MXPA97009959A - Improvement in plan production - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of exogenous betaine to improve the production of cereals C-4. According to the invention, betaine is used to improve production, especially under stress conditions. The invention also relates to C-4 cereals treated exogenously with betaine, particularly to the seeds of such plant

Description

IMPROVEMENT IN THE PRODUCTION OF PLANTS Technical Field The invention relates to the use of betaine to improve the production of plants. The invention relates especially to the use of betaine to improve the production of C-4 cereals. According to the invention, production can be improved under both normal conditions and stress conditions, that is when conditions are poor due to, for example, drought, high salinity, low temperatures, humidity or environmental poisons interfering with growth. The invention also relates to C-4 cereals treated with betaine and to parts thereof, especially seeds, and to products prepared therefrom.

Background The environment and growth conditions significantly affect the production of the plants. Optimal growth conditions and environment usually result in a crop that is large in quantity and high in quality. Under poor growth conditions, both quality and quantity naturally deteriorate. The physiological properties of a plant are preferably manipulated by culture media, both with traditional culture methods and, for example, with genetic manipulation. Several different solutions concerning the cultivation technique have been developed to improve the growing conditions and the production of the plants. Selecting the correct plant for the correct growth location is self-evident for a person skilled in the art. During the growing season, the plants can be protected by mechanical means, for example by using different gauzes or plastics, or by cultivating the plants in greenhouses. Irrigation and fertilizers are generally used in order to improve growth. The surfactants are frequently used in connection with the application of pesticides, protective agents and minerals. The surfactants improve the penetration of substances into the cells of the plant, which intensifies and increases the effect of the aforementioned agents, and their harmful effects on the environment are simultaneously reduced. However, different methods of cultivation techniques are often laborious and impractical, their effect is limited (the economic size of a greenhouse, the limited protection provided by gauze, etc.), and they are also too expensive on a global scale. No economically acceptable chemical solution to protect plants from environmental stress conditions has been described so far. Water supply is more important than any other environmental factor for the productivity of a crop, even when the sensitivity of plants to drought varies. Irrigation is usually used to ensure sufficient water supply. However, there are important environmental and health problems related to irrigation, for example, an acute decrease in water resources, deterioration in water quality and deterioration of croplands. It has been estimated in the field that approximately half of the world's artificially irrigated lands are damaged by floods and salinization. An indication of the importance and scope of the problem is that there are 255 million hectares of irrigated land in the world, and they account for 70% of total world water consumption. In the United States alone, there are around 20 million hectares of irrigated land, mainly in the area of the 18 western states and in the southeastern part of the country. They use 83% of the total water consumption only for irrigation. It can also be noted that the use of irrigation water increases every day, especially in industrial countries. In addition to these problems, another disadvantage of irrigation is the high cost. Another serious stress factor is the salinity of the earth. The salinity of the earth can be defined in different ways; according to the general definition, the land is saline if it contains soluble salts in an amount sufficient to interfere with the growth and production of various species of cultivated plants. The most common of the salts is sodium chloride, but other salts also occur in varying combinations depending on the origin of the saline water and the solubility of the salts. It is difficult for plants growing in saline soil to obtain a sufficient amount of water from the ground having a negative osmotic potential. The high concentrations of sodium and chloride ions are poisonous to plants. An additional problem is the lack of minerals, which occurs when sodium ions compete with potassium ions required, in any way, for cell growth, osmoregulation and pH stabilization. This problem occurs especially when the concentration of calcium ions is low.

The productivity of plants and their sensitivity to soil salinity also depends on plant species. Halophytes require relatively high sodium chloride contents to ensure optimal growth, while glycophytes have low tolerance or their growth is considerably inhibited even at low salt concentrations. There are still great differences between different crops of a cultivated plant species. The salt tolerance of one and the same species or crop may also vary depending for example on the growth stage. In the case of low or moderate salinity, the slower growth of glycophytes can not be detected in the form of specific symptoms, such as chlorosis, but it is shown in the impeded growth of the plants and in the color of their leaves which is more dark than normal. Moreover, the total leaf area is reduced, the assimilation of carbon dioxide decreases and the synthesis of proteins is inhibited. Plants can adapt to some degree to the stress conditions. This capacity varies considerably depending on the species of plants. As a result of the aforementioned stress conditions, certain plants begin to produce a growth hormone called abscisic acid (ABA), which helps plants close their stomata, thus reducing the severity of stress. However, ABA also has damaging side effects on plant productivity. The ABA causes, for example, that the leaf, flower and young fruit fall and inhibit the formation of new leaves, which naturally leads to the reduction in production.

