. In the case of encapsulating according to the present invention, the preferred compounds for carrying out the invention are insoluble in water. The compositions of the invention contain by weight, from about 0.1 percent to about 90 percent in a plant growth regulator, from about 0.1 percent to about 30 percent PVA. from about 1 percent to about 10 percent of a stabilizing agent and from about 50 percent to about 99 percent water. Preferred formulations contain, by weight, from about 1 percent to about 10 percent of a plant growth regulator, from about 2 percent to about 8 percent PVA, from about 2 percent to about 6 percent of a stabilizing agent with the remaining weight of the ingredients containing water and optionally a biocide and a surfactant. The scale, by weight, of the biocide useful in carrying out the invention is up to about 25 percent, preferably from about 0.1 percent to about 5 percent. The scale of the surfactant is preferably up to about 20 percent and more preferably from about 2 percent to about 6 percent. The PVA for use in the invention includes those having a molecular weight of 15K to 72K, 44 to 65K, 70 to 90K, 44 to 65K, 7K and 9 to 13K (K = 1,000). The PVA for use in the invention also includes those with partial hydrolysis from 87 percent to 89 percent and from 78 percent to 82 percent; intermediate hydrolysis from 95.5 percent to 96.5 percent; complete hydrolysis from 98 percent to 98.8 percent; and superhydrolysis of more than 99.3 percent. The preferred PVA includes those with hydrolysis percentage greater than 85 percent. The especially preferred formulation is a formulation of the plant growth regulator consisting essentially of about 5 percent ester of. { [isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} acetic acid-2-ethoxy) -2-oxoethyl, about 5 percent polyvinyl alcohol, about 0.26 percent dibasic sodium phosphate, and about 90 percent water. This embodiment of the invention may also include a biocide. The particles dispersed in the formulations are greater than about one micron and typically have a mean volume diameter of about more than 1 micron to about 80 microns. Additional embodiments of the invention include particles having a size greater than about one micron to about 50 microns. Another scale of particle size useful for practicing the present invention is a particle having a volume average diameter greater than about five microns to about 15 microns. A preferred particle size (average diameter) is from about 6 microns to about 10 microns.

