Oligosaccharides as Stimulators of Plant Growth in Already Germinated Plants and Method for Obtaining Said Oligosaccharides

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This invention describes the use of specific short-chain oligosaccharides (composed of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine, with 1-6 units and 60–100% N-acetylglucosamine content) as plant growth stimulators for already germinated plants. The patent also details a method for producing these oligosaccharides from chitin via heating and sonication, resulting in an environmentally friendly, low-solubility biofertilizer that boosts plant growth without inducing plant stress.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Organic, environmentally friendly fertilizers for agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
• Rehabilitating overexploited, nitrogen-poor, or degraded soils, including burned or abandoned agricultural and forest lands.
• Supplement for already germinated crops to improve growth and biomass without causing plant stress responses.
• Combination with other organic or inorganic fertilizers to enhance efficacy and sustainability.
• Recycling of chitin-rich industrial waste (e.g. shellfish byproducts, bioplastics) into valuable plant fertilizers.
• Microbial soil enrichment, supporting populations of chitin-degrading microorganisms.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Promotes plant growth without triggering defense/stress mechanisms, unlike traditional chitin/chitosan fertilizers.
• Low environmental impact: insoluble formulation prevents runoff, leaching, and contamination of soil and water.
• Provides an organic source of nitrogen and carbon, aiding sustainable agriculture and soil health.
• Simple, low-cost production process that can utilize recycled chitin-containing materials.
• Supports restoration and regeneration of degraded soils, helping to restore soil fertility and biomass.
• Can be stored, transported, and applied in various ways (solid, aqueous, mixed with other fertilizers).
• Potentially enhances soil microbiome by providing accessible nutrients for beneficial microorganisms.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to using oligosaccharides as stimulators of plant growth in already germinated plants and methods for obtaining said oligosaccharides. The invention particularly relates to using oligosaccharides comprising N-acetyl glucosamine and glucosamine as stimulators of plant growth in already germinated plants, where the percentage of N-acetyl glucosamine in said oligosaccharides is 100% and the length of said oligosaccharides is between 1 and 6 monosaccharides. The invention particularly relates to methods for obtaining said oligosaccharides, comprising: (a) resuspending chitin with a percentage of N-acetyl glucosamine of between 85% and 100% in water, (b) heating the resulting composition to a temperature between 120 and 180° C. for a duration between 20 and 40 minutes and leaving to cool to room temperature, and (c) sonicating the resulting composition at a power between 50 and 60 Hz for a duration between 5 and 120 minutes at a temperature between 20 and 25° C.