It has also been found that stress conditions and especially lack of water lead to an acute decrease in the activity of certain enzymes, such as nitrate reductase and phenylalanine-monoamine lyase. On the other hand, the activity of alpha-amylase and ribonuclease increases. No chemical solution, based on these findings, to protect plants has been described so far. It has also been found that under stress conditions, certain nitrogen compounds and amino acids, such as proline and betaine, accumulate in the growth regions of certain plants. The literature of the technique discusses the function and meaning of these accumulated products. On the one hand it has been proposed that the products are byproducts of stress, and consequently, harmful to cells, on the other hand it has been estimated that they can protect cells (Wyn Jones, RG and Storey, R .: The Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants, Paleg, LG and Aspinall, D. (Eds.), Academic Press, Sydney, Australia, 1981). Zhao et al. (in J. Plant Physiol.140 (1992) 541-543) describes the effect of betaine on the cell membranes of alfalfa. The seedlings were sprayed with 0.2 M glycinebetaine, after which the seedlings were uprooted from the substrate, washed to be free of soil and exposed to temperatures from -10 ° C to -2 ° C for one hour. . The seedlings were then frozen and planted in wet sand for a week, at which time the regrowth was apparent in those plants that survived. Glycinebetaine clearly improved the stability of the alfalfa river. The effect was apparent particularly at -6 ° C for the cold treatment. All controls maintained at -6 ° C for one hour died, while 67% of the seedlings treated with glycinebetaine survived. Itai and Paleg (in Plant Science Letters 25 (1982) 329 - 335) describes the effect of proline and betaine on the recovery of cucumber and barley under water stress conditions. The plants were grown in washed sand, and polyethylene glycol (PEG, 4000 molecular weight) was added to the nutrient solution for four days, in order to produce water tension, after which the plants were allowed to recover by four. days before harvesting. Proline and / or betaine (25 mM, pH 6.2) were sprayed on the leaves of the plant, either on the first or third day of stress or immediately before harvest. With respect to barley, it was noted that the betaine supplied either before or after the strain had no effect, while the betaine added at the end of the strain was effective. The proline had no effect. No positive effect was apparent for the cucumber. On the contrary, it was found that both betaine and proline had a negative effect. Experiments with the purpose of clarifying the effects of betaine and proline on plants, thus produced contradictory effects. There are no commercial applications based on these results.

Brief description of the invention The purpose of the present invention was to find a way to partially replace the artificial irrigation, so that the quantity and quality of the production could be simultaneously assured. Another purpose of the invention was to find a way to protect plants also under other stress conditions, such as during high salinity often connected with drought, at low temperatures, etc. Moreover, an additional purpose was to find a way to increase production under normal conditions without using methods that would consume environmental resources or damage the environment. In connection with the present invention, it was surprisingly found that the production of cereals C-4 can be considerably improved by means of betaine applied exogenously. It was found that betaine is effective to improve production under both normal and stress conditions, and that it does not have such harmful effects as the side effects of ABA. The application of betaine makes it possible to reduce considerably, for example, the need for artificial irrigation, thus saving the environment and reducing costs to a greater degree. The invention thus relates to the exogenous use of betaine to improve the production of C-4 cereals. The invention relates especially to the use of betaine to improve the production of C-4 cereal seeds. According to the invention, betaine is used exogenously to improve the production of C-4 cereals under both normal conditions and stress conditions. The invention also relates to C-4 cereals treated exogenously with betaine and parts thereof, particularly spikes and seeds, and with its use as such and for example in food, animal feed and fodder industries.

The invention also relates to a method for improving the production of C-4 cereals, in which method betaine is applied exogenously to growing cereals C-4. The betaine is applied to the plant in one or several successive treatments. The application can be carried out, for example, by spraying together with another spray of, for example, a pesticide, if desired. The betaine used according to the invention is transported to the cells of the plant, where it actively regulates the osmotic balance of the cells and also participates in other cellular metabolism processes. A plant cell treated with betaine is more viable even when subjected to exogenous stress factors. The treatment of betaine according to the invention is economically advantageous, and the production increases by an amount that is economically profitable and important. The treatment does not produce significantly more work, since it can be done together with other sprays, and does not require new investments in machinery, equipment or space. It should also be noted that betaine is a non-toxic natural product, which has no detrimental effects on the quality of production. Betaine is also a stable substance that remains in the cells of the plant, and therefore has a lasting effect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Betaine refers to completely N-methylated amino acids.

