Plant-activating agent

Abstract: The present invention provides a plant-activating agent for improving the activity of plants efficiently without a chemical injury onto the plant. The plant-activating agent is selected from the group consisting of (1) an organic acid derivative which is derived from the organic acid having two functional groups and wherein at least one of the above-mentioned functional groups is bonded to a group containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms; (2) a compound represented by the formula (II): RCOO(AO) n X 1 wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 29 carbon atoms; X 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or a counter ion; AO represents at least one group selected from oxyethylene, oxyprolylene and oxybutylene groups and may be random or block; and n represents an average number of moles added and is zero to 30; and (3) a glycerol derivative. If necessary, the agent is used together with a surfactant, a fertilizer component or a chelating agent.

Description: Technical field of the invention The present invention relates to a plant growth-promoting composition or a method of promoting the growth of plants by applying thereof in the state of a solution or a solid to roots, stems, phylloplanes or fruits of a plant, such as spraying onto phylloplanes or irrigating into soil. Now, hereinafter, the term of "plant" means products that can be recognized from the term itself, vegetables, fruits, fruit trees, crops, bulbs, flowers, grass, herbs, plants defined in taxonomy, and so on. It is added by the inventors of the invention that the term "plant growth" includes increasing the amount of growth, increasing the weight of a plant on both sides of the aboveground and the underground. Further increasing greenness of leaves in terms of SPAD, increasing the height of grasses, improving harvest or crop, increasing photosynthesis, accelerating growth of green cells, improving absorption of a fertilizer, increasing sugar content and ascorbic acid of leaves and fruit. More in details, it extends to improving: gloss of leaves, rising-up of leaves, firmness of leaves, an increased thickness of leaves, firmness of stem, short joints of stem, thickness of stem, whiteness of root, the number of fine roots, vivacity or strength of grasses or trees, gloss of fruit, size of fruit, fruiting, color of fruit etc. Background Art Various nutrient elements are necessary for growth of plants. It is known that lack of some of the elements causes the hindrance of the growth of the plants. For example, the big three fertilizer components function as follows. Nitrogen is a component element of proteins, and phosphorus is a formation element of nucleic acid or phospholipid and further plays an important part in energy metabolism and synthetic or decomposing reaction of a substance. Potassium has a physiological action of substance metabolism or substance migration. If these main components lack, the growth of plants generally becomes poor. Calcium is an important component constituting plants and cells, and further plays an important part in maintenance of the balance of the metabolic system. The lacking state of calcium causes physiological troubles. Besides, various nutrients as follows are necessary for plants: magnesium, iron, sulfur, boron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chlorine, silicon, sodium and the like. Nutritious components such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are applied as basal fertilizer or additional fertilizer. Alternatively, they are applied by diluting liquid fertilizer and irrigating the diluted fertilizer into soil or by spraying the diluted fertilizer onto phylloplanes. These fertilizers are necessary and/or essential for the growth of plants. However, even if they are applied at larger concentrations than some values, the growth of plants and the yield of the plants cannot be further improved. However, it is an important theme in agricultural production to promote the growth of agricultural plants and increase the yield per unit area to strive for an increase in income. Various plant growth regulators being necessary for this have been developed and used. The plant growth regulators , the typical examples of which include gibberellin and auxin, are used to regulate growth reaction or form-producing reaction such as germination, rooting, expansion, flowering and bearing. When these regulators are used, a period or a concentration thereof for applying these regulators and a method of treating these regulators complicated. Thus, the uses thereof are restrictive. In order to solve such problems, JP-A 55-100304 discloses that a plant growth regulator characterized by comprising an organic acid as an effective component is useful for graminoids, leaf vegetables and root vegetables. JP-A 