Compositions and methods for preventing leaf yellowing in plants

• US 6,455,466 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Reid, Michael A., Ferrante, Antonio, Hackett, Wesley P., Hunter, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pryor, Alton
• Application Number:
  US09/618,604
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 504/117, 504/115, 504/217
• US Class Current: 504/115
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 3/00 Preservation of plants or parts thereof, e.g. inhibiting evaporation, improvement of the appearance of leaves or protection against physical influences such as UV radiation using chemical compositions preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables A23B7/00; Grafting wax
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 3/02 Keeping cut flowers fresh chemically
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/30 Derivatives containing the group >N—CO—N aryl or >N—CS—N—aryl
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 47/36 containing the group >N—CO—N< directly attached to at least one heterocyclic ring; Thio analogues thereof

Abstract

This invention relates to compositions and methods for preserving plants and plant parts. In particular, it relates to compositions comprising compounds of Formula I to inhibit senescence in plants

Claims

1. A method of inhibiting senescence in a plant part selected from the group consisting of a cut floral organ, and a cut vegetative organ, the method comprising contacting the plant part with a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

wherein;

R₁, and R₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl,

R₂ and R₃ are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; and

and X is an oxygen or sulfur atom to inhibit senescence in the plant part.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein R₂ or R₃ is said substituted alkyl substituted or interrupted at least once by oxygen or sulfur.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein R₂ or R₃ is said substituted cycloalkyl substituted at least once by alkyl.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein R₂ or R₃ is said substitle aryl substituted at least once by a member of the group consisting of alkyl, halogen, all mercapto, alkoxy, trifuoromethyl and NR₅R₆, wherein R₅ and R₆ are independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein either R₁ and R₂ or R₃ and R₄ together with the N atom, form a heterocyclic or heteroaryl ring.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the heterocyclic ring is selected from the group consisting of a morpholino, a piperidino, and a pyrrolidino moiety.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the compound is 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plant part is a cut flower.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition is a plant nutrient solution.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant.

11. A method of inhibiting senescence in a whole plant, the method comprising contacting the plant with a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

wherein;

R1, and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl,

R2 and R₃ are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl

and X is an oxygen or sulfur atom, wherein the compound is at a concentration from about 1 μ

M to about 100 μ

M to inhibit senescence in the whole plant.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein R2 or R3 is said substituted alkyl substituted or interrupted at least once by oxygen or sulfur.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein R2 or R3 is said substituted cycloalkyl substituted at least once by alkyl.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein R2 or R3 is said substituted aryl substituted at least once by a member of the group consisting of alkyl, halogen, alkyl mercapto, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl and NR5R6, wherein R5 and R6 are independently selected from the group consisting of H and lower alkyl.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein either R1 and R2 or R3 and R4 together with the N atom, form a heterocyclic or heteroaryl ring.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the heterocyclic ring is selected from the group consisting of a morpholino, a piperidino, and a pyrrolidino moiety.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the compound is 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of contacting is carried out by foliar application of the composition.

20. A method of inhibiting senescence in a cut flower, the method comprising contacting the cut flower with a composition comprising a compound of the formula:

wherein;

R1, and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl,

R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, and substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl; and

and X is an oxygen or sulfur atom to ingibit senescence in the whole plant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the compound is 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea.