Growth regulation process

A method for regulating plant growth and inducing an ethylene-type response which comprises applying to the plant an effective but non-phytotoxic amount with respect to the plant being treated, of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid.

A method for regulating plant growth which comprises applying to the plant an effective but non-phototoxic amount with respect to the plant being treated, of a compound of the formula:

• ##STR9## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and hydroxy substituted phenyl groups, in order to regulate plant growth.

A method for regulating plant growth which comprises applying to the plant an effective but non-phototoxic amount with respect to the plant being treated, of a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, the cyclic catechol ester of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and the acid dichloride of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to regulate plant growth.

A method for regulating plant growth which comprises dissolving in an aqueous solution an amount of a compound of the formula:

• ##STR10## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and hydroxy substituted phenyl groups, and spraying the plant including the foliage, stem and fruit, the amount of the compound being an effective but non-phototoxic amount with regard to the plant being treated, whereby the plant undergoes and demonstrates a growth regulating response within four months after treatment.

A method for regulating plant growth which comprises dissolving in an aqueous solution an amount of a compound of the formula:

• ##STR11## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, phenyl and hydroxy substituted phenyl groups, and applying to the soil around the plant, the amount of the compound being an effective but non-phototoxic amount with respect to the plant being treated, whereby the plant undergoes and demonstrates a growth regulating response.

A method for regulating plant growth which comprises dissolving in an aqueous solution an amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, the cyclic catechol ester of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and the acid dichloride of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid and spraying the plant including the foliage and stem, the amount of the compound being an effective but non-phytotoxic with regard to the plant being treated, whereby the plant undergoes and demonstrates a growth regulating response within four months after treatment.

A method of regulating plant growth which comprises applying to a plant an effective amount of a 2-haloethylphosphonic acid compound or one or more compounds which are converted to the anion of a 2-haloethylphosphonic acid compound on or within the plant to which they are applied.

A method according to claim 102 wherein said compound or compounds is applied to the plant in an aqueous solution containing from about 10 ppm to about 48,000 ppm of said compound or said compounds at a rate equal to from 1 to 100 gallons per acre.

A method of regulating plant growth which comprises applying to a plant an effective amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid compound or one or more compounds which are converted to the anion of 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid acid on or within the plant to which they are applied.

A method for the inhibition of plant growth which comprises applying thereto an effective amount of one or more compounds which are converted to the anion of a 2-haloethylphosphonic acid on or within the plant to which they are applied.