Agricultural composition and method for cultivating plants using same

Abstract

One or more embodiments of the present invention address the problem of increasing yield by applying glutathione and allantoin to plants independently, and further enhancing advantageous effects such as improved stress resistance.　One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to an agricultural composition containing glutathione and allantoin. Another one or more embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for cultivating plants, the method including applying glutathione and allantoin to the plants and cultivating the plants. The glutathione is preferably oxidized glutathione.

Description

Agricultural composition and method for cultivating plants using the same

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural composition and a method for cultivating plants using the same.

[0002] Glutathione is a peptide composed of three amino acids: L-cysteine, L-glutamic acid, and glycine. It is present not only in the human body but also in many other living organisms, including other animals, plants, and microorganisms. It is an important compound for the body, with functions such as scavenging active oxygen, detoxification, and amino acid metabolism.

[0003] Glutathione exists in the body in one of two forms: reduced glutathione (N-(N-γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl)glycine, hereinafter sometimes referred to as "GSH"), in which the thiol group of the L-cysteine ​​residue is reduced to form SH, and oxidized glutathione (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "GSSG"), in which the thiol group of the L-cysteine ​​residue of two molecules of GSH is oxidized to form a disulfide bond between the two glutathione molecules. Glutathione is known to be useful in fields such as fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

[0004] On the other hand, allantoin (5-ureidohydantoin) is an intermediate product produced in the decomposition process of nucleic acid bases (purine bases). In plants, allantoin is produced from 5-hydroxyisouric acid by allantoin synthase (AS) and is decomposed into allantoic acid by allantoinase (ALN). Non-Patent Document 1 discloses that an aln-1 mutant strain in Arabidopsis thaliana, which has been mutated by disrupting the ALN gene so that allantoin accumulates in the plant body, has higher drought stress tolerance than a wild-type strain.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a fertilizer composition for application to plant leaves, which is characterized by containing oxidized glutathione and a fertilizer component, and a method for promoting plant growth by applying the fertilizer composition to plants.

[0006] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for promoting the growth of tubers or tuberous roots of a plant by applying oxidized glutathione to the plant at the bud-setting stage.

[0007] Patent Document 3 discloses a high temperature stress tolerance improver containing allantoin as an active ingredient for improving high temperature stress tolerance of plants.

[0008] International Publication WO2017 / 006869 JP2018-115116A International Publication WO2017 / 130630

[0009] Watanabe, S. etc. al. , Plant Cell Environ. 37:1022-1036 (2014)

[0010] As described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, glutathione and allantoin are known to have the effect of promoting plant growth and enhancing stress resistance, respectively.

[0011] The present specification aims to provide a means for further enhancing the advantageous effects, such as increased yield and improved stress resistance, that are achieved by applying glutathione and allantoin alone to plants.

[0012] The present inventors have found that applying a combination of glutathione and allantoin to plants synergistically exerts advantageous effects such as increased yield and improved stress tolerance. Specifically, the present specification discloses the following as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0013] (1) An agricultural composition comprising glutathione and allantoin. (2) The agricultural composition according to (1), wherein the glutathione is oxidized glutathione. (3) The agricultural composition according to (1) or (2), wherein the allantoin is contained in an amount of 40 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of the glutathione. (4) The agricultural composition according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the glutathione content is 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less. (5) The agricultural composition according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the allantoin content is 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less. (6) The agricultural composition according to any one of (1) to (5), further comprising one or more selected from a nitrogen-containing inorganic salt, a phosphorus-containing inorganic salt, and a potassium-containing inorganic salt. (7) A method for cultivating a plant, comprising: applying glutathione and allantoin to the plant; and cultivating the plant. (8) The method according to (7), wherein the glutathione is oxidized glutathione. (9) The method according to (7) or (8), wherein the glutathione and the allantoin are applied to the plant so that the amount of the allantoin is 40 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of the glutathione. (10) The method according to any one of (7) to (9), wherein one or more selected from a nitrogen-containing inorganic salt, a phosphorus-containing inorganic salt, and a potassium-containing inorganic salt are further applied to the plant. (11) The method according to any one of (7) to (10), wherein an aqueous solution containing the glutathione is applied to the plant. (12) The method according to any one of (7) to (11), wherein an aqueous solution containing allantoin is applied to the plant. (13) The method according to any one of (7) to (12), wherein an aqueous solution prepared by diluting the agricultural composition according to any one of (1) to (6) in water is applied to the plant. (14) The method according to any one of (7) to (13), which comprises cultivating the plant under high temperature stress conditions and / or drought stress conditions. (15) The method according to any one of (7) to (14), wherein the plant is lettuce, broccoli, potato, onion, soybean, or grape. This specification incorporates the disclosures of Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2022-034052 and 2023-015411, from which the present application claims priority.

[0014] According to the agricultural composition and plant cultivation method according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, advantageous synergistic effects such as increased yield and improved stress tolerance can be achieved.

[0015] Figure 1 shows the ratio of floret size between broccoli plants in the treatment area where glutathione and allantoin were applied and broccoli plants in the untreated area where glutathione and allantoin were not applied, which were grown in Experiment 4, Test 1. Figure 2 shows the number of plants harvested per day and the cumulative number of plants harvested in Experiment 4, Test 2, in which broccoli plants in the treatment area and the untreated area were harvested as needed from those whose floret diameter reached 12 cm. Figure 3 shows the ratio of the number of plants harvested per day and the cumulative number of plants harvested in the treatment area and the untreated area, which were grown in Experiment 5, from potatoes weighing less than 20 g and potatoes weighing 20 g or more per potato, and potatoes grown in a cultivation area of ​​1 m. ２ Fig. 4 shows the ratio of bulb size of onion plants in the treated and untreated groups grown in Experiment 6. Fig. 5 shows the ratio of the number of lettuce plants with wilting scores of 0 to 4 in the early growth stage in the treated and untreated groups grown under high temperature and drought stress conditions in Experiment 7, Test 1. Fig. 6 shows the ratio of bulb size of lettuce plants in the treated and untreated groups grown in Experiment 7, Test 2. Fig. 7 shows the ETR in Experiment 8. Fig. 8 shows the amount of anthocyanin accumulation in Experiment 9.

[0016] <Glutathione> Glutathione may be reduced glutathione (GSH, N-(N-γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl)glycine), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) formed by two GSH molecules bound via a disulfide bond, or a mixture of GSH and GSSG. The glutathione is preferably GSSG.

[0017] Glutathione (GSSG or GSH) can include various forms of glutathione, such as a free form that is not bound to other substances and is not ionized, a salt, a hydrate, or a mixture of two or more of these.

[0018] When GSSG is used as glutathione, a mixture of GSSG and GSH may be used, but the content of GSSG is preferably relatively higher than the content of GSH. More preferably, the total weight of GSSG (weight converted into free form) relative to the total weight of GSSG and GSH (weight converted into free form) is 70% by mass or more, more preferably 80% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more, even more preferably 95% by mass or more, even more preferably 98% by mass or more, and most preferably 100% by mass.

[0019] The salt of GSSG is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more salts acceptable as a fertilizer, such as ammonium salt, calcium salt, magnesium salt, sodium salt, and lithium salt, but is preferably one or more salts selected from ammonium salt, calcium salt, and magnesium salt. Examples of GSSG salts include monoammonium salt of GSSG, 0.5 calcium salt or monocalcium salt of GSSG, and 0.5 magnesium salt or monomagnesium salt of GSSG.

[0020] <Allantoin> Allantoin is also called 5-ureidohydantoin, and its free form has the structure represented by the following formula.

[0021]

[0022] Allantoin has one asymmetric carbon atom (indicated by * in the formula) and exists in the form of (R)-allantoin and (S)-allantoin. The allantoin used in one or more embodiments of the present invention may be (R)-allantoin, (S)-allantoin, or a mixture thereof. Allantoin can be produced synthetically, for example, from glyoxylic acid and urea. Allantoin may also be derived from or obtained from plants or microorganisms.

[0023] Allantoin may be in various forms, such as a free form that is not bound to other substances and is not ionized, a salt, a hydrate, or a mixture of two or more of these.

[0024] One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to an agricultural composition comprising glutathione and allantoin. Application of the agricultural composition to plants such as agricultural crops provides advantageous effects such as synergistically promoting the growth of the plants, synergistically increasing the tolerance to high temperature stress and / or drought stress, and improving the productivity of commercially valuable crops.

[0025] In a more preferred embodiment, the agricultural composition contains preferably 40 parts by mass or more, more preferably 100 parts by mass or more, more preferably 200 parts by mass or more, more preferably 300 parts by mass or more of allantoin per 100 parts by mass of glutathione. In this case, the plant growth-promoting effect of glutathione and allantoin and the effect of improving high temperature stress resistance and / or drought stress resistance are particularly high.

[0026] In a further preferred embodiment, the agricultural composition contains preferably 2000 parts by weight or less, more preferably 1800 parts by weight or less, more preferably 1600 parts by weight or less, more preferably 1000 parts by weight or less, even more preferably 800 parts by weight or less, particularly preferably 600 parts by weight or less, and most preferably 400 parts by weight or less of allantoin per 100 parts by weight of glutathione.

[0027] The content of glutathione in the agricultural composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3% by mass or more, more preferably 5% by mass or more, preferably 40% by mass or less, more preferably 20% by mass or less, and even more preferably 10% by mass or less.

[0028] The content of allantoin in the agricultural composition is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5% by mass or more, more preferably 10% by mass or more, even more preferably 20% by mass or more, and preferably 50% by mass or less, more preferably 40% by mass or less, and even more preferably 30% by mass or less.

[0029] The agricultural composition may be a solid composition or a liquid composition, but is preferably a solid composition from the viewpoint of storage stability.

[0030] When the agricultural composition is a solid composition, it may be a solid composition that is applied directly to the application site of a plant, such as soil, water, or the surface of a plant (e.g., foliage, seeds), or it may be a solid composition that is diluted with water to form an aqueous solution and then applied to a plant. The shape of the solid composition is not particularly limited, and it may be in any shape, such as granules or powder. The granular agricultural composition can be produced using a granulation method such as agitation granulation or extrusion granulation.

[0031] When the agricultural composition is a liquid composition, it may be a liquid composition that is applied directly to the application site of the plant, such as soil, water, or the surface of the plant (for example, the leaf surface or seeds), or it may be a liquid composition that is diluted with water before application to form a diluted solution and then applied to the plant. An example of the liquid composition is an aqueous solution.

[0032] When the agricultural composition is a liquid composition to be directly applied to an application site, the content of the glutathione may be 0.001% by mass or more and 2% by mass or less, and the content of the allantoin may be 0.0015% by mass or more and 5% by mass or less. When the agricultural composition is used by diluting it with water, the dilution ratio may be, for example, 5 to 10,000 times, or 10 to 5,000 times.

[0033] The agricultural composition may contain, in addition to glutathione and allantoin, inorganic salts, binders, etc.

[0034] As the inorganic salt, inorganic salts containing elements useful as fertilizers, such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, are preferred, and one or more inorganic salts selected from nitrogen-containing inorganic salts, phosphorus-containing inorganic salts, and potassium-containing inorganic salts are particularly preferred.

[0035] Specific examples of nitrogen-containing inorganic salts include ammonium sulfate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. Specific examples of phosphorus-containing inorganic salts include ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. Specific examples of potassium-containing inorganic salts include potassium sulfate.

[0036] In an embodiment in which the agricultural composition contains glutathione, allantoin, and one or more inorganic salts selected from nitrogen-containing inorganic salts, phosphorus-containing inorganic salts, and potassium-containing inorganic salts, the agricultural composition contains, on a dry matter basis, preferably 70% by mass or more, more preferably 80% by mass or more, more preferably 90% by mass or more, and even more preferably 95% by mass or more of glutathione, allantoin, and the inorganic salts in total.

[0037] Examples of binders include carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, pullulan, acrylic acid polymers, polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin, agar, gum arabic, powdered gum arabic, xanthan gum, toran gum, guar gum, gellan gum, locust bean gum, pregelatinized starch, macrogol, starch, soluble starch, dextrin, tragacanth gum, β-glucan, pectin, casein, soy protein, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acetyl cellulose, lignosulfonic acid, carboxymethyl starch, hydroxyethyl starch, polyvinyl methyl ether, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, shellac, rosin, tall oil, ester gum, polyvinyl Examples of the surfactant include acetate, polylactic acid, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polyurea, polyamide, coumarone resin, biodegradable polymer, paraffin wax, microcrystalline wax, petrolatum, montan wax, carnauba wax, cotton wax, beeswax, wool wax, polymeric nonionic surfactants, polymeric anionic surfactants, polymeric cationic surfactants, polymeric amphoteric surfactants, alginic acid (all of which are polymeric compounds), sodium silicate, glycerin, animal and vegetable oils, fats and oils, liquid paraffin, heavy oil, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, sorbitol, non-polymeric nonionic surfactants, non-polymeric anionic surfactants, non-polymeric cationic surfactants, non-polymeric amphoteric surfactants (all of which are non-polymeric compounds), and salts thereof, and at least one selected from these groups can be used.

[0038] Particularly preferred binders are polymeric binders, and particularly preferred are at least one selected from carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, gum arabic, hydroxyethylcellulose, lignosulfonic acid and its salts, and polyethylene glycol. Examples of carboxymethylcellulose salts include alkali metal salts such as sodium, potassium, and lithium, and alkaline earth metal salts such as magnesium and calcium. Carboxymethylcellulose and its salts are also thought to contribute to improving the storage stability of glutathione in the composition. The use of these binders may enable sustained release of glutathione when the agricultural composition, particularly a solid agricultural composition, is applied to plants. When at least one binder selected from carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, gum arabic, hydroxyethylcellulose, lignosulfonic acid and its salts, and polyethylene glycol is used as the binder, the total content of the binder relative to the total amount of the agricultural composition on a dry matter basis is preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, more preferably 1 to 3% by mass.

[0039] Another example of a preferred binder is a non-polymeric anionic surfactant, particularly a linear alkylbenzene sulfonic acid or a salt thereof. When a non-polymeric anionic surfactant is used as the binder, the total content of the non-polymeric anionic surfactant relative to the total amount of the agricultural composition on a dry matter basis is preferably 0.3 to 3 mass %, more preferably 0.5 to 2 mass %.

[0040] The agricultural composition may further comprise water, an organic carrier, an excipient, and the like.

[0041] Examples of organic carriers include dried plant materials such as rice husks, sawdust, soybean flour, corn stalks, and plant fibers, as well as organic porous carriers such as pulp flock and activated carbon.

[0042] Excipients include lactose, trehalose, cellulose, etc. The agricultural composition may further comprise one or more of the following additional additives, if desired: additives include, but are not limited to, humectants, colorants, antifoaming agents, antifreeze agents, dispersants, preservatives, biological control agents or biocides, emulsifiers, etc.

[0043] <Method for Cultivating a Plant> One or more other embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for cultivating a plant, the method comprising: applying glutathione and allantoin to the plant; and cultivating the plant.

[0044] The cultivation method exhibits advantageous effects such as synergistically promoting the growth of the plant, synergistically increasing the tolerance to high temperature stress and / or drought stress, and improving the productivity of commercially valuable crops.

[0045] In the cultivation method, glutathione and allantoin are applied to a plant so that the amount of allantoin is preferably 40 parts by mass or more, more preferably 100 parts by mass or more, more preferably 200 parts by mass or more, and more preferably 300 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of glutathione. In this case, the effects of glutathione and allantoin on promoting plant growth and improving high temperature stress tolerance and / or drought stress tolerance are particularly high.

[0046] In a further preferred embodiment, in the cultivation method, glutathione and allantoin are applied to the plant so that the amount of allantoin per 100 parts by mass of glutathione is preferably 2000 parts by mass or less, more preferably 1800 parts by mass or less, more preferably 1600 parts by mass or less, more preferably 1000 parts by mass or less, even more preferably 800 parts by mass or less, particularly preferably 600 parts by mass or less, and most preferably 400 parts by mass or less.

[0047] In the cultivation method, it is preferable to apply an inorganic salt to the plant in addition to glutathione and allantoin.

[0048] As the inorganic salt, inorganic salts containing elements useful as fertilizers, such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, are preferred, and one or more inorganic salts selected from nitrogen-containing inorganic salts, phosphorus-containing inorganic salts, and potassium-containing inorganic salts are particularly preferred.

[0049] Specific examples of nitrogen-containing inorganic salts include ammonium sulfate and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. Specific examples of phosphorus-containing inorganic salts include ammonium dihydrogen phosphate. Specific examples of potassium-containing inorganic salts include potassium sulfate.

[0050] In the cultivation method, glutathione and allantoin may be applied to the plant at different times, or glutathione and allantoin may be applied to the plant at the same time. When glutathione and allantoin are applied to the plant at the same time, a composition containing glutathione and allantoin may be applied to the plant, or a composition containing glutathione and a composition containing allantoin may be applied to the plant at the same time.

[0051] In the cultivation method, the application of glutathione and allantoin to the plant is preferably carried out by applying an aqueous solution containing glutathione and allantoin, or an aqueous solution containing glutathione and an aqueous solution containing allantoin, to the plant.

[0052] In the cultivation method, glutathione and allantoin are preferably applied to plants as the agricultural composition according to one or more embodiments of the present invention described above, or as an aqueous solution prepared by diluting the agricultural composition with water.

[0053] In the cultivation method, the method for applying glutathione and allantoin to plants is not particularly limited as long as it allows glutathione and allantoin to come into contact with plant bodies such as seeds, roots, stems, and leaves, and glutathione and allantoin may be applied so as to come into direct contact with the plant bodies, or glutathione and allantoin may be applied to a cultivation carrier such as soil in which the plant bodies are established. In the cultivation method, glutathione and allantoin may be applied to plants in effective amounts that achieve the desired effects, such as promoting plant growth, improving tolerance to high temperature stress and / or drought stress, and improving productivity of commercially valuable harvests, and the application amounts can be adjusted appropriately.

[0054] The target plants in the cultivation method are not particularly limited, and may be various plants such as dicotyledonous plants and monocotyledonous plants.

[0055] Examples of dicotyledonous plants include plants of the genus Ipomoea, Brassica, Solanum, Lactuca, Convolvulus, Ipomoea, Arabidopsis, Cupressaceae, Dianthus, Chickweed, Alpine clover, Euonymus, Trifolium, Fleabane, Brassica rapa, Rhizome, Corylus, Corylus, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Corylus pratense, Caryophyllaceae, Casuarina, Houttuynia cordata, Piperaceae, and Saranaceae. Plants, Salicaceae, Myrica, Juglans, Birch, Beech, Ulmaceae, Mulberries, Urticaceae, Proteaceae, Ragwort, Sandalwood, Mistletoe, Aristolochiae, Mistletoe, Polygonaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Amaranthaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Saccharina, Phytolacca, Bulagaceae, Portulacaceae, Magnoliaceae, Saccharina, Cerifera, Nymphaeaceae, Blossom, Ranunculaceae, Akebia Plants, Barberry, Menispermaceae, Wintersweet, Lauraceae, Papaveraceae, Capparaceae, Brassicaceae, Sundew, Pitcher plant, Crassulaceae, Saxifragaceae, Pittosporaceae, Witch hazel, Platanaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Oxalidaceae, Geraniaceae, Linum, Tribulus, Rutaceae, Scutellaria, Meliaceae, Polygalaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Buxaceae, Crowberry, Columbine, Anacardiaceae, Ilex Plants of the family Rosaceae, Celastraceae, Honeysuckle, Scutellaria, Maples, Aesculus, Sapindaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Balsaminaceae, Rhamnaceae, Vitaceae, Bombacaceae, Tilia, Malvaceae, Sterculiaceae, Aroniaceae, Theaceae, Hypericaceae, Lythrum, Tuna, Violets, Acanthaceae, Stalactaceae, Stalactaceae, Passifloaceae, Begoniaceae, Cactaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Elaeaceae, Lythrum, Pomegranate,Rhizophoraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Melastomataceae, Trachycarpus, Onagraceae, Ardisiaceae, Equisetaceae, Araliaceae, Umbelliferae, Cornaceae, Atractylodes, Chrysanthemum, Ericaceae, Ardisiaceae, Primulaceae, Plumageae, Ebenaceae, Bacillus, Styrax, Oleaceae, Buddleaceae, Gentianaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Hana It can be applied to plants of the Cercis family, Boraginaceae family, Verbenaceae family, Lamiaceae family, Solanaceae family, Scrophulariaceae family, Bignoniaceae family, Pedaliaceae family, Orobanchaceae family, Gesneriaceae family, Utricularia family, Acanthaceae family, Flycatcher family, Plantaginaceae family, Rubiaceae family, Caprifoliaceae family, Lemnaceae family, Valerianaceae family, Scabiosa family, Cucurbitaceae family, Campanulaceae family, Asteraceae family, etc.

[0056] Examples of monocotyledonous plants include plants of the genus Lemna, Lemna, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Allium, Phalaenopsis, Vanda, Paphiopedilum, Orchids, Typha, Eclipta, Potamogeton, Lilium, Lilium, Cyperaceae, Palm, Araceae, Eriophyaceae, Daylily, Pontedria, Juncaceae, Santalum, Liliaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Dioscorea, Iridaceae, Musaceae, Zingiberaceae, Cannaceae, Gramineae, and the like.

[0057] As dicotyledonous plants, plants of the genus Lactuca of the Asteraceae family, plants of the genus Brassicaceae, and plants of the genus Solanaceae are particularly preferred. As plants of the genus Lactuca of the Asteraceae family, lettuce is particularly preferred, as plants of the genus Brassicaceae, broccoli is particularly preferred, and as plants of the genus Solanaceae, potato is particularly preferred.

[0058] Furthermore, as dicotyledonous plants, legumes and viticulture plants are particularly preferred. As legumes, soybeans are particularly preferred, and as viticulture plants, grapes are particularly preferred.

[0059] As the monocotyledonous plant, a plant of the genus Allium in the family Amaryllidaceae is particularly preferred. As the plant of the genus Allium in the family Amaryllidaceae, onion is particularly preferred.

[0060] That is, in one preferred embodiment, the target plant in the cultivation method is lettuce, broccoli, potato, onion, soybean, or grape, and in one particularly preferred embodiment, lettuce, broccoli, potato, or onion, and in one particularly preferred embodiment, soybean or grape.

[0061] The cultivation method can have effects such as promoting growth, improving resistance to high temperature stress and / or drought stress, and promoting the growth of larger bulbs, particularly for plants of the genus Lactuca of the Asteraceae family, such as lettuce. Furthermore, the cultivation method can also have effects such as promoting coloring of crops, i.e., improving quality, particularly for plants of the genus Lactuca of the Asteraceae family, such as lettuce.

[0062] The cultivation method described above can have effects such as promoting growth and increasing the diameter of flower buds, particularly for plants of the genus Brassica in the Brassicaceae family, such as broccoli.

[0063] The cultivation method described above can have effects such as promoting growth and increasing the size of tubers (tubers), particularly for plants of the genus Solanaceae, such as potato.

[0064] The cultivation method described above can have effects such as promoting growth and increasing the size of bulbs (onion bulbs) of plants of the Amaryllidaceae family, Allium genus, particularly onion.

[0065] The cultivation method can have the effect of improving stress tolerance, particularly for legumes such as soybeans.

[0066] The cultivation method described above can have an effect of promoting coloring of crops, that is, an effect of improving quality, particularly for Vitaceae plants such as grapes.

[0067] In the cultivation method, the conditions for cultivating the plant are not particularly limited, and it is preferable to cultivate the plant under conditions normally applied depending on the plant, but the plant may be cultivated under high temperature stress conditions and / or drought stress conditions. Since the plant to which glutathione and allantoin have been applied has improved tolerance to high temperature stress and drought stress, it can exhibit good growth even under high temperature stress conditions and / or drought stress conditions.

[0068] High temperature stress conditions refer to conditions in which a plant body is exposed to a temperature higher than the normal growth temperature for the target plant, for example, 25° C. or higher, more specifically, 30° C. or higher, and even more preferably 50° C. or lower. The time per day that the plant body is exposed to the high temperature is not particularly limited, but examples include 60 minutes or more, more specifically, 90 minutes or more, and even more specifically, 600 minutes or shorter.

[0069] Drought stress conditions refer to conditions in which a plant receives less water than would normally be applied for that plant.

[0070] <Experiment 1> <Method> Lettuce (variety: Southern) seedlings were grown in a plant incubator, and three and four weeks after sowing, a composition containing 15% by mass of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), 10% by mass of allantoin (ALN), 5% by mass of a divalent iron material, or 15% by mass of a seaweed extract, or a composition containing a combination of 15% by mass of GSSG and 10% by mass of ALN, 5% by mass of a divalent iron material, or 15% by mass of a seaweed extract, was applied. Application was carried out by submerging solutions of each composition diluted 1000 times.

[0071] Four weeks after sowing, the seedlings were transplanted into pots and cultivated in a glass greenhouse for two weeks before being examined (replication: 9).

[0072] <Results> The total dry weight of the lettuce when water alone was given was set at 100, and the total dry weight of the lettuce when each composition was given was shown. The results are shown in Table 1.

[0073] The combination of GSSG and allantoin showed a greater effect on increasing total dry weight than the application of GSSG alone or allantoin alone. On the other hand, the combination with ferrous iron or seaweed extract showed only an effect equivalent to the application of each component alone. These results indicate that the application of a combination of GSSG and ALN has a significant growth-promoting effect on lettuce.

[0074]

[0075] <Experiment 2> <Method> Lettuce (cultivar: Southern) seedlings were grown in a plant incubator, and 3 and 4 weeks after sowing, a fertilizer composition containing 5 mass% GSSG, 10 mass% ALN, or 20 mass% ALN, a fertilizer composition containing no GSSG or ALN, or a fertilizer composition containing a combination of 5 mass% GSSG and various concentrations of ALN was applied. The application was carried out by sub-irrigation with a solution of each fertilizer composition diluted 1000 times.

[0076] Four weeks after sowing, the seedlings were transplanted into pots and grown in a plant incubator at 40°C for 2 hours, after which they were transferred to a glass greenhouse and grown for another week before being examined (replication: 9).

