Herbicidal methods and compositions comprising fosmidomycin

Abstract

This invention relates to a herbicidal composition comprising fosmidomycin or salt thereof in combination with the other herbicide selected from the group of ametryn or salt thereof or diuron, and to a method of killing weeds by applying to weed seedlings the said combination.

Description

This invention relates to a new herbicide.

More particularly, it relates to a new herbicidal composition comprising fosmidomycin or salt thereof in combination with the other herbicide selected from the group of ametryn or salt thereof or diuron, and to a method of killing weeds by applying to weed seedlings the said combination.

The fosmidomycin is a known compound, 3-(N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino)propylphosphonic acid as antibacterial agent [Cf. European Journal of Drug Metabobism and Pharmacokinetics Vol. 7, P59 (1982)] and as herbicide [Cf. Japan Kokai No. 106504/1986].

Further, ametryn and diuron are also known herbicides, 2-methylmercapto-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine and 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, respectively [Cf. The Merck Index tenth edition items 392 and 3400 (1983)].

The fundamental physiological action of fosmidomycin resides in the inhibition of production of chlorophyll. Therefore, plants emerging after treatment with fosmidomycin are ready to undergo chlorosis When the treating concentration is such that this chlorosis lasts as long as more than 2 to 3 weeks, arrest of growth occurs as the plant is prevented from nursing itself by photosyntheses, leading to decay. However, as the treating concentration is decreased, the degree and duration of chlorosis are lessened and the plant will not die but show a recovery of growth so that the object of killing cannot be accomplished. While a large variety of herbicides have been developed and put to use for controlling the weeds detrimental to crop plants and the environment, each of these herbicides has its own drawback or shortcoming and none has ever proved fully satisfactory in weed killing effect.

Thus, what are mainly desired in herbicides are:

(1) The maximum possible coverage of weed varieties that can be controlled (a broad herbicidal spectrum)

(2) Manifestation of sufficient control effect within the shortest possible time after application (a reduced number of days required for complete weed control)

(3) No variation in effect according to the volume and height of weeds or an improved stability of control effect (stabilized weed control effect).

(4) Reduced amounts of active substances required for control (reduced herbicide consumption)

The present inventors discovered that application of a composition containing fosmidomycin or salt thereof in combination with the other herbicide selected from the group of ametryn or salt thereof and diuron to a plant resulted in a surprisingly great synergistic herbicidal effect on the plant. This finding was followed by a further investigation, which culminated in the present invention

The salt of fosmidomycin may include an agronomically acceptable salt thereof such as a base salt (e.g. sodium salt, potassium salt, calcium salt, etc.) and the like.

The salt of ametryn may include an agronomically acceptable salt thereof such as an acid addition (e.g. drochloride, sulfate, phosphate, etc.) and the like.

The herbicidal composition according to the present invention displays remarkable efficacy as a postemergence herbicide, and is preferably applied to the whole stalks and foliage of weeds that have emerged.

Moreover, the herbicidal composition of the present invention provides effective control, irrespective of weed variety, e.g. broad-leaved weeds and grasses.

The application rate for the active ingredients in the herbicidal composition of the invention varies according to the combination used and kinds of weeds to be controlled. Generally however, the optimum rate of application is selected from the range of 5 to 1000 grams/10 ares and preferably from the range of 100 to 500 grams/10 ares.

The ratio of the fosmidomycin or a salt thereof to the ametryn or a salt thereof or diuron in the herbicidal composition of the invention is dependent on the kinds of respective compounds and the kinds of weeds to be controlled.

Generally, the ratio is selected from the range of 10:1 to 1:10, preferably 6:1 to 1:6.

To apply the herbicidal composition of the invention, it can be mixed with a carrier suited to the intended usage and applied in such varied forms preparations, as dusts, granular wettable powders, liquid preparations, emulsifiable concentrates, flowable emulsion concentrates and so on. The carrier mentioned just above may be a solid or a liquid carrier or a combination thereof. As examples of said carrier, there may be mentioned finely divided minerals such as kaolinite, bentonite, pyrophyllite, talc, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, calcium carbonate, etc., finely divided vegetable materials such as starch, gum arabic, etc., organic solvents such as alcohols, ketones, kerosine, benzene, toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, methylnaphthalene, dioxane, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, corn oil, o-dichlorobenzene, isophorone, water and so on. Further, agronomically acceptable adjuvants and auxiliaries such as wetting agents, dispersing agents, adhesives, extenders, etc. can be incorporated, if necessary, in appropriate proportions.

Each of these preparations is not only useful as such but may be used in combination with bactericides, fungicides, nematocides, insecticides, plant growth regulators, fertilizers, other herbicides and so on.

The following reference and working examples are intended to illustrate the invention in further detail.

