Patent Application
20150181865
The present invention relates to an adjuvant comprising a sugar-based surfactant; a drift control agent and/or a humectant; and an alkoxylate, wherein the alkoxylate is an amine alkoxylate (A) or a quaternized derivative (AQ) of the amine alkoxylate (A) as defined below. It further relates to a method of preparing said adjuvant by contacting
the sugar-based surfactant; the drift control agent and/or the humectant; and the amine alkoxylate (A) or the quaternized derivative (AQ) of the amine alkoxylate (A); and to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the tank mix according is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesired plants and/or the crop plants and/or their environment. The present invention comprises combinations of preferred features with other preferred features.
WO2012/116939 discloses a concentrate comprising a 2-propylheptyl amine alkoxylate, a surfactant, and optionally adjuvants.
It was an object of the present invention to find an adjuvant which is well suited to pesticides, in particular herbicides such as glyphosate while being less toxic (especially lower toxicity to aquatic organisms). Furthermore, the adjuvant should make possible a storage-stable formulation of the pesticides. Another object was to increase the biological activity of the agrochemical composition. Finally, this adjuvant was to avoid phytotoxic side-effects.
The object was solved by an adjuvant comprising
or a quaternized derivative (AQ)
of the amine alkoxylate (A), where
Preferably, the alkoxylate is an amine alkoxylate (A).
Preferably, n has a value of from 1 to 20, especially preferably from 1 to 15, and in particular from 1 to 10. Preferably, m has a value of from 1 to 20, especially preferably from 1 to 15, and in particular from 1 to 10. Preferably, p has a value of from 1 to 30, especially preferably from 1 to 20. The values of n, m and o are normally average values as they mostly arise upon the alkoxylation with alkoxides. Therefore, n, m and o can not only be integers, but also all values between the integers.
Preferably, in the case of the amine alkoxylate (A), the total of n and m is 2 to 40 and in its quaternized derivative (AQ) the total of n, m and p is 3 to 80.
In the case of the amine alkoxylate (A) the total of n and m is especially preferably 3 to 30, specifically preferably 3 to 15, and specifically 4 to 12. In a further especially preferred embodiment, the total of n and m is 2 to 9, in particular 3 to 7 and in particular 4 to 6. In a further especially preferred embodiment, the sum of n and m is 8 to 13, in particular 9 to 11.
In the case of the quaternized derivative (AQ) of the amine alkoxylate (A), the total of n, m and p is especially preferably 3 to 40 and specifically 5 to 25. In one especially preferred embodiment, the sum of n and m is 8 to 13, in particular 9 to 11.
R1, R2 and R5 are preferably independently of one another ethylene, ethylene and propylene, ethylene and butylene, or ethylene, propylene and butylene. In a further preferred embodiment, R1, R2 and R5 are propylene. In a further preferred embodiment, R1, R2 and R5 are butylene. Especially preferably R1, R2 and R5 independently of one another are ethylene, or ethylene and propylene. Very especially preferably, R1, R2 and R5 are ethylene.
If R1, R2 or R5 comprise a butylene radical, the latter may be present as a n-butylene, an isobutylene or a 2,3-butylene group, with n-butylene and isobutylene being preferred and n-butylene being most preferred.
R1, R2 and R5 independently of one another may be a mixture of ethylene, propylene or butylene. In this context, for example one or all radicals R1, R2 and R5 may comprise a mixture of these groups in each alkoxylate chain. Such mixtures can be linked to one another in any desired order, for example randomly or blockwise (such as one block ethylene and one block propylene). Also, it is possible for in each case one or more of the radicals R1, R2, and R5 to form a complete alkoxylate chain composed of different alkylene groups. For example, R1 and R2 may be composed of ethylene and R5 of propylene.
R3 is preferably an H, —OH, C1-C4-alkyl or an oxygen anion, it is especially preferably an H, methyl, butyl or an oxygen anion. In a specifically preferred embodiment, R3 is a methyl. In a further specifically preferred embodiment, R3 is an oxygen anion. In a further specifically preferred embodiment, R3 is an H.
R4 is preferably a C1-C6-alkyl, in particular a methyl or butyl, especially butyl.
R6 is preferably an H or C1-C6-alkyl, more preferably an H or methyl, especially H.
Ra and Rd are independently of one another H, or inorganic or organic cations, which may be singly or multiply positively charged. Examples of inorganic cations are cations of ammonium, Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, or Zn2+. Examples of organic cations are methylammonium, dimethylammonium, trimethylammonium, tetramethylammonium, (2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium, tetra(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium. Preferably, Ra and Rd independently of one another are H or inorganic cations. If an inorganic or organic cation is present, then the associated anionic group would be formed by the corresponding functional group (e.g., —SO3−, —P(O)O−O−, or —CH2CO2−) on R6.
Rb and Rc are preferably, independently of one another, H, inorganic or organic cations. Suitable inorganic or organic cations are those specified under Ra.
In another embodiment, in the quaternary derivative (AQ), the radicals Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd independently of one another may be organic cations, with the cationic group being the quaternary nitrogen cation of AQ itself. It would also be possible, therefore, for AQ to form a zwitterion, with the anionic group being formed by the corresponding functional group (e.g., —SO3−, —P(O)O−O−, or —CH2CO2−) on R6 in AQ, and the cationic group by the quaternary nitrogen of AQ. In this zwitterionic form of AQ, the presence of an agriculturally acceptable anion A− is optional.
Re is preferably C1-C12-alkyl, C6-C12-aryl, or C7-C12-alkylaryl, more preferably C1-C6-alkyl.
A− is an agriculturally acceptable anion, as they are generally known to the skilled worker. Preferably, A− is a halide (such as chloride or bromide), phosphate, sulfate or an anionic pesticide. Especially preferably, A− is an anionic pesticide, such as a glyphosate anion or glufosinate anion. If R3 is an oxygen anion, an amine oxide is present. In this case, a further anion such as A− is absent.
In a preferred embodiment R1 and R2 independently of one another are ethylene, ethylene and propylene, ethylene and butylene, or ethylene, propylene and butylene, and the total of n and m is 2 to 60, preferably 2 to 40, especially preferably 3 to 30 and in particular 5 to 25. In a very particularly preferred embodiment, R1 and R2 are ethylene, ethylene and propylene, ethylene and butylene, or ethylene, propylene and butylene and the total of n and m is 5 to 18, more particularly 8 to 12, and especially 9 to 11.
In a further preferred embodiment, R1 and R2 independently of one another are both ethylene and propylene, and the total of n and m is 2 to 60, preferably 3 to 30, especially preferably 5 to 20 and in particular 8 to 14. Preferably the alkoxylate comprises 1.5 to 8 mol (preferably 2 to 6 mol) of propylene oxide and 5 to 20 mol (preferably 7 to 13 mol) of ethylene oxide.
In a particularly preferred embodiment R1 and R2 are ethylene, and the total of n and m is 2 to 60, preferably 2 to 40, especially preferably 3 to 30, specifically preferably 5 to 18 and in particular 8 to 14.
The compounds (A) and (AQ) may be present as mixtures of stereoisomers or as isolated stereoisomers. Tautomers and betaines are likewise encompassed by the structures (A) and (AQ).
In most cases, the adjuvant according to the invention comprises from 1 to 50% by weight of the alkoxylate, preferably from 2.5 to 40% by weight and in particular from 5 to 30% by weight.
The sugar-based surfactant may contain a sugar, such as a mono-, di-, oligo-, and/or polysaccharide. Mixtures of different sugar-based surfactants are possible. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose esters and glucose esters or alkyl polyglucosides.
The alkyl polyglucosides are usually mixtures of alkyl monoglucoside (e.g. alkyl-α-D- and —β-D-glucopyranoside, optionally containing smaller amounts of -glucofuranoside), alkyl diglucosides (e.g. -isomaltosides, -maltosides etc.) and alkyl oligoglucosides (e.g. -maltotriosides, -tetraosides etc.). Preferred alkyl polyglucosides are C4-18-alkyl polyglucosides, more preferably C6-14-alkyl polyglucosides, and in particular C6-12-alkyl polyglucosides. The alkyl polyglucosides may have a D.P. (degree of polymerization) of from 1.2 to 1.9. More preferred are C6-10-alkylpolyglycosides with a D.P. of from 1.4 to 1.9. The alkyl polyglycosides usually have a HLB value of 11.0 to 15.0, preferably of 12.0 to 14.0, and in particular from 13.0 to 14.0.
In another preferred form alkyl polyglucosides are C6-8-alkyl polyglucosides. In another form, the alkyl polyglycosides (e.g. C6-8-alkyl polyglucosides) have a HLB value according to Davies of at least 15, preferably at least 20.
The surface tension of the alkyl polyglucosides is usually 28 to 37 mN/m, preferably 30 to 35 mN/m, and in particular 32 to 35 mN/m and may be determined according to DIN53914 (25° C., 0.1%).
Usually, the adjuvant comprises 1 to 50 wt %, preferably 5 to 40 wt %, and in particular 10 to 30 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant.
Drift control agents may be understood as chemical agents, which reduce the wind drift when spraying an aqueous tank mix composition. Drift control agents are commercially available from various companies (tradenames of the products given in brackets): Ag Spray, Inc. (Halt), Ashland Specialty Ingredients (Soilcare), Brewer International Inc. (Poly Control 2), Conklin Co. Inc. (Complete), Helena Chemical Co. (AccuQuest WM, AccuZone DC, Grounded, On-Line, Sta Put, Strike Zone, LineMan), Intracrop (Driftless), Kalo, Inc. (One AP XL, Spectra Tank Mix, Spectra Max), Loveland Products, Inc. (LI 700), Nalco Co. (Staput Plus), Precision Laboratories, Inc. (Border, Border Xtra, Direct, Transport Plus), Rhodia Inc. (AgRHO DEP, AgRHO DR), Sanitek Products, Inc. (SANAG Div.) (41-A, 38-F), Willowood USA (Willowood Driftguard), FORMULATORS' TRADE NAMES, Brandt Consolidated, Inc. (Drift Free), Custom Agricultural Formulators (Driftstop), Loveland Products, Inc. (Compadre, Liberate, Reign, Reign LC, Weather Gard Complete), Wilbur-Ellis Co. (Bronc Max EDT, EDT Concentrate, In-Place), Winfield Solutions, LLC (Arrow four, Corral AMS, InterLock, Placement Propak, PowerLock), and various other discontinued commercial products, such as Apasil, Bivert, Chem-Trol, Confine, Corral Poly, Drifgon, Driftgard, Drop Zone, Intac Plus, Nalcotrol, Nalcotrol II, Nalquatic, Progacyl, Target, TMP, Wind-Fall.
Preferred examples of drift control agents are
In another preferred form examples of drift control agents are triblock copolymers of polyethylene glycol/polypropylene glycol/polyethylene glycol (so called EO/PO/EO triblock copolymers).
Preferred drift control agents are the fatty alcohol alkoxylates.
Suitable lecithin derivatives are lecithin or its chemically modified derivatives. Such drift control agents are for example commerically available as Liberate® or Compadre® from Loveland Products.
Suitable linear nonionic polymers with a molecular weight of at least 20 kDa, may be selected from polyacrylamide, polyacrylate, or a polyethylene glycol. Preferred nonionic poylmers are polyacrylamide and polyacrylate. The molecular weight of said nonionic polymers is usually at least 50 kDa, preferably at least 100 kDa, and in particular at least 1000 kDa.
Suitable guar gums are for example described in EP0660999, or are commercially available as AGRHO® DEP 775 or AGRHO® DR 200 from Rhodia.
Preferred fatty alcohol alkoxylates are fatty alcohol ethoxylates. The fatty alcohol may comprise a C12-22, preferably a C14-20, and in particular a C16-18 fatty alcohol. The fatty alcohol may comprise a linear, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic alcohol. The fatty alcohol ethoxylate may comprise from 1 to 15, preferably from 1 to 8, and in particular from 2 to 6 equivalents of ethylene oxide. Especially suitable fatty alcohol ethoxylate is a C14-20 fatty alcohol, which comprises from 2 to 6 equivalents of ethylene oxide.
In a more preferred form the drift control agent is a fatty alcohol alkoxylate, such as an alkoxylate of the formula (I)
Ra—O—(CmH2m—O)n—H (I)
wherein Ra is C8-C22-alkyl and/or -alkenyl, m is 2, 3, 4 or a mixture thereof, and n is from 1 to 15. The alkoxylates of the formula (I) are obtainable by common alkoxylation of alcohols Ra—OH, e.g. with ethylene oxide (resulting in m=2), propylene oxide, or butylene oxide.
Ra may be an alkyl, alkenyl or a mixture thereof. Preferably Ra is an alkenyl or a mixture of an alkenyl with an alkyl. In case Ra contains an alkenyl said alkenyl may comprise at least one double bond. Ra is preferably a C12-C20-alkyl and/or -alkenyl. More preferably Ra is C16-C18-alkyl and/or -alkenyl. Especially preferred Ra is oleyl and/or cetyl.
Preferably, m is 2, a mixture of 2 and 3, or a mixture of 2 and 4. In particular, m is 2.
Preferably, n is from 2 to 8. In particular, n is from 2 to 5.
In a very preferred form the drift control agent is an alkoxylate of the formula (I), wherein Ra is C12-C20-alkyl and/or -alkenyl, m is 2, a mixture of 2 and 3, or a mixture of 2 and 4, and n is from 2 to 8. In an even more preferred form the drift control agent is an alkoxylate of the formula (I), wherein Ra is C16-C18-alkyl and/or -alkenyl, m is 2, and n is from 2 to 5.
The drift control agent in form of a fatty alcohol alkoxylate may have a HLB value of 4.0 to 11.0, preferably of 6.0 to 10.0 and in particular of 8.0 to 10.0. In another particular preferred form the drift control agent (such as the alkoxylate of the formula (I)) has a HLB of 5.0 to 8.0, and most preferably from 6.0 to 7.0. The HLB may be determined according to Griffin.
The (EO-PO-EO) triblock polymer may be described by the general formula
HO(CH2—CH2O)x—(CH(CH3)—CH2O)y—(CH2—CH2O)zH
wherein x, y and z may denote the degree of polymerization and thus determine the molecular weight. The triblock polymer may have an average molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol, preferably at least 1000 g/mol. The triblock polymer may have an average molecular weight of up to 10 000 g/mol, preferably up to 6000 g/mol. In another form, the triblock polymer may have an average molecular weight of 500 to 10 000 g/mol, preferably of 800 to 6000 g/mol, and in particular from 1500 to 5000 g/mol. The molecular weight may be determined based on the hydroxy number. The triblock polymer may have a surface tension of 30 to 45 mN/m, preferably of 32 to 43 mN/m, and in particular of 33 to 40 mN/m, at a concentration of 1 g/l in water at 23° C.
In a particular preferred form the triblock polymer is a polyethyleneoxide polypropyleneoxide polyethyleneoxide (EO-PO-EO) triblock polymer. The polypropyleneoxide moiety in the EO-PO-EO triblock polymer may have a molar mass of 800 to 8000 g/mol, preferably from 1200 to 5000 g/mol, and in particular from 1500 to 4000 g/mol. The EO-PO-EO triblock polymer may contain 3 to 80 mol %, preferably 5 to 50 mol %, and in particular 5 to 20 mol % of the polyethyleneoxide moiety.
The adjuvant may comprise 1 to 45 wt %, preferably 5 to 35 wt %, and in particular 5 to 25 wt % of the drift control agent (e.g. of the fatty alcohol alkoxylate, such as the alkoxylate of the formula (I)).
Humectans are typically compounds, which attract and/or keep water within the adjuvant. Examples for humectants are glycerol, polyethylene glycols, or sugar syrups, wherein sugar syrups are preferred. In another preferred form the humectant contains glycerol. Suitable polyethylene glycols may have a molecular weight of up to 10 kDa, preferably up to 1000 Da.
Suitable sugar syrups are syrups, which contain mono-, di-, and/or oligosaccharides. Examples are glucose syrup, maltitol syrup, maltose syrup and glucose-fructose-syrup, wherein the glucose-fructose-syrup is preferred. Preferred syrups contain at least 30 wt % fructose and at least 25 wt % glucose, more preferably at least 40 wt % fructose and at least 35 wt % glucose, wherein the wt % are on a dry basis. The sugar syrups may contain water, such as up to 40 wt %, preferably up to 30 wt %. Usually, the sugar syrups are based on corn hydrolysate (so called corn syrups).
The adjuvant may comprise 5 to 70 wt %, preferably 10 to 50 wt %, and in particular 15 to 40 wt % of the humectant (e.g. glycerol or sugar syrup). In a more preferred from the adjuvant may comprise 30 to 80 wt %, preferably 35 to 70 wt %, and in particular 40 to 65 wt % of the humectant (e.g. glycerol).
In a preferred form the adjuvant comprises a drift control agent and a humectant. Preferably, the drift control agent contains the fatty alcohol alkoxylate, such as the alkoxylate of the formula (I), and the humectant contains glycerol.
The adjuvant may optionally comprise an inorganic base. Examples for inorganic bases are a hydroxide, a silicate, a borate, an oxide, a carbonate, a phosphate, or mixtures thereof. Suitable hydroxides are alkaline, earth alkaline, or organic salts of hydroxides. Preferred hydroxides are NaOH, KOH and choline hydroxide, wherein KOH and choline hydroxide are preferred. Suitable silicates are alkaline or earth alkaline silicates, such as potassium silicates. Suitable borates are alkaline or earth alkaline borates, such as potassium, sodium or calcium borates. Fertilizers containing borates are also suitable. Suitable oxides are alkaline or earth alkaline oxides, such as calcium oxide or magnesium oxide. In a preferred form oxides are used together with chelating bases.
Preferably, the base is selected from a carbonate, a phosphate, or a mixture thereof. Preferably, the base is selected from an alkali salt of a carbonate, an alkali salt of hydrogencarbonate, or mixtures thereof. Alkali salts refer to salts containing preferably sodium and/or potassium as cations. The carbonate and the phosphate may be present in any crystal modification, in pure form, as technical quality, or as hydrates (e.g. K2CO3×1.5 H2O).
Suitable carbonates are alkali or earth alkaline salts of CO32− or of HCO3− (hydrocarbonates). Preferred carbonates are alkali salts of CO32− or of HCO3−. Especially preferred carbonates are selected from sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, and mixtures thereof.
