ES2201911A1 - Use of compositions containing menadione and/or one or more derivatives thereof for the biostimulation of the natural defence mechanisms of plants in order to counteract, for example, the damage caused by pesticides and herbicides - Google Patents

Abstract

Use of compositions containing menadione and/or some of its derivatives to biostimulate the natural defense mechanisms of plants, in order to counteract, among other things, the damage caused by pesticides and herbicides. These aqueous solutions may contain either or together as active components Vitamin K3, its soluble derivatives [preferably menadione sodium bisulfite or MSB] or sparingly soluble [preferably menadione nicotinamide bisulfite or MNB], with respective concentrations between 0.0001 and 200 ppm., 0.001 and 10,000 ppm., 0.001 and 10,000 ppm., preferably Vitamin K3 between 0.001 and 100 ppm., MSB between 0.01 and 5,000 ppm, MNB between 0.01 and 5,000 ppm. They are applied in agriculture and horticulture preferably by spraying the aerial part of the plant or by the irrigation system, and can be mixed with various additives, such as organic and inorganic fertilizers, insecticides, nematocides, fungicides, bactericides, herbicides.

Description

Use of compositions containing menadione and / or some (s) of its derivatives to biostimulate the mechanisms natural defense of plants, in order to counteract between others damage caused by pesticides and herbicides.

Technical field

This invention is related to the topics general, on the one hand, of the biostimulation of the mechanisms natural defense of plants and, on the other, with damage chemical caused to them by repeated and many times heavy applications of pesticides and herbicides. In particular, this  invention is related to the use of compositions that when they are applied to plants biostimulate their natural mechanisms defense, which partially counteracts chemical damage caused in crops by pesticides and herbicides, which imply decreases in crop yields.

Introduction

Losses caused in crops, by a on the other, for the attacks of pathogens and pests and, on the other, for the decreased yields of such crops as consequence of chemical damage caused to plants by repeated applications of pesticides and herbicides, are of a great importance. The economic losses produced each year by the reduction of crop yields by use, in many messy cases of pesticides and herbicides, are estimated at thousands of millions of dollars worldwide.

State of the art

After World War II, the agriculture experienced a breakthrough that has been based fundamentally in the fight for plant protection against attacks caused by pathogens and pests, through massive use of pesticides, as well as the use of herbicides for weed control. As a consequence, much of current farms are conditioned by the effects of pesticides that, if on the one hand, protect pathogen and pest plants, on the other cause chemical damage to the same, in addition to affecting negatively, along with the herbicides, to soil microorganisms and therefore to fertility of it.

The danger to the ground, the environment, plants, animals and people, implies the massive use of pesticides and herbicides, has led researchers to consider other crop protection strategies. One of the possible strategies is the use of compositions that activate the mechanisms Natural defense of plants against attacks of pathogens and pests, without the use of such compositions involve harmful effects on the soil, the environment, the Own plants, animals or people. In this regard, we have come investigating for 25 years, on the effect that plant growth regulators could produce in the strengthening of the natural defense mechanisms of plants and, as a consequence, in the induction of resistance to pathogens and pests of plants treated with such regulators. In these research we have observed as a certain type of plant growth regulators, derivatives Water-soluble Vitamin K, were able to stimulate the natural defense mechanisms of treated plants and consequently of inducing resistance against the attacks of pathogens and pests. ["Compositions for inducing resistance to tracheomycosis in plants ". Patent: WO 95/03702, published: 09.02.95]; ["Use of compositions containing menadione, for biostimulate the metabolism of plants in order to induce their resistance to pathogens and pests. "Patent: 95ES - 9500522, published: 04.04.99]

The bibliography on the regulators of Plant growth based on Vitamin K and its Water soluble derivatives is very small, the first appearing reference as Patent, in 1985 ["Plant growth regulator --- contg. menadione bisulphite --- giving cold resistanse to rice, vegetables, flowers and fruti trees ". 83JP - 179430, published: 24.04.85.], And followed chronologically by the following Patents:

["Citrus fruit quality improving agent --- contains water - soluble Vitamin K deriv. As active component " 85JP-055993, published: 25.09.86];

["Plant growth regulator promoting increase in harvest yield --- contains water - soluble Vitamin K other than menadione bisulphite adduct ". 85JP - 054297, 25.09.86]

["Agent for promoting maturity crops --- contains water - soluble Vitamin-K deriv. e.g. menadiol dinicotinate ". 86JP - 028878, published: 20.08.87];

["Additive for rice seedlings cultivating mat --- contains water sol. Vitamin-K deriv. as active component ".86JP - 030770, published: 20.08.87];

["Fatigue of strawberry root preventing agent --- contains water soluble Vitamin-K deriv. ace active component ". 86JP - 032021, published: 22.08.87];

["Plant growth accelerator compsn. --- based on Vitamin-K, contg. menadione and menadiol cpds. With aromatic amine salts and a carrier ". 85ES - 542475, published: 16.06.88];

["Plant growth regulation". 76US - 4764201, published: 16.08.88];

["Seed treatment compsn .--- contg. Water - sol. Vitamin-K deriv. Of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, etc. ". 89JP - 040255, published: 04.09.90];

["Plant growth regulator for increase yield and quality --- Vitamin-K3 and choline salt as active components ". 89JP - 155629, published: 01.02.91];

["Plant growth promotion --- with menadione bisulphite adducts of vitamin (s) or aminoacid (s) ". 90IT - 020777, published: 01.01.92];

["Growth activator contg. Vitamin-K drifts. --- for agricultural or horticultural crop plant alleviating of chemical injury caused herbicide ". 90JP - 153870, published: 16.01.92].

