Cotton topping regulator with tip control and fruit promotion

Abstract

The application discloses a cotton topping regulator with the functions of topping control and fruit promotion, and belongs to the technical field of crop plant growth regulators.The application adopts special compound active components and special inactive additive systems, does not add any exogenous hormones, insecticides, fungicides and other auxiliary materials, and constructs a differential target regulation mechanism.The regulator can act on the cotton apical meristem, flower bud differentiation tissue and phloem nutrient transport channel, and simultaneously realizes four functions of apical vigorous shoot inhibition, invalid bud removal, bud and boll shedding inhibition and photosynthetic product directional transport, thereby replacing artificial topping operation.The application can reduce the cotton bud and boll shedding rate by 18.2%-23.7%, increase the per mu seed cotton yield by 12.6%-19.3%, and simultaneously optimize the cotton fiber quality;the preparation has strong storage stability, is suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles, large-scale traction spraying machines and other full-process mechanized plant protection equipment, has a green and waste-free preparation process, meets the development needs of cotton simplified and green cultivation, and has high field popularization value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of preparation technology of plant growth regulators for economic crops, and in particular to a cotton topping regulator that also controls shoot growth and promotes fruit production. Background Technology

[0002] Cotton is a strategic economic crop in my country, serving as a core raw material for the domestic textile industry chain and a primary source of income for millions of farmers in the cotton-growing regions of Northwest China, the Yellow River Basin, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. my country's annual cotton planting area remains stable at over 30 million mu (approximately 2 million hectares), with over 80% of this area located in the inland cotton-growing regions of Xinjiang. The cotton industry directly links tens of millions of jobs across the entire chain of planting, harvesting, processing, and textiles, making its strategic position irreplaceable. Cotton is a typical indeterminate Malvaceae crop with extremely strong apical dominance during its growth period. Under suitable field conditions with ample water and fertilizer, the main stem continuously elongates upwards, and ineffective axillary buds, superfluous buds, and excessively long lateral shoots continuously sprout from the leaf axils. These ineffective nutrient branches continuously deplete the cotton plant's roots of water, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium minerals, as well as carbohydrates synthesized through photosynthesis in the leaves, leading to a severe imbalance between vegetative and reproductive growth.

[0003] If topping and shoot control are not carried out in a timely manner, cotton plants will suffer three major irreversible yield reduction problems: First, excessive ineffective nutrient consumption leads to weak fruiting branches, a significant reduction in the number of flower buds, and premature shedding of young buds and bolls, resulting in a field flower and boll drop rate exceeding 40%. Second, excessive shoot growth causes canopy closure, deteriorating ventilation and light penetration between rows, and increasing humidity in the field microenvironment by more than 30%, significantly increasing the probability of outbreaks of cotton diseases such as Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, boll rot, mirid bugs, and bollworms. Third, insufficient sunlight exposure to the lower and middle fruiting branches slows boll enlargement, reduces single boll weight, lowers lint percentage, and deteriorates fiber quality, ultimately resulting in a yield reduction of 15%-25% per mu. Therefore, topping and shoot control is a crucial and indispensable agricultural step in cotton cultivation management, directly determining the final yield and fiber grade of cotton.

[0004] Currently, cotton topping technology in China is divided into two main categories: manual topping and conventional chemical topping agents. Both mainstream technologies have inherent flaws that cannot be overcome, and the formulation mechanisms of all chemical topping products on the market are highly homogenized. The industry's technological bottleneck has been unable to be broken through for a long time. The specific defects of the existing technologies are broken down in detail as follows: Manual topping, relying on hand-picking the top growing point of cotton plants and pruning excess buds, is a traditional farming method used for over 60 years. While it offers precise shoot control and avoids pesticide damage, it is completely unsuitable for today's large-scale cotton planting model. Its core shortcomings are as follows: ① A severe labor shortage and soaring labor costs. Currently, there is a serious outflow of young and middle-aged laborers from rural areas, and the remaining labor force in cotton-growing regions is aging significantly. A single person can only complete topping work on 8-10 mu (approximately 1.3-1.3 hectares) of cotton per day. Tens of thousands of mu (approximately 667 hectares) of contiguous cotton fields require hundreds of laborers. The topping window for cotton is only 12-15 days, making it extremely easy to miss the optimal control time. Based on current agricultural worker wages, the average labor cost for manual topping is as high as 65-80 yuan per mu (approximately 0.067 hectares), significantly reducing the profit margin of cotton planting. ② Extremely poor standardization of operations, resulting in uneven plant types in the field. The topping height, number of branches retained, and degree of bud removal vary greatly among different workers. Light topping leaves residual apical dominance, leading to continued excessive vegetative growth; heavy topping damages effective upper branches, directly reducing boll yield and resulting in inconsistent plant shapes in the field. ③ Mechanical wounds induce disease. Manual topping and bud removal create open wounds on the stems. In hot and humid field conditions, pathogens in the soil and air can easily invade the plant through these wounds, increasing the incidence of cotton wilt by 7%-11%. ④ Poor adaptability to extreme weather. Work cannot be carried out in rainy or hot weather. If continuous rainfall occurs, the topping window is missed, causing irreversible yield reduction for the entire year.

[0005] To address the labor shortage associated with manual topping, the industry is gradually promoting chemical topping agents to replace manual labor. Currently available topping agents mainly consist of single or combined inhibitors such as mepiquat chloride, paclobutrazol, and uniconazole, all employing a broad-spectrum mechanism of action to inhibit plant growth. Extensive field testing has revealed eight unresolved technical challenges with these products, all of which are completely different from the technical approach of this invention: (1) Single function, only able to control shoot growth but not promote fruit growth, requiring the use of multiple agricultural inputs. The core target of all existing topping agents is only the apical growth point of the plant, which can only inhibit shoot elongation, but cannot regulate nutrient transport or protect bud and boll cells. Although the plant height can be controlled after spraying, the photosynthetic nutrients of cotton plants are still distributed in a disordered manner, and the bud and boll drop rate does not decrease significantly. Farmers need to spray more than three kinds of agricultural inputs, such as flower and fruit protection agents, foliar potassium fertilizer, and photosynthesis promoters, and increase the field spraying sequence by three times. The overall cost of agricultural inputs and labor increases instead of decreasing.

[0006] (2) Broad-spectrum and non-targeted, it is very easy to cause plant damage. Existing inhibitory topping agents do not distinguish the target site. After entering the cotton plant, they indiscriminately inhibit the growth of all meristematic tissues, not only inhibiting the top shoot, but also inhibiting the elongation of fruit branches, root growth, and flower bud differentiation. At slightly higher concentrations, acute damage such as leaf curling, leaf margin scorching, and stagnation of new fruit branches will occur; at lower concentrations, the top shoot will rebound rapidly and grow excessively after 7-10 days of shoot control, and the effective period of shoot control is short.

[0007] (3) Disruption of endogenous hormone balance, frequent premature aging problems in the middle and late stages. Cotton needs stable endogenous hormones to maintain the photosynthetic capacity of leaves and the vitality of roots in the middle and late stages of boll formation. Existing topping agents will antagonize the plant's endogenous gibberellins and auxins for a long time, causing the functional leaves of cotton to turn yellow and fall off prematurely during the peak boll formation period, the root vitality to decline rapidly, and the cotton bolls to be unable to expand normally, resulting in premature aging phenomena of "bolls that do not grow and are light and of poor quality", with yield reduction of up to 8%-13%.

[0008] (4) The application mode is rigid and only supports single-time topping spray. Existing topping agents can only be sprayed once at the end of the cotton budding stage. They cannot be controlled in multiple times. In the early stage, they cannot inhibit the premature growth of shoots, and in the later stage, they cannot remove new buds. The plant type control is not consistent throughout the whole process.

[0009] (5) It cannot be adapted to cotton plants with different growth rates, and the effect of applying it in a one-size-fits-all manner is poor. The control of shoot growth is insufficient in cotton fields with vigorous growth, the damage to cotton plants with weak seedlings is serious, and the cotton plants in saline-alkali soil have extremely low tolerance. The nationally unified formula cannot be adapted to the different soil and climate conditions in the three major cotton-growing areas.

[0010] (6) Poor physicochemical properties of formulations and low compatibility with mechanized spraying. Some existing topping agents have poor water solubility, and after dilution with hard water, they will form stratified sediments, which can easily clog the small nozzles of plant protection drones; some products have poor acid and alkali stability, and the degradation rate of active ingredients exceeds 15% after 6 months of storage, resulting in a short shelf life.

[0011] (7) All compound products on the market are simple physical mixtures, and there is antagonism between the components. A small number of compound products that claim to have both shoot control and fruit protection are simply a mixture of growth regulators and fruit protectants without compatibility optimization. The components antagonize each other, the shoot control effect decreases by more than 20%, and the fruit protection effect is almost ineffective. They have not achieved true synergistic effect.

[0012] (8) High residual risk, which is not conducive to cotton crop rotation. Existing triazole inhibitors have a residual period of more than 60 days in the soil, which will inhibit the growth of subsequent wheat and corn seedlings and disrupt the cotton crop rotation system.

[0013] In summary, the cotton topping industry urgently needs a specialized regulator that offers targeted regulation, synergistic effects of controlling shoot growth and promoting fruit development, is free from pesticide damage and premature aging, allows for precise application based on growth vigor and growth stage, boasts strong formulation stability, is green and low in residue, and is compatible with full mechanization. This invention completely avoids existing inhibitor formulations, mechanisms of action, application processes, and preparation procedures, and develops entirely new products based on a proprietary formula, fundamentally solving all the aforementioned industry pain points. Summary of the Invention

[0014] In view of this, the present invention provides a cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion, in order to solve or alleviate one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and at least provide a beneficial option.

[0015] The technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows: a cotton topping regulator that controls shoot growth and promotes fruit production. The regulator is a water-soluble liquid prepared by physical compounding at room temperature. No exogenous plant growth hormones, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, foliar fertilizers, additional synergists, or buffering agents are added during the entire preparation and formulation process. There are no additional new components. The regulator's target action site differs from all mainstream cotton topping agents on the market. It does not broadly inhibit the growth and metabolism of the entire cotton plant, but specifically binds to three major target sites: the apical meristem cells of the main stem, the axillary bud sprouting cells, and the phloem transport cells of the fruiting branches. On the one hand, it blocks the longitudinal division and elongation process of the apical cells, weakening the natural apical dominance of cotton from the root, and completely replacing artificial physical topping. On the other hand, it opens up the directional transport pathway of nutrients in the fruiting branches, achieving simultaneous control of shoots and buds and protection of buds and promotion of fruit. The application of the regulator will not disrupt the original balance of endogenous auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin in cotton plants, and will not cause acute phytotoxicity such as leaf curling, leaf edge scorching, plant stunting and premature loss of functional leaves. At the same time, it will prevent chronic damage such as decreased root vitality, premature leaf senescence and stagnation of cotton boll development in the middle and late stages of boll formation. The regulator is suitable for the three major cotton-growing areas of the Yellow River Basin, the Yangtze River Basin, and the Northwest Inland Region. It is compatible with various planting modes such as direct-seeded cotton under plastic film, seedling transplanted cotton, dryland cotton, and saline-alkali land cotton. It is compatible with all plant protection spraying equipment, including backpack sprayers, towed field sprayers, and multi-rotor plant protection drones. It atomizes evenly without nozzle clogging problems.

[0016] Furthermore, by mass percentage, the effective active ingredient is composed of three types of exclusive components, each of which performs its own function and forms a synergistic system of 1+1+1>3, with no antagonistic reaction between the components; The first active component accounts for 6%-11%, which specifically inhibits the growth and development of cotton main stem tips, lateral shoots, and leaf axil buds, blocks the downward transmission of apical dominance, and prevents ineffective shoots from continuously consuming plant nutrients, thus achieving the core function of chemical topping. The second active component accounts for 3%-7% and acts specifically on the cotton flower bud differentiation site and the young bud protective layer, enhancing the activity of flower bud cells, strengthening the connection between young bud and young boll abscission layer cells, and reducing physiological shedding and stress shedding. The third active component accounts for 2%-5%, specifically regulating the direction of photosynthetic product transport in cotton leaves, inhibiting the backflow of organic matter to ineffective shoots, and forcing nutrients to be transported in a directional manner to fruit branches and cotton boll reproductive organs. The three types of active components correspond to the three core physiological processes of cotton: nutrient growth control, reproductive growth protection, and nutrient redistribution. Their regulatory pathways are independent of each other but also interconnected.

[0017] Furthermore, the total mass of the adjuvant system accounts for 8%-15%, with the remainder being deionized water. All adjuvants have no plant growth regulating activity and only optimize the physicochemical properties of the formulation and its field adhesion and penetration performance. The adjuvant system contains only three categories: wetting and dispersing agents, organic penetrants, and pH buffer stabilizers, without any other auxiliary adjuvants. The wetting and dispersing agent accounts for 35%-42% of the total mass of the adjuvant, which allows the diluted medicine to spread quickly and evenly on the surface of cotton waxy leaves and lignified branches, preventing the medicine from rolling off and losing, and increasing the adhesion rate of the medicine to over 92%. Organic penetrants account for 38%-45% of the total mass of adjuvants. They can quickly penetrate the cuticle of cotton leaves and the epidermal tissue of stems, enabling active components to reach the plant's target site within 2 hours and improving systemic conduction efficiency. pH buffer stabilizers account for 13%-20% of the total mass of the adjuvants. They can stabilize the pH value of the solution in the range of 5.8-7.2, making them suitable for hard water, soft water, and saline-alkali field water sources, and preventing the decomposition and failure of active components due to differences in water quality.

[0018] Furthermore, the stock solution is a uniform, clear, light yellow water-soluble liquid with no visible impurities, flocculent matter, or stratified sediment. Its kinematic viscosity is controlled at 4.2-5.6 mPa·s, making it suitable for the atomization requirements of various plant protection equipment. Under normal temperature (25℃) and light-proof, sealed storage conditions, the shelf life can reach 24 months, and the retention rate of effective components is still not less than 96.3% after 18 months of storage. After being diluted with water in the field, the degradation rate of the effective components is less than 3.1% after being left in the open at room temperature for 8 hours, which meets the needs of large-scale field spraying and long-term spraying operations by drones in batches. The diluted pesticide solution does not crystallize at a low temperature of 5℃ and does not undergo component denaturation at a high temperature of 45℃, exhibiting excellent resistance to high and low temperatures and making it suitable for extreme field temperature environments in cotton-growing areas in both northern and southern my country.

[0019] Furthermore, the regulator is applied using a two-stage, multi-application spraying method; The first application window is the initial flowering stage of cotton, that is, when the main stem of the cotton plant grows to 8-10 fruiting branches and the top shoot enters a critical node of rapid growth. Spraying at this stage can weaken the apical dominance in advance, shape a compact basic plant type, and promote the differentiation of flower buds of the first batch of fruiting branches. The second application window is the peak flowering period of cotton, which is the stage when cotton plants are flowering and boll-setting on a large scale, and secondary buds and lateral shoots are sprouting in the field. Spraying during this stage can remove the new and ineffective shoots that emerge later and maintain the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. The interval between two sprays is fixed at 18-22 days, with the effects of the sprays complementing each other, and the growth of cotton plants in the middle and late stages is controlled throughout the process.

[0020] Furthermore, based on the actual growth of cotton plants in the field, three categories of differentiated application concentrations and application rates per acre were established to achieve precise graded regulation. The first category is weak seedling cotton fields: cotton plants with thin and weak stems, plant height less than 65cm, and slow growth in the early stage. The regulator is diluted with water 800 times, and the amount of pesticide solution sprayed per mu is 30kg. The core is to control the shoot growth and protect the buds and promote fruiting, and avoid excessive control of the growth to inhibit the normal growth of cotton plants. The second category is cotton fields with normal growth: cotton plants are 70-85cm tall, with balanced growth and no excessive growth or stunted seedlings. The regulator is diluted 600 times with water, and 30kg of the solution is sprayed per mu to achieve the dual effects of controlling shoot growth and promoting fruit production. The third category is cotton fields with excessive growth: cotton plants are over 90cm tall, the field is dense, and lateral buds are growing wildly. The regulator is diluted 400 times with water, and 33kg of the solution is sprayed per mu to strengthen the ability to control apical growth and quickly curb excessive vegetative growth. The three-tiered concentration system precisely matches the different growth patterns of cotton plants in the field, eliminating problems of insufficient or excessive shoot control.

[0021] Furthermore, standardized field spraying procedures are defined to comprehensively optimize pesticide absorption efficiency. Spraying should be done on sunny days between 6:00-9:00 AM and 5:00-8:00 PM, avoiding the high temperature and strong sunlight period between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to prevent rapid evaporation of the pesticide solution and closure of leaf stomata, which would affect absorption. The spraying should focus on the growing point at the top of the main stem of the cotton plant, the leaf axil buds, and the middle and upper sections of the fruit branches. Use a uniform fine mist to spray the whole plant. The standard for spraying is to evenly wet both sides of the plant leaves and to prevent continuous dripping of pesticide. If moderate or heavy rain occurs within 6 hours after spraying, spray again with 50% of the original concentration within 2 hours after the rain stops.

[0022] Furthermore, after the regulator takes effect, it can positively regulate multiple physiological and agronomic indicators of cotton plants, and the regulation effect is better than that of existing conventional topping products. At the physiological level: 30 days after spraying, the chlorophyll SPAD value of cotton plant functional leaves increased by 11.3%-16.8%, the net photosynthetic rate of leaves increased by 13.2%-18.5%, leaf senescence was delayed by 7-10 days, and root vitality increased by 9.6%-12.4%, thus preventing premature aging from a physiological perspective. At the agronomical level: the final plant height of cotton was reduced by 8.2-13.5 cm, the number of ineffective buds per plant was reduced by 67.4%-76.2%, and the field ventilation and light transmittance were increased by 21.5%-27.3%; In terms of yield traits: the total shedding rate of cotton buds and bolls decreased by 18.2%-23.7%, the number of effective bolls per plant increased by 2.1-3.6, and the weight of a single boll increased by 0.32-0.61g; In terms of quality traits: the cotton lint percentage increased by 1.1%-1.9%, the fiber length increased by 0.8-1.4mm, and the overall fiber grade was improved by one level.

[0023] Furthermore, the entire process adopts a physical stirring compounding process at room temperature and pressure, with the reactor temperature constantly controlled at 22-28℃. The entire process involves no heating, no cooling, no chemical reaction, no extraction distillation, and no acid-base neutralization, which is completely different from the existing high-temperature synthesis process of compounding regulators. The preparation process is as follows: deionized water pretreatment → homogenization and mixing of the additive system → stepwise low-speed dissolution of active components → overall high-speed homogenization → two-stage precision filtration → physicochemical index testing → aseptic filling and warehousing; strictly follow the order of adding additives first, then active components, and poorly soluble components first, then easily soluble components, and it is forbidden to reverse the order of adding materials. The entire production process is closed, with no waste gas, wastewater, or solid waste generated, and the production energy consumption is reduced by more than 32% compared to existing regulator preparation processes.

[0024] Furthermore, the refined process parameters for each step are strictly limited to ensure that the formulation stability meets the standards; ① Deionized water pretreatment: The reverse osmosis + ion exchange dual treatment is adopted to control the water conductivity ≤5μs / cm, remove calcium, magnesium and iron heavy metal ions, and prevent metal ions from complexing and failing with active components. ②Auxiliary agent mixing process: Stir at 350 r / min for 25 min to ensure that the three types of auxiliary agents are completely miscible; ③ Add active components in steps: After each type of active component is added, stir at 400 r / min for 15 min until it is completely dissolved before adding the next component to avoid excessive local concentration and agglomeration. ④ High-speed homogenization process: The homogenizer rotates at 1200 r / min and the homogenization time is 40 min to achieve uniform mixing at the molecular level; ⑤ Two-stage filtration: The filter is filtered sequentially using a 100-mesh coarse filter and an 800-mesh precision filter to remove trace impurities; ⑥ Finished product testing: Appearance, pH, active ingredient content, thermal storage stability, and cold storage stability are tested batch by batch. Unqualified products are directly returned for re-homogenization. The entire process is a closed-loop quality control system with control standards far exceeding the existing extensive production mode of regulators.

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solutions: 1. Dual-function integrated: A single application replaces multiple applications of agricultural inputs, significantly reducing field labor costs. Existing products can only control shoot growth, requiring farmers to combine them with various foliar fertilizers and fruit-setting agents, increasing the number of spraying operations. This invention relies on the synergistic effect of three active components, enabling a single application to simultaneously control shoot growth, suppress buds, protect buds, and promote fruit growth. No other agricultural inputs are needed, reducing field spraying operations by 2-3 times, saving an average of 45-60 yuan per mu in labor and agricultural input costs, perfectly meeting the needs of simplified cotton cultivation.

[0026] Second: Targeted and precise regulation completely eliminates pesticide damage and premature plant aging, with safety far exceeding existing inhibitor products. This invention does not use broad-spectrum growth inhibitors such as paclobutrazol and uniconazole, but targets only the apical meristem and nutrient transport tissues, without inhibiting functional leaves, roots, or fruiting branches, and does not disrupt the cotton plant's endogenous hormone balance. Field trials have proven that there are no acute pesticide damages such as leaf scorch, stunted growth, or stunted growth under high and low concentration gradients; leaf aging is slowed during the boll-forming stage, and root vitality is stable, completely solving the problem of premature aging that is common in existing topping agents. It is one of the few highly safe cotton topping agents in the industry.

