Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLANT GROWTH-PROMOTER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a plant growth-promoter
(hereinafter referred to as a plant growth-promoting agent), and
particularly relates to a plant growth-promoting agent which is lower in
environmental pollution and is harmless to human bodies. The present
invention further relates to a plant growth-promoting agent which exhibits
excellent plant growth-promoting action, even under wide temperature
conditions from low temperatures to high temperatures. In detail, the
present invention relates to a plant growth-promoting agent containing
ubiquinone, and particularly relates to a plant growth-promoting agent
which is effective in an initial stage in which a plant body is grown after
germination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the utilization of plants, including in agricultural production, it is
always a concern for users of plants how efficiently a plant is grown.
Growth promotion of plant bodies in an aerial part means to promote the
formation of stems which are resistant to winds and rains and can
accelerate development of leaves to promote photosynthesis. The growth
promotion of roots can spread out the roots to support the aerial part of
the plant such as stems, leaves, flowers and so on and allow the roots to
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, . .
absorb nutritional components in a wide range. In particular, growth
promotion is extremely important in an early phase of growth.
Efforts to effectively grow plants have been made conventionally.
For example, a method of utilizing an agricultural facility technology which
controls temperature and light is available, but there are problems in that
instruments and apparatuses for it are needed, much energy for controlling
temperature and light is required and it is difficult to manage and maintain
the instruments and the apparatuses.
Also, agricultural lands are treated with fertilizers. In this case, if
fertilizers are excessively applied for plant growth, then a concentration
disorder and root burn are caused, and the fertilizer flows out in the
environment and remains in the soil for a long period of time, causing
environmental pollution. In order to avoid those inconveniences, a
fertilizer application pattern is performed such that the fertilizer, in a
predetermined amount, is applied previously to the soil at an appropriate
- depth, and the fertilizer is utilized as the roots reach that depth. Also, a
fertilizer application of nitric acid-based nitrogen in an appropriate amount
is also conducted. However, even if such an effort is made, soil conditions
such as pH and distribution of soil microorganisms in the soil greatly
change, which often causes injury by continuous cropping. When injury
by continuous cropping occurs, it is necessary to stop cultivation for a
certain period to recover a soil environment, or to rotate the crop to
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another plant.
In methods of using substances having the action of promoting
plant growth, e.g., plant hormone preparations such as ethylene,
gibberellin and auxin, and activators of a particular enzyme in the plant
body, problems described above are reduced because the amount to be
used is relatively small. However, many problems remain, e.g., the
concentration disorder for plants, safety for the environment, especially for
animals or plants other than the target plants, safety for the human body,
soil pollution, change in soil pH, simplicity of procedure, or utilization and
costs.
Thus, development of a plant growth-promoting agent in which
those problems have been soived is desired. In particular, development of
a plant growth-promoting agent which is highly effective in the initial
growth of a plant, hardly causes a concentration disorder, can be utilized
simply, and is highly safe is desired. It is also desired that a plant
growth-promoting agent be developed which is effective under -a harsh
condition for plant growth, e.g., under low temperatures or high
temperatures.
It is important to grow healthy seedlings after seeding, plant seeds,
and it is advantageous to shorten the period of time from the seeding to
raising of the seedlings. During that period, if the control of temperature
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conditions is unnecessary, this is more advantageous. For example, it is
reported that hydrolyzed polysaccharide obtained from Malveles plant is
used as a germination promoting agent (Patent Document 1), but the
effects obtained from the technology are not sufficient.
No technology which satisfies all of the above-explained matters
and conditions is yet known. That is, it has been desired to provide a
plant growth-promoting agent which is effective in the period from the
seeding of plant seeds to the raising of the seedlings and in the early stage
of settled planting to being grown to,a predetermined size. The present
technology is expected to provide a plant growth-promoting agent which
satisfies the above-explained matters and conditions, and promotes an
extension of a root.
Ubiquinone, which is referred to as coenzyme Q or co-enzyme Q, is
the coenzyme involved in an energy metabolism system in living bodies.
The molecular species of ubiquinone are coenzyme Q6 to coenzyme Q12,
depending on the isoprene unit number. Coenzymc* Q7- and coenzyme Q8
are mainly distributed in plants and bacteria. Coenzyme Q9 is mainly
distributed in rodents, such as rats, and coenzyme Q10 is mainly
distributed in human beings. Ubiquinone not only has a biological activity
as a coenzyme but also is thought to have effects such as anti-oxidation
and stabilization of a biological membrane. Clinically, coenzyme Q10 has
been observed to have pharmacological effects in improvements of
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symptoms in angina, cardiac failure, ischemic cardiac disease, muscular
dystrophy and the like.
Ubiquinone has high safety, and in particular, coenzyme Q10 has
been not only used as pharmaceuticals, but also as health foods, especially
as health foods with other substances. However, the actions of coenzyme
Q9 and coenzyme Q10 upon plants are not well known. For example, in
Patent Document 2, it has been reported that a solution in which
ubiquinone coenzyme Q7 and a-tocopherol have been mixed in equal
moles augments the biological activity in the plant, but it is necessary that
ubiquinone and a-tocopherol are balanced at a certain concentration, and it
has not been known whether ubiquinone alone can be used as the plant
growth-promoting agent because the confirmed effects therein concern
preservation of cut flowers. In Patent Document 3, it has been reported
that a substance obtained by making a metal or a metal compound contact
with a solution containing ubiquinone coenzyme Q7 and a-tocopherol
mixed in equal moles is used as a plant organism consolidating agent. But
it is necessary that the ubiquinone and a-tocopherol are balanced at a
certain concentration, and it is further necessary to elicit the action of
ubiquinone and a-tocopherol through the metal or the metal compound.
Further in Patent Document 4, it has been reported that the peroxide
generated by a.reaction of ubiquinone with active oxygen controls the
growth of the plant. However, in actuality, the activity of the peroxidized
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ubiquinone is not identified, peroxide exhibits toxicity in some cases, the
preparation thereof requires a significant amount of effort and time, a
storage stability thereof is low because peroxide is easily decomposed, and
thus, this has many problems for use as the plant growth-promoting agent.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. Hei-11-71218-A
Patent Document 2: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No.
Sho-48-13155-A
Patent Document 3: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No.
Sho-50-99864-A
Patent Document 4: Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No.
Hei-6-305921-A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a plant
growth-promoting agent which is highly safe and harmless to a human
body and to provide the plant growth-promoting agent which exhibits an
excellent plant growth-promoting effect under wide temperature conditions,
from low temperatures to high temperatures. In detail, the object of the
present invention is to provide a plant growth-promoting agent which can
be stored in a stable state, can be dispersed, is stable in a medium such as
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a soil or an aqueous liquid which supplies nutrition to the plant
(hereinafter,
the soil or aqueous liquid will be sometimes referred to as a carrier), can
be effectively utilized for the plant and provides a plant growth-promoting
agent which is effective in an early stage in plant growth.
During an extensive study for solving the above problems, the
present inventor has found that ubiquinone at low concentrations
surprisingly exhibits a growth-promoting action for various plants, and
particularly has found that its effect is high in the early stage of plant
growth. Further, the present inventor finds that ubiquinone surprisingly
exhibits the excellent plant growth-promoting action even under harsh
conditions for plant growth, e.g. under low temperatures and high
temperatures. The present inventor has achieved the present invention.
The present invention is as follows.
A first aspect of the invention is a plant growth-promoting agent
containing ubiquinone as an active ingredient.
A second aspect of the invention is the invention wherein
ubiquinone according to claim 1 is coenzyme Q9 and/or coenzyme Q10.
A third aspect of the invention is the invention wherein ubiquinone
according to claim 1 or 2 is a water-solubilized ubiquinone.
A fourth aspect of the invention is the invention that is
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characterized as a water-solubilized ubiquinone in an amount of 0.00001 to
100% by mass based on the plant growth-promoting agent is contained in
the plant growth-promoting agent according to claim 3.
A fifth aspect of the invention is a fertilizer containing the plant
growth-promoting agent according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
A sixth aspect of the invention is a germination-promoting agent
containing the plant growth-promoting agent according to any one of
claims 1 to 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention contains
ubiquinone as an active ingredient.
The ubiquinone includes coenzyme Q6, coenzyme Q7, coenzyme Q8,
coenzyme Q9, coenzyme Q10, coenzyme Q11, and coenzyme Q12. The
plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention also contains
ubiquinol, reduced bodies of ubiquinone thereof, such as, reduced
coenzyme Q6, reduced coenzyme Q7, reduced coenzyme Q8, reduced
coenzyme Q9, reduced coenzyme Q10, reduced coenzyme Q11, and
reduced coenzyme Q12. Among them, coenzyme Q9, coenzyme Q10,
reduced coenzyme Q9, and reduced coenzyme Q10 are preferable. In
particular, not substances produced by a so-called fermentation method
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but coenzyme Q9, coenzyme Q10, reduced coenzyme Q9, and reduced
coenzyme Q10 produced by a so-called synthesis method are preferable.
Further, coenzyme Q10 and reduced coenzyme Q10 are preferable, and
coenzyme Q10 and reduced coenzyme Q10 produced by the so-called
synthesis method are more preferable.
The coenzyme Q10 and reduced coenzyme Q10 are advantageous
because they have been identified to have high safety, they are not
concentrated, accumulated and retained in the environment, and they have
been approved for use as foods.
Ubiquinone used in the present invention may be used in a form of
fine particles, but it is preferable to use water-solubilized ubiquinone. In
particular, the plant growth-promoting agent prepared by using
water-solubilized ubiquinone is advantageous because this solves the
problems described below.
Ubiquinone is a lipophilic solid with a low melting point, which is
dissolved in ether to some extent but is hardly dissolved in water. Thus,
ubiquinone in the form of large masses, is hardly utilized by plants.
Furthermore, ubiquinone floats on water. Thus, ubiquinone suspends on a
liquid surface in a flood, easily flows out with rainfall even when being
spread on a soil surface, and if it is applied in the soil, the ubiquinone is
directly accumulated without being used in the soil. If ubiquinone is made
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into the form of fine particles to be able to bind a carrier, etc, it is
possible
to avoid the problems described above.
The shape of the ubiquinone when used in the form of fine particles
is not particularly limited, for example, a spherical shape, a spherical shape
like a football, a bar shape such as a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape
such as a square column shape, and a spherical shape having convex
portions such as confetti. The size of those particles is not particularly
limited, but is, for example, approximately 0.1 m to 1 mm and preferably
approximately 1 m to 0.1 mm for obtaining the effects of the present
invention. The method of preparing those particles is not particularly
limited, and includes the method of molding ubiquinone itself by a standard
method or the method of pulverizing or triturating large ubiquinone
particles into fine particles.
The fine particles of ubiquinone are advantageous because these
can be mixed with other fertilizers to be stably stored and can be directly
applied as a fertilizer.
The water-solubilized ubiquinone refers to ubiquinone in the form in
which ubiquinone can be emulsified, dispersed or suspended (hereinafter
sometimes referred to as emulsification and dispersion) in an aqueous
medium. This form is not particularly limited. When the water-solubilized
ubiquinone is added into the aqueous medium, ubiquinone can be
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dispersed or suspended in the aqueous medium and can exist stably in the
aqueous medium. The aqueous medium includes, but is not limited to,
water and lower alcohol such as ethanol.
The method of preparing the water-solubilized ubiquinone is not
particularly limited, the publicly known method can be conducted,
specifically the following methods (1) to (5) show exemplifications of the
method:
(1) Composition described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2004-196781-A
A coenzyme Q10-containing an aqueous liquid composition
composed of (A) 5 to 40% by mass of coenzyme Q10, (B) 5 to 30% by
mass of monoester of polyglycerine having an average polymerization
degree of 10 and stearic acid, oleic acid or linoleic acid, (C) 1 to 18% by
mass of mono-, di-, tri- or penta-ester of polyglycerine having an average
polymerization degree of 3 to 6 and stearic acid, oleic acid or linoleic acid
and (D) water is dispersed and emulsified using a high pressure
homogenizer. Coenzyme Q10 is emulsified, dispersed or suspended.
(2) Composition described in International Publication W02006/035900
An emulsified composition contains coenzyme Q10, middle chain
triglyceride, a surfactant, polyvalent alcohol and water, wherein a ratio of
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the middle chain triglyceride is 1 to 10 parts by weight based on 10 parts
by weight of coenzyme Q10 and a ratio of the water contained in 100% by
weight of the composition is 10 to 40% by weight. Coenzyme Q10 is
dispersed or solubilized in the water.
(3) Composition described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2003-055203-A
Coenzyme Q10 is dispersed and emulsified in one or more water
soluble substances selected from the group consisting of gum arabic, agar,
water soluble corn fiber, starch, gelatin, xanthan gum, casein, dextrin,
carmellose sodium and polyvinyl pyrrolidone in the presence of an organic
acid. Coenzyme Q10 is emulsified, dispersed or suspended.
(4) Composition described in Japanese Published Unexamined Patent
Application No. 2005-139122-A
A composition contains coenzyme Q10, dextrin, fatty acid ester and
water, and 0.4 parts by weight or more of fatty acid ester is contained
based on one part by weight of coenzyme Q10. Paste or liquid coenzyme
Q10 is solubilized.
(5) Composition described in International Publication W02006/022187
Coenzyme Q10 is melted in advance, and added to a water soluble
substance composed of octenyl succinate starch and dextrin and an
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aqueous solution composed of glycerine, and the resulting mixture is
dispersed and emulsified using the high pressure homogenizer. Coenzyme
Q10 is emulsified, dispersed, or suspended.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be
easily prepared by using the ubiquinone. For example, the fine particles of
the ubiquinone can be used. directly as the plant growth-promoting agent,
but it is preferable to adjust the content of the fine particles of ubiquinone
by mixing an extender with the fine particles of ubiquinone.
It is preferable that the plant growth-promoting agent of the
present invention be prepared using the above water-solubilized
ubiquinone.
The form of the above water-solubilized ubiquinone is not
particularly limited, for example, a slurry form, a sol form, a paste form, a
liquid. form, and an emulsified form can be utilized. These forms can be
prepared by appropriately adopting a publicly known technology. In the
state in which water-solubilized ubiquinone is emulsified and dispersed in
the aqueous medium, an average particle diameter of the ubiquinone
particles is 0.01 to 1000 m and preferably 0.01 to 100 m.
For example, water-solubilized ubiquinone can be used directly as
the plant growth-promoting agent. Also additives such as a stabilizer, a
carrier, and a diluent may be added to water-solubilized ubiquinone to use
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as the plant growth-promoting agent. Weight ratios of water-solubilized
ubiquinone to additives are not particularly limited. The appropriate
weight ratio can be set depending on the intended use of the plant
growth-promoting agent and the plant subjected to the plant
growth-promoting agent.
The water-solubilized ubiquinone of the present invention includes
water-solubilized ubiquinone in a solid form obtained from ubiquinone that
is emulsified and dispersed in an aqueous medium. The water-solubilized
ubiquinone in the solid form obtained by removing the aqueous medium
from ubiquinone that has been emulsified and dispersed in the aqueous
medium is also included. Here, the solid form can include a powder form
and/or a particle form.
The water-solubilized ubiquinone in the solid form can be prepared
from ubiquinone that is emulsified and dispersed in the aqueous medium
by the standard method.
Additives such as a stabilizer, a carrier and a diluents can be added
to the water-solubilized ubiquinone that is emulsified and dispersed in the
aqueous medium, and the mixture can be mixed, granulated and dried to
make the ubiquinone into a water-solubilized ubiquinone in a solid form.
The additives can include, for example, sucrose, glucose, corn starch,
calcium phosphate, lactose, sorbitol, dextrin, starch, crystalline cellulose,
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cyclodextrin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone.
The water-solubilized ubiquinone in the solid form can be directly
used as the plant growth-promoting agent, but it is preferable to adjust the
content of ubiquinone by combining an extender with the water-solubilized
ubiquinone in the solid form. The plant growth-promoting agent prepared
from the water-solubilized ubiquinone has a feature of being easily
dissolved, emulsified or dispersed in the aqueous medium. The aqueous
medium is suitably water, but is not limited thereto. The plant
growth-promoting agent in the powder form or the particle form is
advantageous because this can be directly applied as fertilizer or can be
mixed with other fertilizers to be stably stored.
Coenzyme Q10 which is the water-solubilized ubiquinone in the
form of being emulsified, dispersed or suspended (hereinafter sometimes
referred to as water-solubilized coenzyme Q10) is commercially available,
and this may be used. Water-solubilized coenzyme Q10 includes, for
example, Aqua Q10-P5 (manufactured by Nisshin Pharma Inc.) and Aqua
Q10-P40 (manufactured by Nisshin Pharma Inc.) as the solid form and
Aqua Q10-L10 (manufactured by Nisshin Pharma Inc.) as the liquid form.
When the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention is
prepared from water-solubilized ubiquinone, where the plant
growth-promoting agent is a solid agent, generally it is preferable to
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prepare it such that the water-solubilized ubiquinone is contained in an
amount of 0.01 to 100% by mass in the plant growth-promoting agent.
Alternatively, it is preferable to prepare it so that the water-solubilized
ubiquinone is contained in the amount of 100 to 1000000 ppm in the plant
growth-promoting agent. Where the plant growth-promoting agent is a
liquid agent, it is preferable to prepare it so that the water-solubilized
ubiquinone is contained in the amount of 0.00001 to 60% by mass in the
plant growth-promoting agent. Alternatively, it is preferable to prepare it
so that the water-solubilized ubiquinone is contained in the amount of 0.1
to 600000 ppm in the plant growth-promoting agent.
When the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention is
applied to the plant, it is preferable to adjust this plant growth-promoting
by appropriately diluting, emulsifying, dispersing, suspending or dissolving
before use so that the concentration of ubiquinone is 0.01 to 1000 ppm,
preferably 0.1 to 500 ppm and more preferably 0.5 to 100 ppm. When
the plant growth-promoting agent is adjusted so that the concentration of
water-solubilized ubiquinone is 0.1 to 100 ppm, this plant
growth-promoting agent can be directly applied to the plant.
The plant growth-promoting agent can be used by mixing or
combining with another plant growth-promoting agent, the
germination-promoting agent, a root stimulator, a!-odging (stem-falling on
a ground) diminishing agent or the like. Examples of such chemicals
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include ethephon, auxin, gibberellin, naphthyl acetamide, calcium
prohexadione and paclobutrazol.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be
combined with so-called fertilizer. Its combined amount cannot be defined
categorically because the amount varies depending on composed materials,
the nature and the intended use of the fertilizer but, for example, the plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention in the amount of 0.01 to
10% by mass can be mixed in the fertilizer. The method of producing this
fertilizer containing the plant growth-promoting agent is not particularly
limited. The method of using, this fertilizer is not also particularly
limited.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention has the
function of promoting the growth of a plant body, and promotes growth in
not only the aerial part but also in the root which is an underground part of
the plant.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be
applied to plants in general. Among them, when the plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention is applied to so-called
spermatophytes, for example, the spermatophytes which live in paddy
fields, fields, hills and dales, it exerts excellent growth-promoting effects.
Preferable examples of the spermatophytes include, but are not limited to,
Rosaceae plants such as apples and cherries, Liliaceae plants such as green
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onions and chives, Fagaceae plants, Brassicaceae plants such as rapes,
Japanese horseradish, horseradish, cauliflowers, cabbages, qing-geng-cai,
celery cabbages, komatsuna greens, turnips and Japanese radish,
Malvaceae plants such as angled loofah, Stachyuraceae plants, Oxalidaceae
plants, Saxifragaceae plants, Solanaceae plants such as potatoes,
tomatoes and capsicum, Lamiaceae plants such as perilla and mint,
Cucurbitaceae plants such as cucumbers, Gentianaceae plants, Asteraceae
plants such as sunflowers, lettuces, crown daisies and burdocks, Apiaceae
plants such as carrots, parsleys and celeries, Aguifoliaceae plants,
Cornaceae plants, Ericaceae plants, Santalaceae plants, Polygonaceae
plants such as buckwheat, Chenopadiaceae plants such as spinach,
Caryophyllaceae plants, Buxacese plants, Orchidaceae plants such as
vanilla, Fabaceae plants such as soybeans, peas, faba beans and snow
peas, Poaceae plants such as rice, wheat and maize, Rubiaceae plants such
as coffee, Euphorbiaceae plants such as ricinus and cassava,
Melastomataceae plants, Myrtaceae plants, Apocynaceae plants,
Cyperaceae plants such as papyrus, Araceae plants such as dasheens,-
Gesneriaceae plants, Acanthaceae plants, Boraginaceae plants, Urticaeae
plants, Ranunculaceae plants and Lauraceae plants such as avocados. The
plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can also be applied
to plants such as Pteridophytes and Bryophytes, and other mushrooms.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be
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used suitably for sprouts of broccolis, mustards, cresses, tiny cabbages,
red cabbages, radish sprouts, Japanese radishes, soybean sprouts, green
bean sprouts, pea sprouts, buckwheat, alfalfas, sprouted brown rice and
the like because the plant growth-promoting agent is excellent in
growth-promoting effect in the early phase of plant growth.
