OA18869A - Herbicidal compositions containing active substances from the group comprising HPPD inhibitors, safeners and triazines - Google Patents

Abstract

Herbicidal compositions containing active substances from the group comprising HPPD inhibitors, safeners and triazines are described. The herbicidal compositions are particularly suitable for use against harmful plants in crops of useful plants.

Description

Bayer CropScience Aktiengesellschat

Herbicidal compositions comprising active compounds from the group of the HPPD inhibitors, safeners and triazines

Description

The présent invention relates to agroChemically active herbicidal compositions and to the use thereof for control of harmful plants.

Specifically, it relates to agrochemically active herbicidal compositions comprising compounds from the group of the inhibitors of hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), triazines and safeners. These herbicidal compositions are particularly suitable for controlling unwanted harmful plants in com and sugar cane crops.

Some herbicidal compositions comprising compounds from the group of the HPPD inhibitors, triazines and safeners are already known from the prior art. WO 2007/006415 Al describes herbicidal compositions comprising the HPPD inhibitor tembotrione, atrazine/terbuthylazine and isoxadifenethyl. WO 2007/006415 Al also discloses that these compositions hâve higher synergistic herbicidal activity than the herbicidal composition comprising tembotrione and atrazine/terbuthylazine. However, the compatibility of these herbicidal compositions with respect to the crop plants com and in particular sugar cane is, in spite of the presence of the safener isoxadifen-ethyl, not always sufficient.

It is an object of the présent invention to provide herbicidal compositions which, having sufficient herbicidal activity, also hâve good compatibility with the crop plants com and sugar cane.

It lias now been found that herbicidal compositions comprising certain compounds from the group of the HPPD inhibitors, safeners and triazines and having sufficient herbicidal activity, also hâve good compatibility with the crop plants com and sugar cane.

Accordingly, the présent invention provides herbicidal compositions comprising

A) a compound from the group consisting of (A5) compound of the formula A5

(A5) and (A6) compound of the formula A6

(A6) or in each case their salts (component A),

B) a compound from the group consisting of (B l ) isoxadifen-ethyl and (B2) cyprosulfamide (component B) and

C) a compound from the group consisting of (Cl) atrazine, (C2) hexazinone and (C4) metribuzin (component C).

The compounds of the formulae (A5) and (A6) are known as herbicides, for example from WO 2012/126932 Al. The compounds isoxadifen-ethyl and cyprosulfamide are known as safeners from The Pesticide Manual, 16th édition, The British Crop Protection Council and the Royal Soc. of Chemistry, 2012. The compounds atrazine, hexazinone and metribuzine are known as herbicides from The Pesticide Manual, 16th édition, The British Crop Protection Council and the Royal Soc. of Chemistry, 2012.

Of particular interest are herbicidal compositions comprising the components: (A5) + (Bl) + (Cl), (A5) + (Bl) + (C2), (A5) + (Bl) + (C4), (A5) + (B2) + (Cl), (A5) + (B2) + (C2), (A5) + (B2) + (C4), (A6) + (Bl) + (Cl), (A6) + (Bl) + (C2), (A6) + (Bl) + (C4), (A6) + (B2) + (Cl), (A6) + (B2) + (C2) and (A6) + (B2) + (C4).

Particularly preferred are herbicidal compositions comprising the components (A5) + (Bl) + (C4) and (A5) + (B2) + (C4), and also herbicidal compositions comprising the components (A6) + (Bl) + (C4) and (A6) + (B2) + (C4).

The herbicidal compositions according to the invention may comprise or be used together with additional further components, for example other kinds of active crop protection compounds and/or additives and/or formulation auxiliaries customary in crop protection.

The herbicidal compositions according to the invention not only hâve sufficient herbicidal activity against a large number of harmful plants typically encountered in com and sugar cane plantations, but, surprisingly, also a markedly lower phytotoxicity toward the crop plants than the respective herbicidal composition comprising HPPD inhibitor and safener. This is surprising since there are no indications in the prior art that herbicides from the group of the triazines contribute to a réduction of the phytotoxicity toward the crop plants.

Accordingly, the présent invention also provides the use of atrazine, hexazinone, metamitrone, metribuzine, simazine and terbuthlyazine for reducing the phytotoxicity in useful plants, in particular com and sugar cane, caused by the use of herbicidal compositions comprising a compound from the group consisting of isoxaflutole, pyrasulfotole, sulcotrione, tembotrione, compound ofthe formula A5, compound of the formula A6 and optionally a safener from the group consisting of isoxadifenethyl and cyprosulfamide.

The herbicidal compositions according to the invention can be applied in a manner known to the person skilled in the art, for example together (for example as a co-formulation or as a tank-mix) or else at different times in short succession (splitting), for example to the plants, plant parts, plant seeds or the area on which the plants grow. It is possible, for example, to apply the individual active compounds or the herbicidal compositions in a plurality of portions (sequential application), for example by pre-emergence applications followed by post-emergence applications or by early postemergence applications followed by medium or late post-emergence applications. Preference is given here to the joint application or the application within a narrow time trame of components A, B and C. Preference is also given to the application of component B by the seed dressing method and to the joint application or the application within a narrow time frame of components A and C.

In the herbicidal compositions according to the invention, the application rate of component A is usually 5 to 200 g of active ingrédient (a.i.) per hectare, preferably 10 to 150 g of a.i./ha, more preferably 15 to 80 g of a.i./ha. The application rate of component B is usually 30 to 500 g of active ingrédient per hectare, preferably 50 to 300 g of a. i./ha. The application rate of component C is usually 50 to 5000 g of active ingrédient per hectare, preferably 75 to 2000 g of a. i./ha.

The weight ratios of components A to B on the one hand and (A+B) to C on the other hand may be varied within wide ranges. Usually, the ratio of components A to B is in the range from 1:100 to 6.7:1, preferably in the range from 1:30 to 3:1. Usually, the ratio of components (A+B) to C is in the range from 1:143 to 140:1, preferably in the range from 1:33.3 to 6:1. The ranges mentioned above also apply in the case where the herbicidal compositions according to the invention comprise more than one component B and/or component C. In this case, the numbers mentioned apply to the sums of the individual values of components B and/or C.

Optimum weight ratios may dépend on the respective area of application, on the weed spectrum and on the active compound combination employed, and can be determined in preliminary tests.

On application of the herbicidal compositions according to the invention, a very broad spectrum of harmful plants is controlled pre-emergence and post-emergence, for example annual and perennial mono- or dicotyledonous weeds and unwanted crop plants. The herbicidal compositions according to the invention are particularly suitabie for use in crops such as corn and sugar cane, and also for use in perennial crops, plantations and on non-crop land. Their use in crops of com and sugar cane is preferred. They are also highly suitabie for use in transgenic crops of com.

Accordingly the présent invention further provides a method of controlling unwanted plants in plant crops, which is characterized in that components A, B and C of the herbicidal compositions accordingly the invention are applied, for example separately or together, onto the plants (for example harmful plants such as mono- or dicotyledonous weeds or unwanted crop plants) or the area on which the plants grow.

Unwanted plants are understood to mean ail plants which grow at sites where they are unwanted. These can be, for example, harmful plants (e.g, mono- or dicotyledonous weeds or unwanted crop plants).

Monocotyledonous weeds are classified, for example in the généra Echinochloa, Setaria, Panicum, Digitaria, Phleum, Poa, Festuca, Eleusine, Brachiaria, Lolium, Bromus, Avena, Cyperus, Sorghum, Agropyron, Cynodon, Monochoria, Fimbristylis, Sagittaria, Eleocharis, Scirpus, Paspalum,

Ischaemum, Sphenoclea, Dactyloctenium, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Apera. Dicotyledonous weeds are classified, for example, in the généra Sinapis, Lepidium, Galium, Stellaria, Matricaria, Anthémis, Galinsoga, Chenopodium, Urtica, Senecio, Amaranthus, Portulaca, Xanthium, Convolvulus, Ipomoea, Polygonum, Sesbania, Ambrosia, Cirsium, Carduus, Sonchus, Solanum, Rorippa, Rotala, Lindemia, Lamium, Veronica, Abutilon, Emex, Datura, Viola, Galeopsis, Papaver, Centaurea, Trifolium, Ranunculus, Taraxacum, Euphorbia.

The invention also provides for the use of the herbicidal compositions according to the invention for '•pntrolling unwanted végétation, preferably in crops ofuseful plants, in particuiar com and sugar cane. Very particuiar preference is given to the use in sugar cane.

The herbicidal compositions according to the invention can be prepared by known methods, for example as mixed formulations of the individual components, optionally with further active compounds, additives and/or customary formulation auxiliaries, and these are then applied in a customary manner after dilution with water, or are produced as tank mixes by joint dilution of the separately formulated individual components with water. Likewise possible is the application at different times (split application) of the separately formulated or partly separately formulated individual components. It is also possible to apply the individual components or the herbicidal compositions in a plurality of portions (sequential application), for example by pre-emergence applications followed by post-emergence applications or by early post-emergence applications followed by medium or late post-emergence applications. Preference is given to the joint or immediately successive application of the active compounds in the respective combination.

