Method for regulating plant growth
AssigneeCPC International Inc.
InventorsAlan M. Kinnersley, Taylor C. Scott, III, John H. Yopp, George H. Whitten
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for increasing the rate of plant growth. Plants are treated with one or more acids, which are condensation products of glycolic and/or L-lactic acid. These acids also increase the concentration of chlorophyll, increase the rate of new plant formation when plants are propagated by tissue culture, decrease the amount of added nutrients required for plant growth, and protect plants against the toxic effects of salts. Certain of the acids are useful for increasing the rate of root formation in the plant.
Claims17
A process for increasing the rate of growth of a plant which comprises supplying to the roots, stems and foliage of the plant an effective amount of one or more acids having the structural formula:
- ##STR3## where n is a whole number from 1 to 10;
- the Rs are the same or different and denote H or CH.sub.3 ;
- and if at least one R is CH.sub.3, at least some of the asymmetric centers are in the L-configuration.
A process for increasing the concentration of chlorophyll in a plant which comprises supplying to the roots, stems and foliage of the plant an effective amount of one or more acids having the structural formula:
- ##STR4## where n is a whole number from 1 to 10;
- the Rs are the same or different and denote H or CH.sub.3 ;
- and if at least one R is CH.sub.3, at least some of the asymmetric centers are in the L-configuration.
A process for increasing the rate of root formation in a plant which comprises supplying to the roots, stems and foliage of the plant an effective amount of one or more acids having the structural formula:
- ##STR5## where n is a whole number from 1 to 10, and at least some of the asymmetric centers are in the L-configuration.
A process for decreasing the concentration of the basic nutrient medium required for growth of a plant which comprises supplying to the roots, stems or foliage of the plant an effective amount of one or more acids having the structural formula:
- ##STR6## where n is a whole number from 1 to 10;
- the Rs are the same or different and denote H or CH.sub.3 ;
- and if at least one R is CH.sub.3, at least some of the asymmetric centers are in the L-configuration.
A process for protecting a plant against the toxic effects of salts which comprises supplying to the roots, stems and foliage of the plant an effective amount of one or more acids having the structural formula:
- ##STR7## where n is a whole number from 1 to 10;
- the Rs are the same or different and denote H or CH.sub.3 ;
- and if at least one R is CH.sub.3, at least some of the asymmetric centers are in the L-configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.