MXPA98001840A - Improving plan production - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

Improving 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 grasses. According to the invention, the production can be improved under both normal and stress conditions, that is, when conditions are poor due to eg drought, high salinity, low temperatures, humidity or environmental contaminants that interfere with growth. The invention also relates to grasses treated with betaine and parts thereof, especially seeds, and to products prepared therefrom.

Background The environment and conditions for growth greatly affect the production of plants. The optimum growth environment and conditions usually result in a production 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 means of reproduction, both with traditional breeding methods and, for example, with genetic manipulation. Several different solutions concerning the cultivation technique have been developed to improve the growing conditions and production of plants. Selecting the correct plant for the correct growth location is in itself evident to a person skilled in the art. During the growing season, plants can be protected by mechanical means when using, for example, different gauzes or plastics or when growing plants in greenhouses. Irrigation and irrigation by sprinklers, fertilizers and plant nutrients are generally used in order to improve growth. Surfactants are frequently used in connection with the application of pesticides, protective agents and minerals. The surfactants improve the penetration of these substances into plant cells, thus intensifying and increasing the effect of the aforementioned agents, and simultaneously reducing their harmful effects on the environment. 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 under 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 health and environmental problems related to irrigation, for example, an acute decrease in water resources, deterioration of water quality and deterioration of land for agriculture. It has been estimated in the field that approximately half of the world's artificially irrigated lands are damaged by flooding 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 the total world water consumption. Only in the United States, there are about 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 year especially in industrial countries. In addition to these problems, another disadvantage of irrigation is the high cost. Another sine tension factor is soil salinity. Soil salinity can be defined in different ways, according to the general definition, the soil is saline if it contains soluble salts in an amount sufficient to interfere with the growth and production of vain species of cultivated plants The most common of the salts is sodium chloride, but other salts also occur in vanishing combinations depending on the origin of the saline water and the solubility of salts It is difficult for plants to grow in saline soil to obtain a sufficient amount of soil water having a negative osmotic potential High concentrations of sodium or chloride ions are toxic to plants An additional problem is lack of minerals, which occur when sodium ions compete with required potassium ions, however, for cell growth, osmoregulation and pH stabilization. This problem occurs especially when the concentration of the calcium ion is low. The productivity of plants and their sensitivity to soil salinity also depend on plant species. Halophytes require relatively high sodium chloride contents to ensure optimum growth, while glycophytes have low salt tolerance or their growth is already considerably inhibited at low salt concentrations. There are huge differences between different crops of a cultivated plant species. 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 the glycophytes can not be detected in the form of specific symptoms, such as chlorosis, but it is shown in the stunted growth of the plants and in the color of their leaves which is darker than normal Moreover, the total leaf area is reduced, the assimilation of carbon dioxide decreases and protein synthesis is inhibited. Plants can adapt to some extent to growth and stress conditions. This capacity varies considerably depending on the plant species. As a result of the above-mentioned 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. ABA causes, for example, fall of leaves, flowers and young fruits. and inhibits the formation of new leaves, which naturally leads to reduction in production. It has also been found that stress conditions and especially lack of water lead to a watery decrease in the activity of certain enzymes, such as nitrate reductase and phenylalanine ammonium 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 be byproducts of stress and therefore harmful for the cells, on the other hand it has been estimated that they can protect the cells (Wyn Jones, R. G. and Storey, R.; The Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance in Piants, Paleg, L.G. 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 alfalfa 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 of -10 ° C to -2 ° C for one hour. The seedlings were then thawed and planted in moist sand for a week in which the regrowth was apparent in those plants that had survived. Glycinebetaine clearly improved the cold stability of alfalfa. The effect was particularly evident at -6 ° C for cold treatment. All controls sustained at -6 ° C for one hour died, while 67% of the seedlings treated with glycinebetaine survived. Itai and Palé (in Plant Science Letters 25 (1982) 329 - 335) describe the effect of proline and betaine in the recovery of cucumber and barley stressed by water. The plants were grown in washed sand, and polyethylene glycol (PEG, 4000 molecular weight) was added to a nutrient solution for four days, in order to produce water tension, after which the plants were allowed to recover. for four days before harvesting. Proline and / or betaine (25 mM, p. 6.2) was 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 is apparent for the cucumber. On the contrary, it was found that both betaine and proline had a negative effect. Experiments that assisted in the clarification of the effects of betaine and proline on plants produced contradictory results in this way. 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 irrigation so that the quantity and quality of production could be assured simultaneously. Another purpose of the invention was to find a way to protect the plants also under other stress conditions, such as during high salinity often connected to 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 has been proven that the production of grasses can be considerably improved by means of betaine applied exogenously. It has been found that betaine is effective in improving production under both normal and stress conditions, and does not have such detrimental effects as the side effects of ABA. The application of betaine makes it possible to considerably reduce, for example, the need for artificial irrigation, thereby saving the environment and reducing costs to a greater degree. An advantageous feature of the invention is also the decrease in the antinutrient concentration of the plants as a result of the application of betaine. A good example of this is the low alkaloid content of lupins treated with betaine, ie about half the normal level. In this way, the invention relates to the exogenous use of beta ina to improve the production of grasses. The invention relates especially to the use of betaine to improve the production of grass seeds. According to the invention, betaine is used exogenously to improve the production of grasses under both normal and stress conditions. The invention also relates to the exogenous use of betaine to reduce the anti-nutrient content of grasses, especially to reduce the content of lupine alkaloids. The invention also relates to grasses treated exogenously with betaine and to parts thereof, particularly seeds, and to their use as such and for example, in foods, animal feeds and forage industries. The invention also relates to a method for improving the production of grasses, in which betaine is applied exogenously to growing grasses. The invention further relates to a method for reducing the content of gram antinutrients, in which betaine is applied exogenously to growing grasses. The invention relates especially to a method for reducing the alkaloid content of lupins, in which betaine is applied exogenously to growing lupins. Betaine is applied to the plant in either one or several doses. The application can be made, for example, by spraying, together with another atomization 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 lucrative 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 long-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 and the glycine molecule. This betaine compound is usually called betaine, glycinebetaine or trimethylglycine, and its structural formula is presented below: CH3 I CH3 - N + - CH2COO- I CH3 Other betaines are, for example, alanmbetain and prolmbetain, which has been reported, for example, to prevent perosis in chickens RG Wyn Jones and R Storey describe betaines in detail in The Physiology and Biochemistry of Drought Resistance m Plants (Paleg, LG 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. organisms can synthesize small amounts of betaine, for example, for the methyl function but can not react to stress by substantially increasing the production and storage of betaine. The best known organisms that accumulate betaine are the plants belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae, for example, beet, and some marine microbes and invertebrates. The main reason for the accumulation ulation of beta i na in these organisms is probably that betaine acts as an osmolyte and thus protects the cells from the effects of osmotic stress 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 cell organelles can therefore be high without having any detrimental effect on metabolism. It has also been found that betaine has a stabilizing effect on the operation of macromolecules, improves the heat resistance and ion tolerance of enzymes and cell membranes Betaine can be recovered, for example, from beet with chromatographic methods Betaine is commercially available from Cultor Oy, Finnsugar Bioproducts as a product that is crystalline water free betaine. Other betaine products, such as betaine monohydrate, betaine hydrochloride and raw betaine containing liquids, are also commercially available and can be used for The purposes of the present invention According to the present invention, betaine is also used exogenously to improve the production of gram, such as soybean, bean, green kidney bean and other beans, peas, lupine, etc. According to the invention, betaine is used to improve the production of grasses, both under normal and voltage, ie, when the plants are subjected to periodic or continuous exogenous tension Such exogenous stress factors include for example, drought, high temperatures, high soil salinity, air pollution, such as ozone, nitrogen oxides , sulfur dioxide and sulfuric acid (acidic acid), environmental poisons, herbicides, pesticides, etc. Treat plants subjected to stress conditions exogenously with betaine, for example improved adaptation of plants to the conditions and maintains our growth potential greater, thereby improving the production-yield capacity of the plants. Betaine is also a stable substance that remains in the cells of plants. 