GB2134505A - Agent for the regulation of plant growth - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an agent for the regulation of plant growth and especially for stabilising and increasing the yields in cereal crops, comprising 2-chloroethane- phosphonic acid and optionally also chlorocholine chloride, wherein, in addition to conventional adjuvant and carrier materials, it also contains at least one hexane derivative of the general formula:- <IMAGE> wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing up to 3 carbon atoms, R2 and R3, which can be the same or different, are hydrogen or chlorine atoms and Y is an aldehyde or carboxylic acid group.

Description

SPECIFICATION Agent for the regulation of plant growth The present invention is concerned with an agent for the regulation of plant growth and especially for stabilising and increasing the yield in cereal crops.

It is known that, on the basis of the present knowledge concerning the manner of working of native phytohormones and inhibitors, it is possible to intervene in vegetative processes in an objective manner.

Furthermore, a large number of different active materials are known for influencing plant growth and metabolism, including, for example, 2-cholorethane-phosphonic acid, chlorocholine chloride and succinic and maleic acid azide.

Such regulators can intervene at the most varied receptors and, depending upon the stage of development of the plants, the manner of application and the time of application, as well as upon the concentration and formulation of the active material, can initiate very different reactions.

From this follows a large variety of possibilities of use. Thus, it is possible objectively to influence the vegetative and generative bud formation, the flowering process and the sex determination, as well as the processes of germination, and also to achieve parthenocarpic effects. Besides general morphological changes of the plants, the longitudinal growth and thickness can also be controlled.

Not immaterial are applications of growth and metabolism regulators, which favourably influence the transport and storage properties, as well as increase the persistence of tolerance towards biotic and abiotic factors.

Furthermore, it is to be stressed that by the use of such regulators, a decisive influence can be made on the take up of nutriments, nutriment transport and also on the formation and composition of component and storage materials of the plants.

In addition, it is known that, by a combination of known agents, increases of activity can be brought about which exceed the results obtained in the case of employing individual substances.

Thus, for example, it is known that 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and derivatives thereof possess plant growth-regulating properties (see German Democratic Republic Patent Specifications Nos. 85,466; 85,876; 93;656 and 91,745). Mixtures of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and cyanamide are used for defoliating grapevines, fruit trees and other cultures (see Federal Republic of Germany Patent Specification No. 2,111,178 and French Patent Specification No.

2,128,278). A growth inhibition and blade stabilisation can be brought about in the case of grasses by application of a mixture of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and 2-chloro-9-fluorocarboxylate (see Federal Republic of Germany Patent Specification No. 2,219,525).

The blade-stabilising action in the case of cereals is known to be achieved by the use of a combination of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid, chlorocholine chloride and a third component (see German Democratic Republic Patent Specifications Nos. 123,051 and 119,698). However, these agents display disadvantages to a varying extent.

It is desirable to provide synthetic growth regulators for a broad spectrum of cultivated plants which provide a good reproducability of action and which exclude phytotoxic side effects.

It is an object of the present invention to provide agents for the regulation of plant growth based upon 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and optionally chlorocholine chloride which permit, especially in the case of cereal crops, a reduction in the amounts to be applied, a broadening of the period of time of application and an increase in the crop yield.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an agent for regulating plant growth and especially for stabilising and increasing the yields in cereal crops, comprising 2chloroethane-phosphonic acid and optionally chlorocholine chloride, wherein, in addition to conventional adjuvant and carrier materials, it also contains at least one hexane derivative of the general formula:-

wherein R1 is an alkyl radical containing up to 3 carbon atoms, R2 and R3, which can be the same or different, are hydrogen or chlorine atoms and X is an aldehyde (CHO) or carboxylic acid (COOH) group.

The weight ratio between the 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and the hexane derivative is preferably 9:1 to 1:1 and between the 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid, chlorocholine chloride and the hexane derivative is preferably 6:3:1 to 1:3:6.

The active materials used according to the present invention can be prepared by known processes: 2,3-dichloro-ethylhexanal is obtainable by the chlorination of 2-ethylhexanal; 2chloro-2-ethyl-hexanoic acid is obtainable by the catalytic chlorination of 2-ethylhexanoic acid in the presence of phosphorus trichloride and subsequent hydrolysis; finally, 2,3-dichloro-2ethylhexanoic acid can be obtained by the atmospheric oxidation of 2-ethyl-hexanal to give 2ethylhexanoic acid and subsequent chlorination thereof.

Surprisingly, we have found that, with the combination according to the present invention, the period of time of application in the case of cereals can be considerably widened and, in the extreme case, from the 5-leaf stage of the cereal plants up to development stage 10 according to the Feekes scale. Furthermore, the new combinations have the advantage that, for the achievement of an action which is comparable with or better than that obtained with previously used preparations, a substantially smaller application of total active materials is needed.

