EP2515636A1

EP2515636A1 - Biological control and accessories

Info

Publication number: EP2515636A1
Application number: EP10801409A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marlies Vangeel; Nady Lauwens; Kris Jans; Luc Vermeulen
Original assignee: Biobest Belgium NV
Current assignee: Biobest Belgium NV
Priority date: 2009-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-21
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Also published as: WO2011076773A1; NL1037575C2; NL1037575A

Abstract

This invention relates to the area of biological pest control in agriculture and horticulture. In particular, this invention relates to a method for applying capsules containing biological control agents to affected plants, by making use of an adjuvant.

Description

BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AND ACCESSORIES

This invention relates to biological pest control in agriculture and horticulture. In particular, this invention relates to a method for applying capsules, containing biologically active agents, by means of an adhesive to affected plants.

The use of capsules for the spread of non-organic pesticides (US6772694B1, W02008065218A1 , W02002060251A2 , US5174807A) has been known and involves shooting the capsules from a distance in the direction of the crops to be treated. Upon impact of the capsules with their target, they burst and release their active substance ( s ) .

Although this method is very suitable for the distribution of capsules with non-biological control agents, there are some drawbacks with regard to its use for the dissemination of capsules containing biological control agents. Firstly, capsules that are poorly shot and as such miss their target, are lost on the ground, causing the undesired spread of expensive biological control agents. And secondly, due to the impact of capsules with the plants to be treated, the content (for biological control agents often insects such as in the form of dolls, larvae or insect eggs) may get damaged and/or lost on the ground, rather than directly applied onto said plant.

For the dissemination of capsules with biologically active agents (FR2583256) such as insect eggs, a method is available whereby the capsules are distributed evenly over the soil between the plants, through a distribution device with a rotating wheel. Opening the capsule is here not by impact but may be accomplished by providing an opening in the capsule. While this method allows equal distribution of biological pesticides within the area to be treated, this method is not suitable for the targeted treatment of only the infected plants, nor for the distribution of biologically active agents in the top of the crops.

Said problem is solved by the distribution device of US462846. Herein, an apparatus is provided for evenly dispersing biologically active chemicals encapsulated in a microdispenser . Said apparatus includes a hopper in which the capsules, containing the active ingredient, are mixed with a sticker substance (pg. 5, lines 6-10 of US462846) . The apparatus can either be operated for example from an aircraft, where the capsules are ejected from the device and upon contact with the plants will stick to them (no control over treated plants) , or it can either be used for applying capsules directly to the organisms to be treated by making contact with the latter. However, a major disadvantage of said device is that a batch of capsules has to be preloaded into the hopper together with a sticker material, and therefore, at the end of the day, any unused capsules are lost, because they cannot be recuperated from the device since they are all sticky. This is in particular not desirable for use with expensive biological control agents.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for applying capsules to crops to be treated, by means of an adjuvant, in order to achieve the most economical use of biological control agents. Said method comprising the application of an adjuvant to the plants to be treated, prior to or at the same time of the application of the capsules to the plants. In said method the adjuvant and the capsules are applied to the plants, independently of one another, i.e. the adjuvant and the capsules are not brought in contact with one another prior to the application of the capsules to the plants. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the method is being characterized in that the adjuvant and the capsules are not brought in contact with one another prior to the application of the capsules to the plants.

A second objective of the present invention is to provide a disseminator device for applying capsules, by means of an adjuvant, to crops to be treated. Other details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of this method. This description is only by way of example and does not limit the invention. The used reference numbers refer to the attached drawings representing one of the possible embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a first possible embodiment of the disseminator device (1) .

Fig. 2 is a side view of two possible embodiments of the capsule holder (5) , in which embodiment A is a type of cartridge in which the capsules are pushed down (11) gently; and in which embodiment B is a cassette containing a channel (10) for guiding the capsules in the right direction into the distribution device (1) .

Fig. 3 is a side view of a second possible embodiment of the disseminator device (1), with a reservoir (3) for containing an adhesive, and a pump (7) for applying said adhesive to the crops before applying the capsules to said crops.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a third possible embodiment of the disseminator device (1), with a sharp point (9) for piercing the capsule ( 4 ) .

Fig. 5 is a side view of a fourth possible embodiment of the disseminator device (1) with a reservoir (3) for containing an adhesive, a pump (7) and a sharp point (9), wherein the latter two can be operated with the same trigger (6) .

Fig. 6 is a side view of a fifth possible embodiment of the disseminator device (1) with a reservoir (3) for containing an adhesive, a pump (7) and a sharp point (9), wherein the latter two can be operated with the same trigger. In A, the device is shown in its entirety; in B an enlargement of the head of the unit is shown.

Fig. 7 is one possible embodiment of the cooling box (14) . In A it is clearly shown that there is a provision in the cooling box (14) for storing one or more cooling elements (13) . In B it is shown that there is a space provided in the cooling box (14) for storing one or more capsule holders (5) . C shows an example of how the disseminator device (1) fits into the housing of the cooling box (14) such that the capsule holder (5) can be kept cold in the cooling part of the cooling box.

In a first objective, the present invention provides a method for applying capsules (4), containing biologically active agents, to affected crops, by means of an adjuvant. The capsules may be made from any suitable material, such as plastic, cardboard, plant fibers, gelatin or HPMC (hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose) . Preferably, the used material is a biodegradable material, such as gelatin or HPMC, in view of the use in organic gardening.

The "adjuvant" as used herein refers to a product, which, either or not after interaction with the capsules, ensures sticking of the capsules to the crops to be treated. Said adjuvant is applied onto the crops to be treated prior to or at the same time that the capsules are applied, and may be any organic or inorganic adhesive, but preferably does not interfere with normal operation and photosynthesis of the treated crops .

In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the capsules are made from HPMC and the adjuvant is water. The applied water causes the outer layer of the HPMC capsules to become sticky so that the capsules when applied to the plants will stick to said plants.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the method for applying capsules to the crops to be treated, include means for making an opening in the capsule so that its contents can be released. Any known method to make an opening in a capsule are eligible, but preferably the opening is made by means that do not harm the contents of the capsule such as for example piercing the capsules with a sharp point, a needle, ... In an alternative embodiment, biodegradable capsules are used, which eventually degrade after contact with water and/or other environmental factors and which thereby release their content. The foregoing applies primarily to the use of biological control agents as biologically active agents. Upon use of biological control agents in agriculture and horticulture, it is the idea to combat harmful organism by applying a natural enemy of said harmful organism. The latter must therefore be able to leave the capsule for feeding and multiplying .

For use as biological control agents, two main groups can be distinguished: firstly, parasites (parasitoids ) living at the expense of other organisms such as bacteria in larvae or parasitoids to whitefly; and secondly predators that eat other organisms, such as the predatory mite that eats red spider mites or the ladybug that eats insects. The most important biological control agents that can be used in the present invention include;

- Predators (including insects and mites preferably from the family Phytoseiidae, Erythraeidae, Cheyletidae, Chrysopidae, Hemerobiidae, Plant Bugs Miridae, Geocoridae, Anthocoridae, Nabidae, Coccinelidae, Carabidae, Pentatomidae, Reduvidae, Syrphidae, Cecidomyiidae, Tachinidae, Coccinelidae)

- Parasitoids (including insects and mites, preferably from the families Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Chalcidoidae, Pteromalidae Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Encyrtidae, Eucharitidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Leucospidae, Mymaridae, Ormyridae, Perilampidae, Pteromalidae, Rotoitidae, Signiphoridae, Tanaostigmatidae, Tetracampidae, Torymidae, Trichogrammatidae)

- Phytophage arthropods used in weed control

- Entomopathogenic nematodes (including Steinernema spp . Heterorhabditis spp. Phasmarhabditis spp.) - Microbial products; in particular bacteria (including Bacillus thuringiensis ) , fungi (including Verticillium lecanii and Chondostereum purpureum) , and Viruses. A second objective of the invention includes a disseminator device that allows the application of capsules to the crops to be treated by means of an adjuvant.

In its simplest embodiment (Fig. 1), the disseminator device (1) according to the invention comprises a capsule holder (5) and a trigger (dispenser) (6) by which at each activation of the trigger (dispenser) (6), one or more capsule (s) (4) are released and can be applied in the right place it the plants / crop to be treated. In a particular embodiment the capsules will be released individually by means of transmission such as for example through a gear transmission (12), and a bar (2) . These embodiments require that the plants prior to applying the capsules be treated with an adjuvant. All possible methods for applying an adjuvant to the plants to be treated are eligible, such as spraying or smearing of the adjuvant (in particular water or an adhesive) onto the plants.

The capsule holder (5) of the disseminator device (1) of the present invention can in principle consist of any material and can be of any shape that allows the capsules to individually (one by one) be brought out of the disseminator device (1) . Figure 2 shows for example two possible embodiments of the capsule holder (5) . Figure 2A shows a kind of cartridge with an opening of the correct size to allow passing of one capsule at the time, as well as means (11) to gently press down the capsules such as for example a spring or a sponge, so that the capsules remain well ordered. Figure 2B shows a capsule holder (5) in the form of a cassette in which the capsules remain disordered until gravity leads them into a channel (10), guiding them one by one into the disseminator device. Preferably, the capsule holder (5) is made from plastic and has an embodiment similar to that shown in Figure 2B.

In a particular embodiment (Fig. 3) the disseminator device (1) comprises a reservoir for containing an adjuvant (3) and a pump (7) that enables the spraying of said adjuvant onto the plants to be treated, in order to allow the capsules to stick to said plants. Preferably, the pump (3) of the present invention is operated with the same trigger / dispenser (6), as used to release the capsules out of the disseminator device (1) . The adjuvant reservoir may be of any shape and size, but is preferably adjusted to the dimensions of the device and is contained in the handle of the disseminator device. In a particular embodiment (Fig. 4) the disseminator device contains means (9) to provide an opening in the capsule before they leave the device. Preferably, the means to provide an opening in the capsules, are integrated into the bar (2) of the disseminator device (1) so that the capsules are pierced at the same time as they are pushed from the disseminator device. The disseminator device according to this embodiment is preferably further provided with means (8) to increase resistance at the opening of the disseminator device, so that the capsules (4) remain longer in place, making it easier to make an opening in the capsules. Said means for increasing resistance at the opening of the device, may be any means, that allow the capsules to remain at their place, when low pressure is applied; and which after increased pressure will allow the capsules to leave the device due; such as for example a rubber constriction/ring. In a preferred embodiment (Fig. 5 and 6) the disseminator device according to the invention contains, a capsule holder (5), a trigger (6), a gear transmission (12), a bar (2), means to provide an opening in the capsule (9), means to keep the capsules in place (8), and an adjuvant reservoir (3); and where by each activation of the trigger (6) :

(A) the plant is sprayed with the adjuvant;

(B) the capsule is pierced, and

(C) the capsule is pushed out. Examples of biologically active agents that can be distributed via the disseminator device of the present invention are in principle all substances that are useful for treating plants and comprise fertilizer substances, plant growth enhancers, plant hormones, plant signaling molecules; allelochemicals , including pheromones, kairomones, Sinologists; chemical control products, including insecticides, fungicides, Nematicides, Herbicides, Pesticides and biological control agents (above) . In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the biologically active agents are biological control agents (above) .

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the biological agents that are distributed via the disseminator device are organisms that multiply by sexual or asexual reproduction.

In a further particular embodiment of the invention, the biological agents that are distributed via the disseminator device are mobile (such as predatory mites in the adult or nymphal stage or insects in the adult or larval stage) or they give rise to a mobile stage (eg. eggs from which motile larvae hatch or pupal stages from which mobile adults emergence) . This makes it possible to apply the biological agents via the disseminator device on a few spots in the plant, from which the biological agents can then spread all across the plant. In case biological organisms are used, they can multiply and increase their numbers gradually to build up a population level that is sufficient for an effective biological control.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, combinations of biological agents as presented herein can be used in the disseminator device, preferably at least one mobile biological agent and at least one biological agent that is not mobile. By using said combination of biological agents in accordance with this invention, the non-mobile agent (s) can be spread in the crop by means of the mobile agent (s) . The immobile agents as used for the invention can be for example living organisms, including micro-organisms, pupal stages and eggs, and non-living agents such as pesticides and materials and structures derived from living or dead organisms (eg plant hormones, plant signaling molecules; allelochemicals , including pheromones, kairomones, sinologists) . By using this particular embodiment, immobile agents can be spread throughout the crop in a completely new way compared to the use of techniques such as spraying. The disseminator device according to the present invention may be used to control whiteflies in greenhouse by using capsules filled with eggs of Encarsia Formosa (wasp) . Hatched wasps can crawl out through the opening in the capsule and are immediately in the vicinity of the whiteflies to be destructed.

A third objective of the present invention is to provide capsules containing biological active agents for use in the disseminator device of the present invention.

As indicated earlier, these capsules may be made of any known material useful for this purpose, such as plastic, cardboard, plant fiber, gelatin or HPMC (hydroxylpropyl methylcellulose) . Preferably, the capsules are made from a biodegradable material, such as gelatin or HPMC, in view of the use in organic gardening. The capsules will contain biologically active agents at concentrations in accordance with their use in conventional applicators, and it is evident for the skilled artisan that the doses and concentration levels in the capsules can vary depending on the used agent and the intended application. Preferably, capsules are filled with a formulation containing the bio-active agents in combination with an inert carrier substance. Carriers may be liquid, solid or in gel form, and are preferably a fine powder or granular material. By use of said inert filler or solvent, the weight or volume of the material in the capsules can be standardized, thereby simplifying the filling of the capsules. In case the carrier is a fine powder or granular material, the biologically active substance preferably binds to the carrier material or adheres to it without losing its efficacy as an active ingredient. Solid carriers may consist of diatomaceous earth, fumed silica, maize starch, talc, ground walnut shells, and the like. A final objective of the present invention is to provide a kit for performing the method of this invention. This kit contains all the elements necessary to apply a capsule by means of an adjuvant to the affected plants.

In a particular embodiment, the kit of the present invention, comprises the disseminator device as described hereinabove in more detail, and means to apply adjuvants to the crops, in case these are not integrated into the disseminator device itself. Optionally, this kit also comprises means to make an opening in the capsule.

For particular organic pesticides, it is important that they are kept cold until the time that they are applied to the crops to be treated. The kit of the present invention in a particular embodiment, therefore, comprises means to keep the capsules cool for as long as they are not applied on the plants to be treated. Any method for keeping the capsules cool can be used, but preferably cooled capsules can be taken in a cooling box, in particular a cooling box that is equipped with a space for holding the disseminator device.

Figure 7 shows a possible embodiment of the cooling box (14), accommodated with a space for holding cooling elements (13) (Fig. 7A) and backup capsule holders (5) (Fig. 7B) . Preferably, the housing of the cooling box is designed such that when the disseminator device is placed inside, the installed capsule holder is kept in the cool part of the cooling box (Fig. 7C) .

Claims

1. A method to spread biologically active agents into crops, by the use of capsules (4), containing said biologically active agents, said method being characterized by the use of an adjuvant which is applied onto the crops prior to or at the same time that the capsules are applied, and which results in sticking of the capsules to the crops.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the material for the capsules is selected from the group of plastic, cardboard, plant fiber, gelatin or HPMC, in particular HPMC.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group of organic or inorganic adhesives, and water; in particular water.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3 where the capsules are HPMC capsules and the adjuvant is water.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4 whereby additional means are provided for making an opening in the capsule .

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-5 in which a disseminator device (1) is used.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims where the biologically active agents include biological pesticides; in particular biological pesticides selected from the group of predators, parasitoids, arthropod Phytofage, Entomopathogenic nematodes, Bacteria, Fungi, and Viruses .

8. A disseminator device (1) which allows to perform the method according to any of claims 1-7.

9. The disseminator device according to claim 8 comprising a capsule holder (5) and a dispenser (6) whereby with each activation of the dispenser (6), one or more capsule (s) (4) are released out of the disseminator device.

10. The disseminator device according to claim 9 wherein the capsules are released by means of a transmission such as through a gear transmission (12) and a bar (2); in particular individually released.

11. The disseminator device according to any one of claims 8-10 which is provided with an adjuvant reservoir (3) and a pump (7) to apply adjuvant to the crops to be treated.

12. The disseminator device according to any one of claims 8-11 that is provided with means (9) to make an opening in the capsule.

13. The disseminator device of claim 12 wherein the means to make an opening are embedded in the bar (2) by which the capsules are pushed out of the disseminator device.

14. The disseminator device according to any one of claims 10-13 which is provided with means to increase resistance ( 8 ) so that the capsules remain longer in place making it a easier to make an opening in the capsules.

15. The disseminator device according to any one of claims 8-14, comprising a capsule holder (5), a trigger (6), a gear transmission ( 12 ) , a bar (2), means (9) to make an opening in the capsule, means (8) to keep the capsule in place and an adjuvant reservoir (3) , and where by each activation of the trigger ( 6) :

(A) the crop is sprayed with adjuvant;

(B) the capsule is pierced, and

(C) the capsule is pushed out.

16. The use of capsules which contain biologically active agents for the method according to any of claims 1-7 or for the disseminator device according to one of claims 8-15.

17. The use of the method according to any of claims 1-7 or the disseminator device according to any of claims 8-15 for applying capsules containing biological pesticides to crops to be treated, by means of an adjuvant.

18. Use of the method according to any of claims 1-7 or the disseminator device according to any of claims 8-15 for applying capsules containing eggs of the parasitic wasp (Encarsia Formosa) on crops to control whitefly in greenhouses .

19. A kit that contains means to perform the method according to any of claims 1-7.

20. A kit comprising disseminator device according to one of claims 8-15; and a cooling box.