ROOT-ZONE ORIGINAL PATENT TEST RESULTS
The following information is based on University test results performed at Oregon State University in 1996. The data was used for verification of efficacy in the original patent for Root-Zone. The technical designation for Root-Zone during these tests was GLK8924. (These are excerpts taken from said tests.)
TRANSPIRATION IN TOMATO PLANTS
The efficacy of the present invention is demonstrated by results showing reduction in transpiration rate of tomato plants. Water losses by transpiration of the tomato plants and by evaporation of the soil moisture were determined.
Two trays each containing ten young tomato seedlings along with another set of trays without plants were treated with an aqueous solution of 0.5% GLK8924 and DI water. Each tray was weighed three days after the treatments. Average water losses of a tray without plants (water loss by evaporation only), a tray with 0.5% GLK8924 treated plants (water loss by evaporation and transpiration), and a tray with DI water treated plants (water loss by evaporation and transpiration) were 26 grams/day, 37 grams/day, and 45 grams/day respectively. The transpiration rates per plant were 1.9 grams/day/plant for DI water treated plants and 1/2 grams/day/plant for GLK8924 treated plants. The root drenching with an aqueous solution of 5% GLK8924 reduced the transpiration rate of young tomato seedling more than 35% as listed in Table 1.
TABLE 1
Solution Uptake and Water Loss of Tomato Plants Treated With Aqueous Solutions of 0% and 5% GLK8924
TRANSPORTATION OF BEDDING PLANTS
Young bedding plants are suffering from desiccation during transportation from seedling growers to farmers. Several trays containing celery, lettuce, and watermelon seedlings drenched with aqueous solutions of 2.5% and 5% GLK8924 a day before scheduled transportation. After making a round trip from Oregon state to Idaho state in June, 1993, the conditions of the seedlings were observed.
The bedding plant seedlings treated with formulations of the present invention suffered less than 5% damage and remained in a sellable condition, while the control plants suffered more than 50% damage from desiccation. The normal expected damage for one-way transportation from Oregon to Idaho state is 30% to 40% during hot months of June and July.
GARDENIAS AND TRANSPORT
Potted dwarf gardenia plants are produced under hot and humid condition in Florida. When shipped to other states, these plants are very sensitive to heat and desiccation. Two sets of 36 potted gardenia plants were root drenched with water only and aqueous solutions of 5% and 8% GLK8924 a day before shipping to Medford, Oregon and Oregon State University. After withholding water for seven days, the plants were visually inspected and photographs were taken.
The gardenia plants treated with 5% and 8% remained turgid and green while the control plants became wilted and dry. This effectiveness was demonstrated at both locations (Medford and Corvallis, Oregon.).
SHELF LIFE OF POTTED PLANTS
The effectiveness of the present invention as an agent to extend shelf life of potted plants was tested on marigold, poinsettia, impatiens, gardenia, fuschsia, dwarf rose, and hemlock trees with applications of aqueous solutions of various concentrations or GLK8924. The applications extended shelf life of the plants tested. The treated plants stayed turgid and green much longer than the control plants.
CONIFERS AND DROUGHT STRESS
The efficacy of the present invention in enabling plants to avoid drought stress is demonstrated by experiments showing that three species of young conifer seedlings treated with aqueous solutions of various concentrations of GLK8924 lose significantly less water than do seedlings treated with water only.
Six-month old, greenhouse grown Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western cedar in 60 ml styro-block containers were placed in a greenhouse to acclimate to a new environment. The plants were treated in six different ways: a well watered control, non-watered control, aqueous solutions of 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20% GLK8924. All seedlings were watered to field capacity one day prior to the treatment of 10 ml of each solution. The non-watered seedlings also received 10 ml DI water in a similar manner. Water was then withheld from the seedlings of 5 treatments for the duration of the experiment. The well-watered seedlings were watered to field capacity every other day for the duration of the experiment. Stomatal conductance, water potential and water loss were measured. Photographs were taken as symptoms appeared.
Stomatal conductance on GLK8924 treated seedlings was reduced when compared to the well-watered control. However, the levels were not as much as the non-watered controls. Water potential of the seedlings followed a similar pattern with the GLK8924 treated seedlings becoming a more negative relative to well watered controls, but not reaching a level as low as the non-watered controls. The weight of GLK8924 treated seedlings was decreasing at a much slower rate then compared to the non-watered controls.
Foliage discoloration, sunken bark, and mortality were noted on the non-watered controls at least one week prior to GLK8924 treated seedlings. The appearance of dead and desiccated foliage generally followed treatment concentrations with the higher concentrations maintaining a healthy appearance for several days longer.
