Growth regulation process

• US 3,879,188 A
• Filed: 01/20/1972
• Issued: 04/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Nederland BV
• Original Assignee: Anson R. Cooke, Charles D. Fritz, Wilbur F. Evans
• Inventors: Fritz, Charles D., Evans, Wilbur F., Cooke, Anson R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., James O.
• Application Number:
  US05/219,538
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 71/86,71,76,77 47/2 424/200
• US Class Current: 504/208
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 27/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic phosphorus compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 57/20 containing acyclic or cycloaliphatic radicals
• CPC Class Codes: C07F 9/38 Phosphonic acids [RP(=O)(OH)2]; Thiophosphonic acids ; [RP(=X1)(X2H)2(X1, X2 are each independently O, S or Se)]
• CPC Class Codes: C07F 9/40 Esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C07F 9/572 Five-membered rings

Abstract

A growth regulation process involving certain phosphonic acid compounds having the general formula:

The growth regulation process of the present invention relates mainly, though not entirely, to the inducement of an ethylene response or ethylene-type response in plants and part thereof including, but not limited to, stems, roots, leaves, flowers, buds, and harvested as well as unharvested fruit. The method of the present invention produces a wide variety of plant growth responses including: 1. Increasing yields 2. Auxin activity 3. Inhibition of terminal growth, control of apical dominance, increase in branching and increase in tillering 4. Changing bi chemical composition of plant or portions thereof 5. Abscission of foliage, flowers and fruit 6. Hastening ripening and color promotion in fruit 7. Increasing flowering and fruiting 8. Abortion or inhibition of flowering and seed development 9. Prevention of lodging 10. Stimulation of seed germination and breaking of dormancy 11. Resistance to freeze injury 12. Hormone or epinasty effects 13. Interaction with other growth regulators 14. Interaction with herbicides 15. Disease resistance.

Claims

1. The method of hastening ripening in unpicked fruit which comprises applying to the unpicked fruit, an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethyl-phosphonic acid in order to hasten ripening

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is tomato.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is pineapple.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is apple.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruits are citrus fruits.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is cherry.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is cranberry.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is blueberry.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is cantaloupe.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is grape.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is figs.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is coffee.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is olives.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is peaches.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is plums.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is pears.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the fruit is cane. 141

18. The method of accelerating maturation in unpicked fruit which comprises applying to the unpicked fruit, , an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve maturation.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is tomato.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is pineapple.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is apple.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruits are citrus fruits.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is cherry.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is cranberry.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is blueberry.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is cantaloupe.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is grape.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is figs.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is coffee.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is olives.

31. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is peaches.

32. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is plums.

33. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is pears.

34. The method of claim 18 wherein the fruit is cane.

35. The method of promoting color in unpicked fruit which comprises applying to the unpicked fruit, an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve color promotion in fruit.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is tomato.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is pineapple.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is apple.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruits are citrus fruits.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is cherry.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is cranberry.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is blueberry.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is cantaloupe.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is grape.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is figs.

46. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is coffee.

47. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is olives.

48. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is peaches.

49. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is plums.

50. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is pears.

51. The method of claim 35 wherein the fruit is cane.

52. The method of hastening ripening in leaves which comprises applying to the leaves an effective but nonphytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to hasten ripening in leaves.

53. The method of accelerating maturation in leaves which comprises applying to the leaves an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve maturation in leaves.

54. The method of promoting color in leaves which comprises applying to the leaves an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve color promotion in leaves.

55. The method of hastening ripening in plant parts which comprises applying to the plants parts an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to hasten ripening in plant parts.

56. The method of accelerating maturation in plant parts which comprises applying to the plant parts an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to accelerate maturation in plant parts.

57. The method of promoting color in plant parts which comprises applying to the plant parts an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to promote color in plant parts.

58. The method of increasing flowering in a plant which comprises applying to the plant an effective but nonphytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to increase flowering in a plant.

59. The method of increasing fruiting in a plant which comprises applying to the plant an effective but nonphytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to increase fruiting in a plant.

60. The method of achieving inhibition and abortion of flowering which comprises applying to a plant an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve inhibition or abortion of flowering.

61. The method of achieving inhibition and abortion of seed development which comprises applying to a plant an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to achieve inhibition or abortion of seed development.

62. The method of promoting resistance to freeze injury which comprises applying to the plant and parts thereof an effective but non-phytotoxic amount of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid in order to promote resistance to freeze injury.

63. The method of claim 52 involving tobacco leaves.

64. The method of claim 53 involving tobacco leaves.