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A liquid micronutirent elicitor involving a cell to cell signal transduction system within a plant which is applied to propagules (seed and/or plant) causes natural defensive responses to be produced by the seed and/or plant. This substance may exist as a seed coating, irrigation water, and/or foliar spray for a period of time so that the propagules may have enhanced disease control until the propagule develops sufficiently to fend for itself against parasitic nematodes. The benefits of incorporating the solution include increased vigor, blooms, and harvests. Crops include legumes including soybeans, as well as wheat, canola, corn, peanuts, sunflowers, peppers, tomatoes, grapes, and potatoes.

Inventors: Richard J. Stoner, James C. Linden
Current U.S. Classification: 47/1.01R

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Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US7935874Jul 21, 2010May 3, 2011Horizon Seed Technologies, Inc.Enhancing yields of harvested plant seeds by treating sowing seeds with selected doses of a physical plant stressor
US8001722Jan 22, 2009Aug 23, 2011Horizon Seed Technologies, Inc.Enhancing yields of harvested plant seeds by treating sowing seeds with selected doses of a physical plant stressor

Claims

1. A propagule planting system that controls disease comprising:

a) a propagule which is selected from the group consisting of: soybean, corn, wheat, barley, oat, rice, legume, canola, peanut, sunflower, pepper, tomato, citrus, and potato;

b) a non-damaging stimulus selected from a group consisting of chitin and chitosan and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is provided in the amount of approximately 3.7 nanograms to 1.1 milligrams for each gram of propagule and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is a stimulus which is not damaging to said propagule, and is provided such that the non-damaging stimulus is at a level:

i) which sufficiently triggers the release of a naturally defensive substance from said propagule so as to protect said propagule from disease and so that said naturally defensive substance is at a greater level than would naturally exist, and

ii) which acts to at least sustain said release of said naturally defensive substance, and
wherein said non-damaging stimulus is also continuously provided in a non-gaseous form in a vicinity of said propagule; and
c) a non-gaseous communication medium wherein said communication medium allows said non-damaging stimulus to affect said propagule.

2. The propagule planting system of claim 1 that controls disease wherein the non-damaging stimulus further comprises:

d) an elicitor within said vicinity of said propagule.

3. The propagule planting system of claim 2 wherein the propagule is large enough for said propagule to develop within the vicinity of said elicitor until said propagule has developed to a point when said propagule is able to withstand disease on its own.

4. The propagule planting system of claim 1 that controls disease wherein the non-damaging stimulus is continuously provided in a vicinity of said propagule and wherein said non-damaging stimulus causes the release of a naturally defensive substance from said propagule and wherein said naturally defensive substance comprises chitinase, beta-1,3 glucanase, protease inhibitors, phenylalanine lyase, chitosanase, PR1 proteins, PR2 proteins, PR3 proteins, PR4 proteins or PR5 proteins.

5. The propagule planting system of claim 2 wherein the propagule is a pre-germination propagule which comprises soybean which has an anticipated germination time; and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is provided in a manner which does not cause said propagule to germinate, wherein said non-damaging stimulus causes the release of a naturally defensive substance, and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is provided in a manner which coordinates the release of said naturally defensive substance with said anticipated germination time.

6. A propagule planting system according to claim 2 wherein the propagule is a pregermination propagule.

7. The propagule planting system of claim 6 that controls disease wherein said naturally defensive substance comprises chitinase, beta-1,3 glucanase, protease inhibitors, phenylalanine lyase, chitosanase, PR1 proteins, PR2 proteins, PR3 proteins, PR4 proteins or PR5 proteins.

8. A propagule planting system that controls disease comprising:

a) a propagule selected from the group consisting of soybean, corn, wheat, barley, oat, rice, legume, canola, peanut, sunflower, pepper, tomato, potato, and citrus;

b) a non-damaging stimulus selected from a group consisting of chitin and chitosan and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is provided in the amount of approximately 3.7 nanograms to 1.1 milligrams for each gram of propagule and in a vicinity of said propagule; and

c) a communication medium wherein said communication medium allows said non-damaging stimulus to affect said propagule.

9. The propagule planting system of claim 8 that controls disease wherein the propagule is a pre-germination propagule, and wherein said non-damaging stimulus is provided in a manner which does not cause said propagule to germinate.

10. An elicitor composition comprising:

78-82% chitosan, 18-22% chitin, and about total nitrogen 0.28%; ammoniacal nitrogen 0.14%; water soluble nitrogen, 0.28%; urea nitrogen <0.5%; water soluble potassium<0.1%; calcium (Ca) 0.05%; available phosphate <0.1%; chloride(Cl) 0.069%; iron (Fe) <0.01%; and sulfur (S) <0.1%.

11. The elicitor composition of claim 10 comprising 5-10 ml of the composition of claim 10 and further comprising 1 gallon of water.

12. A method of treating a propagule comprising application of the composition of claim 11 to the propagule.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the application is foliar.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the application is seed coating.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the application is irrigation.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the propagule is selected from the group consisting of: soybean, corn, wheat, legume, canola, peanut, sunflower, pepper, tomato, apples, peach, pear, grape, potato, and citrus.