Use of lipo-chitooligosaccharides to initiate early flowering and fruit development in plants and related methods and compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of LCOs in initiating earlier flowering, increased number of buds and flower buds and earlier fruit development in non legume and legume plants, as compared to flowering and fruit development under conditions without use of LCOs, and the enhancement of plant growth and yield associated therewith; to compositions comprising an effective amount of at least one LCO and agriculturally acceptable carriers, associated with earlier flowering, increased bud and flower numbers and earlier initiation of fruit development as compared to conditions without use of LCOs, and with increased growth and plant yield; and to methods using LCOs and compositions of one or more LCOs and agriculturally acceptable carriers, associated with earlier flowering initiation, increased bud and flower numbers and earlier fruit development in both legume and non-legume crop plants as compared to conditions without use of LCOs and associated enhancement of growth and yield.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method for initiating early fruiting in a plant comprising applying to the plant an effective amount of a lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) after seeding, whereby the plant initiates early fruiting as compared with an untreated plant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant initiates early fruiting one week after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant initiates early fruiting two weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         9 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant initiates early fruiting three weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         10 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant initiates early fruiting four weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the LCO is applied to the foliage of the plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of tomato,  Arabidopsis thaliana , Marigolds, pepper, strawberries and hot pepper. 
     
     
         13 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the plant is tomato. 
     
     
         14 . A method for initiating early flowering in a plant comprising applying to the plant an effective amount of a lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) after seeding, whereby the plant initiates early flowering as compared with an untreated plant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant initiates early flowering one week after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant initiates early flowering two weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant initiates early flowering three weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant initiates early flowering four weeks after the LCO is applied. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the LCO is applied to the foliage of the plant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of tomato,  Arabidopsis thaliana , Marigolds, pepper, strawberries and hot pepper. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plant is tomato.