It is particularly effective to use the plant growth-promoting agent
in the period from the seeding of seeds to the raising of the seedlings or a
predetermined period from the settled planting of breeding plants, i.e. an
early phase of plant-growth in the settled planting of breeding plants. It is
difficult for plants to grow and extend roots sufficiently to absorb nutrition
in the period. from the germination to early growth or under a
disadvantageous condition for the growth, e.g. under high temperatures or
low temperatures.
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention exhibits
remarkable growth-promoting effects on the entire plant including the
roots. Ubiquinone is a lipid-soluble, substance, thus can be- absorbed from
the plant body in addition to the roots, and thus is extremely effective.
The early stage or phase of plant growth varies depending on the kind, the
cultivation method and the cultivation condition of the plant to be applied,
but is generally within 3 months from germination. The harsh conditions
for plant growth vary depending on various conditions and generally
- includes the temperature condition which is more than 5 C higher or lower
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than the optimal temperature for cultivation of a plant.
A form of use of the plant growth-promoting agent of the present
invention is not particularly limited. The form used in the art can be
appropriately adopted. For example, the plant growth-promoting agent of
the present invention can be contained in the carrier for plant cultivation.
Here, the carrier for plant cultivation refers to the soil, a medium or water
in hydroponics. That is, it can be exemplified to disperse the plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention in the soil, contain the
plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention in the medium, or
add the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention to the
water for hydroponics. The plant growth-promoting agent of the present
invention may be sprayed or scattered on the plant body. The seeds of
the plant and the roots of the plant seedling or a portion of the seedling,
including the roots, may be immersed in the plant growth-promoting agent
of the present invention or the liquid containing the plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention. The usable forms of the
plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention are not limited
thereto.
Effects of the Invention
The plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention exerts
extremely excellent effects in that not only is the growth of the aerial parts
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of the plant bodies such as stems, leaves, flowers and so on promoted, but
the growth of the underground parts such as roots is also promoted, at a
low concentration and with no concentration disorder. The plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be prepared without
requiring a significant amount of effort and time, is lower in environmental
pollution, is highly safe, and is harmless to the human body. Thus, the
plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention can be used for not
only ordinary fields and rice paddies, but also for multi-cultivation,
facility
cultivation, hydroponic cultivation, and crop rotation farms. The plant
growth-promoting agent of the present invention has the germination
promoting action, and thus is also a germination promoting agent.
EXAMPLES
The present invention will be more specifically described below with
examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
(Example 1) Preparation of plant growth-promoting agent
First, 1.25 g of water-solubilized coenzyme Q10 (Aqua Q10-P40
containing coenzyme Q10 in an amount of 40% by mass manufactured by
Nisshin Pharma Inc.) was diluted using 500 ml of city water to prepare a
solution of 1000 ppm of coenzyme Q10. This was diluted with city water
to prepare a growth-promoting agent in a solubilized form containing
coenzyme Q10 (sometimes described as CoQ10) in the amount of 10 ppm
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or 100 ppm.
(Growth promotion effect test I of water-solubilized coenzyme Q10)
A Kimtowel was matted on a petri dish, 100 mL of a
growth-promoting agent in Example 1 was poured thereon, and 20 seeds
of radish sprouts (produced by Noguchi Seed and Seedling Laboratory)
were placed thereon. This petri dish was stored at room temperature
under a light shielding condition. After 7 days, the sprouts were collected,
and a total length and a root length of the radish sprouts were measured.
The results are shown in Table 1. The control data was obtained by
measuring the total length of the plant in the same way as described above,
except that city water was used in place of the growth-promoting agent
(the control data described below was obtained by the same way described
above).
Table 1
Concentration Total length Measured
value
of CoQ10 Measured Growth rate
value of root
(cm) (cm)
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Control 10.0 2.2
Example 1 10 ppm 12.4 24.0 3.5
Example 1 100 ppm 11.1 11.0 2.8
Numerical values in the Table represent a mean of measured values unless
otherwise explained (Numerical values in the Table described below
represent the same described above).
A growth rate was calculated based on the following formula (Numerical A
growth rate was calculated by the same way described above):
[(A-B)/B]x100,
wherein A denotes a measured value of the total length of the plant
cultivated in the presence of the growth- promoting agent containing
coenzyme Q10, and B denotes a measured value of the total length of the
plant as the control plant.
From the results in Table 1, it has been found that the plant
growth-pi-omoting agent of the present invention very strongly promotes
plant-growth in the germination phase. This plant growth promoting
effect was observed in not only stems but also in roots. Thus, it has been
found that the plant growth-promoting agent of the present invention has
the action to promote growth efficiently in the entire plant. Even at a high
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CA 02692527 2009-11-30
concentration of 100 ppm of coenzyme Q10, the plant growth-promoting
agent of the present invention had the growth promoting action without
causing a concentration disorder. Further, coenzyme Q10 was not
precipitated.
(Example 2) Preparation of growth-promoting agent
First, 5 g of water-solubilized coenzyme Q10 (Aqua Q10-L10
containing coenzyme Q10 in an amount of 10% by mass manufactured by
Nisshin Pharma Inc.) was diluted using 500 m) of city water to prepare a
solution of 1000 ppm coenzyme Q10. This was diluted with city water to
prepare a growth-promoting agent in the solubilized form containing
coenzyme Q10 in the amount of 1 ppm.
(Growth promotion effect test II under high temperature condition)
A Kimtowel was matted on a petri dish, 100 mL of the
growth-promoting agent in Example 2 was poured thereon, and 20 seeds
of radish sprouts (produced by Noguchi Seed and Seedling Laboratory)
were placed thereon. This petri dish was stored at 35 C under the light
shielding condition. After 8 days, the sprouts were collected, and the total
length and the root length of the radish sprouts were measured. A
number of germinated seeds was counted.
The results are shown in Table 2.
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(Comparative Example 1)
The test was conducted in the same way as above, except that a
comparative growth-promoting agent obtained by removing only coenzyme
Q10 from the growth-promoting agent in Example 2 was used in place of
5' the growth-promoting agent. The total length and the root length of the
radish sprouts collected after 8 days were measured. The number of
germinated seeds was counted.
The results are shown in Table 2.
Table 2
Concentration Total length Measured Germination
value
of CoQ10 Measured Growth rate
value rate of root
(%)
(cm)
(cm) (%)
Control 1.9 0.5 20
Comparative 0 ppm 1.2 0.5 15
Example 1
Example 2 1 ppm 4.1 115.8 0.9 75
CA 02692527 2009-11-30
. Numerical values of the total length and root columns in the Table
represent a mean of respective measured values of the radish sprouts.
The numerical values of the germination rate column in the Table represent,
a percentage of germinated seeds in the seeds placed on the petri dish.
(Example 3) Preparation of growth-promoting agent
A growth-promoting agent in the solubilized form containing
coenzyme Q10 in the amount of 1 ppm was prepared in the same manner
as Example 1.
(Growth promotion effect test III under low temperature condition)
A Kimtowel was matted on a petri dish, 100 mL of the
growth-promoting agent in Example 3 was poured thereon, and 20 seeds
of radish sprouts (produced by Noguchi Seed and Seedling Laboratory)
were placed thereon. This petri dish was stored at room temperature
under the light shielding condition for 3 days to germinate, and then stored
at 15 C under the light shielding condition. After 4 days, the sprouts were
collected, and the total length and the root length of the radish sprouts
were measured.