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 should 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 doses. The application in a simple dose is considered preferable. The amount used varies depending on the species of grass and crop, and the stage and growth conditions. A useful amount may be, for example, about 0.1 to 20 kg of betaine per hectare. A preferable amount is in this manner, for example about 1 to 6 kg of betaine per hectare. The amounts given here are only suggestions; the scope of the present invention thus contains all quantities 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 possibly other agents through spraying is a preferable method, which allows a faster response than the methods involving the application of roots. However, there are different problems related to this method, such as low penetration concentrations in leaves with thick cuticles, runoff of hydrophobic surfaces, rain washing, rapid drying of the solution and leaf damage, and therefore other methods as well. They can 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 single dose, 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 come out. If betaine is applied in several dosages, a new spraying is done preferably at the beginning of flowering or when the tension can be predicted based on the weather. The treatment of betaine according to the invention considerably improves the production of grasses, 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 lucrative and important. In connection with the invention, it has been shown that for example the production of lupine can be increased by over 28% 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. On the contrary, in connection with the present invention it has been shown that the antinutrient content of the plants, for example, the content of alkalines of lupins, decreases considerably as a result of the application of betaine according to the invention. The high concentrations of alkaloids are poisonous for animal cells, and therefore, an alkaloid content in lupins is an important criterion of quality in view of lupine applications. One of the quality requirements for use in food products is that the Lupine seeds contain less than 0 02% alkaloids There has generally been a tendency to keep the level of alkaloids as low as possible when selecting crops with a low alkaloid content. Since lupine crops with higher alkaloid contents produce higher yields, this approach has not been considered very advantageous. Eliminating alkaloids or reducing their quantity during processing of lupins has also been used, but this naturally increases the number of processing steps and costs. Most lupine production is used as fodder or in some other form as food for animals, on which the advantages of lupine are its high contents of protein, amino acids and energy The highest content of alkaloids allowed is 0.04% However, even at low concentrations, alkaloids cause a bitter taste, so that animals tend to Avoid eating forage or other food containing alkaloids. The use of lupins in forage applications and animal feed is therefore restricted due to its alkaloid content. It is also known that the content of lupine alkaloids increases under stress conditions. The considerable decrease in the alkaloid content achieved with the betaine treatment according to the present invention is, therefore, an additional advantage, which is even more marked in view of the remarkable positive effect of betaine on the tensile strength of plants. According to the invention, the production of grasses can be improved in this way, both under normal conditions and tension, which in addition to drought includes, for example, high salinity frequently connected with drought, high temperature, etc. Additionally, the invention also makes it possible to grow grasses on lands that were previously considered 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 betaine application on lupine production The effect of betaine application on lupine production was examined at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. The experiment was conducted under field conditions during the winter of 1994, the which was colder and rainier than usual, but during which the water stress occurred, however The experiment was conducted according to a design of divided plots using plots of 8 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 crop was Gungurru The results are shown in Table 1 Table 1 Effect of the Betaine plication in lupine production The results showed that the production was increased over the control in all conducted experiments. The best results were obtained with a betaine application rate of 4 or 6 kg / ha.

EXAMPLE 2 Effect of betaine application on lupine production under dry conditions The effect of applying betaine on lupins growing under water stress was examined by repeating the experiment described in Example 1, but with a 50% reduction in the irrigation of the optimal amount. Results are shown in table 2.

Table 2 Effect of betaine application on lupine production under water stress conditions Production was also clearly increased in this experiment compared to the control. It can also be noted that when using the glycine betaine concentration higher than 6 kg / ha gave similar results with a low level of irrigation (50%) as when using the betaine ratio of less than 2 to 4 kg / ha with optimal irrigation ( Example 1 ). This means that the same production can be achieved by decreasing irrigation if a higher application rate of betaine is used simultaneously.

EXAMPLE 3 Effect of Betaine Application on Lupine Alkaloid Content The content of alkaloids of lupins grown and treated according to Examples 1 and 2 was determined with the method described by Priddis [Journal of Chromatography, 261 (1983) 95 - 101]. The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Effect of application of betaine on the alkaloid content of lupine seeds Treatment Content of alkaloids (%) Control 1 0.04 proportion of irrigation 50% 6 kg / ha of betaine 0.02 proportion of irrigation 50% Control II 0.02 proportion of irrigation 100% 6 kg / ha of betaine 0.01 proportion of irrigation 100% The results show a clear decrease in the total content of lupine alkaloids, which is a positive and very surprising result of the application of betaine according to the invention.

Example 4 Effect of betaine application on the early development of green bean seeds The effect of betaine on the proportion and frequency of germination of green bean seeds was examined using water as a control. The beans were Spartan Arrow Bush Bean Lot. # 1 987-3, produced by Northrup King Co. Three 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 Twenty green bean seeds were soaked for 24 hours in 330 ml of one of the aforementioned test solutions. The seeds were then dried in stainless steel sieves and planted on land with two seeds placed in each container. The containers were then placed in a window ledge with an exposure to the south to the sun, and were watered daily with dew water. The early development of the seeds was followed by determining both the proportion and the frequency of germination. The first measurements were made ten days after the experiment began, and the second set of measurements was conducted 19 days after the start of the experiment. The results are shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Effect of betaine application on the early development of green bean seeds The results show that betaine promotes faster germination in green beans. Betaine also produced changes in the appearance of plants, for example, the color of the leaves turned dark green. The best results were achieved with the lowest proportion of betaine of 0.02 g / l.

Example 5 Effect of Betaine Application in the Production of Peas under Stress Conditions The effect of the application of betaine on the production of peas growing under stress conditions was examined in the following manner. Peas were planted in 5 I plastic containers containing a mixture of peat and vermiculite in a ratio of 1: 1. The plants were grown in greenhouses at an average day / night temperature of 28 ° C / 12 ° C and a relative humidity of between 42 and 45%. Supplementary lighting was provided for 17 hours a day with tungsten lamps (PAR 434 μmol m "2s" 1). Twenty seeds were sown per container and then reduced to 10 plants per container. The total number of containers used was twenty-four, twelve of which were exposed to drought, that is, water stress, and twelve to high salinity, that is, salt tension. A completely randomized design was used in the experiment, with 4 repetitions. Water stress (pF3) was imposed on half of the plants for four weeks after the seedlings sprouted. The containers were then grouped into 3 sets, each of which consisted of 4 containers, and each set was sprayed with either 25 ml of distilled water, 0.1 M betaine solution or 0.3 M betaine solution two weeks after the imposition of tension. To induce salt tension, 200 ml of 10 mM NaCl 1 solution was applied to half of the containers every four days for five weeks after the seedling outbreak. The containers were grouped in 3 sets of 4 containers in each set, and were sprayed with 25 ml of distilled water, 0.1 M betaine solution or 0.3 M betaine solution after the first administration of the NaCl solution. The NaCl treatment was repeated six more times after the application of betaine. At harvest, the total number of nodules, number of active nodules, number of pods, and dry matter content of the leaf were determined. The results are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Table 5 Effect of the application of betaine on the nodulation and growth of pea under water stress Table 6 Effect of the application of betaine on the nodulation and growth of pea under salt tension The betaine ratio better than 0.1 M thus had a positive effect on the number of active nodules, number of pods and the dry material content of the leaf when the pea was growing under dry conditions. The positive effect of the growth of pea under salt tension was even clearer. The highest betaine content of 0.3M had a positive effect on the number of nodules and dry matter content of the leaf of peas growing under salt tension.

Example 6 Effect of betaine application on the growth rate of pea The experiment of Example 5 was repeated when using betaine solutions of 0 (control), 0.05 M, 0.1 M and 0.2M. The water tension was induced in the manner described in Example 5, while the salt tension was not examined in this experiment. In order to examine the recovery of the plants, the stressed plants were divided on day 28 of the experiment into two groups, one of which remained under water tension, and the other was irrigated and their recovery was followed. Samples were taken on days 21, 28, 35 and 42. Peas growing under optimal conditions (sufficient irrigation) were used as control. The best results were obtained with the betaine proportion of 0.05M. The results with respect to the relative growth rate of the pea and the dry weight of the shoot are shown in Figures 1 and 2, respectively.

