IMPROVEMENT TO BIOSTIMULATING COMPOSITIONS FOR PLANTS

Abstract: The addition of certain polyoxyethylated surfactants to biostimulating compositions for plants, containing cysteine or homologouses or reaction products thereof with aldehydes or derivatives of such products and pholic acid, imparts to the compositions an improved biostimulating activity which pro­ motes the growth of the plants and the harvest yield.

Description: IMPROVEMENT TO BIOSTIMULATING COMPOSITIONS FOR PLANTS This invention relates to biostimulating compositions for plants and, more particularly, to improved biostimul- ating compositions which are obtainable by addition of certain plyoxyethlated surfattants to known biostimulating compositions based on cysteine or homocysteine and/or reaction products thereof with aldehydes and/or derivatives. of such products (such a a ,for example ,the thiazolidine-4- carboxylic acid and the salts or derivatives thereof, the thiazine-carboxylic acid and the salts or derivatives there of and, in general, all those compounds which are obtain able by reacting cysteine or homocysteine with aldehydes) in the presence of other biostimulgnts such as, e.g., pholic acid. A biostimulating composition bused on condensation products of cysteine and/or homocysteine or derivatives thereof with aldehydes or derivatives thereof has been described in Roumanian patent No. 50,795. Belgian patent No. 870,898 describes an improved composition prepared by adding a buffer solution to the compositions according to the Roumanian patent in order to maintain the pH between 6 and 7.5. That leads to an in crease in the harvest in respect to the biostimulating effect of the compositions described in the above cited Roumanian patent. We have now found that the addition of a surfactant, of the type and in the amounts specified hereinbelow, to the above-mentioned biostimulating compositions results in a further increase of the biostimulating capabilities, so promoting the growth and the bloom of the plants and increasing the harvest. Thus, an object of the present invention consists in the biostimulating compositions containing : A) Cysteineor its homologouses and/or reaction products - thereof with aldehydes and/or derivatives of such re action products (such as e.g. ic acid or derivatives thereof and salts thereof, N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, thiazine, -carboxylic acid etc. and their salts). B) Pholic acid, optionally salified. C) A surfactant or a mixture -of surfactants belonging to the class of the derivatives of sorbitol esterifiedby 1 to 3 moles of a fatty acid and condensed with ethyl- ene oxide, or to the class of the triglycerides of polyoxyethylated fatty acids, in such amount that the weight ratio between component A (cysteine or- deriv- atives) and component C (surfactant) ranges from 0.06 to 3.5. For practical uses, the biostimulating compositions according to the present invention are preferably solubil ized in water along with other coadjuvant substances. therefore it is another object of this invention to provide a biostimulating composition ready for use, after dilution with water, consisting of A) Cysteine or its homologouses and/or reaction products thereof with al dehydes and derivatives of these products and/or their salts ......... 5% by weight B) Pholic acid or0 salts thereof- ....... 0.1% by weight also known as "folic acid C) A surfactant or a mixture of surfactants belonging to the class of the derivatives of sorbitol esterified with 1 to 3 moles of a fatty acid and condensed with ethylene oxide. Or to the class of the glycerides of polyoxyethylated fatty acids, in such amount that the weight ratio between component A and com- ponent C ranges from 0.06 to 3.5. D) Sulphosalicylic acid .............. 1.1% by weight E) Hexamethylenetetramine............. 0.6 % by weight F) Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO ) 1.5-2.2g by weight 3 G) Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) ...... 0.1-0.15% by weight H) Magnesium carbonate (MgCO3) ...... 0.2-0.3 %by weight I) Water ........................ the difference to 100%. The cysteine derivatives or homologouses (component A) are those described in the above-cited Roumanian patent and Belgian patent. Among these we may cited cysteine itself, homocysteine, the products obtainable by condensation of an aldehyde with cysteine or homocysteine such as, for example, thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and derivatives thereof and thiazine-carboxylic acid, the derivatives of these acids such as N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, the salts of the aforesaid acids and the salts of cysteine or of homo cysteine. As a source of cysteine is equally suited L-cysteine of natural origin as well as D,L-cysteie prepared by synthe sis. Consequently, depending on the form of cysteine used, the derivatives thereof will be in the L-form or in the D,L-form. In the present type of compositions and by the point of view of biostimulating activity, the preferred compounds of group A are thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid and N-acety -thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. fiexamethylenetetramine (component E) can be substitut ed, in accordance with what is described in the above-mentioned patents, by adehydes or by other substances suited to release aldehydes. The surfactant (component C), which represents the characterizing element of the compositions of the invention in respect of the known compositions, consists of a single product or of a mixture of surfactants selected from the class of the sorbitol derivatives esterified with 1,2 or 3 moles of fatty acids (such as fatty acids containing 12 - 18 aarbon atoms, e.g. the lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic etc. acids) condensed with ethylene oxide, and from the class of the glycerides of fatty acids (mono-, di- or triglycerides) condensed with ethylene oxide. The fatty acid from which said glycerides are derived preferably also contain 12 - 18 carbon atoms. The number of moles of ethylene oxide per mole of ethoxylated substrate is not critical over a wide range. It is preferable to employ sorbitol derivatives or ethoxylated glycerides containing a number of ethylene oxide moles ranging from 10 to 25, as such products are commer- cially more available. From some experimental tests carried out by us by employing marked compounds it is apparent that component A more easily penetrates into the plants if it is formulated according to the present invention. It may be assumed therefore that, like in other cases, the role played by the surfactant is that of promoting the penetration of the mixture or of some component thereof into the vegetable tissues. However it is still surprising that many surfactantS belonging to classes other than those listed U component C have proved not suitable for such use since they are ineffective in promoting the penetration of component A into the plant or because they impart phytotexicity to the mixture. Among the unsuitable surfactants we may cite the quaternary ammonium salts, such as dimethyl-benzyl- -alkyl-*mmonium chloride, ethoxylated bi s-phenyl -phenols, ethoxylated alkylphenols and ethpxylated phosphorylated alkyiphenols. The biostimulating compositions which are the object of the present invention are preparable according to various methods. For example, it is possible to prepare the aqueous solution of the different components and to add thereto the surfactant in a predetermined amount; it is possible to dilute in the predetermined water amount the mixture of all the components, surfactant included, or the various components may be dissolved, in any order, in the surfactant aqueous solution. For the practical uses it is preferable to dilute the compositions in water in order to facilitate a homogeneous distribution of the active substances. The compositions according to the present invention are suited to different kinds of treatment. It is posaible to treat either the seeds or the roots or the stems and lesves of the plants; the application can be accomplished both in the soil and directly on the vegetation. The action bf the compositions forming the object of this invention results in an increase of the growth of the plants which assume also a more luxuriant appearance, and in an increase in the harvest. Due to these properties, the compositions can be usefully employed on a great number of agrarian cultures as well as on ornamental plants. The composition amount to be used varies as a function of the type of treatment and of several other factors such as, for example, the type of culture and the climatic and environmental conditions. Generally, composition amounts of from lOt) 500 g/ha are sufficient to obtain satisfactory resillts in the treatment of the stems and leaves of ihe plants or in the treatment of the soil. 100-200 g of properly diluted biostimulating composition are required to treat the