In this way, the amounts applied, especially of chlorocholine chloride, can, having regard to human toxicity considerations, be reduced to a minimum. Decisive for the intended effect are the amounts of active substance applied and the stage of development of the cereal at the time of the use thereof.

The use of the agents according to the present invention preferably takes place in the forms of composition and application which are conventional for agents used for controlling biological processes, for example solutions, emulsions and concentrates which are made up with the addition of liquid carrier materials or dilution agents, usually with the addition of surface-active agents and other formulation agents, and can then be diluted with water prior to use.

The forms of application used depend upon the purpose of the application. In any case, they must ensure a fine division of the active substances. The compositions can be prepared in known manner by mixing processes.

Depending upon the purpose of application, the agents according to the present invention are preferably used in amounts of from 0.3 to 1.5 kg./ha.

The following Examples are given for the purpose of illustrating the present invention. In the following Tables I to XIII, the following abbreviations are used: A = 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid B = chlorocholine chloride C = 2,3-dichloro-2-ethylhexanal D = 2-chloro-2-ethylhexanoic acid E = 2,3,-dichloro-2-ethylhexanoic acid.

Example 1 Influencing of the longitudinal and mass growth of barley and wheat by the agent according to the present invention.

Spring wheat plants of the "Hatri" strain and spring barley plants of the "Trumpf" strain were treated in an acclimatised chamber with 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid (A), 2,3-dichloro2-ethyl-hexanal (C), 2-chloro-2-ethylhexanoic acid (D) and with combinations of these active materials. Application took place at the 2-leaf stage by-dipping the leaf branchings into the test solution.

In order to ensure an appropriate take up of active material, the addition of wetting agents was absolutely necessary. Evaluation took place 4 weeks after the commencement of germination. There was thereby determined the green mass in relation to untreated controls, as well as the distance between the first and second leaf branching.

As can be seen from the following Tables I to Ill, by means of the combinations according to the present invention (A + C and A + D), a measurable increase of the green mass formation and, simultaneously, a marked reduction of the longitudinal growth are achieved in comparison with the results obtained with the use of the individual components.

For the investigation of the combination action of the individual components, use is made of Colby's method: Xl.yl E1 = ~~~ 100 wherein x, is the relative length induced by a compound A at a dosage of a, V1 is the relative length induced by a compound B at a dosage of b and E1 is the additive action of the combination A + B. ER1 is the experimentally determined relative length of the combination A + B at the dosage a+ b.

The values given in Table IV show that the activity increase of a combination of 2chloroethane-phosphonic acid plus dichloroethylhexanal, in comparison with the individual components, can be attributed quite clearly to a synergistic effect. According to Colby, synergism is present when E1 ERl.

Example 2 Stalk-shortening and stalk-stabilising properties of the agents according to the present invention.

Combinations consisting of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid (A), chlorocholine chloride (B) and dichloroethylhexanal (C) or 2,3-dichloro-2-ethyl-hexanoic acid (E) were tested in 5 small parcel experiments on cultures of winter barley, winter rye, winter wheat, spring barley and oats, as well as in 1 8 exact parcel experiments on cultures of winter barley, winter rye and winter wheat.

The size of the small parcels was 5 m2 and that of the other parcels 25 m2 (in the case of fourfold repetition).

Application was made at development stage 5 and 7 of the cereals according to the Feekes scale (Fe5 and Fe7), the amounts of active materials applied being from 0.5 to 2.9 kg./ha.

Evaluation of the experiments took place by means of variance analysis.

As the results given in the following Tables show, the agents according to the present invention, in comparison with the conventional standards, are especially characterised in that even in the early stage of development Fe5, as well as also with considerably reduced application of active material, they bring about a very good stalk-shortening effect. Thus, for example, at stage Fe7, the amount of active material applied for the achievement of a sufficient stalk stabilisation can be reduced to 0.5 kg./ha. Thus, in comparison with standard products, about 1.0 kg./ha. of active material can be saved.

According to previous experience, for winter wheat there is especially suitable a combination containing 2-chlorocholine chloride, preferably in a mixing ratio of 6:3:1 (A + B + C), whereas for winter barley and winter rye there is used a combination containing 2-chloroethanephosphonic acid, preferably in a mixing ratio of 9:1 (A + C).

Example 3 Yield-influencing action of the agents according to the present invention.

An agent according to the present invention consisting of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid, dichloroethylhexanal and chlorocholine chloride was tested by the experimental methodology described in Example 2 for its yield-influencing action on cereals. All the illustrated experimental results are referred to 86% dry weight.

In the case of the use of the agents according to the present invention, in all experiments there was observed a usually statistically ensured yield increase in comparison with the untreated controls. This also applies when no different laying tendency was ascertainable between untreated and treated parcels.

In comparison with standard products in the case of considerably reduced amounts of active material applied per unit area, there was also achieved a clearly measurable increase of yield.

