The present application relates to novel 3′-unsaturated abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives of Formula (I) as ABA antagonists. For example, the present application relates to methods of using compounds of Formula (I) for reducing adverse effects of an ABA response in plants such as lentil and promoting germination. (I) The present application also relates to methods of using 3′-phenyl abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives of Formula (II) as ABA antagonists, for example, for reducing adverse effects of an ABA response in plants such as lentil and promoting germination. (II)

##STR00001##

The present application relates to novel 3′-unsaturated abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives of Formula (I) as ABA antagonists. For example, the present application relates to methods of using compounds of Formula (I) for reducing adverse effects of an ABA response in plants such as lentil and promoting germination. (I) The present application also relates to methods of using 3′-phenyl abscisic acid (ABA) derivatives of Formula (II) as ABA antagonists, for example, for reducing adverse effects of an ABA response in plants such as lentil and promoting germination. (II)

##STR00001##

A topical serum and its method of production and use. The serum is used to treat damage on plant tissue, such as damaged leaves. The serum triggers the immunity responses of the plant, therein enabling the damaged tissue to heal, rather than die and fall away from the plant. The serum is a combination of aqueous solutions. The first solution contains at least one immunity response compound that is selected from methyl jasmonate and methyl salicylate. The second solution contains at least one B vitamin. The solutions are mixed to form a topical serum. The topical serum is applied over the damaged tissue, wherein the immunity response compounds enhance the pattern-triggered immunity response and the effector-triggered immunity response of the plant. The vitamin B solution inhibits the oxidation and preserves undamaged. tissue.

Disclosed herein are methods of increasing, enhancing, or accelerating root nodulation in a plant, accelerating growth of nitrogen fixing bacteria in nodules of a plant, increasing protein content in a plant, increasing yield of a plant, improving water retention of a plant, or reducing water use of a plant, the method comprising identifying a plant in need of root nodulation, and applying to the plant a composition comprising a protein component comprising yeast stress proteins resulting from subjecting a mixture obtained from the yeast fermentation to stress.

Disclosed herein are methods of increasing, enhancing, or accelerating root nodulation in a plant, accelerating growth of nitrogen fixing bacteria in nodules of a plant, increasing protein content in a plant, increasing yield of a plant, improving water retention of a plant, or reducing water use of a plant, the method comprising identifying a plant in need of root nodulation, and applying to the plant a composition comprising a protein component comprising yeast stress proteins resulting from subjecting a mixture obtained from the yeast fermentation to stress.

The present invention provides a method of preparing a conditioner for protected agriculture acidic soil with distillers' grains and use of the conditioner. The method includes mixing distillers' grains with water, adjusting a pH to obtain adjusted distillers' grains, mixing the adjusted distillers' grains with an acid protease, and reacting under stirring at 45-50° C. for 22-26 hours to obtain a protease catalyzed substance, adjusting pH of the protease catalyzed substance, mixing with a cellulase, and reacting under stirring at 40-45° C. for 34-38 hours to obtain a cellulase catalyzed substance, filtering the cellulase catalyzed substance to obtain a filtrate, mixing the filtrate with a magnesium oxide (MgO) and then a calcium-containing substance, reacting to obtain a reactant, mixing the reactant with potassium sorbate and sucrose to obtain the conditioner for protected agriculture acidic soil.

A slow releasing fertilizer system comprising polysaccharide-based hydrogel beads, and methods of making and using the same, are described.

Multi-functional biological compositions are provided for reducing hydric stress and promoting growth in cultivated plants, for use as an inoculant, as a soil conditioner, as a biostimulant, for phosphorus solubilization and for bioremediation in agricultural areas. In particular, compositions containing mixtures of additives and excipients are provided having at least 2 (two) or more species of Bacillus or two or more strains of a single species, or the mutants thereof, concomitantly with additives and excipients, in biological compositions with properties for reducing hydric stress and promoting growth in cultivated plants, for use as an inoculant, as a biological soil conditioner, as a biostimulant, for phosphorus stabilization and for bioremediation in agricultural areas, added to the coating/encrustation used in industrial or non-industrial seed treatment, applied in furrows, using a guided boom or by other application means.

Multi-functional biological compositions are provided for reducing hydric stress and promoting growth in cultivated plants, for use as an inoculant, as a soil conditioner, as a biostimulant, for phosphorus solubilization and for bioremediation in agricultural areas. In particular, compositions containing mixtures of additives and excipients are provided having at least 2 (two) or more species of Bacillus or two or more strains of a single species, or the mutants thereof, concomitantly with additives and excipients, in biological compositions with properties for reducing hydric stress and promoting growth in cultivated plants, for use as an inoculant, as a biological soil conditioner, as a biostimulant, for phosphorus stabilization and for bioremediation in agricultural areas, added to the coating/encrustation used in industrial or non-industrial seed treatment, applied in furrows, using a guided boom or by other application means.

A tunable one-pot method for producing nanoparticles for plant defense and growth enhancement that include components that collectively exhibit multiple release profiles of active ingredients when exposed to release conditions, such as contact with water, or sufficient moisture, or changes in pH, or the presence of plant roots. In a preferred embodiment, the method produces round or substantially round amorphous hydroxylated (and thus water soluble and low toxicity) nanoparticles having i) a silica-based core that exhibits a slow release rate and ii) silica mono- and/or oligomer based nanodomains and/or one or more active ingredients associated with the core, entrapped in nanopores or nanodomains, and/or adsorbed to the surface, etc., that exhibit at least a second, faster release rate under release conditions, wherein the active ingredient includes one or more of a silica monomer and/or oligomer and/or additional active ingredients such as a pesticide, nutrient, prebiotic, or phytostimulant Methods for producing nanoparticles for agricultural use are disclosed, including colloidal synthesis steps that provide precise, tunable control of the architecture of the nanoparticles. Advantageously, the nanoparticles resulting from this process are suitable for use as plant growth and defense enhancers through delivery of the silica mono- and/or oligomers and/or active ingredients, by hormesis/plant nanopriming, or by mixture with conventional agrochemicals.