The surfactants of this invention include salts of alkyl sulphates, alkyl or aryl sulfonates, dialkylsulfosuccinates, salts of polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether, phosphoric acid esters, condensates of naphthalenesulfonic acid / formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, block copolymers polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene, sorbitan fatty acid esters or polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, monoalkyl quaternary salts, dialkyl quaternary salts, quaternary salts, ethoxylated monoquaternary salts, ethoxylated dicuaternary salts and lauryl betaine. An additional release deceleration component can be added or dissolved in the water-insoluble plant growth regulator. This component acts to decelerate the rate of release of the plant growth regulator from the PVA matrix. The preferred release deceleration component is polyvinyl acetate having a molecular weight of about 10K to about 200K. The formulations are particularly useful since they provide significant improvements in a plant growth factor and are stable, not only against particle aggregation, but the PVA also acts to stabilize the plant growth regulating compound. These formulations provide this benefit in the substantial absence of the following ingredients: 1) a thickener; 2) a surfactant (preferably less than 0.1 weight percent) 3) a salt (preferably less than 1 percent); 4) a xanthate; 5) a starch; and 6) a hydrocarbon (as described in U.S. Patent Number 4,871,766). The formulations of the invention are particularly useful as sustained release formulations. Additional benefits are that the formulations provide significant improvement in a plant growth factor and also provide a formulation that has low phytotoxicity. The second growth regulator comprises growth retardants 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 known plant growth retardants such as those compounds that contain a nitrogen-containing heterocycle. Examples of these compounds include flurprimidol, placobutrazol, uniconazole and ancymidol. The invention may also contain plant growth retarders such as acylcyclohexandiones (v.gr, trinexapac-ethyl and prohexadione-Ca) and daminozide. Of the compounds mentioned above, the especially preferred one is mepiquat chloride. Preferred formulations of the invention also provide a significant benefit as they produce a significant improvement in a plant growth factor when applied at low rate. These application regimes are described in the North American Provisional Patent Application entitled "Low Rate Application of Inhibitors of Ethylene Biosynthesis or Action" filed on December 21, 1995. The application at low rate is defined as a single application regime of less than approximately 50 g ai / ha (grams of active ingredient per hectare). An effective number of low-rate applications can be made through the growing season. Preferably, the low rate application is carried out from one to about ten times during the growing season, more preferably from one to about four times during the growing season. Preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise individual application regimens ranging from about 100 milligrams of the active ingredient per hectare to about 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare which are applied one to four times during a growing season and ranging from about 500 milligrams of the active ingredient per hectare to about 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare applied one to four times during a growing season. 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 which are applied one to four times during a growing season. The particularly preferred individual application regime is from approximately 500 milligrams per hectare to approximately 1.5 grams of the active ingredient per hectare applied 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, peppers, tomatoes, wheat, barley, rice plant, apple, citrus fruit, grape, corn and cañola. The improvement is also found on the lawn. The formulations described in this invention are usually applied to the foliage prior to the development of the bud and the flower but can also be applied to foliage, buds, flowers or fruits that begin an early bud development (e.g. of matching head in cotton) in one to four applications in sequence. If applications are used in sequence, applications are preferably synchronized separately to 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 spraying volume of the aqueous treatment solution would be 150 to 500 liters per hectare for arable crops and up to approximately 1,500 liters per hectare for fruit trees. Flooding with water from the earth is another method of application that is useful when the invention is put into practice. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method that improves the economic and 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 . The plants permenecided in the greenhouse and the matching head frame stage described in the field methods above, the treatments were applied to the foliage, the frames, the flowers and / or the capsules either by spraying in a laboratory chamber sprayer (e.g., Alien Machine Works, of Midland, MI) or by placing the pots on the ground outside the greenhouse and spraying with a hand 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, the numbers of pods and the general valuations of the vigor of the plant 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 application methods for cotton, soybeans and other crops will be described below.

EXAMPLE 1 The formulations containing the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (99 percent Technical Grade, BASF Corporation) were prepared by first making a 10 percent solution of PVA in an aqueous solution of a dibasic sodium phosphate stabilizer. Different PVAs (Air Products, Inc.) having different molecular weights and various degrees of hydrolysis were used. Table 1 lists the different PVA used. TABLE 1 Polyvinyl Alcohol TYPE OF PVA WEIGHT DEGREE OF HYDROLYSIS MOLECULAR (K) AIRVOL® 205s 15-27 Partial (87% -89%) AIRVOL® 523s 44-65 Partial (87% -89%) AIRVOL® 54Os 70-90 Partial (87% -89%) AIRVOL® 125 44 -65 Super (99.3% +) AIRVOL® 325 44-65 Complete (98-98.8%) AIRVOL® 523s 44-65 Partial (87% -89%) AIRVOL® 425 44-65 Intermediate (95.5-96.5%) AIRVOL® 603 7 Partial (78% -82%) AIRVOL® 203 9-13 Partial (87% -89%) The pH of the 10 percent PVA solutions was adjusted to approximately 4.1. The oxime-ether was mixed in the PVA solution under high shear stress A until a finely dispersed emulsion was obtained. A biocide (Proxel® GXI biocide) was added to the emulsion and mixed. The solutions were once passed through a high-shear Eiger Minino (e.g., a bead mill with a chamber load at 85 percent of 1-millimeter glass beads) at 3000 revolutions per minute. A milky solution was obtained and passed through a 0.45 micron sieve. The formulations prepared contained about 5 percent substituted oxime-ether, about 5 percent PVA, about 0.12 percent of the biocide, and about 0.26 percent dibasic sodium phosphate and about 89.62 percent water. The particle size was measured using an Accusizer Optical Particle Dispenser. The measured particle size (average volume) for each formulation was approximately ten microns. The formulations were tested on soybeans at regimes of 1, 10 and 20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare (greenhouse) and compared with a control and the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} non-encapsulated acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality, BASF Corporation). The results are presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2 (Soybeans) Number of Pods kilogram regime 0.0010 0.010 0.020 active ingredient / hectare control 18.2 18.2 18.2 technical quality 23.2 (127%) 18.4 (101%) 21.6 (119%) tec. encap (205s) 23.2 (127%) 21.8 (120%) 21.3 (118%) tec. encap (523s) 20.4 (112%) 22.6 (124%) 23.0 (126%) tec. encap (540s) 25.8 (142%) 19.2 (105%) 19.2 (105%) The results are established that at low regimens and the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated significantly and consistently improves the number of pods in the soybean plant. Performance studies on cotton were also carried out using a PVA encapsulated composition (54 OS as described above). Thirty-seven trials were carried out generally as described above for cotton field studies. The average relative yields were calculated as compared to the values obtained for the untreated plants. The results are presented in Table 3.

TABLE 3 (Cotton) performance Regime (gram / 0.5 10 20 50 hectare) Relative Performance 86% 100% 105% 97% 95% Positive Performance Frequency 18% 43% 59% 18% 25% The best yield results (5 percent) were obtained at application rates of 10 grams per hectare. Also, the formulation applied to 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 the untreated plants. The results for the plants treated with application regimes of 1 gram per hectare were the same as the results obtained for the untreated plants.

EXAMPLE 2 Ester formulations were prepared. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated as in Example 1 and 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 and a degree of partial hydrolysis (from 87 percent to 89 percent) (AIRVOL® 523 S polyvinyl alcohol). The second formulation contained PVA with a molecular weight of 70 to 90 K and was partially hydrolyzed (from 87 percent to 89 percent) The cotton plants were treated as described above The plants were treated and the treated plants were used. Mepiquat chloride as a comparison (application rate of approximately 0.012 kilogram of the active ingredient per hectare) The number of tables and capsules was measured and the results are presented in Tables 4 to 6.

TABLE 4 (Cotton) Number of Tables1 regime (kg of 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 active ingredient / hectare) 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 8.3 me + encap. with / 523S 11.3 10.7 8.7 9.8 8.9 (136%) (129%) (105%) (118%) (107%) me + encap. with / 540S 9.8 10.5 8.2 10.1 7.04 (118% (126%) (99%) (122%) (84%) 1 They were measured after two applications in sequence of four (field test) me = mepiquat chloride TABLE 5 (Cotton) Number of Capsules Regimen (kg 0,001,0,010,0,020,050 0,10 active ingredient / hectare) mcl 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 7.8 mc + encap. with / 523S1 10.0 8.1 7.3 7.6 9.2 (128%) (104%) me + encap. with 540S1 9.9 7.6 9.0 7.3 6.9 (127%) (97%) (115%) (94%) (88%) 4. 1 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.1 me + encap. with / 523S2 5.7 5.3 5.8 6.2 6.5 (139%) (129%) (142%) (151%) (156%) me + encap. with / 540S2 6.2 8.3 6.1 6.2 5.9 (151%) (202%) (149%) (151%) (144%) mc ° 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 7.2 me + encap. with / 523S3 6.2 7.2 6.5 6.5 6.2, ß6%) < 100 »< > % > , 80., Iß6%. me + encap. with / 540S3 9.0 7.0 7.8 6.8 7.3 (125 *> 07%)%) m%) (? o?%. me * 3-5 3.5 3.5 me + encap. with / 523S4 3.65 3.90 3.95 (109S) (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 6 (Cotton) performance regimen (kg of active ingredient / hectare 0.001 0.010 0.020 0.050 0.10 mcl 1365 1365 1365 1365 1365 me + 523S1 1669 1252 1290 1138 1252 (122%) (92%) (94%) (83%) (92%) me + 540S1 1024 1290 1328 1138 1100 (75%) (94%) (97%) (83%) (81%) me2 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 2.18 me + 523S2 2.87 3.25 2.8 2.76 2.82 (131%) (149%) (128%) (127%) (129%) me + 540S2 3.43 3.44 3.57 3.4 3.27 (157%) (158%) (164%) (156%) (150%) 1 Four applications (field test) 2 Three ac > (meat test> o) mepiquat chloride tests Examination of the data in Tables 4 to 6 confirm that the present invention provides a compatible improvement in a plant growth factor at low regimes. During the low-regimen application of 1 gram of active ingredient per hectare, the formulation provides significant improvement (from about 10 percent to about 60 weight percent) relative to plants treated with mepiquat chloride. Thirty-four additional field tests were carried out using the formulations (540S) encapsulated with PVA 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 7.

