Non-Aqueous Solution of Plant-Growth Regulator(s) and Polar and/or Semi-Polar Organic Solvent(s)

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to non-aqueous solutions of plant growth regulator(s) and polar and/or semi-polar organic solvent(s), methods for making said non-aqueous solution, and methods for improving the growth and crop productivity of plants using said non-aqueous solution.

1 . A non-aqueous solution comprising:
 a) at least one plant growth regulator;   b) at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of polar organic solvents, semi-polar organic solvents and combinations thereof; and   c) optionally at least one mineral, optionally at least one surfactant, optionally at least one antifoams, optionally at least one preservative, and optionally combinations thereof,   
       wherein said non-aqueous solution includes ≤5 wt. % water. 
     
     
         2 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein said polar organic solvents are selected from the group consisting of alcohols, dialkyl ketones, alkylene carbonates, alkyl esters and aryl esters. 
     
     
         3 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-polar organic solvents are polyethylene glycols. 
     
     
         4 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1  wherein said organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, ethyl lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate (ethyl and propyl esters), glycols, glycerols, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, propylene carbonate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein said organic solvent is propylene glycol. 
     
     
         6 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein said plant growth regulator is at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene, auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, brassinosteroids, jasmonates, salicylic acids, polyamines, peptides, nitric oxide, strigolactones precursors and derivatives and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 6 , wherein said auxin is selected from the group consisting of indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), indole 3-propionic acid, indole-3-butyric acid, phenylacetic acid, naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid, 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid, 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid, 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoic acid, 4-amino-3,4,5-trichloropicolinic acid and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 6 , wherein said auxin is indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 6 , wherein said cytokinin is selected from the group consisting of zeatin, various forms of zeatin, N6-benzyl adenine, N6-(delta-2-isopentyl) adenine, 1,3-diphenyl urea, thidiazuron, CPPU (forchlorfenuron), kinetin, other chemical formulations with cytokinin activity, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 6 , wherein said solution only includes at least one auxin, at least one gibberellin, and at least one cytokinin as the plant growth regulators. 
     
     
         11 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 10 , including between about 0.001 to 10 wt. % auxin. 
     
     
         12 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 11 , including between about 0.001 to 20 wt. % gibberellin. 
     
     
         13 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 12 , including between about 0.003 to 0.3 wt. % cytokinin. 
     
     
         14 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the only plant growth regulators are indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), and kinetin. 
     
     
         15 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 14 , including between about 0.001 to 10 wt. % indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), between about 0.001 to 20 wt. % gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), and 0.003 to 0.3 wt. % kinetin. 
     
     
         16 . A non-aqueous solution comprising:
 a) a plant growth regulator mixture including at least one auxin, at least one gibberellin; and at least one cytokinin as the only plant growth regulator in said solution;   b) at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, ethyl lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate (ethyl and propyl esters), glycols, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, propylene carbonate and combinations thereof, and   c) less than 5 wt. % water   
       wherein said non-aqueous solution is stable and said at least one organic solvent and said less than 5 wt. % water are the only solvents present in said non-aqueous solution. 
     
     
         17 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 16 , wherein said plant growth regulator mixture includes only indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), and kinetin. 
     
     
         18 . A non-aqueous solution consisting of:
 a) a plant growth regulator mixture including at least one auxin, at least one gibberellin; and at least one cytokinin as the only plant growth regulator in said solution;   b) at least one organic solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, ethyl lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate (ethyl and propyl esters), glycols, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, propylene carbonate and combinations thereof,   c) optionally at least one mineral, optionally at least one surfactant, optionally at least one antifoams, optionally at least one preservative, and optionally combinations thereof, and   d) less than 5 wt. % water,
 wherein said non-aqueous solution is stable. 
   
     
     
         19 . The non-aqueous solution of  claim 18 , wherein said plant growth regulator mixture includes only indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), gibberellic acid (GA 3 ), and kinetin.