Regulating plant growth using a diapocarotenoid

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe diapocarotenoid plant growth regulators represented by formula (I): R-A-R (I) or a precursor, salt, solvate, stereoisomer or polymorph thereof; wherein R is a monovalent carbonyl moiety selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, ethers, diethers, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ester carboxylates and A is a bivalent polyene represented by the bivalent moiety —(CR═CR)—, wherein x is the number of double bonds in polyene moiety A, and Rand Rare, independently, hydrogen, a hydrocarbon, or an alkoxy group, and composition of the diapocarotenoid plant growth regulators in an agronomically acceptable carrier. Methods of regulating plant growth including promoting root development, increasing nutrient uptake, enhancing resistance to abiotic stress factors, invigorating plant growth, increasing plant yield, and increasing plant biomass by applying at least one diapocarotenoid plant growth regulator to a seed, plant propagation material, plant or plant growth medium are also described.