TABLE 7 % Relative Performance regime (gram / hectare) 0.5 g 1 g 10 g 20 g 50 g e (12 grams / hectare) 103% 103% 103% 104% 103% me + Forms Encap. with PVA 110% 105% 106% 99% 90% Performance Frequency Positive 64% 72% 77% 56% 25? me = mepiquat chloride The results for the plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone had a mean value of 103 percent when compared with the untreated plants with a positive frequency of 60 percent of the untreated plants. The maximum yield for the combination was at a rate of 0.5 gram per hectare. You can see a significant increase with the combination of less than 20 grams per hectare. The formulations were also tested on soybeans at regimes 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 the percentage of untreated plants (26 percent, 30 percent and 24 percent at the regimes of 1, 10 and 50 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.

EXAMPLE 3 In the experiments, 50 to 102 seeds were counted and used for each treatment. The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} acetic acid- (2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade ("tec.") from BASF Corporation) was applied either alone or as an encapsulated formulation as described in Example 1. A volume of treatment solution of 10 to 50 milligrams per kilogram of seed was prepared.The formulations were applied at rates of about 1 to 200 milligrams of the active ingredient per kilogram of seed.The seeds were mixed and wetted with the treatment solutions in flasks and the applied solutions were allowed to soak in. After the seeds had absorbed most of the treatment solutions, they were placed in germination medium.The germination medium was placed in growth chambers. a muddy sand or absorbent foam cores (OASIS® CLEAN START® growth media) .The seeds were placed at uniform depth in the medium. of growth were maintained at approximately 21 ° C during the night / 27 ° C during the day (12h / 12h) for hot treatments, and approximately 13 ° C during the night / 21 ° C during the day (12h / 12h) for the cold treatments. The outbreaks were counted on a regular basis. Radiant energy was provided by fluorescent and incandescent light sources for the period of the day. The results of the cold treatments are listed in Table 8. TABLE 8 Preparation of Seeds (Cotton) Cotton Emergency regime 10 20 50 100 150 3 DAT control 0 0 0 0 0 0 205S 1 0 1 1 3 1 523S 0 0 0 0 0 0 540S 0 0 0 0 0 0 DAT control 5 5 5 5 5 5 205S 12 21 10 11 15 8 523S 8 5 6 1 3 0 540S 2 0 1 0 0 0 7 DAT control 35 35 35 35 35 35 205S 46 52 32 46 52 39 523S 37 30 31 21 12 17 540 27 18 14 7 6 15 13 DAT control 38 38 38 38 38 38 205S 51 59 40 48 62 48 523S 50 46 42 51 34 40 540S 45 37 44 37 32 37 There are no improvements seen with the treatments done under hot temperature treatments using the formulations encapsulated with PVA. However, Table 8 shows an improvement in the germination regime at cold temperatures. A significant improvement is seen with the 205S formulation at about five days (e.g., approximately a two-fold increase in the germination regime to a four-fold increase in the germination regime). Seed preparation experiments were carried out in the greenhouse study on peanuts with the same treatments. However, cold treatments were not carried out. The data indicate an increase in shoot growth of most plants that were treated with formulations encapsulated with PVA.

EXAMPLE 4 Soybean seeds were planted in sandy clay soil in 1 liter pots in the greenhouse, and rinsed up to three plants per pot after emergence. When the plants reached approximately the first stage of trifoliate or the early flowering stage, 100 milliliters of a solution containing the equivalent of 0, 30 or 100 or 300 grams of the solution was applied directly to the soil around the base of the plants. active ingredient per hectare of ester. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality ("tec."), BASF Corporation) (free and encapsulated). The heights of the plants were measured at regular intervals and during plant maturity were harvested for dry and fresh weights of the soybean pods and rods. The results are presented in Tables 9 and 10.

TABLE 9 (Flooding with Earth's Water in Soybeans) Fresh Weight of Pods (grams) Diet, kg of active ingredient / hectare 0.03 0.1 0.3 Not treated 7.6 7.6 7.6 AIRVOL® 125 2-3 trifoliate 10.9 (143%) 9.4 (124%) 9.0 (118%) Early Flowering 11.7 (154%) 10.4 (137%) 10.8 (142%) AIRVOL® 54Os 2-3 trifoliate 12.3 (162%) 10.9 (143%) 11.5 (151%) Early Bloom 12.2 (161%) 12.4 (163%) 12.7 (167%) AIRVOL® 205s 2-3 trifoliate 12.3 (162%) 9.6 (126%) 12.6 (166%) Early Flowering 10.5 (138%) 11.9 (157%) 11.6 (153%) AIRVOL® 325 S 2-3 trifoliate 10.1 (133%) 12.4 (163%) 13.2 (174%) Early Flowering 11.5 (153%) 11.8 (155%) 11.6 (153%) AIRVOL® 523 s 2-3 trifoliate 12.2 (161%) 12.8 (168%) 12.8 (168%) Early Flowering 12.0 (158%) 13.2 (174%) 11.6 (153%) AIRVOL® 425 2-3 trifoliate 13.7 (180%) 11.6 (153%) 11.9 (157%) Early Flowering 12.0 (158%) 12.4 (163%) 10.5 (138%) TABLE 10 (Flooding with Earth's Water in Soybeans) Dry weight of pods (grams) Regime (kg of active ingredient / hectare) 0.03 0.1 0 .3 Not treated 3.1 3.1 3 .1 AIRVOL® 125 2-3 Trifoliate 5.6 (187%) 5.0 (161%) 5. .0 (161%) Early Flowering 6.8 (219%) 6.5 (210%) 5, .7 (184%) AIRVOL® 540 S 2-3 Trifoliate 7.1 (229%) 6.3 (203%) 6. .7 (216%) Early Flowering 6.7 (216%) 6.8 (219%) 7. .0 (226%) AIRVOL® 205 S 2-3 Trifoliate 6.7 (216%) 5.4 (174%) 6. .9 (226%) Early Flowering 5.6 (181%) 5.3 (171%) 5. .8 (187%) AIRVOL® 325 S 2-3 Trifoliate 5.2 (168% 6.8 (219%) 7. .1 (229%) Early Flowering 5.5 (177%) 6.1 (197%) 6. .5 (210%) AIRVOL® 523 S 2-3 Trifoliate 6.8 (219%) 6.8 (219%) 6. .8 (219%) Early Flowering 6.9 (223%) 7.2 (232%) 6. .4 (206%) AIRVOL® 425 2-3 Trifoliate 7.3 (235%) 6.0 (194%) 6. .8 (219) Early Flowering 6.7 (216%) 6.3 (203%) 5. .5 (177%) The data show that the plants treated with the encapsulated formulations show a significant increase in weight of the shoots.

