Recommended environmentally friendly plant growth regulators help reduce agricultural pollution and achieve green production

Environmentally friendly plant growth regulators are generally divided into two categories:

1. Natural plant endogenous hormones or their analogs;
2. Regulators extracted from natural substances or obtained through microbial fermentation. These are generally readily degradable in the environment and have low toxicity to non-target organisms (such as bees and birds).

The following are some plant growth regulators that are generally recognized as less polluting and more environmentally friendly:

I. Major Types of Environmentally Friendly Plant Growth Regulators

1. Gibberellins, GA
Source: Originally discovered from the fungus Gibberellins, which causes excessive rice growth, they are now primarily produced through microbial fermentation.
Features: They are natural plant hormones that promote cell elongation, break seed dormancy, and promote fruit enlargement (such as seedless grapes) and bolting and flowering.
Environmental Benefits: They are fermentation products that are readily degradable in the environment, have low residues, and are extremely low in toxicity to mammals.

2. Brassinolide (BR)
Source: Originally extracted from rapeseed pollen, BR is now primarily derived through synthetic analogs (such as 24-epibrassinolide).
Features: Known as the sixth major plant hormone, it significantly enhances crop stress resistance (cold, drought, and salinity), promotes growth, and increases yield and quality.
Environmental friendliness: BR is used at extremely low concentrations (0.01-0.1 ppm). It is a highly effective, low-toxic substance that readily degrades in nature.

3. S-Abscisic Acid (S-ABA)
Source: A naturally occurring plant hormone that can be produced on a large scale through microbial fermentation.
Features: Its primary function is to induce stress tolerance in plants, helping them withstand stresses such as drought, cold, and salinity. It also promotes dormancy and fruit coloring.
Environmental friendliness: It is a substance naturally present in plants, has good environmental compatibility, and degrades quickly.

4. Jasmonic Acid/Methyl Jasmonate (JA/MeJA)
Source: A natural plant hormone that can also be synthesized.
Features: It regulates various plant physiological processes, particularly activating the plant's defense system to resist pests and diseases. It also participates in root growth and fruit ripening.
Environmental friendliness: As a signaling molecule, it requires minimal use and is easily degraded.

5. Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6)
Source: A synthetic compound with extremely low toxicity.
Features: It has high regulatory activity and stability, can enhance the activity of plant peroxidase and nitrate reductase, promote photosynthesis, and improve yield and quality. Environmental protection: It is a low-toxic, low-residue regulator and is safe to the environment at the recommended dosage.

6. Seaweed Extracts
Source: Extracted from natural seaweed (such as giant kelp).
Features: Not a single hormone, but a complex mixture containing natural auxins, cytokinins, trace elements, and organic substances. It comprehensively promotes plant growth and enhances stress resistance.
Environmental Benefits: Sourced from natural sources, completely biodegradable, extremely safe and environmentally friendly, widely used in organic farming.

7. Amino Acid and Humic Acid Regulators
Source: Produced through fermentation or degradation of plant and animal residues.
Features: These substances are inherently nutritious and can stimulate plant growth, improve soil conditions, and increase fertilizer utilization.
Environmental Benefits: As natural organic matter, they have no negative impact on the environment and can even improve soil ecology.

II. Usage Precautions

Targeted Use: Select the most appropriate product based on the crop and intended purpose (root growth promotion, fruit preservation, stress tolerance, etc.), and avoid overuse.
Protecting Non-Target Organisms: Avoid applying pesticides during flowering to protect pollinators such as bees. Plan a reasonable interval between applications and harvest.
Integrated Management: Plant growth regulators are not a panacea. They should be combined with healthy soil management, balanced fertilization, appropriate irrigation, and integrated pest management (IPM) to achieve optimal results.

Gibberellins, brassinolides, S-Abscisic Acid, and seaweed extracts are currently widely used and environmentally friendly plant growth regulators.
Most of these are naturally derived and rapidly degrade in the environment, making them excellent options for reducing agricultural pollution and promoting green production.