Chitinous Compounds For Enhancing Plant Growth

Abstract

Compositions and methods for enhancing plant growth and crop yield in legumes and non-legumes are described. The compositions include lipo-chitooligosaccharides in combination with chitins/chitosans or in combination with flavonoid compounds or in combination with a herbicide. The method includes applying the compositions to seeds and/or plants either concomitantly or sequentially.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for enhancing plant growth or crop yield comprising administering to a plant or a seed a composition comprising at least one lipo-chitooligosaccharide and one or more chitinous compounds selected from the group of chitins and chitosans in an amount effective for enhancing foliar plant growth or crop yield. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plant is a legume or a nonlegume. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of soybeans, peas, chickpeas, drybeans, peanuts, clover, alfalfa, corn, cotton, rice, tomatoes, canola, wheat, barley, sugar beet, and grass. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein administering comprises applying the composition to foliage, seeds, or to soil in the immediate vicinity of the plant or seed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one flavonoid compound selected from the group consisting of genistein, daidzein, formononetin, naringenin, hesperetin, luteolin, and apigenin. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide is present at a concentration of between 10 −6  M to 10 −14  M. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more chitinous compounds are present at a concentration of between 0.1 to 15% w/v. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the flavonoid compound is present at a concentration of between about 20 μM to about 800 μM. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one herbicidal compound. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the herbicidal compound is selected from the group consisting of bentazon, acifluorfen, chiorimuron, lactofen, clomazone, fluazifop, glufosinate, glyphosate, sethoxydim, imazethapyr, imazamox, fomesafe, flumiclorac, imazaquin, and clethodim. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein administering to a plant or a seed comprises administering to a plant that is genetically modified for resistance to the herbicide. 
     
     
         27 . A method for enhancing plant growth or crop yield comprising sequentially administering to a plant or a seed, in either order, a first composition comprising at least one lipo-chitooligosaccharide in an effective amount for enhancing plant growth or crop yield, and a second composition comprising one or more chitinous compound in an effective amount for enhancing plant growth or crop yield, wherein the one or more chitinous compound is selected from the group consisting of chitins and chitosans. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the lipo-chitooligosaccharide is present at a concentration of between 10 −5  M to about 10 −14  M. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the one or more chitinous compounds are present at a concentration of between about 0.1 to 15% w/v. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising administering to said plant or said seed at least one flavonoid compound, selected from the group consisting of flavones, flavanols, flavonols, flavanones, and isoflavones, in an effective amount for enhancing plant growth or crop yield. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the flavonoid compound is selected from the group consisting of genistein, daidzein, formononetin, naringenin, hesperetin, luteolin, and apigenin. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein administering to a plant or a seed further comprises administering at least one herbicidal compound. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the herbicidal compound is selected from the group consisting of bentazon, acifluorfen, chiorimuron, lactofen, clomazone, fluazifop, glufosinate, glyphosate, sethoxydim, imazethapyr, imazamox, fomesafe, flumiclorac, imazaquin, and clethodim. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein administering to a plant or a seed further comprises administering to a plant that is genetically modified for resistance to the herbicide.