PROTEIN COMPOSITIONS FOR PLANT TREATMENT
Disclosed herein are methods of accelerating root growth in a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant root a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant. Also disclosed herein are methods of improving the foliar uptake of a biologically active compound by a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant foliage a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant.
1 . A method of accelerating root growth in a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant root a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby root growth is accelerated as compared to an untreated plant.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture of proteins is obtained from fermentation of yeast.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the fermentation is aerobic fermentation.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kluyeromyces maxianus, Kluyeromyces lactus, Candida utilis (Torula yeast), Zygosaccharomyces , and Pichia and Hansanula.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein mixture comprises stress proteins or heat shock proteins.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fermentation process further comprises subjecting the fermentation mixture to additional stress following the fermentation process.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the additional stress is selected from the group consisting of overheating, starvation, overfeeding, oxidative stress, mechanical stress, and chemical stress.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is non-ionic.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is anionic.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic/non-ionic surfactant blend.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the growth of fine root hairs is accelerated.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shoot growth of the plant is accelerated.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the water and nutrient uptake of the plant is accelerated.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wetting of growth media is improved.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the growth media is soil.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein water retention is improved.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shoot growth is slowed and root growth is enhanced.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shoot growth is enhanced once root growth achieves a level of maturity.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein rinsing of salt build-up in soil is improved.
20 . A method of improving the foliar uptake of a biologically active compound by a plant, the method comprising applying to the plant foliage a composition comprising a) a mixture of proteins and polypeptides, and b) a surfactant, whereby protein/surfactant composition enhances the efficacy of the biologically active compound.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the composition further comprises the biologically active compound.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the mixture of proteins is obtained from fermentation of yeast.
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the fermentation is aerobic fermentation.
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the yeast is selected from the group consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Kluyeromyces maxianus, Kluyeromyces lactus, Candida utilis (Torula yeast), Zygosaccharomyces , and Pichia and Hansanula.
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein mixture comprises stress proteins or heat shock proteins.
26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the fermentation process further comprises subjecting the fermentation mixture to additional stress following the fermentation process.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the additional stress is selected from the group consisting of overheating, starvation, overfeeding, oxidative stress, mechanical stress, and chemical stress.
28 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is non-ionic.
29 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is anionic.
30 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the surfactant is an anionic/non-ionic surfactant blend.
31 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the biologically active compound is selected from the group consisting of pesticides, insecticide, nutrients, fertilizers, growth regulators, herbicides, fungicides, defoliants, anti-parasitics, and anti-pathogenics.
32 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant is improved.
33 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant leaf is improved.
34 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the penetration of the biologically active compound into the plant foliage is improved.
35 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the translocation of the biologically active compound into the plant is improved.
36 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the sticking of the biologically active compound to exterior surface of the plant is improved.
37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the exterior surface of the plant is selected from the group consisting of leaves, needles, and vegetation.