[0077] <Results> The total dry weight of the lettuce when only the fertilizer composition containing no GSSG or ALN was applied was set at 100, and the total dry weight of the lettuce when each composition was applied was shown. The results are shown in Table 2.

[0078] Although the application of GSSG alone and ALN alone also had an effect of increasing total dry weight, the combined application of GSSG and ALN showed a greater effect of increasing total dry weight than the application of either component alone, i.e., a synergistic effect. These results indicate that the application of a fertilizer composition containing GSSG and ALN has a significant growth-promoting effect on lettuce even under high-temperature stress conditions.

[0079]

[0080] <Experiment 3> <Method> 5.7% by mass of GSSG ammonium salt, 22% by mass of allantoin, inorganic salts (17.0% by mass of ammonium sulfate, 23.5% by mass of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, 28.8% by mass of potassium sulfate), 1% by mass of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate sodium, and 2% by mass of carboxymethylcellulose were mixed, and an appropriate amount of water (7.5 parts by mass) was added to 100 parts by mass of the resulting mixture, and the mixture was granulated using an agitation granulator (SPG-2, manufactured by Dalton Co., Ltd.) to obtain a granular composition. The content ratio of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium in the granular composition was nitrogen / phosphoric acid / potassium = 1 / 1 / 1.

[0081] <Results> The recovery rate of the granular composition was 99%. In addition, 94% of the particles passed through a sieve with 2 mm openings, and there were no problems such as the formation of large lumps during granulation, demonstrating good granulation properties. This granular composition was used in subsequent experiments.

[0082] <Experiment 4> <Method> Broccoli (variety: Ohayo) was cultivated using conventional fertilizer management and pest management, and a yield survey was conducted. In the treatment area, a 1:1000 diluted solution of a granular composition containing GSSG and ALN was applied by irrigation one week before and on the day of transplanting seedlings into the field. In the untreated area, a granular composition prepared in the same manner as in Experiment 3, except that the formulation was inorganic salts (ammonium sulfate 52% by mass, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate 21.5% by mass, potassium sulfate 26.5% by mass), was applied to the broccoli in the same manner as in the treatment area. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content of the granular composition used in the untreated area was also nitrogen / phosphate / potassium = 1 / 1 / 1.

[0083] Cultivation location: Field at Kaneka Agri-Bio Research Center Cultivation period: August to November 2021 Test 1 survey date: November 15th (repeated: 10 plants / plot x 3) Test 2 survey date: November 15th to 24th (maximum number of plants harvested in 10 days = 60 plants)

[0084] <Results> Test 1: In Test 1, the broccoli plants harvested on the above survey date from the treated and untreated plots were classified into substandard (flower bud diameter less than 10 cm), flower bud diameters of 10 cm to less than 12 cm, and flower bud diameters of 12 cm to less than 16 cm, and the proportion of plants in each category was calculated. The results of Test 1 are shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 1, the proportion of substandard plants in the untreated plot was 38%, while in the treated plot it was significantly reduced to 2%. Furthermore, the proportion of plants in the high-price standard, i.e., flower bud diameters of 12 cm to less than 16 cm, was 12% in the untreated plot, while in the treated plot it was significantly increased to 57%. The results of Test 1 indicate that application of a combination of GSSG and ALN to broccoli is effective in improving the productivity of broccoli with high-price florets.

[0085] Experiment 2: Broccoli was harvested at the optimum harvest time, i.e., when the florets reached 12 cm in diameter, and shortening the harvest period was highly valuable. Furthermore, depending on the season, an earlier harvest date could allow for higher-priced shipments. Therefore, in Experiment 2, broccoli plants from the treated and untreated areas were harvested as needed, beginning with the florets reaching 12 cm in diameter, and the number of plants harvested per day and the cumulative number of plants harvested were investigated. The results of Experiment 2 are shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 2, for example, the number of days required to harvest 50 plants was 10 days in the untreated area, compared with 5 days in the treated area, shortening the harvest period by 5 days. Furthermore, during the harvest period, 100% of plants in the treated area reached a floret diameter of 12 cm or more, compared with only 83% in the untreated area, indicating an increase in the high-value size in the treated area. Furthermore, the peak harvest date was 4 to 5 days earlier in the treated area. The results of Test 2 show that application of a combination of GSSG and ALN to broccoli has the effect of reducing labor by shortening the harvest period and increasing the yield of high-value crops.

[0086] <Experiment 5> <Method> Potatoes (variety: Konahime) for use as a starch source were cultivated under conventional fertilization and pest management, and a yield survey was conducted. In the treatment area, a 2000-fold diluted aqueous solution (diluted with water) of a granular composition containing GSSG and ALN was applied by foliar spray to potatoes during the stolon elongation stage, bud formation stage, initial flowering stage, and full flowering stage. In the untreated area, water alone was applied to potatoes in the same manner as in the treatment area.

[0087] Cultivation location: Hokkaido field Cultivation period: May to September 2021 Survey date: September 15th Replicate: 20 plants / plot x 6

[0088] <Results> The potatoes harvested on the above survey day from the treated and untreated plots were classified into potatoes weighing less than 20g each (kuzuimo) and potatoes weighing 20g or more each (senimo), and were cultivated in a cultivation area of ​​1m. ２ The number of each type of fruit harvested per 1 m and the total number of fruits harvested were calculated. The results are shown in Figure 3. ２ The number of top-quality potatoes harvested per field was 51.3 in the control field, while in the untreated field it was 58.2, a 13% increase in yield. In particular, the number of waste potatoes weighing less than 20g each was 6% lower in the treated field compared to the untreated field, while the number of top-quality potatoes (20g or more each) was 13% higher in the treated field compared to the untreated field, demonstrating that applying a combination of GSSG and ALN to potatoes is effective in increasing yields within specifications, which are directly linked to value.

[0089] <Experiment 6> <Method> Onions (variety: Bullet Bear) were grown under conventional fertilization and pest management, and a yield survey was conducted. In the treatment group, onions at the beginning and end of the thickening stage were treated by foliar spraying with a 1000-fold diluted aqueous solution (diluted with water) of a granular composition containing GSSG and ALN. In the untreated group, only water was applied to the onions in the same manner as in the treatment group.

[0090] Cultivation location: Hokkaido field Cultivation period: April to August 2021 Survey date: August 5th Number of plants surveyed: 200 plants / plot

[0091] <Results> The onions harvested on the above-mentioned inspection date in the treated and untreated plots were classified into substandard (less than 5 cm), less than L size (5 cm to less than 7 cm), and L size or larger (7 cm or larger), and the proportion of each size was calculated. The results are shown in Figure 4. As shown in Figure 4, in the treated plot, the proportion of substandard and less than L size onions decreased compared to the untreated plot, and the proportion of L size or larger, which is in the high-priced range, increased by 9.5%. These results show that applying a combination of GSSG and ALN to onions is effective in increasing the yield of high-priced onions.

[0092] <Experiment 7> <Method> Lettuce (cultivar: Cisco) was cultivated under conventional fertilization and pest management, and a yield survey was conducted. In the treatment area, a 1000-fold diluted aqueous solution (diluted with water) of a granular composition containing GSSG and ALN was applied by irrigation one week before and on the day of transplanting the lettuce seedlings into the field. In the untreated area, only water was applied to the lettuce in the same manner as in the treatment area.

[0093] Cultivation location: Field at Kaneka Agri-Bio Research Center Cultivation period: September to December 2021 Transplanting date: October 4th Test 1 survey date: October 7th Test 2 survey date: December 10th Replicate: 20 plants / plot x 3

[0094] <Results> Test 1: After transplanting to the field, high temperatures and dry conditions continued. Therefore, plants were cultivated under stressful conditions to evaluate their tolerance to high temperatures and dryness stress. After planting, the plants were irrigated, but not watered thereafter. Instead, they were irrigated one hour before the survey. On the survey day, the lettuce plants were observed, and scores were assigned to each plant, with zero wilted leaves assigned a score of 4, one wilted leaf assigned a score of 3, two wilted leaves assigned a score of 2, three wilted leaves assigned a score of 1, and four wilted leaves assigned a score of 0. Figure 5 shows the percentage of plants with each score in the untreated and treated plots. As shown in Figure 5, the proportion of plants with high scores was higher in the treated plot compared to the untreated plot, confirming a reduction in the number of wilted leaves. The average score for the untreated plot was 2, while the average score for the treated plot was 2.6, significantly higher than the untreated plot. The results of Test 1 demonstrate that application of a combination of GSSG and ALN to lettuce enhances its tolerance to stress after transplanting.

[0095] Test 2: The plants from Test 1 were continued to be grown until the optimum harvest time, and a yield survey was conducted on the above-mentioned survey date. The lettuce plants in the treated and untreated plots on the above-mentioned survey date were classified into missing plants (plants that died during growth and could not be harvested), plants weighing less than 400g, and plants weighing more than 400g, and the proportion of plants in each category was calculated. The results are shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 6, the untreated plot had many missing plants, and the proportion of high-value plants weighing more than 400g was 45%, whereas the treated plot had no missing plants and the proportion of high-value plants weighing more than 400g was significantly increased to 92%. The results of Test 2 demonstrate that application of a combination of GSSG and ALN to lettuce plants resulted in healthy growth even when exposed to stress after transplanting, and was effective in increasing the yield of high-value plants.

[0096] <Experiment 8> <Method> Three soybean seeds (Fukuyutaka) were sown in a 9 cm polypot filled with soil. After sowing, the soybeans were grown under light conditions (6:00-18:00, temperature 26°C, illuminance 120 μmol / m ２ The seeds were grown in an incubator set to a dark period (18:00-6:00, temperature 18°C) and a dark period (18:00-6:00). After germination, the seeds were thinned to one plant.

[0097] After the first true leaf had emerged, a 1000-fold diluted solution of each composition shown in Table 3 was sprayed on the leaves of each plant. The compositions were prepared using the same procedure as in Experiment 3. For compositions that did not contain at least one of GSSG and ALN, the same procedure as in Experiment 3 was used, except that this component was not used as a raw material. Furthermore, the nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium content ratios of all compositions containing inorganic salts were nitrogen / phosphate / potassium = 1 / 1 / 1. 24 hours after the foliar spray, a paraquat aqueous solution to which SILWET L-77 had been added so as to be diluted 5,000 times was sprayed on the leaves of each plant except for the control group (T1) (paraquat application).

[0098] 24 hours after the application of paraquat, the electron transport rate (ETR) was measured by pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry (PAM).

[0099] <Results> Figure 7 shows the ETR when the PAR was set to 1488. As is clear from Figure 7, in T2, which was sprayed with water that does not have the effect of reducing ROS (reactive oxygen species), the ETR was significantly reduced by the application of paraquat compared to T1. Since it is known that the application of paraquat generates ROS, the difference between T1 and T2 is thought to be due to the application of paraquat. On the other hand, in T3, which was sprayed with a granular composition containing GSSG and ALN, the ETR was increased compared to T2, indicating that ROS was reduced compared to T2. On the other hand, in compositions T4 to T6, which were sprayed with inorganic salts, ALN + inorganic salts, or GSSG + inorganic salts, the ETR was increased compared to T2, but the ROS-reducing effect was not as significant as in T3. The above results indicate that the combination of GSSG and ALN exhibits a high synergistic effect, i.e., a high ROS-reducing effect. It is generally known that plants produce ROS in their bodies when subjected to various stresses, and that excess ROS can be harmful to the plant. Because ETR is reduced, the application of a composition containing GSSG and ALN, which have ROS-reducing effects, is thought to enhance plant stress resistance.

[0100]

[0101] <Experiment 9> <Method> Grapevine VR cells were cultured on LS agar medium, and the amount of anthocyanin accumulated was measured. At the start of culture, 10 μL of each treatment solution shown in Table 4 was added dropwise to the cell mass, and on day 3 of culture, 100 μL of each treatment solution was added dropwise. On day 11 of culture, the amount of anthocyanin was measured. Culture was carried out under light irradiation at 27°C.

[0102] <Results> The amount of anthocyanin accumulated under each treatment condition is shown in Figure 8. As is clear from Figure 8, the combination of GSSG and ALN statistically significantly increased the amount of anthocyanin accumulated. On the other hand, the amount of anthocyanin accumulated did not change when GSSG alone or ALN alone was used, indicating that the combination of GSSG and ALN exerted a remarkable synergistic effect, increasing the amount of anthocyanin accumulated. From these results, it can be expected that applying a combination of GSSG and ALN will promote crop coloring, i.e., improve quality.

[0103]

[0104] <Experiment 10> <Method> Lettuce (variety: Lollo Rossa or Red Oak) was sown in a 9 cm polypot filled with culture soil. After sowing, the plants were grown in an environmentally controlled greenhouse set at 28°C during the day and 18°C ​​at night. Three weeks after sowing, each test solution shown in Table 5 was sprayed onto the leaves at approximately 1 g / plant. One week after spraying, the appearance was visually inspected and the degree of coloration was evaluated. The evaluation was carried out in comparison with T1 (control), with CC representing the same degree of coloration, BB representing slight coloration, and AA representing strong coloration.

[0105] <Results> The color evaluation results under each treatment condition are shown in Table 5. As shown in Table 5, it was found that the combination of GSSG and ALN promotes coloring. On the other hand, GSSG alone and ALN alone were less effective than the combination of GSSG and ALN, confirming the synergistic effect of the combination of GSSG and ALN. From these results, it can be expected that applying a combination of GSSG and ALN will promote coloring in crops, i.e., improve quality.

[0106]

[0107] All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0108] The upper and / or lower limits of the numerical ranges described herein can be arbitrarily combined to define a preferred range. For example, the upper and lower limits of the numerical ranges can be arbitrarily combined to define a preferred range, the upper limits of the numerical ranges can be arbitrarily combined to define a preferred range, and the lower limits of the numerical ranges can be arbitrarily combined to define a preferred range. Furthermore, in this application, numerical ranges expressed using the symbol "to" include the numerical values ​​written before and after the symbol "to" as the upper and lower limits, respectively.

[0109] Throughout this specification, singular terms should be understood to include the plural concept unless otherwise stated. Therefore, singular articles (e.g., "a," "an," "the," etc. in English) should be understood to include the plural concept unless otherwise stated.

[0110] Although the present embodiment has been described in detail above, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there are design changes within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of this disclosure, they are included in this disclosure.

Claims

1. An agricultural composition containing glutathione and allantoin.

2. The agricultural composition according to claim 1, wherein the glutathione is oxidized glutathione.

3. The agricultural composition according to claim 1 or 2, comprising 40 parts by mass or more of allantoin per 100 parts by mass of glutathione.

4. The agricultural composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the glutathione content is 3% by mass or more and 20% by mass or less.

5. The agricultural composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the allantoin content is 5% by mass or more and 50% by mass or less.

6. The agricultural composition according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising one or more selected from nitrogen-containing inorganic salts, phosphorus-containing inorganic salts, and potassium-containing inorganic salts.

7. A method of cultivating plants, Applying glutathione and allantoin to the aforementioned plants, To cultivate the aforementioned plants A method that includes this.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the glutathione is oxidized glutathione.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein glutathione and allantoin are applied to the plant in such a manner that the amount of allantoin is 40 parts by mass or more per 100 parts by mass of glutathione.

10. The method according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising applying to the plant one or more selected from nitrogen-containing inorganic salts, phosphorus-containing inorganic salts, and potassium-containing inorganic salts.

11. The method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising applying the aqueous solution containing glutathione to the plant.

12. The method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising applying an aqueous solution containing allantoin to the plant.

13. The method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising applying an aqueous solution prepared by diluting the agricultural composition according to claim 1 or 2 in water to the plant.

14. The method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising cultivating the plant under high-temperature stress conditions and / or drought stress conditions.

15. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the plant is lettuce, broccoli, potato, onion, soybean, or grape.