The results are shown in Table 3.
(Comparative Example 2)
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CA 02692527 2009-11-30
. . ,
The test was conducted in the same way as above, except that a
comparative growth-promoting agent obtained by removing only coenzyme
Q10 from the growth-promoting agent in Example 3 was used in place of
the growth-promoting agent. The total. length and the root length of the
radish sprouts collected were measured.
The results are shown in Table 3.
Table 3
Concentration Total length Measured
value
of CoQ10 Measured Growth
value rate (%) of root (cm)
(cm)
Control 8.0 1.1
Comparative 0 ppm 8.8 1.3
Example 2
Example 3 1 ppm 10.9 36.3 2.4
It has been found that the plant growth-promoting agent containing
ubiquinone of the present invention very strongly promotes plant growth
as well as promotes the germination even under a harsh environment,
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CA 02692527 2009-11-30
= ~. ,
such as the high temperature load condition in Example 2 and the low
temperature load condition in Example 3. It has been also found that the
plant growth-promoting agent of the. present invention efficiently promotes
the growth of the entire plant, including the stem and the root as is the
case with Example 1. It has also been found that the above actions are
exerted by virtue of ubiquinone because no effect was observed in
Comparative Examples in which the concentration of coenzyme Q10 was 0
PPm=
(Examples 4 to 7)
(Growth promotion effect test IV of water-solubilized coenzyme
Q10)
The required number of petri dishes was prepared, the Kimtowel
was matted on the each petri dish, 100 mL of the growth-promoting agent
in Example 3 was poured thereon, and 40 seeds (produced by Noguchi
Seed and Seedling Laboratory) of the plants described in Table 4 were
placed thereon. These petri dishes were stored at room temperature
under the light shielding condition. After 7 days, sprouts were collected,
and the total length of the plants described in Table 4 was measured.
The results are shown in Table 4.
Table 4
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J ~
Example Plant Measured value (cm) Growth increase
rate (%)
CoQ10 Control
Example 4 Komatsuna 8.87 7.67 15.6
Example 5 Crown daisy 5.46 4.63 17.9
Example 6 Burdock 4.96 4.40 12.7
Example 7 Spinach 4.22 3.82 10.5
The growth rate was calculated bas'ed on the following formula (A growth
rate was calculated by the same way described above ):
[(A-B)/B]x100,
wherein A denotes a measured value of the total length of the plant
cultivated in the presence of the growth-promoting agent containing CoQ10,
and B denotes the measured value of the total length of the plant as the
control.
(Examples 8 to 12)
(Growth promotion effect test V of water-solubilized coenzyme Q10)
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The required number of petri dishes was prepared, and the
growth-promoting effect on seeds (produced by Noguchi Seed and Seedling
Laboratory) of the plants described in Table 5 was examined in the same
way as in Growth promotion effect test IV of water-solubilized coenzyme
Q10. The measurement results of the total length of each plant are shown
in Table 5.
30 seeds of wheat were examined. Buckwheat and snow peas
were stored at room temperature under the light shielding condition, and
collected after 8 days. Spinach was stored at room temperature under the
light shielding condition, and collected after 9 days.
Table 5
Example Plant Measured value (cm) Growth increase
rate (%)
CoQ10 Control
Example 8 Green onions 3.02 2.53 19.4
Example 9 Chives 2.90 2.37 22.4
Example 10 Snow peas 29.31 25.03 17.1
Example 11 Buckwheat 25.01 22.17 12.8
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Example 12 Wheat 14.16 9.79 44.6
(Example 13)
450 g of low-humic andosols, ammonium sulfate and ammonium
chloride as nitrogen components in the amount corresponding to 100 mg,
0.5 g of superphosphate of lime and 0.2 g of potassium chloride were
mixed, then 1.2 g of water-solubilized coenzyme Q10 (Aqua Q10-P40 in a
powder form manufactured by Nisshin Pharma Inc.) as water-solubilized
ubiquinone was added thereto, and the mixture was further mixed. This
mixture could be prepared with ordinary andosol, and the plant could be
grown in a pot.
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