Betaines are natural products that have an important function in the metabolism of both plants and animals. One of the most common betaines is a glycine derivative, where three methyl groups are attached to the nitrogen atom of the glycine molecule. This betaine compound is generally called betaine, glycinebetaine or trimethylglycine, and its structure formula is presented below: CH3 I CH3 - N + - CH2COO "I CH3 Other betaines are, for example, alaninbetaine and prolinbetaine, which has been reported, for example, to prevent perosis in chickens. R.G. Wyn Jones and R. Storey describe betaines in detail in The Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Plants (Paleg, L.G. and Aspinall, D. (Eds.), Academic press, Sydney, Australia, 1981). The publication is included herein by reference. Betaine has a bipolar structure and contains several chemically reactive methyl groups, which can be donated in reactions catalyzed by enzymes. Most organisms can synthesize small amounts of betaine, for example, for methyl function, but they can not react to stress by substantially increasing the production and storage of betaine. The best known organisms that accumulate betaine are plants that belong to the Chenopodiaceae family, for example, beets, and some marine microbes and invertebrates. The main reason for the accumulation of betaine in these organisms is probably that betaine acts as an osmolyte and in this way protects the cells from osmotic stress effects. One of the main functions of betaine in these plants and microbes is to increase the osmotic strength of the cells, when conditions require it, for example, in the case of high salinity or drought, thus preventing the loss of water. Unlike many salts, betaine is highly compatible with enzymes, and the content of betaine in cells and cellular organelles can, therefore, be high without having a detrimental effect on metabolism. It was also found that betaine has a stabilizing effect on the operation of macromolecules; improves the resistance to heat and ionic tolerance of enzymes and cell membranes. Betaine can be recovered, for example from beet with chromatographic methods. Betaine is commercially available from Cult Oy, Finnsugar Bioproducts as a product that is a crystalline betaine free of water. Other betaine products, such as betaine monohydrate, betaine hydrochloride and liquids containing crude betaine are also commercially available and may be used for the purposes of the present invention. According to the present invention, betaine is, in this way, used exogenously to improve the production of C-4 cereals, such as corn, sorghum, millet, sedge, "buffalograss" (small herb variety), crabgrass , grass, etc. According to the invention, betaine is used to improve the production of C-4 cereals under both normal and stress conditions, that is, when the plants are subjected to periodic or continuous exogenous stresses. Such exogenous stress factors include, for example, drought, high temperatures, high soil salinity, air pollution, such as ozone, nitric oxides, sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid (acid rain), environmental poisons, herbicides, pesticides, etc. Treating plants subjected to stress conditions exogenously with betaine, for example, improves the adaptation of plants to conditions and maintains their potential for greater growth, consequently improving the production-yield capacity of plants. Betaine is also a stable substance that remains in the cells of the plant. The positive effect of betaine is therefore lasting and decreases only gradually due to dilution caused by growth. Although this reference and the claims use the word "betaine", it is clear that according to the invention several different betaines can be used, if desired. It can also be noted that betaine is used here as a general term, which thus covers different known betaines. Betaine is applied to plants in either one or several successive treatments. The application in a simple dose is considered preferable. The amount used varies depending on the C-4 cereal species and crop, and the stage and growth conditions. A useful amount may be, for example, about 0.2 to 20 kg of betaine per hectare. A preferable amount is in this manner, for example about 2 to 6 kg of betaine per hectare. The amounts given here are only suggested; the scope of the present invention thus contains all amounts working in the manner described herein. Any method suitable for the purpose can be used for the application of betaine. Betaine can be applied separately or together with other plant protectants, pesticides or nutrients, such as fungicides and urea or micronutrients. Betaine can be easily applied, for example, by spraying. The foliar application of betaine and other possible agents through spraying is a preferable method, which allows a faster response than the methods that involve application to the root. However, there may be different problems related to this method, such as low penetration concentrations in leaves with thick cuticles, spillage of hydrophobic surfaces, rain washing, rapid drying of the solution and leaf damage. Other methods can also be used to apply betaine, if desired. According to the invention, an aqueous solution of betaine is preferably used. The treatment time according to the invention may also vary. If betaine is applied in a simple treatment, the treatment is usually done at an early stage of growth, for example in plants of approximately 5 to 20 cm, or when the leaves have just left. If betaine is applied in several successive treatments, a new spraying is done preferably at the beginning of flowering or when the tension can be predicted based on the weather.The treatment with betaine according to the invention considerably improves the production of plants, for example, the quantity and quality of production. The treatment according to the invention can also reduce the need for artificial irrigation. The treatment according to the invention is economically advantageous and the increase in production is economically profitable and important. The invention has shown that for example, corn production can be increased by over 20% with a suitable dosage of betaine, for example, about 6 kg / ha. It should also be noted that even when the amount of production increases to a considerable degree, the quality does not deteriorate. According to the invention, the production of C-4 cereals can be improved in this way, both under normal and voltage conditions, which in addition to drought include, for example, high salinity frequently connected with drought, high temperature, etc. Additionally, the invention also makes it possible to grow C-4 cereals on lands previously considered as unsuitable for cultivation. The invention will be described in greater detail by means of the following examples. The examples are only provided to illustrate the invention, and should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Example 1 Effect of the application of betaine on sorghum production The effect of the application of betaine on sorghum production was examined at Mudoch University, Perth, Australia. The experiment was conducted under field conditions during the hot and dry summer of 1 994 - 1 995. The experiment was conducted in accordance with the design of divided plots using 1 0 m2 plots. The plots were divided into four sub-plots that were treated with different concentrations of betaine. The concentrations of betaine used were 0 (control), 2 kg / ha, 4 kg / ha and 6 kg / ha. The soil was sandy (98% sand, 1% silt and 1% clay) with a low content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and poor nutrient and water retention properties. The amount of irrigation was normal. The crop was Trump. The results are shown in Table 1 .