seed amount necessary to sow one hectare of ground. The following examples are now given to better il- lustrate.the present invention. For the sake of simplicity and of a better understanding, the surfactants employed are indicated by abbreviations. Surfactants utilized in the examples of compositions according to the present invention : SL 20 ETO = sorbitol monolaurate condensed with 20 moles of ethylene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed by the frm Atlas under the trade-mark TW 20. SO 20 ETO = sorbitol mono-oleate condensed with 20 moles of ethylene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark SETROLENE O. SO 10 ETO = sorbitol mono-oleate condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark EMULSION 10/OM. OR 25 ETO = hydrogenated castor oil condensed with 25 moles of ethylene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark ROLFOR COH. OR 10 ETO = hydrogenated castor oil condensed with 10 moles of ethylene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark ROLFOR COH/10. Surfactants employed in check compositons : DmAA = dimethyl-benzyl-alkyl (C12-C16)-ammonium chloride. The product utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark ROLQUAT CDM/BC. BFF 13 ETO = bis-phenyl-phenol condensed with 13 moles of ethylene oxide. The prodi;.ct utilized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade -mark EMULSION 13 A. NF 20 ETO n nonyl-phenol condensed with 20 moles of ethyl. ene oxide. The product utilized was the one - marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark EMEJLSON 20 B. NFP 15 ETO 5 phosphorylated nonyl-phenol condensed with 15 moles of ethylene oxide. The product util- ized was the one marketed by the firm ROL under the trade-mark ROLFEN 15. NF 9 ETO = nonyl-phenol condensed with 9 moles of ethyl ene oxide. The product utilized was the one marketed-by the firm ROL under the trade-mark EMULSION 9 B. Example I Absorption by the leaves. A starting solution was prepared which contained N-acetyl- thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid marked by isotope 14C (hereinafter referred to as AATC-14C) having the following per cent composition : AATC-14C ................... 5% by weight Pholic acid ................ 0.1% " " Hexamethylenetetramine . . . . . 0.6% Sulphosalicylic acid ...... 1.1% " " NaHCO3 .................... 2.2% " " K2CO3 ..................... 0.15% " " MgCo3 ..................... 0.3% " " Water ..................... the difference to 100% The starting solution containing the marked compound was diluted in water (about 1:150) in order to obtain an AATC-14C concentration equal to 2.10-3 molar (Solution A). Lots of solution A were additioned with different surfactants in order to prepare the solutions indicated in the following Table 1. Table 1 Solutions according to the invention and check solutions. EMI10.1 <SEP> Solution <SEP> (1) <SEP> Surfactant <SEP> (2) <SEP> Surfactant <SEP> Weight <SEP> ratio <tb> <SEP> amount <SEP> in <SEP> the <SEP> between <SEP> cystein <tb> <SEP> solution <SEP> (%) <SEP> derivative <SEP> and <tb> <SEP> surfactant <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> - <SEP> 0 <SEP> <SEP> A-1 <SEP> SL <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.01 <SEP> 3.3 <tb> <SEP> A-2 <SEP> SL <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.03 <SEP> 1.1 <tb> <SEP> A-3 <SEP> SL <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> A-4 <SEP> SL <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.11 <tb> <SEP> A-5 <SEP> OR <SEP> 25 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> A-6 <SEP> OR <SEP> 25 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> A-7 <SEP> SO <SEP> 10 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> A-8 <SEP> SO <SEP> 10 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> B-1 <SEP> DBAA <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> B-2 <SEP> BFF <SEP> 13 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> B-3 <SEP> NF <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> B-4 <SEP> NFP <SEP> 15 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> <SEP> B-5 <SEP> NF <SEP> 9 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.33 <tb> Notes to Table 1 : (1) The solutions from A-1 to A-8 contain surfactants according to the invention, while the solutions from B-1 to B-5 were used as a check. (2) The abbreviated names of the surfactants correspond to the compounds indicated in the introduction to the examples. The solution8 of Table 1 were applicated onto the upper or lower face of the leaves of tomato plants, strawberry plants and Vigna sinensis by means of a micropipette (100 of solution in very small droplets on a surface of about 2 cmê). After application of the solutions contain ing the marked product, the plants were kept in a labora- tory with a photoperiod of 8 hours of light (400 lux) and 16 hours of darkness, at a humidity of 40% and a temper- ature of 19-2300. 