Until the publication (16.04.99) of our Patent: 95ES-9500522, previously indicated, references that relate this specific type of plant growth regulators, Vitamin-K and its water-soluble derivatives, with induction do not appear in the literature of resistance to pathogens and pests in plants treated with such regulators. We have continued investigating, especially, in the cultivation of banana (banana) and observe how a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin K3, the menadione sodium bisulfite or MSB , stimulated the advancement of flowering of the treated plants, compared to the untreated. Consequence of these investigations was the publication of the following two patents: ["Use of compositions containing menadione, to biostimulate the metabolism of plants in order to advance flowering in banana crops". 95ES - 9500523, published: 01.10.98]; ["Utilization of compositions which contain menadione for the biostimulation of plant metabolism in order to induce their resistance to pathogens and pests and / or accelerate their blooming". WO 96/28026].

It is a known fact that the treatments continued crops with pesticides and herbicides, especially if they are messy, in many cases they involve a crop yield decline as a result of chemical damage that these toxic chemical compounds exert on the plants.

We have shown that plants treated with water-soluble derivatives of Vitamin K3, especially with MSB , not only induce resistance to pathogens and pests [Patents: WO 95/03702; 95ES - 9500522; WO 96/28026], but also counteract the harmful effects on crops caused by abiotic stresses in particular by pesticides and herbicides. Surprisingly, continued treatments with MSB managed to increase crop yield in banana crops when compared to banana crops in the same area, not treated with MSB . Both MSB -treated and untreated cultures received the same treatments of pesticides and herbicides in doses and frequency of application.

Description of the invention

This invention is related to the use of compositions containing menadione and / or any (s) of its water-soluble derivatives that when applied to plants biostimulate their natural defense mechanisms, counteracting partly chemical damage caused by pesticides and herbicides

This invention describes the use of a class of compounds that are systemic, biodegradable, non-pesticidal, not toxic and harmless from an environmental point of view, and that not They are dangerous for plants, animals and people. Such compounds that significantly counteract the effects harmful produced by pesticides and herbicides in plants,  Increasing crop yields are:

Menadione or Vitamin K3 (2-methyl-1,4-naphthalenedione or 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), Merk index = 5714, CARN = [58-27-5] and its water soluble derivatives {preferably different addition compounds formed with sodium bisulfite (menadione sodium bisulfite or MSB , MI = 5716, CARN = [130-37-0], or with potassium bisulfite, or with ammonium bisulfite, or with magnesium bisulfite}, and other derivatives of the Vitamin K3 of low level of water solubility {preferably menadione nicotinamide bisulfite or MNB , menadione p-aminobenzoic acid bisulfite menadione histidine bisulfite, menadione adenine bisulfite, menadione nicotinic acid bisulfite and menadione tryptophan bisulfite}.

The compositions to counteract the effects harmful pesticides and herbicides on plants biostimulating their natural defense mechanisms, they contain:

Vitamin K3 and / or at least one of its water-soluble derivatives [preferably the sodium menadione bisulfite or MSB ] and / or at least one of its derivatives of low level of water solubility [preferably the menadione nicotinamide bisulfite or MNB ].

The application to the plant surface of a of the aforementioned compositions, containing a effective amount of one or more of the compounds described, originates a protective response in that. Defensive response obtained in this way is systemic in nature and, in Consequently, the treatment of a part of the plant triggers biostimulation of natural defense mechanisms through of the whole plant.

The recommended way to apply the different compositions is the spraying of the aerial part of the plant, which does not exclude, for example, stem injection, application direct to the ground or other means of plant growth, or indirectly through irrigation water (or cultivation solution), or by immersion of the root system or of the entire plant (or of seeds) in the compositions.

The effectiveness of the active components of the compositions, referred to Vitamin K3, MSB and MNB can be expected at the following concentrations: Vitamin K3 between 0.0001 and 200 ppm; MSB between 0.001 and 10000 pmm; MNB between 0.001 and 10,000 ppm; preferably Vitamin K3 between 0.001 and 100 ppm, MSB between 0.01 and 5000 ppm, MNB between 0.01 and 5000 ppm

The concentration of the active components of The compositions will depend on the type of plant, development phase of the same, as well as the frequency and form of application of the compositions

Also, said compositions can be mixed with various additives, for example: organic fertilizers and inorganic, insecticides, nematocides, fungicides, bactericides, herbicides

Example

In December 1998, an investigation in banana (banana) crops was initiated (Island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain), whose main objective was to demonstrate in a long-term experience in field conditions, that the sodium bisulphite menadione or MSB ( a water-soluble derivative of Vitamin K3) was able to counteract the chemical damage caused to plants by the application of pesticides and herbicides. The experimentation was based on the fact that the MSB biostimulates the natural defense mechanisms of the plants, counteracting in this way the chemical damages caused in the cultivation by pesticides and herbicides.

