TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition, and method of use of the composition on agricultural crops.

BACKGROUND

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated that by the year 2050 the food production will have to be increased by 70% to be able to feed an additional 2.3 billion people. However, limiting factors such as extreme climate changes including frequent droughts and floods, global warming, extreme temperatures, severe cold waves and erratic monsoon and reduce cultivable land due to rapid urbanization.

It is much predictable that climate change will affect future crop productivity by causing severe cold and more frequent drought conditions and other abiotic stresses. Abiotic stresses, such as low or high temperatures, deficient or excessive water, high salinity, heavy metals and ultraviolet radiations, are hostile to the plant growth and development, leading to great loss in the crop yield. Today about 80% of the total cropped area globally is under rain-fed agriculture, and most of these areas are becoming more prone to erratic rainfall and droughts. Since, nearly 98 percent of the water absorbed by the plants is lost in transpiration, under a drought scenario reducing transpirational water losses will become necessary to obtain improved crop yield.

Reducing transpiration by using anti-transpirants may play a key role in ameliorating effects of droughts and climate change. Anti-transpirants are compounds or compositions applied to the leaves of the plants for the purpose of reducing transpirational water loss without causing a momentous change in the various important processes of the plant such as growth and photosynthesis. Anti- transpirants reduce the transpirational losses by forming an external physical barrier on the stomatai opening to retard runaway of water vapor through the stomatai opening. Thus, by using anti-transpirants, transpirational losses are minimized and limited amount of the soil moisture is utilized by the crop plants for completing its life cycle.

There are three known types of anti-transpirants, namely, film-forming, stomatai regulating, and reflectant-type.

Film-forming anti-transpirants reduce transpiration by physically impeding the flow of water vapor from plant leaves. These compounds should be non-toxic, resistant to weathering and impermeable to water vapor yet permeable to CO2 and O2. The conventional film-forming compounds do not exhibit all these characteristics. The normal plant growth may be disturbed by these films which also reduce photosynthesis. Several film-forming compounds are impermeable to water vapor and relatively impermeable to CO2. Polyethylene is permeable to O2 and CO2 but lethal to several crop plants.

The stomatai regulating anti-transpirants regulate the stomatai conductance which is the rate of gas exchange (carbon dioxide uptake) and transpiration (water loss) through the leaf stomata as determined by the density, size and degree of stomatai opening. The larger the size of the stomatai opening, the higher is the stomatai conductance, and so is the transpiration. The stomatai regulating anti-transpirants reduce the stomatai opening and increase the leaf resistance to water vapor diffusion without affecting carbon dioxide uptake.

A stomatai regulating anti-transpirant and protranspirant is taught by US Pat. No. 8093182 which teaches an anti-transpirant comprising methylglucosides with polysorbate agricultural emulsifier in aqueous solution, and a protranspirant comprising methylglucosides, ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate, diammonium- EDTA and disodium EDTA, copolymer surfactant with isopropanol in aqueous solution. Several commercially available stomatai regulating anti-transpirants include a combination of monomethyl and monoglyceryl esters of n-decenylsuccinic acid (MDSA-GDSA), 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS), and/or phenylmercuric acetate (PMA). PMA can be toxic to plants. MDSA-GDSA and 8-HQS are known to reduce transpiration by 25-35%, however, they have an adverse effect on photosynthesis (growth retardant).

Another stomatai regulating anti-transpirant is taught by US Pat. No. US9277697 which teaches increasing the turgidity of a plant by applying an anti-transpiration composition comprising a plant nutrient, a Ca2+-chelator, and a saccharide, wherein said Ca2+-chelator is a Ca2+-chelator saccharide-chelant selected from the group consisting of Ca2+-manganese-(NH4)2EDTA-alkylglycopyranoses and Ca2+- manganese-(NH4)2EDTA-acylglycopyranoses.

US Pat. No. 5589437 teaches using 5-hydroxybenzimidazole compounds for reducing transpiration in plants. Further, CN103098793 teaches an anti-transpirant composition comprising 0.5-1 % (by wt.) of sodium hydrogen sulfite, 0.5-1 % (by wt.) of calcium chloride, 0.02-0.05% (by wt.) of fulvic acid, 0.01-0.2% (by wt.) of abscisic acid and water.

