Mixture of (S)-abscisic acid and malic acid for cereal grain crops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods lack effective solutions for improving plant growth and stress tolerance under abiotic stress conditions, particularly drought, and the interaction effects of combining plant growth regulators like (S)-abscisic acid and malic acid are unclear.

Innovation Solution

Applying a mixture of (S)-abscisic acid and malic acid to plants at specific weight ratios (3.3:1 to 1:33.3) to enhance stress tolerance, growth, and water use efficiency, with the mixture applied through various methods such as foliar or soil applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple plant growth regulators are applied simultaneously to improve stress tolerance and growth, then the potential benefit is enhanced plant performance, but the difficulty of predicting the effect increases and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress toleranceVSAvoidcomplexity of combining multiple regulators
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines (S)-abscisic acid and malic acid into a single formulation applied together, merging the functions of two plant growth regulators to achieve synergistic effects in improving stress tolerance and growth without requiring separate applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies optimal concentration ratios of (S)-abscisic acid to malic acid (from 1:10 to 10:1 by weight) to achieve the desired effect, changing the parameters of concentration and proportion to optimize the combined action of the two regulators

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If higher concentrations of plant growth regulators are applied to improve stress tolerance, then the stress protection may be enhanced, but the loss of energy and potential harmful effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress toleranceVSAvoidharmful effects of regulator application
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameters by specifying effective ranges for (S)-abscisic acid (0.1-1000 ppm) and malic acid (10-1000 ppm), identifying the optimal dosage to achieve stress tolerance while minimizing harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes malic acid, which in high concentrations can be harmful, but at optimized lower concentrations it provides beneficial effects including improved stress tolerance and enhanced photosynthesis, converting a potentially harmful substance into a beneficial agent

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If plant growth regulators are applied to improve growth under normal conditions, then growth may be enhanced, but the cost of application and potential harmful effects increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplant growthVSAvoidharmful effects of regulator application
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies lower concentration ranges for growth promotion applications compared to stress tolerance applications, optimizing the dosage to achieve growth enhancement while minimizing costs and harmful effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies low concentrations of the regulator mixture that are sufficient to achieve the desired growth effect without excessive application, following the principle of using the minimum effective amount

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11160275B2Methods of improving stress tolerance, growth and yield in cereal grain crops
Publication Date: 2021.11.02 VALENT BIOSCIENCES CORP

AI summary

The present invention is directed to methods of improving yield in cereal grain crops by applying an effective amount of a mixture of abscisic acid and malic acid to the cereal grain crop. The present invention is further directed to methods of improving growth in cereal grain crops by applying an effective amount of a mixture of abscisic acid and malic acid to the cereal grain crop.