The experience was carried out in two plots of one same farm, outdoors. Each of the plots It was half a hectare (1000 plants), both planted in it date with the Small Dwarf (Dwarf Cavendish) cultivar of the Subgroup Cavendish

Description of the plots:

Plot-A.- At the beginning of the experimentation this plot had a 30% incidence of the banana disease known as Panama Mal. From the beginning of the experiment, this plot was treated with MSB by foliar spray (50 ppm of MSB ) every 15 days, during the first 6 months. From that date, the foliar treatments were performed once a month for 1 year. From this date until May 2001, the treatments were carried out every 2 months.

Plot-B.- This plot did not present any sick plant from Panama's Evil. She was never treated with MSB .

The two plots received throughout the experimentation (2 and a half years) the same treatments with pesticides and herbicides, in dose and frequency of application. In May - 2001, Parcel-A had no incidence of Panama's Evil. The treatments with the MSB had controlled the disease. In May-2001, 20 plants were randomly taken in each of the plots. The circumference of the pseudostem (false trunk) was measured at 1 meter from the soil surface.

Pseudo total circumference (cm)

Plot-A (105, 102, 103, 101, 93, 97, 100, 105, 132, 120, 112, 109, 129, 124, 97, 123, 113, 110, 125, 110)

Plot-B (100, 106, 109, 107, 103, 100, 110, 106, 103, 105, 99, 100, 94, 94, 103, 109, 102, 97, 96, 96)

Stocking comparison

95% confidence interval for the average of Plot-A (treated with MSB): 110.5 + 1- 5.38459

95% confidence interval for the average of Plot-B (not treated with MSB): 102.45 +/- 2.28512

95% confidence interval for the difference between the means assuming equal variances: 8.05 + / - 5.6576

Student t test for comparison of means

Null hypothesis: half the Plot-A (treated with MSB) = mean of Plot B (not treated with MSB)

Alternative hypothesis: mean of Plot-A (treated with MSB) is not equal to the average of Plot-B (untreated with MSB)

Assuming equal variances: t = 2.88044; P- value = 0.0065

The mean circumference of the pseudostem of the Plot-A treated with MSB (110.5 cm) is, from a statistical point of view, significantly different from the average of the Plot-B (102.45 cm) not treated with MSB .

In the first place it is found that the MSB is an excellent activator of the natural defenses of the plant, which has managed to control Panama's Evil in Plot-A, which had a disease incidence of 30% at the beginning of the experience.

Secondly, it is also found that the MSB not only controlled Panama's Evil in Plot-A, but also countered, in the same Plot-A, chemical damage caused to plants for two and a half years by pesticides and herbicides, as demonstrated by the increase in pseudo-thickness of the plants of this plot (approximately 8%) versus the pseudo-thickness of the plants in Plot-B, not treated with MSB. The thickness of the pseudotallo (false trunk) is always associated with the weight of the cluster, so the positive effects of banana treatments with MSB seem to significantly counteract the damage caused by pesticides and herbicides.

Claims (9)

1. Use of compositions to biostimulate the natural defense mechanisms of plants characterized in that they contain in aqueous solution, at least one of the following active components 0.0001 to 200 p.p.m. of Vitamin K3; 0.001 to 10000 p.p.m. of a vitamin derivative Water soluble K3, preferably a bisulfite; 0.001 to 10000 p.p.m. of a vitamin derivative Low water solubility K3 preferably a bisulfite to biostimulate the natural defense mechanisms of the plants, in order to counteract the chemical damage produced in crops by the application of pesticides and herbicides. 2. Use of compositions according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that they are applied to the aerial part of the plant, preferably by spraying. 3. Use of compositions according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that they are applied to the plant stem, preferably by injection. 4. Use of compositions according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that they are applied directly to the soil or other means of plant growth, or indirectly through irrigation water (or culture solution), or by immersion of the root system of plants or seeds in the compositions claimed in 1 and 2. 5. Use of compositions according to claims 1 to 5, wherein said compositions are used as such or mixed with additives such as organic fertilizers or inorganic, insecticides, nematocides, fungicides, bactericides, herbicides 6. Use of compositions to biostimulate the natural defense mechanisms of the plant, in order to counteract the chemical damage produced in the crops by the application of phytosanitary products among other pesticides and herbicides, according to claims 1 to 6, wherein said compositions can be applied to plants before, after or simultaneously with the mentioned pesticides or herbicides.