Chemists of Altai State University, together with Altai State Agricultural University, created a growth-regulating drug from waste of processing plant materials

At the Department of Organic Chemistry of the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical and Pharmaceutical Technologies of Altai State University, the methods of chemical modification of plant raw materials (waste from wood processing and annual plants) have been patented, which make it possible to obtain products with a complex of useful properties. Thus obtained, the drug has passed the procedure of registration of technical conditions under the trade name Eco-Stim2, shows growth-regulating properties, which is confirmed by research in laboratory and field conditions.

"To create new effective drugs, based on waste products of crop production and reuse them as growth regulators for agricultural crops is a promising innovative research", the official site of the State Agricultural University quotes Mikhail Maltsev, project manager, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor, Department of General Agriculture, Plant Growing and Plant Protection of the Altai State Agricultural University.

“We responded with interest to the proposal of our colleagues from the Agricultural University for the manufacture of preparations with growth-regulating activity from waste of processing plant raw materials - oat flowering membranes, sunflower husks. Our cooperation began in 2012 and has been successfully continuing to this day”, shared her impressions of the joint work, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Professor, Head of the Department of Organic Chemistry, Altai State University Natalia Bazarnova.

The resulting preparations are powders from light yellow to black (depending on the initial plant material), which dissolve in water, remain stable for a long time, are non-toxic and odorless.

“When lignin is chemically modified in the composition of plant raw materials (one of the most important structural components), fragments are formed that have a structure similar to natural phytoharmonics. It is noted that they are characterized by the main structural features of the auxin-type regulators. In this case, polysaccharides also play an important role, acting as a "carrier - fixer" on the surface of treated seeds of growth-regulating components", notes co-author of inventions, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Aassociate Professor of the Department of Organic Chemistry, Altai State University Vadim Markin.

“Based on the well-known literature data and theoretical premises, we have carried out an experimental test of the growth-regulating activity of Eco-Stim preparations in laboratory and field conditions,” said Elena Kalyuta, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Assocciate Professor of the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry.  "Our research has shown that they can be recommended as effective plant growth stimulants".

Over the past years, production tests on the effect of pre-sowing seed treatment with an aqueous solution based on chemically modified plant raw materials, as well as the effect of dry preparations introduced into the soil, simultaneously with sowing, on the growth and development of spring wheat were carried out on the territory of the educational and experimental agricultural station of the Altai State Agricultural University, in the conditions of "Kiprinskoe" of the Shelabolikhinsky region, "Vector" of the Kalmansky region, "Agrofirma Niva" of the Soltonsky region. Depending on the studied preparation and soil and climatic conditions, yield increases from 5 to 17% were obtained.

“At present, work is underway to find the optimal application dose (concentration of the working solution during seed treatment). Possibilities of using drugs in a tank mixture as an adhesive (adjuvant) in the treatment of grain crops during the growing season against weeds. The influence of negative temperatures and storage conditions on the growth-regulating properties of aqueous solutions of drugs is investigated. It can be noted that long-term storage, including at subzero temperatures, does not reduce their quality indicators ”, Mikhail Maltsev shared the results of the work done.

Scientists hope that plant growth regulators in the future can be used both in large agricultural enterprises and in personal subsidiary plots.