Mixtures of carbonates are also possible. Preferred mixtures of carbonates comprise alkali salts of CO32− and alkali salts of HCO3. Especially preferred mixtures of carbonates comprise potassium carbonate and potassium hydrogencarbonate; or sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogencarbonate. The weight ratio of alkali salts of CO32− (e.g. K2CO3) to alkali salts of HCO3− (e.g. KHCO3) may be in the range of 1:20 to 20:1, preferably 1:10 to 10:1. In another form, the weight ratio of alkali salts of CO32− (e.g. K2CO3) to alkali salts of HCO3 (e.g. KHCO3) may be in the range of 1:1 to 1:25, preferably of 1:2 to 1:18, and in particular of 1:4 to 1:14.
Suitable phosphates are alkaline or earth alkaline salts of secondary or tertiary phosphates, pyrrophosphates, and oligophosphates. Alkali salts of phosphates are preferred, such as Na3PO4, Na2HPO4, and NaH2PO4, and mixtures thereof.
The base has preferably has a solubility in water of at least 1 g/l at 20° C., more preferably of at least 10 g/l, and in particular at least 100 g/l.
The base and the further base may be present in dispersed or dissolved form in the adjuvant, wherein the dissolved form is preferred.
The adjuvant may comprise 3 to 50 wt %, preferably 5 to 40 wt %, and in particular 10 to 30 wt % of the base.
The adjuvant is essentially free of pesticides. This means, that the adjuvant usually contains less than 1 wt %, preferably less than 0.2 wt %, and in particular less than 0.05 wt % of a pesticide.
The adjuvant may be liquid or solid, preferably it is a liquid at 20° C. Preferably, the adjuvant is a homogenous liquid, which means that it consists of only one liquid phase.
The adjuvant may comprise further auxiliaries. Typically, the adjuvant contains up to 30 wt %, preferably up to 15 wt %, and in particular up to 5 wt % of further auxiliaries.
Examples for further auxiliaries are solvents, liquid carriers, surfactants, dispersants, emulsifiers, wetters, solubilizers, penetration enhancers, protective colloids, adhesion agents, thickeners, repellents, compatibilizers, bactericides, anti-freezing agents, anti-foaming agents, colorants.
Suitable solvents and liquid carriers are water and organic solvents, such as mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, e.g. kerosene, diesel oil; oils of vegetable or animal origin; aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, e. g. toluene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes; alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, butanol, benzylalcohol, cyclohexanol; glycols; DMSO; ketones, e.g. cyclohexanone; esters, e.g. lactates, carbonates, fatty acid esters, gamma-butyrolactone; fatty acids; phosphonates; amines; amides, e.g. N-methylpyrrolidone, fatty acid dimethylamides; and mixtures thereof.
Suitable surfactants are surface-active compounds, such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof. Such surfactants can be used as emusifier, dispersant, solubilizer, wetter, penetration enhancer, protective colloid. Examples of surfactants are listed in McCutcheon's, Vol. 1: Emulsifiers & Detergents, McCutcheon's Directories, Glen Rock, USA, 2008 (International Ed. or North American Ed.).
Suitable anionic surfactants are alkali, alkaline earth or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignine sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.
Suitable nonionic surfactants are alkoxylates, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, preferably ethylene oxide. Examples of N-substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. The drift control agents in form of the fatty alcohol alkoxylates as defined above are usually not considered nonionic surfactants.
The adjuvant may contain at least one auxiliary selected from nonionic surfactants, such as alkoxylates. Preferably the auxiliary comprises an branched alcohol, which has been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents (preferably 1.3 to 25, more preferably 1.6 to 10, and in particular 2 to 5 equivalents) of ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide (so called branched alcohol alkoxylate). Typically, the branched alcohol alkoxylate is based on a branched C6 to C20 alkanol, preferably a branched C8 to C14 alkanol, or mixtures of said branched alkanols.
The adjuvant may contain up to 25 wt %, preferably up to 15 wt % of the branched alcohol alkoxylate. The adjuvant may contain from 1 to 15 wt %, preferably from 1 to 10 wt % of the branched alcohol alkoxylate.
Suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long-chain primary amines. Suitable amphoteric surfactants are alkylbetains and imidazolines.
Suitable thickeners are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose), anorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified), polycarboxylates, and silicates.
Suitable bactericides are bronopol and isothiazolinone derivatives such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones.
Suitable anti-foaming agents are silicones, long chain alcohols, and salts of fatty acids.
Suitable colorants (e.g. in red, blue, or green) are pigments of low water solubility and water-soluble dyes. Examples are inorganic colorants (e.g. iron oxide, titan oxide, iron hexacyanoferrate) and organic colorants (e.g. alizarin-, azo- and phthalocyanine colorants).
In a preferred form the adjuvant comprises
5 to 40 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
5 to 35 wt % of the drift control agent (e.g. the fatty alcohol ethoxylate);
5 to 40 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)), and optionally further auxiliaries,
wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
In another preferred form the adjuvant comprises
5 to 40 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
5 to 50 wt % of the humectant (e.g. the corn syrup); and
5 to 40 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)), and optionally further auxiliaries,
wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
In a more preferred form the adjuvant comprises
5 to 40 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
30 to 75 wt % of the humectant (e.g. the glycerol and/or the corn syrup); and
5 to 40 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)), and optionally up to 15 wt % further auxiliaries (e.g. the branched alcohol alkoxylate), wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
In an even more preferred form the adjuvant comprises
10 to 35 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
35 to 70 wt % of the humectant (e.g. the glycerol);
10 to 35 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)); and optionally 1 to 10 wt % further auxiliaries (e.g. the branched alcohol alkoxylate), wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
In another more preferred form the adjuvant comprises
5 to 40 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
30 to 75 wt % of the humectant (e.g. the glycerol and/or the corn syrup);
2 to 25 wt % of the drift control agent (e.g. the fatty alcohol alkoxylate, such as the alkoxylate of the formula (I));
5 to 40 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)), and optionally up to 15 wt % further auxiliaries (e.g. the branched alcohol alkoxylate), wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
In an even more preferred form the adjuvant comprises
10 to 35 wt % of the sugar-based surfactant (e.g. the C6-18-alkyl polyglucoside);
35 to 70 wt % of the humectant (e.g. the glycerol);
2 to 15 wt % of the drift control agent (e.g. the fatty alcohol alkoxylate, such as the alkoxylate of the formula (I));
10 to 35 wt % of the alkoxylate (e.g. the amine alkoxylate (A)); and optionally 1 to 10 wt % further auxiliaries (e.g. the branched alcohol alkoxylate), wherein the amounts of all components sum up to 100 wt %.
The present invention further relates to a method of preparing the adjuvant according to the invention by contacting the sugar-based surfactant; the drift control agent and/or the humectant; and the amine alkoxylate (A) or the quaternized derivative (AQ) of the amine alkoxylate (A).
The present invention further relates to a method for preparing a tank mix, which comprises the step of contacting a pesticide, water, and the adjuvant according to the invention.
The term pesticide refers to at least one active substance selected from the group of the fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, herbicides, safeners, molluscicides, rodenticides and/or growth regulators. Preferred pesticides are fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and growth regulators. Especially preferred pesticides are herbicides and growth regulators. Mixtures of pesticides from two or more of the abovementioned classes may also be used. The skilled worker is familiar with such pesticides, which can be found, for example, in Pesticide Manual, 15th Ed. (2009), The British Crop Protection Council, London. The pesticides may also comprise salts, esters, optical isomers or tautomers. Suitable pesticides are (groups A) to M) are fungicides):
abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidole, 6-benzylaminopurine, brassinolide, butralin, chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilid, daminozide, dikegulac, dimethipin, 2,6-dimethylpuridine, ethephon, flumetralin, flurprimidol, fluthiacet, forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid, inabenfid, indole-3-acetic acid, maleic hydrazide, mefluidid, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride), metconazole, naphthaleneacetic acid, N-6-benzyladenine, paclobutrazole, prohexadione (prohexadione-calcium), prohydrojasmone, thidiazuron, triapenthenol, tributylphosphorotrithioate, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, trinexapac-ethyl and uniconazole;
Examples of safeners are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyometrinil, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1-oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (CAS 71526-07-3) and 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1,3-oxazolidine (CAS 52836-31-4).
Preferred pesticides comprise at least one pesticide with at least one H-acidic group (such as carboxylic acid group, phosphonic acid group, phosphinic acid group) or the anionic salts thereof (e.g., mono, di or tri salts). These anionic salts of the pesticides with an H-acidic group are also suitable as anionic pesticides in group A−. Preferred pesticides with an H-acidic group are herbicides with an H-acidic group. Examples of herbicides with an H-acidic group are amino acid analogs (such as glyphosate or glufosinate) or imidazolinones (such as imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr).
Particularly preferred pesticides with an H-acidic group are glyphosate and glufosinate. In another preferred embodiment, pesticides with an H-acidic group are imidazolinones.
Especially preferably, the pesticide comprises a pesticide with an H-acidic group and one further pesticide. In another embodiment the pesticide comprises mixtures of at least two pesticides with an H-acidic group, and optionally further pesticides (such as at least one fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, and/or safener, with fungicides and/or herbicides being preferred).
In a further preferred embodiment, the pesticide comprises glyphosate (for example as the free acid, sodium salt, sesquisodium salt, potassium salt, dipotassium salt, ammonium salt, diammonium salt, dimethylammonium salt, trimesium salt or isopropylamine sale) or glufosinate (for example as the ammonium salt). With particular preference the pesticide comprises glyphosate (for example as the potassium salt, ammonium salt or isopropylamine salt). With particular preference the pesticide comprises glyphosate or glufosinate, and additionally a further herbicide. In another preferred embodiment the pesticide comprises glyphosate or glufosinate, and additionally a further pesticide (such as at least one fungicide, herbicide, insecticide and/or safener, with fungicides and/or herbicides being preferred).
Specifically preferably, the pesticide comprises glyphosate and at least one further herbicide selected from the following list:
acetochlor, acifluorofen, aclonifen, acrolein, alachlor, ametryn, amidosulfuron, amitrole, anilofos, asulam, atrazine, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, benazolin, benfluralin, benfuresate, bensulfuron-methyl, bensulide, bentazon, benzofenap, bialaphos, bifenox, bromacil, bromobutide, bromofenoxim, bromoxynil, butachlor, butamifos, butralin, butroxydim, butylate, cafenstrole, carbetamide, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlomethoxyfen, chloroamben, chlorobromuron, chloroidazon, chloroimuron-ethyl, chloronitrofen, chloroacetic acid, chlorotoluron, chloropropham, chlorosulfuron, chlorothal-dimethyl, chlorothiamid, cinmethylin, cinosulfuron, clethodim, clodinafop-propargyl, clomazone, clomeprop, clopyralid, cloransulam-methyl, cyanazine, cycloate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cyhalofop-butyl, 2,4-D,2,4-DB, daimuron, dalapon, desmedipham, desmetryn, dicamba, dichlobenil, dichloroprop, diclofop-methyl, difenzoquat, diflufenican, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dimethametryn, dimethenamid, dinitramine, dinoterb, diphenamid, diquat, dithiopyr, diuron, endothall, EPTC, esprocarb, ethalfluralin, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethofumesate, ethoxysulfuron, etobenzanid, fenac, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenuron, flamprop, flamprop-methyl, flazasulfuron, fluazifop-butyl, fluchloralin, flumetsulam, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluometuron, fluorochloridone, fluoroglycofen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, flupoxam, flupropanate, flurenol, fluridone, fluroxypyr-1-methylheptyl, flurtamone, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, fosamine, glufosinate, halosulfuron, haloxyfop-methyl, hexazinone, imazameth, imazamethabenz, imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazosulfuron, indanofan, ioxynil, isoproturon, isouron, isoxaben, isoxaflutole, isoxapyrifop, lactofen, lenacil, linuron, MCPA, MCPB, mecoprop, mefenacet, mesotrione, metamitron, metazachlor, methabenzthiazuron, methylarsonic acid, methyldymron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron, molinate, monolinuron, naproanilide, napropamide, naptalam, neburon, nicosulfuron, nonanoic acid, norflurazon, orbencarb, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, pebulate, pendimethalin, pentanochlor, pentoxazone, phenmedipham, picloram, piperophos, pretilachlor, primisulfuron, prodiamine, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propazine, propham, propisochlor, propyzamide, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrazolynate, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazoxyfen, pyributicarb, pyridate, pyriminobac-methyl, quinclorac, quinmerac, quizalofop-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine, simetryn, sulcotrione, sulfamic acid, sulfentrazone, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, TCA, tebutam, tebuthiuron, terbacil, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, thenylchlor, thiazopyr, thifensulfuron, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, tralkoxydim, triallate, triasulfuron, tribenuron, 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid, triclopyr, trietazine, trifluralin, triflusulfuron, vernolate.
In a further, specifically preferred embodiment, the pesticide comprises imazamox and at least one further herbicide selected from among the following classes b1) to b15):
b1) lipid biosynthesis inhibitors: chloroazifop, clodinafop, clofop, cyhalofop, diclofop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-p, fenthiaprop, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, isoxapyrifop, metamifop, propaquizafop, quizalofop, quizalofop-P, trifop, alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cloproxydim, cycloxydim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, tralkoxydim, butylae, cycloate, diallate, dimepiperate, EPTC, esprocarb, ethiolate, isopolinate, methio-bencarb, molinate, orbencarb, pebulate, prosulfocarb, sulfallate, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, triallate, vernolate, benfuresate, ethofumesate, bensulide and pinoxaden; b2) ALS inhibitors: amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron, chloroimuron, chlorosulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsulfuron, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron, flupyrsulfuron, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, thifensulfuron, triasulfuron, tribenuron, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron, tritosulfuron, imazamethabenz, imazapic, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, cloransulam, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam, penoxsulam, bispyribac, pyriminobac, propoxycarbazone, flucarbazone, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyrithiobac, flucetosulfuron, orthosulfamuron, pyrimisulfan; b3) photosynthesis inhibitors: atraton, atrazine, ametryne, aziprotryne, cyanazine, cyanatryn, chloroazine, cyprazine, desmetryne, dimethametryne, dipropetryn, eglinazine, ipazine, mesoprazine, methometon, methoprotryne, procyazine, proglianzine, prometon, prometryne, propazine, sebuthylazne, secbumeton, simazine, simeton, simetryne, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryne, trietazine, ametridione, amibuzin, hexazinone, isomethiozin, metamitron, metribuzin, bromacil, isocil, lenacil, terbacil, brompyrazon, chloridazon, dimidazon, desmedipham, phenisopham, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, benzthiazuron, buthiuron, ethidimuron, isouron, methabenzthiazuron, monisouron, tebuthiuron, thiazafluron, anisuron, buturon, chlorbromuron, chloreturon, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, difenoxuron, dimefuron, diuron, fenuron, fluometuron, fluothiuron, isoproturon, linuron, methiuron, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, monuron, neburon, parafluron, phenobenzuron, siduron, tetrafluron, thidiazuron, cyperquat, diethamquat, difenzoquat, diquat, morfamquat, paraquat, bromobonil, bromoxynil, chloroxynil, iodobonil, ioxynil, amicarbazone, bromofenoxim, flumezin, methazole, bentazone, propanil, pentanochlor, pyridate and pyridafol; b4) protoporphyringogen-IX oxidase inhibitors: acifluorofen, bifenox, chlomethoxyfen, chloronitrofen, ethoxyfen, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoronitrofen, fomesafen, furyloxyfen, halosafen, lactofen, nitrofen, nitrofluorfen, oxyfluorfen, fluazolate, pyraflufen, cinidon-ethyl, flumiclorac, flumioxazin, flumipropyn, fluthiacet, thidiazimin, oxadiazon, oxadiargyl, azafenidin, carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, pentoxazone, benzfendizone, butafenacil, pyraclonil, profluazol, flufenpyr, flupropacil, nipyraclofen, etnipromid, saflufenacil and bencarbazone; b5) bleacher herbicides: metfluazon, norflurazon, flufenican, diflufenican, picolinafen, beflubutamid, fluridone, flurochloridone, flurtamone, mesotrione, sulcotrione, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, benzofenap, pyrazolynate, pyrazoxyfen, benzobicyclon, amitrole, clomazone, aclonifen, 4-(3-trifluoromethylphenoxy)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)pyrimidine, disclosed in EP 723960, topramezone, 4-hydroxy-3-{[2-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]carbonyl}bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one, disclosed in WO 00/15615, 4-hydroxy-3-{[2-(2-methoxyethoxyl)methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-3-pyridinyl]carbonyl}bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-one, disclosed in WO 01/94339, 4-hydroxy-3-[4-(methylsulfonyl)-2-nitrobenzoyl]bicyclo[3.2.1]-oct-3-en-2-one, disclosed in EP 338992, 242-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-3-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)methyl]-3-hydroxy-3-cyclohexen-1-one (disclosed in DE 19846792) and pyrasulfotole; b6) EPSP synthase inhibitors: glyphosate; b7) glutamine synthase inhibitors: glufosinate and bilanaphos; b8) DHP synthase inhibitors: asulam; b9) mitosis inhibitors: benfluralin, butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, fluchloralin, isopropalin, methalpropalin, nitralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, prodiamine, profluralin, trifluralin, amiprofos-methyl, butamifos, dithiopyr, thiazopyr, propyzamide, tebutam, chlorthal, carbetamide, chlorbufam, chlorpropham and propham; b10) VLCFA inhibitors: acetochlor, alachlor, butachlor, butenachlor, delachlor, diethatyl, dimethachlor, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, metazachlor, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, pretilachlor, propachlor, propisochlor, prynachlor, terbuchlor, thenylchlor, xylachlor, allidochlor, CDEA, epronaz, diphenamid, napropamide, naproanilide, pethoxamid, flufenacet, mefenacet, fentrazamide, anilofos, piperophos, cafenstrole, indanofan and tridiphane; b11) cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors: dichlobenil, chlorthiamid, isoxaben and flupoxam; b12) decoupler herbicides: dinofenate, dinoprop, dinosam, dinoseb, dinoterb, DNOC, etinofen and medinoterb; b13) auxin herbicides: clomeprop, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, MCPA, MCPA thioethyl, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, mecoprop, mecoprop-P, 2,4-DB, MCPB, chloramben, dicamba, 2,3,6-TBA, tricamba, quinclorac, quinmerac, clopyralid, fluroxypyr, picloram, triclopyr, benazolin and aminopyralid; b14) auxin transport inhibitors: naptalam, diflufenzopyr; b15) benzoylprop, flamprop, flamprop-M, bromobutide, chlorflurenol, cinmethylin, methyldymron, etobenzanid, fosamine, metam, pyributicarb, oxaziclomefone, dazomet, triaziflam, methyl bromide.
The pesticide may be present in the form of an agrochemical formulation, water-soluble concentrates being preferred. Examples of formulations and their preparation are:
In general, the formulation comprise from 0.01 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 90% by weight, of the pesticides.
The user will generally use the tank mix according to the invention for use in a premetering device, in a knapsack sprayer, in a spray tank or in a spraying aircraft. Here, the formulation is brought to the desired use concentration with a liquid, usually water and/or buffer, optionally with addition of further auxiliaries, whereby the ready-to-use spray mixture (known as a tank mix) is obtained. Usually, 50 to 500 liters of the ready-to-use spray mixture are applied per hectare of utilizable agricultural area, preferably from 100 to 400 liters. In specific segments the amounts may also be above (e.g., fruit growing) or below (e.g., aircraft application) these amounts. In specific cases, such as, for example, aircraft application, it is also possible to use an organic solvent for making up the spray mixture, instead of water.
The pesticide concentrations in the tank mix may be varied within substantial ranges. In general, they are between 0.0001 and 10%, preferably between 0.01 and 1%.
The concentration of the adjuvant in the tank mix is in most cases in the range of from 0.01 to 50 g/l, preferably 0.08 to 10 g/l and in particular 0.2 to 8 g/l.
Depending on the nature of the desired effect, the application rates of the active substance when used in plant protection are between 0.001 and 2.0 kg of active substance per ha, preferably between 0.005 and 2 kg per ha, especially preferably between 0.05 and 0.9 kg per ha, in particular between 0.1 and 0.75 kg per ha.
The application rate of the adjuvant is in most cases in the range of from 10 to 3000 g/ha, preferably from 10 to 1000 g/ha, especially preferably from 80 to 750 g/ha and specifically from 200 to 400 g/ha.
The present invention furthermore relates to a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi and/or undesired vegetation and/or undesired insect or mite attack and/or for regulating the growth of plants, wherein the tank mix according to the invention or the adjuvant according to the invention is allowed to act on the respective pests, their environment or the plants to be protected from the respective pest, on the soil and/or on undesirable plants and/or the crop plants and/or their environment.
Examples of suitable crop plants are cereals, for example wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats or rice; beet, for example sugar or fodder beet; pome fruit, stone fruit and soft fruit, for example apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, currants or gooseberries; legumes, for example beans, lentils, peas, lucerne or soybeans; oil crops, for example oilseed rape, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cacao, castor beans, oil palm, peanuts or soybeans; cucurbits, for example pumpkins/squash, cucumbers or melons; fiber crops, for example cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, for example oranges, lemons, grapefruit or tangerines; vegetable plants, for example spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, pumpkin/squash or capsicums; plants of the laurel family, for example avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy crops and industrial feedstock crops, for example maize, soybeans, wheat, oilseed rape, sugar cane or oil palm; maize; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; wine (dessert grapes and grapes for vinification); hops; grass, for example turf; sweetleaf (Stevia rebaudania); rubber plants and forest plants, for example flowers, shrubs, deciduous trees and coniferous trees, and propagation material, for example seeds, and harvested produce of these plants.
The term crop plants also includes those plants which have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or recombinant methods, including the biotechnological agricultural products which are on the market or in the process of being developed. Genetically modified plants are plants whose genetic material has been modified in a manner which does not occur under natural conditions by hybridizing, mutations or natural recombination (i.e. recombination of the genetic material). Here, one or more genes will, as a rule, be integrated into the genetic material of the plant in order to improve the plant's properties. Such recombinant modifications also comprise posttranslational modifications of proteins, oligo- or polypeptides, for example by means of glycosylation or binding polymers such as, for example, prenylated, acetylated or farnesylated residues or PEG residues.
Examples which may be mentioned are plants which, as the result of plant-breeding and recombinant measures, have acquired a tolerance for certain classes of herbicides, such as hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as, for example, sulfonylureas (EP-A 257 993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,659) or imidazolinones (for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO 98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO 03/14356, WO 04/16073), enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) inhibitors such as, for example, glyphosate (see, for example, WO 92/00377), glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as, for example, glufosinate (see, for example, EP-A 242 236, EP-A 242 246) or oxynil herbicides (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,024). For example, breeding and mutagenesis have given rise to Clearfield® oilseed rape (BASF SE, Germany), which features tolerance for imidazolinones, for example imazamox. With the aid of recombinant methods, crop plants such as soybeans, cotton, maize, beet and oilseed rape have been generated which are resistant to glyphosate or glufosinate, and these are available by the brand names RoundupReady® (glyphosate-resistant, Monsanto, U.S.A.) and Liberty Link® (glufosinate-resistant, Bayer CropScience, Germany).