62-242604 also discloses that a composition for regulating plant growth, which comprises lactic acid, is useful for promoting growth and/or production of fruits and suppressing growth of undesired plants. WO-A 83-03041 discloses a plant growth-stimulator comprising one or more bus-chain carboxylic acids or derivatives thereof and at least one metal ion having a valence of +2 or +3. Furthermore, US-A 5482529 discloses a preparation for fertilizer comprising a plant nutrient, water, a lipophilic organic material and a fatty acid having 1 to 10 carbon atoms in order to improve absorbing phosphoric acid. JP-A 4-31382 also discloses that propionic acid or a polyhydric carboxylic acid makes a phosphoric acid-absorbing effect high. JP-A 9-512274 discloses a method for regulating plant growth which comprises suppressing a height of the plant by applying a growth-suppressing composition comprising a polyol in an effective amount for growth-suppression to a root sphere of the plant and then increasing the diameter of its stem. In the present situation, however, none of the above-mentioned techniques can be said to be sufficient in their effects for practical use. Disclosure of the Invention An object of the present invention is to suffer no chemical injury to a plant, to promote a green-degree of its leaves, its leaf-area and its rooting power and to heighten an efficiency for absorbing a fertilizer, thereby activating the plant and improving a yield and quality thereof. The present invention is a plant growth-promoting composition comprising a surfactant, a chelating agent, and a plant growth-promoting agent represented by the following formula (II) RCOO(AO) n X 1 wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 29 carbon atoms; X 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or a counter ion; AO represents at least one group selected from oxyethylene, oxyprolylene and oxybutylene groups and may be random or block; and n represents an average number of molecules added and is zero to 30. It is preferable in the formula (II) that n is zero to 20, R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 13 to 21 carbon atoms, X 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 22 carbon atoms, or a counter ion (when n is not zero, the counter ion is not included). The above-mentioned surfactant is preferably selected from a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant. The present invention also relates to a method of promoting the growth of plants by applying the above-mentioned plant growth-promoting composition to the the plant or use of the above-mentioned plant growth-promoting composition for promoting the growth of plants. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of promoting the green degree of leaves, a leaf-area and rooting power without a chemical injury by the above-mentioned plant growth-promoting composition. It also relates a method of increasing the efficiency for absorbing a fertilizer by the above-mentioned plant growth-promoting composition and further relates to a method of improving a yield and the quality of a plant by activating the plant. Additionally, the present invention relates to a method of growing a plant by the above-mentioned plant growth-promoting composition. Detailed description of the invention Respective forms of the plant growth-promoting agent (2) of the present invention will be described. The compound represented by the above-mentioned formula RCOO(AO) n X 1 In the present form, R in the formula (II) has 11 to 29 carbon atoms, preferably 13 to 21 carbon atoms, and more preferably 15 to 19 carbon atoms because of being able to give a plant activity efficiently without a chemical injury. It may be saturated or unsaturated and is preferably saturated. On the other hand, it may be linear, branched or cyclic and is preferably linear or branched and more preferably linear. Specific examples of R include alkyl groups such as undecyl, tridecyl, pentadecyl, heptadecyl, nonadecyl and henicosyl groups, and alkenyl groups such as pentadecenyl, heptadecenyl and nonadecenyl groups. There are preferably alkyl groups such as pentadecyl, heptadecyl and nonadecyl groups, and alkenyl groups such as pentadecenyl, heptadecenyl and nonadecenyl groups. There are particularly preferably alkyl groups such as pentadecyl, heptadecyl and nonadecyl groups. X 1 in the formula (II) represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms (preferably an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms), an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms (preferably an alkenyl group having 2 to 22 carbon atoms), or a counter ion. Specific examples of X 1 include alkyl groups such as lauryl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, arachinyl and behenyl groups; acyl groups such as lauroyl, myristoyl, palmitoyl, stearoyl, arachidoyl