METHOD FOR INDUCING RESISTANCE IN PLANTS USING ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE ANTIOXIDANTS

摘要

The present invention describes a method for increasingthe resistance of plants to pests or pathogens byadministering to the surface of the plant environmentallysafe antioxidants such as ascorbates, tocopherols, reducedglutathione and its derivatives, and cysteines (halfcystines). The administration to a portion of the surfaceof the plant of an effective amount of such environmentallysafe antioxidants induces in the plant a protectiveresponse which is systemic in nature. Application may bemade by a variety of ways including drenching the rootsystem of the plant, spraying the plant with a solutioncontaining an effective amount of antioxidant, or directapplication to the stem of the plant with the antioxidantcontained in a suitable carrier.