REFERENCE EXAMPLE

Seeds of the following species of plants were sown in soil-filled pots (30 cm long .times.10 cm wide .times.10 cm deep) and grown in a glasshouse. After 2 weeks, seedlings which had grown to a height of 5 to 20 cm were treated with test compound. The test compound was dissolved in water and the solution was adjusted to a application concentration of 500 ppm or 5000 ppm and applied to the whole surface of the plant at the rate of 100 liters water/10 ares. Control pots were treated with water only. After 10, 20 and 30 days following application, the plants were observed for growth and the control efffect of the test compound was evaluated.

The test plants were as follows.

______________________________________Test plantNo. Common name Botanical name______________________________________1 Rice Oryza sativa L.2 Maize Zea mays L.3 Barnyard millet Panicum Crus-galli L.4 Crabgrass Digitaria adscendes Henr.5 Soybean Glycine Max MERR.6 Convolvulus Calystegia japonica choisy7 Barnyard grass Amaranthus Blitum L______________________________________

The test compound is as follows.

______________________________________Compound No. Chemical name______________________________________1 3-(N-Formyl-N-hydroxyamino)propyl- phosphonic acid monosodium salt______________________________________

The test results are set forth below in the table. Control effects were scored on a rating scale of 0 for no effect through 100 for complete control (complete kill).

______________________________________Com- Timepound afterNo. appli- Plant No.(concentra- cation Herbicidal activity (%)tion) in days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7______________________________________1 10 .circle.22 .circle.27 .circle.34 .circle.40 .circle.46 .circle.25 .circle.28(500 ppm) 20 .circle.56 .circle.44 .circle.61 .circle.67 .circle.60 .circle.40 .circle.43 30 38 31 55 52 42 30 271 10 .circle.51 .circle.65 .circle.72 .circle.78 .circle.59 .circle.52 .circle.69(5000 ppm) 20 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 30 100 100 100 100 100 100 100______________________________________

The open circle around each figure indicates the occurrence of cholorosis.

EXAMPLE 1

Using the same test plant species and the same test procedure as described in Reference Example, the control effects of the following compounds were tested and evaluated.

The observation of plants for growth status was made on 10 days after application.

The test compounds are as follows.

______________________________________Compound No. Chemical name (concentration)______________________________________1 2-Methylmercapto-4-ethylamino-6-isopropyl- amino-s-triazine (1*) (500 ppm)2 2-Methylmercapto-4-ethylamino-6-isopropyl- amino-s-triazine (1*) (500 ppm) + 3-(N-Formyl-N-hydroxyamino)propylphosphonic acid monosodium salt (500 ppm)3 3-(N-Formyl-N-hydroxyamino)propylphosphonic acid monosodium salt (500 ppm)______________________________________ (Note) As test compounds (1*), the corresponding commercial product Gesapax (25% emulsifiable concentrate, CibaGeigy) was used.

The test results are shown below in the table.

______________________________________Com- Plant No.pound Hibicidal activity (%)No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7______________________________________1 78 82 100 100 100 80 78(Control)2 100 100 100 100 100 100 1003 .circle.22 .circle.27 .circle.34 .circle.40 .circle.46 .circle.25 .circle.28(Control)______________________________________

The open circle around each figure indicates the occurrence of chlorosis.

EXAMPLE 2

The field on which the following weeds were grown, were plotted out in a ratio of 4 m.sup.2 /lot.

The following test compound was dissolved in water at the specified application rate and was sprayed onto the whole surface of the weeds at the volume rate of 100 liters water/10 ares.

Control lots were treated with water only.

______________________________________Test weed Test weeds Botanical heightcode common name name (cm)______________________________________a Fleabane, Annul Erigeron annuus L. 60b Ohinutade Polygonum Blumei 60 Meisnc Clover, Red Trifolium protense L. 40d Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris L. 40 var. indica Maxime Dandelion Taraxacum Officinale 10-20 Weberf Brome, Rescue Bromus unioloides 60 Humb. Bonpl. et Kunth______________________________________Test compound No Chemical name______________________________________A 3-(N-Formyl-N-hydroxyamino)- propylphosphonic acid monosodium saltB 2-Methylmercapto-4-ethylamino-6- isopropylamino-s-triazine (1**)C 3-(3,4-Dichlorophenyl)-1,1- dimethylurea (2**)______________________________________ (Note) As test compounds (1**) and (2**), the corresponding commercial products, Gesapax (25% emulsifiable concentrate, CibaGeigy) and Karmex D(78.5% wettable powder, du Pont) were used, respectively.

Two weeks after the treatment, herbicidal effect of the test compounds on the weeds were observed and scored on a rating scale of 0 for no effect through --100 for complete kill.

______________________________________Test com-pound andapplicationrate (g/10a) Test weed and herbicidal activity (%)______________________________________B A a b c d e f______________________________________0 25 5 5 5 10 10 00 50 10 10 10 15 10 100 100 20 20 20 30 15 1062.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0125 0 20 20 15 20 10 15250 0 40 50 60 60 60 5562.5 25 60 60 50 60 70 60125 25 70 65 70 80 70 70250 25 85 80 85 80 85 8062.5 50 70 70 75 80 70 70125 50 80 80 90 90 80 80250 50 90 >90 90 >90 90 9062.5 100 80 90 80 >90 80 80125 100 90 >90 >90 >90 90 90250 100 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90______________________________________C A a b c d e f______________________________________0 25 5 5 5 10 10 00 50 10 10 10 25 10 100 100 20 20 20 30 15 10250 0 5 5 10 5 10 5500 0 15 10 20 15 20 15750 0 40 30 40 30 40 30250 25 40 50 30 50 50 40500 25 60 60 40 50 55 60750 25 85 80 75 85 85 85250 50 60 70 50 70 60 60500 50 80 90 80 90 90 85750 50 90 90 90 >90 90 90250 100 85 90 80 90 80 70500 100 90 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90750 100 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90 >90______________________________________

EXAMPLE 3

Seeds of goosefoot were sown in soilled polyethylene pots (20 cm long .times.10 cm wide .times.10 cm deep) and grown in a glasshouse. Numbers of seedlings (grown height: 30 cm) were adjusted to 10/pot. Each test compound was dissolved in water at the specified application rate and applied onto the leaves and stocks of Goosefoot. The treated goosefoot were grown in a glass house at 25.degree.-30.degree. C. for 2 weeks. The weight of the remaining and living portions (above ground) of groose foot was determined and from the obtained data, ratio (%) of the weight of treatment group to that of non-treatment group was calculated. The results are shown in the following table (a).

(a) Ratio (%) of the remaining weight of the treated plant to that of the non-treated plant

______________________________________ application rate (g/10a) of the test compound A 0 25 50 100______________________________________application rate (g/10a) 0 100 95 85 85of the test compound B 62.5 100 45 25 10 125 80 20 10 <10 250 50 10 10 <10______________________________________ Note: Test compound A: 3(N-formyl-N-hydroxyamino)-propylphosphonic acid monosodium salt Test compound B: 2methylmercapto-4-ethylamino- 6isopropylamino-s-triazine [Gesapax (25% emulsifiable concentrate, CibaGeigy)]-

The above data were analyzed according to Colby's equation (cf. weeds, Vol, 15, P. 20-22). ##STR1##

In case that the expected value (%) is larger than the observed value (%), the combination can be judged to have synergistic effect.

The Colby's expected values (%) obtained by calculating using the above data are shown in the following table (b).

(b) Colby's expected value. ______________________________________ application rate (g/10a) of the test compound A 25 50 100______________________________________application rate (g/10a) 62.5 95 85 85of the test compound B 125 76 68 68 250 47.5 42.5 42.5______________________________________

As clear from the data listed in the above table (a) and (b), all combinations of the test compound A and B can be judged to have synergistic herbicidal activity.

EXAMPLE 4

The following data were obtained in a similar manner to those of Example 3, excepting the test compound C was used in place of the compound B.

(a) Ratio (%) of the remaining weight of the treated plant to that of the non-treated plant

______________________________________ application rate (g/10a) of the test compound A 0 25 50 100______________________________________application rate (g/10a) 0 100 95 85 85of the test compound C 250 95 60 40 20 500 85 45 10 <10 750 60 20 10 <10______________________________________ Note: Test compound A is the same compound as defined in Example 3. Test compound C: 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea [Karmex D (78.5% wettable powder, du Pont)].

(b) Colby's expected value (%)

______________________________________ application rate (g/10a) of the test compound A 25 50 100______________________________________application rate (g/10a) 250 90 81 81of the test compound C 500 81 72 72 750 57 51 51______________________________________

As clear from the data listed in the above table (a) and (b), all combinations of the test compound A and C can be judged to have synergistic herbicidal activity.

Claims

1. A herbicidal composition comprising an herbicidally effective amount of fosmidomycin or a salt thereof in combination with ametryn or a salt thereof, in a ratio of between 10:1 and 1:10, and an arronomically acceptable carrier or carriers.

2. The herbicide composition of claim 1 comprising fosmidomycin or a salt thereof and ametryn.

3. A method of killing broad leaved weeds and grasses, said method comprising applying to broad leaf weeds or grass seedlings a herbicidally effective amount of a combination of fosmidomycin or a salt thereof, and ametryn or a salt thereof, in a ratio of between 1:1 and 1:10.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said combination is applied in an amount of 5 to 1000 g/1000 m.sup.2.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said combination is applied in an amount of 100 to 500 gm/1000 m.sup.2.