Protein compositions for plant treatment

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of accelerating root growth in a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant root a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant. Also disclosed herein are methods of improving the foliar uptake of a biologically active compound by a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant foliage a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of accelerating root growth in a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant root a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of proteins is obtained from fermentation of yeast. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fermentation is aerobic fermentation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kluyeromyces maxianus, Kluyeromyces lactus, Candida utilis  (Torula yeast),  Zygosaccharomyces , and  Pichia  and  Hansanula.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein mixture comprises stress proteins or heat shock proteins. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the fermentation process further comprises subjecting the fermentation mixture to additional stress following the fermentation process. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the additional stress is selected from the group consisting of overheating, starvation, overfeeding, oxidative stress, mechanical stress, and chemical stress. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is non-ionic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is anionic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic/non-ionic surfactant blend. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the growth of fine root hairs is accelerated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the shoot growth of the plant is accelerated. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the water and nutrient uptake of the plant is accelerated. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wetting of growth media is improved. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the growth media is soil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein water retention is improved. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein shoot growth is slowed and root growth is enhanced. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein shoot growth is enhanced once root growth achieves a level of maturity. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein rinsing of salt build-up in soil is improved. 
     
     
         20 . A method of improving the foliar uptake of a biologically active compound by a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant foliage a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby protein/surfactant composition enhances the efficacy of the biologically active compound. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the composition further comprises the biologically active compound. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the mixture of proteins is obtained from fermentation of yeast. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the fermentation is aerobic fermentation. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of  Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kluyeromyces maxianus, Kluyeromyces lactus, Candida utilis  (Torula yeast),  Zygosaccharomyces , and  Pichia  and  Hansanula.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein mixture comprises stress proteins or heat shock proteins. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the fermentation process further comprises subjecting the fermentation mixture to additional stress following the fermentation process. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the additional stress is selected from the group consisting of overheating, starvation, overfeeding, oxidative stress, mechanical stress, and chemical stress. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is non-ionic. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is anionic. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic/non-ionic surfactant blend. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the biologically active compound is selected from the group consisting of pesticides, insecticide, nutrients, fertilizers, growth regulators, herbicides, fungicides, defoliants, anti-parasitics, and anti-pathogenics. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant is improved. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant leaf is improved. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant foliage is improved. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the translocation of the biologically active compound into the plant is improved. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the sticking of the biologically active compound to exterior surface of the plant is improved. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the exterior surface of the plant is selected from the group consisting of leaves, needles, and vegetation.