Main characteristics of Phytohormones

Endogenous: Plant hormones are endogenous substances produced by the plant’s own metabolism, also called endogenous hormones.

Mobility: Plant hormones are mobile and can be transferred to other parts of the plant after production to exert their regulatory effects. The speed and manner in which different plant hormones move vary depending on their species and the characteristics of the plant organ.

Regulatory: Phytohormones have regulatory effects and control the growth and development of plants by regulating their own concentration. Phytohormones can regulate plants through positive and negative feedback mechanisms. For example, high concentrations of auxin inhibit the growth of lateral buds, while low concentrations of auxin promote the growth of terminal buds.

Significant effect: Although the content of plant hormones in plants is very low, usually measured in nanograms and micrograms, they can significantly increase their effectiveness.

    Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide

    Biodegradable chitin is the second-most abundant natural polysaccharide, widely existing in the exoskeletons of crabs, shrimps, insects, and the cell walls of fungi. Chitosan and chitooligosaccharide (COS, also named chitosan oligosaccharide) are the two most important deacetylated derivatives of chitin. Compared with chitin, chitosan and COS not only have more satisfactory physicochemical properties but also exhibit additional biological activities, which cause them to be widely applied in the fields of food, medicine, and agriculture.

    Paecilomyces lilacinus-biocontrol for nematodes

    Paecilomyces lilacinus is one of the egg parasitic fungi associated with the eggs of root-knot and cyst nematodes which has shown bright scope for use as an effective biocontrol agent against nematodes and termed as “opportunistic fungus” becasuse it parasitizes some stages of nematodes wherever it gets an opportunity to come in contact. By adaptation, it is not nematode feeder (nematophagous). It infects, colonizes and consumes reproductive structures of root-knot and cyst nematodes at sedentary stages of its life cycle.

    For more about Paecilomyces lilacinus from Lin Chemical International,

    Paecilomyces lilacinus

    Rhamnolipids applications

    As fungicide: 

    The finished product of Rhamnolipids may be applied as a foliar spray, fog, drench, soil or growing media drench, preplant spray or mist on seeds, bulbs, cuttings, and transplants, in closed hydroponics systems, and through irrigation systems. To prevention and control of plant pathogenic fungi on root, bulb, tuber and cane crops. 

    As insecticide: A Microscopy analyses of aphids treated with dirhamnolipid revealed that dirhamnolipid caused insect death by affecting cuticle membranes of M. persicae. Rhamnolipid shows potential for use as a insecticide to control agricultural pests. 

    Soil modifier: Can deal with PAHs, (PH value 4.5-7) and remove heavy metal ions, (PH value 8-10). Sugessted dosage: 0.5-4%. Same time can regulate the PH value on alkaline soil to improve harden soil. 

    As chelate agent: With good chelate ability of metal ion chelating and even stronger than EDTA sometimes. Can be used as chaleting agent in foliar fertilizers to increase the usage of nutrition elements like Ca, Zn, Fe, and so on. According to reports Rhamnolipids either increased total plant uptake of Zn from the soil or increased Zn translocation by reducing the prevalence of insoluble Zn-phytate-like compounds in roots.

    Biosurfactants

    Biosurfactants are surface-active agents produced by biological systems, mainly microorganisms. They contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that which remain distributed at the interfaces between liquid phases with different degrees of polarity (oil/water), causing a reduction in both surface and interfacial tension which is an important aspect of lubrication and solubilization.

    The structure and characteristic of the biosurfactants varies from one organism to another. They are easily degraded by bacteria in water and soil, hence they are appropriate for use in bioremediation processes. Biosurfactants are classified into five major groups:

    • Glycolipids, like rhamnolipids produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sophorolipids from Candida
    • Lipopeptides produced by Bacillus subtilis
    • Lipopolysaccharides, from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
    • Phospholipids, obtained from Corynebacterium lepus
    • Fatty acids and neutral lipids

    Kasugamycin and applications

    Kasugamycin is an antibiotic product. Its function is to interfere with the esterase system of growth-promoting cells, thereby affecting protein synthesis, inhibiting mycelium elongation and causing granulation, but has no effect on spore germination , pollution-free and other characteristics, is an environmentally friendly green bio-pesticides.

    Kasugamycin was first used on rice blast, and its control effect can reach more than 80%. With the promotion and application, at present, Kasugamycin has been widely used in various crops such as rice, tobacco, potato, cucumber, watermelon, tomato, celery, sorghum, pepper, kidney bean, peach tree, peach tree, litchi, cabbage, etc. It can prevent fungal diseases such as celery early blight, rice blast, citrus gummosis, tomato leaf mold, caltrop flax spot, peach tree brown spot perforation, citrus gummosis, sand skin disease, etc., as well as tomato canker, bluegrass blight, cucumber bacterial angular spot, potato ring rot, pepper bacterial scab, Chinese cabbage soft rot and other bacterial diseases.

    Classification of defoamers

    Commonly used defoamers can be divided into silicone (resin), surfactants, paraffins and mineral oils according to their components.

    1. Silicon (resin)

    Silicone resin defoamer, also known as emulsion type defoamer, is used by emulsifying and dispersing silicone resin in water with an emulsifier (surfactant) and then adding it to wastewater. Silica fine powder is another silicon defoamer with better defoaming effect.

    1. Surfactants

    This type of defoamer is actually an emulsifier, which uses the dispersing effect of a surfactant to keep the foam-forming substance dispersed in a stable emulsified state in water, thereby avoiding the formation of foam.

    1. Paraffins

    Paraffinic defoamer is a defoamer made by emulsifying and dispersing paraffinic wax or its derivatives with an emulsifier. Its use is similar to that of surfactant-based emulsified defoamers.

    1. Mineral oil

    Mineral oil is the main defoaming ingredient. In order to improve the effect, sometimes metal soap, silicone oil, silicon dioxide and other substances are mixed together. In addition, various surfactants can sometimes be added to make the mineral oil easily spread to the surface of the foaming liquid, or to evenly disperse the metal soap in the mineral oil.

    Bacillus subtilis

    Fungicide products containing Bacillus subtilis can be used to control tomato gray mold, rice blast, wheat powdery mildew, citrus green mold, tobacco black shank and cabbage soft rot and other diseases.

    Studies have found that Bacillus subtilis can secrete antibiotics, cell wall degrading enzymes, chitinase and other substances to inhibit the germination of pathogenic fungal spores and the growth of hyphae. Substances digest mycelia, dissolve spore cell walls, etc.

    A number of Bacillus strain resources have been found so far, and these strains can effectively control rapeseed clubroot, potato black shank, wheat head blight, cucumber corynesporium leaf spot, cucumber anthracnose, sweet potato stem rot, and tomato rot. Leaf spot and tomato powdery mildew etc.