METHOD OF TREATING PLANTS
Technical Field
This invention relates a method of treating plants, especially angiosperms to
increase flower size and/or to influence crop of crop-bearing plants.
Background Art
The substituted phenylurea compound, thidiazuron (TDZ), is a known plant
growth regulator and its described use is for defoliation of cotton, in order to
facilitate harvesting. In J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci 117(1) : 85-89 1992 it was
reported that the substituted phenylurea compounds, CPPU and TDZ, may
be used to increase cluster weight and berry size in several seedless grape
varieties. The document teaches that CCPU and TDZ were applied directly to
the fruit by dipping the fruit into compositions containing the CCPU and
TDZ. The study showed a disadvantage in that a delay of fruit maturity
occurred where CCPU and TDZ were applied, and it was stated that this may
have negative consequences.
Acta Hort. 239: 395 -398 describes spray treatment and dip treatment of
certain fruit with 4-PU to enhance fruit size. Scientia Hort 35: 109-115
describes spraying unpollinated flowers of kiwi with CPPU to obtain increased
fruit size. J. Hort. Sci (1993) 70: 867-873 suggests that flower and fruit spray
with TDZ promotes fruit growth in persimmon.
Disclosure of the Invention
Applications of the plant growth regulator TDZ to the flowers of avocado
trees by conventional mechanised spray equipment gave poor, or even negative
increases in crop yield. Such equipment provided spray wherein the droplet
diameter size is from 250 to 500μm.
Most surprisingly it has been found that if a plant growth regulator such as
TDZ is applied to the flowers of avocado trees in a fine spray with a droplet
diameter size of equal or smaller than 150μm, significant increases in crop yield
are obtained. It was found that this treatment increased fruit set as well as fruit
size. Changes in fruit shape were also observed. Fruit of "necky" avocado
varieties such as Fuerte, Pinkerton and Edranol were changed to more
desirable rounded fruit. Increase in flower size was also observed. Most
surprising it was found that if the droplets in the spray had a diameter above
a certain level it was not as effective.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of treating
crop-bearing angiosperms to influence the crop, comprising the steps of
- providing at least one plant growth regulator in liquid form; and
applying the at least one plant growth regulator to the flowers of the
angiosperms at a droplet diameter size equal or smaller than 150μm.
The crop bearing angiosperms may be treated to increase the crop yield.
The angiosperms may be treated to achieve one or more of the following
results: increased fruit set; increased fruit size; and change of fruit shape.
In one embodiment of the invention the angiosperms to be treated may
comprise fruit bearing plants. In one particular embodiment they may
comprise tropical fruit bearing plants and preferably they comprise avocado
trees.
It is foreseen that the angiosperms may comprise nut-bearing plants such as the
plants bearing macadamia nuts, pecan nuts, walnuts or almonds. In macadamia
nut bearing plants an increase in style one kernels was observed.
The plant growth regulator may comprise a substituted phenylurea.
Preferably the substituted phenylurea comprises cytokinen activity. It is
foreseen that the plant growth regulator may comprise N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-
N' -phenylurea (hereinafter referred to as CPPU). Preferably, and particularly
it comprises N-phenyl-N'- l,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl urea (hereinafter referred to as
thidiazuron or TDZ).
The plant growth regulator may be provided in the form of an admixture of
the plant growth regulator and a penetration enhancer which enhances
penetration of the plant growth regulator into an angiosperm to which it is in
use applied. The penetration enhancer may comprise any suitable penetration
enhancer to enhance foliar uptake, preferably it comprises an oil, more
preferably a distilled oil. In one application it may comprise at least one
distilled oil selected from the oils known in the trade as Wenfinex and Citrex.
It is believed that the oil also prolongs the life of small droplets.
The admixture may also include water.
The admixture may include the plant growth regulator in an amount from
0,0 lg/^ admixture to 10g/^ admixture, preferably from 0,05g/ admixture to
0,75g/£ admixture. Although last-mentioned concentration range is a preferred
concentration range, other concentrations may also provide good results. As
mentioned later many factors influence the selection of the concentration of
the plant growth regulator.
The admixture may include the penetration enhancer in an amount from
0,05g/£ admixture to 160g/ admixture, preferably from 4g/^ admixture to
50g/ admixture and most preferably about 8g/. admixture.
In one preferred embodiment of the invention the admixture comprises an
admixture of TDZ; a penetration enhancer in the form of an oil; and water.
Preferably the admixture comprises TDZ at a concentration from 0,05g/^
admixture to 0,5g admixture; oil at a concentration from 5m^/^ admixture
to 20m^/ admixture; and water.
Preferably the TDZ is at a concentration of about 0,lg/m admixture, and the
oil is at a concentration of 10ml/^ admixture.
The oil may comprise any one or more of the products known in the trade as
Wenfinex and Citrex.
The admixture may be prepared by first mixing the plant growth regulator
with water and thereafter adding the penetration enhancer to this mixture and
mixing it well.
The liquid form in which the plant growth regulator is provided may comprise
a solution, a suspension, an emulsion, or the like.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the plant growth regulator is
applied to the flowers by means of spraying.
The spraying may be effected by any suitable means such as for example,
motorised knapsacks, air-blast sprayers or areal application.
Preferably the droplet diameter size of the spray is from 15μm to 150μm,
preferably from 20μm to 50μm and preferably about 30μm.
The plant growth regulator (preferably TDZ) may be applied at a rate from
0,5mg to 20mg plant growth regulator per meter square outer tree area.