EXAMPLE 5 A greenhouse test was carried out on cotton plants (Delta Pine 50 cv.). The individual plants were grown on a peat-based substrate in 5 liter containers. The water and nutritional compounds were applied uniformly as necessary. The plants were treated in the leaves with aqueous sprays of the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} Acetic acid (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated with PVA (540S) in combination with mepiquat chloride were treated in the growth stage 61 (beginning flowering) using approximately 500 liters per hectare of the liquid. The plants were also treated with mepiquat chloride alone. For all studies, mepiquat chloride was applied at regimes of 10 and 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 the treatment, one week of drought treatment was imposed on part of the plants, 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 die. The capsules were harvested fresh when those old ones from the control plants had reached their final size. The length of the outbreak, the number of capsules per plant and the fresh weight of the capsules per plant were assessed and calculated. The results did not show a compatible improvement in relation to the untapped plants. Even though some improvement was observed in relation to untreated plants treated with mepiquat, decreases in the length of the shoots and the number of capsules were also observed at both regimes. For stem length measurements, - the results of the combination were 84 percent to 93 percent (which were measured as a percentage of the untreated plant). In treated plants subjected to drought, the results for the combination ranged from 93 percent to 99 percent of the untreated plants. The results for the 540S formulations were 100 percent of the untreated plants at 10 grams per hectare and 103 percent of the untreated plants at 100 grams per hectare (108 percent and 97 percent at 10 grams per hectare and 100 grams per hectare respectively for plants subjected to drought). The plants treated with mepiquat chloride showed only a decrease in the length of the stem, 95 percent of the untreated plants at 10 grams per hectare and 85 percent of the untreated plants at 100 grams per hectare (97 percent and 96 percent for plants subjected to lack of water.The number of capsules varied from 84 percent to 102 percent of the untreated plants, for the plants treated with the combination (94 percent to 100 percent of the plants submitted 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 of plants subjected to drought.) The results for plants treated with mepiquat chloride alone were 92 percent of those not treated for treated plants at 10 grams per hectare and 87 percent of those not treated at 100 grams per hectare (102 percent and 95 percent for plants subjected to drought respectively). The fresh weight of the capsules per plant was measured and varied from 89 percent to 95 percent of the nontracted ones for the plants treated with the combination (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 a rate of 100 grams per hectare (96 percent and 103 percent for plants subjected to drought). The results for the plants treated with mepiquat chloride were only 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 the plants submitted to drought, respectively).

EXAMPLE 6 Winter wheat from dry land (not irrigated) was grown 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 rates of 1, 10, 20 and 50 grams of the active ingredient per hectare, beginning during the elongation. and continuing every 14 days thereafter for four applications in sequence. The tests were carried out in a randomized complete block design, plots of 3,048 meters by 12,192 meters duplicated 4 times. The compositions were applied with a flat counterbalanced CO2 sprayer, 20 GPA, in an aqueous carrier.

During maturity, 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 presented in Table 11.

TABLE 11 (Wheat) Regimen 1 gram of 10 gr of 20 gr of 50 gr of ingredient ingredient ingredient active ingredient / active / active active hectare hectare hectare hectare Performance 110% 107% 113% 111% (The schemes expressed as per application each application 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 7 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 the third bunch of fruit (younger at the time of application) was in the button or small bud stage. The first and second clusters were blooming. The foliar applications were 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 grams per hectare in aqueous solutions. Fruits were harvested during maturity, counted and weights of fresh fruit were recorded and compared with untreated plants. The results, in relation to the untreated plants are presented in Table 12.

Table 12 (Tomato's) 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% 11% 79% Performance of the second cluster 89% 109% 109% 93% 90% # of Fruit 92% 96% 98% 91% 95% Performance of the first cluster 101% 86% 90% 94% 98% # of Fruit 97% 82% 100% 100% 105% The improvement of the weight of the fresh fruit was obtained to 3 and 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare and the second and third clusters and the number of fruits improved in the first cluster (30-100 grams per hectare) and the third cluster ( 1 gram per hectare). The best results were obtained with foliar application in the button or young bud 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 8 Ester was applied. { [(isopropolidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (Technical Quality, BASF Corporation) as an application of foliar spraying to pepper plants (bud stage or bud) that were grown in the greenhouse. Aqueous solutions 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 when it matured, the weights of fresh fruit were counted and recorded. The results were calculated as a percentage of the untreated plants and are presented in Table 13.

TABLE 13 Regime (gram / 1 3 10 30 100 hectare) # Fruit 121% 115% 124% 112% 117% Yield 118% 110% 123% 107% 95% Improvements were obtained both in the number of fruits and in the weight yields of fresh fruit, particularly at regimes of 10 grams of the active ingredient per hectare and lower (not significant at p = 0.05).

