Stable and Water-Soluble Plant Growth Regulator Liquid Compositions and Methods for Use of Same

Abstract

Soluble and stable liquid compositions containing a plant growth regulator selected from the group consisting of cytokinin and a gibberellin, an acid solubilizer such as citric acid, tartaric acid or glycolic acid and a solvent; as well as methods for making and using the composition are disclosed. The compositions improve solubility, handling, stability, safety, as well as activity improvements such as improved plant growth, yield, fruit thinning or sizing and quality. The compositions are soluble and stable by adding an ethoxylated alkyl alcohol wherein the growth regulator is 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) or forchlorfenuron (CPPU) and the ethoxylated alcohol surfactant is C12-15 alkyl alcohol in propylene glycol. The compositions may also contain a cytokinin such as 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) or forchlorfenuron (CPPU) that is increased in solubility and activity and by synergistically combined with GA 3 or GA 4 A 7 as well as in storage stability by adding an antioxidant. The compositions are formulated in a ready-to-mix formulation.

1 . A composition comprising a plant growth regulator and an acid solubilizer selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid and glycolic acid.  
   
   
       2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of gibberellins, auxins, cytokinins, organic acids, ethylene biosynthesis inhibitors and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       3 . The composition of  claim 2  wherein the plant growth regulator is cytokinin or cytokinin and gibberelin combinations.  
   
   
       4 . The composition of  claim 3  wherein the cytokinin is selected from the group consisting of 6-benzyl adenine and forchlorfenuron and the gibberellin is GA3 or GA4A7.  
   
   
       5 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising a solvent.  
   
   
       6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein the solvent is a propylene glycol.  
   
   
       7 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising an antioxidant.  
   
   
       8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the antioxidant is selected from the group consisting of propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene and tertiary butylhydroquinone.  
   
   
       9 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising at least one surfactant.  
   
   
       10 . The composition of  claim 9  wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl alcohols, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinates, ethoxylated fatty acids, ethoxylated vegetable oils, glycol esters, sorbitan fatty acid esters, ethoxylated sorbitan fatty acid esters and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the plant growth regulator is benzyadenine and the solubilizer is anhydrous citric acid.  
   
   
       12 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition is diluted in water.  
   
   
       13 . A composition comprising benzyadenine, anhydrous citric acid, ethoxylated alcohols, propyl gallate and propylene glycol.  
   
   
       14 . The composition of  claim 13  having from about 1.5 to about 3.0 weight percent 6-benzyladenine, from about 1.5 to about 3.0 weight percent anhydrous citric acid, from about 3.5 to about 5.5 weight percent ethoxylated alcohols, from about 0.05 to about 0.20 weight percent propyl gallate and from about 91.00 to about 93.00 weight percent propylene glycol.  
   
   
       15 . The composition of  claim 14  having about 1.93 weight percent 6-benzyladenine, about 2.0 weight percent anhydrous citric acid, about 4.0 weight percent ethoxylated alkyl alcohols, about 0.1 weight percent propyl gallate and about 91.97 weight percent propylene glycol.  
   
   
       16 . A ready-to-mix formulation comprising the an inert composition comprising the composition of  claim 15 .  
   
   
       17 . The ready-to-mix formulation of  claim 16  further comprising an insecticide, a herbicide, a fungicide, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A method of regulating plant growth comprising the step of treating a seed, soil or a plant with an effective growth-regulating amount of a composition of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said plant is a fruit-producing plant.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein said fruit-producing plant is selected from the group consisting of grapes, apples, pistachio, cherries, lemons, limes, oranges and tangerines.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said composition is diluted with water and spray applied.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said composition is diluted with water and spray applied.  
   
   
       23 . A method of preparing a soluble liquid plant growth regulator formulation comprising the step of: mixing a plant growth regulator with a acid solubilizer selected from the group consisting of citric acid, tartaric acid and glycolic acid, an antioxidant and solvent to produce a homogeneous mixture.  
   
   
       24 . A composition comprising a plant growth regulator and an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant and a solvent.  
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 24  wherein the plant growth regulator is forchlorfenuron and the ethoxylated alcohol surfactant is C12-15 alkyl alcohol and the solvent is propylene glycol.  
   
   
       26 . The composition of  claim 25  further comprising anhydrous citric acid.  
   
   
       27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the forchlorfenuron is from about 0.5 to 2.0 weight percent, the anhydrous citric acid is from about 0.5 to about 2.0 weight percent, the C12-15 alkyl alcohol is from about 1.0 to about 3.0 weight percent and the propylene glycol is from about 93.0 to about 98.0 weight percent.  
   
   
       28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the forchlorfenuron is about 0.84 weight percent, the anhydrous citric acid is about 0.5 weight percent, the C12-15 alkyl alcohol is about 1.0 weight percent and the propylene glycol is about 97.66 weight percent.