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.

Description

Field of Invention [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of horticulture, including but not limited to flowers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, turfgrass, herbs and herbs grown outdoors or in greenhouses or indoors for commercial or personal application and agricultural purposes , spices, ornamental and decorative shrubs and trees, aquatic plants and mushrooms and agronomy, more particularly lipo-chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) and compositions thereof to induce early flowering in plants, increase the number of buds and flowers, cause Applications for earlier fruiting, earlier maturation and increased yield, and methods for inducing earlier flowering and causing earlier fruiting in plants by exposure to LCOs and compositions thereof. Background of the Invention [0002] For crop and horticultural purposes, there is increasing interest in the role of LCOs and their compositions in enhancing plant seed germination, seedling emergence and plant growth in both legum...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0005] Although a great deal is known about the effects of LCOs on the physiology of typical host plants, there is currently considerable interest in the effects of LCOs on plant growth in both host and non-host plants, especially through the application of molecules that are not essential for cultivating the symbiotic relationship between microorganisms and plants.

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