Methods and compositions to defoliate crop plants and minimize plant regrowth following defoliation

US6562758B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• John R. Evans · Valencia, US
• Richard Roger Evans · Schifferstadt, DE
• Anita Harrell · Apex, US
• Wade W. Stewart · Brandon, US
• Dave King · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 1999
• Grant date: May 13, 2003
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01N61/00
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Concurrent or sequential application of an auxin transport inhibitor and a defoliating agent synergistically improve defoliation of crop plants and minimize crop plant regrowth. Preferably, the auxin transport inhibitor is a semicarbazone compound. The defoliating agent may be an ethylene response or ethylene-type response agent such as a phosphonic acid derivative. Most preferably, the semicarbazone compound is diflufenzopyr and the phosphonic acid derivative is ethephon (i.e., ethephon (2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid).