Sulfonamide Derivatives as ABA Agonists for Plant Stress Tolerance

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved abscisic acid agonists that can enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress, inhibit seed germination, and regulate plant growth effectively, as direct application of abscisic acid is costly and unstable, limiting its use in large-scale agricultural applications.

Innovation Solution

Development of novel sulfonamide derivatives that act as abscisic acid agonists, including specific compounds and their formulations for plant application, which can improve plant tolerance to environmental stresses, inhibit seed germination, and regulate crop growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If direct application of abscisic acid is used, then plant tolerance to abiotic stress is improved, but cost and stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant tolerance to abiotic stressVSAvoidcost and stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates synthetic copies (analogues) of abscisic acid with modified chemical structures that replicate its biological function. These analogues bind to the same PYR/PYL receptor proteins but offer improved stability and lower cost for large-scale agricultural applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies key chemical parameters of abscisic acid by changing the core structure from a dihydrofuran ring to a quinoline ring system, and by varying substituents at different positions. These parameter changes result in compounds with enhanced chemical stability while maintaining or improving biological activity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If quinabactin is used as an ABA agonist, then plant tolerance to drought is improved, but water solubility and chemical stability may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrought toleranceVSAvoidchemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies chemical parameters including the nature of substituents (halogens, alkyl groups, alkoxy groups), their positions on the quinoline ring, and the identity of heteroatoms. These changes optimize both chemical stability and water solubility while preserving the ability to induce drought tolerance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite molecular structures combining the quinoline core with various functional groups and substituents. This composite approach allows optimization of multiple properties simultaneously - the core provides receptor binding affinity while substituents enhance solubility and stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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

The novel sulfonamide derivatives effectively enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress, improve crop yield, and regulate plant growth, offering improved water solubility and chemical stability, thus addressing the limitations of abscisic acid.

Implementation Method 1

quinabactin, which binds to the PYR/PRL receptor proteins and causes an abscisic acid response in vivo

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLigand-receptor binding:

Data Source

PatentEP3180313B12-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl sulphonamide cpds and their use as plant growth regulators

Publication Date: 2021.01.06 SYNGENTA PARTICIPATIONS AG

AI summary

The present invention relates to sulfonamide derivatives of formula (I) where the substituents R1-R6 and R8, L, A and n are as defined in the application, to plant growth regulator compositions comprising them and to methods of using them for controlling the growth of plants, improving plant tolerance to abiotic stress (including environmental and chemical stresses), inhibiting seed germination and/or safening a plant against phytotoxic effects of chemicals.