Patent ID: 8912124

Claim:
A method for increasing tolerance in plants to abiotic stress, comprising: applying an effective amount of a derivative of (1-cyanocyclopropyl)phenylphosphinic acid of the formula (I), or an ester or salt thereof, to the plants; wherein formula (I) is: where: R 1 is: halogen; or a branched or unbranched alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkenyl, alkylthio, haloalkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl which is optionally mono- or disubstituted; or cyano, amino, or nitro; R 2 is hydrogen, or a branched or unbranched alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, alkenyl, alkenylalkyl, alkynyl, alkynylalkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkenyl, hydroxyalkenyl, alkylthioalkyl, haloalkyl, alkylaminoalkyl, bisalkylaminoallyl, or cycloalkylaminoalkyl; and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.