BIOSTIMULANT AGENT FOR TREATING PLANTS AND / OR PLANT SEEDS.

Abstract

The invention relates to a biostimulant agent for the treatment of plants and / or plant seeds, comprising a protein hydrolysate and betaine ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 by mass. The invention further relates to an associated method for treating plants and / or plant seeds and to the use of the composition comprising a protein hydrolysate and betaine ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 by mass as a biostimulant agent for the treatment of plants and / or plant seeds.

Description

BIOSTIMULANT AGENT FOR TREATING PLANTS AND / OR PLANT SEEDS Field of invention The invention relates to a biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds, comprising a proportion of protein hydrolysate and a proportion of betaine. The invention also relates to a method for treating plants and / or plant seeds with this biostimulant agent. The invention further relates to the use of a composition comprising a proportion of protein hydrolysate and a proportion of betaine as a biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds. Background of the invention Biostimulant agents are usually applied to plants or in the rhizosphere to stimulate natural processes and thereby improve nutrient uptake, nutrient efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance, and plant quality. Starting with EP 2 735 232 A1, a biostimulant is known that, in addition to 79.3 to 83.4% hydrolyzed seaweed protein, also contains 2.0% to 2.1% betaine. However, this biostimulant shows little to no enhanced effect under stress conditions such as drought compared to a standard product. In EP 2 735 232 A1, selenium is therefore added to the biostimulant mixture. This addition of selenium may lead to an improved response of plants to drought stress, particularly in the production of enhanced fruit. However, the use of selenium is associated with a number of disadvantages. Although selenium is an essential trace element for humans in smaller quantities, it has a toxic effect when ingested in excess of the necessary amount. This is problematic because treating the plant with the composition proposed in EP 2 735 232 A1 has been shown to significantly increase the selenium content in the edible portion of the treated plants. Higher selenium concentrations also have a toxic effect on honeybees and other insects. Brief description of the invention Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved biostimulant. In particular, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a biostimulant with reduced toxicity. Brief description of the drawings It shows: FIG. 1: A bar chart showing the result of a first comparative test carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the Invention. FIG. 2: A bar chart showing the result of a second comparative test carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi FIG. 3: A bar chart showing the result of a third comparative test carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. FIG. 4: A bar chart showing the result of a fourth comparative test carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. FIG. 5: A bar chart showing the result of a fifth comparative test carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention This problem is solved in conjunction with the features of the genetic part of claim 1 in that the protein hydrolysate ratio and the betaine ratio are present to each other in a mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 in the biostimulant agent. The preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description. A method for treating plants and / or plant seeds with a biostimulant agent according to the invention is the subject of an additional independent claim. Another separate claim is directed to the use of a composition comprising a proportion of protein hydrolysate and a proportion of betaine, wherein the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are contained in a mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 in the composition, as a biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds. The invention is based on the surprising finding that the combined use of a protein hydrolysate and at least one betaine compound in a biostimulant has a positive synergistic effect on stress resistance in plants or plant seeds, respectively, treated with this agent, provided that the ratio of protein hydrolysate to betaine is used according to the invention. As a result, plants treated with the biostimulant according to the invention, or plants subsequently grown from the treated plant seeds, exhibit significantly improved growth and higher yields. The experiments described in the following embodiments illustrate this synergistic effect created by the present invention. Since the use of the protein hydrolysate and at least one betaine compound in the ratio according to the invention significantly improves stress resistance in the seed or plants, respectively, treated with the invention, the selenium additive known from the prior art can, for example, be omitted. Consequently, in preferred embodiments, selenium is not present in the biostimulant. In this way, the toxic effects of selenium on humans and the environment can be completely avoided. With regard to the mass ratio of the protein hydrolysate proportion to the betaine proportion according to the invention, the respective ratios are indicated in the context of this application such that the protein hydrolysate proportion precedes the betaine proportion. Therefore, for example, the indication “10:1” for the mass ratio means that the mass proportion of the protein hydrolysate in the biostimulant is greater than the mass proportion of the betaine. Lécznn / zznz / E / Yi a factor of 10 compared to the mass ratio of the betaine ratio. In the biostimulant agent according to the invention, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine may be present to each other, for example in a mass ratio of at least 10:1, at least 9:1, at least 8:1, at least 7:1, at least 6:1, at least 5:1, at least 4:1, at least 3:1, at least 2:1, at least 1:1, at least 1:2, at least 1:3, at least 1:4, at least 1:5, at least 1:6, at least 1:7, at least 1:8, at least 1:9 or at least 1:10. Alternatively or in addition to the above, in the biostimulant agent according to the invention, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine may also be present to each other in a mass ratio of at most 10:1, at most 9:1, at most 8:1, at most 7:1, at most 6:1, at most 5:1, at most 4:1, at most 3:1, at most 2:1, at most 1:1, at most 1:2, at most 1:3, at most 1:4, at most 1:5, at most 1:6, at most 1:7, at most 1:8, at most 1:9 or at most 1:10. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are provided to be present in a mass ratio of 3:1 to 1:10, 3:1 to 1:5, or 1:1 to 1:3 in the biostimulant. The inventors have recognized that within these ratios, the combined effect of the protein hydrolysate and betaine proportions is particularly distinct, and the biostimulant consequently exerts a particularly beneficial effect. As used herein, a “protein hydrolysate” is a mixture that may contain or consist of, among other things, various free amino acids, oligopeptides, polypeptides, and / or other products resulting from protein hydrolysis in any combination. Suitable protein hydrolysates can be obtained, for example, by partial or complete enzymatic and / or chemical hydrolysis of one or more protein sources, such as gelatin, where the composition of the protein hydrolysate can typically vary depending on the manufacturing process and the protein source. Naturally, the proportion of protein hydrolysate may also contain the products of several different protein hydrolysates. The betaine component may contain or consist of a single betaine compound or several different betaine compounds. In a preferred embodiment, the betaine component is expected to comprise glycine betaine, which is at least one of the betaine compounds contained in the biostimulant. It is also possible for the betaine component to consist of glycine betaine, i.e., the biostimulant contains glycine betaine as the sole betaine compound. The formulation of the biostimulant agent according to the invention for treating plants and / or plant seeds is not particularly limited. The biostimulant agent, for example, may be a gaseous and / or liquid and / or solid mixture, homogeneous or heterogeneous. In this context, a suitable heterogeneous mixture is, for example, an emulsion, particularly in the form of a paste, a suspension, a conglomerate, or an aerosol. The homogeneous mixture, in particular, may be a mixture Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi of gas or a solution. A preferred agglomerate is, for example, a granule, in particular a powder. Biostimulant formulations containing one or more solids can be used for plant treatment, for example, by being added to or mixed with the soil in which the plants are growing. This allows the biostimulant to affect the plants, which can absorb it from the rhizosphere and throughout the root system. Preferably, the biostimulant is present in at least a partially liquid formulation, particularly as a homogeneous liquid mixture. This allows for particularly easy and uniform application of the agent to plants, specifically to the leaves or seeds, and / or into the soil. At the same time, the biostimulant effect typically unfolds much more rapidly compared to a solid, making short-term or acute applications of the agent possible. If the biostimulant contains or consists of one or more solids, it is advantageous for it to be solvent-soluble. A preferred solvent for the biostimulant is water or an aqueous liquid. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the protein hydrolysate proportion is provided to comprise or consist of a collagen hydrolysis product. For biostimulant agents according to the invention comprising collagen hydrolysis products, the inventors have been able to determine a particularly advantageous biostimulatory effect. An additional advantage is that collagen, contained, for example, in the animal's hide, skin, and bones, remains and accumulates in large quantities as a waste product. In this way, the biostimulant can also be produced particularly economically. In general, it is advantageous in the present invention if the protein hydrolysate proportion comprises at least partly or completely a hydrolysis product of animal and / or plant origin. For example, the protein hydrolysate proportion may be at least partly or completely a hydrolysis product of animal residues, particularly leather residues, such as cowhide, and / or a hydrolysis product of legume proteins. Preferably, the protein hydrolysate proportion does not contain a hydrolysis product derived from algae. For the production of the biostimulant according to the invention, protein hydrolysates containing, for example, 0.1 to 60 percent by weight of free amino acids may be used. In the case of liquid formulations, the proportion of free amino acids may be, for example, 0.1 to 30 percent by weight of the fresh weight of the protein hydrolysate. A protein hydrolysate preferred for powder or granular preparation may contain, for example, 0.2 to 60 percent by weight of free amino acids on a dry weight basis. Protein hydrolysates may comprise a total amino acid content of 40 to 80 percent by weight, preferably 50 to 60 percent by weight. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the biostimulant additionally contains at least one additive selected from a fungicide, an insecticide, and / or a herbicide. These combinations according to the invention have proven to be particularly advantageous, since Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi The plants or plant seeds, respectively, are generally more resistant to the stress caused by the additive due to the high biostimulatory effect, and thus, for example, a negative effect of herbicide stress on the plants or plant seeds, respectively, can be mitigated or avoided. In this way, the biostimulant agent according to the invention allows for a particularly effective and, moreover, particularly economical plant protection treatment, since the separate work steps for applying the additive to the plants and / or plant seeds are no longer required. Alternatively or additionally, the additive may comprise a plant-specific growth regulator. Plant-specific growth regulators may be, for example, cytokinins, ethene, and / or phytohormones such as abscisic acid, gibberellins, and / or auxins. As a result, the biostimulant agent according to the invention achieves particularly advantageous plant growth or seed development, respectively. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the biostimulant comprises a solvent. A particularly preferred solvent is water. These solvent-containing biostimulants can be used in a particularly simple and controlled manner to treat plants and / or plant seeds. For example, the treatment of plants and / or plant seeds can be combined directly with routine irrigation, which simplifies the application of the biostimulant and reduces labor steps. Furthermore, plants or plant seeds, in general, can also absorb a solvent-containing biostimulant better and faster, so that the positive effects of the invention already described, in particular the improved stress resistance, also take effect more quickly and effectively in the plants or plant seeds.Furthermore, for example, through the amount of solvent, the concentration of the active components of the biostimulant agent required for the particular application can be easily adjusted and dosed uniformly. In embodiments where the biostimulant comprises a solvent or a solution, respectively, the protein hydrolysate and betaine proportions together form a total proportion of 0.01 wt% to 80 wt%, preferably 30 wt% to 80 wt%, or more preferably 45 wt% to 75 wt% of the biostimulant. Alternatively, the protein hydrolysate and betaine proportions may be contained together at a concentration of 0.1 g / L to 800 g / L, preferably 300 g / L to 800 g / L, and particularly preferably 450 g / L to 750 g / L in the biostimulant. In general, in the present invention the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine can together form a total proportion of at least 0.01 percent by weight, at least 0.1 percent by weight, at least 0.5 percent by weight, at least 1 percent by weight, at least 2 percent by weight, at least 3 percent by weight, at least 4 percent by weight, at least 5 percent by weight, at least 6 percent by weight, at least 7 percent by weight, at least 8 percent by weight, at least 9 percent by weight, at least 10 percent by weight, at least 15 percent by weight, at least 20 percent by weight, at least 25 percent by weight, at least 30 percent by weight, at least 35 percent by weight, at least 40 percent by weight, at least 45 percent by weight, at least 50 percent by weight, at least 55 percent by weight, at least 60 percent by weight, at least 65 percent by weight, at least 70 percent by weight, at least 75 percent by weight, at least 80 percent by weight, at least 85 percent by weight, at least 90 percent by weight, at least 95 percent by weight, at least 98 percent by weight or 100 percent by weight of the biostimulant agent. Alternatively or additionally, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine may together form a total proportion of no more than 0.01 percent by weight, no more than 0.1 percent by weight, no more than 0.5 percent by weight, no more than 1 percent by weight, no more than 2 percent by weight, no more than 3 percent by weight, no more than 4 percent by weight, no more than 5 percent by weight, no more than 6 percent by weight, no more than 7 percent by weight, no more than 8 percent by weight, no more than 9 percent by weight, no more than 10 percent by weight, no more than 15 percent by weight, no more than 20 percent by weight, no more than 25 percent by weight, no more than 30 percent by weight, no more than 35 percent by weight, no more than 40 percent by weight, no more than 45 percent by weight, no more than 50 percent by weight, with a maximum of 55 percent by weight,a maximum of 60 percent by weight, a maximum of 65 percent by weight, a maximum of 70 percent by weight, a maximum of 75 percent by weight, a maximum of 80 percent by weight, a maximum of 85 percent by weight, a maximum of 90 percent by weight, a maximum of 95 percent by weight, a maximum of 98 percent by weight or a maximum of 100 percent by weight of the biostimulant agent. In still other preferred embodiments, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine may also be contained together in a total concentration of at least 0.1 grams per liter, at least 0.25 grams per liter, at least 0.5 grams per liter, at least 1 gram per liter, at least 5 grams per liter, at least 10 grams per liter, at least 20 grams per liter, at least 30 grams per liter, at least 40 grams per liter, at least 50 grams per liter, at least 60 grams per liter, at least 70 grams per liter, at least 80 grams per liter, at least 90 grams per liter, at least 100 grams per liter, at least 200 grams per liter, at least 300 grams per liter, at least 400 grams per liter, at least 500 grams per liter, at least 600 grams per liter, at least 700 grams per liter, at least 800 grams per liter, at least 900 grams per liter or at least 1000 grams per liter in the biostimulant agent. Additionally or alternatively, the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine may also be contained together in a total concentration of no more than 0.1 grams per liter, no more than 0.25 grams per liter, no more than 0.5 grams per liter, no more than 1 gram per liter, no more than 5 grams per liter, no more than 10 grams per liter, no more than 20 grams per liter, no more than 30 grams per liter, no more than 40 grams per liter, no more than 50 grams per liter, no more than 60 grams per liter, no more than 70 grams per liter. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi liter, a maximum of 80 grams per liter, a maximum of 90 grams per liter, a maximum of 100 grams per liter, a maximum of 200 grams per liter, a maximum of 300 grams per liter, a maximum of 400 grams per liter, a maximum of 500 grams per liter, a maximum of 600 grams per liter, a maximum of 700 grams per liter, a maximum of 800 grams per liter, a maximum of 900 grams per liter or a maximum of 1000 grams per liter in the biostimulant agent. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that the biostimulant further comprises a wetting agent. In this way, improved and, in particular, more uniform wetting of the plants or plant seeds with the biostimulant is achieved, and at the same time, the rate of absorption of the biostimulant, for example, through the plant leaves, is increased. The wetting agent in question can form a wetting agent proportion of 0.01 percent by weight to 5.0 percent by weight of the biostimulant and / or be contained within the biostimulant at a concentration of 0.01 percent by volume to 5.0 percent by volume. Within these ranges, the good wetting properties and high absorption rates of the biostimulant can be advantageously combined. The wetting agent is preferably a nonionic surfactant. In particular, the wetting agent is preferably a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, a fatty amine ethoxylate, a fatty alcohol propoxylate, a fatty alcohol ethoxypropoxylate, or any combination thereof. These surfactants are advantageous because they are characterized by low foaming and are particularly effective in preventing foaming promoted by the protein hydrolysate, especially when the biostimulant is diluted. Preferably, the wetting agent is contained in the biostimulant agent in a wetting agent proportion of less than 0.01 percent by weight, at least 0.1 percent by weight, at least 0.5 percent by weight, at least 1.0 percent by weight, at least 2.0 percent by weight, at least 3.0 percent by weight, at least 4.0 percent by weight, or at least 5.0 percent by weight. Additionally or alternatively, the wetting agent may also be contained in the biostimulant agent in a wetting agent proportion of no more than 0.01 percent by weight, no more than 0.1 percent by weight, no more than 0.5 percent by weight, no more than 1.0 percent by weight, no more than 2.0 percent by weight, no more than 3.0 percent by weight, no more than 4.0 percent by weight, or no more than 5.0 percent by weight. In other embodiments, the wetting agent may be contained in the biostimulant agent at a concentration of at least 0.01 percent by volume, at least 0.1 percent by volume, at least 0.5 percent by volume, at least 1.0 percent by volume, at least 2.0 percent by volume, at least 3.0 percent by volume, at least 4.0 percent by volume, or at least 5.0 percent by volume. Additionally or alternatively, the wetting agent may also be contained in the biostimulant at a concentration of no more than 0.01 percent by volume, no more than 0.1 percent by volume, no more than 0.5 percent by volume, no more than 1.0 percent by volume. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi volume, at most 2.0 percent by volume, at most 3.0 percent by volume, at most 4.0 percent by volume or at most 5.0 percent by volume. The pH of the biostimulant can be adjusted in a known manner using suitable bases and / or acids. Preferably, the biostimulant contains citric acid and / or a salt thereof, such as trisodium salt of citric acid, to regulate the pH, particularly in a proportion of 1.0 to 10 percent by weight or 3.0 to 5.0 percent by weight with respect to the total mass of the biostimulant. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for treating plants and / or plant seeds, wherein the treatment is carried out with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the treatment comprises contacting at least a part of the plants and / or plant seeds with the biostimulant. Preferably, the plant part comprises one or more plant leaves. In particular, the biostimulant can be applied to the plant part and / or plant seeds by means of a spraying method, for example, in the form of a solution, an aerosol, and / or a gas mixture. In the case of seed treatment, the seeds are preferably placed in the biostimulant and / or washed with it before sowing. For this purpose, the biostimulant may be in the form of a solution, an aerosol (preferably a mist), and / or a gas mixture. In a preferred embodiment of the method, the seed is incubated in an aerated aqueous solution with a biostimulant concentration between 0.01 percent and 5.0 percent by weight. This method promotes particularly effective seed germination under stress conditions such as cold stress. In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the plants and / or plant seeds are placed in contact with the biostimulant mixture for at least 10 hours and / or at most 14 hours. It has been found that at these contact durations with the biostimulant mixture, the greatest improvements in stress resistance are achieved in the plants and / or plant seeds. An advantageous effect of the biostimulant mixture is also achieved with shorter or longer contact times. In certain embodiments of the method, the plants and / or plant seeds are placed in contact with the biostimulant mixture for at least 1 hour, at least 2 hours, at least 3 hours, at least 4 hours, at least 5 hours, at least 6 hours, at least 7 hours, at least 8 hours, at least 9 hours, at least 10 hours, at least 11 hours, at least 12 hours, at least 13 hours, at least 14 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 16 hours, at least 17 hours, at least 18 hours, at least 19 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 24 hours, at least 36 hours, at least 48 hours, or at least 72 hours. Additionally or alternatively, the plants and / or plant seeds can be placed in contact with the biostimulant mixture for a maximum of 1 hour, a maximum of 2 hours, a maximum of 3 hours, a maximum of 4 hours, a maximum of 5 hours, a maximum of 6 hours, a maximum of 7 hours, a maximum of 8 hours, a maximum of 9 hours, a maximum of 10 hours, a maximum of 11 hours, a maximum of 12 hours, Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi at most 13 hours, at most 14 hours, at most 15 hours, at most 16 hours, at most 17 hours, at most 18 hours, at most 19 hours, at most 20 hours, at most 24 hours, at most 36 hours, at most 48 hours or at most 72 hours. In preferred embodiments of the method, treatment with the stimulating agent is carried out before a stress event for the plants and / or plant seeds. In this way, the stimulating function is triggered to develop its effect at least partially or completely by the time the stress event occurs, ensuring a reliable improvement in stress resistance. In other words, the plants or plant seeds are thus prepared for a planned and / or expected stress event by improving their stress resistance in advance through treatment with the biostimulating agent according to the invention. In addition to, or as an alternative to, treatment before a stress event, treatment with the biostimulating agent can also be carried out after a stress event for the plants and / or plant seeds.Surprisingly, it has been found that even plants already damaged by a stress event can be largely revitalized by treatment with the biostimulant agent according to the invention. In this way, crop losses can be significantly reduced, even after, for example, an unexpected period of heat or drought. The inventors have found that the method according to the invention is suitable for improving the tolerance of plants or plant seeds to a wide variety of abiotic and biotic stress events. In particular, the stress event may be cold stress, heat stress, drought stress, and / or salinity stress. Specifically, cold stress may involve exposing plants or plant seeds to temperatures below 10°C or below 8°C for several consecutive days. In particular, subtropical and tropical plants may be exposed to cold stress even at temperatures below 10°C. In the case of heat stress, for example, plants are exposed to temperatures above 30°C for several consecutive days. In general, plants are exposed to drought stress if they have insufficient water available.The reasons for these stresses can include soil drought, soil freezing, osmotic water retention, or insufficient root system expansion. An example of drought stress is soil moisture below 50% or below 30% of the usable field capacity (%nFK). The stress event can also be a treatment with herbicides, fungicides, and / or insecticides, which are also typically associated with plant stress. In particular, herbicide applications sometimes cause significant stress to the desired plant, such that even selective herbicides can reduce plant productivity. For example, even selective herbicide application to sugar beets usually leads to a significant reduction in sugar yield. The method according to the invention effectively and reliably counteracts these stress effects. In this context, herbicide, fungicide, and / or insecticide treatments are examples of a stress event that can be planned for. An expected stress event can be predicted, for example, Lfrcznn / zznz / B / Yi using climate data, in particular with the help of precipitation and / or temperature forecasts. The respective parameters that characterize a stress event, such as temperature patterns, water retention capacity and / or soil salt concentration, precipitation patterns, air humidity patterns and the like, are sufficiently known by those experts for the respective plant species or plant varieties. In preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention, the treatment is carried out between 24 and 48 hours before the stress event. This is advantageous because it provides sufficient time for the uptake and metabolism of the biostimulant by the plants or plant seeds, and consequently leads to a particularly pronounced and reliable improvement in stress resistance. In the additional advantageous forms of implementation of the method, the treatment is carried out at least 1 hour, at least 2 hours, at least 3 hours, at least 4 hours, at least 5 hours, at least 6 hours, at least 7 hours, at least 8 hours, at least 9 hours, at least 10 hours, at least 11 hours, at least 12 hours, at least 13 hours, at least 14 hours, at least 15 hours, at least 16 hours, at least 17 hours, at least 18 hours, at least 19 hours, at least 20 hours, at least 24 hours, at least 36 hours, at least 48 hours, or at least 72 hours before and / or after the stressful event. In addition or alternatively, the treatment can be carried out a maximum of 1 hour, a maximum of 2 hours, a maximum of 3 hours, a maximum of 4 hours, a maximum of 5 hours, a maximum of 6 hours, a maximum of 7 hours, a maximum of 8 hours, a maximum of 9 hours, a maximum of 10 hours, a maximum of 11 hours, a maximum of 12 hours, a maximum of 13 hours, a maximum of 14 hours, a maximum of 15 hours, a maximum of 16 hours, a maximum of 17 hours, a maximum of 18 hours, a maximum of 19 hours, a maximum of 20 hours, a maximum of 24 hours, a maximum of 36 hours, a maximum of 48 hours, or a maximum of 72 hours before and / or after the stressful event. The method according to the invention can, in principle, be used for the treatment of all known plant species or varieties and / or their seeds, for example, in the case of cultivated plants, garden plants, ornamental plants, grasses, trees, shrubs, and / or lawns. Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the treatment of one or more of the following plant species or varieties and / or their seeds: cereals, corn, wheat, barley, rye, rice, sunflowers, oil plants, canola, soybeans, cotton plants, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, eggplants, lettuce, melons, watermelons, onions, peas, spice plants, herbs, peppers, spinach, tomatoes, and / or tea. It goes without saying that the method according to the invention and / or the biostimulant agent according to the invention can, in principle, be used on a single plant. Such applications are particularly proposed in the field of ornamental plants. Preferably, however, the method and / or the biostimulant agent are applied to a large number of plants and are used particularly on a large agricultural scale. In the preferred embodiments of the method, the biostimulant agent is applied such that the mass of the protein hydrolysate proportion and the mass of the betaine proportion are equal. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi jointly 1 gram to 5000 grams per hectare of a treatment area comprising the plants and / or plant seeds. Preferably, the biostimulant is applied in a volume of 50 to 1500 liters per hectare, especially for foliar application. For the treatment of plant seeds, a biostimulant according to the invention is preferably used, wherein the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are contained together in a total concentration of 20 grams per liter to 50 grams per liter. In addition or alternatively, for example, 100 milliliters to 200 milliliters of the biostimulant can be used per 100 kilograms of seed. The seed in this case can be, for example, a cereal seed.Within these ranges, the inventors have found a particularly advantageous correlation between the applied dose of the biostimulant and the resulting effect on the plants or seeds, respectively, making the method particularly efficient. In this context, the treatment area could be, for example, an agricultural area, such as a field where plants are grown, for instance, in a monoculture. In general, the biostimulant agent can be used in a volume of at least 0.001 milliliters, at least 0.01 milliliters, at least 0.1 milliliters, at least 1 milliliter, at least 0.01 liters, at least 0.1 liters, at least 0.5 liters, at least 1 liter, at least 5 liters, at least 10 liters, at least 25 liters, at least 50 liters, at least 100 liters, at least 200 liters, at least 300 liters, at least 400 liters, at least 500 liters, at least 750 liters, at least 1000 liters, at least 1500 liters, at least 2000 liters, at least 2500 liters, at least 3000 liters, at least 4000 liters, or at least 5000 liters for the treatment of plants or plant seeds.These volume specifications may apply, for example, per hectare of a treatment area containing the plants and / or plant seeds and / or per 100 kilograms of the seeds or plants, respectively, to be treated and / or, for example in the ornamental plant sector, according to the individual plant being treated. Additionally or alternatively, the biostimulant agent can be used in a maximum volume of 0.001 milliliters, 0.01 milliliters, 0.1 milliliters, 1 milliliter, 0.01 liters, 0.1 liters, 0.5 liters, 1 liter, 5 liters, 10 liters, 25 liters, 50 liters, 100 liters, 200 liters, 300 liters, 400 liters, 500 liters, 750 liters, 1000 liters, 1500 liters, 2000 liters, 2500 liters, 3000 liters, 4000 liters, or 5000 liters for the treatment of plants and / or plant seeds.At this point, too, these volume specifications may apply, for example, per hectare of a treatment area containing the plants and / or plant seed and / or per 100 kilograms of the seed or plants, respectively, to be treated and / or, for example in the ornamental plant sector, according to the individual plant to be treated. Finally, the invention relates to the use of a composition comprising a proportion of protein hydrolysate and a proportion of betaine, wherein the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are contained in a mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 in the composition, as a biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi The explanations and descriptions relating to an article according to the invention also apply, with the necessary modifications, to all additional articles according to the invention, provided that this does not contradict the specific explanations and descriptions of the additional articles according to the invention. For example, the explanations and descriptions relating to the biostimulant agent according to the invention also apply, with the necessary modifications, to the method or use, respectively, according to the invention, and vice versa, provided that they do not contradict the specific explanations and descriptions made relating to the method, use, or biostimulant agent, respectively, according to the invention. The additional features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following specific description and figures. Detailed description of the forms of implementation The invention is described in more detail below with reference to embodiments and experimental results. These embodiments are for explanatory purposes and do not constitute limitations on specific details. Comparative test 1: Effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention compared with the individual components on corn plants under high temperature stress in field conditions In a first field trial, the effect of the biostimulant according to the invention on the leaf area growth of the DKC 3511 maize hybrid under heat stress was investigated. For comparison, the corresponding effect of the individual components of the protein hydrolysate and betaine was tested in parallel, each in the same quantities as contained in the biostimulant. The field trial was conducted in June 2019 on brittle black soils. Humus content was 3.2–3.4%, and the humus layer depth was 60–70 cm. Soil pH was 6.2–6.6, alkaline hydrolyzed nitrogen content was 98–110 grams per kilogram, available pore compound content was 110–115 grams per kilogram, and available potassium content was 120–130 grams per kilogram. Average annual rainfall was 633 millimeters, while June rainfall was 87 millimeters. Average annual temperature was 7.4°C, average June temperature was 17.6°C, average relative humidity was 76%, and average June relative humidity was 66%. During the duration of the field trial, the treated plants were exposed to heat stress with daily temperatures exceeding 30°C. For the preparation of the biostimulant agent according to the invention, a liquid collagen hydrolysate with a free amino acid content of approximately 15% and a total amino acid content of approximately 50% was used as the protein hydrolysate. A suitable hydrolysate is available, for example, under the name Protifert LMW 8 from SICIT (Arzignano, Italy). For the betaine component, glycine betaine was used, which is commercially available, for example, as glycine betaine HCl (betaine hydrochloride) from Evonik Industries AG (Essen, Germany). A liquid mixture with a pH of 6.5 was then prepared from the collagen and glycine hydrolysate. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi betaine, wherein the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine were present in a mass ratio of 1:1 according to the invention. The biostimulant agent prepared in this manner was used to treat the first group of plants in the test field. For comparison purposes, two other groups of plants located in the test field were treated under the same experimental conditions with either collagen hydrolysate only or glycine betaine only, whereby the quantity and concentration of collagen hydrolysate and glycine betaine in each of the comparative trials was the same as that of the biostimulant agent of the invention. The three groups of plants were treated once with the corresponding solution at the same times and with the same quantities. In the treatment according to the invention, the equivalent of 1.15 liters of liquid protein hydrolysate and 0.68 kilograms of glycine betaine, corresponding to a 1:1 ratio, were applied uniformly to the plants per hectare of field area using a spraying method. Consequently, in the comparative treatments, either only 1.15 liters of liquid protein hydrolysate per hectare of field area or only 0.68 kilograms of glycine betaine per hectare of field area was applied in each case. To determine the biological effect of the different treatments, the leaf area of ​​the plants (sum of the area of ​​the leaves from the third to the sixth leaf from the top, in square meters per hectare of field area) was determined in each case before the start of the treatments and 10 days after the treatment. Thus, the biological effect corresponds to the percentage increase in leaf area at the end of the study period. FIG. 1 shows the results of this comparative trial based on the biological effect in percentage (y-axis) as a function of the respective treatment of the plants (x-axis). The reference treatment with protein hydrolysate only resulted in a 6% increase in leaf area, and the reference treatment with betaine only resulted in a 0.2% increase in leaf area. Therefore, for the combined application of protein hydrolysate and betaine, the individual effects of the two treatments would have been expected to add up to a total leaf area increase of 6.2%. In fact, however, with the combination of protein hydrolysate and betaine according to the invention, a higher increase of 5.8% in leaf area (indicated by the black portion of the bar in FIG. 1) was achieved, out of a total of 12.0%. Considering the aggregated individual effects, this corresponds to an increase in biological effect of over 90%. This synergistic superadditive effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention and the associated added value of the invention for the performance and economic efficiency of the methods for treating a plant or seed, respectively, might not have been expected from the point of view of those skilled in the art. Comparative test 2: Effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention compared to the individual components on sunflowers under high temperature stress in field conditions Given that the biostimulatory effect is known to vary depending on the species of Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi plants, the effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention on the growth of the leaf area of ​​the sunflower hybrid SI Diamantis (Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland) under heat stress with daily temperatures above 30°C was investigated in another field trial. In all other respects, the experimental conditions corresponded to those of comparative trial 1. The results of this comparative test are shown in FIG. 2 based on the biological effect in % (y-axis) as a function of the respective plant treatment (x-axis). The reference treatment with the protein hydrolysate alone led to an increase in leaf area of ​​11.48%. For the reference treatment with betaine alone, no increase in leaf area was observed under heat stress. In contrast, the treatment of the plants with the biostimulant according to the invention resulted in an increase in leaf area of ​​15.38%, which was 3.9% higher than the sum of the individual effects (indicated by the black portion of the bar in FIG. 2). Relative to the aggregated individual effects, this corresponds to an increase in the biological effect of more than 30%. These results show that the beneficial synergistic effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention occurs in different plant species. Comparative test 3: Effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention compared with the individual components on high temperature stress soybean plants under field conditions Finally, in another field trial, the effect of combining the biostimulant agent according to the invention was verified based on the increase in leaf area of ​​soybean var. Miagara (Syngenta, Basel, Switzerland) under heat stress. The experimental conditions were again the same as those in comparative trial 1, while the total leaf area was determined using the third to sixth leaves from the top of the soybean plants. Figure 3 shows the results of this comparative test. The bar graph again shows the biological effect in % (y-axis) as a function of the respective soybean plant treatment (x-axis). In plants treated with protein hydrolysate only, a 2.05% increase in leaf area was observed. Under the reference treatment with betaine only, no increase in leaf area was observed. Those plants treated with the biostimulant agent according to the invention showed a 5.24% increase in leaf area (indicated by the black portion of the bar in Figure 2), compared to the sum of the individual effects, which totaled 7.29%. In relation to the aggregated individual effects, this corresponds to an increase in the biological effect of more than 200%. These results show that the surprising synergistic effect of the combination of protein hydrolysate and betaine according to the invention is also beneficial for the treatment of soybean stress and illustrates a universal applicability of the biostimulant agent according to the invention for the treatment of plants and seeds. Comparative test 4: Effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention on maize plants under stress by using different mass ratios of the hydrolysate proportion of Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi protein and the ratio of betaine to each other in climate chamber experiments In climate chamber experiments, the effect of the biostimulant according to the invention was investigated using different mass ratios of the protein hydrolysate and betaine proportions on the chlorophyll content of the ZEAMX Zea DKC3730 maize variant under drought stress. For comparison, the chlorophyll content of the untreated ZEAMX Zea DKC3730 maize variant—meaning it was not treated with the biostimulant according to the invention—was tested in parallel under drought stress as well as without drought stress induction. Climate chamber experiments were conducted in sandy field soils. The soil humus content was 4.1%. The soil pH was 5.2. The soil had a pore content of 17 mg, a potassium content of 10 mg, and a magnesium content of 8 mg per 100 g, respectively. The water content was maintained at 70% of the soil's maximum water capacity until drought stress was induced. The soil temperature was 20°C throughout the duration of the experiments. For the preparation of the biostimulant according to the invention, a commercially available liquid collagen hydrolysate, for example, under the designation Protifert LMW 9 from SICIT (Arzignano, Italy), was used as the protein hydrolysate. For the betaine component, commercially available betaine-containing molasses from sugar beets, for example, from AGRANA (Vienna, Austria), was used. Four liquid samples of the collagen hydrolysate and the betaine-containing molasses from sugar beets were prepared, in which the protein hydrolysate and betaine ratios were present in mass ratios of 4:1, 3:1, 1:5, and 1:10, respectively, according to the invention. The four biostimulant agents according to the invention, prepared in this manner, were each used to treat a group of plants in the climate chamber experiments.The respective biostimulant agent according to the invention was applied uniformly to each of the plant groups by means of a spraying process. In addition to these four groups of plants treated with the biostimulant agents according to the invention, two other groups of untreated plants were used in the climate chamber experiments for comparison purposes. Drought stress was induced in the four groups of plants treated with the biostimulant agents according to the invention and in one of the two groups of untreated plants by reducing the water content of the respective soils from 70% of the maximum water capacity to 50% four days after treatment with the biostimulant agents according to the invention and maintaining it at this reduced level. In contrast, for the additional untreated group of plants, the soil water content was maintained at 70% of the maximum water capacity for comparison purposes, and thus drought stress was not induced. For the four groups of plants treated with the biostimulant agents according to the invention, the treatment was repeated 2 days after induction with the same biostimulant agents according to the invention that had already been used previously in each case. Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi To determine the biological effect of the different treatments, 14 days after this second application of the biostimulant agents according to the invention, the chlorophyll content in the 6 groups of plants was determined using a SPAD-502 meter. The biological effect at this point equals the increase determined in the chlorophyll content at the end of the study period with respect to the untreated reference plant group exposed to drought stress, expressed as a percentage. FIG. 4 shows the results of this comparative test based on the biological effect in percentage (y-axis) as a function of the respective treatment of the plants (x-axis) Compared to the untreated plant group exposed to drought stress, the untreated plant group not exposed to drought stress showed a 10.52% increase in chlorophyll content. The plant groups treated with the biostimulant agent according to the invention and exposed to drought stress also showed an increase in chlorophyll content, specifically 5.29% at a protein hydrolysate to betaine mass ratio of 4:1 according to the invention, 13.4% at a mass ratio of 3:1 according to the invention, 11.94% at a mass ratio of 1:5 according to the invention, and 10.65% at a mass ratio of 1:10 according to the invention. In particular, for the groups of plants treated with the biostimulant agents according to the invention at a mass ratio of protein hydrolysate to betaine of 3:1, 1:5, and 1:10, respectively, the observed increase in chlorophyll content was at least equal to that of the untreated group of plants exposed to drought stress. Thus, the treatment with these biostimulant agents according to the invention completely compensated for the negative effect on chlorophyll content normally exerted on plants by drought stress. The comparative test shown in FIG. 4 illustrates that the biostimulant agent according to the invention has a positive biological effect on plants during drought stress at all mass ratios of protein hydrolysate to betaine. In this respect, the beneficial synergistic effect of protein hydrolysate and betaine is particularly pronounced at mass ratios of protein hydrolysate to betaine according to the invention of 3:1 to 1:10 and 3:1 to 1:5, respectively, which manifested itself in a striking doubling of the increase in chlorophyll content compared to the 4:1 mass ratio. Comparative test 5: Effect of the biostimulant agent according to the invention on corn plants under drought stress using different mass ratios of the protein hydrolysate ratio and betaine ratio to each other in climate chamber experiments In comparative test 4, a particularly positive biological effect was shown in plants under drought stress when the protein hydrolysate and betaine ratios in the biostimulant agents according to the invention were present in a mass ratio of no more than 3:1 to each other, as specified in the invention. Although a positive biological effect of the effect Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi of the biostimulant agent according to the invention was also observed with a protein hydrolysate ratio, for example in the mass ratio of 4:1, the observed increase in chlorophyll content was lower by a factor of approximately 2.5 compared to a biostimulant agent with a higher betaine ratio, for example in the mass ratio of the protein hydrolysate ratio to the betaine ratio of 3:1 according to the invention. In a further climate chamber experiment, the biological effect of these two mass ratios according to the invention was compared once more. For this purpose, two liquid mixtures of collagen hydrolysate and betaine-containing molasses from sugar beets were prepared, in which the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine were present in a mass ratio to each other according to the invention of 4:1 and 3:1, respectively. The two biostimulant agents according to the invention, prepared in this manner, were each used to treat a group of plants. In all other respects, all experimental conditions, including the reference plant groups—with the exception of the time for determining the final chlorophyll content—corresponded to those of comparative test 4.In this case, the determination of the final chlorophyll content was carried out 21 days after the second application to the groups of plants treated with the respective biostimulant agents according to the invention. The biological effect again corresponds to the determined increase in chlorophyll content at the end of the study period with respect to the group of untreated reference plants exposed to drought stress in percentage. FIG. 5 shows the results of this comparative test by means of the biological effect in percentage (y-axis) as a dependence of the respective treatment of the plants (x-axis). Compared to the untreated plant group exposed to drought stress, the untreated plant group not exposed to drought stress showed a 21.16% increase in chlorophyll content. The plant groups treated with the biostimulant according to the invention and exposed to drought stress both also showed an increase in chlorophyll content. However, as in comparative test 4, this increase was significantly higher in the plant group treated with the biostimulant at a mass ratio according to the invention of the protein hydrolysate to betaine of 3:1, compared to the plant group treated with the biostimulant at a mass ratio according to the invention of 4:1. When the protein hydrolysate to betaine ratio was used at a mass ratio of 3:1, the increase in chlorophyll content was 38.23% compared to 10.18% when a mass ratio of 4:1 according to the invention was used, which corresponds to an additional 375% improvement in the observed biological effect. This additional improvement in the biological effect from a mass ratio of up to 3:1 according to the invention might not have been expected from the standpoint of a person skilled in the art. Of course, the forms of realization set out in the specific description are only Lfrcznn / zznz / E / Yi illustrative embodiments of the present invention. A person skilled in the art has a wide range of possible variations available in view of the present description.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds, comprising a protein hydrolysate proportion and a betaine proportion, characterized in that the protein hydrolysate proportion and the betaine proportion are present to each other in a mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 in the biostimulant agent.

