Proline Metabolite Increases Grain Yield with Foliar, in-Furrow, and Side-Dress Applications.

Plant regulatory processes responsible for plant growth of row crops are not thoroughly understood, but are manipulated in crop production routinely to enhance vigor and yield. Glutamine synthetase (GS) activity is well correlated to assimilation of nitrogen and carbon into amino acids, a driver in creating higher yields. A recently discovered (Unkefer et al.) molecule 2-oxoglutaramate has been shown to significantly impact GS. The novel proline metabolite 2-oxoglutaramate increased nitrogen uptake and crop yield in replicated field trials during 2014 and 2015 independent of application method; in-furrow, foliar, or side-dress. Take Off®, a commercial brand name of a functional analogue of 2-oxoglutaramate by Verdesian Life Sciences, was isolated and discovered at Los Alamos National Laboratory by Drs. Pat Unkefer and Thomas J. Knight. Numerous foliar and seed treatment studies in the laboratory and greenhouse have confirmed that the compound and the functional analogues monitor and regulate nitrogen uptake by detecting in-situ nitrogen assimilation occurring outside of the GS pathway. Replicated field trials in 2014 and 2015 increased grain yield on Zea mays and Triticum aestivum by 2.7 to 5.2% respectively, offering growers enhanced yields without additional trips across the field or additional bulk fertilizer additions. Results indicate foliar, on-seed, in-furrow, and side dress lay-by applications are effective at eliciting these beneficial crop responses by creating favorable conditions to increase crop performance.