Modulation of plant biology

Abstract

A method of effecting at least one biological process in a plant is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a part of a seed, a plant, or the locus thereof with a mixture comprising an agriculturally acceptable mixture of (i) complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids and (ii) a phytotoxic amount of one or more alkali (earth) salts and/or a synergistic amount of at least one source of an agriculturally acceptable transition metal ions.

1 . A method of effecting at least one biological process in a plant, the method comprising
 providing an aqueous mixture of:
 (i) an agriculturally effective amount of complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids (CPPA) having a predetermined amount of total organic carbon (TOC) and capable of providing a positive biological effect in a plant;
 and 
 
 (ii) one or more of:
 (a) a non-agriculturally effective amount of of one or more agriculturally acceptable transition metal salt; and/or 
 (b) a phytotoxic added amount of at least one salt of an alkali metal salt or alkaline earth metal salt; 
 
   wherein the aqueous mixture is suitable for contacting a plant, seed, or its locus;   wherein the weight/weight ratio of transition metal salt to total organic carbon (TOC) in the mixture is at between about 0.1 to about 0.5; or weight/weight ratio of alkali (earth) metal salt to TOC is between about 1.0 to about 10.0.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids are derived from partially humified organic material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise at least two of:
 a. a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins;   b. a oxygen-to-carbon ratio is greater than about 0.5 for dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in the aqueous mixture;   c. a total number of tannin compounds greater than about 200, the tannin compounds having a hydrogen to carbon ration of about 0.5 to about 1.4, and an aromaticity index of less than about 0.7 as measured by mass spectroscopy; or   d. a mass distribution of about 55-60% lignin compounds, 27-35% tannin compounds, and about 8-15% condensed hydrocarbon as measured by mass spectroscopy.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins, characterized in that at least 10% of the total % of compounds of the composition are tannins and/or condensed tannins. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins, characterized in that at least 20% of the total % of compounds of the composition are tannins and/or condensed tannins. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the positive biological effect is one or more of improved leaves per plant, total plant weight, root/shoot weights, leaf conductance, and yield. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal salt comprises one or more of ferrous/ferric ions; manganese ions; copper ions; molybdenum ions; zinc ions, or magnesium ions, and wherein the alkali metal salt for alkali earth metal salt comprises one or more of calcium ions, potassium ions, and sodium ions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition metal salt comprises ferrous/ferric ions; manganese ions; copper ions; or zinc ions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the mixture positively effects at least one biological process of a plant selected from one or more of metal ion transport, metal transporters and processes that facilitate intracellular and/or intercellular transport, metal redox chemistry, metal chelation, extracellular acidification, metal assimilatory pathways, metal loading into the xylem, recovery of metal ions prior to leaf senescence, and intracellular distribution and/or storing of metal ions. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising contacting a part of a seed, a plant, or the locus thereof with the aqueous mixture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is applied at a rate such that the weight/weight ratio of transition metal salt to total organic carbon (TOC) in the mixture is at between about 0.15 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mixture is applied at a rate such that the weight/weight ratio of alkali (earth) metal salt to TOC is between about 1.0 to about 10.0. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more pesticides. 
     
     
         15 . A composition of matter comprising an aqueous mixture of (i) complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids having a predetermined amount of total organic carbon (TOC); and (ii) one or more of (a) a phytotoxic amount of one or more alkali metal salt or alkali earth metal salt; and/or (b) a non-agriculturally effective amount of at least one source of an agriculturally acceptable transition metal salt, wherein the mixture is at least 0.1 to 0.5 weight/weight transition metal salt to the predetermined amount of TOC, or wherein the mixture is at least 1 to 10 weight/weight ratio of alkali metal salt or alkali earth metal salt to TOC. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of matter of  claim 15 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids are derived from partially humified organic matter. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of matter of  claim 15 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise two or more of:
 a. a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins;   b. a oxygen-to-carbon ratio is greater than about 0.5 for dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in the aqueous mixture;   c. a total number of tannin compounds greater than about 200, the tannin compounds having a hydrogen to carbon ration of about 0.5 to about 1.4, and an aromaticity index of less than about 0.7 as measured by mass spectroscopy; or   d. a mass distribution of about 55-60% lignin compounds, 27-35% tannin compounds, and about 8-15% condensed hydrocarbon as measured by mass spectroscopy.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins, characterized in that at least 10% of the total % of compounds of the composition are tannins and/or condensed tannins. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the complex polymeric polyhydroxy acids comprise a mixture of condensed hydrocarbons, lignins, and tannins and/or condensed tannins, characterized in that at least 20% of the total % of compounds of the composition are tannins and/or condensed tannins. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the weight/weight ratio of transition metal salt to total organic carbon (TOC) in the mixture is at between about 0.1 to about 0.5; or weight/weight ratio of alkali metal salt or alkali earth metal salt to TOC is between about 1.0 to about 10.0. 
     
     
         21 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A seed or seed coating comprising the composition of matter of  claim 15 .