Preferably it is applied at a rate from l,0mg to 7,5mg and most preferably at
a rate of about 2,0mg to 5,5mg. Although last-mentioned rate is a preferred
rate, higher rates such as 6,4 lmg/m2 also provided good results. As mentioned
later, many factors influence the selection of the application rate of the plant
growth regulator.
The total spray volume may vary from l to 30ml per meter square. Aerial
application is preferably carried out at 15 litres per hectare at 125g TDZ per
hectare.
It will be appreciated that factors such as the method of application and droplet
size will influence the selection of the concentration of the plant growth
regulator and the rate of application. This will again also differ from one plant
type to another. For example in the case of avocado plants a TDZ
concentration of 8,3g/£ (oil concentration of 10% v/v) provided good results
at a droplet si2e of 30μm at an application rate (spray by air that is by micro-
light aeroplane using Micronair® nozzles) of 0,5mg TDZ/m2. Similarly a TDZ
concentration of 0,lg/t (oil concentration at 1% v/v) provided good results
at a droplet size of 30 to 50μm at an application rate (by knapsack motorised
mist blower) at 5mg TDZ/m2. Similarly a TDZ concentration of 0,25g/£ (oil
concentration of 1% v/v) provided good results at a droplet size of 100 -
150μm at an application rate (by low volume air-blast sprayer) at 2,5mg
TDZ/m2.
The plant growth regulator is preferably applied to the flowers at full flower.
In the case of avocado trees the plant growth regulator is preferably applied
at full panicle expansion.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method of increasing the flower size of angiosperms comprising the steps of:
providing at least one plant growth regulator in liquid form; and
applying the at least one plant growth regulator to the flowers of the
angiosperms at a droplet size equal or smaller than 150μm.
It is believed that the treatment causes bigger flowers to form, or parts of the
flowers to be bigger and extends the overlap period of male and female flowers.
It is also believed that in the case of fruit bearing plants this increase also
influences the crop by one or more of the following factors, namely: fruit set,
fruit size and fruit shape.
The invention also relates to angiosperms treated in such a manner and to
flowers or fruit from such angiosperms.
The invention will now be further described by means of the following non-
limiting examples:
Formulation Example
A spray tank was filled with 40^ of water. To this was added 35g TDZ and the
contents were mixed well. Wenfinex in an amount of 1,4 litres was added to
the resultant mixture and the contents were again mixed well. The spray tank
was then filled to 140^ with water and the contents were mixed well.
Dosage Example
The tree height and base diameter was measured and the surface area for both
spray sides of the tree was calculated as tree height (m) x tree base diameter (m)
x 2.
In the case of avocado trees one preferred application rate is believed to be
20m£ of the spray mix of the formulation example per m2. This provides TDZ
at a dosage rate of 5mg per m2.
For a standard size avocado orchard of two hundred mature trees per hectare
the application rate would be 280f spray mix of the above formulation
example per hectare. In calculating this volume it is assumed that the average
tree size is 5m in height and the base diameter is 7m. The total spray area for
200 trees per hectare is then 5m x 7m x 2 x 200 = 14 000m2.
The volume spray mix is accordingly 280 litres per hectare.
Application Examples
1. A plant growth regulator formulation was made up in a similar way as
described in the formulation example, however, in this case the final 140^
mixture contained 89,74g TDZ and 3,5 Winfinex.
1.1 An orchard of Hass avocado trees (3 years old) spaced 6m x 3m was
selected. The above formulation was supplied by knapsack mist
blower application at full flower with the droplet size of the spray
being about 30μm. The formulation was applied at 10ml/m2, that
is with a TDZ dosage rate of 6,41 mg/m2. The effect on the fruit
size range is expressed in Table 1. In the control no plant growth
regulator formulation was applied.
Table 1
From the above results it can be clearly seen that the fruit size increased with
the TDZ treatment.
1.2 The same treatment as described in 1 above was carried out on an
orchard of Fuerte avocado trees (9 years old) spaced at 5m x 4m.
The effect of the yield is expressed in Table 2. In the control no
plant growth regulator formulation was applied.
Table 2
An orchard of Hass avocado trees (5 years old) spaced 6m x 3m was
selected. The formulation as set out in the formulation example
was supplied by knapsack mist blower application at full flower
with the droplet size of the spray being about 30 micron. The
formulation was applied at 20ml/m2, that is with a TDZ dosage rate
of 5,0mg/m2. The effect on fruit size and yield is expressed in Table
3. In the control no plant growth regulator formulation was
applied.
Table 3
From the above results it can be clearly seen that the yield increased with the
TDZ treatment.
Application of TDZ to Fuerte avocado trees (4 years old) in the same way as
set out in application example 2 but at a dosage or application rate of lOmg
TDZ/m2 resulted in an average of 79 fruits per tree compared to an average of
27 fruits per tree for the untreated trees. Application of TDZ to Hass avocado
trees (3 years old) in the same way as set out in application example 2 at a
dosage rate of 5mg/m2 resulted in an average of 226 fruits per tree compared
to an average of 205 fruits per tree for the untreated trees. These results show
that the treatment bring about an increase in fruit set.
It was also found that "necky" avocado varieties such as Fuerte, Pinkerton and
Edranol were changed to more desirable rounded fruit. It also appears that the
method of treatment hastened maturity in Fuerte fruit.
It has also been observed that the application of TDZ to flowers upsets the
normal female/male flowering pattern. The closure of the male flower is
delayed and/or incomplete thereby providing pollen available for a longer
period for pollination of the female flowers.
It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible without
thereby departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.