Abstract:
Methods for improving the properties and productivity of plants are described. The methods include contacting the above-ground biomass of a plant with a composition that includes a monoglyceride. Applying the composition to the above-ground biomass can improve properties of the plant, including improved resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, and can provide post-harvest benefits (e.g., extended shelf-life) to plant products (e.g., fruits or vegetables) that have not been harvested from the plant.
Abstract:
Compositions for forming protective coatings can include a first group of compounds, where each compound of the first group is a fatty acid, fatty acid ester, or fatty acid salt having a carbon chain length of at least 14 carbons. The compositions can optionally include a second group of compounds selected from fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty acid salts, and combinations thereof, wherein each compound of the second group has a carbon chain length from 7 to 13 carbons. At least some of the compounds of the first group can function as emulsifiers, allowing the composition to be dissolved, suspended, or dispersed in a solvent. At least some of the compounds of the second group can function as wetting agents in order to improve the surface wetting of items to be coated when solutions, suspensions, or colloids that include the compositions are applied to the items.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods of preparing cutin-derived monomers, oligomers, or combinations thereof from cutin-containing plant matter. The methods can include heating the cutin-derived plant matter in a solvent at elevated temperature and pressure. In some preferred embodiments, the methods can be carried out without the use of additional acidic or basic species.
Abstract:
Described herein are methods of preparing compounds derived from triglycerides or condensation polymers such as polyesters and/or polyamides. The methods may include subjecting triglyceride or condensation polymer containing matter to mechanical processing in the presence of a nucleophile.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a protective coating on a surface of one or more substrates. The methods include providing a mixture including a coating agent in a solvent, forming a fog from the mixture, allowing the fog to contact the outer surface of the one or more substrates so that a portion of the mixture accumulates on at least a portion of the surface of the one or more substrates. The solvent from the mixture is then at least partially removed from the surface of the one or more substrates, e.g., by evaporation or forced convection, causing a protective coating to be formed from the coating agent on at least a part of the surfaces of the one or more substrates. The protective coating can, for example, protect at least to some extent the substrates from biotic or abiotic stressors such as mass or moisture loss, oxidation, mold, fungi, or infestation.
Abstract:
Embodiments described herein relate generally to plant extract compositions and methods to isolate fatty acid esters derived from crosslinked polyesters. Particular embodiments are directed to methods of preparing compositions of fatty acid esters by treating crosslinked polyesters or other crosslinked networks with an acid and an alcohol.