US4812159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Plant growth regulators derived from chitin
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-03-13
•
Granted: 1989-03-14
•
Expires: 2007-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A plant growth regulating composition comprising chitosan and a non-phytotoxic acid in the form of an aqueous solution or a blend of dry powders. The composition may be applied to the soil in which seeds are to be planted, the seeds themselves, or the foilage of an emerging plant.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald E. Freepons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:48
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01N; A01N43/00; A01N43/02; A01N43/04; A01N43/14; A01N43/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: dissolving chitosan in glutamic acid to produce an aqueous solution comprising 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume chitosan and 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume of glutamic acid, and distributing said aqueous solution in soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: dissolving chitosan in glutamic acid to produce an aqueous solution comprising 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume chitosan and 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume of glutamic acid, and distributing said aqueous solution in soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said chitosan comprises 2% by volume of said aqueous solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 1 wherein chitosan comprises 2% by volume of the aqueous solution and glutamic acid comprises 2% by weight of the aqueous solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution is distributed in the soil such that between approximately 10 grams of chitosan and approximately 1,000 grams of chitosan are applied per acre of soil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 4 wherein approximately 30 grams of chitosan and 30 grams of glutamic acid are applied per acre of soil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 4 wherein approximately 30 grams of chitosan are applied per acre of soil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: dissolving chitosan in glutamic acid to produce an aqueous solution comprising 0.1% by volume of 10% by volume chitosan and 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume of glutamic acid, and applying said aqueous solution to plant seeds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: dissolving chitosan in glutamic acid to produce an aqueous solution comprising 0.1% by volume of 10% by volume chitosan and 0.1% by volume to 10% by volume of glutamic acid, and applying said aqueous solution to plant seeds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said chitosan comprises 2% by volume of said aqueous solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said aqueous solution is applied to the plant seeds by a metered spray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 7 wherein approximately 12 grams of chitosan are applied to approximately 50 pounds of plant seed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said plant seeds may be chosen from the group consisting of rice, wheat, barley, oat and sorghum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 7 wherein said aqueous solution is applied to said plant seeds by soaking the plants seeds in the solution for up to approximately 24 hours.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 wherein approximately 12 grams of chitosan and approximately 12 grams of glutamic acid are applied per 50 pounds of plant seed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 wherein chitosan comprises 2% by volume of the aqueous solution and glutamic acid comprises 2% by weight of the aqueous solution.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
82 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: grinding dry chitosan to powder form with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, blending said ground form of chitosan with a dry form of glutamic acid with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, such that the weight ratio of chitosan glutamic acid is between about 1:10 and 10:1, and distributing the blend in soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
82 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: grinding dry chitosan to powder form with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, blending said ground form of chitosan with a dry form of glutamic acid with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, such that the weight ratio of chitosan glutamic acid is between about 1:10 and 10:1, and distributing the blend in soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 15 wherein the ground chitosan has an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and 30 μm, and the glutamic acid has an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and 30 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 16 wherein the weight ratio of chitosan to glutamic acid is about 1:1.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said blend of chitosan and glutamic acid is distributed in the soil such that between approximately 10 grams of chitosan and approximately 1,000 grams of chitosan are applied per acre.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 18 wherein approximately 30 grams of chitosan is applied per acre of soil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: grinding dry chitosan to powder form with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm; blending said ground form of chitosan with a dry form of glutamic acid with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, such that the weight ratio of chitosan to glutamic acid is between about 1:10 and 10:1, and applying the blend to dampened plant seeds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising: grinding dry chitosan to powder form with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm; blending said ground form of chitosan with a dry form of glutamic acid with an average particle diameter between about 0.5 μm and 100 μm, such that the weight ratio of chitosan to glutamic acid is between about 1:10 and 10:1, and applying the blend to dampened plant seeds.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The process of claim 20 wherein the ground chitosan has an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and 30 μm, and the glutamic acid has an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and 30 μm.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said blend is applied to the dampened plant seeds by metered spray.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said blend is applied to the dampened seeds by mixing the blend and the dampened seeds in a tumbling device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 20 wherein approximately 12 grams of chitosan are applied to approximately 50 pounds of plant seed.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 20 wherein said plant seeds may be chosen from the group consisting of rice, wheat, barley, oat and sorghum.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising applying a ground powder with an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and about 30 μm obtained from the residue of an evaporated, concentrated aqueous solution comprising about 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and about 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid in the soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising applying a ground powder with an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and about 30 μm obtained from the residue of an evaporated, concentrated aqueous solution comprising about 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and about 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid in the soil in which plants will be grown, in the seed planting zone.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 26 wherein chitosan and glutamic acid are present in equal volume percentages.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 26 wherein the ground powder is applied to the soil such that between approximately 10 grams of chitosan and approximately 1,000 grams of chitosan are applied per acre.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 28 wherein approxiamtely 30 grams of chitosan are applied per acre.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising applying a ground powder with an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and about 30 μm obtained from the residue of an evaporated, concentrated aqueous solution comprising about 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and about 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid to dampened plant seeds.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process for regulating plant growth comprising applying a ground powder with an average particle diameter between about 10 μm and about 30 μm obtained from the residue of an evaporated, concentrated aqueous solution comprising about 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and about 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid to dampened plant seeds.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 30 wherein chitosan and glutamic acid are present in equal volume percentages.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 30 wherein the ground powder is applied to dampened seeds by metered spray.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 30 wherein the ground powder is applied to dampened seeds by mixing the powder and the dampened seeds in a tumbling device.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 30 wherein approximately 12 grams of chitosan are applied to approximately 50 pounds of seed.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
35 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising an aqueous solution comprising between about 0.1% by volume and about 10% by volume chitosan and between about 0.1% by volume and about 10% by volume of glutamic acid.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
35 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising an aqueous solution comprising between about 0.1% by volume and about 10% by volume chitosan and between about 0.1% by volume and about 10% by volume of glutamic acid.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
The plant growth regulating composition of claim 35 wherein chitosan comprises about 2% of said aqueous solution and glutamic acid comprises about 2% of said aqueous solution.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising a blend of chitosan in powder form and glutamic acid in powder form, and chitosan and glutamic acid being in a weight ratio of between about 1:10 and about 10:1.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising a blend of chitosan in powder form and glutamic acid in powder form, and chitosan and glutamic acid being in a weight ratio of between about 1:10 and about 10:1.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
The plant growth regulating composition of claim 37 wherein chitosan and glutamic acid are present in a weight ratio of about 1:1.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
The plant growth regulating composition of claim 37 wherein the average particle diameter of chitosan is between about 0.5 μm and about 100 μm and the average particle diameter of glutamic acid is between about 0.5 μm and about 100 μm.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The plant growth regulating composition of claim 39 wherein the average particle diameter of chitosan is between about 10 μm and about 30 μm.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising the ground residue from the evaporation of a concentrated aqueous solution comprising 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
A plant growth regulating composition comprising the ground residue from the evaporation of a concentrated aqueous solution comprising 3% by volume or greater of chitosan and 3% by volume or greater of glutamic acid.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
19 words
The Plant growth regulating composition of claim 41 wherein chitosan and glutamic acid are present in equal volume percentages.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
27 words
The plant growth regulating composition of claim 41 in which the average particle diameter of the ground residue is between about 10 μm and about 30 μm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-13 | 1992-09-12 | 1993-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-13 | 1996-09-12 | 1997-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-13 | 2000-09-12 | 2001-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |