Use of lipo chitooligosaccharides to initiate early flowering and fruit development in plants and related methods and compositions

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of LCOs in initiating earlier flowering, increased number of buds and flower buds and earlier fruit development in non legume and legume plants, as compared to flowering and fruit development under conditions without use of LCOs, and the enhancement of plant growth and yield associated therewith; to compositions comprising an effective amount of at least one LCO and agriculturally acceptable carriers, associated with earlier flowering, increased bud and flower numbers and earlier initiation of fruit development as compared to conditions without use of LCOs, and with increased growth and plant; and to methods using LCOs and compositions of one or more LCOs and agriculturally acceptable carriers, associated with earlier flowering, increased bud and flower numbers and earlier fruit development in both legume and non-legume crop plants as compared to conditions without use of LCOs and associated enhancement of growth and yield.

1 . A composition comprising a lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) in an amount effective to initiate early flowering of a non-leguminous plant when said composition is foliarly applied to said non-leguminous plant prior to flowering of said non-leguminous plant. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said LCO is present in an amount effective to initiate flowering of said non-leguminous plant at least two days prior to that of an untreated control plant. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said LCO is present in an amount effective to initiate flowering of said non-leguminous plant at least three days prior to that of an untreated control plant. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said LCO is present in an amount effective to initiate flowering of said non-leguminous plant at least four days prior to that of an untreated control plant. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Solonaceae. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a tomato plant. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a pepper plant. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Asteraceae, Malvaceae, or Cucurbitaceae. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Poaceae. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a corn plant. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a strawberry plant. 
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising a lipo-chitooligosaccharide (LCO) in an amount effective to initiate early fruiting of a non-leguminous plant when said composition is foliarly applied to said non-leguminous plant prior to fruiting of said non-leguminous plant. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said LCO is present in an amount effective to initiate fruiting of said non-leguminous plant at least ten days prior to that of an untreated control plant. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Solonaceae. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a tomato plant. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a pepper plant. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Asteraceae, Malvaceae, or Cucurbitaceae. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is of the family Poaceae. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a corn plant. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said plant is a strawberry plant.