A method for regulating plant architecture includes applying a composition containing γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamic acid and choline chloride to a plant. The composition for regulating plant architecture is also provided.

The present inventive concept is related to metal nanoparticles, such as silver (Ag) nanoparticles, including a metal core and a surface to the metal core functionalized with a positively charged molecule/polymer coating the surface such as amino (—NH.sub.2), amide ([C═O]—N), polyethyleneimine/branched polyethyleneimine (PEI/BPEI), pesticidal compositions including the metal nanoparticle, and methods of using the pesticidal compositions including the metal nanoparticle.

The present inventive concept is related to metal nanoparticles, such as silver (Ag) nanoparticles, including a metal core and a surface to the metal core functionalized with a positively charged molecule/polymer coating the surface such as amino (—NH.sub.2), amide ([C═O]—N), polyethyleneimine/branched polyethyleneimine (PEI/BPEI), pesticidal compositions including the metal nanoparticle, and methods of using the pesticidal compositions including the metal nanoparticle.

A method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on useful plants or on propagation material thereof, which comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of components (A) and (B) in a synergistically effective amount, wherein component (A) is a compound of formula I compound of formula I ##STR00001## wherein R is hydrogen or methoxy; Q is ##STR00002## R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl; R.sub.2 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6cycloalkyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C(C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl)=NO—C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyl, or C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyloxy; R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl; R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently from each other, are hydrogen, halogen or —≡—R.sub.7; with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is different from hydrogen; R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxyalkyl; and R.sub.8 is hydrogen or methoxy; and agrochemically acceptable salts/isomers/structural isomers/stereoisomers/diastereoisomers/enantiomers/tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds; and component (B) is a compound selected from compounds known for their fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity, is particularly effective in controlling or preventing fungal diseases of useful plants.

A method of controlling phytopathogenic diseases on useful plants or on propagation material thereof, which comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof a combination of components (A) and (B) in a synergistically effective amount, wherein component (A) is a compound of formula I compound of formula I ##STR00001## wherein R is hydrogen or methoxy; Q is ##STR00002## R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl; R.sub.2 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.6alkenyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6cycloalkyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, halophenoxy, halophenyl-C.sub.3-C.sub.6alkinyl, C(C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl)=NO—C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkoxy, C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyl, or C.sub.2-C.sub.6haloalkenyloxy; R.sub.3 is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl; R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, independently from each other, are hydrogen, halogen or —≡—R.sub.7; with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is different from hydrogen; R.sub.7 is hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.6haloalkyl or C.sub.1-C.sub.4alkoxyalkyl; and R.sub.8 is hydrogen or methoxy; and agrochemically acceptable salts/isomers/structural isomers/stereoisomers/diastereoisomers/enantiomers/tautomers and N-oxides of those compounds; and component (B) is a compound selected from compounds known for their fungicidal and/or insecticidal activity, is particularly effective in controlling or preventing fungal diseases of useful plants.

An N-benzylbenzamide-based compound as shown below or its salt which may be used as a herbicide is provided.

##STR00001##

The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt serves as a pigment synthesis inhibitor for controlling weeds in field crop growing places or non-farming crop places. Furthermore, the compound may form an agricultural herbicide with an agriculturally accepted carrier. Still further, the compound also serves an agricultural herbicide in a manner of a mixed formulation with a further herbicidal active component, particularly atrazine. The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt has high herbicidal activity, and can be used to control weeds that are resistant to existing herbicides, which thereby exhibits a good synergistic effect when combined with a further herbicidal active component.

An N-benzylbenzamide-based compound as shown below or its salt which may be used as a herbicide is provided.

##STR00001##

The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt serves as a pigment synthesis inhibitor for controlling weeds in field crop growing places or non-farming crop places. Furthermore, the compound may form an agricultural herbicide with an agriculturally accepted carrier. Still further, the compound also serves an agricultural herbicide in a manner of a mixed formulation with a further herbicidal active component, particularly atrazine. The N-benzylbenzamide-based compound or its salt has high herbicidal activity, and can be used to control weeds that are resistant to existing herbicides, which thereby exhibits a good synergistic effect when combined with a further herbicidal active component.

Provided herein are fatty-ammonium salt/starch inclusion complexes comprising one or more of a variety of fatty amines. Such complexes can be combined with film-forming agents, such as poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVOH) and plasticizing agents. The inclusion complexes of the present invention can be utilized as antimicrobial agents, preventing microbial growth on organic and inorganic surfaces. In specific embodiments, inclusion complexes of the present invention are applied to vegetable or fruit surfaces in order to impede microbial growth. Inclusion complexes of the present invention can be applied to wood in order to impede microbial growth and insect consumption and to wound dressings.

Provided herein are fatty-ammonium salt/starch inclusion complexes comprising one or more of a variety of fatty amines. Such complexes can be combined with film-forming agents, such as poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVOH) and plasticizing agents. The inclusion complexes of the present invention can be utilized as antimicrobial agents, preventing microbial growth on organic and inorganic surfaces. In specific embodiments, inclusion complexes of the present invention are applied to vegetable or fruit surfaces in order to impede microbial growth. Inclusion complexes of the present invention can be applied to wood in order to impede microbial growth and insect consumption and to wound dressings.

A method of preparing a disinfecting composition comprising charged polyethylenimine (PEI), the method comprising adding a base to an aqueous solution comprising a linear PEI hydrochloride solution to provide a linear PEI salt solution with a pH between 9-11, adding a first organic acid to reduce the pH to less than 7, removing about 20% to 100% of the salt from the solution, and optionally adding water and/or a second organic acid to obtain the disinfecting composition with a pH of 2-7. The method can further comprise adding at least one metal salt to the disinfecting composition. The resulting disinfecting solution can be used to provide antimicrobial products with enhanced antimicrobial performance, reduced toxicity, and/or able to leave a persistent “kill-later” film.