# US 10,440,954 B2 · Increased almond yields with brassinosteroid application

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- Number: US 10,440,954 B2
- Document ID: US10440954B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/852,751
- Filed: 2017-12-22
- Published: 2018-11-22
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-22
- Applicants: Repar Corporation
- Inventors: Naga Bhushan Mandava; Carlos Sotomayor
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440954B2

## CPC

- A01N 45/00: Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, containing compounds having three or more carbocyclic rings condensed among themselves, at least one ring not being a six-membered ring (halogenated hydrocarbons A01N29/08; condensed with heterocyclic rings A01N43/00)
- A01N 43/22: rings with more than six members
- A01N 47/36: containing the group >N—CO—N< directly attached to at least one heterocyclic ring; Thio analogues thereof
- A01N 2300/00: Combinations or mixtures of active ingredients covered by classes A01N27/00 - A01N65/48 with other active or formulation relevant ingredients, e.g. specific carrier materials or surfactants, covered by classes A01N25/00 - A01N65/48
- A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS

## Abstract

Methods for increasing the yield of almond trees by the application of certain plant growth regulators are disclosed. In one embodiment, a brassinosteroid is applied to a variety of the species Prunus dulcis in the growth stage two weeks after full bloom. In another embodiment, the almond trees are treated at the time of petal fall with a brassinosteroid during the formation the ovaries and nutlets. Non-brassinosteroid plant growth regulators such as Forchlorfenuron and Gibberellic acid may be applied with a brassinosteroid to further promote growth. The inventors hypothesize that changes in reproductive physiology such as increasing pollen tube growth and pollen germination rates that ultimately result in greater crop yield are promoted by applications of brassinosteroids.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for increasing the number of edible seeds produced by an Almond tree comprising the steps of applying at least one plant growth regulator selected from the group consisting of Castasterone (CS), 28-Homocastasterone (HCS), and Forchlorfenuron (CPPU) to flowers of said almond tree at a determined time during flowering; allowing the edible seeds to develop to maturity, and collecting the edible seeds from the tree.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the plant growth regulator solution further comprises at least one member of the group consisting of 28-Homobrassinolide (HBR), Brassinolide (BL), 24-epibrassinolide (epi-BL), and Gibberellic acid (GA3).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the determined time during flowering is approximately during the full bloom stage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the determined time during flowering is approximately two weeks after full bloom.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the determined time during flowering is during the petal fall stage.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the plant growth regulator solution is comprised of 28-homobrassinolide at a concentration of about 1 to 10 parts per million concentration.

### Claim 7

A method for increasing the number of edible seeds produced by an Almond tree comprising the steps of applying a brassinosteroid and forchlorfenuron to flowers of said almond tree at a determined time during flowering; allowing the edible seeds to develop to maturity, and collecting the edible seeds from the tree.

### Claim 8

A method for increasing the number of edible seeds produced by an Almond tree comprising the steps of applying a brassinosteroid and forchlorfenuron, said forchlorfenuron present in a concentration between 1 part per million and 10 parts per million, to flowers of said almond tree at a determined time during flowering; allowing the edible seeds to develop to maturity, and collecting the edible seeds from the tree.