Patent Application
20250127164
The invention relates to pelargonic acid, in particular pelargonic acid compositions having arthropodicidal, particularly insecticidal and/or acaricidal, activity, and to methods of controlling arthropod pests on cotton with pelargonic acid which demonstrate highly effective arthropodicidal activity combined with low phytotoxicity.
Arthropod pests cause significant economic damage in the field of agriculture. In response, solutions have been developed to deter or eradicate arthropods including pesticides, plants expressing resistant traits, and the use of natural predators.
Pelargonic acid has long been known as a non-selective, contact herbicide. It has now been surprisingly found that pelargonic acid used at selected rates is highly effective at controlling pests in cotton. Due to the favorable environmental profile of pelargonic acid and the fact that it provides an alternative mode of action compared to many insecticides and acaricides currently widely used on cotton, the present invention represents an important new solution for farmers to control or prevent damage of cotton plants caused by insect and acari pests.
WO2017042554 relates to an insecticide or acaricide composition which demonstrates low phytotoxicity even at relatively high concentrations combined with highly effective insecticidal and acaricidal activity. The composition comprises: a fatty acid/amino acid salt, the fatty acid component comprising one or more unsaturated fatty acids having from 14 to 22 carbon atoms; and one or more saturated fatty acids having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.
EP0617888 describes pesticidal compositions including a mixture of a fatty acid salt and an adjuvant to increase spreadability of the fatty acid salt, the adjuvant being either a fatty alcohol of 4-18 carbon atoms, or a fatty acid methyl- or ethyl-ester of 4-18 carbon atoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,030,658 describes arthropodicidal compositions which include a mono alpha carboxylic acid with 8-20 carbon atoms or a metal salt thereof, with a metal ion sequestering agent, chelating agent, or surfactant.
These publications teach that lower fatty acids, e.g., fatty acids having a carbon chain length below about 12 are known to display phytotoxic properties.
Therefore, a pesticide composition, in particular an insecticide and/or acaricide, which maintains effectiveness against pests but demonstrates low phytotoxicity, such as leaf scorching, would be beneficial.
The fact that the pelargonic acid compositions of the present invention are well tolerated by plants at the concentrations required for controlling plant pests allows the treatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagation stock and the locus of the plants, e.g., of the soil.
According to the invention all plants and plant parts can be treated. By plants is meant all plants and plant populations such as desirable and undesirable wild plants, cultivars and plant varieties.
By plant parts is meant all above ground and below ground parts and organs of plants such as shoot, leaf, blossom and root, whereby for example leaves, needles, stems, branches, blossoms, fruiting bodies, fruits and seed as well as roots, corms and rhizomes are listed. Crops and vegetative and generative propagating material, for example cuttings, corms, rhizomes, runners and seeds also belong to plant parts.
Pelargonic acid, when used according to the present invention, is well tolerated by the environment and when well tolerated by the plants is suitable for protecting plants and plant organs, for enhancing harvest yields and for improving the quality of the harvested material. The pelargonic acid compositions are active against normally sensitive and resistant pest species and against all or some stages of development.
As a skilled person will appreciate, the term “arthropod” is suited to descriptions of the present invention which relates to not only insects but also other organisms falling within the phylum Arthropoda which are relevant in agriculture, such as acari particularly phytopathogenic mites. However, “insect” and in particular “insecticide” are commonly used terms in the field of agriculture hence there may be occurrences where the terms are used interchangeably. It is nonetheless intended that the scope of the invention is understood to encompass agriculturally-relevant arthropods generally.
The compositions according to the invention are valuable active ingredients in the field of pest control, even at low rates of application, which have a very favorable pest control spectrum. The compositions according to the invention act against all or individual developmental stages of normally sensitive, but also resistant, animal pests, such as arthropods, particularly insects or representatives of the order Acarina. The arthropodicidal activity of the compositions according to the invention can manifest itself directly, i.e., in destruction of the pests, which takes place either immediately or only after some time has elapsed, for example during ecdysis, or indirectly, for example in a reduced oviposition and/or hatching rate, a good activity corresponding to a destruction rate (mortality) of at least 40% and higher.
