Poly(ionic liquid) formulations of carboxyl-containing plant growth regulators for enhanced agricultural utilization
A polymerized ionic liquid (PIL) platform that transforms carboxyl-containing plant growth regulators (PGRs) such as gibberellic acid, NAA, and S-ABA into high-performance formulations. PIL forms improve leaf retention, rainfastness, stability, and field efficacy while reducing application frequency, enabling more sustainable and cost-effective crop management.
Overview
This research offers a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) platform that converts carboxyl-containing plant growth regulators (PGRs) into advanced agrochemical formulations. By combining the tunable properties of ionic liquids with a polymeric backbone, the resulting PIL forms demonstrate improved retention on plant surfaces, superior rainfastness, and longer-lasting biological activity compared with conventional PGR formulations. Early validation with mepiquat chloride showed that a single PIL application matched the efficacy of two applications of the standard treatment, indicating significant potential to reduce application frequency, lower labor and input costs, and minimize environmental impact.
The platform is designed to be broadly applicable to carboxyl-bearing PGRs, including gibberellic acid (GA), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and S-abscisic acid (S-ABA), offering agrochemical companies a versatile route to next-generation plant management products.
Technical specifications
Core approach:
- PILs are synthesized through simple acid-base neutralization or metathesis reactions between poly(acrylic acid) and hydroxides derived from active PGR compounds
- Each repeating unit of the polymer carries an ionic liquid species, combining intrinsic ionic liquid properties with macromolecular characteristics
- Physicochemical properties such as solubility, stability, and release behavior can be tuned by selecting appropriate counterions
Key features demonstrated:
- High retention on cotton leaves and excellent rainfastness
- Long-lasting control of lateral branch length and plant height, producing more compact cotton plant architecture
- Equivalent field efficacy at half the number of applications compared with conventional formulations
Planned characterization and validation:
- Structural analysis by electron microscopy, NMR, FTIR, and UV-vis spectroscopy
- Evaluation of light and thermal stability
- Greenhouse and field activity testing across multiple carboxyl-containing PGRs
Technology readiness level
The technology has been validated at the laboratory scale and demonstrated in cotton field trials with mepiquat chloride-based PILs. Current readiness is in the range of applied research and early field validation (TRL 4–5). Future work will expand the platform to additional carboxyl-containing PGRs and complete a full year of greenhouse and field testing due to crop growth cycles. The research team is seeking financial support and commercialization partners to advance the technology toward market-ready agrochemical products.
About China Agricultural University
China Agricultural University is a leading public research university in Beijing that specializes in agriculture while drawing on broad cross‑disciplinary capacity. Industry collaborates through experimental farms and field stations for piloting and validation, and through a university science park that hosts a platform for showcasing and transacting research outputs. The university’s Science and Technology Backyard model embeds researchers in rural cooperatives, accelerating adoption and supply‑chain impact. Research is supported by competitive funding from national agencies such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology, along with Ministry of Education and regional programs. A dedicated technology transfer office advances IP protection, licensing, and partnerships within the science park.
delivered to your inbox.