This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed or seedling of an agricultural plant (e.g., an agricultural grass plant), or the agricultural plant derived from the seed or seedling. For example, this application provides purified bacterial populations that include novel seed-origin bacterial endophytes, and synthetic combinations of seeds and/or seedlings (e.g., cereal seeds and/or seedlings) with heterologous seed-derived bacterial endophytes.

This application relates to methods and materials for providing a benefit to a seed or seedling of an agricultural plant (e.g., an agricultural grass plant), or the agricultural plant derived from the seed or seedling. For example, this application provides purified bacterial populations that include novel seed-origin bacterial endophytes, and synthetic combinations of seeds and/or seedlings (e.g., cereal seeds and/or seedlings) with heterologous seed-derived bacterial endophytes.

A liquid composition the treatment of seeds of leguminous crops is disclosed. The liquid composition comprises phosphorus, molybdenum, cobalt and a solvent, wherein cobalt is present as vitamin B12 and the composition has a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and wherein the composition comprises monoethanolamine. A method of preparing seeds of leguminous crops is also disclosed, comprising the steps of coating the seeds with the liquid composition, coating the seeds with a composition comprising a rhizobia inoculant, and drying the seeds coated with both compositions.

A liquid composition the treatment of seeds of leguminous crops is disclosed. The liquid composition comprises phosphorus, molybdenum, cobalt and a solvent, wherein cobalt is present as vitamin B12 and the composition has a pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and wherein the composition comprises monoethanolamine. A method of preparing seeds of leguminous crops is also disclosed, comprising the steps of coating the seeds with the liquid composition, coating the seeds with a composition comprising a rhizobia inoculant, and drying the seeds coated with both compositions.

An intelligent seed production apparatus and method based on multistage screening and bud eye identification includes a feeding module, a pre-cutting module, a bud eye identifying and cutting module, and a material mixing module. The feeding module can screen out seed potatoes with the mass and shapes meeting the requirements through a multistage screening mechanism. The pre-cutting module can receive the seed potatoes discharged from the feeding module, and cut each seed potato in half; the bud eye identifying and cutting module can receive the seed potato pieces discharged from the pre-cutting module and determine the weight of the seed potatoes and identify the bud eye distribution on the surfaces of the seed potatoes, and cut the seed potato into multiple required tubers, so that bud eyes are distributed on different tubers uniformly. The material mixing module can receive the cut tubers, and complete the material mixing of the tubers.

An intelligent seed production apparatus and method based on multistage screening and bud eye identification includes a feeding module, a pre-cutting module, a bud eye identifying and cutting module, and a material mixing module. The feeding module can screen out seed potatoes with the mass and shapes meeting the requirements through a multistage screening mechanism. The pre-cutting module can receive the seed potatoes discharged from the feeding module, and cut each seed potato in half; the bud eye identifying and cutting module can receive the seed potato pieces discharged from the pre-cutting module and determine the weight of the seed potatoes and identify the bud eye distribution on the surfaces of the seed potatoes, and cut the seed potato into multiple required tubers, so that bud eyes are distributed on different tubers uniformly. The material mixing module can receive the cut tubers, and complete the material mixing of the tubers.

A seed treater having upper and lower ends includes a mixing bowl. The mixing bowl includes a stator having an annular upper inner surface defining an upper portion of the open interior of the mixing bowl, and a rotor defining a lower portion of the open interior of the mixing bowl. An air duct is fluidly connected to the mixing bowl and is configured to be fluidly connected to an air mover. The air duct includes a duct outlet configured to direct forced air from the air mover into the upper portion of the open interior defined by the upper stator to direct the seeds flowing in the upper portion of the interior of the mixing bowl inward toward a generally vertical axis of the mixing bowl as the lower rotor rotates relative to the upper stator.

A seed treater having upper and lower ends includes a mixing bowl. The mixing bowl includes a stator having an annular upper inner surface defining an upper portion of the open interior of the mixing bowl, and a rotor defining a lower portion of the open interior of the mixing bowl. An air duct is fluidly connected to the mixing bowl and is configured to be fluidly connected to an air mover. The air duct includes a duct outlet configured to direct forced air from the air mover into the upper portion of the open interior defined by the upper stator to direct the seeds flowing in the upper portion of the interior of the mixing bowl inward toward a generally vertical axis of the mixing bowl as the lower rotor rotates relative to the upper stator.

The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I)

##STR00001##

[wherein: Q represents a group represented by Q1 or a group represented by Q2;

##STR00002## Z represents an oxygen atom or the like; A.sup.2, A.sup.3, and A.sup.6 each represent a nitrogen atom or the like; A.sup.4 represents CR.sup.1a or the like; A.sup.5 represents a nitrogen atom or the like; A.sup.7 represents NR.sup.6g or the like; G.sup.1, G.sup.2, G.sup.3, and G.sup.4 each represent a nitrogen atom or the like; R.sup.1a represents a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group substituted with one or more substituent(s) selected from the group consisting of a cyano group and a halogen atom, or the like; R.sup.2 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more halogen atom(s), or the like; and n represents 0, 1, or 2]
or an N-oxide thereof having an excellent control effect on a harmful arthropod, and a composition for controlling a harmful arthropod comprising said compound, and a method for controlling a harmful arthropod which comprises applying said compound.

The present invention provides a compound represented by formula (I)

##STR00001##

[wherein: Q represents a group represented by Q1 or a group represented by Q2;

##STR00002## Z represents an oxygen atom or the like; A.sup.2, A.sup.3, and A.sup.6 each represent a nitrogen atom or the like; A.sup.4 represents CR.sup.1a or the like; A.sup.5 represents a nitrogen atom or the like; A.sup.7 represents NR.sup.6g or the like; G.sup.1, G.sup.2, G.sup.3, and G.sup.4 each represent a nitrogen atom or the like; R.sup.1a represents a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group substituted with one or more substituent(s) selected from the group consisting of a cyano group and a halogen atom, or the like; R.sup.2 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group optionally substituted with one or more halogen atom(s), or the like; and n represents 0, 1, or 2]
or an N-oxide thereof having an excellent control effect on a harmful arthropod, and a composition for controlling a harmful arthropod comprising said compound, and a method for controlling a harmful arthropod which comprises applying said compound.