24 hours after the treatment, the leaves on which the solution had been applicated, after proper washings with water, were cut into small pieces and digested with a quaternary ammonium salt solution at room temperature. After 12 hours, isopropyl alcohol (1 ml), hydrochloric acid (0.5 ml) and hydrogen peroxide (1 m were added to the tissue. The sample was allowed to stand for 4 hours at 50 C, whereupon 10 ml of an aqueous scintillating liquid (Lumagel, based on xylene, produced by the firm Lumac) were added thereto. Readings were then carried out by means of a TRICARB scintillograph (H!WLETT PACKARD The data recorded on the following tables 2, 3 and 4 express the percentage of radioactivity detected in the sample in respect to the radioactivity of the applicated solution and correspond to the percentage of AATC-14X abnorbed by the leaves after 24 hours under the conditions described hereinbefore. Table 2 Absorption of AATC-14C in tomato plants after 24 hours. EMI12.1 <tb> Applicated <SEP> solution <SEP> Detected <SEP> radioactivity <SEP> in <SEP> res <tb> (see <SEP> Table <SEP> 1) <SEP> pect <SEP> to <SEP> the <SEP> one <SEP> of <SEP> the <SEP> applicat <tb> <SEP> ed <SEP> solution <SEP> (%) <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> 2 <tb> <SEP> A-1 <SEP> 9 <tb> <SEP> A-2 <SEP> 19 <tb> <SEP> A-3 <SEP> 40 <tb> <SEP> A-4 <SEP> 70 <tb> <SEP> A-5 <SEP> 49 <tb> <SEP> A-6 <SEP> 44 <tb> <SEP> A-7 <SEP> 58 <tb> <SEP> A-8 <SEP> 55 <tb> <SEP> B-1 <SEP> n.d. <SEP> (1) <tb> <SEP> B-2 <SEP> 10 <tb> <SEP> B-3 <SEP> 20 <tb> <SEP> B-5 <SEP> n.d. <SEP> (1) <tb> Nptes to Table 2. (1) n.d. = not detected because the solution resulted phytotoxic. (2) Solution B-3 revealed evident signs of phytotoxicity. Table 3 Absorption of AATC- 14C in strawberry plants after 24 hours EMI13.1 <tb> Applicated <SEP> solution <SEP> Detected <SEP> radioactivity <SEP> in <SEP> respect <tb> (see <SEP> Table <SEP> 1) <SEP> to <SEP> the <SEP> one <SEP> of <SEP> the <SEP> applicated <SEP> sol <tb> <SEP> ution <SEP> (%) <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> 5 <tb> <SEP> A-3 <SEP> 97 <tb> <SEP> A-7 <SEP> 94 <tb> Table 4 Absorption of AATC-14C in plants of Vigna Sinensis after 24 hours. EMI13.2 <tb> Applicated <SEP> solution <SEP> Detected <SEP> radioactivity <SEP> in <SEP> respect <tb> (see <SEP> Table <SEP> 1) <SEP> to <SEP> the <SEP> one <SEP> of <SEP> the <SEP> applicated <SEP> sol <tb> <SEP> ution <SEP> (%) <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> 5 <tb> <SEP> A-3 <SEP> 36 <tb> <SEP> A-5 <SEP> 72 <tb> <SEP> A-6 <SEP> 48 <tb> <SEP> A-7 <SEP> 75 <tb> <SEP> A-8 <SEP> 81 <tb> <SEP> B-1 <SEP> n.d. <SEP> (1) <tb> <SEP> B-2 <SEP> 5 <tb> <SEP> B-3 <SEP> 10 <SEP> (2) <tb> <SEP> B-4 <SEP> 14 <SEP> (2) <tb> <SEP> B-5 <SEP> n.d. <SEP> (1) <tb> Notes to Table 4 (1) n.d. = not detected because the solution resulted phytotoxic (2) Solutions B-3 and B-4 exhibited evident symptoms of phytotoxicity. Example 2 Biostimulating action on rice The following compositions were prepared Composition A (check) N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid 5 % by weight Pholic acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1% Hexamethylenetetramine . . . . . . . . . 0.6 % " Sulphosalicylic acid . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 % " " NaHCO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 % " " K2CO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.15% " " MgCO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 % " " Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . .the difference to 100% Composition A+ (according to the invention) N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. 5 % by weight Pholic acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.1 % " " Hexamethylenetetramine . . . . . . . . . 0.6 % " " Sulphosalicylic acid . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 % " " NaHCO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 % " " K2CO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.15% " " MgCO3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.3 % " " SL 20 ETO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 % " " Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the difference to 100%. Three adjacent rice fields located at Siziano (Pavia) were sprayed, during the culture tillering, respectively with 500 I/ha of water the first one (check), with 500 l/ha of water additioned with 500 g of composition A the second one,and with 500 1/ha of water additioned with 400 g of composition A+ the third one. After the normal growth period and the usual phyto-sanitary defence of the culture, it wu proceeded to the harvest. The rice yields of the three fields were as follows : - check field : 53 (q/ha) - field treated with composition A : 65 (q/ha) - field treated with composition A+ : 70 (q/ha). Example 3 Biostimulating action on wheat Three adjacent wheat fields located at Fabbrico (Reggio Emilia) were treated, during the culture tillering, respectively with 500 l/ha of water the first one (check), with 500 l/ha of water additioned with 500 g of composition A (see example 2) the second one, and with 500 l/ha of water additioned with 400 g of composition A+ (see example 2) the third one, After the normal growth period and the usual phyto-sanitary defence of the culture, it was proceeded to the harvest. The wheat yields were as follows : - check field : 70(q/ha) - field treated with composition A : 78 (q/ha) - field treated with composition + t 84 (q/ha). Example 4 By admixture of the ingredients, the compositions according to the present invention reported on Table 5 were prepared. Table 5 Compositions according to the invention (ingredients expressed as % by weight). EMI17.1 Ingredients <SEP> Compositions <SEP> N <tb> <SEP> 1 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 4 <SEP> 5 <SEP> 6 <SEP> 7 <SEP> 8 <SEP> 9 <SEP> 10 <SEP> 11 <SEP> 12 <SEP> 13 <SEP> 14 <tb> A <SEP> ATC(2) <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> <SEP> AATC(3) <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <SEP> - <SEP> 5 <SEP> 5 <tb> B <SEP> Pholic <SEP> acid <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <tb> <SEP> SL <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> 3 <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 1.42 <SEP> 20 <SEP> 50 <SEP> 20 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 5 <tb> <SEP> SO <SEP> 20 <SEP> ETO <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> C <SEP> SO <SEP> 10 <SEP> ETO <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> <SEP> OR <SEP> 25 <SEP> ETO <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> <SEP> OR <SEP> 10 <SEP> ETO <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> - <SEP> 3 <SEP> D <SEP> Sulphosalicylic <SEP> acid <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <SEP> 0.1 <tb> E <SEP> Examethylenetetramine <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <SEP> 0.6 <tb> F <SEP> NaHCO3 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <SEP> 2.2 <tb> G <SEP> K2CO3 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <SEP> 0.15 <tb> H <SEP> MgCO3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <SEP> 0.3 <tb> I <SEP> Water <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <SEP> up <SEP> to <tb> <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <SEP> 100 <tb> Notes to Table 5: (1) Composition N 1 is the same as composition A + described in Example 2. (2) ATC = tiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. (3) AATC = N-acetzl-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid. Example 5 The compositions reported in the preceding example (Table 5) and composition A (see Example 2) according to Belgian Patent 870,898 were tested for biostimulating activity on rice cultures according to the procedure of Example 2. The results have been expressed as percentage increase in the harvest weight (referred to one hectare of colture of rice) with respect to the yield of the check consisting of an adjacent rice field not treated with any biostimulat ing composition. The data are reported on the following Table 6. Table 6 Biostimulating activity on rice EMI18.1 <tb> Compostion <SEP> N <SEP> Percentage <SEP> increase <SEP> in <SEP> harvest <SEP> weight <tb> <SEP> 1 <SEP> 33 <tb> <SEP> 2 <SEP> 29 <tb> <SEP> 3 <SEP> 32 <tb> <SEP> 4 <SEP> 3r <SEP> <tb> <SEP> 5 <SEP> 34 <tb> <SEP> 6 <SEP> 30 <tb> <SEP> 7 <SEP> 28 <tb> <SEP> 8 <SEP> 29 <tb> <SEP> 9 <SEP> -28 <tb> <SEP> 10 <SEP> 34 <tb> <SEP> 34 <SEP> <tb> <SEP> 12 <SEP> 32 <tb> <SEP> 13 <SEP> 35 <tb> <SEP> 14 <SEP> 34 <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> 22 <tb> Example 6 The compositions reported on Table 4 (Example 5) and composition A (Example 2) according to Belgian Patent 870,898 were tested for biostimulating activity on wheat cultures according to the procedure of Example 3. The results have been expressed as percentage increase in the harvest weight (referred to one hectare of colture) with respect to the yield of the check consisting of an adja cent wheat field not treated with any biostimulating composition. The data are reported on the following Table 7. Table 7 Biostimulating activity on wheat. EMI19.1 <tb> Composition <SEP> NO <SEP> Percentage <SEP> increase <SEP> in <SEP> harvest <SEP> weight <tb> <SEP> 1 <SEP> 20 <tb> <SEP> 2 <SEP> 18 <tb> <SEP> 3 <SEP> I <SEP> 21 <tb> <SEP> 4 <SEP> - <SEP> 22 <tb> <SEP> 5 <SEP> 19 <tb> <SEP> 6 <SEP> 23 <tb> <SEP> 7 <SEP> 21 <tb> <SEP> 8 <SEP> 19 <tb> <SEP> 9 <SEP> 20 <tb> <SEP> 10 <SEP> 20 <tb> <SEP> 11 <SEP> 21 <tb> <SEP> 12 <SEP> 19 <tb> <SEP> 13 <SEP> 22 <tb> <SEP> 14 <SEP> 21 <tb> <SEP> A <SEP> 11 <tb>

Claims: C L A I M S 1) An imprOVement to biostimulating compositions for plants based on cysteine or homologouses thereof and/or their reaction-products with aldehydes and/or their derivatives and/or their salts and on pholic acid or salts thereof consisting in adding to such compositions either a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants selected from the derivatives of sorbit ol esterified with 1, 2 or 3 moles of a fatty acid and polyethoxylated and the derivatives of glycer ides (mono, di or triglycerides) of polyethoxylated fatty acids in such amount that the weight ratio between the cysteine or derivatives thereof and the surfactant ranges from 0.06 to 3.5. 2) Biostimulating compositions for plants consisting of A) Cysteine or homologouses thereof and/or their reaction product. with aldehydes and/or derivatives of such products and/or salts thereof...5 % by weight B) Pholic acid or salts thereof . . 0.1,' C) A surfactant or a mixture of surfactants selected from the derivatives of sorbitol es terified with 1, 2 or 3 moles of a fatty acid and polyoxy ethylated and the derivatives of glycerides (mono, di or triglycerides) of polyethox ylated fatty acids in such amount that the weight ratio between component A and the surfactant ranges from 0.06 to 3.5 D) Sulphosalicylic acid . . . . 1.1% by weight E) Hexamethylenetetramine . . . 0.6% by weight F) NaHCO3 . . . . . . . .- . . . 1.5-2.2% by weight G) K2CO3...0.1-0.15% by weight H) MgC03 . . . . . . . . . . . 0.2-0.3% by weight I) Water . . . . . . . ... . the difference to 100% 3) A composition according to claim 1, in which the cysteine derivative is N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4 carboxylic acid. 4) A composition according to claim 2, in which the cysteine derivative if N-acetyl-thiazolidine-4 carboxylic acid. 5) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest, consisting in spray ing the cultivation or the field with an effective amount of a b+iostimulating composition according to claim 1, preferably diluted in water. 6) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest consisting in spray ing the cultivations or the field with an effective amount of a biostimulating composition according to claim 2, preferably diluted in water. 7) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest according to claim 6, consisting in using an amount of biostimulating com- position according to claim 2 ranging from 10 to 500 g/ha. 8) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest consisting in treating the seeds,-prior to the sowing, with an effective amount of a biostimulating composition according to claim 1, preferably diluted in water. 9) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest consisting in treat ing the seeds, prior to the sowing, with an effective amount of a biostimulating composition according to claim 2, preferably diluted in water. 10) A method of increasing the growth and the harvest of plants of agrarian interest according to claim 9, consisting in using an amount of biostimulating com position according to claim 2 ranging from 100 to 200 g for the treatment of the amount of seeds necessary to sow one hectare of soil.

Inventors: DAL MORO, ANACLETO, RADICE, MARCO, SACCHI, ALESSANDRO
Applicants: MONTEDISON S.P.A.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A01N43
IPC codes: A01N25, A01N43, C05C11, A01N37, A01N59