Plant activator

Abstract

To provide a plant activator that can increase grain yield.SOLUTION: A plant activator contains at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acid, its derivatives, and their salts, and terpene.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a plant activator. [Background technology]

[0002] Technologies for regulating plant growth have been developed with the aim of improving the supply efficiency of grain plants and horticultural plants. In addition to measures such as optimizing temperature and sunlight conditions and fertilization, methods have been reported for revitalizing plants using plant stimulants that have plant growth regulating effects such as growth promotion, dormancy suppression, and stress reduction.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a method for efficiently producing ketooctadecadienoic acid, a functional ingredient known to exhibit fat-burning effects, using enzymes. It also states that the obtained ketooctadecadienoic acid can be used as a plant activator exhibiting a strong resistance-inducing effect.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for predicting soybean yield early by obtaining analytical data of one or more components selected from the metabolites contained in the leaves of a soybean sample to be predicted, namely 2-hydroxypyridine, choline, citric acid, glyceric acid, glycine, L-pyroglutamic acid, malonic acid, sucrose, and threitol, and comparing this data with a yield prediction model.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes a plant activator characterized by containing an oxo fatty acid derivative or its salt or ester as an active ingredient, which has low soil contamination and toxicity and excellent resistance-inducing effect. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-25534 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-174553 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. 2018 / 168860 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] Fruits rich in starch and protein are used as staple and regular foods for humans and animals, and increasing their yields is very important. There is a need for a plant activator for increasing yields that can provide a growth promoting effect superior to that of the plant activator containing keto-octadecadienoic acid described in Patent Document 1 and the plant activator described in Patent Document 3, and can increase the yield of fruits stably and safely.

[0008] Patent Document 2 describes that by predicting the yield of soybeans, it is possible to significantly improve the efficiency of developing yield increasing technologies, but no specific yield increasing technologies are disclosed.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a plant activator that can safely, stably, and effectively increase the yield of fruits by appropriately spraying or perfusion on plants. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0010] The present invention relates to a plant activator characterized by containing at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or derivatives thereof or salts thereof, and terpenes.

[0011] The oxo fatty acid is represented by the following formula (I): HOOC-(R 1 )-CH=CH-C(=O)-R 2 (I) [In formula (I), R 1 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms. R 2represents an alkyl group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, which may contain one or more branches and / or double bonds.], or the following formula (II): HOOC-(R 3 )-C(=O)-CH=CH-R 4 (II) [In formula (II), R 3 represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms. R 4 represents a hydrocarbon group having 4 to 11 carbon atoms, which may contain one or more branches and / or double bonds.] is preferably an oxo fatty acid represented by the formula.

[0012] In the formula (I), R 1 contains a double bond that forms a conjugated double bond with the double bond between the α and β carbons of the carbonyl group in the formula (I), and in the formula (II), R 4 preferably contains a double bond that forms a conjugated double bond with the double bond between the α and β carbons of the carbonyl group in the formula (II).[[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Preferably, the oxo fatty acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid, 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid, 5-oxo-6,8-octadecadienoic acid, 6-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 8-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 10-oxo-8,12-octadecadienoic acid, 11-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 12-oxo-9,13-octadecadienoic acid, and 14-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid.

[0016] The aforementioned plant activator preferably contains at least two types of oxo fatty acids.

[0017] The plant activator preferably contains at least one oxo fatty acid represented by formula (I) and at least one oxo fatty acid represented by formula (II).

[0018] In the aforementioned plant activator, it is preferable that the oxo fatty acid represented by formula (I) is 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid, and the oxo fatty acid represented by formula (II) is 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid.

[0019] In the aforementioned plant activator, it is preferable that the ratio of the content of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid to the content of 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid is 0.3 to 2.0 by weight.

[0020] Preferably, the plant activator is a plant activator that increases the production amount of at least one selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxypyridine, glycine, L-pyroglutamic acid, and sucrose.

[0021] Preferably, the plant activator is a plant activator that increases the amount of plant hormones produced.

[0022] In the aforementioned plant activator, it is preferable that the plant hormone is gibberellin.

[0023] The aforementioned plant activator is preferably one that promotes flower bud formation and / or improves yield.

[0024] In the aforementioned plant activator, the terpene is preferably a monoterpene, and α-pinene is optimal.

[0025] Preferably, the plant activator is a plant activator used as a spray or dipping agent applied to the stems, leaves, or roots of a plant, or as a soil drenching agent.

[0026] The plant activator is preferably a plant activator for grasses or a plant activator for legumes.

[0027] The aforementioned plant activator preferably further comprises a hydroxylated fatty acid or a derivative thereof or a salt thereof.

[0028] It is preferable that the hydroxylated fatty acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid.

[0029] Note that "octadecaenoic acid" is a commonly used notation (for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-14539, etc.), and the above-mentioned "9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid" can also be written as "9,10,13-trihydroxyoctadeca-11-enoic acid" or "9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid". The structural formula of "9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid" is shown in structural formula (1) below.

[0030] [ka]

[0031] Similarly, the aforementioned "9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid" can also be written as "9,12,13-trihydroxyoctadeca-10-enoic acid" or "9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoic acid". The structural formula of "9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid" is shown in structural formula (2) below.

[0032] [ka] [Effects of the Invention]

[0033] The plant activator of the present invention has a high flower bud formation promoting effect as well as an excellent yield-increasing effect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1] This figure shows the results of the glycine analysis in soybean leaves. [Figure 2] This figure shows the results of the sucrose analysis in soybean leaves. [Figure 3] This figure shows the results of the analysis of 2-hydroxypyridine in soybean leaves. [Figure 4] This figure shows the results of the analysis of L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean leaves. [Figure 5] This figure shows the results of the gibberellin analysis in soybean leaves. [Figure 6] This figure shows the results of the gibberellin analysis in rice. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035] Plant activator The plant activator of the present invention is characterized by comprising at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts, and a terpene.

[0036] In this invention, "plant activation" means adjusting the growth activity of plants in some way to activate or maintain it, and is a concept that includes growth promotion (a concept that encompasses the expansion of stems and leaves, the promotion of tuber and root growth, etc.), dormancy suppression, induction and conferral of resistance to plant stress (e.g., diseases), and plant growth regulatory effects such as anti-aging.

[0037] As shown in the examples below, when the plant activator of the present invention is applied to a plant, the content of several components known to correlate with increased fruit yield and serve as indicators of yield increase increases, and plant hormones that promote flower bud formation and ovary growth can also be increased. Therefore, in the present invention, the "plant activating" effect can mean, in particular, the effect of increasing fruit yield by promoting plant growth and increasing the fruit weight and number of fruits per plant individual. The plant activating effect of the plant activator of the present invention is very high, and as a result, it can bring about an excellent yield increase effect and improved harvesting efficiency in the plants to which it is applied.

[0038] The plant activator of the present invention comprises, as an active ingredient for activating plants, at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts, and a terpene.

[0039] More specifically, the plant activator of the present invention is Formula (I): HOOC-(R 1 )-CH=CH-C(=O)-R 2 (I) [In formula (I), R 1 R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 6 to 12 carbon atoms. 2 This represents a C2-C8 alkyl group that may contain one or more branches and / or double bonds. Alternatively, the following formula (II): HOOC-(R 3 )-C(=O)-CH=CH-R 4 (II) [In formula (II), R 3R represents a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms. 4 This represents a hydrocarbon group having 4 to 11 carbon atoms, which may contain one or more branches and / or double bonds. The present invention is characterized by comprising at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids represented by or their derivatives or salts thereof, and a terpene.

[0040] Furthermore, oxo fatty acids and compounds represented by formula (I) or (II) above include all geometric isomers and stereoisomers having the same structural formula. As used herein, the term “stereoisomer” may refer to any of the various stereoisomer configurations that may exist in the compounds of this disclosure. For example, the compounds represented by formula (I) or (II) of this disclosure contain a double bond, where the substituent may be in an E or Z configuration.

[0041] Preferably, in the oxo fatty acids contained in the plant activator of the present invention, for example, R of formula (I) above 1 R in formula (II) may include a double bond that forms a conjugated double bond with the double bond between the α and β carbons of the carbonyl group in formula (I). 4 This may include a double bond that forms a conjugated double bond with the double bond between the α and β carbons of the carbonyl group in formula (II).

[0042] For example, ketooctadecadienoic acid is a suitable oxo fatty acid. More preferably, in the above formula (I), R 1 R can be a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 9 carbon atoms, and 2 R can be an alkyl group having 5 carbon atoms. Also, in the above formula (II), R 3 R can be a straight-chain or branched hydrocarbon group having 7 carbon atoms, and 4 In the case of having 7 carbon atoms, it is preferable that the structure is CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH=CH-.

[0043] For example, specific examples of ketooctadecadienoic acid include 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxoODA), 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODA), 5-oxo-6,8-octadecadienoic acid, 6-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 8-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 10-oxo-8,12-octadecadienoic acid, 11-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, 12-oxo-9,13-octadecadienoic acid, and 14-oxo-9,12-octadecadienoic acid. In this specification, "active ingredient" means oxo fatty acids and terpenes, including the specific examples listed. Oxo fatty acids have properties that activate plant growth, and by bringing the plant activator of the present invention, which contains oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts and terpenes as active ingredients, into contact with a part of the stem, leaves, or roots of a plant, the yield of plant seeds can be improved. Preferably, the plant activator of the present invention contains at least two or more oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts as one of the active ingredients.

[0044] As the derivative of the oxo fatty acid, an ester is preferable. The esters of the oxo fatty acid of the present invention are not limited to these, but examples include methyl esters, ethyl esters, propyl esters, butyl esters, pentyl esters, isopentyl esters, octyl esters, and the like.