Whereas, for example, in the case of long-stalked kinds of wheat (for example "Mironowskaja 808"), for an optimum stalk and yield stabilisation it is necessary to use 2kg./ha. of chlorocholine chloride of 2 kg./ha. of a combination of 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and chlorocholine chloride (2:3), for the achievement of comparable effects with the agents according to the present invention, because of the synergistic action, total applications of active materials of 0.5 kg./ha. were already sufficient.

TABLE I Influencing of the green mass formation in spring barley by the agent according to the present invention concent- green mass (relative to control) ration mg./100 ml. A C 9:1 7:3 1:1 3:7 1:9 A+C A+C A+C A+C A+C A+C 100 98 91 90 114 95 95 95 200 96 86 100 105 110 100 86 400 95 79 114 110 114 110 114 800 93 71 95 105 90 100 110 TABLE II Influencing of the longitudinal growth of spring barley by the agent according to the present invention concentration length (relative to control) mg./100 ml. 9:1 7:3 1:1 3:7 1::9 A+C A+C C A+C A+C A+C A+C A+C 100 100 96 85 77 65 64 59 200 98 91 69 53 48 45 43 400 94 83 66 53 46 43 44 800 83 70 55 46 43 41 40 TABLE 111 Influencing of the longitudinal growth and of the green mass formation in spring wheat and spring barley by the agent according to the present invention concentration spring wheat spring barley mg./100 ml. length weight length weight A D A + D A + D (relative to control) 75 25 100 3:1 51 94 43 92 50 50 100 1:1 51 95 ' 29 92 25 75 100 1:3 75 94 77 98 TABLE IV Evaluation of the combined action according to Colby with regard to influencing of the longitudinal growth by the agent according to the present invention concentration length (relative to control) mg./100ml. A B A+B A C A+C A::C .x, y1 ER; R1 El-Ed 90 10 100 9:1 100 96 88 96 8 180 20 200 98 91 76 89 13 360 40 400 94 83 68 78 10 720 80 800 83 70 55 58 3 50 50 100 1:1 100 79 67 69 12 100 100 200 99 66 57 65 8 200 200 400 98 50 47 49 2 400 400 800 94 43 37 40 3 TABLE V Influencing of growth height in winter barley and winter rye by use of the agent according to the present invention at stages Fe5 and FE7 in 1982 in comparison with untreated controls winter winter amount barley 1) rye 2) used growth growth Agent ratio kg./ha. height height untreated 100 100 control (90 cm.) (160 cm.) Stage Fe 5 A+C 9:1 1.0 92 94 A+C 1.25 90 90 A+C 1.5 88 87 Stage Fe 7 A+C 9:1 0.5 91 93 A+C 0.75 89 88 A+C 1.0 87 86 Stage Fe 5 A+E 9:1 1.0 95 93 A+E 1.25 92 93 A+E 1.5 88 90 Stage Fe 7 A+E 9::1 0.5 93 92 A+E 0.75 86 90 A+E 1.0 85 87 1) "Erfa" 2) "Pluto" 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 TABLE VI Influencing of growth height of cereal cultures in the case of using the agent according to the present invention at stage Fe 7 in comparison with untreated controls (values of 5 parcel experiments in 1979 and 1980 growth height amount winter winter winter spring used barley rye wheat barley agent ratio kg./ha. (rel. to control) A+C 9:1 0.5 93 84 A+C 1.0 90 84 79 93 79 A+C 2.0 72 73 70 A+C 1:1 0.5 92 92 A+C 1.0 95 96 88 94 91 A+C 2.0 84 89 79 A+C 3:7 0.5 A+C 1.0 96 97 91 95 95 A+C 2.0 88 90 85 99 97 A+E 3:1 1.0 95 97 85 87 A+E 1.5 90 97 81 81 A+E 2.0 86 94 77 74 A+E 1: :1 1.0 93 93 87 ' 91 A+E 1.5 90 93 83 81 A+E 2.0 86 93 85 84 TABLE VII Influencing of growth height and grain yield in winter barley and winter rye by use of agent according to present invention in stage Fe 7 in comparison with untreated control and standards in 1981 (values relative to untreated control) amount winter barley winter rye2) used growth growth agent ratio kg./ha. height dt/ha height dt/ha untreated 100 100 100 100 control (113 cm) (57.5) (146 cm) (41.7) Camposan 1.7 82 105 94 102 Terpal 1.5 86 108 92 103 A+C 9:1 0.5 84 110 94 116 A+C 0.75 81 111 92 108 A+C 1;0 79 102 88 107 A+E 9:1 0.5 82 113 94 107 A+E 0.75 80 112 90 112 A+E 1.0 78 110 85 106 A+E 3::1 0.5 83 112 93 105 A+E 0.75 80 110 87 103 A+E 1.0 77 107 88 106 GD 5% 5 5 5 8 1) "Vogelsanger Gold" 2) "Pluto" TABLE VIII Influencing of growth height of cereal cultures in the case of using the agent according to the present invention at stage Fe 7 in comparison with untreated control (values of 5 parcel experiments in 1980) growth height amount winter winter winter spring used barley rye wheat barley agent ratio Kg./ha. (rel. to control) A+B+C 6:3:1 1.0 98 95 81 94 86 A+B+C 1.5 93 86 75 A+B+C 2.0 87 81 76 I A+B+C 1:3::6 1.0 93 87 81 98 84 A+B+C 1.5 88 84 85 A+B+C 2.0 85 84 84 TABLE IX Influencing of the growth height and rigidity of cereal cultures in the case of using the agent according to the present invention at stage Fe 7 in comparison with untreated controls (in percent) (values from 6 parcel experiments in 1980) amount winter winter winter used barley rye wheat agent ratio kg./ha.GH R GH R GH R untreated 100 3 100 2 100 5 control A+C 9:1 0.75 92 6 95 4 A+C 1.0 90 6 90 6 83 8 A+C 1.25 87 6 88 6 81 8 A+B+C 6:3:1 1.25 83 8 A+B+C 1.5 81 8 GH = growth height (cm.) R = rigidity; assessment by values 9 to 1, 9 meaning no laying and 1 = total laying TABLE X Influencing of grain yield in winter barley and winter wheat by use of the agent according to the present invention at stage Fe 7 in comparison with untreated controls (values from 4 parcel experiments in 1980 amount winter barley winter wheat used rel. to rel. to agent ratio kg./ha. dt/ha control dt/ha control untreated 76.4 100 47.4 100 control A+C 9:1 1.0 78.5 103 A+C 1.25 77.8 102 A+C 1.5 76.3 100 A+B+C 6:3::1 1.0 49.2 104 A+B+C 1.25 53.6 113 TABLE XI Influencing of the growth height in winter barley and winter rye by use of the agent according to the present invention at stages Fe 5 and Fe 7 in 1982 in comparison with untreated controls amount used winter barley) winter rye2) agent ratio kg./ha. growth height growth height untreated 100 100 control (90 cm) 160 cm) Stage Fe 5 A+C 9:1 1.0 92 94 A+C 1.25 90 90 A+C 1.5 88 87 Stage Fe 7 A+C 9::1 0.5 91 93 A+C 0.75 89 88 A+C 1.0 87 86 1) "Erfa" 2) "Pluto" TABLE XII Influencing of growth height, rigidity and grain yield in winter wheat ') by use of the agent according to the present invention at stage Fe 7 in 1981 in comparison with control and standard (values related to untreated control amount used growth agent ratio kg./ha. height rigidity2) yield untreated 100 4 100 control (120cm) (52.1 dt/ha) CCC 2.0 87 5 117 A+B+C 6:3:1 0.5 83 6 112 A+B+C 1.25 75 9 118 GD 5% 5 13 1) "lljitschowka" 2) rigidity, assessment by values 9 to 1, 9 meaning no laying and 1 meaning total laying.

