| abstract |
(A) Plant-growth regulating compsn. contains >=1 cycloalkanoic acid deriv. of formula (I) (R = OH, alkoxy, aralkoxy, amino (opt. mono-or di-alkyl substd.) or O encircled negative M encircled positive; R1 = NH2, NHCOR2 or N encircled positive H3X encircled negative; n = 1-5; M+ = equiv. of an alkali or alkaline earth metal or NQ+4; each Q is H or alkyl; R2 = H, alkyl or aryl; and X is chloro, bromo or iodo). (B) Cpds. of formula (Ia) are new: (R3 is as R but not OH; R4 = NH2, NHCOR5 or N encircled positive H3X1 encircled negative; R5 = H (if R3 is not = ethoxy), alkyl (if R3 is not = methoxy) or aryl; X1 encircled negative is iodo, bromo, or, if R3 is not = ethoxy, chloro). (I) are more active than known regulators such as 2-chloroethyl-trimethylammonium chloride. Typical responses, depending on time and amt. of application, include inhibition of vegetative growth e.g. in cereals and grasses; increasing sugar content of beet or protein content of soya; induction of parthenocarpic fruiting; stimulation of latex in rubber trees; inhibition of side shoots in tobacco; as dessicants for vines or cotton; as fruit ripening or abscission agents, and to protect against frost and drought. |