EXAMPLE 9 The ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality, BASF) and the encapsulated formulations (formulations 205S, 523S, 540S) were prepared as described under Example 2, and were applied in foliar applications in sequence from 4 to 6 in three field tests of small plot in the established lawn (fescue, compressed poa and zoysia ). 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 aqueous dilution 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 of the first duplicate of each test were taken. The cores were washed and visually evaluated for increases in root mass. Visually evident increases in root mass were observed in fescue in the treatments of formulations 523S and 540S, in poa compressed with 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 pots. The study doubled seven times. PVA formulation 523S 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 a third treatment method, the turf was cut and transplanted and treated with a volume of 50 milliliters of an aqueous solution with the equivalent active ingredient as that applied in spraying applications. The transplanted grass was removed from the pots, washed and visual observations made. The dry weights of the root and the stem and the measured root lengths were measured. The results for common agrostis are presented in Table 14.

Table 14 Regime 1 5 10 20 (gram / hectare) gram gram grams gram Dry weight of root 205% 331% * 131% 280% * Root length 134% 153% * 144% * 123% Dry weight of the rod 149 * 129 * 115 * 145 * All values in relation to the control treated with an equivalent amount of water. * represents the significant 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 stem in the common agrostis when the water flood method was used. 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 water flood (20 grams of the active ingredient per hectare) and increase in the dry weight of the root with application before cutting it (1 gram of the active ingredient per hectare). For example, the dry weight of the treated turf stem showed an increase in relation to the untreated 49 percent, 29 percent, 15 percent and 45 percent at 1, 5 application regimes, and 20 grams per hectare.

EXAMPLE 10 The inhibition of ethylene in barley leaves treated with ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality ("tec."): BASF Corporation) (both encapsulated and free) using different formulations as described in Example 1. The formulations were applied to the barley leaves grown in the seven-day greenhouse at rates of 30 grams of the active ingredient per hectare and 300 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. The treatments were carried out in a spray chamber at 750 liters per hour as in the aqueous solutions made with the 0.1M potassium phosphate stabilizer. The leaves withered for one hour and were incubated in a small gas-tight flask with a capacity of 55 milliliters for 150 minutes. A one milliliter gas sample was taken through the membrane and analyzed for ethylene content using gas chromatography on an AI2O3 column. The results are shown in Table 15.

TABLE 15 (Barley Leaves) Inhibition of Ethylene (%) Composition 30 grams of 300 grams of active ingredient ingredient per active per hectare hectare tec. 0.0% 25.0% 540 S 25.0% 44.2% 523 S 41.7% 35.8% 205 S 39.2% 29.2% The data in Table 15 show the significant inhibition of ethylene production at 30 and 300 grams of the active ingredient per hectare. Additional data demonstrate that at a ten-fold decrease in the application regimen, the encapsulated formulation significantly inhibited ethylene production while the non-encapsulated formulation showed no improvement.

EXAMPLE 11 The ester of was prepared. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl encapsulated as in Example 1 (540S). Clavel Flowers ("Rosa von Selecta Clem") that had been bred under greenhouse conditions by a commercial farmer were used. During the harvest, the flower buds are just opened (the petals are about 3 centimeters longer than the calyx). An impulse treatment for 24 hours was provided to the flowers immediately after harvest by placing the cut ends of the stems in a test solution prepared with demineralized water. The flowers were treated with the 540S formulations or the ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Quality, BASF Corporation). At the end of the treatment the test solution was replaced by demineralized water. The treatment and the additional conservation of the flowers was carried out under a photoperiod of 16 hours under diffuse incandescent light (approximately 6,000 lux). The results obtained 16 days after the treatment present (DAT) the number of aged flowers and are listed in Table 16.

TABLE 16 Sample Dosage Senescence (ppm) Control (water) 8.9 Technical Quality 100 5.3 540 S 100 3.0 The data indicate that the 540S formulation provides more than a two-fold and up to three-fold increase in senescence when compared to the control.

EXAMPLE 12 A composition containing ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl (99 percent Technical Grade, BASF) in a solvent having an emulsifier system was prepared. A C8 pyrrolidone solvent (AGSOLEX® 8, 1-octylpyrrolidone, ISP) was mixed with an emulsifier system containing a block copolymer (PLURAFAC® LF-700, BASF) and an emulsifier comprising a mixture of 80 percent ethoxylate of nonylphenol (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 approximately 82.6 percent of C8 pyrrolidone, approximately 8.3 percent of a block copolymer emulsifier, approximately 4.1 percent of the emulsifier and approximately 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 manner that the mepiquat chloride was applied to the cotton in 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 17. Table 17 (Cotton) performance Regime (gram per hectare) 1 10 e Relative performance 103% 106% 102% (percentage compared to untreated)) 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.

EXAMPLE 13 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 (54OS); and 3) a 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 for all combinations (as a percentage of yield for plants treated with mepiquat chloride) were obtained for all tests and are summarized below in Table 18.

Table 18 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 tested with the combination had improvements of 8 percent, 4 percent and 4 percent at rates of 0.5, 1 and 10 grams per hectare, respectively, when compared with the plants treated with Mepiquat chloride Where the tests included an untreated control, the combinations had improvements of 10 percent, 5 percent, and 6 percent when compared to untreated controls. The mepiquat chloride applied alone resulted in an average yield increase of 3 percent relative to the untreated control when all the field tests carried out are summarized. Experiments were also carried out on cotton subjected to drought. The mean values for all combinations (such as the percentage of plants treated with mepiquat chloride) were obtained for all tests and are summarized below in Table 19.

TABLE 19 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 0. 5, 1 and 10 grams per hectare, respectively, when compared with 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 tests) relative to those not treated, these results indicated an improvement of 6 percent to 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 (25)

CLAIMS:

1. A particle comprising a plant growth regulator contained in a polyvinyl alcohol matrix wherein the particle has a mean volume diameter rorder of about 1 micron.

2. The particle according to claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator comprises a substituted oxime-ether of the formula: 0 wherein R1 and R2 independently of one another are alkyl of 1 carbon atom or carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3 and R3 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 carbon atom to 6 carbon atoms.

3. The particle according to claim 2, wherein the 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.- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl ester.

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

5. The particle according to claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of acid. { [(isopropylidene) amino} oxyacetic and aminooxyacetic acid.

6. The particle according to claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of aminoethoxyvinylglycine, methoxyvinylglycine and rixobitoxin.

7. The method for improving a plant growth factor in a plant comprising administering to the plant a formulation consisting of a plant growth regulator dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having a larger average diameter of 1 micron.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the growth regulator of. plant comprises a substituted oxime-ether of the formula: 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.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the oxime-ether is selected from the group consisting of f [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy ester} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (isopropyloxy) -2-oxoethyl. - (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl ester.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the substituted oxime-ether comprises ester of. { [(isopropylidene) amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl.

The method according to claim 7, wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of acid. { [(isopropylidene) amino} oxyacetic and aminooxyacetic acid.

The method according to claim 7, wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of aminoethoxyvinylglycine, methoxyvinyl.

13. A method for improving at least one plant growth factor in a plant comprising administering to the plant: (a) a first plant growth regulator comprising an inhibitor of biosynthesis or ethylene action wherein the inhibitor of Ethylene biosynthesis is dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than 1 micron; (b) a second plant growth regulator comprising a plant growth retarder.

The method according to claim 13, 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

15. Claim 14, wherein the oxime in substituted ether is selected from the group consisting of ester. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (methoxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(isopropylidene) -amino] oxy} -acetic acid-2- (hexyloxy) -2-oxoethyl, ester of. { [(cyclohexylidene) -amino] oxy} acetic acid-2- (isopropylidene) -2-oxyethyl.

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

The method according to claim 13, wherein the biosynthesis or ethylene action inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of acid. { [(isopropylidene) amino] oxyacetic acid and aminooxyacetic acid.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the biosynthesis or ethylene action inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of aminoethoxyvinylglycine, methoxyvinylglycine and rixobitoxin.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

The method according to claim 14, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

22. The method according to claim 16, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

23. The method according to claim 17 wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

24. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second plant growth regulator comprises mepiquat chloride.

25. 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 ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor is dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol particles ("PVA") having an average diameter greater than 1 micron.