Abstract: Plant growth accelerator comprising, as an active ingredient, 5-amino-4-hydroxypentanoic acid of formula (1) H2NCH2CH(OH)CH2CH2COOR1??(1) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a derivative thereof or a salt thereof.

Abstract: Plant growth accelerator comprising, as an active ingredient, 5-amino-4-hydroxypentanoic acid of formula (1) H2NCH2CH(OH)CH2CH2COOR1 ??(1) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a derivative thereof or a salt thereof.

Abstract: An agent for improving lawn grass quality, which is excellent in promoting dwarfing of lawn grass, making the stem sturdy, increasing the leaf count, and improving greenness, is provided. An agent for improving lawn grass quality containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1): R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, or a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor.

Abstract: There is provided an agent for improving the growth of seedlings, having effects of raising healthy rice seedlings, such as increase of the tillering number, increase of root weight, enhancement of greenness, and increase of stem thickness. An agent for improving the growth of rice seedlings containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1), a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group.

Abstract: A means for enhancing the yield of a harvesting part of a crop is provided. A yield enhancing agent for a harvesting part selected from the group consisting of seed, fruit, hypocotyl, root and stem in a crop, the yield enhancing agent comprising: 5-aminolevulic acid or a derivative thereof represented by the following formula (1), or a salt thereof; and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3 (1), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, wherein the yield enhancing agent is an agent to be applied at the time when the harvesting part of the crop becomes enlarged.

Abstract: There is provided an agent for improving the growth of seedlings, having effects of raising healthy rice seedlings, such as increase of the tillering number, increase of root weight, enhancement of greenness, and increase of stem thickness. An agent for improving the growth of rice seedlings containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1), a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group.

Abstract: An agent for improving lawn grass quality, which is excellent in promoting dwarfing of lawn grass, making the stem sturdy, increasing the leaf count, and improving greenness, is provided. An agent for improving lawn grass quality containing, as active ingredients, 5-aminolevulinic acid represented by formula (1): R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3??(1) wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, or a derivative thereof or a salt of the acid or the derivative, and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor.

Abstract: A means for enhancing the yield of a harvesting part of a crop is provided. A yield enhancing agent for a harvesting part selected from the group consisting of seed, fruit, hypocotyl, root and stem in a crop, the yield enhancing agent comprising: 5-aminolevulic acid or a derivative thereof represented by the following formula (1), or a salt thereof; and a gibberellin biosynthesis inhibitor: R2R1NCH2COCH2CH2COR3 (1), wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group; and R3 represents a hydroxyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyloxy group, an aryloxy group, an aralkyloxy group or an amino group, wherein the yield enhancing agent is an agent to be applied at the time when the harvesting part of the crop becomes enlarged.

Abstract: A strut-type suspension apparatus for a vehicle has a lower arm composed of a lateral arm (31) and a compression arm (60). One end of the lateral arm is swingably connected to a hub carrier that supports the wheel (1), and the other end thereof is swingably connected to a vehicle body (2). One end of the compression arm is swingably connected to the lateral arm at a first junction (50, 54) at the hub-carrier-side end portion of the lateral arm, and the other end thereof is swingably connected to the vehicle body at a second junction (70) separated from the other end of the lateral arm in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. When an external force acts on the wheel, the other end of the compression arm is displaced along a straight line connecting the first and second junctions. The suspension apparatus is compact and highly durable.

Abstract: A method for treating plants with a plant growth promoter comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. This treatment method is effective in enhancing the photosynthetic activity of a plant, enhancing its ability to absorb CO.sub.2, suppressing its respiration, increasing its chlorophyll content and promoting its growth. As a result, the treatment greatly contributes to the promotion of rooting, the reduction of lodging, an increase in yield, an improvement in cold resistance, maintenance of freshness, an improvement and maintenance of green color, the growth of good seedlings, the promotion of organs, an increase in tillers, a shortening of the time required for growth, a relief of chemical damage and an increase in the rooting ratio in, for example, cutting.

Abstract: There are disclosed a herbicidal composition containing, as an active ingredient, a phenoxyalkylamide derivative represented by the formula ##STR1## wherein X, n, Y, Z, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the same meanings as defined in the specification, and a method for controlling weeds by the use of the same. The herbicidal composition according to this invention shows a superior weed-killing activity by pre- and post-emergence treatment in soil.

Abstract: A pirimidinyloxyalkanamide derivative of Formula 1: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkylthio group, a lower alkenylthio group, a lower alkynylthio group, a halogenated lower alkenylthio group, a cycloalkylthio group, an aroxyalkylthio group, a lower alkoxyl group, an amino group, a methanesulfonyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, an anilino group which may be substituted with a halogen atom or a benzylthio group which may be substituted with a halogen atom; R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a trifluoromethyl group, an amino group, a lower alkoxy group or a lower alkylthio group; R.sub.3 represents an ethyl group or an n-propyl group; and R.sub.

Abstract: An amide compound of formula 1: ##STR1## wherein R is 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl, 1,4-dihydro-1-naphthyl or 3,4-dihydro-1-naphthyl; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or methyl; R.sub.2 is hydrogen or an alkyl; Ar is a phenylene group; and X is hydrogen, a halogen, methyl or methoxy. This amide is useful as a herbicide.

Abstract: Substituted 1,3-dibenzylureas are represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, an iodine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a methyl group or a methoxy group. These compounds are used as a herbicidal composition comprising at least one of said compounds and a carrier, if desired, together with a suitable adjuvant.

Abstract: Compound of the formula, ##STR1## wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a lower alkoxyl group, R.sup.1 is a methyl group or an ethyl group, R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group or an allyl group, and each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4, independently, is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group or an ethyl group; provided that R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are not methyl groups simultaneously when both X and R.sup.2 are hydrogen atoms, and compositions containing these compounds exhibit herbicidal activity.