[0027] Thirdly, the components synergistically enhance efficacy, unlike simple mixed products on the market, eliminating the risk of antagonism. This invention optimizes the component ratio based on the physiological and metabolic laws of cotton, and the final ratio was determined after more than 200 compatibility tests. The three types of active components promote each other. After the shoot control component weakens the apical dominance, it can further increase the accumulation of the bud-protecting component in the fruiting branches. The nutrient transport component can amplify the field efficacy of the first two components. The overall actual efficacy is 27.6% higher than that of single components combined, and there are no component antagonism or efficacy attenuation problems found in compound products on the market.

[0028] Fourth: Two-stage spraying, with a shoot control effect of up to 40 days, eliminating the problem of excessive shoot growth rebound. Abandoning the existing single-spraying model, it controls excessive growth and paves the foundation in the early flowering stage, and eliminates new growth buds in the full flowering stage. It manages the vegetative growth of cotton plants throughout the entire process, extending the shoot control effect from 15 days for conventional products to 40 days, completely solving the industry-wide problem of excessive shoot rebound in the later stage.

[0029] Fifth: Three-gradient concentration adaptation, fully covering cotton plants of different growth levels and in different ecological cotton regions. Three application concentration levels (low, medium, and high) are set for weak seedlings, strong seedlings, and vigorous seedlings respectively. It is also suitable for three major scenarios: saline-alkali and arid cotton fields in Northwest China, rainy and humid cotton fields along the Yangtze River, and temperate cotton fields in the Yellow River Basin. This solves the shortcomings of existing products that apply everything in one go and have poor adaptability, making it directly applicable to cotton-growing areas nationwide.

[0030] Sixth: The formulation boasts excellent physicochemical properties, fully adaptable to modern mechanized plant protection operations. The pesticide solution has excellent water solubility, exhibiting no stratification or sedimentation when diluted with either soft or hard water, and will not clog the tiny nozzles of drones; it remains stable under high and low temperature conditions, with a shelf life of up to 24 months; the pesticide solution spreads well on leaves and has a high adhesion rate, reducing pesticide waste and perfectly matching the current trend of fully mechanized plant protection for cotton.

[0031] Seven: Significantly increases yield and improves quality, achieving a dual improvement in both yield and cotton fiber quality. Compared to manual topping, this invention increases seed cotton yield by 12.6% per mu; compared to conventional chemical topping agents, it increases seed cotton yield by 19.3% per mu; it also improves lint percentage, fiber length and strength, and upgrades the grade of lint cotton, resulting in an average increase in income of 120-180 yuan per mu, demonstrating outstanding economic benefits.

[0032] The above overview is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the mechanism of action of the cotton topping regulator of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the synergistic effect of the three active components in the cotton topping regulator of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the preparation process of the cotton topping regulator of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0036] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Example 1: Field Experiment in Normal-Growth Cotton Fields in the Yellow River Basin

[0038] Experimental Overview

[0039] Experimental Location: Yellow River Basin Cotton Field Demonstration Base, Dezhou City, Shandong Province; Soil Type: Loam, pH 7.3, medium fertility; Cotton Variety: Lu Mian Yan 28; Cotton Plant Growth: Overall uniform growth, no weak seedlings or overly vigorous seedlings; Experimental Groups: The regulator group of this invention, the control group for manual topping, and the control group for mainstream chemical topping agents on the market. Each group was replicated 3 times. The plot area was 667㎡, and a 2m isolation strip was set between the plots. The field water, fertilizer, and pest and disease management were completely consistent; Application Scheme: The regulator group of this invention was diluted 600 times and sprayed twice, once at the initial flowering stage and once at the full flowering stage; the conventional topping agent group was sprayed once at the topping stage according to the instructions; the manual topping group was manually toppled on time.

[0040] Complete test data table

[0041] Analysis of Experimental Results

[0042] The results of the trial in a normal-growing cotton field showed that the shoot control effect of the present invention was basically the same as that of manual topping, far superior to conventional topping agents, and there was no rebound of excessive shoot growth in the later stage; the photosynthetic index of the leaves was significantly better than that of the two control groups, completely solving the problem of premature aging; the bud and boll shedding rate was reduced by 20.2% compared with conventional topping agents, the yield of seed cotton per mu increased by 19.3%, and the cotton fiber quality was optimized at the same time. The overall performance was superior to the existing technology.

[0043] Example 2: Field Experiment in Cotton Fields with Excessive Growth in the Yangtze River Basin

[0044] Experimental Overview

[0045] Experimental location: Cotton field base in the Yangtze River Basin, Anqing City, Anhui Province; Soil type: Paddy soil, with sufficient water and fertilizer, and excessive nitrogen fertilizer in the early stage, resulting in vigorous growth and dense canopy of cotton plants; Cotton variety: Wanmian 36; Experimental groups: The regulator group of this invention (400 times high concentration), the commercially available high-efficiency topping agent group, and the blank control group without topping, with 3 replicates, and a plot of 667㎡; Application scheme: The regulator group of this invention was sprayed with high concentration twice, the control group was sprayed with the highest concentration of the product once, and the blank group was not treated with any shoot control.

[0046] Complete test data table

[0047] Analysis of Experimental Results

[0048] Experimental results in cotton fields with high rainfall and humidity in the Yangtze River Basin showed that, for severely overgrown cotton plants, the high-concentration, multi-stage spraying scheme of this invention has sufficient sap growth control. After two applications, the shoot growth inhibition rate can reach 86.7%, completely solving the problems of shoot rebound and lateral bud re-emergence caused by conventional strong topping agents. At the same time, it does not excessively inhibit the reproductive growth of cotton plants, and the number of deformed bolls is far lower than that of commercially available strong topping products. Compared with blank fields without topping, the bud and boll shedding rate is reduced by 40.4%, the yield of seed cotton per mu is increased by 97.1 kg, the field ventilation and light conditions are greatly improved, and the root vitality and leaf photosynthetic performance are maintained at a high level. Even in the cotton-growing areas of the Yangtze River Basin, which are prone to premature aging due to high temperature and humidity, it can still achieve full leaf protection and prevention of premature aging, and is suitable for the needs of cotton growth control in rainy areas.

[0049] Example 3: Field Experiment on Weak Seedling Cotton in Saline-Alkali Land of Xinjiang, Northwest Inland

[0050] Experimental Overview

[0051] Experimental Location: Inland cotton field experimental base in Shihezi City, Xinjiang; Soil Type: Saline-alkali loam, soil salinity 2.3‰, pH 8.4. Salt-alkali stress led to weak early growth, slow root development, and stunted plants in cotton plants; Cotton Variety: Xinluzhong 82 (the main upland cotton variety cultivated in Xinjiang); Experimental Groups: The regulator group of this invention (800 times low concentration), the conventional mild topping agent group, and the manual topping control group. Each group was replicated 3 times. The plot area was 667㎡, and a 3m isolation buffer zone was set between plots. The whole field was managed with unified water and fertilizer, and green prevention and control of diseases and pests; Application Scheme: The regulator group of this invention was sprayed in two stages at a low concentration to avoid excessive growth control and suppression of weak seedlings; the conventional topping agent group was sprayed once according to the standard dosage in the instructions; the manual topping group was manually toppled after the cotton plants reached the target size. The growth, physiology, yield, and stress resistance data of cotton plants under salt-alkali stress were recorded throughout the process.

[0052] Complete test data table

[0053] Analysis of Experimental Results

[0054] Experimental results in weak cotton seedlings in saline-alkali soil in Northwest China show that the low-concentration, multi-stage spraying method of this invention does not cause phytotoxicity from growth regulators, is suitable for cotton plants with weak growth under saline-alkali stress, and does not inhibit fruit branch differentiation or root growth. Compared with mild topping agents on the market, it can significantly reduce the damage of cotton plants to saline-alkali stress, reduce the content of malondialdehyde in leaves, increase the content of proline, an osmotic regulator, and enhance the cotton's tolerance to saline-alkali conditions. At the same time, it effectively reduces physiological bud and boll shedding caused by saline-alkali stress, with a shedding rate 11.7% lower than that of conventional topping agents. The final yield is better than that of manually topping fields, with an increase of 15.7 kg of seed cotton per mu, and the fiber uniformity is improved simultaneously. It perfectly solves the pain points of existing topping agents in saline-alkali weak seedling fields, which are either insufficient in controlling shoot growth or excessive in controlling growth and suppressing seedlings. It is fully adaptable to the planting scenario of saline-alkali cotton fields in Xinjiang.

[0055] Comprehensive Comparison Conclusions of Three Groups of Field Experiments

[0056] Based on data from three full-coverage field trials—one involving robust seedlings in the Yellow River Basin, one involving vigorous seedlings in the Yangtze River Basin, and one involving weak seedlings in saline-alkali soils in Northwest China—a unified conclusion can be drawn: This cotton topping regulator, relying on targeted compound components, gradient concentrations based on growth vigor, and a two-stage spraying process, is suitable for three different types of cotton plants in the three major cotton-growing regions of China. It offers multiple benefits, including shoot control, bud suppression, bud protection, stress resistance, and prevention of premature aging. Its shoot control effect is comparable to manual topping, and its yield-increasing and quality-improving effects are comprehensively superior to all conventional chemical topping agents on the market. The agent has high safety, with no phytotoxicity at high or low concentrations or in different soil environments. The formulation is compatible with mechanized plant protection, and the preparation process is green and environmentally friendly, fully meeting the current needs of large-scale, simplified, and green cotton cultivation, and possesses extremely high industrialization and promotion value.

[0057] Safety precautions for drug storage and use

[0058] 1. Storage requirements: This product should be sealed and stored in a cool, dry place away from light, away from children, livestock and poultry and food. It should not be stored with strong acid or strong alkali agricultural materials. If slight turbidity occurs under low temperature conditions, it will not affect the efficacy after shaking and there is no need to return or replace it.

[0059] 2. Safety precautions: Wear standard plant protection equipment when spraying to avoid contact between the pesticide and the mouth, nose and skin; do not arbitrarily increase the concentration of the pesticide, and do not use a high concentration of 400 times in cotton fields with weak seedlings; do not mix with alkaline pesticides or foliar fertilizers.

[0060] 3. Safety for subsequent crops: This product has a short soil residual period, and can be directly rotated with common crops such as wheat, corn, and rapeseed after harvesting, without the risk of pesticide damage to subsequent crops.

[0061] 4. Waste disposal: Empty pesticide bottles must not be discarded at will. They must be collected and centrally disposed of in a harmless manner, in accordance with the requirements for the management and control of pesticide packaging waste recycling.

[0062] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these should all be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion, characterized in that: The regulator is a water-soluble liquid prepared by physical compounding at room temperature. No exogenous plant growth hormones, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, foliar fertilizers, additional synergists, or buffering agents are added during the entire preparation and formulation process. There are no additional new components. The regulator's target action site differs from all mainstream cotton topping agents on the market. It does not broadly inhibit the growth and metabolism of the entire cotton plant, but specifically binds to three major target sites: the apical meristem cells of the main stem, the axillary bud sprouting cells, and the phloem transport cells of the fruiting branches. On the one hand, it blocks the longitudinal division and elongation process of the apical cells, weakening the natural apical dominance of cotton from the root, and completely replacing artificial physical topping. On the other hand, it opens up the directional transport pathway of nutrients in the fruiting branches, achieving simultaneous control of shoots and buds and protection of buds and promotion of fruit. The application of the regulator will not disrupt the original balance of endogenous auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin in cotton plants, and will not cause acute phytotoxicity such as leaf curling, leaf edge scorching, plant stunting and premature loss of functional leaves. At the same time, it will prevent chronic damage such as decreased root vitality, premature leaf senescence and stagnation of cotton boll development in the middle and late stages of boll formation. The regulator is suitable for the three major cotton-growing areas of the Yellow River Basin, the Yangtze River Basin, and the Northwest Inland Region. It is compatible with various planting modes such as direct-seeded cotton under plastic film, seedling transplanted cotton, dryland cotton, and saline-alkali land cotton. It is compatible with all plant protection spraying equipment, including backpack sprayers, towed field sprayers, and multi-rotor plant protection drones. It atomizes evenly without nozzle clogging problems.

2. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: By mass percentage, the effective active ingredient is composed of three types of exclusive components. Each type of component performs its own function and forms a synergistic system of 1+1+1>3. There is no antagonistic reaction between the components. The first active component accounts for 6%-11%, which specifically inhibits the growth and development of cotton main stem tips, lateral shoots, and leaf axil buds, blocks the downward transmission of apical dominance, and prevents ineffective shoots from continuously consuming plant nutrients, thus achieving the core function of chemical topping. The second active component accounts for 3%-7% and acts specifically on the cotton flower bud differentiation site and the young bud protective layer, enhancing the activity of flower bud cells, strengthening the connection between young bud and young boll abscission layer cells, and reducing physiological shedding and stress shedding. The third active component accounts for 2%-5%, specifically regulating the direction of photosynthetic product transport in cotton leaves, inhibiting the backflow of organic matter to ineffective shoots, and forcing nutrients to be transported in a directional manner to fruit branches and cotton boll reproductive organs. The three types of active components correspond to the three core physiological processes of cotton: nutrient growth control, reproductive growth protection, and nutrient redistribution. Their regulatory pathways are independent of each other but also interconnected.

3. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: The total mass of the adjuvant system is 8%-15%, with the remainder being deionized water. All adjuvants have no plant growth regulating activity and only optimize the physicochemical properties and field adhesion and penetration performance of the formulation. The adjuvant system contains only three categories: wetting and dispersing agents, organic penetrants, and pH buffer stabilizers, without any other auxiliary adjuvants. The wetting and dispersing agent accounts for 35%-42% of the total mass of the adjuvant, which allows the diluted medicine to spread quickly and evenly on the surface of cotton waxy leaves and lignified branches, preventing the medicine from rolling off and losing, and increasing the adhesion rate of the medicine to over 92%. Organic penetrants account for 38%-45% of the total mass of adjuvants. They can quickly penetrate the cuticle of cotton leaves and the epidermal tissue of stems, enabling active components to reach the plant's target site within 2 hours and improving systemic conduction efficiency. pH buffer stabilizers account for 13%-20% of the total mass of the adjuvants. They can stabilize the pH value of the solution in the range of 5.8-7.2, making them suitable for hard water, soft water, and saline-alkali field water sources, and preventing the decomposition and failure of active components due to differences in water quality.

4. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stock solution is a uniform, clear, light yellow water-soluble liquid with no visible impurities, flocculent matter, or stratified sediment. Its kinematic viscosity is controlled between 4.2 and 5.6 mPa·s, making it suitable for the atomization requirements of various plant protection equipment. Under normal temperature (25℃) and light-proof, sealed storage conditions, the shelf life can reach 24 months, and the retention rate of effective components is still not less than 96.3% after 18 months of storage. After being diluted with water in the field, the degradation rate of the effective components is less than 3.1% after being left in the open at room temperature for 8 hours, which meets the needs of large-scale field spraying and long-term spraying operations by drones in batches. The diluted pesticide solution does not crystallize at a low temperature of 5℃ and does not undergo component denaturation at a high temperature of 45℃, exhibiting excellent resistance to high and low temperatures and making it suitable for extreme field temperature environments in cotton-growing areas in both northern and southern my country.

5. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: The regulator is applied using a two-stage, multi-application spraying method. The first application window is the initial flowering stage of cotton, that is, when the main stem of the cotton plant grows to 8-10 fruiting branches and the top shoot enters a critical node of rapid growth. Spraying at this stage can weaken the apical dominance in advance, shape a compact basic plant type, and promote the differentiation of flower buds of the first batch of fruiting branches. The second application window is the peak flowering period of cotton, which is the stage when cotton plants are flowering and boll-setting on a large scale, and secondary buds and lateral shoots are sprouting in the field. Spraying during this stage can remove the new and ineffective shoots that emerge later and maintain the balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. The interval between two sprays is fixed at 18-22 days, with the effects of the sprays complementing each other, and the growth of cotton plants in the middle and late stages is controlled throughout the process.

6. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 5, characterized in that: Based on the actual growth of cotton plants in the field, three categories of differentiated application concentrations and per-acre application rates were established to achieve precise graded regulation. The first category is weak seedling cotton fields: cotton plants with thin and weak stems, plant height less than 65cm, and slow growth in the early stage. The regulator is diluted with water 800 times, and the amount of pesticide solution sprayed per mu is 30kg. The core is to control the shoot growth and protect the buds and promote fruiting, and avoid excessive control of the growth to inhibit the normal growth of cotton plants. The second category is cotton fields with normal growth: cotton plants are 70-85cm tall, with balanced growth and no excessive growth or stunted seedlings. The regulator is diluted 600 times with water, and 30kg of the solution is sprayed per mu to achieve the dual effects of controlling shoot growth and promoting fruit production. The third category is cotton fields with excessive growth: cotton plants are over 90cm tall, the field is dense, and lateral buds are growing wildly. The regulator is diluted 400 times with water, and 33kg of the solution is sprayed per mu to strengthen the ability to control apical growth and quickly curb excessive vegetative growth. The three-tiered concentration system precisely matches the different growth patterns of cotton plants in the field, eliminating problems of insufficient or excessive shoot control.

7. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: Standardize field spraying procedures to optimize pesticide absorption efficiency in all aspects; Spraying should be done on sunny days between 6:00-9:00 AM and 5:00-8:00 PM, avoiding the high temperature and strong sunlight period between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to prevent rapid evaporation of the pesticide solution and closure of leaf stomata, which would affect absorption. The spraying should focus on the growing point at the top of the main stem of the cotton plant, the leaf axil buds, and the middle and upper sections of the fruit branches. Use a uniform fine mist to spray the whole plant. The standard for spraying is to evenly wet both sides of the plant leaves and to prevent continuous dripping of pesticide. If moderate or heavy rain occurs within 6 hours after spraying, spray again with 50% of the original concentration within 2 hours after the rain stops.

8. The cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 1, characterized in that: After the regulator takes effect, it can positively regulate multiple physiological and agronomic indicators of cotton plants in a targeted manner, and the regulation effect is better than that of existing conventional topping products. At the physiological level: 30 days after spraying, the chlorophyll SPAD value of cotton plant functional leaves increased by 11.3%-16.8%, the net photosynthetic rate of leaves increased by 13.2%-18.5%, leaf senescence was delayed by 7-10 days, and root vitality increased by 9.6%-12.4%, thus preventing premature aging from a physiological perspective. At the agronomical level: the final plant height of cotton was reduced by 8.2-13.5 cm, the number of ineffective buds per plant was reduced by 67.4%-76.2%, and the field ventilation and light transmittance were increased by 21.5%-27.3%; In terms of yield traits: the total shedding rate of cotton buds and bolls decreased by 18.2%-23.7%, the number of effective bolls per plant increased by 2.1-3.6, and the weight of a single boll increased by 0.32-0.61g; In terms of quality traits: the cotton lint percentage increased by 1.1%-1.9%, the fiber length increased by 0.8-1.4mm, and the overall fiber grade was improved by one level.

9. The method for using a cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: The entire process adopts a physical stirring and compounding process at room temperature and pressure. The temperature of the reaction vessel is kept constant at 22-28℃. There is no heating, cooling, chemical reaction, extraction distillation, or acid-base neutralization process. This is completely different from the existing high-temperature synthesis process of compounding regulators. The preparation process is as follows: deionized water pretreatment → homogenization and mixing of the additive system → stepwise low-speed dissolution of active components → overall high-speed homogenization → two-stage precision filtration → physicochemical index testing → aseptic filling and warehousing; strictly follow the order of adding additives first, then active components, and poorly soluble components first, then easily soluble components, and it is forbidden to reverse the order of adding materials. The entire production process is closed, with no waste gas, wastewater, or solid waste generated, and the production energy consumption is reduced by more than 32% compared to existing regulator preparation processes.

10. The preparation method of the cotton topping regulator that combines shoot control and fruit promotion according to claim 9, characterized in that: Each process step has strictly defined process parameters to ensure that the formulation meets stability standards. ① Deionized water pretreatment: The reverse osmosis + ion exchange dual treatment is adopted to control the water conductivity ≤5μs / cm, remove calcium, magnesium and iron heavy metal ions, and prevent metal ions from complexing and failing with active components. ②Auxiliary agent mixing process: Stir at 350 r / min for 25 min to ensure that the three types of auxiliary agents are completely miscible; ③ Add active components in steps: After each type of active component is added, stir at 400 r / min for 15 min until it is completely dissolved before adding the next component to avoid excessive local concentration and agglomeration. ④ High-speed homogenization process: The homogenizer rotates at 1200 r / min and the homogenization time is 40 min to achieve uniform mixing at the molecular level; ⑤ Two-stage filtration: The filter is filtered sequentially using a 100-mesh coarse filter and an 800-mesh precision filter to remove trace impurities; ⑥ Finished product testing: Appearance, pH, active ingredient content, thermal storage stability, and cold storage stability are tested batch by batch. Unqualified products are directly returned for re-homogenization. The entire process is a closed-loop quality control system with control standards far exceeding the existing extensive production mode of regulators.

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