TABLE XIII Influencing of growth height of winter wheat ') by use of the agent according to the present invention in stages Fe 5 and Fe 7 in comparison with untreated controls and standards in 1982 (values relative to untreated control amount used agent ratio kg./ha. growth height untreated 100 control (106 cm) Stage Fe 5 CCC 2.0 79 A+B+C 6:3:1 1.0 83 A+B+C 1.25 84 A+B+C 1.5 80 Stage Fe 7 A+B+C 0.5 75 A+B+C 0.75 75 A+B+C 1.0 74 1) ''lljitschowka

Claims (7)

1. Agent for the regulation of plant growth and especially for stabilising and increasing the yields in cereal crops, comprising 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and optionally also chlorocholine chloride, wherein, in addition to conventional adjuvant and carrier materials, it also contains at least one hexane derivative of the general formula:

wherein R, is an alkyl radical containing up to 3 carbon atoms, R2 and R3, which can be the same or different, are hydrogen or chlorine atoms and X is an aldehyde or carboxylic acid group.

2. Agent according to claim 1, wherein it contains 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid and a hexane derivative in a weight ratio of from 9:1 to 1:1.

3. Agent according to claim 1, wherein it contains 2-chloroethane-phosphonic acid, chlorocholine chloride and a hexane derivative in a weight ratio of from 6:3:1 to 1:3:6.

4. Agent according to claim 1 for the regulation of plant growth, substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified.

5. A method of regulating plant growth, wherein an agent according to claim 1 is applied to growing plants.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the agent is applied to growing plants in an amount of from 0.3 to 1.5 kg./ha.

7. A method of regulating plant growth according to claim 5, substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified.