phosfonn.
/ˈfɒsfɒn/, U.S. /ˈfɑsˌfɑn/ An organophosphorus compound used as a growth retardant for plants; 2,4-dichlorobenzyltributylphosphonium chloride, C19H32Cl3P. Also phosfon-D.
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phosfon1961
1961 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 22 Aug. tm104/2 Filed June 1, 1960. Phosfon-D for chemical height-retardant for chrysanthemums. First use Feb. 25, 1960.
1962 Economist 21 Apr. 248/2 The size of plants can be regulated by two new chemicals (one of which, phosfon-D, is already on the market) so that lilliputian Easter lilies and dwarf hydrangeas are possible.
1968 New Scientist 10 Oct. 84/2 Studies in Israel have shown that another retardant, 2-4-dichlorobenzyltributyl phosphonium chloride (Phosfon) gives better control of the Oleander aphid.
1975 Adv. in Agronomy 27 116 Other chemicals which reduce stomatal aperture such as phosphon-D..tend to protect against smog injury.
1998 Ecotoxicol. & Environmental Safety 42 135 The hypothesis that growth hormesis represents an overcompensation to a disruption in homeostasis was supported in experiments assessing the effects of the synthetic plant growth inhibitor phosfon..on peppermint.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1961