• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2002

Plant growth promoting activity of quinolinone metabolites, 2-(2-hepteny)-3-methyl-4-quinolinone (1), 2-heptyl-3-methyl-4-quinolinone, and 2-nonyl-3-methyl-4-quinolinone, produced by Pseudomonas cepacia and ethyl 2-methyl-3-alkyl-4-quinolinone carboxylates chemically synthesized were tested by using seed-germination assay, growth increments in plant height after foliar applications. Plant height increment, fresh weight, and the number of fruits were measured after seed-soaking and drench treatment. Compound 1 among the natural products showed a consistent growth promoting effect in seed-germination and plant height after a foliar application. After a seed-soaking and drench treatment, compound 1 and synthetic ethyl 2-methyl-4-quinolinone-3-carboxylate (5) showed a significant enhancement in fresh weight and the number of fruits after harvest. Compound 1 and 5 increased the number of fruits per plant by 44% and 84% over the control, respectively.