and behenoyl groups; and alkenyl groups such as tetradecenyl, hexadecenyl, oleyl, codoyl, eicosenyl and docosenyl groups. There are preferably alkyl groups such as hexadecyl, octadecyl and arachinyl groups; acyl groups such as palmitoyl, stearoyl and arachidoyl groups; and alkenyl groups such as hexadecenyl, oleyl, codoyl and eicosenyl groups. There are particularly preferably alkyl groups such as hexadecyl, octadecyl and arachinyl groups. Specific example of the counter ion may be one of alkali metals such as sodium and potassium; alkali earth metals such as calcium and magnesium; alkylamine salts such as trimethylamine and triethylamine; and alkanolamine salts such as ethanolamine. There are preferably alkali metals and alkali earth metals. AO represents at least one group selected from oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene groups. The number of AO units being n, AO's may be the same or different. It may be random or block, and n represents an average number of moles added of zero to 30, preferably zero to 20 and more preferably zero to 10. When the compound (II) has a hydrophilic group and a lipophilic group, its HLB measured by Griffin's method is preferably not more than 10, more preferably not more than 8, and most preferably not more than 5. From the viewpoint of promoting the plant-growth, there is preferably one represented by the formula (II) wherein n is zero to 20, R is an alkyl or alkenyl group having 13 to 21 carbon atoms, X is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 22 carbon atoms, or a counter ion (when n is not zero, the counter ion is excluded). The form of the above-mentioned plant growth promoting composition may be any one of liquid, flowable, wettable powder, granule, dust formulation and tablet. When the composition is treated as an aqueous solution or an aqueous dispersion, the plant growth promoting agent is usually diluted into a concentration of 0.01 to 5000 ppm, preferably 0.1 to 1000 ppm, and more preferably 0.5 to 500 ppm to be applied onto phylloplanes or roots of a plant. For the method supplying the plant growth promoting composition of the present invention to a plant, various techniques may be used. For example, it includes a method of applying directly a dust formulation or a granule as a fertilizer, a method of spraying a diluted aqueous solution directly on phylloplanes, stems or fruits of a plant, a method of injecting a diluted aqueous solution into soil, and a method of supplying to dilute and to mix into a liquid for hydroponics and a supplying water which are contacted with roots and which are such as hydroponics and a rock wool. Plants, which can be treated with the plant growth promoting composition of the present invention, may be fruit vegetables such as a cucumber, a pumpkin, a watermelon-plant, a melon, a tomato, an eggplant, a green pepper, a strawberry, an okra, kidney beans in a pod, a broad bean, a pea, green soybeans in a pod and a corn; leaf vegetables such as a Chinese cabbage, greens for pickling, a Brassica campestris (a Chinese spinach-like green vegetable), a cabbage, a cauliflower, a broccoli, a Brussels sprout, an onion, a Welsh onion, a garlic, a scallion, a leek, an asparagus, a lettuce, a green for salad (which is called Saladana in Japan), a celery, a spinach, a crown daisy, a parsley, a trefoil (which is called Mitsuba in Japan and is useful as herb), a dropwort, an udo (which is an Aralia cordata), a Japanese ginger, a Japanese butterbur and a labiate; and root vegetables such as a radish, a turnip, a burdock, a carrot, a potato, a taro, a sweet potato, a yam, a ginger-plant (which is called Shoga in Japan) and a lotus root. Besides, the plant-activating agent may be used for a rice-plant, a barley, a wheat or a group thereof, and petalous-plants. For the purpose of promoting emulsification, dispersion, solubilization or permeation, it is preferable in the present invention to use the following surfactant together with the plant growth-promoting agent. There are exemplified nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants. Nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants are preferable. Examples of nonionic surfactants include sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene fatty acid esters, glycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene glycerol fatty acid esters, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyalkylene polyglycerol fatty acid esters, sucrose fatty acid esters, resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene resin acid esters, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyalkylene alkylphenyl ethers, alkyl(poly)glycosides and polyoxyalkylenealkyl(poly)glycosides. There are preferably exemplified an ether group-containing nonionic surfactant having no nitrogen atom and an ester