Benzothiazole derivatives substituted in position 2 as biologically active substances with plant growth regulation activity

Thirteen of the new synthetized 2-R substituted benzothiazole derivatives have been tested for plant growth regulatory (PGR) activity. The effect on growth elongation was studied on wheat coleoptile segments Triticum aestivum L. cv. Blava, and on the hypocotyl and roots in cucumber Cucumis sativum L. cv. Evita. The formation and number of adventitious roots and the length of hypocotyl in Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek and, the effect on the length of stem, fresh and dry mass in buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. cv. Pyra were evaluated. Cytokinin activity was determined on segments of barley leaves Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Jubilant on the basis of senescence inhibition and chlorophyll content. The benzothiazole derivatives were tested in the range of 10-3-10-7M concentrations, and PGR activity was compared with indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-butyric acid and 6-furfurylaminopurine. All tested derivatives showed different auxine-like effects on elongation growth of plants and the stimulative effects were found to depend on applicable concentrations. At higher concentration rates, derivatives acted as growth retardants and inhibited the length of cucumber hypocotyl and roots. The derivatives increased the formation of adventitious roots of mung bean hypocotyl cuttings, as well as stem elongation and production of fresh and dry mass of buckwheat. Cytokinin activity was confirmed in one derivate only with a significant effect on the inhibition of leaf senescence and higher chlorophyll content. The tested benzothiazole derivatives may be characterized as biologically active substances with dominant auxine-like growth promoting activity