Composition made from polyol(s) and sterol(s) for use in the agricultural field

Abstract

Use of at least one non-ionic surfactant derived from polyols and a sterol for promoting the growth of a plant and the resistance of a plant to an abiotic stress, and stimulating the defence systems of a plant against an abiotic stress.

Claims

1. A method for biostimulating a plant comprising: applying a phytosanitary composition to the plant, wherein the phytosanitary composition is an aqueous solution that comprises sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol, wherein the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol are in a ratio of 80:20 (sucrose stearate:beta-sitosterol).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating is chosen from promoting germination of the plant, promoting elongation of one or more main roots and multiplication and elongation of secondary roots of the plant, promoting flowering of the plant, combating an abiotic stress, combating loss of stomatal water of the plant, stimulating one or more natural defense mechanisms against abiotic stress, and combinations thereof.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the one or more natural defense mechanisms is a systemic acquired resistance system.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the phytosanitary composition further comprises an active product.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the active product is chosen from nutrients, one or more fertilizers, one or more growth regulators and/or with a biocontrol product, one or more substances for destroying undesirable plants or to slow down their growth, and combinations thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the biocontrol product is chosen from fungicides, fungistatics, bactericides, bacteriostats, insecticides, acaricides, parasiticides, nematicides, taupicides or repellents for birds or game, and combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more substances for destroying undesirable plants or to slow down their growth is chosen from herbicides and anti-dicotyledonous herbicides.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant is in a stage chosen from after emergence, before emergence, a seed of the plant, a seedling of the plant, during flowering, after fertilization, during fruiting, fruit of the plant, flowers of the plant, leaves of the plant, plant stems, plant roots, soil of the plant before sowing, and soil of the plant after sowing.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant is chosen from Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plant is chosen from cereals, plants with roots and tubers, saccharifies, legumes, plants with nuts, oil-bearing or oleaginous plants, vegetable plants, fruit trees, aromatic plants and spices, plants for flower cultivation, and plants for industrial cultivation intended for the production of a raw material for processing.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution comprises from 0.01% to 80%, from 0.05% to 30%, or from 0.75% to 3% by weight of the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the phytosanitary composition is applied on the plant by an application chosen from spraying, watering the plant, adding to a hydroponic culture medium, immersing one or more seeds of the plant, and coating one or more seeds of the plant.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the phytosanitary composition is applied to the leaves of the plant.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the phytosanitary composition does not contain microorganism biostimulant.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating comprises combating an abiotic stress, stimulating one or more natural defense mechanisms against abiotic stress, and combinations thereof.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating comprises stimulating a local resistance system, a systemic acquired resistance system, and combinations thereof.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating comprises promoting elongation of one or more main roots and multiplication and elongation of secondary roots of the plant.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating comprises promoting flowering of the plant.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein biostimulating comprises combating loss of stomatal water of the plant.

Description

(1) FIG. 1 shows the comparison of the size of parsley plants after watering with water or after watering with a solution comprising the combination of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the quantification of salicylic acid in parsley plants 2, 4 or 8 hours after watering with water or a solution comprising the combination of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the measurement of the main root length of Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown in the absence of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol (0%) or in the presence of 10.sup.−5% or 10.sup.−3% sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol solution.

(4) FIG. 4 shows the secondary root system evaluation of Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown in the absence of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol (0%) or in the presence of 10.sup.−5% or 10.sup.−3% sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol in solution.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the flowering time for Arabidopsis thaliana plants treated with solutions comprising 1, 3 and 10% of the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol mixture or a control solution (water; H2O) sprayed once (1%, 3% and 10%) or twice at two-day intervals (1% 2×, 3% 2× and 10% 2×).

(6) FIG. 6 shows the evolution of the stomatal water loss as a function of time of Arabidopsis thaliana plants treated with water or a solution comprising the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention.

EXAMPLE 1: PREPARATION OF COMBINATIONS OF A NON-IONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION AND EVALUATION OF THEIR EFFECT ON THE RESISTANCE OF PARSLEY (PETROSELINUM CRISPUM) TO AN ABIOTIC STRESS

(7) Different combinations of this invention with a plant sterol are prepared from sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol.

(8) The combinations are prepared by dry mixing sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol, in proportions ranging from 0 to 100% by weight with respect to the total weight of the mixture, for each of these ingredients, as shown in the following Table 1.

(9) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sample Sucrose stearate Beta-sitosterol A 0 100 B 1 99 C 2.5 97.5 D 5 95 E 10 90 F 15 85 G 20 80 H 25 75 I 30 70 J 35 65 K 40 60 L 45 55 M 50 50 N 55 45 O 60 40 P 65 35 Q 70 30 R 75 25 S 80 20 T 85 15 U 90 10 V 95 5 W 97.5 2.5 X 99 1 Y 100 0

(10) The effectiveness of each combination on the plants tolerance to abiotic stress is analyzed.

(11) Potted parsley plants are grown in a climatic chamber under the following conditions: 23° C. and a photoperiod of 16 h/8 h. Before the treatment all the leaves of the parsley plants are cut off. The treatment of the parsley plants consists of watering the pots every three days with: 40 ml of water (Control batch) 40 ml of a solution composed of a sample according to Table 1 (97% water+3% of the sample)

(12) This abundant watering is intended to mimic a flooding stress.

(13) Each batch consists of four pots.

(14) After 18 days the plants are observed, and pictures are taken.

(15) All the samples, except the beta sitosterol alone (sample A), show a positive effect on the plants' tolerance to stress.

(16) The results show that sample S produces the optimal effect of plant resistance to abiotic stress (sample S composed of 80% sucrose stearate and 20% beta-sitosterol).

