Alkali metal formononetin and method of mycorrhizal stimulation
AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University
InventorsMuraleedharan G. Nair, Gene R. Safir, Robert E. Schutzki, Brendan A. Niemira
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Abstract
Compositions of an alkali metal formononetinate, particularly potassium and sodium, for stimulating the growth of mycorrhizal fungi which colonize the plant and in turn stimulate growth of the plant. The results are improved over formononetin. ##STR1##
Claims30
A composition useful for stimulating the growth of VAM fungi in the presence of a plant which comprises:
- (a) an alkali metal formononetinate;
- and
- (b) a plant material as a seed or propagule containing the compound as an additive in an amount which stimulates the growth of the VAM fungi which in turn stimulate growth of the plant material to a mature plant when the plant material is grown in a soil or a planting material in the presence of the VAM fungi.
An agricultural composition useful for stimulating the growth of plant material in the presence of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi which comprises:
- (a) alkali metal formononetinate;
- and
- (b) an agricultural carrier containing a dispersant which aids in dispersing the alkali metal formononetinate in soil or a planting material, wherein the alkali metal formononetinate is present in an amount between 0.1 and 400 parts per million by weight of the carrier and wherein the composition stimulates the growth of the VAM fungi which stimulate the growth of the plant material.
A method for growing vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi including spores of the fungi useful for stimulating plant growth which comprises:
- growing the VAM fungi in the presence of an amount of an alkali metal formononetinate added to the fungi so that the fungi produced are useful for stimulating the growth of the plant by being provided in soil with the plant during the growth.
A fungal composition which comprises:
- vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi which have been grown in the presence of an alkali metal formononetinate admixed with the fungus in absence of a plant which is to be stimulated by the fungi.
A fungal composition which comprises in admixture:
- (a) an alkali metal formononetinate;
- and
- (b) vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi which are stimulated by the alkali metal formononetinate wherein the fungal composition is to be mixed with soil and stimulate the growth of a plant.
A method for alleviating pesticide or herbicide injury to plants in a soil containing vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and containing the pesticides or herbicides at levels toxic to the plants which comprises growing the plant with the fungi in the presence of an alkali metal formononetinate added to the soil.
In a method for stimulating the growth of a plant material in the presence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, the improvement which comprises:
- growing the plant material with the fungi in the presence of an alkali metal formononetinate.
A method for stimulating the growth of a plant in culture which comprises:
- (a) providing a plant or cells of the plant in a culture solution containing vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and an alkali metal formononetinate;
- and
- (b) growing the plant in the culture solution.
An alkali metal formononetinate.
Potassium formononetinate.
Sodium formononetinate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.