[0045] The salts of oxo fatty acids are not particularly limited as long as they are one or more agriculturally acceptable salts, such as alkali metal salts like sodium salts and potassium salts, or ammonium salts like alkylammonium salts such as ammonium salts and tetramethylammonium salts.

[0046] The plant activator of the present invention may contain at least two oxo fatty acids as active ingredients. By combining two or more oxo fatty acids, the plant activator of the present invention may exhibit an even higher plant activating effect. For example, the two oxo fatty acids may be a combination of at least one oxo fatty acid represented by formula (I) and at least one oxo fatty acid represented by formula (II). Preferably, the two oxo fatty acids may be a combination of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (9-oxoODA) and 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODA).

[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plant activator comprises 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid or its salt or derivative and 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid or its salt or derivative as oxo fatty acids. For example, the ratio of the content of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid or its salt or derivative to the content of 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid or its salt or derivative is about 0.1 to 10 by weight, preferably about 0.3 to 2.0.

[0048] The terpenes contained in the plant activator of the present invention are precursors in the biosynthesis of plant hormones related to increased fruit yield. Therefore, by including terpenes as an active ingredient in addition to at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts, the plant activator of the present invention can further increase the biosynthesis of plant hormones in addition to the plant growth effect of at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts.

[0049] Any terpene can be suitably used as the terpene, but monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and their derivatives are preferred. Particularly preferred examples include monoterpenes such as α-pinene, β-pinene, silvestrene, and limonene, which are desirable because they are core substances of plant hormones. Furthermore, terpineol may also be included. Terpineol includes isomers such as α-terpineol, β-terpineol, and γ-terpineol, but α-terpineol is even more preferred. However, for example, commercially available terpineol may be a mixture of α-terpineol as the main component with β-terpineol and γ-terpineol, meaning that a mixture of isomers can be used as is as long as it mainly contains α-terpineol. Pine oil containing α-pinene as the main component can be suitably used in the present invention.

[0050] The addition of terpenes according to the present invention does not reduce or eliminate the excellent growth-promoting effect of plant activators containing oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts. Furthermore, terpenes are naturally occurring compounds, have a low environmental impact, and the addition of terpenes does not adversely affect the plants to which they are applied. Therefore, by adding terpenes according to the present invention, the excellent activating effect of plant activators containing oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts remains unchanged, while plant hormone biosynthesis is further promoted, thereby achieving a remarkable yield-increasing effect of the plant activator according to the present invention.

[0051] In the present invention, terpenes may be included in the plant activator in a proportion of approximately 10 times or less by weight relative to the content of oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts. The preferred concentration of terpenes that may be included in the plant activator of the present invention may depend on the plant species to which it is applied and its condition, and there is no particular lower limit to the concentration of terpenes, but it is preferable that it is included in an amount of approximately 0.5 times or more by weight relative to the content of oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the proportion of terpenes may be approximately 1 to 3 times the content of oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts by weight.

[0052] For example, in one embodiment of the plant activator of the present invention, at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts may be used at a concentration of 5 mg / L or less. The preferred concentration of at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts depends on the cultivation conditions and growth stage of the plant to be treated, the timing and method of application of the plant activator, etc., and can be appropriately set to suit the application rate, but if the concentration exceeds 5 mg / L, there is a risk of phytotoxicity to the plant. The lower limit of the concentration of at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts is not particularly limited, but 0.05 mg / L or more is preferred. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts is 0.05 to 5 mg / L.

[0053] The plant activator of the present invention may optionally contain a compatible surfactant and / or diluent or carrier suitable for use as a plant activator. For example, a diluent may improve the dispersibility in a solvent of at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts. In addition, surfactants such as dispersing aids and wetting agents may be included to improve the solubility and dispersibility of the oxo fatty acid derivatives used in the present invention in diluents. These additive components are not particularly limited as long as they are agriculturally acceptable. Furthermore, the plant activator of the present invention may also contain other components beneficial to plants, in addition to at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts and terpenes, such as pH adjusters, spreading agents to improve adhesion to plants or soil, binders, antioxidants, etc., which are commonly used in pesticide formulations, etc.

[0054] The plant activator of the present invention may contain, in addition to terpenes, at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts, and their origins are not particularly limited. The oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts, such as ketooctadecadienoic acid, of the present invention may be obtained, for example, by chemical synthesis, or they may be produced, for example, using microorganisms, or obtained by reacting enzymes derived from microorganisms with a substrate such as a fatty acid. The plant activator of the present invention may contain at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts at a desired concentration, and for example, if an oxo fatty acid produced using microorganisms is used as the oxo fatty acid derivative, a mixture containing oxo fatty acids may be used as the plant activator. If biosurfactants secreted by microorganisms are included in the mixture, it may be possible to improve the dispersibility of the plant activator of the present invention even without including the additive components described above. When oxo fatty acids or their derivatives themselves are insoluble, they can sometimes be emulsified and dispersed in water by biosurfactants.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plant activator of the present invention may further contain, in addition to at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts and a terpene as active ingredients, a hydroxylated fatty acid or its derivative or salt. A plant activator with an even higher activating effect may be obtained.

[0056] Hydroxylated fatty acids or their derivatives or salts thereof having the structural formulas shown in the following formulas (III) and / or (IV) can be preferably used. HOOC-(R 5 )-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-CH=CH-CH(OH)-R 6 (III), and / or HOOC-(R 5 )-CH(OH)-CH=CH-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-R 6 (IV) (In equations (III) and / or (IV), R 5 R is a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 4 to 12 carbon atoms, which may contain one or more double bonds and / or OH groups, and if it contains double bonds, the position of the double bonds is not limited. 6 (A is a linear or branched hydrocarbon group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms, which may contain one or more double bonds and / or OH groups, and if a double bond is present, the position of the double bond is not limited).

[0057] Furthermore, as derivatives of hydroxylated fatty acids or salts thereof, those exemplified above as derivatives or salts of oxo fatty acids can be suitably used. In addition, the hydroxylated fatty acids of this disclosure include all geometric and stereoisomers of the compound represented by formula (III) and / or (IV).

[0058] In one embodiment of the present invention, R in formula (III) and / or (IV) 5 The hydrocarbon group has 6 to 8 carbon atoms, R6 The hydrocarbon group has 4 to 6 carbon atoms. In another embodiment, the R in the above hydroxylated fatty acid 5 is, -(CH2) n -(n is an integer between 4 and 12) is the structure, R 6 C n H 2n+1 -(n is an integer between 2 and 8) structure. Furthermore, in another embodiment, R in the above hydroxylated fatty acid 5 This is an alkylene group (-(CH2)7-) with 7 carbon atoms, and R 6 It is preferable that the element is a C5 alkyl group (CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-).

[0059] Preferably, the hydroxylated fatty acid of the present disclosure may be, but is not limited to, at least one selected from the group consisting of 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid.

[0060] As described above, the plant activator of the present invention, which contains at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts and a terpene, is characterized by exhibiting a remarkably excellent plant activating effect when applied to plants, promoting the growth of plant seeds and increasing seed yield. Compounds that have a good correlation with increased seed yield, and in which an increase in their content is an indicator of increased seed yield, are known to include, for example, 2-hydroxypyridine, glycine, L-pyroglutamic acid, and sucrose. There is considered to be a positive correlation between the amount of these components present in leaves and seed yield.

[0061] The plant activator of the present invention can increase the content of 2-hydroxypyridine, glycine, L-pyroglutamic acid, and / or sucrose in the leaves of the plants to which it is applied. This result indicates that the plant activator of the present invention can promote the growth of plant seeds and increase the seed weight and number of seeds per plant. In other words, the plant activator of the present invention is a yield increaser. Note that "increased seed yield" means that the amount of seeds harvested increases, for example, that the seed weight and / or number of seeds per plant are greater than in a group of plants not treated with the plant activator of the present invention.

[0062] The plant activator of the present invention can also increase the content of plant hormones in the leaves of the plants to which it is applied, which is associated with increased fruit yield. For example, the plant activator of the present invention can increase the content in the leaves of gibberellin, a plant hormone that has physiological effects of promoting flower bud formation and ovary growth. Fruit yield is known to have a positive correlation with the number of pods, and the number of pods is known to have a close positive correlation with the number of flower buds. Therefore, an increase in the amount of gibberellin, which can promote the development of flower clusters, can result in an increase in the number of flower buds, the number of pods, and thus the yield. In other words, the plant activator of the present invention can induce an increase in gibberellin biosynthesis, i.e., it is a flower bud formation promoter.

[0063] While not limited to these, the plant activator of the present invention can be suitably used to increase the yield of grains. The grains are not particularly limited and can be appropriately selected depending on the purpose. For example, the plant activator of the present invention can be applied to grasses, legumes, and the like, and can suitably achieve increased grain yields. Specific examples of grasses include wheat, barley, rye, oats, hulless barley, rice, sorghum, maize, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, finger millet, pearl millet, and turfgrass. Specific examples of legumes include, but are not limited to, soybeans, adzuki beans, mung beans, cowpeas, kidney beans, lima beans, peanuts, peas, and broad beans. The plant activator of the present invention can also be suitably used on plants other than the above-mentioned grasses and legumes to increase grain yield.

[0064] Among the grasses and legumes mentioned above, the plant activator of the present invention can be suitably used on rice and soybeans. There are no particular restrictions on the type of rice, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose. Examples include sake rice such as Hakutsuru Nishiki, Yamada Nishiki, Gohyakumangoku, Miyama Nishiki, Omachi, Hattan, Hattan Nishiki, Ginpu, Yumesansa, Wakamizu, and Yumenoka, and edible rice such as Nihonbare, Koshihikari, Hitomebore, Hinohikari, Akitakomachi, Kinuhikari, Nanatsuboshi, and Haenuki.

[0065] In this specification, "soybean" refers to the soybean (scientific name: Glycine max), an annual plant of the legume family. Although there are many varieties of soybeans, the soybean plant activator of the present invention can be suitably used with any of the following: domestic soybeans such as Fukuyutaka, Enrei, Sato no Hohoemi, Yuagari Musume, Ryuhou, Suzuyutaka, Toyohomare, Miyagishirome, etc., and US soybeans such as IOM. Furthermore, it is not a concern whether the soybeans are genetically modified or not.

[0066] The plant activator of the present invention can be applied to plants by any method. The application method is not particularly limited as long as it involves contact with the plant body, such as the roots, stems, and leaves, and it acts suitably as an activator for promoting flower bud formation and / or improving yield in plant cultivation. The plant activator of the present invention may be applied so as to be in direct contact with the plant body, or it may be applied to the cultivation carrier such as soil or growing medium on which the plant body is established. For example, the plant activator of the present invention can be used as a spray or immersion agent applied to the stems, leaves, or roots of plants, or as a soil drenching agent. Specific application methods can be appropriately selected depending on the cultivation form of the plant to be treated, but examples include ground liquid application, ground solid application, aerial liquid application, aerial solid application, surface application, application in a facility, soil mixing application, soil drenching application, surface treatment such as coating, application in seedling trays, single flower treatment, and treatment at the base of the plant. Furthermore, the plant activator of the present invention may be mixed with plant fertilizer components and used as a plant fertilizer. Furthermore, the plant activator of the present invention may be used as a sustained-release agent by being contained in a porous structure or capsule, or impregnated into a sheet or the like. The form of the plant activator of the present invention is not particularly limited. The plant activator of the present invention may be in liquid or gel form, or in solid form (block, powder, granules, etc.). In the case of a liquid composition, it can be used as is or as a concentrated type after dilution. The plant activator of the present invention imparts a plant growth promoting effect to plants during cultivation, resulting in increased fruit yield due to an increase in plant body size such as an increase in crop weight, and increased fruit yield and improved harvesting efficiency by promoting flower bud formation.

[0067] The plant activator of the present invention can improve seed yield through simple treatments such as spraying, eliminating the need for special equipment, and in this respect, the present invention is highly advantageous. Furthermore, since oxo fatty acids and the like are oxides of naturally occurring fatty acids, and as mentioned above, terpenes are also naturally occurring compounds, the plant activator of the present invention has a low environmental impact and causes almost no phytotoxicity to the plants it is applied to, making it superior in these respects as well.

[0068] The plant activator of the present invention can be applied to plants and / or cultivation carriers by, for example, applying to the plants and / or cultivation carriers in the form of a liquid in which at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts is dissolved or dispersed in water and / or a water-soluble solvent. For example, a liquid in which at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their derivatives or salts is dissolved or dispersed can be sprayed or applied to the above-ground parts (stem, leaves, etc.) of the target plant. The plant activator of the present invention can be applied to target plants by, for example, at least once before flowering, or by applying in multiple applications. [Examples]

[0069] The present invention will be described based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0070] [Example 1] Preparation of growth stimulant solution 1 As a raw material containing fatty acids, 580g of 90% pure linoleic acid (manufactured by NOF Corporation) was used. To this, 216g of potassium carbonate (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 280g of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and 13,000mL of distilled water were added to prepare the test solution. The pH of the test solution at this time was 9.0.

[0071] 40 mg of lipoxygenase (Nacalai Tesque Co., Ltd., derived from soybeans) was added to the test solution, and the reaction was carried out at 15°C for 3 hours while aerating with oxygen and stirring. The reaction mixture was then placed in a 90°C water bath for 90 minutes. The resulting reaction solution was designated as Solution A.

[0072] 6500 mL of solution A was mixed with 35 mL of phosphoric acid (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) to adjust the pH to 7.0. This solution was reacted at 50°C for 22 hours with oxygen aeration and stirring, and then the reaction mixture was placed in a 90°C water bath for 2 hours. The resulting reaction solution was designated as solution B.

[0073] The entire contents of solution A and the entire contents of solution B obtained above were mixed together, and the resulting mixture was used as a standard substance along with 13-oxoODA (13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid), 9-oxoODA (9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid), and 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid (9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid), manufactured by Cayman Chemicals, and 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecenoic acid, manufactured by La Rhodan Fine Chemicals. Using 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoic acid, MS 2 Quantitative analysis was performed using LC-MS with spectral analysis. Additionally, ketooctadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODA, 9-oxoODA) was quantified using the absolute calibration curve method at a detection wavelength of UV 272 nm, and trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid was quantified using the detection wavelength of UV 210 nm.

[0074] The combined yield of isomers such as (E,E) and (E,Z) was 3.7% for 13-oxoODA. The yield of 9-oxoODA was 1.7%. The combined yield of 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid was 1.2% (peaks could not be separated by LC-MS), and the recovery rate of linoleic acid was 84.1%.

[0075] The yield (%) was calculated based on the following formula. Yield (%) = (wt%) of 13-oxoODA, 9-oxoODA, 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid or 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid produced / (initial wt%) of linoleic acid used as the starting material

[0076] 0.1 mL of the mixture of solutions A and B obtained above was diluted to 2000 mL with deionized water, and 40 μL of pine oil (manufactured by ease, the main component being α-pinene) was added to this diluted solution to prepare growth stimulant solution 1 (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA<1).

[0077] • Rice growth promoting effect Rice (variety: Nipponbare) seeds were soaked in water for 5 days in an artificial climate chamber (LH-60FL3-DT: manufactured by Nippon Medical Instruments Co., Ltd.) at a temperature of 15°C with the lights off, and then the temperature was raised to 30°C for half a day. The resulting pigeon-breast shaped seeds were sown at a rate of 4 seeds per cell in a 72-cell tray filled with sterilized seed-starting soil (manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd.). The plants were grown in the artificial climate chamber in a cycle of 14 hours at 28°C with fluorescent lights and 10 hours at 23°C with the lights off, until they reached the 1 to 1.5 leaf stage.

[0078] The aforementioned growth stimulant solution 1 (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA<1) was sprayed onto the leaves of 20 rice plants at a rate of 1 mL per plant using a spray bottle, 7 days after sowing.

[0079] 24 hours after spraying, 5 samples were taken from the above-ground parts of 2 plants (each sample being 2 plants), weighed into 15 mL capacity centrifuge tubes with lids (fresh weight: FW), and immediately transferred to a -80°C freezer for 24 hours.

[0080] A mixture of ethanol, water, and acetic acid (80:20:1) was added to the frozen sample to a concentration of 0.1 g / mL. After crushing the beads, sonication was performed for 10 minutes. This mixture was allowed to stand for 1 hour, and then centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 minutes using a himac CT6E centrifuge (manufactured by Eppendorf Himac Technologies, Ltd.). The supernatant was filtered through a membrane filter to obtain the analytical sample.

[0081] The analysis samples were subjected to plant hormone analysis using an LC-MS / MS instrument (LC section: DIONEX Ultimate3000, MS / MS section: Q Exactive Focus: Thermo Fisher Scientific Co., Ltd.) under the following conditions: Column = Aclaim PR-MS 2.1 mmφ × 150 mm (Thermo Fisher Scientific Co., Ltd.), Solvent = 2% acetonitrile / aqueous acetate → 95% acetonitrile / aqueous acetate, Flow rate = 0.25 mL / min, Column temperature = 40°C, Detection = MS-(SIM), Introduction = 2 μL of sample solution.

[0082] Gibberellin was prepared using a calibration curve based on analytical values ​​obtained with gibberellin A1 (manufactured by Toronto), and quantification was performed from the peak area value of MS-. The gibberellin content in the rice sample 24 hours after application was 0.38 ng / gFW. Figure 6 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin as a relative value, with Comparative Example 1 (described later) set to 1.0.

[0083] [Example 2] • Soybean growth promoting effect Soybean seeds (variety: Fukuyutaka) were sown at a rate of 4 seeds per pot in 3-inch pots filled with vegetable and flower seed-starting soil (manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd.). The plants were grown for 30 days in an artificial climate chamber (LH-60FL3-DT: manufactured by Nippon Ika Kikai Seisakusho Co., Ltd.) with a daily cycle of 14 hours at 25°C under fluorescent lights and 10 hours at 20°C with the lights off.

[0084] The growth stimulant solution 1 (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA<1) prepared in Example 1 was sprayed onto the leaves of 20 soybean plants at a rate of 1 mL per plant using a spray bottle 30 days after sowing.

[0085] 24 hours after spraying, 5 samples were taken from each of 2 plants, including the growing point and new leaves. These samples were weighed into 15 mL lidded centrifuge tubes (fresh weight: FW), and immediately transferred to a -80°C freezer for 24 hours.

[0086] The frozen samples were processed in the same manner as in Example 1 and used as analytical samples.

[0087] The analytical samples were analyzed for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid using an LC-MS / MS instrument under the following conditions: Column = Aclaim PR-MS 2.1 mmφ × 150 mm (Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K.), Solvent = 2% acetonitrile / aqueous acetate → 10% acetonitrile / aqueous acetate, Flow rate = 0.25 mL / min, Column temperature = 40°C, Detection = MS-(SIM), Introduction = 2 μL of sample solution. Qualitative analysis was performed using glycine (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), sucrose (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 2-hydroxypyridine (Tokyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and L-pyroglutamic acid (Nacalai Tesque Corporation) as standard substances, and quantification was performed by measuring the peak intensity area of ​​the MS-. The results are shown as a graph using relative values, with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution), described later, set to 1.0. The quantitative results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are shown in Figures 1 to 4, respectively.

[0088] Furthermore, the amount of gibberellin in the analytical samples was quantified in the same manner as in Example 1. The gibberellin content in the soybean samples 24 hours after application was 4.0 ng / gFW. Figure 5 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin as a relative value, with Comparative Example 3 (an example in which water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0.

[0089] [Example 3] Preparation of growth stimulant solution 2 As a raw material containing fatty acids, 580g of 90% pure linoleic acid (manufactured by NOF Corporation) was used. To this, 216g of potassium carbonate (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), 280g of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (manufactured by Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.), and 13,000mL of distilled water were added to prepare the test solution. The pH of the test solution at this time was 9.0.

[0090] 40 mg of lipoxygenase (Nacalai Tesque Co., Ltd., derived from soybeans) was added to the test solution and reacted at 15°C for 3 hours with stirring. The reaction mixture was then placed in a 90°C water bath for 90 minutes. 35 mL of phosphoric acid (Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was added to adjust the pH to 7.0. This solution was reacted at 50°C for 22 hours with oxygen aeration and stirring, and then the reaction mixture was placed in a 90°C water bath for 2 hours.

[0091] The reaction solution obtained after the reaction was completed was subjected to MS using 13-oxoODA and 9-oxoODA from Cayman Chemicals, and 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid from La Rhodan Fine Chemicals as standard substances. 2 Quantitative analysis was performed using LC-MS with spectral analysis. Additionally, ketooctadecadienoic acid (13-oxoODA, 9-oxoODA) was quantified using the absolute calibration curve method at a detection wavelength of UV 272 nm, and trihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid was quantified using the detection wavelength of UV 210 nm.

[0092] The combined yield of isomers such as (E,E) and (E,Z) was 3.3% for 13-oxoODA. The yield of 9-oxoODA was 6.5%. The combined yield of 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid was 0.63% (peaks could not be separated by LC-MS), and the recovery rate of linoleic acid was 80.2%.

[0093] 0.1 mL of the reaction solution obtained above was diluted to 2000 mL with deionized water, and 40 μL of pine oil (manufactured by ease) was added to this diluted solution to prepare growth stimulant solution 2 (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA>1).

[0094] Similar to Example 1, growth stimulant solution 2 was sprayed onto rice plants, samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis. The gibberellin content in the rice samples 24 hours after spraying was 0.41 ng / gFW. Figure 6 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin, which are shown as a graph with Comparative Example 1 (described later) set to 1.0.

[0095] [Example 4] • Soybean growth promoting effect A growth-promoting agent solution 2 (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA>1), prepared in the same manner as in Example 3, was sprayed onto soybeans in the same manner as in Example 2. Samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis.

[0096] The amounts of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean samples 24 hours after application were quantified in the same manner as in Example 2. The results are shown as a graph with relative values, with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0. The quantitative results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are shown in Figures 1 to 4, respectively.

[0097] The gibberellin content in the soybean sample 24 hours after application was 5.2 ng / gFW. Figure 5 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin, which are shown as a relative value with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0.

[0098] [Comparative Example 1] A mixture of solutions A and B (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA < 1, no pine oil added), prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, was diluted to 2000 mL with deionized water to prepare comparative solution 1.

[0099] Similar to Example 1, comparative solution 1 was sprayed onto rice plants, samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis. The gibberellin content in the rice samples 24 hours after spraying was 0.15 ng / gFW. This analysis result was set to 1.0, and the analytical results of Examples 1 and 3, as well as Test Example 1 described later, were expressed as relative values. The results are shown in Figure 6.

[0100] [Comparative Example 2] Comparative solution 1, prepared in the same manner as in Comparative Example 1, was sprayed onto soybeans in the same manner as in Example 2. Samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis.

[0101] The amounts of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean samples 24 hours after application were quantified in the same manner as in Example 2. The results are shown as a graph with relative values, with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0. The quantitative results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are shown in Figures 1 to 4, respectively.

[0102] The gibberellin content in the soybean sample 24 hours after application was 3.2 ng / gFW. Figure 5 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin, which are shown as a relative value with Comparative Example 3 (an example in which water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0.

[0103] [Comparative Example 3] In Example 2, deionized water was used instead of growth stimulant solution 1, and the deionized water was sprayed onto the soybean leaves in the same manner as in Example 2. Subsequently, the sample was collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical sample was subjected to component analysis, in the same manner as in Example 2.

[0104] The analytical results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean samples 24 hours after spraying were set to 1.0, and the analytical results for Examples 2 and 4, Comparative Example 2, and Test Example 2 (described later) were expressed as relative values. The results are shown in Figures 1 to 4.

[0105] The gibberellin content in the soybean sample 24 hours after application was 3.1 ng / gFW. Figure 5 shows the relative values ​​of the analysis results for Examples 2 and 4, Comparative Example 2, and Test Example 2 (described later), with this result set as 1.0.

[0106] [Comparative Example 4] In Example 2, instead of growth stimulant solution 1, only pine oil (manufactured by ease Inc.) was used, and the pine oil was sprayed onto the soybean leaves in the same manner as in Example 2. Subsequently, the sample was collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical sample was subjected to component analysis, in the same manner as in Example 2.

