PLANT GROWTH REGULATION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new plant growth regulation composition comprising a compound of Formula (Ia) and trinexapac-ethyl. (Ia). It also relates to a method for enhancing or regulating the growth of plants comprising applying said composition.

##STR00001##

Claims

1. A composition comprising a compound of Formula (Ia) and trinexapac-ethyl. ##STR00005##

2. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising an agriculturally acceptable formulation adjuvant.

3. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition regulates plant growth and/or reduced lodging of plants.

4. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of Formula (Ia) to trinexapac-ethyl is from 1:10 to 10:1.

5. A composition according to claim 4, wherein the weight ratio of Formula (Ia) to trinexapac-ethyl is from 1:1 to 1:5.

6. A method for regulating the growth of crop plants and/or reducing lodging of plants, comprising applying to the plants, plant part, plant propagation material or plant growing locus during the reproductive growth stage of the crop plants, a composition comprising a compound of Formula (Ia) and trinexapac-ethyl.

7. A method for regulating the growth of crop plants, wherein the method comprises applying to the plants, plant part, plant propagation material or plant growing locus during the reproductive growth stage of the crop a compound of Formula (I), ##STR00006## wherein R.sub.1 denotes one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, alkyloxy and alkyl; and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of amino, halogen, nitro, thio, alkylthio and alkyl; or a composition comprising said compound.

8. A method for reducing lodging of a crop, comprising applying to the plants, plant part, plant propagation material or plant growing locus during the reproductive growth stage of the crop, a compound of Formula (I), ##STR00007## wherein R.sub.1 denotes one to five substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, amino, alkyloxy and alkyl; and R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of amino, halogen, nitro, thio, alkylthio and alkyl; or a composition comprising said compound.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein R.sub.1 is methoxy.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein R.sub.2 is halogen.

11. A method according to claim 7, wherein the compound is Formula (Ia): ##STR00008##

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the compound of Formula (Ia) is applied at a rate from 5 g ai/ha to 50 g ai/ha.

13. Use of the compound of Formula (I) as defined in claim 7 as a plant growth regulator.

14. A method of treating a plant propagation material comprising applying to the plant propagation material a compound of Formula (I) as defined in claim 7, or a composition comprising a compound of Formula (I) in an amount effective to regulate plant growth and/or reduce plant lodging.

15. A plant propagation material comprising a compound of Formula (I) as defined in claim 7 or a composition comprising a compound of Formula (I).

Description

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Plant Growth Regulation Trial in Rice, India

[0077] Field trials were setup during the hot season in Annanagar and Kumbakonam in India. Local rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties ADT45 was mechanically transplanted at four plants per hill with a plant spacing of 16 cm and a row spacing of 30 cm. All trials were performed in good level of water management. Fertilizer application, and weed, insect and disease control were carried out in accordance with the best local practice across the trial area. Commercial treated seeds were used (with no neonicotinoid compounds present).

[0078] The trial design was a randomized bloc design, with a plot size of 40 m.sup.2 (12 rows, each 4 m wide and 10 m long); each trial had four replicates. Treatments were applied at the panicle initiation growth stage (BBCH 30) as shown in the table below.

[0079] Overall trial quality was very high: there was no insect damage and no disease pressure or weeds; the plots were very homogenous. Heat stress level was low to medium with 5-10% empty spikelets in the untreated control.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Treatment Rate (g ai/ha) Lodging (%) 1 Untreated check n/a 70.0 2 Formula (Ia) 10 g ai/ha 29.0 3 Formula (Ia) + 10 + 30 g ai/ha 2.5 MODDUS 4 Formula (Ia) 20 g ai/ha 56.0 5 Formula (Ia) + 20 + 30 g ai/ha 1.25 MODDUS 6 MODDUS 30 g ai/ha 3.0 MODDUS contains trinexapac-ethyl

[0080] The results show that the compound of Formula (Ia) significantly reduces lodging compared to the untreated control.

[0081] Additionally the results show that the mixture of Formula (Ia) with MODDUS at rates of 20 g ai/ha and 30 g ai/ha respectively (treatment 5) gave the best results, with only 1.25% lodging; a reduction of heat stress symptoms was also observed from this treatment.

[0082] It was noted that treatment 6, MODDUS solo, reduced lodging and plant height as expected, but no reduction of heat stress symptoms was observed.