The present invention relates to a composition comprising the fungicidal active ingredient florylpicoxamid. Such compositions may be useful in agriculture in combating, preventing or controlling infestation by phytopathogenic diseases on crop plants.
WO 2016/122802 and WO 2016/109257 disclose certain picolinamide compounds and their uses as fungicides, including (1S)-2,2-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-1-methylethyl N-{[3-(acetyloxy)-4-methoxy-2-pyridyl]carbonyl}-L-alaninate, ie, florylpicoxamid (CAS no. 1961312-55-9). Florylpicoxamid has been shown to be particularly effective in the control of wheat leaf blotch disease caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici), as well as other fungal pathogens. WO 2018/204435, WO 2018/204436, WO 2018/204437, WO 2019/042800 and WO 2019/101580 disclose certain fungicidal compositions comprising florylpicoxamid in combination with another fungicidal active ingredient.
It has been found that in certain florylpicoxamid-containing compositions, in particular those which are emulsion concentrates, that florylpicoxamid may undergo chemical degradation which can negatively impact the viability of an agrochemical formulation containing this active ingredient. Accordingly, means to limit or prevent such chemical degradation of florylpicoxamid have been sought.
According to the present invention, there is provided a fungicidal composition comprising:
Fungicidal compositions according to the invention have, for practical purposes, a very advantageous level of biological activity for protecting plants against diseases that are caused by fungi. In particular, for preventing or controlling the infestation of useful plants by a phytopathogen selected from (i) Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici), Puccinia recondita or Puccinia striiformis on cereal plants, in particular, wheat.
Surprisingly, it has now been found that the addition of an organic acid selected from a compound according to Formula (I) to certain compositions comprising florylpicoxamid, significantly improves the chemical stability of the florylpicoxamid active ingredient component (ie, eliminates or limits degradation) and thus the useful storage life and viability of fungicidal compositions for crop protection applications containing this active ingredient. Whilst presently not fully understood, it is believed that such chemical degradation of florylpicoxamid may be initiated by certain emulsifying agents (emulsifiers), or else by other ingredients present in such compositions, such as formulation inerts, other biocidal active ingredients, or indeed small amounts of chemical impurities present in these ingredients, as the case may be in batch variability in the supply of raw materials for agrochemical formulation purposes.
Further according to the invention, there is provided an aqueous composition comprising the fungicidal composition according the invention, optionally further comprising one or more adjuvants or carriers.
Still further according to the invention, there is provided a method of controlling or preventing infestation of a crop of a useful plant by phytopathogenic microorganisms, wherein a fungicidally effective amount of a composition according to the invention is applied to the plants, to parts thereof or the locus thereof.
Even further according to the invention, there is provided the use of an organic acid selected from a compound of Formula (I) as a chemical stabilisation agent for florylpicoxamid in a fungicidal composition (such as an emulsifiable concentrate), wherein the organic acid is present at 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of the composition.
Preferably, the composition according to the invention is an emulsifiable concentrate (EC).
In other embodiments of the invention, the composition may be an oil dispersion (OD).
Preferably, the compositions according to the invention comprise the florylpicoxamid component at 1 to 10% by weight of florylpicoxamid, and more preferably, at 3 to 6% by weight of florylpicoxamid.
Preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises the organic acid present at 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of the composition, more preferably, at 0.02 to 0.2% by weight of the composition, and still more preferably at 0.02 to 0.1% by weight of the composition.
For the compound of Formula (I), preferably, n is 0 or 1.
For the compound of Formula (I), preferably R1 is hydroxy.
For the compound of Formula (I), preferably X is a bond or —CH═CH— (trans).
In particularly preferred embodiments, for the compound of Formula (I), n is 0 or 1, R1 is hydroxy, and X is a bond or —CH═CH— (trans).
Preferably, the organic acid is selected from benzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, m-coumaric acid, salicylic acid (2-hydroxybenzoic acid), cinnamic acid, gallic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, (E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)prop-2-enoic acid (ferulic acid), (Z)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)prop-2-enoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid.
Preferably, the composition according to the present invention is an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) formulation which may undergo dilution (eg, with water in a tank) prior to a spray application to a crop. The emulsifiable concentrate is a liquid formulation containing one or more fungicidal active ingredients, one or more solvents and one or more emulsifiers (such as an ionic or non-ionic surfactant). In an emulsifiable concentrate according to the invention, preferably at least one of the one or more emulsifiers is an alkoxylated emulsifier, and more preferably, an ethoxylated emulsifier.
In a composition according to the invention (including an emulsifiable concentrate), the solvent may be selected from a fatty acid dimethyl amide (eg, C6 to C12 aliphatic chain), such as N,N-dimethyldecanamide, or an aromatic ester, such as methyl benzoate or benzyl acetate.
The composition according to the present invention may further comprise one or more additional ingredients selected from an anti-freeze agent, an anti-foam agent, a thickening agent, a biocide (preservative), a stabilizer, a pigment, a water-miscible solvent, a water-immiscible solvent and/or one or more additional non-ionic or ionic emulsifiers.
Organic solvents which may be used in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, benzyl acetate (eg, Jeffsol® AG 1705, Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd), methyl benzoate (Polynt S.p.A., Italy) or N,N-dimethyldecanamide (eg, HALLCOMID® M-10, Stepan Company, USA).
Emulsifiers, which may be used in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, linear dodecyl-benzene sulfonic acid, Ca-salt (eg, RHODACAL® 60/B-E, Rhodia Chimie SA., France), a castor oil ethoxylate (eg, ALKAMULS® EL-620, Solvay USA Inc, USA; SERVIROX OEG 59 E, KLK Kolb Specialties B.V., Netherlands) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween® 20, Croda).
An oil dispersion (OD) formulation comprises a solid active ingredient dispersed in an oil medium, typically, where the active ingredient is uniformly suspended in the oil phase. The oil can vary from a paraffinic oil, an aromatic solvent, a vegetable oil or a methylated seed oil. The oil may also comprise an adjuvant, such as alkyl ester phosphate-based adjuvant or 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH).
A pesticide adjuvant may be defined as a substance present in a pesticidal composition (eg, a concentrated active ingredient formulation diluted in water in a tank for a foliar spray application on a crop), which improves fungicidal active ingredient performance, for example by facilitating the spreading of the active ingredient on a leaf surface or penetration into the leaf of the crop plant. Preferably, in a composition according to the invention (eg, as an emulsifiable concentrate or a tank mix preparation prepared from an emulsifiable concentrate), the adjuvant is selected from a mineral oil, a vegetable oil, an esterified vegetable oil, a methylated vegetable oil or an alkyl ester phosphate-based adjuvant. Otherwise, the adjuvant may be selected from 1,2-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid di-isononyl ester (eg, Agnique® AE 829, BASF Corp, USA).
Other commercially-available adjuvant products which may be tank-mixed to yield a spray formulation with the composition of the present invention include HASTEN™ (Victorian Chemical Co. Pty. Ltd.—blend of an esterified vegetable oil and non-ionic surfactants), OCHIMA® (Syngenta—alkyl ester of phosphoric acid (EC formulation)), LEDNA™ (Polaquimia—EC formulation comprising a methyl ester of soybean oil), Atplus® 463 (CRODA Europe Limited—60% paraffin oil with surfactant blend), Actirob® B (Bayer AG—rapeseed oil methyl ester (esterified vegetable oil)), Destiny® HC (Winfield Solutions LLC—methylated soybean oil), DYNE-AMIC® (HELENA—blend of (methylated) vegetable oil and organosilicone-based nonionic surfactants), FS Optique™ (GROWMARK, Inc—methyl ester of canola oil) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP, CAS no. 78-42-2. Synergen™ TEHP (Clariant GmbH), Disflamoll® TOF (Lanxess)).
An anti-foam agent is a chemical additive that reduces and hinders the formation of foam in a composition, such as a pesticidal formulation. Anti-foaming agents which may be used in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, polydimethylsiloxanes (eg, XIAMETER™ ACP-1500, Dow, Inc; Antifoam MSA, Univar; Xiameter ACP-0001, Dow Brasil; Xiameter ACP-0100, Dow Chemical) or a silicone antifoam emulsion (eg, SAG 1572, Momentive Performance Materials Inc., USA).
The term “water-soluble emulsifying surfactant system” which may be used in accordance with the present invention means any emulsifying surfactant system which enables the forming of an oil in water emulsion when the emulsifiable concentrate is diluted with an aqueous solution. Such an emulsifying surfactant system may comprise one or more surfactants. The surfactants may be non-ionic, anionic, cationic or zwitterionic. Examples of particular suitable surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkyl polyglycosides, polyalkylene oxide block copolymers and polyaryl-phenyl ether phosphates. Alkyl poyglycosides include Agnique PG (“APG”) 8107 (Cognis Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) (an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms and has an average degree of polymerization of 1.7), Agnique PG 9116 (Cognis Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) (a 20 alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 9 to 11 carbon atoms and has an average degree of polymerization of 1.6) and Agnique PG 8105 (Cognis Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) (an alkyl polyglycoside in which the alkyl group contains 8 to 10 carbon atoms and has an average degree of polymerization of 1.5). Polyalkylene oxide block copolymers can be di- and tri-block copolymers, such as ABA or BAB block copolymer or BA block copolymers. Examples include the Genapol PF series (Clariant), the Pluronic series (BASF), the Synperonic PE series (Unigema), and the Toximul series (Stepan Chemical Co.). A group of ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers which may be used in the compositions of this invention are butyl-based poly(oxypropylene)/poly(oxyethylene)block copolymers having an average molecular weight in the range of 2400 to 3500, for example Toximul 8320, Stepan Chemical Co.). Suitable examples include Pluronic L10, Pluronic L44, Pluronic L63, Pluronic L64, Pluronic L84, Pluronic P104, Pluronic P105, Step-Flow 26, Toximul 8323 and Toximul 8320. Polyaryl-phenyl ether phosphates include ethoxylated tristyrylphenol phosphates such as Soprophor 35 3D33 (Rhodia), Soprophor 3D33 LN (Rhodia), Emulsogen 57 (Clariant), Agnique PE TSP-16A (BASF), Agrhospec 7822 (Rhodia), Dispersogen TP 160 (Clariant), Stepfac TP 160 (Stepan), Stepfac TSP-PE (Stepan). The degree of ethoxylation of the polyaryl-phenyl ether phosphates for this purpose is preferably between 8 and 20, more preferably between 14 and 18.
Examples of suitable solvents which may be used in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited, to mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons such as Aromatic/Solvesso 100, 150, 150ND, 200 and 200ULN (Exxon Mobil Chemical), C4-C12 aliphatic methyl or ethyl esters (e.g. Steposo IC-25, Steposol C-40, Steposol C-42, Steposol C-48 and Steposol C-65 (Stepan), Agnique ME 610 and Aqnique ME810 (BASF)), methylated seed oil blends such as methylated soy bean oil, methyloleate/linoleate, palmitate, carboxylic acids (C4-C10), ethylesters (C4-C10), aliphatic mineral oils, and mixtures thereof.
Examples of suitable non-aqueous polar solvents (Hansen Solubility 5 Parameter (HSP) values greater than 2, in particular greater than 5 and more particularly between 5 and 15) include acetone, amyl acetate, butanol, benzyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, dimethyl ether, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, octanol, hallcomid M-8-10, hexylene glycol, cyclohexanol, ethyl lactate, ethyl alcohol, 2-ethyl hexanol, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, 3-hexanol, n-hexyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, lactic acid 2-ethyl hexyl ester, lactic acid n-propyl ester, methyl alcohol, methyl n-amyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, oleyl alcohol, propanol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, butyrolactone, chlorobenzene, diacetone alcohol, n-decanol, N, N-dimethyl decanamide, N, N-dimethyloctanamide, dimethyl lactamide, n-decyl alcohol, dipropyleneglycol monomethylether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, isobornyl acetate, isobutyl alcohol, mesityl oxide, methyl ethyl ketone, 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, N-octyl pyrrolidone, N-methyl pyrrolidone, n-octyl alcohol, oxo-decyl acetate, oxo-heptyl acetate, oxo-hexyl acetate, oxo-nonyl acetate, oxo-octyl acetate, oxo-tridecyl acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, triethylene glycol, triethyl phosphate, lactic acid n-butyl ester, lactic acid ethyl ester, dodecyl pyrrolidone, N, N-dimethyl acetamide, propylene carbonate and mixtures thereof. In particular, the non-aqueous polar solvent is selected from propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene mono-methyl glycol ether and mixtures thereof.
As used herein, the term “Hansen Solubility Parameters” (HSP) refers to system of describing solute solubility in a solvent based on the non-polar parameter, polar parameter, hydrogen bonding parameter, and total solubility parameter as disclosed in “Hansen Solubility Parameters” by Charles M. Hansen, ISBN 0-8493-7248-8. For definition of Hh=Hydrogen Bonding Solubility Parameter, see page 17 of the above book. For definition of Hp=Polar Solubility Parameter see page 16-17 of the above book.
Other suitable solvents may include saturated and unsaturated C6-C14 dimethylamines (e.g. Genagen® 4166, Hallcomid® M8-10, Halicomid® M-10, Hallcomid® 1025, Halicomid® M12-14, Agnique® AMD810, Agnique® AMD10, Agnique® AMD12).
Crops of useful plants to which the compositions according to the invention may be applied include:
In preferred embodiments, in the method of the present invention, the phytopathogen may be selected from Mycosphaerella graminicola (Septoria tritici) the causal agent of wheat leaf blotch, Puccinia recondita or Puccinia striiformis, and the plant is cereals, in particular, wheat.
The rate at which the compositions of the invention are applied will depend upon the particular type of phytopathogen, etc, to be controlled, the degree of control required and the timing and method of application which can be readily determined by the person skilled in the art. In general, the compositions of the invention can be applied at an application rate of between 0.005 kilograms/hectare (kg/ha) and about 5.0 kg/ha, based on the total amount of active ingredient in the composition. An application rate of between about 0.1 kg/ha and about 1.5 kg/ha is preferred, with an application rate of between about 0.1 kg/ha and 0.5 kg/ha being especially preferred.
In an aqueous composition comprising the fungicidal composition according to the invention (eg, a tank-mix composition), the one or more additional fungicidal active ingredients may be added separately prior to crop application.
The composition according to the invention may comprise one or more additional fungicidal active ingredients selected from, but not limited to, a sterol demethylation-inhibitor (DMI), quinone-outside-inhibitor (QoI) and a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI).
In particular, the composition may comprise as additional active ingredient(s), one or more of benzovindiflupyr, isopyrazam, pydiflumetofen, azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, prothioconazole, chlorothalonil, fenpropidin, acibenzolar-S-methyl, cyproconazole, cyprodinil, fenpropimorph, propiconazole, hexaconazole, penconazole, pyrifenox, fludioxonil, pyroquilon, tricyclazole, fluazinam, mandipropamid, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, oxadixyl, oxathiapiprolin, paciobutrazol, sulfur, thiabendazole, Aspergillus Flavus NRRL 21882 (Afla-Guard®) or Bacillus subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens Strain FZB24 (Taegro®), folpet, bixafen, boscalid, bromuconazole, cyflufenamid, epoxiconazole, fluindapyr, fluopyram, fluoxytioconazole, fluquinconazole, fluxapyroxad, inpyrfluxam, ipconazole, isoflucypyram, kresoxim-methyl, mancozeb, mefentrifluconazole, metconazole, metrafenone, metyltetraprole, penthiopyrad, picoxystrobin, prochloraz, proquinazid, pyraclostrobin, spiroxamine, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, trifloxystrobin, triticonazole, fluoxapiprolin, ipfentrifluconazole, sedaxane, cyclobutrifluram, flufenoxadiazam, quinofumelin, isotianil, mandestrobin, fenpyrazamine, ipflufenoquin, tebufloquin, tolprocarb, dichlobentiazox, methyl 2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-2-hydroxy-3-(1,2,4-tiazol-1-yl)propanoate (known from WO 2019/093522), eg, at a weight ratio of 1:1 to florylpicoxamid.
More preferably, the composition according to the invention comprises one or more additional fungicidal active ingredients selected from benzovindiflupyr and pydiflumetofen, wherein the additional fungicidal active ingredient is present in a weight ratio relative to florylpicoxamid of 10:1 to 1:10, and preferably, a weight ratio of 5:1 to 1:5.
The fungicidal composition according to the invention (eg, as a ready-mix concentrate for a tank-mix composition for spraying) may comprise a further pesticidal active ingredient component, eg, at a weight ratio of 1:1 to florylpicoxamid, selected from one of:
Compositions of the invention may be prepared in accordance with standard formulation methodologies known to the person skilled in the art.
The Examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention and in particular to demonstrate how the addition of an organic acid according to the invention (compound of Formula (I)) to a composition comprising florylpicoxamid affects the chemical stability (ie, eliminates or limits degradation) of the florylpicoxamid active ingredient compared to compositions not containing the organic acid. See Tables 1 and 2 below.
Each composition of the preparation samples 1-1 to 1-5 and 2-1 to 2-8 was prepared by weighing an emulsifier (if present—refer to Table 1 and Table 2) into a glass vial, adding solvent (N,N-dimethyldecanamide, Halicomid® M10), whereby the sample was then mixed on rollers until a homogenous emulsion formed. Acid (if present) was added to the vial and the sample placed back on the rollers for a minimum of 2 hours. Florylpicoxamid (technical grade AI) was then added to the vial and roller mixing continued until fully dissolved. Each sample was then divided into two equal portions and stored at −18° C. and 54° C. for 14 days before being analysed for remaining florylpicoxamid content via standard HPLC techniques, a relative measure between storage at −18° C. and 54° C. with 100% indicating an unchanged sample.
The emulsifiers used in these examples were TOXIMUL® 8320 (Stepan Company, USA), which is a polyethylene-polypropylene glycol monobutyl ether (CAS no. 9038-95-3); Plurafac® LF 300 (BASF, USA) which comprises an ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block copolymer monoisotridecyl ether; Marlox™ RT 64 (Sasol Chemicals, South Africa) which comprises alcohols, C16-18, ethoxylated propoxylated (>=2.5 EO/PO, CAS no. 68002-96-0); or Emulsogen™ EL360 (Clariant GmbH) which comprises a condensation product of castor oil and ethylene oxide.
The solvent used in these examples was HALLCOMID® M-10 (Stepan Company, USA) which is N,N-dimethyldecanamide. The organic acids were used as pure compound from commercially-available sources.
Florylpicoxamid (structure below) is prepared according to the methods described in WO 2016/122802 and WO 2016/109257.
Amounts of florylpicoxamid active ingredient, emulsifier, solvent and organic acid in each of the samples is identified in Table 1 and Table 2 on the basis of % w/w in the respective sample.
From Table 1, it can be seen that for sample 1-1 the florylpicoxamid content remains essentially unchanged. For samples, 1-3, 1-4, and 1-5 according to the invention (organic acid present) florylpicoxamid is significantly less degraded than for sample 1-2, which is a direct comparison without the acid present.
From Table 2, it can be seen that for samples 2-1 and 2-2, the florylpicoxamid content remains essentially unchanged. Likewise, this is the case for samples 2-4, 2-6 and 2-8 (in the presence of a chemical destabilization initiator) and comprising salicylic acid in accordance with the invention. For samples, 2-3, 2-5, and 2-7 not according to the invention (ie, organic acid not present) and which contain a chemical destabilization initiator, florylpicoxamid is significantly degraded compared to the other samples.
The data in Tables 1 and 2 show a clear beneficial effect for the use of a range of different organic acids according to Formula (I) in the chemical stabilisation of the active ingredient in emulsion compositions comprising florylpicoxamid.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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21216791.0 | Dec 2021 | EP | regional |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2022/085844 | 12/14/2022 | WO |