JP7517643B2 - Agent for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants and method for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for plants, which contains acetic acid as an active ingredient, and a method for reducing the amount of irrigation water for plants.

Water, along with nutrients, is an essential element for plant growth and life support. For example, in crop cultivation, the task of supplying water, i.e. irrigation, is a very important task because it can affect the yield and quality of the harvested crop. However, supplying the necessary water throughout the crop cultivation period is a heavy burden on farmers in terms of both time and labor. Therefore, if the amount of irrigation required for plants could be reduced, the burden on farmers would be reduced, and as a result, the production costs of crops could be reduced.

On the other hand, water shortages caused by recent global climate change have had a significant impact on agriculture, such as reducing crop quality and yields. Excessive water shortages in plants can cause drought stress. There are various groups of drought stress-responsive genes in plants, and it has been suggested that they are involved in acquiring resistance to drought stress.

In such cases, it may be possible to avoid the effects of drought stress by improving the drought stress tolerance of the plant itself. Methods for improving the drought stress tolerance of the plant itself include the creation of genetically modified plants in which drought stress responsive genes have been modified, and the application of chemical or biological regulators that improve drought stress tolerance.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for improving drought stress resistance in plants, the method comprising the steps of applying 10 mM or more acetic acid to the roots of a plant by irrigation and growing the plant under drought stress conditions. The document describes that the method improves the drought stress resistance of the treated plant so that the plant can grow under drought stress conditions, compared to a control plant of the same species grown under drought stress conditions and in the absence of acetic acid.

Non-Patent Document 1 describes a drought response network that stimulates the jasmonate signaling pathway to trigger a dynamic metabolic flux shift from glycolysis to acetate synthesis, thereby enabling plants to acquire drought tolerance. The document describes that the switch of this network in Arabidopsis thaliana is directly dependent on histone deacetylase 6 (HDA6). The document describes that exogenous acetate promotes de novo jasmonate synthesis and acetylation enrichment of histone H4, affecting the priming of the jasmonate signaling pathway for plant drought tolerance. The document also describes that application of exogenous acetate improved drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, oilseed rape, maize, rice and wheat plants.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,258,954

Kim, J.M. et al., Nature Plants, Vol. 3, 17097 (2017)

In plant cultivation, if it is possible to reduce the amount of irrigation while maintaining plant growth, the burden on the farmer cultivating the plants can be reduced in terms of both time and labor. In addition, because water consumption is reduced, water costs can also be reduced. Therefore, reducing the amount of irrigation for plants can ultimately reduce plant production costs.

In plant cultivation, the amount of irrigation is greatly affected not only by the cultivation environment but also by the amount of water absorbed by the plant. For this reason, if the amount of water absorbed by the plant can be reduced while maintaining the growth of the plant, the amount of irrigation can be reduced. However, there has been no known means for reducing the amount of water absorbed by the plant without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant. For example, as mentioned above, it is known that the application of acetic acid can improve the drought stress resistance of plants (Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). However, the effect of the application of acetic acid on plants growing under normal growth conditions, i.e., under non-drought stress conditions, has not been clarified. For example, it has not been clarified whether the amount of water absorbed can change in plants whose drought stress resistance has been improved by the application of acetic acid.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a means for reducing the amount of irrigation required for plants without substantially causing undesirable effects on plant growth.

The inventor has investigated various means for solving the above problems. The inventor has found that acetic acid, which is involved in the drought stress resistance of plants, can reduce the amount of water absorbed by plants under normal growth conditions, i.e., non-drought stress conditions. The inventor has also found that plants can grow well even when the amount of irrigation is reduced. The inventor has completed the present invention based on the above findings.

In other words, the gist of the present invention is as follows:

(1) An agent for reducing the amount of water required for plants, which contains acetic acid or its salt, or a solvate of either as an active ingredient.
(2) The agent for reducing an amount of irrigation water for a plant according to the above embodiment (1), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water and having a pH in the range of 4 to 8.
(3) The agent for reducing an amount of irrigation water for a plant according to the embodiment (1) or (2), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water, and containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 0.5% by volume relative to the total volume.
(4) An agricultural chemical composition for reducing the amount of irrigation water for plants, comprising acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, and one or more agriculturally acceptable ingredients.
(5) The agrochemical composition of embodiment (4), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water, and having a pH in the range of 4 to 8.
(6) The agricultural chemical composition according to embodiment (4) or (5), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water, and containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by volume based on the total volume of the composition.
(7) A method for reducing the amount of irrigation water required for a plant, comprising applying an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof to the plant, to a material for application to the plant, or to the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows.
(8) Obtaining one or more pieces of information relating to plant growth;
determining conditions for applying the agent for reducing an amount of irrigation water for a plant according to any one of the embodiments (1) to (3) or the agricultural chemical composition according to any one of the embodiments (4) to (6) to the plant, a material for applying to the plant, or a soil, medium or culture solution from which the plant grows, based on the one or more pieces of information obtained;
A method for controlling the growth of said plant, comprising:
(9) A preservative for cut flowers containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient.
(10) The cut flower preservative according to embodiment (9), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water and having a pH in the range of 4 to 8.
(11) The cut flower preservative according to the above embodiment (9) or (10), further comprising one or more solvents including at least water, and containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof in an amount ranging from 0.01 to 0.5% by volume relative to the total volume of the composition.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a means for reducing the amount of irrigation required for plants without substantially causing undesirable effects on plant growth.

Other issues, configurations and advantages will become clear from the description of the embodiments below.

This specification includes the contents described in the specification and/or drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-195288, which is the basis of the priority of this application.

Figure 1 shows the appearance and water absorption of the control, 0.1 vol% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2 vol% acetic acid treatment cut flowers: (a) a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers at the start of the test, (b) a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers after five days of growth, (c) a photograph showing the appearance of the cut part of the stem of the cut flower and the test solution after five days of growth. Figure 2 shows the appearance of the control, 0.1 vol% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2 vol% acetic acid treatment cut flowers: (a) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers at the start of the test, and (b) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers after 7 days of growth. FIG. 3 shows the appearance of cut flowers in the control group, the group treated with 0.1% by volume acetic acid, and the group treated with 0.2% by volume acetic acid after five days of growth. FIG. 4 shows the appearance of pot seedlings in the control group, the 0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment group, and the 0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment group after 4 weeks of growth. Figure 5 shows the appearance of pot seedlings in the control group, the 0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment group, and the 0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment group after 4 weeks of growth: (a) a photograph showing the overall appearance of pot seedlings in the control group, the 0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment group, and the 0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment group, (b) a photograph showing fruits (cherry tomatoes) formed on pot seedlings in the 0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment group. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the survival rates of tomato plants in an untreated group, a control group, and an acetic acid-applied group. Figure 7 shows the appearance of tomato plants in the untreated, control and acetic acid-treated groups during the test period: (a) photographs of tomato plants in each group at the time of transplanting, (b) photographs of tomato plants in each group 15 days after transplanting, (c) photographs of tomato plants in each group 22 days after transplanting.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below.

The present inventors have found that acetic acid, which is involved in the drought stress resistance of plants, can reduce the amount of water absorbed by plants under normal growth conditions, i.e., under non-drought stress conditions. The present inventors have also found that plants can grow well even when the amount of irrigation is reduced. The fact that application of acetic acid has such an effect under normal growth conditions, i.e., under non-drought stress conditions, is a novel finding found by the present inventors. Therefore, one aspect of the present invention relates to an agent for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants, which contains acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient. One embodiment of this aspect is an agent for reducing the amount of water absorbed by plants, which contains acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient. By applying the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants of this aspect to plants, the amount of water absorbed by the plants can be reduced, and as a result, the amount of irrigation for the plants can be reduced.

When the agent for reducing the amount of water irrigation for plants according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to cut flowers, which are a part of a plant, the amount of water irrigation and/or the amount of water absorbed by the cut flowers can be reduced, thereby preserving the cut flowers while maintaining their freshness. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention relates to a cut flower preservative that contains acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient. By applying the cut flower preservative according to this embodiment to cut flowers, the amount of water irrigation and/or the amount of water absorbed by the cut flowers can be reduced, and as a result, the cut flowers can be preserved while maintaining their freshness.

By applying the plant irrigation amount reducer of one embodiment of the present invention to a plant, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the plant can be reduced. In addition, by applying the cut flower preservative of one embodiment of the present invention to a cut flower, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the cut flower can be reduced, and as a result, the cut flower can be preserved while maintaining its freshness. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention relates to an agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient. By applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to a plant, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant. In addition, by applying the cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to a cut flower, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the cut flower can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flower, and as a result, the cut flower can be preserved while maintaining its freshness.

In each aspect of the present invention, acetic acid is used as an active ingredient, and is a safe and inexpensive compound that is used not only for industrial purposes, but also for food applications and agricultural applications such as wood vinegar. Therefore, by implementing each aspect of the present invention, it is possible to safely and at low cost reduce the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant without substantially causing any undesirable effects on the plant's growth.

In each aspect of the present invention, the acetic acid used as an active ingredient includes not only the acetic acid itself but also its salts. As a salt of acetic acid, although it is not limited thereto, for example, a salt with a cation such as a sodium ion, a potassium ion, a calcium ion, a magnesium ion, a zinc ion, or a substituted or unsubstituted ammonium ion is preferable. When acetic acid is in the form of the above-mentioned salt, the compound can be used without substantially decreasing the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of a plant, and the safety to the plant.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the acetic acid used as an active ingredient includes not only itself or a salt thereof, but also solvates thereof. Examples of solvents that can form solvates with acetic acid or a salt thereof include, but are not limited to, water, or organic solvents such as lower alcohols (e.g., alcohols having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, or 2-propanol (isopropyl alcohol)), higher alcohols (e.g., alcohols having 7 or more carbon atoms such as 1-heptanol or 1-octanol), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethanolamine, or ethyl acetate, or mixtures thereof. When acetic acid or a salt thereof is in the form of a solvate with the above-mentioned solvent, the compound can be used without substantially reducing the effect of reducing the amount of water irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption by plants, and the safety to plants.

