C4H Inhibitor Compounds for Plant Pathogen Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for controlling plant pathogens like nematodes, fungi, and bacteria are often ineffective and pose environmental and health risks due to their non-selectivity, persistence, and potential for promoting antibiotic resistance, necessitating the development of safer and more sustainable solutions.

Innovation Solution

The use of compounds that inhibit cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H) in plants to enhance their immune response and increase resistance to pathogens, specifically through the application of small molecules such as aromatic carboxylic acids or benzoic acid derivatives that can regulate the phenylpropanoid pathway, thereby reducing the activity of C4H and stimulating plant defense mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical compositions such as nematicides, fungicides or bactericides are applied to control plant pathogens, then pathogen control effectiveness is improved, but environmental safety and human health risks deteriorate due to non-selectivity, persistence, and potential for promoting antibiotic resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepathogen control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental safety and human health risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of directly killing pathogens with toxic chemicals, the invention inverts the approach by using compounds that modulate plant defense mechanisms. The C4H inhibitor compounds don't directly attack pathogens but rather enhance the plant's own immune response, making the plant resistant to pathogens through its natural defense systems rather than external toxic substances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism where C4H inhibitor compounds act as mediators between the plant and pathogens. These compounds don't directly interact with pathogens but instead modify plant metabolic pathways (phenylpropanoid pathway) to produce defense compounds, creating an indirect but effective control mechanism that avoids direct toxic interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If broad-spectrum chemical agents are used to control multiple plant pathogens, then control coverage is improved, but selectivity and impact on beneficial organisms deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol coverageVSAvoidimpact on beneficial organisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by targeting specific plant metabolic pathways (phenylpropanoid pathway via C4H enzyme) rather than using broad-spectrum toxic agents. This localized biochemical intervention selectively enhances defense mechanisms in the plant without affecting beneficial organisms, as the action is confined to specific plant cellular processes rather than creating a toxic environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Speed

If conventional chemical control methods are applied, then immediate pathogen suppression is achieved, but sustainability and resistance development deteriorate due to pathogen adaptation and chemical persistence

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmediate pathogen suppressionVSAvoidsustainability and resistance development

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention enables self-service by activating the plant's own defense mechanisms through C4H inhibition. Instead of relying on persistent external chemicals, the plant uses its own metabolic system to produce defense compounds continuously, creating a self-sustaining resistance mechanism that adapts with the plant's growth and development rather than degrading or being selected against

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These compounds effectively reduce infection and damage from plant pathogens by enhancing plant immunity, minimizing impact on beneficial organisms and promoting healthy plant growth, while being non-toxic to non-target species and environmentally stable.

Implementation Method 1

inhibiting the activity of an enzyme involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway in the plant, and more specific of the enzyme cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS11992011B2Compounds for controlling plant pathogens

Publication Date: 2024.05.28 TAMINCO BV

AI summary

The present invention is in the field of agricultural pathogen control. More specifically the invention relates to compounds capable of inhibiting cinnamate-4-hydroxylase and their use for protecting plants against plant pathogens, in particular against nematodes, fungi and/or bacteria. The invention also provides for compositions comprising the same, methods of making the same, and methods of controlling plant disease.