Example 7 Effect of Betaine Application in Bean Production under Stress Conditions The experiments described in Example 5 were repeated using beans. Ten bean seeds were sown per container and subsequently decreased to 3 plants per container. The other parameters of the experiments corresponded to those described in Example 5. The positive effect on beans was evident especially for the number of pods, which increased under water stress from a control value of 3.13 to 3.50 with the 0.1 M betaine solution, and at 3.63 with the 0.3 M betaine solution. . The results corresponded to values of 1 12 and 1 16 in percentages of the control (100). The dry matter content of the leaf increased from a control value of 2.04 g to 2.21 g with the 0.1 M betaine solution, but decreased to 1.67 g with the 0.3 M betaine solution.

Example 8 Effect of betaine application on soybean production The effect of betaine application on soybean production under normal and dry conditions was investigated in field conditions on a farm, where the soil is very light and sandy and can be retain approximately 35 mm of rain for a few days, but where the water stress will occur in a few days even after a heavy rain. There were high irrigation facilities on the farm to ensure sufficient irrigation of the control areas. In addition to the soybean growth, the experiment also determined its nitrogen fixation capacity. The experiments were conducted with a 3-factor randomized complete block design with watering level (main factor), crop (sub-plot) and betaine concentration (division) as factors. The crops were Biloxi and Cook, which have a different drought tolerance; Cook culture has a symbiosis system more tolerant to drought than Biloxi culture. Betaine levels applied included 0 (control), 3 kg / ha, and 6 kg / ha. The betaine was applied by spraying. The season had an early period of drought followed by very heavy rains and again a period of drought. Betaine application was repeated after the rains before the second dry period with the same application levels. The results concerning the dry weight of the sheet are shown in Table 7.

Table 7 Effect of the application of betaine on the dry weight of the soybean leaf The nitrogen fixation capacity of soy was determined by measuring nitrogenase activity with an acetylene reduction test, where acetylene is reduced to ethylene. The experiment was conducted 10 weeks after planting. In order to perform the measurement in the field, metal cylinders of 10 cm in diameter and 20 cm in depth were placed in the ground around a soybean plant. The plant was removed from the ground in the cylinder and the shoot was cut. The roots were then placed rapidly in an airtight container of 1000 ml 150 ml of acetylene then injected into the container, and a 6.5 ml gas sample was taken via a syringe 5, 10 and 15 minutes after incubation, and the Samples were subjected to gas chromatography It has been established that the reduction of acetylene is linear for about 20 minutes of the introduction of acetylene The results obtained after 15 minutes are shown in Table 8 Table 8 Effect of betaine application on soy nitrogen fixation The application of betaine in the proportion of 3 kg / ha clearly increases in this way the nitrogen fixation in plants.

Example 9 Effect of betaine application on soybean production The acetylene reduction test described in Example 8 was repeated in greenhouses using the betaine ratio of 0. 1 and Biloxyl culture. The experiment was conducted by approaching the roots of the plants (2 per container) in a glass container (1 I) and by sucking 150 ml of air out of the container, after which the air was replaced with a corresponding amount of gas of acetylene in the manner described in Example 8. (Reference: Denison, RF, Sinclair, TR, Zobel, R .W., Johnson, M.N. &; Drake, G M. 1983. A non-destructive field assay for soybean nitrogen fixation by acetylene reduction. Plant & Soil 70; 173-182; Vessey, J. K. 1994. Measurement of nitrogenase activity in legume root nodules; In defense of the acetylene reduction assay. Plant & Soil 158; 1 51 -162). The nitrogen fixation of soybean of 4 weeks was evaluated in greenhouse tests 2 days after the application of betaine. The results are shown in Table 9.

Table 9 Effect of betaine application on soy nitrogen fixation EXAMPLE 10 Effect of betaine application on soybean production The effect of betaine application on soybean photosynthesis was examined in greenhouses using simulated water tension conditions Six (inoculated) nodulation seeds or 15 seeds (inoculated) of non-nodulation soybean were seeded in 5 I plastic containers containing a mixture of peat, vermiculite and sand in the ratio of 1: 2 1 After the seedling outbreak, the plants were reduced to 3 per container Half of the containers used in the experiment contained the nodulation culture and half the non-nodulation culture. The water tension (pF3) was imposed on the plants 1 5 days after the bud of the seedling. The plants with water tension were divided into three groups, one of which (control) was treated with distilled water, the second was sprayed with betaine in the proportion of 2 kg / ha and the third with betaine in proportion to 6 kg / ha ion a day after the imposition of the tension The photosynthetic activity of the plants was determined with the Li-cor Li-1600-Steady State Porometer. The apparatus and its use are described in the following references: Campbell, G.S. 1975. Steady-state diffusion porometers. In: Measurment of stomatal aperture and díffusive resistance. Coll. Agrie. Res. Center Bull. 809. P. 20. Washington State Univ. Pullman, Wash, and Bingham, G. E. & Coyne, P. l. 1977. A portable, temperature-controlled steady-state porometer for field measurements of transpiration and photosynthesis. Photosynthetica 1 1 (1): 148-160. The results are shown in Table 10.

Table 10 Effect of betaine application on soybean photosynthetic activity Betaine significantly improved the photosynthetic activity of soy under both normal conditions and water stress with both application rates.

Example 1 1 Effect of the application of betaine on soybean growth The effect of betaine on soybean photosynthesis and on the potential water situation of soybean leaves was examined in greenhouses with betaine concentrations of 0 ( control), 0.05M, 0.10M and 0.15M. The soybean crop was Biloxi. At the time of spraying, the plants were approximately six weeks old and measurements were made five days after spraying. The photosynthesis and the water potential of the plants, that is, the stomatal resistance and the stomatal conductance and the temperature difference of the leaves was measured with the Li-cor Li 6200 Portable Photosynthesis System. The system was based on a method described by Ball et al. (A model predicting stomatal conductance and its contribution to the control of photosynthesis under different conditions) Progress in Photosynthesis Research IV Martinus Nijhoff, Drodrect, The Netherlands, 1987, pp. 221-224, (Ed.) J. Biggins). The water potential parameters indicate the state of opening or closing of the guard cells of the plant. High resistance and low conductance mean that the plant has a poor intake of carbon dioxide and that it is stressed. The numerical results are shown in Table 11, a graphic illustration is provided in Figure 3.

Table 1 1 Effect of betaine on the photosynthesis and water potential of the soybean leaf

Claims (19)

1. REIVIN DICACIONES 1 . Exogenous use of betaine to improve the production of grasses 2 Exogenous use of betaine to reduce the antimatter content of grasses 3 Use of betaine according to claim 2 to reduce the content of alkaloids of lupine 4 Use according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the betaine is used under conditions of tension 5 Use according to claim 4, characterized in that the tension conditions comprise high or low temperatures, drought or high salinity. Use according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the betaine is used in a Use according to claim 6, characterized in that the betaine is used in an amount of about 1 to 6 kg / ha. 8 A method for improving the production of grasses, characterized in that the betaine is applied exogenously to growing grasses 9 A method to reduce the content of antimatter of grasses, characterized in that the Taina is applied exogenously to growing plants 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the alkaloid content of lupins is reduced by exogenously applying betaine to growing lupins. eleven . A method according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the betaine is applied to grasses that grow under stress conditions. 12. A method according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the stress conditions comprise high or low temperatures, drought, or high salinity. 13. A method according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the betaine is administered once or several times during the growing season. 14. A method according to any of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the betaine is administered together with a pesticide or a fertilizer. 15. A method according to any of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the betaine is administered in a single dose at an early stage of growth. 16. A method according to any of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the betaine is used in an amount of about 0.1 to 20 kg / ha, preferably about 1 to 6 kg / ha. 17. The grasses obtained with the method according to any of claims 8 to 16, and the parts thereof, especially the production of seeds. 18. The grasses treated exogenously with betaine, and the products thereof. 19. An invention according to any of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the grass is lupine, peas, soybean, green bean or green bean.