In each aspect of the present invention, "reducing the amount of irrigation of plants" means that by applying the present invention to a population of plants, the amount of irrigation can be reduced, usually to 90% or less, preferably 85% or less, more preferably 80% or less, even more preferably 70% or less, particularly preferably 50% or less, and even more particularly preferably 25% or less, compared to a control population of plants to which the present invention is not applied, without substantially causing any undesirable effects on plant growth, such as inability to grow (withering), poor growth (e.g., whitening or yellowing of the whole plant or parts thereof (e.g., leaves or flowers), reduced root length or reduced number of leaves, or lodging), reduced growth rate, or reduced plant weight or crop yield. By implementing each aspect of the present invention, the amount of irrigation of the plants can be reduced to the above range, without substantially causing any undesirable effects on plant growth.

In each aspect of the present invention, "reducing the amount of water absorption by a plant" means that by applying the present invention to a population of plants, the amount of water absorption by the plants can be reduced, usually to 90% or less, preferably 85% or less, more preferably 80% or less, even more preferably 70% or less, particularly preferably 50% or less, and even more particularly preferably 25% or less, compared to a control population of plants to which the present invention is not applied, without substantially causing any undesirable effects on plant growth, such as inability to grow (withering), poor growth (e.g., whitening or yellowing of the whole plant or parts thereof (e.g., leaves or flowers), reduced root length or reduced number of leaves, or lodging), reduced growth rate, or reduced plant weight or crop yield. By implementing each aspect of the present invention, the amount of water absorption by the plants can be reduced to the above range, without substantially causing any undesirable effects on plant growth.

In each embodiment of the present invention, the amount of irrigation and the amount of water absorption of a plant can be evaluated by the following means, but are not limited to these. For example, the target plant is grown in a certain amount of test solution (containing water and, optionally, normal nutrients) under normal growth conditions, i.e., under non-drought stress conditions. After a certain period of growth, the reduced volume of the test solution, i.e., the amount of water absorption, is measured. The test is carried out using a test solution (test area) containing a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, or a test solution (control area) not containing them, and the amount of water absorption in the control area is compared with the amount of water absorption in the test area. The difference between the amount of water absorption in the control area and the amount of water absorption in the test area is estimated as the amount of irrigation that can be reduced in the test area. By such means, the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and the amount of water absorption in the test area can be determined.

Alternatively, the amount of irrigation and the amount of water absorption of a plant can be evaluated by the following means. For example, the target plant is grown in a culture solution or soil under normal growth conditions, i.e., under non-drought stress conditions, while applying a predetermined amount of a test solution at a predetermined interval. The test is carried out using a test solution (test area) containing a predetermined amount of the plant irrigation amount reducer of each embodiment of the present invention, an agricultural chemical preparation, or a pesticide, or a test solution (control area) not containing them. By comparing the plants in the control area and the plants in the test area, the difference between the volume of the test solution in the control area and the volume of the test solution in the test area that does not substantially cause an undesirable effect on the growth of the plant is estimated as the amount of irrigation and the amount of water absorption that can be reduced in the test area. By such means, the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and the amount of water absorption in the test area can be determined.

In each aspect of the present invention, the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of a plant may or may not include an effect on the growth of the plant itself, such as an effect of promoting growth, such as elongation of stems, leaves or roots, an increase in the number of leaves, promotion of flowering or fruiting, an increase in the number of flowers or fruits, an increase in plant weight or crop yield, greening, or promotion of tillering. For example, in each aspect of the present invention, the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of a plant includes specifically reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of a plant while substantially promoting the growth of the plant. Alternatively, in each aspect of the present invention, the effect of reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of a plant includes specifically reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of a plant without substantially promoting the growth of the plant. Either case is included in the embodiment of each aspect of the present invention.

It has been found that application of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof to a plant may promote the growth of the plant. Therefore, in certain embodiments of each aspect of the present invention, a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide can be used to promote the growth of the plant. In this case, promotion of plant growth is, for example, elongation of stems, leaves, or roots, an increase in the number of leaves, promotion of flowering or fruiting, an increase in the number of flowers or fruits, an increase in plant weight or crop yield, greening, or promotion of tillering, particularly, elongation of stems, leaves, or roots, promotion of flowering or fruiting, or an increase in the number of flowers or fruits. In certain embodiments of each aspect of the present invention, application of a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide to a plant can not only reduce the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant, but also promote the growth of the plant.

The plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention can be used in any form, such as a solid (e.g., powder or granules), liquid (e.g., solution or suspension), or gas. The plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention is preferably used in a liquid form such as a solution or suspension. By applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to a plant in the above form, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant. In addition, by applying the cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to cut flowers, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the cut flowers can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flowers, and as a result, the cut flowers can be preserved while maintaining their freshness.

In the agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention, acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof may be used alone as an active ingredient, or may be used in combination with one or more agriculturally acceptable ingredients. The agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention can be formulated into various dosage forms commonly used in the art, depending on the desired application method. Therefore, the agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention can also be provided in the form of an agricultural chemical composition containing acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, and one or more agriculturally acceptable ingredients. Examples of agriculturally acceptable ingredients used in the agricultural chemical composition of this aspect include solvents or carriers, excipients, binders, solubilizers, stabilizers, thickeners, swelling agents, lubricants, surfactants, oily liquids, buffers, bactericides, antifreeze agents, antifoaming agents, colorants, antioxidants, additives, fertilizers, and further drugs. The agriculturally acceptable solvent or carrier is preferably an agriculturally acceptable solvent or liquid carrier such as water, a mineral oil fraction such as kerosene or diesel oil, an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a cyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g., paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or derivatives thereof, or alkylated benzenes or derivatives thereof), an alcohol (e.g., methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, or cyclohexanol), a ketone (e.g., cyclohexanone), or an amine (e.g., N-methylpyrrolidone), or a mixture thereof, more preferably one or more solvents containing at least water. The fertilizer is preferably an organic fertilizer such as oil cake or cow dung, or an inorganic fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate, lime nitrogen, or fused phosphorus.

When the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention further contains one or more solvents including at least water, the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention preferably has a pH in the range of 4 to 8, more preferably in the range of 5 to 7.5, and even more preferably in the range of 6 to 7. The plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention preferably has a pH in the above range at the time of application to the target plant. The pH of the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention may be adjusted using an acid, alkali or buffer such as hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, aqueous ammonia or ammonium acetate. Alternatively, the pH may be adjusted to the above range by utilizing the pH buffering action of the soil, medium or culture solution to which the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this case, even if the pH of the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention is outside the above range before application to the target plant, it can be adjusted to the above pH range at the time of application. If the pH of the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention is outside the above range at the time of application, there is a possibility that unfavorable effects on plant growth such as inability to grow (withering), poor growth (e.g., whitening or yellowing of the whole plant or its parts (e.g., leaves or flowers), reduced root length or reduced leaf number, or lodging), reduced growth rate, or reduced plant weight or crop yield can be caused. By having a pH within the above range for the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing unfavorable effects on plant growth. Furthermore, by having a pH within the above-mentioned range for the cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, the amount of watering and/or water absorption of the cut flower can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flower, and as a result, the cut flower can be preserved while maintaining its freshness.

When the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention further contains one or more solvents including at least water, the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention contains acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, in a range of preferably 0.01 to 0.5 volume % relative to the total volume, more preferably 0.05 to 0.5 volume %, even more preferably 0.05 to 0.2 volume % or 0.075 to 0.25 volume %, particularly preferably 0.09 to 0.2 volume %, and particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.2 volume %. When the content of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof in the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention exceeds the upper limit, unfavorable effects on plant growth, such as inability to grow (withering), poor growth (e.g., whitening or yellowing of the whole plant or parts thereof (e.g., leaves or flowers), reduced root length or reduced leaf number, or lodging), reduced growth rate, or reduced plant weight or crop yield, may occur. When the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention has a content of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof within the above range, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing unfavorable effects on plant growth. Furthermore, by having the cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention contain acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof in the above-mentioned range, the amount of watering and/or water absorption of the cut flowers can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flowers, and as a result, the cut flowers can be preserved while maintaining their freshness.

When the agricultural chemical composition of this embodiment contains one or more additives, the additives can include organic acids such as citric acid, malic acid, and propionic acid, amino acids such as glycine, glutamic acid, isoleucine, proline, methionine, and aspartic acid, vitamins such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, and folic acid, and nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA. Even when the agricultural chemical composition of this embodiment contains one or more additives as described above, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without causing any substantial undesirable effects on plant growth.

When the agricultural chemical composition of this embodiment contains one or more additional agents, the additional agents may include plant hormones, plant chemical regulators, and pesticides that are commonly used in the art, including auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (trade name: Ethrel (registered trademark)), carbides, benzyladenine, brassinosteroids, strigolactones, jasmonic acid, and the like. Even when the agricultural chemical composition of this embodiment contains one or more additional agents as described above, the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without causing any substantial undesirable effects on plant growth.

In each aspect of the present invention, the target plant is not particularly limited. The plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention can be applied to various plants including angiosperms and gymnosperms. In each aspect of the present invention, the target plants include, but are not limited to, Asteraceae plants such as chrysanthemums and gerberas, Solanaceae plants such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants, Cruciferae plants such as rapeseed and rapeseed, Poaceae plants such as rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane and barley, Legumes such as soybeans, Convolvulaceae plants such as morning glory, Salicaceae plants such as poplar, Euphorbiaceae plants such as castor beans, cassava and jatropha, Euphorbiaceae plants such as sweet potatoes, and other plants that are not particularly limited. Convolvulaceae plants, citrus plants such as oranges and lemons, roses such as cherry blossoms and roses, orchids such as moth orchids, gentianthus plants such as bellflowers, primulas such as cyclamen, violets such as pansies, lilies such as lilies, amaranthaceae plants such as sugar beets, grapes such as grapevines, cupressaceae plants such as cedars and cypresses, oleaceae plants such as olives and sweet osmanthus, and pinaceae plants such as red pine. The plant may be not only the whole plant (i.e., the complete plant body), but also a tissue or organ (e.g., cut flowers, or vegetative propagation organs such as rhizomes, tuberous roots, corms, or runners), cultured cells, and/or calluses, or other parts of the plant. In addition, the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention can be applied to the whole plant or parts thereof (e.g., the whole plant, seed, seedling, or mature plant, or parts thereof) at any growth stage including before or after germination. By applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to such a plant, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant. Also, by applying the cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to cut flowers of such a plant, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorption of the cut flowers can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flowers, and as a result, the cut flowers can be preserved while maintaining their freshness.

The plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention can be applied not only to the plant itself, but also to materials for application to the plant, or to the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing the amount of irrigation for a plant, comprising applying an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof to a plant, a material for application to the plant, or to the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows. In the method of this aspect, the acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof applied may be any of the plant irrigation amount reducers, agricultural chemical formulations, or pesticides of each aspect of the present invention having the characteristics described above. In addition, in the method of this aspect, materials for application to plants include, but are not limited to, various materials commonly used in the technical field, such as water, fertilizer, soil, medium, or culture solution. By applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention to a plant at the above-mentioned growth stage, materials for application to the plant, or the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows, it is possible to reduce the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant.

An agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, particularly a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide according to each embodiment of the present invention, can be applied to the plant itself, or to a material for application to the plant, or to the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows, before and/or during the reduction of the plant irrigation amount. It is preferable to apply an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, particularly a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide according to each embodiment of the present invention, during the reduction of the plant irrigation amount. By applying an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, particularly a plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide according to each embodiment of the present invention, at the aforementioned time, the irrigation amount and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without causing any substantial undesirable effects on the growth of the plant.

In one embodiment, the method of this aspect may further include, if desired, applying an additional agent to the plant, a material for application to the plant, or the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows, in addition to an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof. The additional agent is preferably an additional agent of the agricultural chemical composition described above. In this case, the order in which an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof and the additional agent are applied to the plant, a material for application to the plant, or the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows is not particularly limited. For example, an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof and the additional agent may be applied simultaneously (as a single or separate formulation) to the plant, a material for application to the plant, or the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows, or may be applied sequentially. By applying an agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, and a further agent to a plant, etc., the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant can be reduced without substantially causing undesirable effects on the growth of the plant.

The formulation of the plant irrigation amount reducer, cut flower preservative, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each aspect of the present invention is not particularly limited. It can be formulated into a formulation such as an emulsifiable concentrate, wettable powder, liquid, water-soluble, dust, powder, paste or granule, which is commonly used in the art. In each aspect of the present invention, acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof is contained or applied in an agriculturally effective amount. In each aspect of the present invention, the agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, is, for example, in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by mass relative to the total mass at the time of application, usually in the range of 0.05 to 0.5% by mass relative to the total mass at the time of application, typically in the range of 0.05 to 0.2% by mass or 0.075 to 0.25% by mass relative to the total mass at the time of application, more typically in the range of 0.09 to 0.2% by mass relative to the total mass at the time of application, and particularly in the range of 0.1 to 0.2% by mass relative to the total mass at the time of application. For example, when the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention is in a liquid formulation, the agriculturally effective amount of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof is, for example, in the range of 0.01 to 0.5% by volume relative to the total volume at the time of application, usually in the range of 0.05 to 0.5% by volume relative to the total volume at the time of application, typically in the range of 0.05 to 0.2% by volume or in the range of 0.075 to 0.25% by volume relative to the total volume at the time of application, more typically in the range of 0.09 to 0.2% by volume relative to the total mass at the time of application, and particularly in the range of 0.1 to 0.2% by volume relative to the total mass at the time of application.

In plant cultivation, by appropriately setting the conditions for applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to the plant based on the state of plant growth, the plant growth can be stably managed while reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for managing the growth of a plant, which includes acquiring one or more pieces of information regarding the growth of the plant (hereinafter also referred to as the "information acquisition step"), and determining the conditions for applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, preferably the agricultural chemical composition of one embodiment of the present invention, to the plant, materials for applying the agent to the plant, or the soil, medium, or culture solution from which the plant grows (hereinafter also referred to as the "application condition determination step") based on the acquired one or more pieces of information.

The one or more pieces of information on the growth of the plant acquired in the information acquisition step include, but are not limited to, various information on the growth promotion effect such as elongation of stems, leaves or roots, an increase in the number of leaves, promotion of flowering or fruiting, an increase in the number of flowers or fruits, an increase in the weight of the plant or the crop yield, greening, or promotion of tillering, as well as various information on unfavorable effects on the growth of the plant such as inability to grow (death), poor growth (for example, whitening or yellowing of the whole plant or a part thereof (e.g., leaves or flowers), a decrease in root length or a decrease in the number of leaves, or lodging), a decrease in the growth rate, or a decrease in the weight of the plant or the crop yield. By acquiring one or more pieces of information exemplified above, the state of the growth of the plant can be evaluated.

The conditions for applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, preferably the agricultural chemical composition of one embodiment of the present invention, determined in the application condition determination step, are appropriately set so that the application can reduce the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant. The conditions determined in this step can be selected from, for example, one or more conditions selected from the group consisting of the composition, pH, application amount and application time of the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, preferably the agricultural chemical composition of one embodiment of the present invention, and the content of acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof contained as an active ingredient. The specific values of these conditions can be appropriately set from the ranges exemplified in this specification. By determining appropriate conditions for applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical formulation or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention, preferably the agricultural chemical composition of one embodiment of the present invention, the growth of the plant can be stably managed while reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant.

In the method for managing plant growth of this embodiment, the number and order of the information acquisition step and the application condition determination step are not particularly limited. For example, the information acquisition step and the application condition determination step may be performed once each in this order, or the information acquisition step, the application condition determination step, and then a further information acquisition step may be performed in this order, or a combination of the information acquisition step and the application condition determination step may be performed multiple times, such as a first information acquisition step, a first application condition determination step, a second information acquisition step, and a second application condition determination step.

By carrying out the method for managing plant growth of this embodiment, the conditions for applying the plant irrigation amount reducer, agricultural chemical preparation, or pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to the plant, etc., can be appropriately set based on the state of the plant's growth, and the plant's growth can be stably managed while reducing the amount of irrigation and/or water absorption of the plant.

As described in detail herein, the present invention can provide an agent for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants, a cut flower preservative, an agricultural chemical formulation, or a pesticide containing, as an active ingredient, acetic acid or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof, which is available at low cost. Therefore, by applying the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation for plants, an agricultural chemical formulation, or a pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to a plant, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorbed by the plant can be reduced safely and at low cost without substantially causing any undesirable effects on the growth of the plant. In addition, by applying the cut flower preservative, an agricultural chemical formulation, or a pesticide of each embodiment of the present invention to cut flowers, the amount of irrigation and/or the amount of water absorbed by the cut flowers can be reduced safely and at low cost without substantially causing any undesirable effects on the growth of the cut flowers, and as a result, the cut flowers can be preserved while maintaining their freshness.

The present invention will be described in more detail below using examples. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples.

<I: Test to reduce the amount of irrigation for cut flowers (1)>
Commercially available spray chrysanthemum cut flowers (variety: spray mum, plants shipped at the same time by the same producer) were prepared. Four cut flowers were grown in 500 mL of test solution at room temperature for 5 days. The volume of the test solution after growth was measured. The test solutions were water (control), 0.1% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:1000, pH unadjusted), or 0.2% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:500, pH unadjusted). Commercially available glacial acetic acid for food additives (Kosakai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was used as acetic acid, and tap water was used as water.

The appearance and water absorption of the cut flowers in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment are shown in Figure 1. In the figure, (a) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers at the start of the test, (b) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers after 5 days of growth, and (c) is a photograph showing the appearance of the cut part of the stem of the cut flower and the test solution after 5 days of growth. As shown in Figures 1(a) and (b), no significant difference in plant growth was observed in the control and 0.1% acetic acid treatment. In contrast, in the 0.2% acetic acid treatment, a significant difference in plant growth, such as yellowing of the leaves, was observed compared to the control. The volume of the test solution after 5 days of growth was approximately 50 mL in the control. In contrast, the volumes of the test solutions after five days of growth were approximately 120 mL and 150 mL in the 0.1% and 0.2% acetic acid treatments, respectively (Figure 1(c), open arrows). In other words, the amount of water absorbed by the cut flowers was approximately 450 mL in the control, whereas it was approximately 380 mL and 350 mL in the 0.1% and 0.2% acetic acid treatments (approximately 84% and 78% of the control, respectively).

The results of this test showed that the application of acetic acid can reduce the amount of water absorbed by plants. In particular, it was shown that the application of a 0.1% by volume aqueous solution of acetic acid can reduce the amount of water absorbed by plants without causing any substantial adverse effects on plant growth.

<II: Test to reduce the amount of irrigation for cut flowers (2)>
Commercially available cut Gerbera flowers (variety: Sunglow, plants shipped at the same time by the same grower) were prepared. Four cut flowers were grown in 8 mL of test solution at room temperature for two days. The remaining test solution was then discarded and replaced with 500 μL of fresh test solution. The cut flowers were grown at room temperature for another five days (total seven days) while changing the test solution every day as described above. The test solutions were water (control), 0.1% acetic acid solution (0.1% acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:1000, pH unadjusted), or 0.2% acetic acid solution (0.2% acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:500, pH unadjusted). The same acetic acid and water were used as in I above.

Figure 2 shows the appearance of the cut flowers in the control group, the 0.1% acetic acid treatment group, and the 0.2% acetic acid treatment group. In the figure, (a) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers at the start of the test, and (b) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the cut flowers after 7 days of growth. As shown in Figures 2(a) and (b), in the control group and the 0.1% acetic acid treatment group, flower lodging (neck breaking) was observed in more than 75% of the plants. Furthermore, compared to the plants at the start of the test, brown discoloration was observed even in the flowers that had not lodged. In contrast, in the 0.2% acetic acid treatment group, nearly 100% of the plants grew well, and no flower lodging or discoloration was observed.

The results of this study demonstrated that application of acetic acid can reduce plant irrigation requirements without substantially affecting plant growth.

<III: Test to reduce the amount of irrigation for cut flowers (3)>
Commercially available spray chrysanthemum cut flowers (variety: spray mum, plants shipped at the same time by the same producer) were prepared. Four cut flowers were grown in 500 mL of test solution at room temperature for 5 days. The volume of the test solution after growth was measured. The test solutions were water (control), 0.1% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:1000, pH 6-7), or 0.2% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:500, pH 6-7). The pH of the acetic acid aqueous solution was adjusted using a KOH aqueous solution and pH test paper. The acetic acid and water used were the same as those in I above.

