Use of glucosamine amides as plant growth and yield enhancers

Abstract

The invention provides compositions and methods for improving plant growth and crop yield. More specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the glucosamine amide N-palmitoleyl-D-glucosamine (NPG) and other substituted glucosamine compounds. NPG and its substituted analogs may be applied to plant propagating materials, including seeds and other regenerable plant parts, including cuttings, bulbs, rhizomes and tubers. NPG and its analogs may also be applied to foliage or soil either prior to or following planting of plant propagating materials. Such applications may be made alone or in combination with fungicides, insecticides, nematicides and other agricultural agents used to improve plant growth and crop yield. NPG and its analogs can improve the agronomic performance of a variety of crops including barley, canola, corn, potato, soybean and wheat.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.