Furthermore, the transpiration losses may be decreased if the energy input to foliage can be reduced. The reflectant-type anti-transpirants such as kaolinite reduce foliage surface temperature by 2 to 3°C, but affect the photosynthesis process resulting in low crop yield. Also, most of the reflectant-type anti-transpirants contain inert materials with no biostimulant properties.

There are few known anti-transpirants, and most use complex and expensive compounds. Availability and accessibility of anti-transpirants is limited, and even today many farmers especially in developing countries depend on repellents or physical barriers such as plastic films to control transpiration in plants in abiotic stress conditions. These products may help control transpiration, but often have a negative impact on photosynthesis resulting in significantly low yield. It is an object to provide an anti-transpirant which reduces transpiration without any plant injuries, and has a positive effect on photosynthesis, chlorophyll, protein content, etc. Also, plant nutrients may not be readily available to the plant in abiotic stress conditions. Hence, use of biostimulants in addition to the anti-transpirants is being practiced lately to enhance the crop yield by improving the nutrient uptake, nutrient absorption efficiency and tolerance to abiotic stresses.

Biostimulants are products that increase plant growth, resistance to water and abiotic stresses. Biostimulants could be substances or microorganisms or both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizospheres is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance their nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress.

Today, biostimulants are being considered a valuable advancement in farming techniques for their ability to enhance crop health, quality and grower profitability, and effectively contribute towards overcoming the challenges posed by the increasing demand for food.

One such biostimulant is taught by US Pat. Appl. No. 20190335758 which teaches using lipopeptide as a biostimulant for plant growth. Another biostimulant is taught by US Pat. Appl. No. 20220274893 which teaches a biostimulant agent for treating plants and/or plant seeds comprising protein hydrolysate and betaine.

Presently, anti-transpirants and biostimulants are being separately used as different products, resulting in high cultivation costs to the farmers. The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior arts and provide an economical and effective anti-transpirant that is also a plant biostimulant which helps the plants in abiotic stress conditions and also provides necessary beneficial elements for the plant growth, controls physiological disorders and improves yield.

OBJECTS

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to overcome the afore-noted deficiencies of the prior art, and provide an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops which helps the plants in abiotic stress conditions and also provides necessary beneficial elements for the plant growth, controls physiological disorders without any effect on physiological processes of plants resulting in good plant growth and health, and improves yield. An object of the present invention is also to provide a method for preparing the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition, and method of use of the composition on agricultural crops.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops which is made from easily available raw materials, is cost-effective, stable, non-phytotoxic and environment-friendly. The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition is easy-to-use, safe for environment, human, animals and birds.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition which can be used in combination with other foliar application plant protection measures, except copper-based products, to address abiotic stress condition in plants. The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition is non-phytotoxic, even in repetitive sprays at 15 days interval, and can be applied during flowering stage of plant without any effect on flowering.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

SUMMARY

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for crops comprising: 4 to 14% w/w of active components comprising 2 to 6 % w/w silicon, 2 to 6 % w/w calcium, 0.2 to 1 % w/w magnesium, 0.2 to 1 % w/w boron, and 0.03 to 0.0950 % w/w zinc; and 2 to 6% w/w stabilizer, 2 to 6% w/w dispersing agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w wetting agent, 2 to 4% w/w suspending agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w preservative, 0.05 to 0.1 % w/w gum, 0.5 to 1 % w/w antifoam agent and water. Preferably, the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition is a water-based nanoparticle active suspension.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the silicon is preferably selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, silicates, and the like. The calcium is preferably selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and the like. The zinc is preferably selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, zinc sulphate, and the like. The magnesium is preferably selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, and the like. And, the boron is preferably selected from the group consisting of boron oxide, salts of borates, and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stabilizer is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polyoxyethylene, and the like. The dispersing agent is preferably an anionic surfactant. The dispersing agent can be naphthalene sulfonate condensate. The wetting agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of sodium lignosulfonate, alkyl sulphates, alkaryl sulphates, petroleum sulphates, alkanesulphonate, and the like. The suspending agent is a cellulose derivative, preferably a modified carbohydrate polymer. More preferably, the suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and the like. The preservative is preferably selected from the group consisting of formaldehyde, ethyl alcohol, glutaraldehyde, phenoxyethanol, and the like. The gum is preferably selected from the group consisting of unflavored gelatin, xanthan gum, guar gum, and the like. The antifoam agent is preferably silicone antifoamer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition, said method comprising the steps of:

Step 1 : dissolving 0.05 to 0.1 % w/w gum in hot water at temperature of about 60 °C, adding 1 to 5 % w/w water to the dissolved gum solution, cooling the gum solution, and then adding 0.5 to 1 % w/w of preservative; Step 2: combining 2 to 6% w/w silicon, 2 to 6% w/w calcium, 0.03 to 0.095 % w/w zinc, 0.2 to 1 % w/w magnesium and 0.2 to 1 % w/w boron, to obtain a lump-free active mixture;

Step 3: stirring 2 to 6% w/w stabilizer, and while stirring adding 2 to 6% w/w dispersing agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w wetting agent, 2 to 4 % w/w suspending agent and 0.5 to 1 % w/w antifoam agent, to obtain a homogenous liquid;

Step 4: mixing the lump-free active mixture of Step 2 in the homogenous liquid of Step 3 slowly with continuous stirring to avoid any settlement of materials, and adding 25 to 40% w/w water and homogenizing the slurry to obtain a homogenized slurry;

Step 5: adding the cooled gum solution from Step 1 to the homogenized slurry of Step 4 with 5 to 8% w/w water and further homogenizing the slurry for 30 to 45 minutes in a homogenizer to obtain a homogenous active suspension;

Step 6: milling the homogenous active suspension of Step 5 in a wet mill charged with glass beads having size between 1 to 2 microns at speed of 1000 to 2000 rpm to produce a nano-particle active suspension of the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition, and checking the nano-particle active suspension for particle size distribution using 15 to 25 microns sieve until at least 90% of the particles pass through 25 microns sieve, filtering the nano-particle active suspension and checking its density, suspensibility, pH, etc., and

Step 7: diluting the nano-particle active suspension in water for agricultural use on crops as an anti-transpirant and biostimulant.

Preferably, the method comprises the step of diluting the nano-particle active suspension at a dosage of 2 to 4 ml of the nano-particle active suspension per liter of water for agricultural use on crops as an anti-transpirant and biostimulant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description of the specific embodiments herein will reveal the general nature of the embodiments of the present invention that a person skilled in the art can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications without departing from the general concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications are to be comprehended within the meaning of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

The present invention relates to an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops and method thereof. The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition of the present invention prevents transpirational water losses, maintains the plant health in abiotic stress conditions, and provides necessary beneficial elements for the plant growth to improve the crop yield.

The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition is a water-based nano-particle active suspension comprising 4 to 14% w/w actives, 2 to 6% w/w stabilizer, 2 to 6% w/w dispersing agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w wetting agent, 2 to 4% w/w suspending agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w preservative, 0.05 to 0.1 % w/w gum, 0.5 to 1% w/w antifoam agent, and water.

The actives comprise 2 to 6 % w/w silicon, 2 to 6 % w/w calcium, 0.2 to 1 % w/w magnesium, 0.2 to 1 % w/w boron, and 0.03 to 0.0950% w/w zinc. The silicon is preferably selected from silicon dioxide, silicates, and the like. The calcium is preferably selected from calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and the like. The zinc is preferably selected zinc oxide, zinc sulphate, and the like. The magnesium is preferably selected from magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium chloride, and the like. The boron is preferably selected from boron oxide, salts of borates, and the like.

The actives are blended with the stabilizer, the dispersing agent, the wetting agent, the suspending agent, the preservative, the gum and the antifoam agent. The stabilizer is preferably selected from polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyethylene oxide (PEG), polyoxyethylene (POE), and the like. The dispersing agent is preferably an anionic surfactant. The dispersing agent can be naphthalene sulfonate condensate. The wetting agent is preferably selected from sodium lignosulfonate, alkyl sulphates, alkaryl sulphates, petroleum sulphates, alkanesulphonate, and the like. The suspending agent is preferably a cellulose derivative. The cellulose derivative can be a modified carbohydrate polymer, preferably selected from methyl cellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and the like. The preservative is preferably selected from formaldehyde, ethyl alcohol, glutaraldehyde, phenoxyethanol, and the like. The gum is preferably selected from unflavored gelatin, xanthan gum, guar gum, and the like. The antifoam agent is preferably silicone antifoamer.

The actives, the stabilizer, the dispersing agent, the wetting agent, the suspending agent, the preservative, the gum, and the silicone antifoamer are homogenized in a high-speed homogenizer. The homogenized suspension is then charged in a wet mill containing fine glass beads to produce nano-particle active suspension. The nanoparticle active suspension is filtered and periodically tested for nano particles using sieve test at 15 and 25 microns, suspensibility and density. The nano-particle active suspension can be diluted at various doses from 2 to 4 ml per Itr of water for uniform foliar spray application. The water-based nano-particle active suspension can be sprayed on crops over leaf cuticle resulting in formation of very thin film that keeps the leaf surface cool and helps regulate transpiration in abiotic stress condition (severe cold or hot condition), while slow releasing the nano-particle actives to facilitate physiological process in plants resulting in improved vegetative and reproductive growth, and to overcome physiological disorders in plants. The waterbased nano-particle active suspension of the present invention has been studied to evaluate its phytotoxicity, effect as anti-transpirant (stomatai apparatus size), stress tolerance, biochemical accumulation, control of physiological disorder, and biostimulant effect on vegetative and reproduction growth (yield) of the plants without affecting physiological process.

The present invention provides a method for producing the water-based nanoparticle active suspension of the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition. The method comprises the following steps:

Step 1 : Dissolving 0.05 to 0.1% w/w gum in hot water at temperature of about 60 °C, adding 1 to 5 % w/w water to the dissolved gum solution, cooling the gum solution, and then adding 0.5 to 1 % w/w of the preservative; Step 2: combining 2 to 6% w/w silicon, 2 to 6% w/w calcium, 0.03 to 0.095 % w/w zinc, 0.2 to 1 % w/w magnesium and 0.2 to 1 % w/w boron, to obtain a lump-free active mixture;

Step 3: stirring 2 to 6% w/w stabilizer, and while stirring adding 2 to 6% w/w dispersing agent, 0.5 to 1 % w/w wetting agent, 2 to 4 % w/w suspending agent and 0.5 to 1 % w/w antifoam agent, to obtain a homogenous liquid;

Step 4: mixing the lump-free active mixture of Step 2 in the homogenous liquid of Step 3 slowly with continuous stirring to avoid any settlement of materials, and adding 25 to 40% w/w water and homogenizing the slurry to obtain a homogenized slurry;

Step 5: adding the cooled gum solution from Step 1 to the homogenized slurry of Step 4 with 5 to 8% w/w water and further homogenizing the slurry for 30 to 45 minutes in a homogenizer to obtain a homogenous active suspension;

Step 6: milling the homogenous active suspension of Step 5 in a wet mill charged with glass beads having size between 1 to 2 microns at speed of 1000 to 2000 rpm to produce a nano-particle active suspension of the anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition, and checking the nano-particle active suspension for particle size distribution using 15 to 25 microns sieve until at least 90% of the particles pass through 25 microns sieve, filtering the nano-particle active suspension and checking its density, suspensibility, pH, etc.

Step 7: diluting the nano-particle active suspension at a dosage of 2 to 4 ml of the nano-particle active suspension per Itr of water for agricultural use on crops as an anti-transpirant and biostimulant.

EXAMPLES:

The present invention will now be described with the help of following specific embodiments and/or working examples. These embodiments and/or examples are only intended to exemplify the invention and shall not be construed to limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition containing nanoparticles of silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc, as listed in Table 1 , was tested in terms of vegetative and reproductive growth during abiotic stress conditions and crop yield. Physical and chemical specifications of the composition are given in Table 2. The stability test of the composition was conducted through accelerated storage stability test (as per CIPAC MT 46.3) to extrapolate the expected shelf life up to two years. The stability test results are tabulated in Table 3. The test result indicate that composition is stable.

Table 1 : Anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition of Example 1

Table 2: Physical and chemical specification of the composition of Example 1

Table 3: Accelerated storage stability test of the composition of Example 1

The composition of Example 1 containing nano particles (particle size less than 100 microns) of active ingredients was tested using wet sieving test to estimate the particle size distribution. The composition was passed through test sieves of 15 and 25 microns, and the % sieved through particles and % retained particles were noted. It was found that 91% of the composition was sieved through 15 microns sieve, indicating that particle size of more than 91% of the active ingredients in the composition of Example 1 is less than 15 microns. The wet sieve test results are tabulated in Table 4.

Table 4: Wet sieve test for determining particle size of the active ingredients in the composition of Example 1

The phytotoxicity of the composition of Example 1 along with effect on beneficial insects such as honey bees has been studied on tomato crops using three consecutive foliar spray applications of various doses of the composition (2 ml to 4 ml/ltr) at 15 days interval from 45 days after transplanting in drought prone hot semi- arid region with shallow and medium black soil. Observations were made for stunting, yellowing, necrosis, epinasty and hyponasty after 5, 10 & 15 days from respective spray application along with mortality percentage of honey bees. After each spray application, it was found that the composition has no phytotoxicity and honey bee toxicity, which demonstrates that the composition of Example 1 is non- phytotoxic to crops and non-toxic to beneficial insects. The results of the phytotoxicity study are tabulated in Table 5.

Table 5: Phytotoxicity and honey bee mortality study of the composition of Example 1 studied in drought prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil

The synergy between the actives of the composition of Example 1 was studied at doses of 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water along with control (only water) and individual non- micronized active ingredients of silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc on Onion crop in a drought-prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil. Three consecutive foliar spray applications of each treatment at 15 days intervals from 45 days after transplanting were done. The spraying was done in the morning under clear sky & dry leaf surface. Both lower and upper leaf surfaces were uniformly covered by spraying. Average rainfall of 175.95 mm was observed during the study. Composite samples were collected for biochemical analysis at the time of harvest. The leaf samples for mean observations of each treatment were collected for study of biochemical factors such as chlorophyll, protein and proline content, and the yield was noted at harvest for each treatment. Proline is one of the organic compounds that accumulates in leaves subjected to drought. Proline is not only involved in osmotic adjustment but also helps in scavenging free radicals, buffering cellular redox potential and stabilizing sub-cellular structures under stress conditions. Proline accumulation is considered as a symptom of water stress. The chlorophyll and protein content were found to be the lowest in the leaves treated with the control group (0.72 mg/gm and 1.70 g/100 gm, respectively), followed by the individual non- micronized actives of calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron and silicon. The content of chlorophyll and protein were found to be higher in the leaves treated with the different doses of the composition as compared to the study groups containing the control & individual actives. The proline accumulation was found to be highest (4.43 mg/gm) in the leaves treated with the control group followed by the individual active ingredients. The lowest proline accumulation was observed in the leaves of 2.5 ml/ltr (2.65 mg/gm), followed by 2ml/ltr (2.86 mg/gm), 3ml/ltr (3.15 mg/mg) which is statistically significant over control and individual actives, demonstrating reduction in water stress by use of the composition of Example 1. The yield was found to be lowest in the control group (144.61 q/ha) followed by the individual active ingredients. The higher chlorophyll and protein content, improved yield, and lower proline accumulations, in the leaves treated with the various doses of the composition as compared to the individual actives and the control group, indicate synergy between the actives in the composition. The results demonstrate improved water stress tolerance, improved yield and physiological process of plants at high temp 29.6 °C and low rainfall. The results for synergy between actives of present invention as compared to non-micronized individual actives and effect as anti- transplant and biostimulant presented in table 6 of Example 1 .

Table 6: Study of the synergy between actives of composition of Example 1 of present invention and effect as anti-transpirant and biostimulant in drought prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil

The anti-transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition of Example 1 was studied at doses between 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water on Onion crop in a drought-prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil. Three consecutive foliar spray applications of each treatment at 15 days intervals from 45 days after transplanting were done. Both lower and upper leaf surfaces were uniformly covered by spraying. Average rainfall of 123.85 mm was observed during the study with a maximum temp. of 34.27 °C and relative humidity of 85.03 %. Observations were made for vegetative parameters, such as leaf length, fresh leaf weight and dry leaf weight, at 75 days, reproductive parameters such as fresh bulb weight at 75 days, stomatai pore length and width after third applications, yield and phytotoxicity. The fresh leaf weight (5.04 gm), dry leaf weight (0.49 gm), fresh bulb weight (44.13 gms), and yield (151.46 q/ha) was found to be the lowest in the leaves treated with the control (water). The higher leaf length (45.18 cms), fresh weight of leaves (8.96 gms), dry weight of leaves (0.915 gms), fresh bulb weight (63.50 gm) and yield (217.71 q/ha) over control and active individual treatments have been recorded in 3 ml compositon/ltr. The stomatai pore length and width was observed using stage and ocular microscope. Ocular micrometer was calibrated using stage micrometer, and the observations were noted at 10X and 40X objectives. The stomatai pore length was observed to be statistically non-significant in all treatments but the highest pore width (6 microns) in the control group suggesting high stomatai pore opening resulting in high water losses through stomata in the control group in comparison to other treatments. The yield (151.46 q/ha) was observed to be lowest in the control group as compared to other treatments. No phytotoxicity was observed after the treatments. It was observed that highest stomatai pore width was found in the control group with lowest yield as compared to various doses of the composition. The study indicates uniform coverage of the composition on the leaves, regulation of the stomatai conductance by the use of the composition through stomatai pore size, improvement in yield, and no adverse effect on the physiological process of the plant. The results for the anti-transpirant and biostimulant study of the composition in drought prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil of Example 1 are tabulated in Table 7. The results for phytotoxicity study are tabulated in Table 7A.

Table 7: Study of the anti-transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition of Example 1 on Onion in drought-prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil

Table 7A: Study of the phytotoxicity of the composition of Example 1 on Onion crop in drought prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil The anti-transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition of Example 1 was studied at doses between 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water on Pomegranate plants in drought prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil. Three foliar spray applications of each treatment at 15 days interval from 45 days after bud bursting were done, followed by a fourth application when the fruit weighed about 100 gms. During the study, a maximum temperature of 35.7 °C at relative humidity of 63% was recorded. Observations were made for no. of fruits, fruit diameter, fruit cracking %, yield/plant, yield/ha, spot on fruits, aril quality and phytotoxicity. Lower fruit diameter (24.33 cm), fruit weight (209 gms) and yield/ha (8.97 tons) were observed in the plants treated with the control group as compared to the various doses of composition. Physiological disorders like fruit cracking percent were lowest (1.60%) at 4 ml/ltr of the composition and highest in the control group (6.5 %) and followed by the reflective material (5.13 %) treated group. This is due to optimal abiotic stress resistance by regulating transpiration along with optimal availability of the beneficial elements in dosages of composition. Fruit color & aril quality were medium to high, and spots were low to medium in plants treated with the dosages of composition as compared to low color and aril quality in control group and reflective material. No 5 phytotoxicity was observed during the season in any treatment. The composition at dosage of 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr water gave optimal fruit color, aril quality, fruit no., fruit diameter and fruit weight, and reduced fruit cracking. This indicates significant resistance in various dosages of composition to abiotic stress without effecting physiological process of the plants. The composition of Example 1 gave significant 10 results in controlling fruit cracking and improving aril quality without phytotoxicity demonstrating anti-transpirant effect of the composition to surpass critical water stress condition and biostimulant action to provide significantly higher yield. The results for the anti-transpirant and biostimulant study of the composition of Example 1 in hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil are tabulated in Table 15 8. The results for phytotoxicity study are tabulated in Table 8A.

Table 8: Study of the anti-transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition of Example 1 on Pomegranate in drought prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil

20 Table 8A: Study of the phytotoxicity of the composition of Example 1 on Pomegranate in drought prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil

The anti-transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition of Example 1 was studied at doses between 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water on Pomegranate plants in a drought prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil. Three foliar spray applications of each treatment at 15 days interval from 45 days after bud bursting were done, followed by a fourth application when the fruit weighed about 100 gms. During the study, a maximum temperature of 42.17 °C and lowest relative humidity of 45.22 % was recorded. Lower fruit length (6.98 cm), fruit width (5.26 cm), fruit weight (147.75 gm) and yield (46.88 q/ha) were observed in the plants treated with the control group followed by the plants treated with reflective material (7.75 cm, 5.75 cm, 149.25 gm, 52.30 q/ha, respectively), as compared to the various doses of the composition. Fruit cracking was the lowest in the plants treated with 3 ml composition/ltr water (23.92 %), followed by 4 ml composition/ltr water (24.08%) and 2.5 ml composition/ltr water (25.26%). No phytotoxicity was observed after any spray. The study demonstrated that treatments with all doses of the composition of Example 1 significantly reduced physiological disorders such as fruit cracking and fruit spotting, provided a good aril quality (color and fragrance) and improved yield, as compared to the control and reflective material due to optimal abiotic stress tolerance by regulating transpiration and optimal availability of beneficial elements. The results for the anti-transpirant and biostimulant study of the composition in a drought prone semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil of Example 1 are tabulated in Table 9. The results for phytotoxicity study are tabulated in Table 9A. Table 9: Study of the anti- and biostimulant effect of the of 1 on Pomegranate in drought prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil

Table 9A: Study of the phytotoxicity of the composition of Example 1 on Pomegranate in

5 drought prone hot semi-arid region with alluvium derived soil

Example 2:

The anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition containing nano-particles of silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc, as listed in Table 10, was tested in 10 terms of vegetative and reproductive growth during abiotic stress conditions.

Physical and chemical specifications of the composition are given in Table 11. The stability test of the composition was conducted through accelerated storage stability test (as per CIPAC MT 46.3) to extrapolate the expected shelf life up to two years. The stability test results are tabulated in Table 12. The test result indicate that composition is stable. Table 10: Anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition of Example 2

Table 11: Physical and chemical specification of the composition of Example 2 Table 12: Accelerated storage stability test of the composition of Example 2

The composition of Example 2 containing nano particles of active ingredients was tested using wet sieving test to estimate the particle size distribution. It was found that particle size of more than 90.5% of the active ingredients in the composition of

Example 2 is less than 15 microns. The wet sieve test results are tabulated in Table 13. Table 13: Wet sieve test for determining particle size of the active ingredients in the composition of Example 2

The synergy between the actives of the composition of Example 2 was studied at doses of 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water along with control group (only water) and individual non-micronized active ingredients of silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc on Onion crop in a drought-prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil. Plots were separated on basis of irrigation numbers/season, i.e., 5 irrigations/season for ideal irrigation conditions and 3 irrigations/season for water stress conditions. Three consecutive foliar spray applications of each treatment at 15 days intervals from 45 days after transplanting were done. The spraying was done in the morning under clear sky & dry leaf surface. Both lower and upper leaf surfaces were uniformly covered by spraying. No rain was observed after each spray. No dermal or eye irritation or itching was observed during spraying. Leaf samples were collected for stomatai pore size study after the third spray. Observations were noted using stage and ocular micrometer and nail polish leaf peeling method. The highest stomatai pore width was observed in the leaves treated with control group (6.25 microns), followed by the leaves treated with zinc (5.40 microns) and boron (5.20 microns) in ideal irrigation conditions, whereas in water stress conditions stomatai pore width was lowest in the leaves treated with control group (3.30 microns), followed by the leaves treated with zinc (3.40 microns) and boron (3.45 microns). The highest yield over control was observed in the treatments with 3 ml composition/ltr water (37.89%), followed by 3.5 ml composition/ltr water (36.84%) and 4 ml composition/ltr water (34.21 %) in ideal irrigation conditions (5 irrigations /season). Under water stress conditions (3 irrigations/season), the highest yield over other treatments were observed in the treatments with 3ml composition/ltr water (90.72%), followed by 2.5 ml composition/ltr water (88.24%). The results demonstrate that under water stress conditions, the stomatai pore width is reduced in the treatments with control group and individual active ingredients resulting in lower transpiration with reduced crop yield compared to dosages of composition. The results also demonstrate that dosages of composition regulate stomatai pore width resulting in better yield even in water stress condition as compared to control and individual active ingredients and conclude that stomatai regulation in said dosages of the composition provides better yield without affecting any physiological process of the plant. The observations also demonstrate synergy between the active 5 ingredients in the composition of Example 2 for improving water stress tolerance, yield and physiological process of plants, as compared to the treatments with individual actives and control group.

The results for synergy between actives of composition, anti-transpirant and 10 biostimulant study of the composition in drought prone semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil of Example 2 are tabulated in Table 14.

Table 14: Study of the synergy between actives of composition of Example 2, and anti- transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition in drought prone semi-arid region with

15 shallow and medium black soil on Onion crop through water stress & yield parameter The synergy between the actives of the composition of Example 2 was studied at doses of 2 ml to 4 ml/ltr of water along with control group (only water) and individual non-micronized active ingredients of silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc on Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) in a drought-prone hot semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil. Leafy vegetable spinach was chosen for the study to evaluate photosynthetic effect of the treatments. Irrigation was performed at 10 days interval. Two foliar spray applications of each treatment at 4 ^th and 6 ^th week after sowing were done. The spraying was done in the morning under clear sky & dry leaf surface. Both lower and upper leaf surfaces were uniformly covered by spraying. No rain was observed after each spray. Leaf samples were collected for stomatai pore size study after the second spray. Observations were noted using stage and ocular micrometer and nail polish leaf peeling method. The highest stomatai pore width was observed in the leaves treated with control group (6.5 microns), followed by the leaves treated with calcium (6.3 microns) and magnesium (6.25 microns). Lowest stomatai pore width was observed in the leaves treated with 3 ml & 4 ml composition/ltr water (5.8 microns). Lowest yield of spinach was observed in the leaves treated with control (34 q/acre), followed by the leaves treated with zinc (36 q/ha) and boron (37 q/ha). No phytotoxicity was observed in any treatment. The results demonstrate lower stomatai pore width and higher yield in all treatments using the composition of Example 2, as compared to treatments of control group and individual actives. The results indicate that in all treatments with the composition of Example 2, the stomatai pore width is regulated, resulting in an increase in the crop yield without affecting physiological process of the plant. The results also demonstrate synergy between the active ingredients in the composition of Example 2 for improving abiotic stress tolerance, improving yield and maintaining physiological process of plants, as compared to the treatments with individual actives and control group. The results for synergy between actives of composition, anti-transpirant and biostimulant study of the composition in drought prone semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil of Example 2 are tabulated in Table 15. Table 15: Study of the synergy between actives of composition of Example 2, and anti- transpirant and biostimulant effect of the composition in drought prone semi-arid region with shallow and medium black soil on Spinach crop through stomatai pore size & yield parameter

The compatibility of the composition of Example 2 considering dosages with traditional fungicides and insecticides were checked. The compatibility was checked for parameters such as separation, settling, foaming and oil residue. The results of the compatibility study are tabulated in Table 16. The composition was found to be compatible with other fungicides and insecticides.

Table 16: Compatibility study of the composition of Example 2 with fungicides and insecticides

TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS:

The technical advancements of the present invention, including, but not limited to,

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops which helps the plants in abiotic stress conditions and also provides necessary beneficial elements for the plant growth, controls physiological disorders without any effect on physiological processes of plants resulting in good plant growth and health, and improves yield;

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition for agricultural crops which is made from easily available raw materials, is cost-effective and environmentfriendly;

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition which is stable, non- phytotoxic, and can be used during flowering stage with no ill effect on flowering and fruiting;

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition which is compatible with other foliar application plant protection measures, except copper-based products, to enable using the composition together with fungicides, insecticides or pesticides in one application (tank mixed) to save labor cost;

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition which comprises nano particles that enable forming a uniform thin layer on leaf surfaces without disturbing gaseous exchange through leaf surfaces, to keep the leaf surface cool to reduce transpiration for anti-transpirant effect and provide optimal absorption of the beneficial elements for biostimulant effect; - an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition provides necessary beneficial elements such as silicon, calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc to the plants for optimal plant growth and improvement in yield under abiotic stress conditions such as severe heat and severe cold;

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition regulates stomatai apparatus size through stomatai pore width without affecting gaseous exchange through the leaf surface in abiotic stress conditions to provide optimum yield; and

- an anti-transpirant and biostimulant composition is easy-to-use, safe for environment, human, animals and birds.

Embodiments of the present invention are applicable over a wide number of uses and other embodiments may be developed beyond the embodiments discussed heretofore. Only the most preferred embodiments and their uses have been described herein for purpose of example, illustrating the advantages over the prior art obtained through the present invention. The present invention is not limited to these specific embodiments or their specified uses. Thus, the forms of the invention described herein are to be taken as illustrative only and other embodiments may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should also be understood that additional changes and modifications, within the scope of the invention, will be apparent to one skilled in the art and that various modifications to the composition described herein may fall within the scope of the invention.