Patent ID: 6407042
Filing Date: 2002-06-18
Classification: A01N,Y10S

Abstract:
An in vitro assay method for selecting an exogenous chemical composition having enhanced biological effectiveness when applied to plants, comprising the steps of:(1) providing a glass microscope slide coated with a thin, uniform layer of wax, such that the wax layer on the slide exhibits a dark field when illuminated by transmitted polarized light and examined through a microscope, (2) preparing a sample of an aqueous solution or dispersion of an exogenous chemical composition, diluted or concentrated if necessary such that the concentration of exogenous chemical is about 15% to about 20% by weight of the composition, (3) positioning the slide on a stage of a microscope that transmits polarized light through the slide, (4) placing a drop of the sample on the wax layer to form an assay slide, (5) maintaining the assay slide at approximately ambient temperature for a period of about 5 to about 20 minutes, (6) determining at the end of said period whether when transmitting polarized light the locus of the drop on the assay slide displays birefringence, and (7) selecting for biological evaluation a composition wherein birefringence is displayed.