Thiamine Hydrochloride Uses in Plants

Vitamin B-1

• Thiamine hydrochloride, commonly called vitamin B-1, is a nutrient that is produced in the leaves of plants and sent to the roots. Many kinds of fungi and bacteria that involve the root systems of some plants also produce vitamin B-1. Even though the nutrient is needed by plants for growth, healthy plants can produce enough of the nutrient for their own needs so generally do not need to be fed additional B-1.

Vitamin B-1 Claims

• Although claims have been made that the application of vitamin B-1 to transplanted seedlings reduced transplant shock and stimulated root development, research done in 1983 and 1984 concluded that the use of vitamin B-1 did not add a significant benefit to the growth of young plants. Vitamin B-1 is often used in root-stimulator products containing fertilizers, and researchers found that any significant development in the plants given such products was due to the fertilizers rather than to vitamin B-1.

Vitamin B-1 in Growth Medium

• Vitamin B-1 was added to growth media used to culture tissue from plants, and the result had some success, according to a 1998 article in "Plant Biotechnology." At an early stage of plant development, the addition of the vitamin stimulated a higher percentage of shoot formation in cultured plant tissue. The same result, however, was seen with the addition of a growth hormone instead of vitamin B-1.

Resistance to Disease

• Plants, as well as humans and animals, are subject to pathogens on a daily basis. The development of defense systems and immunity enables them to protect themselves from harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi. The use of vitamin B-1 in plants seems to induce a systemic acquired resistance to many fungal, bacterial and viral infections in the plants, according to two "Plant Physiology" articles, one published in 1976 and the other in 2005. Although vitamin B-1 does not appear to make a significant contribution to plant growth or development at a later stage, it may be a significant contributor to plants' defense systems and health so could be an important element in the control of plant diseases.