“Low Phytotoxicity” of pelargonic acid, as used herein means that the toxic effect on plants is absent or at such a level so as not to adversely impact the growth and/or yield of the plant under a given set of test conditions, e.g., at a given concentration of pelargonic acid. Phytotoxic effects may be measured in a number of different ways, for example, according to the principals set out in OEPP/EPPO Bulletin (2014) 44(3), 265-273 “PP 1/135 (4) Phytotoxicity assessment”. The phytotoxic effect on plants may be assessed visually as a function of the percentage of discoloration to the leaves and/or the appearance of necrosis. When the pelargonic acid compositions are applied to the foliage of the cotton plants in accordance with the teachings herein, will typically result in a level of phytotoxicity of less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, more preferably less than 10% necrosis of the leaves in comparison to untreated plants. Preferred uses of the invention will typically result in phytotoxicity of 7% or less, whilst the most preferred uses will typically result in phytotoxicity of 5% or less. The above values are approximate as any purely visual assessment is likely to contain a degree of subjectivity.
Pelargonic acid, according to the invention, can be used for controlling, i.e., containing or destroying, insect and/or acari pests which occur, in particular, on cotton plants.
Plants and plant cultivars which are preferably treated according to the invention include those that are resistant against herbicides or one or more biotic stresses, i.e., said plants show a better defense against animal and microbial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, acari, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and/or viroids. This includes plants made resistant to the above biotic stress by way of breeding, genetic modification through gene editing, e.g., CRISPR, or transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques (i.e., transgenic plants) such that that they are capable of synthesizing one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.
The compositions according to the invention can advantageously be used to treat transgenic plants, plant cultivars or plant parts that received genetic material which imparts advantageous and/or useful properties (traits) to these plants, plant cultivars or plant parts. Therefore, it is contemplated that the present invention may be combined with one or more recombinant traits or transgenic event(s) or a combination thereof. For the purposes of this application, a transgenic event is created by the insertion of a specific recombinant DNA molecule into a specific position (locus) within the chromosome of the plant genome. The insertion creates a novel DNA sequence referred to as an “event” and is characterized by the inserted recombinant DNA molecule and some amount of genomic DNA immediately adjacent to/flanking both ends of the inserted DNA. Such trait(s) or transgenic event(s) include, but are not limited to, pest resistance, water use efficiency, yield performance, drought tolerance, seed quality, improved nutritional quality, hybrid seed production, and herbicide tolerance, in which the trait is measured with respect to a plant lacking such trait or transgenic event. Concrete examples of such advantageous and/or useful properties (traits) are better plant growth, vigor, stress tolerance, standability, lodging resistance, nutrient uptake, plant nutrition, and/or yield, in particular improved growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to levels of water or soil salinity, enhanced flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated ripening, higher yields, higher quality and/or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, better storage life and/or processability of the harvested products, and increased resistance against animal and microbial pests, such as against insects, arachnids, nematodes, mites, slugs and snails.
Among DNA sequences encoding proteins which confer properties of tolerance to such animal and microbial pests, in particular insects, mention will particularly be made of the genetic material from Bacillus thuringiensis encoding the Bt proteins widely described in the literature and well known to those skilled in the art. Mention will also be made of proteins extracted from bacteria such as Photorhabdus (WO97/17432 and WO98/08932). In particular, mention will be made of the Bt Cry or VIP proteins which include the CryIA, CryIAb, CryIAc, CryIIA, CryIIIA, CryIIIB2, Cry9c Cry2Ab, Cry3Bb and CryIF proteins or toxic fragments thereof and also hybrids or combinations thereof, especially the CryIF protein or hybrids derived from a CryIF protein (e.g. hybrid CryIA-CryIF proteins or toxic fragments thereof), the CryIA-type proteins or toxic fragments thereof, preferably the CryIAc protein or hybrids derived from the CryIAc protein (e.g. hybrid CryIAb-CryIAc proteins) or the CryIAb or Bt2 protein or toxic fragments thereof, the Cry2Ae, Cry2Af or Cry2Ag proteins or toxic fragments thereof, the CryIA.105 protein or a toxic fragment thereof, the VIP3Aal9 protein, the VIP3Aa20 protein, the VIP3A proteins produced in the COT202 or COT203 cotton events, the VIP3Aa protein or a toxic fragment thereof as described in Estruch et al. (1996), Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 28; 93(11):5389-94, the Cry proteins as described in WO2001/47952, the insecticidal proteins from Xenorhabdus (as described in WO98/50427), Serratia (particularly from S. entomophila) or Photorhabdus species strains, such as Tc-proteins from Photorhabdus as described in WO98/08932. Also, any variants or mutants of any one of these proteins differing in some amino acids (1-10, preferably 1-5) from any of the above-named sequences, particularly the sequence of their toxic fragment, or which are fused to a transit peptide, such as a plastid transit peptide, or another protein or peptide, is included herein.
Another and particularly emphasized example of such properties is conferred tolerance to one or more herbicides, for example imidazolinones, sulphonylureas, glyphosate or phosphinothricin by either mutagenesis, for example, Clearfield™ imidazolinone tolerant varieties, or transgenic techniques. Among DNA sequences encoding proteins which confer properties of tolerance to certain herbicides on the transformed plant cells and plants, mention will be particularly be made to the bar or PAT gene or the Streptomyces coelicolor gene described in WO2009/152359 which confers tolerance to glufosinate herbicides, a gene encoding a suitable EPSPS (5-Enolpyruvylshikimat-3-phosphat-synthase) which confers tolerance to herbicides having EPSPS as a target, especially herbicides such as glyphosate and its salts, a gene encoding glyphosate-n-acetyltransferase, or a gene encoding glyphosate oxidoreductase. Further suitable herbicide tolerance traits include at least one ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitor (e.g., WO2007/024782), a mutated Arabidopsis ALS/AHAS gene (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,533), genes encoding 2,4-D-monooxygenases conferring tolerance to 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and genes encoding Dicamba monooxygenases conferring tolerance to dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid).
Further and particularly emphasized examples of such properties are increased resistance against bacteria and/or viruses owing, for example, to systemic acquired resistance (SAR), systemin, phytoalexins, elicitors and also resistance genes and correspondingly expressed proteins and toxins.
Crops may also be modified for enhanced resistance to fungal (for example Fusarium, Anthracnose, or Phytophthora), bacterial (for example Pseudomonas) or viral (for example potato leafroll virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, cucumber mosaic virus) pathogens.
Particularly useful transgenic events in transgenic plants or plant cultivars which can be treated with preference in accordance with the invention include Event 531/PV-GHBK04 (cotton, insect control, described in WO2002/040677), Event 1143-14A (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2006/128569); Event 1143-5 IB (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2006/128570); Event 1445 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A 2002-120964 or WO2002/034946); Event 281-24-236 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-6233, described in WO2005/103266 or US-A 2005-216969); Event 3006-210-23 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-6233, described in US-A 2007-143876 or WO2005/103266); Event CE43-67B (cotton, insect control, deposited as DSM ACC2724, described in US-A 2009-217423 or WO2006/128573); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2010-0024077); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2006/128571); Event CE46-02A (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2006/128572); Event COT102 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2006-130175 or WO2004/039986); Event COT202 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2007-067868 or WO2005/054479); Event COT203 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2005/054480); Event GHB119 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8398, described in WO2008/151780); Event GHB614 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6878, described in US-A 2010-050282 or WO2007/017186); Event LLcotton25 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3343, described in WO2003/013224 or US-A 2003-097687); Event MON15985 (cotton, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-2516, described in US-A 2004-250317 or WO2002/100163); Event MON88701 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11754, described in WO2012/134808); Event T304-40 (cotton, insect control—herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8171, described in US-A 2010-077501 or WO2008/122406); Event T342-142 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in WO2006/128568); and Event MON88701 (cotton, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11754, WO2012/134808A1).
Particularly useful transgenic plants which may be treated according to the invention are plants containing transformation events, or combination of transformation events, that are listed for example in the databases from various national or regional regulatory agencies.
Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention are those plants which are resistant to one or more abiotic stresses, i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant health with respect to stress tolerance. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars with the composition of the present invention additionally increases the overall plant health.
Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention, are those plants characterized by enhanced yield characteristics i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant health with respect to this feature. Increased yield in said plants can be the result of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield can furthermore be affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including but not limited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars with the composition of the present invention additionally increases the overall plant health.
Examples of the above-mentioned insect and acari pests include: pests from the phylum of the Arthropoda, in particular from the class of the Arachnida, for example Acarus spp., for example Acarus siro, Aceria kuko, Aceria sheldoni, Aculops spp., Aculus spp., for example Aculus fockeui, Aculus schlechtendali, Amblyomma spp., Amphitetranychus viennensis, Argas spp., Boophilus spp., Brevipalpus spp., for example Brevipalpus phoenicis, Bryobia graminum, Bryobia praetiosa, Centruroides spp., Chorioptes spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Dermacentor spp., Eotetranychus spp., for example Eotetranychus hicoriae, Epitrimerus pyri, Eutetranychus spp., for example Eutetranychus banksi, Eriophyes spp., for example Eriophyes pyri, Glycyphagus domesticus, Halotydeus destructor, Hemitarsonemus spp., for example Hemitarsonemus latus (=Polyphagotarsonemus latus), Hyalomma spp., Ixodes spp., Latrodectus spp., Loxosceles spp., Neutrombicula autumnalis, Nuphersa spp., Oligonychus spp., for example Oligonychus coffeae, Oligonychus coniferarum, Oligonychus ilicis, Oligonychus indicus, Oligonychus mangiferus, Oligonychus pratensis, Oligonychus punicae, Oligonychus yothersi, Omithodorus spp., Omithonyssus spp., Panonychus spp., for example Panonychus citri (=Metatetranychus citri), Panonychus ulmi (=Metatetranychus ulmi), Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Platytetranychus multidigituli, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp., Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Scorpio maurus, Steneotarsonemus spp., Steneotarsonemus spinki, Tarsonemus spp., for example Tarsonemus confusus, Tarsonemus pallidus, Tetranychus spp., for example Tetranychus canadensis, Tetranychus cinnabarinus, Tetranychus turkestani, Tetranychus urticae, Trombicula alfreddugesi, Vaejovis spp., Vasates lycopersici;
Preferably, the compositions of the present invention are effective against at least one member selected from the group consisting of Tetranychus urticae, Anthonomus grandis; Diabrotica speciosa; Aphis spp., preferably Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii; Bemisia spp., preferably Bemisia argentifolii and Bemisia tabaci; Myzus persicae; Trialeurodes spp., preferably Trialeurodes abutiloneus and Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Erthesina fullo; Euschistus heros; Helicoverpa armigera; Pectinophora gossypiella; Frankliniella spp., preferably Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici; and Thrips tabaci.
The compositions of the present invention comprise pelargonic acid, a liquid or solid carrier and, optionally, one or more customary formulation auxiliaries, which may be liquid or solid, for example surfactants, antifoams, for example silicone oil, preservatives, clays, inorganic compounds, viscosity regulators, binders and/or tackifiers. The composition may also further comprise a fertilizer, a micronutrient donor or other preparations which influence the growth of plants.
Preferably, the pelargonic acid compositions are foliarly applied to the cotton plants. Examples of foliar formulation types for pre-mix compositions are GR: Granules; WP: wettable powders; WG: water dispersable granules (powders); SG: water soluble granules; SL: soluble concentrates; EC: emulsifiable concentrate; EW: emulsions, oil in water; ME: micro-emulsion; SC: aqueous suspension concentrate; CS: aqueous capsule suspension; OD: oil-based suspension concentrate, and SE: aqueous suspo-emulsion. The type of pelargonic acid composition is to be selected to suit the intended aims and the prevailing circumstances.
The formulation components that are suitable for the preparation of the compositions according to the invention are known per se.
As liquid carriers there may be used: water, toluene, xylene, petroleum ether, vegetable oils, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acid anhydrides, acetonitrile, acetophenone, amyl acetate, 2-butanone, butylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, alkyl esters of acetic acid, diacetone alcohol, 1,2-dichloropropane, diethanolamine, p-diethylbenzene, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol abietate, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, α,α-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-dioxane, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, diproxitol, alkylpyrrolidone, ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, ethylene carbonate, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 2-heptanone, alpha-pinene, d-limonene, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, gamma-butyrolactone, glycerol, glycerol acetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, hexadecane, hexylene glycol, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, isooctane, isophorone, isopropylbenzene, isopropyl myristate, lactic acid, laurylamine, mesityl oxide, methoxy-propanol, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl laurate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methylene chloride, m-xylene, n-hexane, n-octylamine, octadecanoic acid, octylamine acetate, oleic acid, oleylamine, o-xylene, phenol, polyethylene glycol, propionic acid, propyl lactate, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol methyl ether, p-xylene, toluene, triethyl phosphate, triethylene glycol, xylenesulfonic acid, paraffin, mineral oil, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and alcohols of higher molecular weight, such as amyl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, hexanol, octanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the like.
Suitable solid carriers are, for example, talc, titanium dioxide, pyrophyllite clay, silica, attapulgite clay, kieselguhr, limestone, calcium carbonate, bentonite, calcium montmorillonite, cottonseed husks, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, ground walnut shells, lignin and similar substances.
A large number of surfactants can advantageously be used in both liquid and solid formulations, especially in those formulations which can be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Surfactants may be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or polymeric and they can be used as emulsifiers, wetting agents or suspending agents or for other purposes. Typical surfactants include, for example, salts of alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; salts of alkylarylsulfonates, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol/alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol ethoxylate; alcohol/alkylene oxide addition products, such as tridecylalcohol ethoxylate; siloxanes, silicones, silanes, silicates and siliconates; soaps, such as sodium stearate; salts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, such as sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate; sorbitol esters, such as sorbitol oleate; quaternary amines, such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; and salts of mono- and di-alkylphosphate esters; esters of stearate and also further substances described e.g. in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual, MC Publishing Corp., Ridgewood New Jersey (1981).
The compositions according to the invention can include an additive comprising an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a mineral oil, alkyl esters of such oils or mixtures of such oils and oil derivatives. The amount of oil additive, when present, in the composition according to the invention is generally from 0.01 to 10%, based on the mixture to be applied. For example, the oil additive can be added to a spray tank in the desired concentration after a spray mixture has been prepared. Preferred oil additives comprise mineral oils or an oil of vegetable origin, for example rapeseed oil, olive oil or sunflower oil, emulsified vegetable oil, alkyl esters of oils of vegetable origin, for example the methyl derivatives, or an oil of animal origin, such as fish oil or beef tallow. Preferred oil additives comprise alkyl esters of C8-C22 fatty acids, especially the methyl derivatives of C12-C12 fatty acids, for example the methyl esters of lauric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid (methyl laurate, methyl palmitate and methyl oleate, respectively). Many oil derivatives are known from the Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants, 10th Edition, Southern Illinois University, 2010.
As with the nature of the formulations, the methods of application, such as foliar, drench, spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances.
Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates (e.g., pre-mix or ready-mix compositions), the end user will normally employ dilute formulations (e.g., spray mix, spray tank or tank-mix (when combined with other pesticides or formulation auxiliaries) compositions).
Generally, the pre-mix compositions comprise 0.1 to 99%, especially 15 to 90%, of pelargonic acid and 0 to 99.9% of at least one liquid or solid carrier, and 0 to 35%, especially 0.1 to 20%, of the composition to be formulation auxiliaries, e.g., surfactants (% in each case meaning percent by weight in the pre-mix composition).
Generally, a spray mix or spray tank formulation for foliar or soil application comprises 0.05 to 20%, especially 0.1 to 15%, of pelargonic acid, and 99.95 to 80%, especially 99.9 to 85%, of a liquid carrier, and 0 to 20%, especially 0.1 to 15%, of formulation auxiliaries, e.g., surfactants (% in each case meaning percent by weight in the tank-mix composition).
The rates of application (grams of pelargonic acid/hectare or g/ha) vary and depend on the method of application, the crop plant, the pest to be controlled, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop. For foliar application, sprayable mixtures of the pelargonic acid compositions are prepared at a concentration that, when applied at a given spray rate, delivers pelargonic acid to the plants in an amount of from 300 to 6,500 g/ha, preferably 450 to 4,500 g/ha.
For example, preferably the pelargonic acid composition is applied at a dilution containing pelargonic acid at less than about 6,500 g/ha, preferably less than about 4,500 g/ha, most preferably about 1,300 g/ha. In preferred aspects, the compositions of the present proposals are provided at a dilution containing the pelargonic acid at between about 300 and about 6,500 g/ha, preferably between about 400 and about 4,500 g/ha, most preferably between about 500 and about 1,300 g/ha. At higher concentrations, phytotoxicity, e.g., leaf scorching, becomes more prevalent, e.g., above about 10,000 g/ha of pelargonic acid. At lower concentrations, e.g., below about 300 g/ha of pelargonic acid, the arthropodicidal, e.g., insecticidal and acaricidal, effectiveness decreases when used alone.
The present compositions have been demonstrated to have low phytotoxicity, e.g., exhibiting zero or acceptable leaf scorching, at rates of e.g., 1,300 g/ha or even up to 4,500 g/ha of pelargonic acid depending on the crop and its growth stage.
Methods of using the present compositions for controlling arthropod, preferably insect and/or acari, pests on cotton are also part of the present invention. For example, the compositions are preferably used at a dilution, e.g., those dilutions preferred above, to provide effective insecticidal/acaricidal properties coupled with low phytotoxicity.
In a preferred aspect, these methods relate to the killing of specific pests such as insects and acari pests comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of Tetranychus urticae, Anthonomus grandis; Diabrotica speciosa; Aphis spp., preferably Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii; Bemisia spp., preferably Bemisia argentifolii and Bemisia tabaci; Myzus persicae; Trialeurodes spp., preferably Trialeurodes abutiloneus and Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Erthesina fullo; Euschistus heros; Helicoverpa armigera; Pectinophora gossypiella; Frankliniella spp., preferably Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici; and Thrips tabaci.
Embodiment A relates to a method of controlling arthropod pests, preferably insect and/or acari pests, on cotton plants, which comprises applying a pesticidally effective amount of pelargonic acid to a pest, to a locus of a pest, or to a plant susceptible to attack by a pest.
Embodiment B relates to a method for controlling and/or preventing damage by infestation of arthropod pests, preferably insect and/or acari pests, on cotton plants, which comprises applying a pesticidally effective amount of pelargonic acid to a plant.
Embodiment C relates to the use of pelargonic acid on cotton plants for controlling and/or or preventing damage by infestation of arthropod pests, preferably insect and/or acari pests.
Embodiment D relates to the use of pelargonic acid in the manufacture of an arthropodicide for controlling and/or or preventing damage to cotton plants by infestation of arthropod pests, preferably insect and/or acari pests.
Embodiment E relates to an arthropodicidal composition for the control of arthropod pests on cotton plants, comprising pelargonic acid.
In preferred embodiments of A to E, the arthropod pest comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of Tetranychus urticae, Anthonomus grandis; Diabrotica speciosa; Aphis spp., preferably Aphis craccivora and Aphis gossypii; Bemisia spp., preferably Bemisia argentifolii and Bemisia tabaci; Myzus persicae; Trialeurodes spp., preferably Trialeurodes abutiloneus and Trialeurodes vaporariorum; Erthesina fullo; Euschistus heros; Helicoverpa armigera; Pectinophora gossypiella; Frankliniella spp., preferably Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis and Frankliniella tritici; and Thrips tabaci.
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for growing cotton plants comprising applying or treating the cotton plants thereof with a pelargonic acid composition.
The activity of the compositions according to the invention can be broadened considerably, and adapted to prevailing circumstances, by adding additional pesticidally active agents to the pelargonic acid compositions. Compositions comprising combinations of (A) pelargonic acid and (B) at least one additional pesticidally active agent (i.e., other than pelargonic acid) may also have further surprising advantages which can also be described, in a wider sense, as super-additive (“synergistic”) effects. Thus, for example, by using or employing the compositions in the treatments as set forth herein, reduced application rates and/or a widening of the activity spectrum and/or an increase in the activity better plant growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, bigger fruits, larger plant height, greener leaf color, earlier flowering, higher quality and/or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, higher sugar concentration within the fruits, better storage stability and/or processability of the harvested products are possible, which exceed the effects which were actually to be expected.
One embodiment relates to compositions comprising (A) pelargonic acid and (B) at least on additional pesticidally active agent, as well as the use of the compositions of (A) and (B) in the methods and uses as set forth herein.
One embodiment relates to combinations comprising (A) pelargonic acid and (B) at least on additional pesticidally active agent, as well as the use of the combinations of (A) and (B) in the methods and uses as set forth herein.
One embodiment relates to a method for reducing overall damage of cotton plants and cotton plant parts caused by arthropod pests, preferably insect and/or acari pests, comprising the step of applying (A) pelargonic acid alone or in combination with (B) at least one additional pesticidally active agent, as defined herein, to a plant.
One embodiment relates to a method for increasing crop yield and/or the quality of food commodities from cotton plants comprising the step of applying (A) pelargonic acid alone or in combination with (B) at least one additional pesticidally active agent, as defined herein to a plant.
As used herein, the expression “combination” stands for the various combinations of (A) pelargonic acid and (B) the at least one pesticidally active agent, for example in a single “ready-mix” or “pre-mix” form, in a combined spray mixture composed from separate formulations of the single active compounds, such as a “tank-mix”, and in a combined use of the single active ingredients when applied in a sequential manner, i.e., one after the other within a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days, e.g.; 2 hours to 7 days. Preferably, the order of applying the pelargonic acid and the at least one pesticidally active agent is not essential for working the present invention. Accordingly, the term “combination” also encompasses the presence of pelargonic acid composition and the at least one pesticidally active agent on a plant that has been treated.
The ratio of (A) pelargonic acid and (B) any additional pesticidally active agents is selected such that, when applied to the cotton plants, the pelargonic acid and the pesticidally active agents are delivered at their respective desired rates, e.g., as taught on a product label or as can be determined by one experienced in the field, required for pest control. Because the application rates for the additional pesticidally active agents can vary greatly from one another, the general ratios of pelargonic acid to the additional active agent also can vary greatly. The compositions comprising mixtures of pelargonic acid with additional pesticidally active agents described above comprise pelargonic acid and an active agent as described above preferably in a mixing ratio of from 1000:1 to 1:1, preferably in a weight ratio of 700:1 to 10:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of 500:1 to 30:1, and most preferably in a weight ratio of 100:1 to 1:100.
Suitable additional pesticidally active agents here are, for example, representatives of the following classes of active ingredients:
In a preferred embodiment, said pesticidally active agent is selected from the group consisting of
In one embodiment, the compositions comprise (A) pelargonic acid and (B) one or more of the following pesticidally active agents: abamectin, acephate, acetamiprid, afidopyropen, aldicarb, bifenthrin, broflanilide, buprofezin, carbosulfan, chlorantraniliprolle, chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, cyclaniliprole, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, diafenthiuron, dimpropyridaz, emamectin benzoate, ethiprole, fenitrothion, fenpropatrin, flonicamid, flubendiamide, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, lufenuron, malathion, methomyl, novaluron, profenofos, quinalphos, spinosad, spiropidion, sulfoxaflor, thiodicarb and thiamethoxam.
In one embodiment, the pesticidally active agent (B) is a biological control agent.
As used herein, “biological control” is defined as control of an insect and/or an acarid and/or a nematode by the use of an organism such as a microorganism or metabolite produced by such microorganism. In some cases, biological control is also achieved by the use of naturally occurring compounds or compounds derived from such naturally occurring compounds.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, the biological control agent comprises not only the isolated, pure cultures of the respective fungus or bacterium, in particular the pesticidally active fungus or bacterium but also suspensions in a whole broth culture or a metabolite-containing supernatant or a purified metabolite obtained from whole broth culture of the fungal or bacterial strain. “Whole broth culture” refers to a liquid culture containing both cells and media. “Supernatant” refers to the liquid broth remaining when cells grown in broth are removed by centrifugation, filtration, sedimentation, or other means well known in the art. According to another embodiment, the biological control agent comprises the isolated, pure cultures of the respective fungus or bacterium formulated in a suitable formulation apart from its fermentation broth, as described further below.
Said biological control agent may be an insecticidally active biological control agent selected from the group consisting of:
Said biological control agent may be a nematicidally active biological control agent selected from the group consisting of
The mixtures as described above can be used in a method for controlling pests, which comprises applying a composition comprising a mixture as described above to the pests or their environment, with the exception of a method for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy and diagnostic methods practiced on the human or animal body.
The combinations comprising mixtures of pelargonic acid and one or more active agents as described above can be applied, for example, in a single “ready-mix” form, in a combined spray mixture composed from separate formulations of the single active agent components, such as a “tank-mix”, and in a combined use of (A) a pelargonic acid and (B) a separate composition comprising the additional active agent when applied in a sequential manner, i.e., one after the other with a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days. The order of applying the pelargonic acid and the active agents as described above is not essential for working the present invention.
A preferred method of application in the field of crop protection is application to the foliage of the plants (foliar application), it being possible to select frequency and rate of application to match the danger of infestation with the pest in question.
The following examples illustrate the invention in a non-limiting fashion.
All applications below were made with an EC formulation containing 650 g/L of pelargonic acid (e.g., 685 g/L of 95% purity pelargonic acid), an anionic emulsifier and a branched fatty acid ester solvent. The treatment names for the pelargonic acid compositions used in the following examples indicate the total g/ha based on the application rate e.g., the 650 EC formulation applied at 1 L/ha is identified as PA 650 g/ha; an application rate of 1.5 L/ha is identified as PA 975 g/ha.
Cotton—Anthonomus grandis (Boll Weevil)—ANTHGR
The trial was conducted on cotton plants on 15 m2 plots. A water volume of 150 L/ha was used for each application. Three applications were made at 7-day intervals, 15 m2 per plot. Application A was made at first infestation. Efficacy was assessed by counting the number of insects per 20 flower buds. There were 6.75 insects/20 flower buds at initial application.
Phytotoxicity was assessed 7 days after each application. No phytotoxicity was observed
Cotton—Anthonomus grandis (Boll Weevil)—ANTHGR
The trial was conducted on cotton plants on 15 m2 plots. A water volume of 150 L/ha was used for each application. Three applications were made at 7-day intervals, 15 m2 per plot. Efficacy was assessed by counting the number of insects per 20 flower buds. There were 6.75 insects/20 flower buds at initial application.
Phytotoxicity was assessed 7 days after each application. No phytotoxicity was observed
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22154593.2 | Feb 2022 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/051475 | 1/23/2023 | WO |