2. The biostimulant agent according to claim 1, characterized in that the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are present to each other in a mass ratio of 3:1 to 1:10 in the biostimulant agent.

3. The biostimulant agent according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are present to each other in a mass ratio of 3:1 to 1:5 in the biostimulant agent.

4. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are present to each other in a mass ratio of 1:1 to 1:3 in the biostimulant agent.

5. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the betaine proportion comprises or consists of glycine betaine.

6. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protein hydrolysate proportion at least partially comprises or consists of a collagen hydrolysis product.

7. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the biostimulant agent further comprises at least one additive selected from a fungicide, an insecticide, a herbicide and / or a plant-specific growth regulator.

8. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the biostimulant agent comprises a solvent.

9. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine together form a total proportion of 0.01 percent by weight to 10 percent by weight of the biostimulant agent and / or are contained together in a concentration of 0.1 grams per liter to 100 grams per liter in the biostimulant agent.

10. The biostimulant agent according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the biostimulant agent further comprises a wetting agent forming a wetting agent proportion of 0.01 percent by weight to 5 percent by weight of the biostimulant agent and / or is contained in the biostimulant agent at a concentration of 0.01 percent by volume to 5 percent by volume.

11. A method for treating plants and / or plant seeds, characterized in that the treatment is carried out with a biostimulant agent in accordance with any of claims 1 to 10.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the treatment comprises bringing at least a part of the plants and / or plant seeds into contact with the biostimulant agent.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the plants and / or plant seeds are placed in contact with the biostimulant mixture for at least 10 hours and / or at most 14 hours.

14. The method according to claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the treatment is carried out before a stress event for the plants and / or plant seeds.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the stress event is cold stress, heat stress, drought stress, salt stress and / or treatment with herbicides, fungicides, and / or insecticides.

16. The method according to claims 14 to 15, characterized in that the treatment is carried out at least 24 hours and at most 48 hours before the stress event.

17. The method according to claims 11 to 16, characterized in that, per hectare of a treatment area comprising the plants and / or plant seed, the mass of the protein hydrolysate proportion together with the mass of the betaine proportion in the biostimulant agent is equal to 1 gram to 5000 grams and / or the biostimulant agent is applied in a total volume of 50 to 1500 liters.

18. Use of the composition comprising a proportion of protein hydrolysate and a proportion of betaine, wherein the proportion of protein hydrolysate and the proportion of betaine are contained to each other in a mass ratio of 10:1 to 1:10 in the composition, as a biostimulant agent for treating plants and / or plant seeds.