Method for increasing plant yield, and yield improving compositions

#This invention relates to a method for increasing yield of a plant, and compositions for improving yield of a plant.

#In crop production, there is a continuous need for agricultural compositions and treatments that improve the health of plants. Healthier plants are desirable since they result in better yields and/or a better quality of the plants or crops. Healthier plants also better resist biotic and/or abiotic stress. A high resistance against biotic stresses in turn allows a lower quantity of applied pesticides, which can then slow down the development of resistances against the respective pesticides.

#Hypersensitive response (“HR”) elicitor proteins (also known as harpin proteins) elicit disease resistance in plants and increase plant growth. U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,814 describes a method of enhancing growth in plants, which involves applying an HR elicitor polypeptide or protein in a non-infectious form to plants or plant seeds under conditions to impart enhanced growth to the plants or to plants grown from the plant seeds. These methods are carried out to affect any form of plant growth enhancement or promotion, including greater yield, increased quantity of seeds produced, increased percentage of seeds germinated, increased plant size, greater biomass, more and bigger fruit, earlier fruit coloration, and earlier fruit and plant maturation. Early germination and early maturation permit crops to be grown in areas where short growing seasons would otherwise preclude their growth in that locale. Increased percentage of seed germination results in improved crop stands and more efficient seed use. Greater yield, increased size, and enhanced biomass production allow greater revenue generation from a given plot of land.

#FIG. 1 is a table showing the results from an experiment testing the control of white mold in pinto bean plants by applying to the plants PHC-351 and thiophanate methyl treatments individually and in combination. The results show the calculation of percent increase in yield in pinto bean plants.

#FIG. 2 is a table showing the results of an experiment testing the control of white mold in peanut plants by applying to the plants PHC-351 and thiophanate methyl treatments individually and in combination. The results show the calculation of percent increase in yield.

#The present invention relates to a method of increasing yield in a plant, and compositions useful in increasing plant yield.

#According to the method of the present invention, the fungicide thiophanate methyl and an isolated hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide fragment are applied to a plant and/or area of cultivation under conditions effective to induce a synergistic yield from the plant in response to said applying.

#The phrase “area of cultivation” means any type of environment, soil, area, or material where the plant is growing or intended to grow.