[0107] The amounts of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean samples 24 hours after application were quantified in the same manner as in Example 2. The results are shown as a graph of relative values, with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0. The quantitative results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are shown in Figures 1 to 4, respectively.

[0108] [Test Example 1] Test solution 1 was prepared by diluting 0.1 mL of the reaction solution (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA > 1, no pine oil added) obtained in the same manner as in Example 3 with 2000 mL of deionized water.

[0109] Similar to Example 3, test solution 1 was sprayed onto rice plants, samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis. The gibberellin content in the rice samples 24 hours after spraying was 0.23 ng / gFW. Figure 6 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin, graphed as a relative value with Comparative Example 1 set to 1.0.

[0110] [Test Example 2] Test solution 1, prepared in the same manner as in Test Example 1, was sprayed onto soybeans in the same manner as in Example 4. Samples were collected, extracted, and the resulting analytical samples were subjected to component analysis.

[0111] The amounts of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean samples 24 hours after application were quantified in the same manner as in Example 4. The results are shown as a graph with relative values, with Comparative Example 3 (an example where water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0. The quantitative results for glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are shown in Figures 1 to 4, respectively.

[0112] The gibberellin content in the soybean sample 24 hours after application was 3.8 ng / gFW. Figure 5 shows the quantitative results of gibberellin, which are shown as a relative value with Comparative Example 3 (an example in which water was applied instead of the growth stimulant solution) set to 1.0.

[0113] As shown in Figures 1-4, in soybean leaves treated with growth-promoting solutions containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes (Examples 2 and 4), the content of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid increased compared to solutions without terpenes (Comparative Example 2 and Test Example 2) and solutions containing only terpenes (Comparative Example 4), respectively. From the results of Examples 2 and 4, it can be seen that the content of glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid in soybean leaves increased more when treated with the growth-promoting solution of Example 4, which contains a large amount of 9-oxoODA (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA>1), compared to when treated with the growth-promoting solution containing a large amount of 13-oxoODA (9-oxoODA / 13-oxoODA<1, Example 2).

[0114] The four components glycine, sucrose, 2-hydroxypyridine, and L-pyroglutamic acid are among those listed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-174553 (Patent Document 2) as components whose increased content is an indicator of increased soybean yield. Therefore, an increase in these four components means an increase in soybean yield. Figures 1-4 show that soybean yield increases when a growth-promoting solution containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes is applied. Furthermore, it can be seen that a growth-promoting solution containing a relatively high amount of 9-oxoODA is more effective in increasing soybean yield.

[0115] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, gibberellin levels in soybean leaves also increased when the growth stimulant solution containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes (Examples 2 and 4) was applied, compared to when the terpene-free solution (Comparative Example 2 and Test Example 2) was applied. Additionally, the increase was greater when the growth stimulant solution containing a relatively high amount of 9-oxoODA (Example 4) was applied compared to when the growth stimulant solution containing a relatively high amount of 13-oxoODA (Example 2) was applied. Gibberellin is a plant hormone responsible for promoting flower bud formation in soybeans. It can be seen that growth stimulant solutions containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes increase gibberellin levels in soybeans, and therefore have the effect of increasing soybean yield.

[0116] The results in Figure 6 show that gibberellin levels in rice increased when the growth stimulant solution containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes (Examples 1 and 3) was applied, compared to when the terpene-free solution (Comparative Example 1 and Test Example 1) was applied. Gibberellin is a plant hormone that promotes flower bud formation in rice, and it can be seen that the growth stimulant solution containing oxo fatty acids and terpenes has the effect of increasing rice yield.

Claims

1. The compound comprises at least one compound selected from oxo fatty acids or their salts, and a terpene. The oxoacids are 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid and 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid, The ratio of the content of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid to the content of 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid is greater than 1 by weight. A plant activator characterized by the following features.

2. The plant activator according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the content of 9-oxo-10,12-octadecadienoic acid to the content of 13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid is greater than 1.0 and less than or equal to 2.0 by weight.

3. The plant activator according to claim 1, which increases the amount produced of at least one selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxypyridine, glycine, L-pyroglutamic acid, and sucrose.

4. A plant activator according to claim 1, which increases the amount of plant hormones produced.

5. The plant activator according to claim 4, wherein the plant hormone is gibberellin.

6. The plant activator according to claim 1, wherein the plant activator is for promoting flower bud formation and / or for improving yield.

7. The plant activator according to claim 1, which is a spray or immersion agent applied to the stems, leaves, or roots of a plant, or an agent applied to the soil.

8. The plant activator according to claim 1, which is a plant activator for grasses or a plant activator for legumes.

9. Further containing hydroxylated fatty acids or their salts, The plant activator according to claim 1, wherein the hydroxylated fatty acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of 9,10,13-trihydroxy-11-octadecaenoic acid and 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecaenoic acid.

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