Figure 3 shows the appearance of cut flowers in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment groups after 5 days of growth. As shown in Figure 3, in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment groups, all plants grew well, and there was almost no lodging or discoloration of the flowers. In particular, in the 0.1% acetic acid treatment and 0.2% acetic acid treatment groups, the stems were longer than in the control group. Also, similar to the results of test I above, in the 0.1% acetic acid treatment and 0.2% acetic acid treatment groups, a reduction in water absorption was observed compared to the control group.

The results of this study showed that applying an aqueous solution of acetic acid with a pH of 6 to 7 can promote plant growth while reducing the amount of water absorbed by the plant, without causing any substantial adverse effects on plant growth.

<IV: Test to reduce the amount of irrigation for cherry tomato seedlings>
Nine commercially available cherry tomato seedlings (variety: Mini Carol) were prepared. Each seedling was transplanted into a plastic pot containing about 200 mL of soil. The potted seedlings were placed on an open rack installed outdoors to avoid rain. A sufficient amount of water was applied to the soil of all potted seedlings, and the pots were left overnight in an outdoor environment while placed on the open rack. Next, 100 mL of water was applied to the soil of all potted seedlings, and the pots were left for one hour until excess water no longer flowed out from the bottom. Six potted seedlings with uniform growth were selected, and two were used for each of the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment. 30 mL of the test solution was applied to the soil of the potted seedlings. The test solutions were water (control), 0.1% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.1% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:1000, pH unadjusted), or 0.2% by volume acetic acid aqueous solution (0.2% by volume acetic acid treatment, acetic acid:water = 1:500, pH unadjusted). The potted seedlings in the control and acetic acid treatment were grown outdoors for 4 weeks while placed on an open rack. 30 mL of the test solution was applied every week during the growth period.

The appearance of the pot seedlings in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment after 4 weeks of growth is shown in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 5, (a) is a photograph showing the overall appearance of the pot seedlings in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment, and (b) is a photograph showing the fruit (cherry tomato) formed on the pot seedling in the 0.2% acetic acid treatment. As shown in Figure 4, in the control, 0.1% acetic acid treatment, and 0.2% acetic acid treatment, all plants grew well, and there was almost no lodging or discoloration of the main stem or side branches. In particular, in the 0.1% acetic acid treatment and 0.2% acetic acid treatment, the main stems were elongated and the entire seedlings grew larger than in the control. Furthermore, fruiting was observed only in the 0.2% acetic acid treatment (Figure 5(b)). Although the results are not shown, in the case of potted seedlings that were continuously irrigated under normal conditions from immediately after transplanting, the main stems grew longer and the seedlings as a whole grew larger compared to potted seedlings treated with 0.2% acetic acid by volume, but no flowering or fruiting was observed.

The results of this study demonstrated that application of acetic acid can reduce the amount of plant irrigation while promoting plant growth without substantially causing any undesirable effects on plant growth.

<V: Test to reduce irrigation amount in tomato field cultivation>
We purchased commercially available tomato seedlings (variety: Home Momotaro) that were ready for sowing and shipping at the same time. Each seedling was transplanted into a plastic pot containing about 200 mL of culture soil to obtain potted seedlings.

A wooden frame was set up in a vinyl greenhouse field. Vinyl film was attached to the bottom and sides of the frame to prevent moisture from seeping into the frame from the ground surface. Thoroughly dried commercially available black soil (basic soil that does not contain fertilizer, etc.) was placed inside the frame to a depth of 30 cm. The black soil inside the frame was used as the test land.

Four potted seedlings per test plot were left overnight in a tray containing 1 L of water (pretreatment of seedlings). Pretreatment of the seedlings allowed the soil to absorb a sufficient amount of water from the bottom of the pot, ensuring that the moisture content of the soil for each potted seedling was uniform. After pretreatment, the potted seedlings were directly transplanted into the test field.

On the 7th, 14th, and 21st days after transplantation, 100 mL of water was applied per plant to the non-treated area, 100 mL of 10 mM (0.057% by volume, pH unadjusted) acetic acid solution was applied per plant to the acetic acid-treated area, and 400 mL of water was applied per plant to the control area. Commercially available glacial acetic acid for food additives (Kosakai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo) was used as acetic acid, and tap water was used as water. The application rates from transplantation to the 21st day were 300 mL per plant to the non-treated and acetic acid-treated areas, and 1200 mL per plant to the control area. In other words, all tomato plants in the non-treated, acetic acid-treated, and control areas were grown under non-drought stress conditions with continuous irrigation.

On the 22nd day after transplanting, the growth status of each tomato plant was visually confirmed. The above procedure was repeated three times. The percentage of the number of surviving individuals relative to the total number of individuals in the non-treated, control, and acetic acid-treated groups was calculated as the survival rate (%). The survival rates of the tomato plants in the non-treated, control, and acetic acid-treated groups are shown in Figure 6. In the figure, the survival rate values are the average values of the three repeated tests. In addition, the appearance of the tomato plants in the non-treated, control, and acetic acid-treated groups during the test period is shown in Figure 7. In the figure, (a) is a photograph of the tomato plants in each group at the time of transplanting, (b) is a photograph of the tomato plants in each group 15 days after transplanting, and (c) is a photograph of the tomato plants in each group 22 days after transplanting.

As shown in Figure 6, the average survival rate of the non-treated area was about 5% on the 22nd day after transplantation. In contrast, the average survival rates of the control and acetic acid-treated areas were about 85% and 90%, respectively. In addition, it was observed that the tomato plants in the non-treated area had partially died on the 15th day after transplantation, and had completely died on the 22nd day after transplantation (Figures 7 (b) and (c)). In contrast, the tomato plants in the acetic acid-treated area did not die, even with the same amount of irrigation as the non-treated tomato plants, and showed substantially the same growth as the tomato plants in the control area. A comparison of the irrigation amount of the acetic acid-treated area (300 mL per plant) and the control area (1200 mL per plant) confirmed that the irrigation amount could be reduced by up to 25% in the acetic acid-treated area compared to the control area.

The results of this study showed that application of acetic acid can promote plant growth while reducing the amount of water absorbed by plants, without causing any undesirable effects on plant growth, such as plant death.

All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims (8)

1. An agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant selected from the group consisting of Asteraceae plants, Solanaceae plants, Cruciferae plants, Gramineae plants, Leguminosae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Salicaceae plants, Euphorbiaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Rutaceae plants, Rosaceae plants, Orchidaceae plants, Gentianaceae plants, Primulaceae plants, Violaceae plants, Liliaceae plants, Amaranthaceae plants, Vitaceae plants, Cupressaceae plants, Oleaceae plants, and Pinaceae plants, the agent comprising 0.01 to 0.5% by volume of acetic acid or a salt thereof as an active ingredient relative to the total volume, one or more solvents including at least water, and having a pH in the range of 4 to 8, wherein the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for the plant is applied to the plant grown under normal growth conditions involving irrigation to reduce the amount of water absorbed by the plant to 90% or less, as compared to a control group of plants not treated with the agent. 2. The agent for reducing an amount of irrigation water for a plant according to claim 1 , wherein the plant grows in soil. 1. An agricultural chemical composition for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant selected from the group consisting of Asteraceae plants, Solanaceae plants, Cruciferae plants, Gramineae plants, Fabaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Salicaceae plants, Euphorbiaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Rutaceae plants, Rosaceae plants, Orchidaceae plants, Gentianaceae plants, Primulaceae plants, Violaceae plants, Liliaceae plants, Amaranthaceae plants, Vitaceae plants, Cupressaceae plants, Oleaceae plants, and Pinaceae plants, the composition comprising 0.01 to 0.5% by volume of acetic acid or a salt thereof relative to the total volume, one or more solvents including at least water, and one or more agriculturally acceptable ingredients, and having a pH in the range of 4 to 8, wherein the agricultural chemical composition, when applied to the plant grown under normal irrigation conditions, reduces the amount of water absorption of the plant to 90% or less, as compared to a control population of plants not treated with the composition. 4. The agrochemical composition of claim 3 , wherein the plant grows in soil. 13. A method for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant, comprising applying an agriculturally effective amount of the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , or the agricultural chemical composition as set forth in claim 3 or 4, to a plant selected from the group consisting of Asteraceae plants, Solanaceae plants, Cruciferae plants, Gramineae plants, Leguminosae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Salicaceae plants, Euphorbiaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Rutaceae plants, Rosaceae plants, Orchidaceae plants, Gentianaceae plants, Primulaciae plants, Violaciae plants, Liliaceae plants, Amaranthaceae plants, Vitaceae plants, Cupressaceae plants, Oleaceae plants, and Pinaceae plants grown under normal growing conditions with irrigation, to a material for applying to the plant, or to a soil, medium, or culture solution in which the plant is grown, thereby reducing the amount of water absorption of the plant to 90% or less compared to a population of control plants not treated with the material. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plant grows in soil. Obtaining one or more pieces of information regarding the growth of a plant selected from the group consisting of Asteraceae plants, Solanaceae plants, Cruciferae plants, Gramineae plants, Fabaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Salicaceae plants, Euphorbiaceae plants, Convolvulaceae plants, Rutaceae plants, Rosaceae plants, Orchidaceae plants, Gentianaceae plants, Primulaceae plants, Violaceae plants, Liliaceae plants, Amaranthaceae plants, Vitaceae plants, Cupressaceae plants, Oleaceae plants, and Pinaceae plants;
Based on one or more pieces of information obtained, determining conditions for reducing the amount of water absorbed by the plant to 90% or less as compared to a group of control plants not treated with the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant as described in claim 1 or 2 or the agricultural chemical composition as described in claim 3 or 4 by applying the agent for reducing the amount of irrigation water for a plant as described in claim 1 or 2 or the agricultural chemical composition as described in claim 3 or 4 to the plant grown under normal growth conditions with irrigation, to a material for applying to the plant, or to the soil, medium or culture solution from which the plant grows;
A method for controlling the growth of said plant, comprising: The method of claim 7 , wherein the plant grows in soil.

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