EP4087401A1

EP4087401A1 - Seaweed extract composition for agriculture

Info

Publication number: EP4087401A1
Application number: EP21700333.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrew Jones; David Kumar RAMDHIAN; Thomas Henry ARCHER; Tom WHEELHOUSE; James Patrick MAUDE; Jonatas Bredow ALVES
Original assignee: UPL Europe Ltd; UPL Corp Ltd
Current assignee: UPL Europe Ltd; UPL Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2020-01-08
Filing date: 2021-01-07
Publication date: 2022-11-16
Also published as: GB202000239D0; GB202100178D0; GB2593268A; WO2021140327A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination of seaweed extract and a superabsorbent polymer. More particularly the present invention relates to composition comprising a seaweed extract, a superabsorbent polymer, and an agrochemical. The present invention is capable of providing pathogenic control, enhance disease resistance capacity of the plants, increase plant growth and yield, and provide a good control of pests and fungal diseases.

Description

Title: SEAWEED EXTRACT COMPOSITION FOR AGRICULTURE

Field of invention:

The present invention relates to a combination of seaweed extract and a superabsorbent polymer. More particularly the present invention relates to composition comprising a seaweed extract, a superabsorbent polymer, and an agrochemical.

Background of the invention:

Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways, which means meeting society's food needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It can be based on an understanding of ecosystem services. It includes environmental stewardship, fairness, health, business and familial aspects on a farm setting. There are many methods to increase the sustainability of agriculture. Sustainability focuses on the business process and practice of a farm in general, rather than a specific agricultural product.

Agriculture has an enormous environmental footprint; it is simultaneously causing environmental changes and being impacted by these changes. If the human population increase does not abate an increase in food production will be required. Sustainable agriculture provides a potential solution to enable agricultural systems to feed a growing population within the changing environmental conditions. Given the finite supply of natural resources at any specific cost and location, agriculture that is inefficient or damaging to needed resources may eventually exhaust the available resources or the ability to afford and acquire them.

The term "sustainable agriculture" is defined as an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term satisfy human food and fiber needs, enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agriculture economy depends; make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls; sustain the economic viability of farm operations; enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole. There is need in society for continuous research to be conducted on sustainable agriculture to come up with agricultural practice which will lead to sustainable growth with minimum environmental impact.

Combination of insecticides and fungicides are used to broaden the spectrum of control of insect and fungal pests, reduce dosage, thereby reducing environmental impact, and decrease chances of development of resistance. The combination of insecticides and fungicides at times demonstrate an additive or synergistic effect that results in an improved control on the pests.

Damage to seeds from insect and fungal pests is another major concern for agriculturalist. There are various diseases such as seed rot etc. which reduce germination rates and cause considerable decrease in yield. Treating the seed with insecticidal and fungicidal combinations helps reduce damage from such soil pests. Another advantage of treating seeds or other plant propagation material is the improvement in germination rates, increased yield and improved plant health.

There is however a need for improvement of these combinations. With the onset of resistance to certain pests, there is a need in the art for a combination of actives and biostimulant/biopesticides that decreases chances of resistance and improves the spectrum of disease and pest control.

One or more objectives of the present invention:

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide combinations that possess an enhanced efficacy over the individual ingredient used in isolation.

Another object of the present invention provides a combination that promotes plant establishment and faster emergence in dry soil conditions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination that causes an enhanced greening of the crops to which it is administered. Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination that causes late senescence to the crop to which it is applied thereby resulting into an increasing yield of the crop.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a combination that results into reduced fungal disease incidence in the crops to which it is applied.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination that achieves increased yield in the crops to which it is applied.

The present invention achieves at least one, or more, of the abovesaid objectives of the invention.

Summary of the invention:

In an aspect the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract, and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a synergistic combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract,

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer and

3) at least one agrochemical active.

In another aspect the present invention provides a method of controlling fungal diseases, said method comprising applying, to the locus at which said control is desired, a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract, and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

1) at least one seaweed extract, and 2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

In another aspect the present invention provides a composition comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract, and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

Detailed Description of invention:

The term ‘disease control’ as used herein denotes control and prevention of a disease. Controlling effects include all deviation from natural development, for example: killing, retardation, decrease ofthe fugal disease. The term ‘plants’ refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage and fruits. As used herein the term ‘plant’ refers to an agricultural plant having sugar content as agronomically important trait for example wheat, rye, barley, rice, triticale, oats, sorghum, sugarcane, , beet, sugar beet or fodder beet, fruits like pomes, apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or gooseberries, leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans, oil plants, such as rape, oil-seed rape, canola, juncea, linseed, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans, cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons, fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute, citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins, vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, cucurbits or paprika, lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor, energy and raw material plants, such as corn, soybean, rape, canola, oil palm, corn, tobacco, nuts, coffee, tea, bananas, vines, hop, turf, natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, such as flowers and shrubs.

The term “locus” of a plant as used herein is intended to embrace the place on which the plants are growing, where the plant propagation materials of the plants are sown or where the plant propagation materials of the plants will be placed into the soil.

The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of a plant, such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants, germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion.

The term “agriculturally acceptable amount of active” refers to an amount of an active that kills or inhibits the plant disease for which control is desired, in an amount not significantly toxic to the plant being treated.

The disclosure of European Patent Application No. 19306297.3 dated 7 October 2019 entitled “Concentrated Algal Extract" filed by applicant is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

It has surprisingly been found that the addition of a superabsorbent polymer to a seaweed extract preferably in a pelletized form resulted in surprising and unexpected advantages. It has further been found that the addition of a superabsorbent polymer to a seaweed extract in a pellet, and application of these pellets during the flowering stage of the crop delayed the senescence in the crop to which they were applied, which led to better greening in the crop thereby increasing the level of photosynthesis occurring within the plant, thereby leading to a greater yield from the crop to which they were applied.

These surprising advantages of the combinations of the invention were not observed when the superabsorbent polymer was not present in the combination, or when the composition was not pelletized in specific means. Therefore, these unexpected advantages of the combination of the present invention could be attributed to the inclusion of a superabsorbent polymer to the seaweed extract and optionally, to pelletizing the resulting composition.

The present inventors have found that an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum that is highly concentrated and yet has all the compounds of the intracellular fluid of the alga preserved has excellent biostimulating activity. Surprisingly, the inventors have observed that, following application in very less amount of the concentrated algal extract of the invention is more effective than a diluted extract in stimulating plant emergence and promoting plant growth. It was also observed that the different components of the extract were responsible for biostimulating specific gene expressions in the plants. The present inventors have found that in the absence of the superabsorbent polymer of the present invention, the seaweed extract demonstrated a reduction of control effectiveness by continuous use over successive years. It was found that the addition of a superabsorbent polymer not only enhanced the percentage control, but also reverted the observed control to the original level, which was surprising. Thus, the gradual decay in the percentage efficacy seen by the use of a seaweed extract over the years was reversed with the addition of a superabsorbent polymer.

Thus, in an aspect, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract; and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

In an embodiment, the seaweed extract is from algae obtained from species of Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea, Laminaria saccharina, Eklonia maxima, sargassum spp. and their mixtures.

In an embodiment, the seaweed extract is obtained from Ascophyllum nodosum.

In an embodiment, the seaweed extract is concentrated till having a percentage dry matter content between 6 and 100%, preferably between 9 and 70%, more preferably between 12 and 50%, more particularly 24 to 36%.

In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter between about 18%-36%.

In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter between about 24%-36%.

In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter between about 24%-30%. In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter between about 25%-29%.

In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter between about 26%-28%.

In an embodiment the present invention provides an algal extract of Ascophyllum nodosum having dry matter content of about 27%.

It has been surprisingly found that an algal extract having percentage dry matter content between about 18% to 36% has surprisingly higher efficacy.

In an embodiment, the application of the seaweed extract of the present invention to the plants confers one or more of the following advantages: improved plant nutrient use efficiency, increased flowering, increased fruit set quality, facilitates root growth etc., which are not to be considered as limiting.

In an embodiment, the seaweed extract has a pH of around 2 to 2.5, preferably 2.25 - 2.30.

In an embodiment, the seaweed extract of the present invention has a brix index of at least about or greater than 5.0.

In an embodiment the superabsorbent polymer may be selected from synthetic, semi-synthetic, natural origin, degradable, non-degradable or hybrid.

In an embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer may be a selected from, but not limited to, copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate; hydrolyzed starch- polyacrylonitrile; 2- propenenitrile homopolymer, hydrolyzed, sodium salt or poly(acrylamide co-sodium acrylate) or poly(2-propenamide-co-2-propanoic acid, sodium salt); starch-gpoly( 2propenamide-co-2-propanoic acid, mixed sodium and aluminum salts); starch-g20 poly(2-propenamide-co-2-propanoic acid, potassium salt); poly(2-propenamide-co-2- propanoic acid, sodium salt); poly-2-propanoic acid, sodium salt; starchgpoly(acrylonitrile) or poly(2-propenamide-co-sodium acrylate); starch/acrylonitrile copolymer; crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and sodium acrylate; acrylamide/sodium polyacrylate crosslinked polymers ; anionic polyacrylamide; starch grafted sodium polyacrylates; acrylic acid polymers, sodium salt; crosslinked potassium polyacrylate/polyacrylamide copolymers; sodium polyacrylate; superabsorbent polymer laminates and composites; partial sodium salt of crosslinked polypropenoic acid; potassium polyacrylate, lightly crosslinked; sodium polyacrylate, lightly crosslinked; sodium polyacrylates; poly(sodiumacrylate) homopolymer; polyacrylamide polymers, carrageenan, agar, alginic acid, guar gums and its derivatives, and gellan gum.

Specific superabsorbent polymers include crosslinked copolymer of acrylamide and potassium acrylate.

In an embodiment, the super absorbent polymer is starch based super absorbent polymer.

In a preferred embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer may be starch-g-poly (2- propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt.

In one embodiment, the superabsorbent polymer is Zeba™. in an embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

(a) an seaweed extract having a percentage dry matter content between 18 - 36%; and

(b) a superabsorbent polymer.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum; and starch-g-poly (2-Propenamide - co - 2 - propenoic acid) potassium salt.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising seaweed extract of Ascophyllum nodosum; and starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co- 2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt. In an embodiment the present combinations further comprise an agrochemically active ingredient. The agrochemical active is selected from the group comprising herbicides, insecticide, fungicide, miticides, acaricide, fertilizers, plant growth regulators, biocides or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising: a) at least one seaweed extract; b) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and c) an agrochemical active ingredient.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

(a) at least one seaweed extract;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

(c) atleast one insecticide.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

(a) an seaweed extract having a percentage dry matter content between 18 - 36%;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

(c) an agrochemical active ingredient.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

(a) an seaweed extract having a percentage dry matter content between 18 - 36%;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

(c) atleast one insecticide.

In an embodiment the insecticide is selected from group of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, GABA-gated chloride channel blockers, Sodium channel modulators, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) allosteric modulators - Site I, Glutamate gated chloride channel (GluCI) allosteric modulators, Juvenile hormone mimics, Miscellaneous nonspecific (multi-site) inhibitors, Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators, Mite growth inhibitors affecting CHS1, Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes, Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase, Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient, Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers, Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis affecting CHS1. Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1 , Moulting disruptors, Dipteran, Ecdysone receptor agonists, Octopamine receptor agonists, Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors, Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors, Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers, Inhibitors of acetyl CoA carboxylase, Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors, Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors, Ryanodine receptor modulators, Chordotonal organ Modulators - undefined target site, GABA gated chloride channel allosteric modulators, Baculoviruses, Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) Allosteric Modulators - Site II, Compounds of unknown or uncertain MoA, UNB* Bacterial agents (nonBt) of unknown or uncertain MoA, UNE* Botanical essence including synthetic, extracts and unrefined oils with unknown or uncertain MoA, UNF* Fungal agents of unknown or uncertain MoA, UNM* Non-specific mechanical disruptors.

In an embodiment Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors may be selected from class of Carbamates or Organophosphate.

Carbamates are selected from Alanycarb, Aldicarb, Bendiocarb, Benfuracarb, Butocarboxim, Butoxycarboxim, Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbosulfan, Ethiofencarb, Fenobucarb, Formetanate, Furathiocarb, Isoprocarb, Methiocarb, Methomyl, Metolcarb, Oxamyl, Pirimicarb, Propoxur, Thiodicarb, Thiofanox, Triazamate.Trimethacarb, XMC, Xylylcarb.

Organophosphate are selected from Acephate, Azamethiphos, Azinphos-ethyl, Azinphosmethyl, Cadusafos, Chlorethoxyfos, Chlorfenvinphos, Chlormephos, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Coumaphos, Cyanophos, Demeton-S-methyl, Diazinon, Dichlorvos/ DDVP, Dicrotophos, Dimethoate, Dimethylvinphos, Disulfoton, EPN, Ethion, Ethoprophos, Famphur, Fenamiphos, Fenitrothion, Fenthion, Fosthiazate, Heptenophos, Imicyafos, Isofenphos, Isopropyl O- (methoxyaminothio-phosphoryl) salicylate, Isoxathion, Malathion, Mecarbam, Methamidophos, Methidathion, Mevinphos, Monocrotophos, Naled, Omethoate, Oxydemeton-methyl, Parathion, Parathion-methyl, Phenthoate, Phorate, Phosalone, Phosmet, Phosphamidon, Phoxim, Pirimiphos- methyl, Profenofos, Propetamphos, Prothiofos, Pyraclofos, Pyridaphenthion, Quinalphos, Sulfotep, Tebupirimfos, Temephos, Terbufos, Tetrachlorvinphos, Thiometon, Triazophos, Trichlorfon, Vamidothion.

GABA-gated chloride channel blockers is selected from Chlordane, Endosulfan, Ethiprole, Fipronil.

Sodium channel modulators may be selected from Pyrethroids, DDT and Methoxychlor. Pyrethroid is selected from Acrinathrin, Allethrin, d-cis-trans Allethrin, d-trans Allethrin, Bifenthrin, Bioallethrin, Bioallethrin Scyclopentenyl isomer , Bioresmethrin, Cycloprothrin, Cyfluthrin, beta-Cyfluthrin, Cyhalothrin, lambdaCyhalothrin, gamma-Cyhalothrin, Cypermethrin, alpha-Cypermethrin, beta- Cypermethrin, thetacypermethrin, zeta-Cypermethrin, Cyphenothrin , (1 ^-trans- isomers], Deltamethrin, Empenthrin (EZ)- (1R)- isomers], Esfenvalerate, Etofenprox, Fenpropathrin, Fenvalerate, Flucythrinate, Flumethrin, tau-Fluvalinate, Halfenprox, Imiprothrin, Kadethrin, Permethrin, Phenothrin [(1 R)-trans- isomer], Prallethrin, Pyrethrins (pyrethrum), Resmethrin, Silafluofen, Tefluthrin, Tetramethrin, Tetramethrin [(IR)-isomers], Tralomethrin, Transfluthrin.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) competitive modulators may be selected from Neonicotinoids, Nicotine, Sulfoxaflor, Flupyradifurone and Triflumezopyrim.

Neonicotinoids may be selected from Acetamiprid, Clothianidin, Dinotefuran, Imidacloprid, Nitenpyram, Thiacloprid, Thiamethoxam.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) allosteric modulators - Site I is selected from Spinosyns such as Spinetoram and Spinosad.

Glutamate-gated chloride channel (GluCI) allosteric modulators may be selected from Abamectin, Emamectin benzoate, Lepimectin, Milbemectin.

Juvenile hormone mimics selected from Hydroprene, Kinoprene, Methoprene, Fenoxycarb and Pyriproxyfen.

Miscellaneous nonspecific (multi-site) inhibitors may be selected from Methyl bromide and other alkyl halides, Chloropicrin, Cryolite (Sodium aluminum fluoride), Sulfuryl fluoride, Borax, Boric acid, Disodium octaborate, Sodium borate, Sodium metaborate, Tartar emetic, Dazomet, Metam. Chordotonal organ TRPV channel modulators may be selected from Pymetrozine, Pyrifluquinazon, Afidopyropen.

Mite growth inhibitors affecting CHS1 may be selected from Clofentezine, Diflovidazin, Hexythiazox and Etoxazole.

Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes may be selected from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis B.t. crop proteins: (* Please see footnote) CrylAb, CrylAc, CrylFa, Cry1A.105, Cry2Ab, Vip3A, mCry3A, Cry3Ab, Cry3Bb, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1 and Bacillus sphaericus.

Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase may be selected from Diafenthiuron, , Azocyclotin, Cyhexatin, Fenbutatin oxide, Propargite, Tetradifon.

Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient may be selected from Chlorfenapyr DNOC Sulfluramid

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers may be selected from Bensultap, Cartap hydrochloride, Thiocyclam, Thiosultap-sodium.

Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis affecting CHS1 may be selected from Bistrifluron, Chlorfluazuron, Diflubenzuron, Flucycloxuron, Flufenoxuron, Hexaflumuron, Lufenuron, Novaluron, Noviflumuron, Teflubenzuron, Triflumuron.

Inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis, type 1 may be selected from Buprofezin.

Moulting disruptors, Dipteran may be selected from Cyromazine.

Ecdysone receptor agonists may be selected from Chromafenozide, Halofenozide, Methoxyfenozide, Tebufenozide.

Octopamine receptor agonists may be selected from Amitraz.

Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors may be selected from Hydramethylnon, Acequinocyl, Fluacrypyrim and Bifenazate.

Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors may be selected from Fenazaquin, Fen pyroxi mate, Pyridaben, Pyrimidifen, Tebufenpyrad, Tolfenpyrad and Rotenone (Derris). Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers may be selected from Indoxacarb and Metaflumizone.

Inhibitors of acetyl CoA carboxylase may be selected from Spirodiclofen, Spiromesifen, Spiropidion, Spirotetramat.

Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors may be selected from Aluminium phosphide, Calcium phosphide, Phosphine, Zinc phosphide, Calcium cyanide, Potassium cyanide, Sodium cyanide.

Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors may be selected from Cyenopyrafen, Cyflumetofen and Pyflubumide.

Ryanodine receptor modulators may be selected from Chlorantraniliprole, Cyantraniliprole, Cyclaniliprole Flubendiamide, Tetraniliprole

Chordotonal organ Modulators - undefined target site may be selected from Flonicamid.

GABA-gated chloride channel allosteric modulators may be selected from Broflanilide or Fluxametamide.

Baculoviruses may be selected from Cydia pomonella GV Thaumatotibia leucotreta GV Anticarsia gemmatalis MNPV Helicoverpa armigera NPV.

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (nAChR) Allosteric Modulators - Site II may be selected from GS-omega/kappa HXTX-Hv1a peptide.

UN* Compounds of unknown or uncertain MoA may be selected from Azadirachtin, Benzoximate, Bromopropylate, Chinomethionat, Dicofol, Lime sulfur, Mancozeb, Pyridalyl and Sulfur.

UNB* Bacterial agents (nonBt) of unknown or uncertain MoA may be selected from Burkholderia spp Wolbachia pipientis (Zap).

UNE* Botanical essence including synthetic, extracts and unrefined oils with unknown or uncertain MoA may beselected from Chenopodium ambrosioides near ambrosioides extract Fatty acid monoesters with glycerol or propanediol Neem oil. UNF* Fungal agents of unknown or uncertain MoA may be selected from Beauveria bassiana strains Metarhizium anisopliae strain F52 Paecilomyces fumosoroseus Apopka strain 97.

UNM* Non-specific mechanical disruptors may be selected from UNM* Non specific mechanical disruptors.

In an embodiment, the insecticide is selected from neonicotionoids group.

In an embodiment, the presence of a neonicotionoid insecticide for example, acetamiprid, leads to a surprising safening affect observed on the plants originating from the presence of the seaweed extract in combination with the neonicotinoid insecticide.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is selected from the group of clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, imidaclothiz, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, nithiazine, acetamiprid, cycloxaprid, paichongding, and thiacloprid.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is acetamiprid.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is imidacloprid.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is thiamethoxam.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is clothianidin.

In an embodiment, the neonicotinoid insecticide is thiacloprid.

In an embodiment, the insecticide is flupyrimin.

In an embodiment, the insecticide is selected from the group comprising flupyrimin, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, thiacloprid, cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, Sophora flavescens, oxymatrine, Azadiractina or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the insecticide may be Sophora flavescens, oximatrine or Azadiractina.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract;

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and 3) atleast one fungicide.

In an embodiment, the fungicide is selected from the group comprising nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors, cytoskeleton and motor protein inhibitors, amino acids and protein synthesis inhibitors, respiration process inhibitors, signal transduction inhibitors, lipid synthesis or transport and membrane integrity disruptors or functions, sterol biosynthesis inhibitors, melanin synthesis inhibitors, cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors, melanin synthesis inhibitor in cell wall, host plant defence inductors, fungicides with unknown modes of action, non classified fungicides, fungicides with multisite activity and/or biologicals with multiple mode of action.

Thus, in an embodiment, the nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor fungicides may be selected from acylalanines such as benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M (kiralaxyl), furalaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam), oxazolidinones such as oxadixyl, butyrolactones such as ofurace, hydroxy-(2-amino-) pyrimidines such as bupirimate, dimethirimol, ethirimol, isoxazoles such as hymexazole, isothiazolones such as octhilinone, carboxylic acids such as oxolinic acid.

In an embodiment, the cytoskeleton and motor protein inhibitors may be benzimidazoles such as benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole, thiabendazole, thiophanates such as thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, N-phenyl carbamates such as diethofencarb, toluamides such as zoxamide, thiazole carboxamides such as ethaboxam, phenylureas such as pencycuron, benzamides such as fluopicolide and fluopimomide, cyanoacrylates such as phenamacril; aryl-phenylketones such as metrafenone and pyriofenone.

In an embodiment, the respiration process inhibitor fungicides may be selected from pyrimidinamines such diflumetorim, pyrazole- 5-carboxamides such as tolfenpyrad, quinazoline such as fenazaquin SDHI such as benodanil, flutolanil, mepronil, isofetamid, fluopyram, fenfuram, carboxin, oxycarboxin, thifluzamide, benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, inpyrfluxam, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane, isoflucypram, pydiflumetofen, boscalid and pyraziflumid; strobilurins such as azoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, mandestrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, kresoxim-methyl, dimoxystrobin, fenaminostrobin, famoxadone, metominostrobin, trifloxystrobin, famoxadone, fluoxastrobin, fenamidone, pyribencarb and mixtures thereof, Imidazolinones such as fenamidone, benzyl-carbamates such as pyribencarb, N-methoxy-(phenyl- ethyl)-pyrazole-carboxamides such as Pyrimidinamines such as diflumetorim, cyano-imidazole such as cyazofamid, sulfamoyl-triazole such as amisulbrom, picolinamides such as fenpicoxamid dinitrophenyl crotonates such as binapacryl, meptyldinocap, dinocap, 2,6-dinitro-anilines such as fluazinam, pyr.-hydrazones such as ferimzone, tri-phenyl tin compounds such as fentin acetate, fentin chloride, fentin hydroxide, thiophene-carboxamides such as silthiofam, triazolo- pyrimidylamine such as ametoctradin; anilino-pyrimidines such as cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil.

In an embodiment, amino acids and protein synthesis inhibitor fungicides may be selected from anilino-pyrimidines such as cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil, antibiotic fungicides such as blasticidin-S, kasugamycin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline and the like.

In an embodiment, signal transduction inhibitor fungicides may be selected from aryloxyquinolines such as quinoxyfen, quinazolinones such as proquinazid, phenylpyrroles such as fenpiclonil, fludioxonil, dicarboximides such as chlozolinate, dimethachlone, iprodione, procymidone and vinclozolin.

In an embodiment, the fungicide is selected from lipid synthesis and membrane integrity distruptors such as phosphoro-thiolates such as edifenphos, Iprobenfos, pyrazophos, dithiolanes such as isoprothiolane, aromatic hydrocarbons such as biphenyl, chloroneb, dicloran, quintozene (PCNB), tecnazene (TCNB), tolclofos- methyl and the like, 1,2,4-thiadiazoles such as etridiazole, carbamates such as iodocarb, propamocarb, prothiocarb and the like. Further, microbial disrupters of pathogen cell membranes such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain QST 713, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain MBI600, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (synonyms for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are Bacillus subtilis and B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens); cell membrane disruption such as extract from Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) ; plant oils (mixtures): eugenol, geraniol, thymol, carvacrol; ergosterol binding such as natamycin (pimaricin) piperidinyl-thiazoleisoxazolines such as oxathiapiprolin

In an embodiment, the sterol biosynthesis inhibitors may be selected from triazoles such as azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, Ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, Propiconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, prothioconazole, piperazines such as triforine, pyridines such as pyrifenox, pyrisoxazole, pyrimidines such as fenarimol, nuarimol imidazoles such as imazalil, oxpoconazole, pefurazoate, prochloraz, triflumizole, morpholines such as aldimorph, dodemorph, fenpropimorph, tridemorph and the like, piperidines such as fenpropidin, piperalin, spiroketal- amines such as spiroxamine, hydroxyanilides such as fenhexamid, amino- pyrazolinones such as fenpyrazamine, thiocarbamates such as pyributicarb, allylamines such as naftifine, terbinafine and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, cell wall biosynthesis inhibitor fungicides may be selected from peptidyl pyrimidine nucleoside fungicides such as polyoxin, cinnamic acid amides such as dimethomorph, flumorph, pyrimorph, valinamide carbamates such as benthiavalicarb, iprovalicarb, valifenalate, mandelic acid amides such as mandipropamid and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, melanin synthesis inhibitor fungicide may be selected from isobenzo-furanone such as fthalide, pyrrolo-quinolinones such as pyroquilon, triazolobenzo-thiazoles such as tricyclazole, cyclopropane-carboxamides such as carpropamid, carboxamides such as diclocymet, propionamides such as fenoxanil, trifluoroethyl-carbamates such as tolprocarb, and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, host plant defence inductors fungicides may be selected from benzo-thiadiazoles such as acibenzolar-S-methyl, benzisothiazoles such as probenazole, thiadiazole-carboxamides such as tiadinil, isotianil, polysaccharides such as laminarin, and mixtures thereof; complex mixture, ethanol extract (anthraquinones, resveratrol) such as Reynoutria sachalinensis (giant knotweed) bacterial Bacillus spp.l such as Bacillus mycoides isolate J; fungal Saccharomyces spp such as cell walls of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain LAS117; ethyl phosphonates such as fosetyl-AI phosphorous acid and salts.

In an embodiment, the fungicide may be one with an unknown mode of action and may be selected from cyanoacetamide-oximes such as cymoxanil, ethyl phosphonates such as foestyl -Al, phophorous acid and salts, phthalamic acids such as teclofthalam, benzotriazines such as triazoxide, benzene-sulphonamides such as flusulfamide, pyridazinones such as diclomezine, thiocarbamates such as methasulfocarb, phenyl-acetamides such as cyflufenamid, aryl-phenyl-ketones such as metrafenone, pyriofenone, guanidines such as dodine, cyano-methylene- thiazolidines such as flutianil, pyrimidinone-hydrazones such as ferimzone, piperidinyl-thiazole-isoxazolines such as oxathiapiprolin, 4-quinolyl-acetates such as tebufloquin, tetrazolyloximes such as picarbutrazox, glucopyranosyl antibiotics such as validamycin, fungicides such as mineral oil, organic oils, potassium bicarbonate, Cinnamaldehyde, carvacrol or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the fungicide may be chemicals with multi-site activity selected from the group consisting of dithiocarbamates, phthalimides, chloronitriles, inorganic fungicides, sulfamides, bis-guanidines, triazines, quinones, quinoxalines, maleimide and mixtures thereof.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is selected from the class of dithiocarbamate fungicides selected from asamobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a phthalimide fungicide selected from captan, captafol and folpet.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a chloronitrile fungicide such as chlorothalonil. In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a sulfamide fungicide selected from dichlofluanid and tolylfluanid.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a bis-guanidine fungicide selected from guazatine and iminoctadine.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a triazine fungicide selected from anilazine.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a quinone fungicide selected from dithianon.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a quinoxaline fungicide selected from quinomethionate and chlorquinox.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is a maleimide fungicide selected from fluoroimide.

In an embodiment, the multi-site fungicide is an inorganic fungicide selected from copper fungicides including copper (II) hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper (II) sulfate, basic copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, copper salicylate CyHUCVQu, cuprous oxide CU₂O, or sulphur.

In another embodiment, the ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors may be selected from prothioconazole, tebuconazole, hexaconazole, cyroconazole or epoxiconazole.

In an embodiment, the fungicide may be a Quinone outside (Qo) inhibitor fungicide selected from azoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, mandestrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, kresoxim-methyl, dimoxystrobin, fenaminostrobin, metominostrobin, trifloxystrobin, famoxadone, fluoxastrobin, fenamidone, pyribencarb and mixtures thereof. In an embodiment, the Quinone outside (Qo) inhibitor fungicide may be selected from azoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin.

In an embodiment the fungicides can be selected from the group of; Metrafenone, Amisulbrom, Isotianil, Fluopicolide, Fenpyrazamine, Valifenalate, Mandipropamid, Penflufen, Bixafen, Fluopyram, Fluxapyroxad, Isopyrazam, Penthiopyrad, Pyriofenone, Sedaxane, Pydiflumetofen, Dichlobentiazox, Isoflucypram, Fenpicoxamid, Florylpicoxamid, Fluoxapiprolin, Mefentrifluconazole, Ipfentrifluconazole, Metyltetraprole, Inpyrfluxam, Quinofumelin, Oxathiapiprolin, Fluindapyr, Dipymetitrone, Pyridachlometyl, Benzovindiflupyr, Orysastrobin, Ametoctradin, Flutianil, Pyraziflumid, Coumoxystrobin, Pyribencarb, Tebufloquin, Isofetamid, Tolprocarb, Mandestrobin, Picarbutrazox or combinations thereof.

In an embodiment the fungicides can be selected from the group of : Metofluthrin, Flubendiamide, Pyrifluquinazon, Chlorantraniliprole, Cyantraniliprole, Spinetoram, Metaflumizone, Spirotetramat, Sulfoxaflor, Tetraniliprole, Afidopyropen, Broflanilide, Fluxametamide, Spiropidion, Flometoquin, Triflumezopyrim, Acynonapyr, Flupyrimin, Lepimectin, Bacillus firmus strain 1-1582, Fluensulfone, Momfluorothrin, Flupyradifurone, Pyflubumide, Cyclaniliprole or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract;

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

3) a combination of atleast one fungicide and atleast one insecticide.

In an embodiment the present combination may further comprises micronutrients. Micronutrient are selected from Amino acids, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, boron, and molybdenum.

Accordingly, in an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract; 2) starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt; and

3) Acetamiprid.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract;

2) starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt;

3) acetamiprid; and

4) sulfur.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract;

2) starch-g-poly (2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt; and

3) chlorantraniliprole.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract;

3) cyantraniliprole.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract;

3) flupyrimin.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a combination comprising:

1) Ascophyllum nodosum extract;

3) chlorantraniliprole; 4) mancozeb.

In an embodiment the present invention provides a composition comprising a combination according to any one of the above-described embodiments, and at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

The amount of a composition according to the invention to be applied, will depend on various factors, such as the subject of the treatment, such as, for example plants, soil or seeds; the type of treatment, such as, for example spraying, dusting or seed dressing; the purpose of the treatment, such as, for example prophylactic or therapeutic disease control; in case of disease control the type of fungi to be controlled or the application time. This amount of the combinations of the present invention to be applied can be readily deduced by a skilled agronomist.

Typically, the compositions/formulations of the present invention are useful for seed coating.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides compositions for seed coating, wherein said composition comprises:

(a) at least one seaweed extract;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

(c) at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

In an embodiment the present invention provides composition for seed coating wherein said composition comprises:

(a) at least one seaweed extract;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer;

(c) at least one agrochemically active ingredient; and

(d) at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

(a) at least one seaweed extract;

(b) at least one superabsorbent polymer;

(c) at least one agrochemically active ingredient;

(d) at least one micronutrient; and (e) at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention may be provided in the form of pellets.

The pellets of the present composition can be prepared by methods known to a person skilled in the art.

In an embodiment, the pelletized composition of the present invention may be used for seed treatment.

In an embodiment, the pelletized composition of the invention forms a layering of solid material around the seed which increases the size and weight of individual seeds.

In an embodiment, the seed is preferably a small seeded vegetable seed.

In an embodiment, the seed is oil seed rape seed.

In an embodiment, the seed is beet seed.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the superabsorbent polymer component serves to open up the pelletized composition on imbibition of water. The seaweed extract component, upon being able to contact the seed on opening up of the pelletized composition due to said imbibition of water, causes faster germination and/or root and shoot development.

In an embodiment, the pelletized composition of the invention, when used for seed treatment, causes such treated seeds to be larger and heavier than the naked seed which enables it to be planted through precision planters, reducing the number of seeds per unit area and optimising plant development and yield potential.

In an embodiment, the pelletized composition increases speed and uniformity of emergence and early growth of the seed.

In an embodiment, the pelletized composition protects the seed in drought conditions, protects the young seedling from damage from insect pests in particular flea beetle and cabbage stem flea beetle, and prevents dust from forming after treatment. In an embodiment, the total amount of seaweed extract in the composition may typically be in the range of 0.1 to 99% by weight, preferably 0.2 to 90% by weight.

The total amount of superabsorbent polymer in the composition may be in the range of 0.1 to 99% by weight.

The total amount of the agrochemical active ingredient in the composition may be in the range of 0.1 to 99% by weight.

In an embodiment, the constituent fungicides of the combination of the present invention may be admixed in ratio of (1-80): (1-80) of the seaweed extract, and superabsorbent polymer respectively.

In an embodiment, the constituents of the composition of the present invention may be tank mixed and sprayed at the locus of the infection or may be alternatively be mixed with surfactants and then sprayed.

In an embodiment, the constituents of the composition of the present invention may be used for foliar application, ground or applications to plant propagation materials.

In an embodiment, the compositions of the present invention may typically be produced by mixing the actives in the composition with an inert carrier, and adding surfactants and other adjuvants and carriers as needed and formulated into solid, or liquid formulations, including but not limited to wettable powders, granules, dusts, Soluble (liquid) concentrates, suspension concentrates, oil in water emulsion, water in oil emulsion, emulsifiable concentrates, capsule suspensions, ZC formulations, oil dispersions or other known formulation types. The composition may also be used for treatment of a plant propagation material such as seeds etc.

Examples of the solid carrier used in formulation include fine powders or granules such as minerals such as kaolin clay, attapulgite clay, bentonite, montmorillonite, acid white clay, pyrophyllite, talc, diatomaceous earth and calcite; natural organic materials such as corn rachis powder and walnut husk powder; synthetic organic materials such as urea; salts such as calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate; synthetic inorganic materials such as synthetic hydrated silicon oxide; and as a liquid carrier, aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, alkylbenzene and methylnaphthalene; alcohols such as 2-propanol, ethyleneglycol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether; ketones such as acetone, cyclohexanone and isophorone; vegetable oil such as soybean oil and cotton seed oil; petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, dimethylsulfoxide, acetonitrile and water.

Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfate ester salts, alkylaryl sulfonate salts, dialkyl sulfosuccinate salts, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether phosphate ester salts, lignosulfonate salts and naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde polycondensates; and nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylpolyoxypropylene block copolymers and sorbitan fatty acid esters and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts.

Examples of the other formulation auxiliary agents include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, polysaccharides such as Arabic gum, alginic acid and the salt thereof, CMC (carboxymethyl- cellulose) , Xanthan gum, inorganic materials such as aluminum magnesium silicate and alumina sol, preservatives, coloring agents and stabilization agents such as PAP (acid phosphate isopropyl) and BHT.

The formulation may be applied by various methods such methods using conventional treating techniques and machines, such as fluidized bed techniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seed treaters, and drum coaters, spouted beds etc. Pre and post coating procedures such as sizing etc., may also be carried out. Such procedures are known in the art. It is readily understood that plant propagation material will be treated only once it is removed from the plant and is ready to be re-sown.

In an embodiment, the treatment may occur before sowing of the plant propagation material so that the sown material has been pre-treated with the combination. In particular, seed coating or seed pelleting are preferred in the treatment of the combinations according to the invention. As a result of the treatment, the active ingredients in the combination are adhered on to the seed and therefore available for pest and/or disease control.

The formulations may contain standard agriculturally acceptable adjuvants, carriers, diluents, emulsifiers, fillers, anti-foaming agents, thickening agents, anti freezing agents, biocides, pigments etc. Suitable agricultural adjuvants and carriers may include, but are not limited to, crop oil concentrates; methylated seed oils, emulsified methylated seed oil, nonylphenol ethoxylate; benzylcocoalkyldimethyl quaternary ammonium salt; blend of petroleum hydrocarbon, alkyl esters, organic acid, and anionic surfactant; C9-C11 alkylpolyglycoside; phosphated alcohol ethoxylate; natural primary alcohol (C12- C16) ethoxylate; di-sec-butylphenol EO-PO block copolymer; polysiloxane-methyl cap; nonylphenol ethoxylate, urea ammonium nitrate; tridecyl alcohol (synthetic) ethoxylate (8EO); tallow amine ethoxylate ; PEG(400) dioleate-99, alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; alkylarylsulfonate salts, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol-alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol-Cis ethoxylate; alcohol-alkylene oxide addition products, such as tridecyl alcohol-Ci6 ethoxylate; soaps, such as sodium stearate; alkyl- naphthalene-sulfonate salts, 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 lauryl trimethylammonium chloride; polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; salts of mono and dialkyl phosphate esters; vegetable or seed oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed/canola oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; and esters of the above vegetable oils, and in certain embodiments, methyl esters.

Suitable liquid carriers that may be employed in a composition of the present invention may include water or organic solvents. The organic solvents include, but are not limited to, petroleum fractions or hydrocarbons such as mineral oil, aromatic solvents, paraffinic oils, and the like; vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; esters of the above vegetable oils; esters of monoalcohols or dihydric, trihydric, or other lower polyalcohols (4-6 hydroxy containing), such as 2-ethyl hexyl stearate, n-butyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol dioleate, di-octyl succinate, di-butyl adipate, di-octyl phthalate and the like; esters of mono, di and polycarboxylic acids and the like. Organic solvents include, but are not limited to toluene, xylene, petroleum naphtha, crop oil, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethyl alkylamides, dimethyl sulfoxide.

Solid carriers that may be employed in the compositions of the present invention may include but are not limited to attapulgite, pyrophyllite clay, silica, kaolin clay, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earth, lime, calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, Fuller's earth, talc, cottonseed hulls, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, walnut shell flour, lignin, cellulose etc.

Thickeners such as silicates such meal silicates, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, polyvinylalcohol, sodium alginate, Sodium poly acrylate, xanthan gum, welan gum, gum arabic, montmorillonite, lignosulfonates, hydroxy methyl cellulose, dextrin, starch and mixtures thereof;

Anti-freezing agents such as glycerin, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, preferably propylene glycol and the like. Anti-foaming agents such as silicone oils, mineral oils, Fatty acid ester; biocides such as sodium benzoate, 1 ,2-benzisothiazoline - 3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, potassium sorbate, parahydroxy benzoates and the like. Pigments may also be included in the formulation and may include but are not limited to pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2, pigment blue 15:1 , pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1 , pigment yellow 13, pigment red 112, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1 , pigment red 57: 1 , pigment red 53:1 , pigment orange 43, pigment orange 34, pigment orange 5, pigment green 36, pigment green 7, pigment white 6, pigment brown 25, basic violet 10, basic violet 49, violet 23, acid red 51 , acid red 52, acid red 14, acid blue 9, acid yellow 23, basic red 10, basic red 108.

Polymers such as such polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gel-forming carraagheenans, water-soluble gelatine and casein, superabsorbent polymers such polyacrylamides and polyacrylates based polymers, Semi-synthetic or fully- synthetic peptide/protein-based superabsorbent polymers such as collagen-based synthetic polymers, elastin-like polypeptides, polyaspartic acid, polyaspartates, polyglutamic acid, polyglutamate, Semi-synthetic or fully-synthetic polysaccharide: carboxymethyl starch , sulfoethyl starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, sulfoethyl cellulos, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylcellulose, chitosan; cross-linked polysaccharides such as CMS cross-linked with multi functional carboxylic acids or multi-functional epoxides and the like.

Polysaccharide graft copolymer: Polysaccharides obtained by graft polymerizing a monomer onto a polysaccharide, wherein the monomer is selected from acrylonitrile, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, 2- acrylamido-2-methyl- propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinyl sulfonic acid, ethyl acrylate, and potassium acrylate and the like.

The combination of the present invention are effective against phytopathogenic fungi, especially occurring in plants, including seed borne fungi and belong to the following classes such as those selected from Ascomycetes (e.g. Penicillium, Gaeumannomyces graminis); Basidiomycetes (e.g. the genus Hemileia, Rhizoctonia, Puccinia); Fungi imperfecti (e. g. Botrytis, Helminthosporium, Rhynchosporium, Fusarium, Septoria, Cercospora, Alternaria, Pyricularia and Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides); Oomycetes (e. g. Phytophthora, Peronospora, Bremia, Pythium, Plasmopara); Zygomycetes (e.g., Rhizopus spp.). The combination of the present invention is especially effective against Alternaria spp., Ascochyta spp., Aspergillus spp., Claviceps purpurea, Cochliobolus spp., Colletotrichum spp., Diplodia maydis, Erysiphe graminis, Fusarium spp. (such as Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium subglutinans), Gaeumannomyces graminis, Giberella fujikuroi, Giberella zeae, Helminthosporium spp. (such as Helminthosporium graminearum, Helminthosporium oryzae, Helminthosporium solani), Monographella nivalis, Penicillium spp., Puccinia spp., Pyrenophora spp. (such as Pyrenophora graminea), Peronosclerospora spp., Peronspora spp., Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phythium spp., Phoma spp., Phomopsis spp., Rhizoctonia spp. (such as Rhizoctonia cerealis, Rhizoctonia solani), Septoria spp., Pseudocercosporella spp., Tilletia spp., Rhizopus spp., Thielaviopsis basicola, Typhula spp., Ustilago spp., Sphacelotheca spp. (e.g. Spacelotheca reilliani), Thanatephorus cucumeris, and Verticillium spp. The composition and/or combinations of the invention were found to be effective against Phasmodiophora brassicae.

The present combinations may be used to control insect pests such as those from the order Lepidoptera, for example, Acleris spp., Adoxophyes spp., Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp., Anticarsia gemmatalis, Archips spp., Argyrotaenia spp., Autographa spp., Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Carposina nipponensis, Chilo spp., Choristoneura spp., Clysia ambiguella, Cnaphalocrocis spp., Cnephasia spp., Cochylis spp., Coleophora spp., Crocidolomia spp., Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Crysodeixis includens, Cydia spp., Diatraea spp., Diparopsis castanea, Earias spp., Elasmopalpus spp., Ephestia spp., Eucosma spp., Eupoecilia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Grapholita spp., Hedya nubiferana, Heliothis spp., Hellula undalis, Hyphantria cunea, Keiferia lycopersicella, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocollethis spp., Lobesia botrana, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosoma spp., Mamestra brassicae, Manduca sexta, Operophtera spp., Ostrinia nubilalis, Pammene spp., Pandemis spp., Panolis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella, Phthorimaea operculella, Pieris rapae, Pieris spp., Plutella xylostella, Prays spp., Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Sparganothis spp., Spodoptera spp., Synanthedon spp., Thaumetopoea spp., Tortrix spp., Trichoplusia ni and Yponomeuta spp.; from the order Coleoptera, for example, Agriotes spp., Anthonomus spp., Atomaria linearis, Ceutorhynchus spp., Chaetocnema tibialis, Cosmopolites spp., Curculio spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Epilachna spp., Eremnus spp., Gonocephalum spp., Heteronychus spp., Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Lissorhoptrus spp., Melolontha spp., Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phlyctinus spp., Phyllotreta spp., Popillia spp., Protostrophus spp., Psylliodes spp., Rhizopertha spp., Scarabeidae, Sitophilus spp., Sitotroga spp., Tenebrio spp., Tribolium spp. and Trogoderma spp.; from the order Orthoptera, for example, Blatta spp., Blattella spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Periplaneta spp. and Schistocerca spp.; from the order Isoptera, for example, Reticulitermes spp.; from the order Psocoptera, for example, ijposcelis spp.; from the order Anoplura, for example, Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. and Phylloxera spp.; from the order Mallophaga, for example, Damalinea spp. and Trichodectes spp.; from the order Thysanoptera, for example, Frankliniella spp., Hercinothrips spp., Taeniothrips spp. , Thrips palmi, Thrips tabaci and Scirtothrips aurantii; from the order Heteroptera, for example, Dichelops melacanthus, Distantiella theobroma, Dysdercus spp., Euchistus spp., Eurygaster spp., Leptocorisa spp., Nezara spp., Piesma spp., Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis, Scotinophara spp. and Triatoma spp. ; from the order Homoptera, for example, Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aleyrodes brassicae, Aonidiella spp., Aphididae, Aphis spp., Aspidiotus spp., Bemisia tabaci, Ceroplaster spp., Chrysomphalus aonidium, Chrysomphalus dictyospermi, Coccus hesperidum, Empoasca spp., Eriosoma larigerum, Erythroneura spp., Gascardia spp., Laodelphax spp., Lecanium corni, Lepidosaphes spp., Macrosiphus spp., Myzus spp., Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata spp., Paratoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Planococcus spp., Pseudaulacaspis spp., Pseudococcus spp., Psylla spp., Pulvinaria aethiopica, Quadraspidiotus spp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus spp., Schizaphis spp., Sitobion spp., Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Trioza erytreae and Unaspis citri; from the order Hymenoptera, for example, Acromyrmex, Athalia rosae, Atta spp., Cephus spp., Diprion spp., Diprionidae, Gilpinia polytoma, Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp., Solenopsis spp. and Vespa spp.; from the order Diptera, for example, Antherigona soccata, Bibio hortulanus, , Ceratitis spp., Chrysomyia spp., Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., Dacus spp., Delia spp., Drosophila melanogaster, , Liriomyza spp. , , Melanagromyza spp., , Orseolia spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyia hyoscyami, Phorbia spp., Rhagoletis pomonella, Sciara spp.,; from the order Acarina, for example, Acarus siro, Aceria sheldoni, Aculus schlechtendali, Amblyomma spp., Argas spp.,

, Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia praetiosa, Calipitrimerus spp., Chorioptes spp.,

Dermanyssus gallinae, Eotetranychus carpini, Eriophyes spp., Hyalomma spp.,

Olygonychus pratensis, Ornithodoros spp., Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephalus spp., Rhizoglyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Tarsonemus spp. and Tetranychus spp.; and from the class Nematoda, for example, the species of Meloidogyne spp. (for example, Meloidogyne incoginita and Meloidogyne javanica), Heterodera spp. (for example, Heterodera glycines, Heterodera schachtii, Heterodora avenae and Heterodora trifolii), Globodera spp. (for example, Globodera rostochiensis), Radopholus spp. (for example, Radopholus similes), Rotylenchulus spp., Pratylenchus spp. (for example, Pratylenchus neglectans and Pratylenchus penetrans), Aphelenchoides spp., Helicotylenchus spp., Hoplolaimus spp., Paratrichodorus spp., Longidorus spp., Nacobbus spp., Subanguina spp. Belonlaimus spp., Criconemella spp., Criconemoides spp. Ditylenchus spp., Dolichodorus spp., Hemicriconemoides spp., Hemicycliophora spp., Hirschmaniella spp., Hypsoperine spp., Macroposthonia spp., Melinius spp., Punctodera spp., Quinisulcius spp., Scutellonema spp., Xiphinema spp., and Tylenchorhynchus spp.

In an embodiment, the combination of the present invention may be used for treatment of plant propagation material of crops such as cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, rice, sorghum, triticale and related crops; beets such as sugar beet and fodder beet; leguminous plants such as beans, lentils, peas, soybean; oil plants such as rape, mustard, sunflowers; cucurbits such as marrows, cucumbers, melons; fibre plants such as cotton, flax, hemp, jute; vegetables such spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, paprika as well as ornamentals such as flowers, shrubs, broad-leaved trees and evergreens, such as conifers.

In an embodiment, the crop may be canola, oilseed rape or rapeseed.

The plant propagation material may also be used on varieties of plant propagation material such as conventional, hybrid or transgenic plants.

In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention may further contain herbicide, fungicides, insecticides, fertilizers, biologicals, other plant growth additives such as mycorrhiza, silicic acid, plant derived growth promoters etc.

In an aspect, the present invention may provide methods of improving vigour or yield of the plant comprising, applying to a plant propagation material before sowing, a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract; and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

In another aspect, the present invention may provide methods of improving vigour or yield of the plant comprising, applying to a plant propagation material before sowing, a combination comprising: 1) at least one seaweed extract; and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

3) at least one agrochemically active ingredient.

In another aspect, the present invention may provide methods of controlling soil borne fungi and insect pests, the method comprising, applying to a plant propagation material before sowing, a combination comprising:

1) at least one seaweed extract; and

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer.

1) at least one seaweed extract;

2) at least one superabsorbent polymer; and

3) at least one agrochemically active ingredient.

In an aspect, the combination of the present invention may be presented as a kit of parts, or as a ready mix formulation that may be readily applied to the plant propagation material or may be applied to plant propagation material before being commercially vended.

One or more advantages of the present invention:

(a) The combinations or compositions of the present invention decomposed the tissue of the phytopathogens by producing hydrolytic enzymes and thus provided pathogenic control.

(b) The combinations of the invention were found to stimulate the production of morphological and biochemical barriers in plant tissues against attack from fungal and bacterial diseases, thereby protecting the plants against onset of resistance to chemical treatments.

(c) The combinations of the invention enabled the production of growth phytohormones thereby increasing the plant growth and yield.

(d) The combinations of the invention provided good control of Botrytis on grapevine and tomatoes. (e) The combinations of the invention provided good control of Bremia lactucae on lettuce.

(f) The combinations of the invention provided good control of Sclerotinia on oil seed rape.

The examples are presented to exemplify the invention and are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Seaweed extract was harvested from North East Atlantic Ocean. The extracted seaweed was subjected to crushing and micro-crushing. To the crushed seaweed 0.5% citric acid was added. The mixture was subjected to flocculation under acidic conditions, and filtered via filter press. The filtrate was concentrated through vacuum evaporation to prepare an extract having 24 - 30% dry matter content.

To the concentrated algal extract was added sodium methyl paraben (0.1%), potassium sorbate (0.1%) and sodium metabisulfite (0.2%). The composition was centrifuged for removal of sediment and filtered on diatomaceous earth.

Comparative algal extracts were produced according to Example 1 (5.1%) and Example 2 (13.00%) of US 2017/0251677. A slight variation was seen in the dry matter content as the actual percentage dry matter content was measured to be 4.8% and 9.3% versus 5.1% and 13.0% respectively.

The three algal extracts were then subjected to efficacy tests, and approximate equivalent bio-activity rate in oz/acre for the three algal extracts were noted. It was thus surprisingly found that the seaweed extract of the present invention was 32 times more efficacious than example 2, and 8 times more efficacious than example 1 of US 2017/0251677. Thus, the selection of percentage dry matter content between 24 to 36%, and specifically about 27.0% in seaweed extract, conferred unexpected and surprising efficacy.

Claims

1. A combination comprising: a) at least one seaweed extract b) at least one superabsorbent polymer and c) at least one pesticide

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the seaweed extract is selected from algae obtained from species of Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea, Laminaria saccharina, Eklonia maxima, Sargassum spp. and their mixtures.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the seaweed extract has a percentage dry matter content between 6 and 100%.

4. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the seaweed extract has a percentage dry matter content between 9 and 70%.

5. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the seaweed extract has a percentage dry matter content between 12 and 50%.

6. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the seaweed extract has a percentage dry matter content between 18 and 36%.

7. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the seaweed extract has a percentage dry matter content between 24 and 36%.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the superabsorbent polymer is selected from copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate; hydrolyzed starch- polyacrylonitrile; 2- propenenitrile homopolymer, hydrolyzed, sodium salt or poly(acrylamide co-sodium acrylate) or poly(2-propenamide-co-2-propanoic acid, sodium salt); starch-gpoly( 2propenamide-co-2- propanoic acid, mixed sodium and aluminum salts); starch-g20 poly(2-propenamide-co-2- propanoic acid, potassium salt); poly(2-propenamide-co-2- propanoic acid, sodium salt); poly2-propanoic acid, sodium salt; starchgpoly(acrylonitrile) or poly(2- propenamide-co-sodium acrylate); starch/acrylonitrile copolymer; crosslinked copolymers of acrylamide and sodium acrylate; acrylamide/sodium polyacrylate crosslinked polymers ; anionic polyacrylamide; starch grafted sodium polyacrylates; acrylic acid polymers, sodium salt; crosslinked potassium polyacrylate/polyacrylamide copolymers; sodium polyacrylate; superabsorbent polymer laminates and composites; partial sodium salt of crosslinked polypropenoic acid; potassium polyacrylate, lightly crosslinked; sodium polyacrylate, lightly crosslinked; sodium polyacrylates; poly(sodiumacrylate) homopolymer; polyacrylamide polymers, carrageenan, agar, alginic acid, guar gums and its derivatives, and gellan gum.

9. The combination according to claim 1 , wherein the superabsorbent polymer is starch-g-poly (2- propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid) potassium salt or crosslinked 5 polyacrylic acid potassium salt.

10. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said pesticide is agrochemically active agent selected from herbicides, insecticides, fungicide, miticides, acaricide or combinations thereof.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said pesticide is insecticide selected from the group of flupyrimin, acetamiprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, thiacloprid, cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, sophora extract, sophora flavescens, oximatrine or Azadiractina.

12. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said pesticide is a fungicide selected from the group of a. Dithiocarbamates: asamobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; b. Phthalimides: captan, captafol and folpet; c. Chloronitriles: chlorothalonil; d. inorganic fungicides: copper fungicides including copper (II) hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper (II) sulfate, basic copper sulfate, Bordeaux mixture, copper salicylate C7H403*Cu, cuprous oxide CU20, or sulphur; e. sulfamides: dichlofluanid and tolylfluanid; f. bis-guanidines: guazatine and iminoctadine; g. triazines: anilazine; h. quinones: dithianon; i. quinoxalines: quinomethionate and chlorquinox; j. maleimide : fluoroimide of combinations thereof.

13. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the fungicide is selected from group consisting of: a. ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor: prothioconazole, tebuconazole, hexaconazole, cyroconazole or epoxiconazole b. Quinone outside (Qo) inhibitor: azoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, mandestrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, kresoxi mm ethyl, dimoxystrobin, fenaminostrobin, metominostrobin, trifloxystrobin, famoxadone, fluoxastrobin, fenamidone, pyribencarb and mixtures thereof

14. The combination according to claim 10, wherein said agrochemically active agent is a combination of an insecticide and a fungicide.

15. The combination according to claim 14, wherein said insecticide is chlorantraniliprole and said fungicide is mancozeb.

16. The combination according to claim 14, wherein the said insecticide is acetamiprid and the said fungicide is sulfur.

17. A composition comprising combination of a) at least one seaweed extract at least one superabsorbent polymer, at least one pesticide and an agrochemically acceptable excipient.

18. The composition according to claim 17, wherein the composition additionally comprises a micronutrient selected from amino acids, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, nickel, boron, and molybdenum.

19. A method of controlling fungal diseases, said method comprising applying, to the locus at which said control is desired, a combination comprising: a. at least one seaweed extract, and b. at least one superabsorbent polymer.

20. A method of improving vigour or yield of the plant comprising, applying to a plant propagation material before sowing, a combination comprising: a. at least one seaweed extract, and b. at least one superabsorbent polymer.

21. A method of controlling soil borne fungi and insect pests, the method comprising, applying to a plant propagation material before sowing, a combination comprising: a. at least one seaweed extract, and b. at least one superabsorbent polymer.

22. A method according to claims 19-21, wherein the combination additionally comprises an agrochemically active ingredient.