# US 12,599,128 B2 · Composition and method for improving agronomic traits of a plant

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- Number: US 12,599,128 B2
- Document ID: US12599128B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/405,062
- Filed: 2024-01-05
- Published: 2025-07-10
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2024-01-05
- Assignees: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
- Applicants: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
- Inventors: Ken N. Paige
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12599128B2

## CPC

- A01N 31/02: Acyclic compounds
- A01N 37/02: Saturated carboxylic acids or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof
- A01P 21/00: Plant growth regulators
- 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
- A01P: BIOCIDAL, PEST REPELLANT, PEST ATTRACTANT OR PLANT GROWTH REGULATORY ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

Compositions and methods for improving one or more agronomic traits of a plant are provided, which include the use of one or more fatty acids that kill or inhibit the growth of cells in the shoot apical meristem and optionally one or more surfactants. Use of the composition between vegetative growth stage 1 (V1) and vegetative growth stage 6 (V6) is described.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of improving one or more agronomic traits of a cereal, beet, leguminous plant, oil plant, cucurbit, fiber plant or other vegetable comprising applying a composition comprising an effective amount of methyl decanoate and optionally 1-decanol and/or methyl nonanoate to the shoot apical meristem of the plant thereby killing or inhibiting the growth of the shoot apical meristem and improving one or more agronomic traits of the cereal, beet, leguminous plant, oil plant, cucurbit, fiber plant or vegetable as compared to an untreated control plant,
wherein the composition is applied in at least a first treatment and a second treatment, the second treatment being immediately after the first treatment, to saturated the shoot apical meristem with the composition, and
the methyl decanoate and optional 1-decanol and/or methyl nonanoate are each present in the composition at a concentration of 0.05 M to 0.60 M, and
wherein the composition is applied to the shoot apical meristem of the plant during the vegetative growth stage 3 (V3).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises one or more surfactants selected from the consisting group of polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters, polyoxyethylene alcohols, alkylarylpolyether alcohols, phthalic glycerol alkyl resins, ethoxylated imidazoline, decanoic acid, diglycol oleate, polyether sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more agronomic traits is selected from the group consisting of seed yield, tuber yield, fruit yield, pod yield, seed oil content, seed protein content, seed starch content, biomass, flower number, drought tolerance, pest tolerance, and pathogen tolerance.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the cereal plant is selected from the group consisting of wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats, or rice; the beet is selected from the group consisting of sugar beet and fodder beet; the leguminous plant is selected from the group consisting of lentil, pea, alfalfa, peanut, chickpea, kidney bean, lupine, and soybean; the oil plant is selected from the group consisting of rape, mustard, sunflower, castor oil plant, camelina, canola, and ground nut; the cucurbit is selected from the group consisting of squash, cucumber, and melon; the fiber plant is selected from the group consisting of cotton, flax, hemp, and jute; and the vegetable is selected from the group consisting of broccoli, spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage, carrot, onion, tomato, potato, and paprika.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising harvesting one or more commercially relevant portions of the plant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the commercially relevant portion of the plant is selected from the group consisting of seeds, tubers, fruit, pods, oil, protein, starch, leaves, fiber, terpenes, and wood.