ROOTING OF IVY CUTTINGS
The effectiveness of the present invention as an agent to aid rooting of cuttings is demonstrated by experiments showing that dry root weight of GLK8924 treated ivy cuttings is more than 50% heavier than control rooted cuttings.
Ivy mother plants (Ivy stock plants) were root drenched with aqueous solutions of 5% and 8% GLK8924 a day prior to cutting. The cuttings were placed in a mist chamber to root for 30 days. The cuttings were then removed from the mist chamber and allowed to grow for 20 days in a greenhouse. Roots from five plants from each treatment were sampled, dried, and weighed.
The total dry root weights for the rooted cuttings from control, 5% GLK8924 treated, and 8% GLK8924 treated plants were 652,1019, and 995 mg, respectively. Weight increase in dry root weight of the rooted cutting from 5% and 8% GLK8924 treated mother plants were 56.3% and 52.5% over the control dry root weight.
REDUCTION OF WATER NEEDS ON TURF GRASS
The effectiveness of the present invention as a plant water reducing agent on monocotyledon plants was demonstrated by an experiment showing that the treated turf grass stayed green for 20 days while withholding water.
Two different cultivar sods, Palmer Rye (sunny grass) and Red Fescue (shady grass), were developed from seed on trays and water was withheld for 20 days before normal watering resumed. The sods treated with water only, started to turn brown and did not survive the water shortage.
PLANT CONDITIONING AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS
The effectiveness of the present invention as an agent to condition (acclimate) plants against environmental stress is evidenced by experiments showing that tomato plants treated with an aqueous solution of 4% GLK8924 accumulate higher solute and total ion concentrations in leaf sap than the plants treated with the same volume of DI water only. This is true for both irrigated and non-irrigated plants. The increases observed in individual ions are small, but taken together result in a significant increase of total ion concentration.
The solutes analyzed account for 75% to 80% of the total osmolality. The missing solutes likely include amino acids, organic acids, and other ions not analyzed (e.g. anions). The high increase in organic solute concentrations, especially sugar concentrations indicates that root drenching with an aqueous solution of 4% GLK8924 induce osmo-adjustment.
One result is that GLK8924 induces substantial increases in proline concentration of leaf sap. This is observed in both stressed (non-irrigated) and non-stressed (irrigated) plants. Proline can ameliorate the deleterious effects of high temperature, salt, and dehydration on enzyme activity and organelle systems.
TABLE 2
Concentrations of Metabolites in Leaf Saps From 5 Weeks Old Tomato Plants 4 Days After Treatment With Aqueous Solutions of 0% and 4% GLK8924
OVERALL EFFICACY OF GLS8924
The efficacy of the present invention is also demonstrated by experiments showing that the plants conditioned with the present invention are hardier against drought stress. A set of four tomato plants per each treatment including control was transplanted to 4-inch (in diameter) pot 29 days after the last treatment. After uniform soil water conditions were established, watering was stopped for a week.
Tomato plants conditioned 31 days prior to the water denial remained turgid and have dark green leaves while unconditioned plants (control plants) are severely wilted.
This long-lasting conditioning effect has been confirmed by an outside university evaluation. A set of 22 week old and plug-grown seedlings was treated with two sequential applications of an aqueous solution of 1% GLK8924. The treated plants exhibited a very rapid growth inhibition relative to the control plants. The difference was apparent within several days. After an additional two weeks, the plants in the plugs were transplanted into 6-inch standard pots to evaluate seedling response to water stress. After soil water conditions were established, water was withheld and plants were observed daily to evaluate the effects of the present invention. After ten days without water, the difference between treated and control seedlings was remarkable and distinct. Untreated plants were severely wilted, while treated plants remained turgid and had dark green leaves. There was no lasting growth inhibition, however, and time differences in leaf turgor do not appear to be related to differences in plant size.
CONCLUSIONS
It is to be appreciated that the compositions of the present invention may effectively be used on plants to reduce water loss, to induce stomatal closing, to reduce transpiration rates, to avoid drought stress, to aid in rooting cuttings, to extend shelf life of container plants, to avoid transportation stress, to reduce root uptake and preserve soil moisture, to reduce water loss of severed plant tissue, to condition plants for drought stress avoidance, to reduce transplanting stress, and to act as an anti-desiccant. It is further to be appreciated that the effectiveness is universal, applying to mono- and di-cotolyedon plants, to conifers and deciduous trees, to bedding plants and to vegetables.
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