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: The present invention relates to solutions of CIPC and of one or more terpenes or terpene oils for the antigerminative treatment of bulbs and tubers. This use is particularly appropriate for the treatment of potato tubers. The CIPC solution contains from 50 to 80% by weight of CIPC relative to the total volume of the solution. Examples of the terpenes and terpene oils are eugenol, isoeugenol, clove oil and their salts and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Introducing chlorine dioxide solution into an agricultural soil in an amount effective to suspend weed and pathogen growth in the soil. The chlorine dioxide is allowed to decompose in the soil. Then, a crop is planted in the treated soil. The decomposed chlorine dioxide provides nutrients for the crops as they grow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method of treating bulbs or tubers with L-carvone and/or mint oil by thermal fogging.

Abstract: The invention describes a general method of controlling and/or substantially eliminating weeds by applying compositions comprising chloride ion-containing compounds having chloride concentrations that effectively control the growth of and/or substantially eliminate weedy species such as bermudagrass and other grassy and broadleaved weeds, without harming salt-tolerant grasses such as Seashore paspalum or the environment. The compositions may also include chelants or other additives that enhance movement of the composition into the weedy species shoots and other grass components for control as well as other chemicals or compounds applied prior to or after application of the compositions to control and eliminate weedy species. The methods of the invention are particularly useful in developing, managing and maintaining golf courses, vegetative or seed production fields, sports fields, lawns, landscapes and any other paspalum plantings (e.g., forages, land stabilization, bioremediation).

Abstract: Propargyl bromide is effectively stabilized against shock or thermal decomposition by use therewith of an environmentally acceptable inert liquid solvent that forms an azeotrope with propargyl bromide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of retarding rootlet formation from one or more plants in a medium that can support the growth thereof, which method includes introducing into the medium a growth inhibiting effective amount of a growth inhibitor which comprises corn steep liquor. In other embodiments, the growth inhibitor is a mixture of a growth medium and lactic acid. In preferred embodiments, the present invention further provides a malting composition that includes a fermentable grain and a growth inhibitor, wherein the growth inhibitor is present in an amount effective to retard rootlet formation.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and methods of improving a plant growth factor. The compositions and methods contain combinations of aminoethoxyvinylglycine and mepiquat chloride. The compositions provide an improvement in a plant growth factor, such as an increase in yield in cotton plant.

Abstract: Plant growth regulator (PGR) compositions include a plant growth regulating effective mixture of (A) a N,N-dimethyl piperidinium salt (preferably, mepiquat chloride), (B) a hexitol (preferably, myo-inositol), and optionally (C) a compound which promotes cytokinesis in plant cells (i.e., a cytokinin). The hexitol and cytokinin are most preferably provided collectively in the composition by the presence of an effective amount of coconut milk. Synergistic results in terms of enhanced cotton lint yields are obtained by applying the PGR compositions of this invention to growing cotton plants.

Abstract: Plant growth regulator (PGR) compositions include a plant growth regulating effective mixture of (A) a N,N-dimethyl piperidinium salt (preferably, mepiquat chloride), (B) a hexitol (preferably, myo-inositol), and optionally (C) a compound which. promotes cytokinesis in plant cells (i.e., a cytokinin). The hexitol and cytokinin are most preferably provided collectively in the composition by the presence of an effective amount of coconut milk. Synergistic results in terms of enhanced cotton lint yields are obtained by applying the PGR compositions of this invention to growing cotton plants.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method of lily bulb dwarfing treatment which can be performed before planting, be practiced easily and permit to obtain a uniform dwarfing effect without any special experience and to provide thus dwarfing treated lily bulbs.Namely, according to the present invention, lily bulbs are submitted to the sprouting treatment, then thus sprouted lily bulbs are soaked in a dwarfing agent.

Abstract: Osmo-adjusting solutes, particularly polyols and/or monosaccharides, are used to control the growth of plants. In particular, aqueous solutions of sorbitol or xylitol are used to reduce plant height and increase stem diameter. The solutions preferably include between about 0.05 and about 25 weight percent of the osmo-adjusting solute, and are applied to the root zone by drenching regularly or prior to transplanting. The solutions are also shown to be effective for conditioning plants for hardiness against certain environmental and handling stresses.

Abstract: This invention relates to substituted bicycloheptadione derivatives with high herbicidal activity which are represented by general formula (I) ##STR1## (where R.sup.1 is a lower alkyl group, a phenyl group which may be substituted, an aralkyl group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted;R.sup.2 is, same or different, a halogen, an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an alkyl group, an alkoxyalkyl group, or an alkoxylcarbonyl group, and n is 0 to 4;R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, same or different, hydrogen or a lower alkyl group).