group-containing nonionic surfactant. Examples of anionic surfactants include carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfuric ester group-containing and phosphoric ester group-containing surfactants. Examples of the carboxylic surfactants include fatty acids having 6 to 30 carbon atoms or salts thereof, polyhydric carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether carboxylic acid salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylamide ether carboxylic acid salts, rhodinic acid salts, dimmer acid salts, polymer acid salts and tall oil fatty acid salts. Examples of the sulfonic surfactants include alkylbenezenesulfonates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, naphthalenesulfonates, diphenyl ether sulfonic acid salts, condensates of alkylnaphthalenesulfonates and condensates of naphthalenesulfonates. Examples of the sulfuric ester group-containing surfactants include alkylsulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkylsulfates, polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfuric acid salts, tristyrenated phenol sulfuric acid ester salts, polyoxyalkylene distyrenated phenol sulfuric acid ester salts and alkylpolyglycoside sulfuric acid salts. Examples of phosphoric acid ester group-containig surfactants include alkyl phosphoric acid ester salts, alkylphenylphosphoric acid ester salts, polyoxyalkylene alkylphosphoric acid ester salts and polyoxyalkylene alkylpheneylphosphoric acid ester salts. Examples of the salts include salts of metals (such as Na, K, Ca, Mg and Zn), ammonium salts, alkanolamine salts and aliphatic amine salts. Examples of amphoteric surfactants include amino acid group-containing, betaine group-containing, imidazoline group-containing and amine oxide group-containing surfactants. Examples of the amino acid group-containing surfactants include acylamino acid salts, acylsarcosine acid salts, acyloylmethylaminopropionic acid salts, alkylaminopropionic acid salts and acylamide ethylhydroxyethylmethylcarboxylic acid salts. Examples of the betaine group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylbetaine, alkylhydroxyethylbetaine, acylamide propylhydroxypropylammonia sulfobetaine and ricinoleic acid amide propyl dimethylcarboxymethylammonia betaine. Examples of the imidazoline group-containing surfactants include alkylcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl imidazolinium betaine and alkylethoxycarboxymethyl imidazolinium betaine. Examples of the amine oxide group-containing surfactants include alkyldimethylamine oxide, alkyldiethanolamine oxide and alkylamidepropylamine oxide. One kind of the above-mentioned surfactants may be used, and a mixture of two or more kinds thereof may be used. When one of these surfactants comprises a polyoxyalkylene group, it is exemplified that the polyoxyalkylene group has a polyoxyethylene group and the average number of moles added of alkylene oxide is from 1 to 50. To solubilize and disperse uniformly effective components of the plant-activating agent, the surfactant is preferably a highly hydrophilic surfactant and its HLB measured by Griffin's method is preferably not less than 10 and more preferably not less than 12. The following fertilizer components may be used together therewith. There are specifically exemplified inorganic or organic compounds which can supply elements such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, Si and Na, in particular N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Examples of such inorganic compounds include ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium phosphate, sodium nitrate, urea, ammonium carbonate, potassium phosphate, calcium superphosphate, fused phosphate fertilizer (3MgO·CaO·P 2 O 5 · 3CaSiO 2 ), potassium sulfate, potassium chloride, nitrate of lime, slaked lime, carbonate of lime, magnesium sulfate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium carbonate. Examples of the organic compounds include fowl droppings, cow dung, Bark compost, amino acid, peptone, amino acid solution (which is called Mieki in Japan), fermentation extracts, calcium salts of organic acids (such as citric acid, gluconic acid and succinic acid), and calcium salts of fatty acids (such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid and caproic acid). These fertilizer components may be used together with the surfactant. When fertilizer components are sufficiently applied as basal fertilizer to soil as seen in outdoor cultivation of a rice-plant or vegetables, it is unnecessary to mix the fertilizer components. Further, when a cultivation form is such as a fertigation (a hydroponic soil culture) or hydroponics, when it avoids applying excessively basal fertilizer and, when it is a type of providing a fertilizer component together with irrigation-water, the fertilizer component is preferably mixed. When the plant growth-promoting composition of the present invention is mixed with a chelating agent such as the following organic acid having chelating ability and a salt thereof, the growth and the efficiency for absorbing a fertilizer are further improved. Specific examples thereof include oxycarboxylic acids such as citric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, heptonic acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid, adipic acid and glutaric acid; polycarboxylic acids; and salts thereof such as potassium salt, sodium salt, alkanolamine salt and aliphatic amine salt. Mixing a chelating agent other than the organic acids also causes the growth and the efficiency for absorbing a fertilizer to be improved. The chelating agent to be mixed includes aminocarboxylic group-containing chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and cyclohexanediaminetetraacetic acid (CDTA). In the present invention, at least one selected from a fertilizer component, a surfactant and a chelating agent may be used together therewith. It is particularly preferable to use both of a surfactant and a chelating agent together therewith. If a fertilizer is required at the time of application thereof, it is preferable to use a surfactant, a fertilizer and a chelating agent together with the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention, for example. If no fertilizer is required at the time of application thereof, it is preferable to use a surfactant and a chelating agent together the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention, for example. The form of and the method spraying the plant growth-promoting composition of the present invention and so on are the same as in the above-mentioned description. As necessary, water and/or a solvent may be comprised. About the ratio of the respective components in the plant growth-promoting composition of the present invention, 10 to 20000 parts by weight and particularly 100 to 2000 parts by weight of a surfactant, zero to 50000 parts by weight and particularly 10 to 5000 parts by weight of a fertilizer component, zero to 10000 parts by weight and particularly 10 to 5000 parts by weight of a chelating agent, and zero to 50000 parts by weight and particularly 10 to 5000 parts by weight of other nutrients (such as sacchrides, amino acids, vitamins) are preferable per 100 parts by weight of the plant growth-promoting agent. When the plant growth-promoting agent in a dust formulation or granule state as a fertilizer is generally applied to soil, it is preferable to use the dust formulation or granule containing the above-mentioned components other than water at the same ratio as above. This dust formulation or granule may contain a vehicle to prevent caking thereof. Treated by the plant growth-promoting composition of the present invention in an appropriate concentration, the activity of a plant can be efficiently improved without a chemical injury to the plant. Thus, the plant-activating agent can be used for various farm products. Furthermore, the present invention causes improvement in plant-growth, such as promotion of taking root of a plant, increase of SPAD value, and increase of the efficiency for absorbing a fertilizer. Germination of seeds of a plant is promoted. Examples Examples A1 to A4 will be described hereinafter, from which examples A2-3, A2-10, A3-4, A3-8, A4-4, and A4-8 correspond to the present invention. The results are shown in tables A1 to A4. Example A1 <Test of reproductive ability using chlorella cells> Chlorella cells which were green cells of a higher plant were cultured with vibration in an inorganic salt medium. The reproductive ability using chlorella cells (ability for increasing the number of the cells) was evaluated by comparing the treated area to which the plant growth-promoting agent or the plant growth-promoting composition shown in Table A1 was added in an effective concentration shown in Table A1 with non-treated area (i.e., only original nutrients of the inorganic salt medium). The concentration of the cells was set to 1.00 × 10 5 (cells per ml) at the start of the test. The reproductive ability of the cells is respected by each of the relative values in the number of the chlorella cells after 14 days from adding the respective plant-activating agents or compositions followed by culturing the cells when the number of cells on the non-treated area is made to be 100. As the inorganic salt medium, a Linsmaier-Skoog (LS) medium was used. Three media were used as the treated areas and the non-treated areas every the plant growth-promoting agent or the plant growth-promoting composition. The average thereof was compared with that in the non-treated areas. Example A2 <Test of hydroponics of tomato seedlings> Seeds of tomato "Momotaro" were sown in a box, and seedlings having 3 true leaves at the expansion period were hydroponically used in a culturing solution in which "OKF2" (supplied by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fertilizer (an NPK base) was diluted [to 538 times (i.e. 855 ppm as an effective fertilizer component)]. At this time, plant growth-promoting compositions comprising components shown in Table A2 in effective component concentrations shown in Table A2 were added to carry out the test. Each of the used plant growth-promoting compositions was forcibly emulsified with a home mixer to be used. After 6 days from starting the test, the culturing solution was collected to measure the concentration of nitrate ions with RQ Flex (supplied by Merk) and to calculate the efficiency for absorbing a nitrate nitrogen fertilizer. At this time, plural containers in which hydroponics was carried out as described above were prepared and then the concentration of nitrate ions was measured one time about each of three containers that were arbitrarily selected. Three data were obtained about the respective areas and then the average of the calculated efficiencies of the absorption was defined as the efficiency for absorbing the nitrate nitrogen fertilizer. About the three individuals used in the measurement of the efficiency for absorbing the fertilizer, their chlorophyll values (hereinafter abbreviated to SPAD values) showing the green degree of leaves were measured with SPAD502 supplied by Minolta Co., Ltd. SPAD value was measured 10 times for each of the three individuals (that is, the number of data is 30). The average thereof was made as SPAD value. The SPAD value was measured at different positions of the third true leaf in each of the individuals. These results are shown in Table A2. Each and all thereof are the relative values when that of the non-treated areas are made to be 100. The fertilizer composition of "OKF2" (Otsuka Chemical Co . , Ltd.) was as follows: N:P:K:Ca:Mg = 14:8:16:6:2. Example A3 <Test of soil-treatment for tomatoes> Seeds of tomato "Momotaro" were sown in a cell tray using "Kureha Engei Baido" [horticultural soil supplied by Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; the fertilizer components: N:P:K = 0.4:1.9:0.6 (g/kg)] as the cultural soil. After cotyledons of the plants expanded, the plants were fixedly planted in pots having a diameter of 15 cm. Then, the plant growth-promoting compositions comprising components shown in Table 3 and 460 ppm (1000-fold diluted solution) of "OKF2" (supplied by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) (wherein the balance is water) were given in a treating amount of 100 ml per individual at intervals of 7 days. At this time, each of the plant growth-promoting compositions used were forcibly emulsified with a home mixer. This treatment was repeated 5 times. After 6 days from finishing the 5 treatments, the fresh-weight of the plants was measured. Then, the SPAD value thereof was measured by the same manner as in Example A2. In the present example, however, the number of the used individual was 10, the result of the fresh-weight was the average of 10 data thereof, and the result of the SPAD value was the average of 30 data thereof (that is, 3 points every individual were measured). The SPAD value was measured about the third true leaf. These results are shown in Table A3 provided that each and all are represented by the relative value when that of the non-treated medium is made to be 100. Example A4 <Test of soil-treatment for spinach> Seeds of spinach "Esper" were sown in a cell tray having 50 holes with using "Takii soil for seeds" [Takii & Company LTD, fertilizer components: N:P:K = 480: 760: 345 (mg/l), pH 6.4, and EC: 0.96] as a culturing soil. One area for the test has 10 holes (n=10) in the cell tray. After cotyledons of the plants expanded, the treatment started. That is, the plant-activating composition comprising components shown in Table A4 at effective component concentrations shown in Table 4 (wherein the balance is water) were given in a treating amount of 10 ml per 100 individuals at intervals of 7 days (in case of treated areas). At this time, each of the plant growth-promoting compositions used was forcibly emulsified with a home mixer. This treatment was repeated 4 times. After 6 days from finishing the 4 treatments, the fresh-weights and SPAD values of the plants were measured in the same manner as in Example A2. In the present example, however, the number of the used individuals was 10, the result of the fresh-weight was the average of 10 data thereof, and the result of the SPAD value was the average of 30 data thereof (that is, 3 points every individual were measured). The SPAD value was measured about the second true leaf. These results are shown in Table A4 provided that each and all are represented by the relative value when that of the non-treated area is made to be 100. During the test period, additional fertilization of fertilizer components was not carried out. Therefore, the plants absorbed and utilized only the nutrients comprised in the culturing soil. In the Tables, POE is an abbreviation of polyoxyethylene. The number in the parentheses is the average number of ethylene oxide moles added. The wording in the parentheses subsequent to the kinds of the activating agents and the compositions represents a tradename of a product supplied by Kao Corp. Example C1 <Test of soil-treatment for tomato seedlings> Seeds of tomato "Momotaro" were sown in a cell tray using Kureha Engei Baido [horticultural soil supplied by Kureha Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.; the fertilizer components: N:P:K = 0.4:1.9:0.6 (g/kg)] as the cultural soil. After true leaves expanded, the seedlings were fixedly planted in pots having a diameter of 12 cm. Then, the treatment was started. That is, the plant growth-promoting compositions, in which starting ingredients shown in Table C1 and OKF2 (supplied by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a fertilizer component in concentration of 230 ppm (2000-fold diluted solution) were blended, were used to treat the soil with the treating amount of 60 ml/individual every 7 days 4 times in total. The blended concentrations of the starting ingredients were as shown in Table C1 and the balance was water. After 6 days from the 4 treatments, the fresh-weight and the SPAD value (SPAD502 supplied by Minolta Co., Ltd.) showing the green degree of leaves of the plants were measured. The measured values as the relative values were compared, when that of the non-treated was made as 100. The fertilizer composition of OKF2 (supplied by Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.) was that N:P:K:Ca:Mg = 14:8:16:6:2. In the present example, however, the number of the individuals was 10, the result of the fresh-weight was the average of 10 data thereof, and the result of the SPAD value was the average of 30 data (that is, 3 points were measured every individuals) measured about the third true leaf. In the Tables, POE is an abbreviation of polyoxyethylene and the number in the parentheses is the average number of ethylene oxide moles added. The wording in the brackets represents a tradename of a product supplied by Kao Corp. In particular, the mark is a tradename of Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.

Claims: A plant growth-promoting composition comprising a surfactant, a chelating agent and a plant growth-promoting agent represented by the following formula (II): RCOO(AO) n X 1 wherein R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 11 to 29 carbon atoms; X 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms, or a counter ion; AO represents at least one group selected from oxyethylene, oxypropylene and oxybutylene groups and may be random or block; and n represents an average number of moles added and is zero to 30. A composition according to claim 1 wherein, in formula (II), R represents an alkyl group having 11 to 29 carbon atoms. The plant growth-promoting composition as claimed in any of claims 1 or 2, wherein, in formula (II), n is zero to 20; R represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having 13 to 21 carbon atoms, X 1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 22 carbon atoms, or a counter ion (when n is not zero, the counter ion is excluded). A composition according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is selected from a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant and an amphoteric surfactant. A composition according to claim 4 wherein the surfactant is nonionic or anionic. A composition according to claim 5 wherein the surfactant is nonionic and has an ester group. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising a fertilizer agent. A method for promoting the growth of plants by applying a composition of any of the preceding claims to a plant. A method according to claim 8 using 0.1 to 1,000 ppm of the plant growth-promoting agent in an aqueous solution or dispersion. The use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for promoting the growth of a plant. The use according to claim 10 using 0.1 to 1,000 ppm of the plant growth-promoting agent in an aqueous solution or dispersion.

Inventors: HAYASHI MASAHARU, HAYASHI TOSHIO, KAMEI MASATOSHI, KURITA KAZUHIKO, SUZUKI TADAYUKI, HAYASHI, MASAHARU, HAYASHI, TOSHIO, KAMEI, MASATOSHI, KURITA, KAZUHIKO, SUZUKI, TADAYUKI, Hayashi, Masaharu, Kao Corporation, Hayashi, Toshio, Kao Corporation, Kamei, Masatoshi, Kao Corporation, Kurita, Kazuhiko, Kao Corporation, Suzuki, Tadayuki, Kao Corporation
Applicants: KAO CORP, KAO CORPORATION
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01N37
IPC codes: C05F11, A01N31, A01N37, C05G3