PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR IN A SEMISOLID OR VISCOUS MEDIUM

Abstract

The present invention is a highly concentrated plant growth regulator suspended in a solid, semisolid, paste, gel, etc. that allows for targeted application and extended, continuous release of the plant growth regulator in the targeted growth-related areas of the plant/tree. The carrier medium is dosed with one or more particulate PGRs, and possibly a fungicide or insecticide, and this composition results in not only a highly effective way to achieve growth, but also allows for a very unique application and benefit on grafted trees by sealing the graft wound and accelerating the regrowth either alone or in combination with traditional treatments. Additionally, the present invention can be used to seal pruning wounds that farmers heretofore have used Latex type products.

Claims

1. A plant treatment composition, comprising: a granular plant growth regulator suspended in a medium, wherein the medium is selected from a group comprising a paste, a gel, a wax, a viscous fluid.

2. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the viscous fluid is highly viscous.

3. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator has a mean particle size of less than one hundred micrometers.

4. The plant treatment composition of claim 3, wherein the plant growth regulator has a mean particle size of less than ten micrometers.

5. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the medium is a paste.

6. The plant treatment composition of claim 5, wherein the paste is a Lanolin-based paste.

7. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the medium is a wax.

8. The plant treatment composition of claim 7, wherein the wax is a bees wax.

9. The plant treatment composition of claim 8, wherein the bees wax is blended with an oil.

10. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the medium is a gel.

11. The plant treatment composition of claim 10, wherein the gel is a petroleum jelly.

12. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein a concentration of plant growth regulator to medium is between 0.1% and 10.0% by weight.

13. The plant treatment composition of claim 12, wherein the concentration of plant growth regulator to medium is between 0.5% and 5% by weight.

14. The plant treatment composition of claim 13, wherein the concentration of plant growth regulator to medium is between 1% and 3% by weight.

15. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is a gibberellin.

16. The plant treatment composition of claim 15, wherein the gibberellin is gibberellic acid (GA3).

17. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is 6 Benzyladenine.

18. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is Indole butyric acid.

19. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a second plant growth regulator.

20. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

21. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an insecticide.

22. The plant treatment composition of claim 21, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

23. The plant treatment composition of claim 19, wherein the composition further comprises an insecticide.

24. The plant treatment composition of claim 19, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

25. The plant treatment composition of claim 23, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

26. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is an auxin.

27. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is a cytokinin.

28. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is an ethylene releasing agent.

29. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, further comprising copper.

30. The plant treatment composition of claim 1, further comprising a fertilizer.

31. A method for treatment of a plant, comprising: pruning a branch to separate the branch from the plant to produce a wound; and applying a plant growth regulator suspended in a medium selected from a group comprising a paste and a gel, at the wound for a duration of at least one week.

32. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the plant growth regulator is a gibberellin.

33. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 32, wherein the gibberellin is gibberellic acid (GA3).

34. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 33, wherein the medium further comprises a second plant growth regulator.

35. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 34, wherein the second plant growth regulator is 6 Benzyladenine.

36. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 34, wherein the second plant growth regulator is Indole butyric acid.

37. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

38. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the composition further comprises an insecticide.

39. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the composition further comprises a fertilizer.

40. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 38, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

41. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 39, wherein the composition further comprises a fungicide.

42. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the plant growth regulator is a cytokinin.

43. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the plant growth regulator is an ethylene releasing agent.

44. The method for treatment of a plant of claim 31, wherein the plant growth regulator is abscisic acid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0065] As previously indicated, the application of plant growth regulators to crops and plants has historically been in the form of an aqueous spray or as a granular additive to soil supplements. These processes are very transient and their effect takes place over hours after application. The present composition and method involve finely powdered plant growth regulators that have preferably been grinded to a mean particle diameter of less than 100 μm, and more preferably to a particle size of less than 10 μm, suspended in a paste, gel, petroleum jelly, wax, viscous or highly viscous material that may applied directly to the plant and remain in contact with the plant for extended periods of time.

[0066] The formulations may be applied to specific areas of the plant for precise effects, and the composition is preferably water resistant and water insoluble, so that it will not be washed off through irrigation like so many other preparations. The present invention also results in a time release effect due to the persistent, lengthy contact of the plant growth regulator with the plant. In some examples under some conditions, the formulations will last up to four weeks before another application is needed, far exceeding any aqueous spray application. The present invention can incorporate either a single PGR or a combinations of PGRs at appropriate concentrations such that combined PGRs may act with synergy to produce the maximum desired effect.

[0067] One material that may be used as the medium for suspending the PGR is lanolin, a purified form of wool grease or wool wax, used either alone or with soft paraffin or lard or other fat as a base for ointments, emollients, skin foods, salves, superfatted soaps, and fur dressing. Lanolin, a translucent, yellowish-white, soft, unctuous, tenacious substance, is readily absorbed by the cellular membranes and thus makes an ideal base for plant products intended to be absorbed. Chemically, lanolin consists of a mixture of several sterols, fatty acids, and their esters. Additives, such as mineral oil, can be mixed with the lanolin to soften the material and make it easier to apply, such as by a tube. For example, a 90/10 composition of lanolin and mineral oil results in a much softer paste-like consistency that enabled the material to be applied directly to the plant from a squeeze tube. Other inert materials can be used to suspend the plant growth regulator, such petroleum jelly and bees wax blended with oil, semisolids, and viscous or highly viscous fluids. Here, semisolid refers to a material that can hold its shape at room temperature, but can flow or conform to a shape of a container when placed under sufficient pressure (e.g., waxes and pastes). Viscous fluids means a fluid having a viscosity of greater than 10,000 centipoise at room temperature, and highly viscous fluids have a viscosity of greater than 100,000 centipoise at room temperature. Each of these materials have specific uses in conjunction with the present invention.

[0068] The following represent three examples of products incorporating the present invention.

Example #1

[0069] A plant treatment formulation comprised of suspending one percent by weight of Gibberellic acid (GA3) in a lanolin-based paste, and applying the composition directly to roots, trunk, or branches to enhance the linear growth of trees bushes and shrubs.

Example #2

[0070] A plant treatment formulation is comprised of suspending one percent by weight of Gibberellic acid (GA3) and 1% of 6 Benzyladenine in a lanolin-based paste, and applying the composition directly to roots, trunk, or branches to enhance the “feathering” and branching in fruit trees and other shrubs trees and bushes where these effects are desirable.

Example #3

[0071] A plant treatment formulation is comprised of suspending one percent by weight of Gibberellic acid (GA3) and 1% Indole acetic acid (or Indole butyric acid) in a lanolin-based paste for aiding the process of grafting onto tree stock.

[0072] These are only a few examples of the present invention, which can be extended to any PGR in combination with any other PGR to form the basis of an improved method for applying PGR where duration and site specificity are desirable. In order to have maximum benefit, in a preferred embodiment the PGRs must be ground to a very fine powder in a process akin to making colloid powders (using a colloid mill or similar). The size of the particle is preferably less than 100 μm, and more preferably less than 10 μm. In this way the solid PGR suspended in the solid, semisolid, highly viscous fluid, or viscous fluid is able to transfer to the site of application over a period of time and have maximum effect.

[0073] Certain fungicides and insecticides such as cooper and sulfur powder can also be added to the basic PGR paste formulation for added functionality. For example, pruning is quite often performed due to damage from blight, mildew or other pests. Pruning itself exposes the tree to these elements, so adding a fungicide can not only prevent further damage but resist pernicious existing conditions. Alternatively, or in addition, the medium can include or comprise a fertilizer.