Also comprised are plants which, with the aid of recombinant measures, produce one or more toxins, for example those from the bacterial strain Bacillus. Toxins which are produced by such genetically modified plants comprise, for example, insecticidal proteins of Bacillus spp., in particular from B. thuringiensis, such as the endotoxins Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry1Fa2, Cry2Ab, Cry3A, Cry3Bb1, Cry9c, Cry34Ab1 or Cry35Ab1; or vegetable insecticidal proteins (VIPs), for example VIP1, VIP2, VIP3, or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins from nematode-colonizing bacteria, for example Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins from animal organisms, for example wasp, spider or scorpion toxins; fungal toxins, for example from Streptomycetes; plant lectins, for example from pea or barley; agglutinins; proteinase inhibitors, for example trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), for example ricin, maize RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid-metabolizing enzymes, for example 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid IDP glycosyl transferase, cholesterol oxidase, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, for example inhibitors of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; receptors for the diuretic hormone (helicokinin receptors); stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases and glucanases. These toxins can also be produced, in the plants, in the form of pretoxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are distinguished by a novel combination of different protein domains (see, for example, WO 2002/015701). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants which produce these toxins are disclosed in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/07278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/18810 and WO 03/52073. The methods for generating these genetically modified plants are known to the skilled worker and explained, for example, in the abovementioned publications. A large number of the abovementioned toxins impart to the plants which produce them a tolerance for pests from all taxonomic classes of the arthropods, in particular beetles (Coeleropta), dipterans (Diptera) and lepidopterans (Lepidoptera) and nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants which produce one or more genes which code for insecticidal toxins are described for example in the abovementioned publications and are in some cases commercially available such as, for example, YieldGard® (maize varieties which produce the toxin Cry1Ab), YieldGard® Plus (maize varieties which produce the toxins Cry1Ab and Cry3Bb1), Starlink® (maize varieties which produce the toxin Cry9c), Herculex® RW (maize varieties which produce the toxins Cry34Ab1, Cry35Ab1 and the enzyme phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase [PAT]); NuCOTN® 33B (cotton varieties which produce the toxin Cry1Ac), Bollgard® I (cotton varieties which produce the toxin Cry1Ac), Bollgard® II (cotton varieties which produce the toxins Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2); VIPCOT® (cotton varieties which produce a VIP toxin); NewLeaf® (potato varieties which produce the toxin Cry3A); Bt-Xtra®, NatureGard®, KnockOut®, BiteGard®, Protecta®, Bt11 (for example Agrisure® CB) and Bt176 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France, (maize varieties which produce the toxin Cry1Ab and the PAT enzyme), MIR604 from Syngenta Seeds SAS, France (maize varieties which produce a modified version of the toxin Cry3A, see in this context WO 03/018810), MON 863 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (maize varieties which produce the toxin Cry3Bb1), IPC 531 from Monsanto Europe S.A., Belgium (cotton varieties which produce a modified version of the toxin Cry1Ac) and 1507 from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Belgium (maize varieties which produce the toxin Cry1F and the PAT enzyme).
Also comprised are plants which, with the aid of recombinant measures, produce one or more proteins which bring about an increased resistance to, or ability to withstand, bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens such as, for example, so-called pathogenesis-related proteins (PR proteins, see EP-A 0 392 225), resistance proteins (for example potato varieties which produce two resistance genes against Phytophthora infestans from the Mexican wild potato Solanum bulbocastanum) or T4 lysozyme (for example potato varieties which, as the result of the production of this protein, are resistant to bacteria such as Erwinia amylvora).
Also comprised are plants whose productivity has been improved with the aid of recombinant methods, for example by increasing the yield potential (for example biomass, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), the tolerance for drought, salt or other limiting environmental factors, or the resistance to pests and fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens. Also comprised are plants whose constituents, in particular for improving human or animal nutrition, have been modified with the aid of recombinant methods, for example by oil plants producing health-promoting long-chain omega-3-fatty acids or monounsaturated omega-9-fatty acids (for example Nexera® oilseed rape, DOW Agro Sciences, Canada).
The advantages of the invention are high stability of the adjuvant and of the tank mix, little wind-caused drift in the case of spray applications, good adhesion of the tank mix on the surface of the treated plants, increased permeation of the pesticides into the plant and, as a result, more rapid and enhanced activity. An important advantage is the low toxicity of the alkoxylates, in particular the low aquatic toxicity. Another advantage is the low harmful effect against crop plants, i.e., low phytotoxic effects. A further advantage is the simple handling of these alkoxides since, for example, no gelling takes place upon their incorporation into formulations. Another advantage is that no phase separation and no salt precipitation occurs in the adjuvant or in the tank mix; that the tank mix compatibility is increased; that the volatility of pesticides (e.g. auxin herbicides like dicamba, or 2,4-D) is reduced; that ammonium sulfate as tank mix additive may be no longer required, especially at alkaline pH of the tank mix; that the adjuvant is low foaming.
The examples which follow illustrate the invention without imposing any limitation.
The tank mix adjuvants A to F were mixed at room temperature under stirring as summarized in Table 1. All samples resulted in a homogenous liquid. The samples were stable when stored for six weeks at room temperature.
The tank mix adjuvants A to F were mixed at room temperature under stirring as summarized in Table 2. All samples resulted in a homogenous liquid. The samples were stable when stored for six weeks at room temperature.
The tank mix adjuvants A to B were mixed at room temperature under stirring as summarized in Table 3. All samples resulted in a homogenous liquid. The samples were stable when stored for six weeks at room temperature.
The tank mix adjuvants A to F were mixed at room temperature under stirring as summarized in Table 4. All samples resulted in a homogenous liquid. The samples were stable when stored for six weeks at room temperature.
The adjuvants were prepared by mixing the components at room temperature as indicated in the Tables 5 to 8.
The adjuvants were prepared by mixing the components at room temperature as indicated in the Table 9.
a) comparative, not according to the invention.
The adjuvant effect was tested in greenhouse trials on soya bean Oxford and common barnyard grass (Echinochloa erecta). The plants were sprayed with a mixture of potassium glyphosate (Touchdown® Hitech, an aqueous SL formulation containing 600 g/l potassium glyphosate; application rate 140 g active/ha), dicamba BAPMA (aqueous SL formulation containing 480 g/l dicamba, 160 g/l Antidrift B, and 0.05 wt % silicone antifoam; application rate 70 g active/ha), and adjuvant A or Comp-A according to Table 9 (application rate 1 L/ha).
The herbicidal activity was evaluated 7, 14 and 21 days after treatment (DAT) by awarding scores to the treated plants in comparison to the untreated control plants (Table 11 and 12). The evaluation scale ranges from 0% to 100% activity. 100% activity means the complete death at least of those parts of the plant that are above ground. Conversely, 0% activity means that there were no differences between treated and untreated plants.
The results demonstrated the increased activity as a result of addition of the adjuvant.
The adjuvants were prepared by mixing the components at room temperature as indicated in the Table 13.
b) comparative, not according to the invention.
The adjuvant effect was tested in greenhouse trials on Chinese lantern (Abutilon theophrasti) according to the procedure of Example 6.
The results in Table 14 demonstrated the increased activity as a result of addition of the adjuvant.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12175046.7 | Jul 2012 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2013/061975 | 6/11/2013 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61662387 | Jun 2012 | US |
