Method for controlling the growth of plants

Abstract

A method for controlling the growth of plants, characterized by applying a plant growth regulator containing as active ingredient a benzenesulfonamide derivative represented by the general formula, ##STR1## wherein X is a halogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a nitro group, an amino group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an alkylthio group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, an alkylsulfonyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a group of the formula R.sub.3 CONH-- (where R.sub.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms); n is an integer of 0 to 5; R.sub.1 is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a phenyl group, a group of the formula --(A)--COOR.sub.4 [where R.sub.4 is hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cation such as Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, ammonium or a quaternary ammonium ion, and (A) is a group of the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.m -- (where m is an integer of 1 to 3), or a group of the formula ##STR2## (where R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are individually hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms)]; and R.sub.2 is a straight chain, branched chain or alicyclic alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a haloalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a hydroxyl group, an aminoalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a cyano-C.sub.1-5 -alkyl, an alkenyl group having 2 to 5 carbon atoms, a C.sub.1-5 -alkoxy-C.sub.1-5 alkyl group, a sulfoalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a phenyl-substituted alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or a group of the formula --(A)--COOR.sub.4 (where R.sub.4 and (A) are as defined above), when R.sub.1 is hydrogen; is a hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a group of the formula --(A)--COOR.sub.4 (where R.sub.4 and (A) are as defined above), a group of the formula --(B)--OOCR.sub.7 [where R.sub.7 is a phenyl group or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and (B) is a group of the formula (CH.sub.2).sub.j -- (where j is an integer of 1 to 3), or a group of the formula ##STR3## (where R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are as defined above)], when R.sub.1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; and is a group of the formula --(A)--COOR.sub.4 (where R.sub.4 and (A) are as defined above), when R.sub.1 is a phenyl group or a group of the formula --(A)--COOR.sub.4 (where R.sub.4 and (A) are as defined above).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.