(17) An erecting habit was observed in treated plants, while the control plants had a drooping habit. In addition, the leaves of treated plants are darker in color.

(18) The results are shown in FIG. 1.

(19) The application of this invention by watering allows a better tolerance to “flooding” stress.

EXAMPLE 2: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A NON-ANIONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION ON THE SALICYLIC ACID SYNTHESIS OF PARSLEY

(20) Salicylic acid is a phenolic compound that is involved in the development of both local and systemic resistance (SAR) in plants.

(21) Potted parsley plants are grown under the conditions according to the example 1.

(22) The solutions are applied by watering the base of the plant (40 ml) and spraying the leaves. The solutions tested are: Control batch: water; treated batch A: solution comprising 97% water and 3% of sample A, i.e. 0% sucrose stearate and 100% beta-sitosterol; treated batch B: solution comprising 97% water and 3% of sample Y, 100% sucrose stearate and 0% beta-sitosterol; treated batch C: solution comprising 97% water and 3% of sample S, i.e. 80% sucrose stearate and 20% beta-sitosterol.

(23) Each batch consists of four pots.

(24) The plants harvested after the application of the treatment were frozen and crushed with liquid nitrogen in order to carry out a quantitative analysis of the salicylic acid content of the plants.

(25) The results are shown in FIG. 2.

(26) Unexpectedly, it was observed that the combination of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol (sample S) induced a greater stimulation of salicylic acid synthesis than the sum of the effects of each individual compound (sample A: beta-sitosterol+sample Y: sucrose stearate), in response to a biotic stress.

(27) These results therefore demonstrate a synergy of action of these two molecules.

EXAMPLE 3: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A NON-ANIONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION ON THE ROOT GROWTH OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

(28) Plants of Arabidopsis thaliana are grown on agar medium in a climatic chamber under the following conditions: 23° C. and a photoperiod of 16 h day/8 h night.

(29) An agar medium is used as control.

(30) Agar media containing 10.sup.−5% and 10.sup.−3% of the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to sample S are used to evaluate the effect of this invention on the development of the root system.

(31) The length of the main root and secondary roots is measured between the 2nd and 21st day after germination.

(32) The quantity of secondary roots is assessed visually.

(33) The results are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

(34) FIG. 3 shows that the main root of plants grown in the presence of 10.sup.−5% and 10.sup.−3% of the mixture according to this invention is longer than for plants grown in control agar medium.

(35) FIG. 4 shows that plants cultivated in agar media comprising 10.sup.−5% and 10.sup.−3% of the mixture according to this invention have more secondary roots which also are longer.

(36) It results from this demonstration that the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol mixture allows growth of the primary and secondary root system. As a result, the plant is better anchored in the soil and the penetration of nutrients into the plant is more efficient due to a more developed secondary root system.

EXAMPLE 4: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A NON-ANIONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION ON THE FLOWERING TIME OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

(37) Potted plants of Arabidopsis thaliana are grown under the conditions of Example 1.

(38) Solutions comprising 1, 3 and 10% of the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol mixture according to sample S or a control solution (water; H2O) are sprayed once (1%, 3% and 10%) or twice at two-day intervals (1% 2×, 3% 2× and 10% 2×), on 3-week-old plants.

(39) The number of flowering plants per modality was measured as a function of time.

(40) The results are shown in FIG. 5.

(41) The results show that the solution containing 10% of the mixture according to this invention and sprayed once, as well as the solution comprising 1% of the mixture and sprayed twice, have the same efficacy as water on the flowering of the plants.

(42) On the other hand, a single spraying on the plants of the solutions comprising 1% or 5% of the mixture increases the number of flowering plants compared to the control.

(43) As a result, the sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol mixture according to this invention accelerates flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana.

EXAMPLE 5: EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF A NON-ANIONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION ON THE STOMATAL WATER LOSS OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

(44) Potted plants of Arabidopsis thaliana are grown under the conditions of Example 1.

(45) The 4-week old plants are treated with a foliar spray, 4 hours before measurements are made, with water (Control) or a solution comprising 3% of the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to sample S.

(46) The amount of water lost through the stomata over time is measured after detachment of the rosette from the total water mass at t=0, according to the following formula:

(47) $\mathrm{Loss}\left(\%\right)=\frac{\left(\mathrm{fresh}\mathrm{mass}t=0-\mathrm{mass}t=T\right)}{\left(\mathrm{fresh}\mathrm{mass}t=0-\mathrm{dry}\mathrm{mass}\right)}\times 100$

(48) The results are shown in FIG. 6.

(49) The data show that the spray application of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention allows reducing the loss of water through the plant stomata in an effective and sustainable manner over time.

EXAMPLE 7: EVALUATION OF THE WETTING EFFECT OF A NON-ANIONIC SURFACTANT AND A STEROL ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION ON ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA

(50) Potted plants of Arabidopsis thaliana are grown under the conditions of Example 1.

(51) The leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana are treated with a foliar spray, water (Control) or a solution comprising 3% of the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to sample S.

(52) The number of droplets present on the leaf surface of the plant is quantified.

(53) The results show a decrease in the number of droplets on the leaf of Arabidopsis thaliana after application of the mixture according to this invention. In other words, the composition of the invention reduces the surface tension of the sprayed solution on the leaves and thus allows a better spreading of the droplets and a better adhesion of the solution on the leaf.

(54) Furthermore, the results show that there is no accumulation of the solution comprising the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention at the veins and axillary buds of the plant.

(55) As a result, the mixture of sucrose stearate and beta-sitosterol according to this invention makes it possible in particular to treat grasses known to be poorly wettable.

(56) Another interest is the use of this mixture as a supplement for products that have a contact action.

(57) Moreover, the use of the mixture according to this invention makes it possible to increase the plant's coverage and to use less product per hectare.