Table 1 Effect of betaine application on sorghum production The results show that the production increased over the control in all the experiments conducted. The best results were obtained with a betaine application rate of 4 or 6 kg / ha.

Example 2 Effect of betaine application on sorghum production under dry conditions The effect of the application of betaine on the production of sorghum under water stress was examined by repeating the experiment described in Example 1, but with a reduction of 50%. % in Irrigation of the optimal quantity. Results are shown in table 2.

Table 2 Effect of the application of betaine in production of sorghum under water stress Production also clearly increased in this experiment compared to the control. It can also be noted that using betaine according to the present invention, gave similar results with a low level of irrigation (50%) as with optimal irrigation. This also means that the same production can be achieved by decreasing irrigation if a higher proportion of betaine application is used simultaneously.

Example 3 Effect of betaine application on corn production The effect of betaine application on corn production was examined at Mudoch University, Perth, Australia. The experiment was conducted under field conditions during the hot and dry summer of 1 994-1 995. The experiment was conducted according to the design of split plots using plots of 10 m2. The plots were divided into four sub-plots that were treated with different concentrations of betaine. The concentrations of betaine used were 0 (control), 2 kg / ha, 4 kg / ha and 6 kg / ha. The soil was sandy (98% sand, 1% silt and 1% clay) with a low content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and poor nutrient and water retention properties. The amount of irrigation was normal. The culture was SR-73. The results are shown in Table 1 .

Table 3 Effect of betaine application on corn production The results show that the production increased over the control in all the experiments. The best results were obtained with a proposal of betaine application of 6 kg / ha.

Example 4 Effect of Betaine Application on Maize Production Under Dry Conditions The effect of applying betaine on maize growing under water stress was examined by repeating the experiment described in Example 3, but with a 50% reduction in the irrigation of the optimal amount. The results are shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Effect of betaine application on corn production Production also clearly increased over control in this experiment. The best results were obtained with a betaine application rate of 4 to 6 kg / ha. It can also be noted that using betaine according to the present invention produced similar results with a low level of irrigation (50%) as with optimal irrigation. This also means that the same production can be provided by reducing irrigation if a higher betaine content is used simultaneously.

Example 5 Effect of betaine application on early development The effect of betaine application on early maize development was examined using water as control. The maize seeds were of the type Jubilee Hybrid Lot # 1987-14, produced by Northrup King Co. Five different test solutions were prepared for the experiments as follows: Test solution pH A deionized water 7.01 B betaine (0.02 g / l) 6.34 C betaine (2 g / l) 6.80 The betaine was Betafin BC, Finnish Sugar Co. Twenty corn seeds were immersed for 24 hours in 330 ml of one of the aforementioned test solutions. The seeds were then dried on stainless steel screens and planted in the field with two seeds placed in each container. The containers were then placed on a window ledge with sun exposure to the sun, and watered daily with deionized water. Ten days after the experiment was started, the height of the shoots was measured. A second measurement was conducted 19 days after the start of the experiment. The results show that betaine promoted the fastest germination in plants. The results are shown in Table 5.

Table 5 Effect of betaine application on the early development of corn

Claims (10)

1 . The exogenous use of betaine to improve the production of cereals C-4.

2. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that the betaine is used under tension conditions.

3. The use according to claim 2, characterized in that the stress conditions comprise high or low temperatures, drought or high salinity.

4. The use according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the betaine is used in an amount of about 0.2 to 20 kg / ha.

5. The use according to claim 4, characterized in that the betaine is used in an amount of about 2 to 6 kg / ha.

6. The use according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cereal C-4 is corn, sorghum or millet.

7. A method to improve the production of cereals C-4, characterized in that betaine is applied exogenously to grow cereals C-4.

8. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the betaine is applied to C-4 cereals that grow under tension conditions.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the stress conditions comprise high or low temperatures, drought or high salinity.

10. A method according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the betaine is administered once or several times during the growing season. 1. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the betaine is administered together with a pesticide or a surfactant. 12. A method according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the betaine is administered in a simple treatment at an early stage of growth. A method according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the betaine is used in an amount of about 0.2 to 20 kg / ha, preferably about 2 to 6 kg / ha. 14. A C-4 cereal production, especially a seed production, obtained with the method according to any of claims 7 to 13. 15. The C-4 cereals treated exogenously with betaine, and the seeds of the same.