The herbicidal compositions according to the invention can also be used for control of harmful plants in crops of known genetically modified plants.

In general, the transgenic plants are characterized by particuiar advantageous properties, for example by résistances to certain pesticides, in particuiar certain herbicides, résistances to plant diseases or pathogens of plant diseases, such as certain insects or microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria or viruses. Other particuiar properties relate, for example, to the harvested material with regard to quantity, quality, storability, composition and spécifie constituents. For instance, there are known transgenic plants with an elevated starch content or altered starch quality, or those with a different fatty acid composition in the harvested material. Other particuiar properties may be tolérance or résistance to abiotic stressors, for example heat, low températures, drought, salinity and ultraviolet radiation.

Conventional ways of producing novel plants which hâve modified properties in comparison to existing plants consist, for example, in traditional cultivation methods and the génération of mutants. Altematively, novel plants with modified properties can be generated with the aid of recombinant methods (see, for example, EP-A-0221044, EP-A-0131624). For example, there hâve been descriptions in several cases of:

genetic modifications of crop plants for the purpose of modifying the starch synthesized in the plants (for example WO 92/l 1376, WO 92/14827, WO 91/19806), transgenic crop plants which are résistant to particular herbicides of the glufosinate type (cf., for example, EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) or glyphosate type (WO 92/00377) or of the sulfonylurea type (EP-A-0257993, US-A-5013659), transgenic crop plants, for example cotton, which is capable of producing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins (Bt toxins), which make the plants résistant to certain pests (EP-A0142924, EP-A-0193259),

- transgenic crop plants having a modified fatty acid composition (WO 91/13972).

genetically modified crop plants with novel constituents or secondary métabolites, for example novel phytoalexins, which bring about an increased disease résistance (EPA 309862, EPA0464461), genetically modified plants having reduced photorespiration, which hâve higher yields and higher stress tolérance (EPA 0305398), transgenic crop plants which produce pharmaceutically or diagnostically important proteins (molecular pharming), transgenic crop plants which feature higher yields or better quality, transgenic crop plants which feature a combination, for example, of the abovementioned novel properties (gene stacking).

Numerous molecular biology techniques which can be used to produce novel transgenic plants with modified properties are known in principle; see, for example, I. Potrykus and G. Spangenberg (eds.) Gene Transfer to Plants, Springer Lab Manual (1995), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, or

Christou, Trends in Plant Science 1 (1996) 423-431).

For such recombinant manipulations, nucleic acid molécules which allow mutagenesis or sequence alteration by recombination of DNA sequences can be introduced into plasmids. With the aid of standard methods, it is possible, for example, to undertake base exchanges, remove parts of sequences 35 or add natural or synthetic sequences. To join the DNA fragments with one another, adapters or linkers can be placed onto the fragments, see e.g. Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, A

Ί

Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY; or Winnacker Gene und Klone [Genes and Clones], VCH Weinheim 2nd édition 1996.

For example, the génération of plant cells with a reduced activity of a gene product can be achieved by expressing at least one corresponding antisense RNA, a sense RNA for achieving a cosuppression effect, or by expressing at least one suitably constructed ribozyme which specifically cleaves transcripts of the abovementioned gene product.

To this end, it is firstly possible to use DNA molécules which encompass the entire coding sequence 10 of a gene product inclusive of any flanking sequences which may be présent, and also DNA molécules which only encompass portions of the coding sequence, in which case it is necessary for these portions to be long enough to hâve an antisense effect in the cells. It is also possible to use DNA sequences which hâve a high degree of homology to the coding sequences of a gene product, but are not completely identical to them.

When expressing nucleic acid molécules in plants, the protein synthesized may be localized in any desired compartment of the plant cell. However, to achieve localization in a particular compartment, it is possible, for example, to join the coding région to DNA sequences which ensure localization in a particular compartment. Such sequences are known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, Braun 20 et al., EMBO J. 11 (1992), 3219-3227; WolteretaL, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85 (1988), 846-850;

Sonnewald et al., Plant J. 1 (1991), 95-106). The nucleic acid molécules can also be expressed in the organelles of the plant cells.

The transgenic plant cells can be regenerated by known techniques to give rise to entire plants. In 25 principle, the transgenic plants may be plants of any desired plant species, i.e. not only monocotyledonous but also dicotyledonous plants.

Thus, transgenic plants can be obtained whose properties are altered by overexpression, suppression or inhibition of homologous (= naturai) genes or gene sequences or expression of heterologous (= 30 foreign) genes or gene sequences.

Preferably the compositions according to the invention can be used in transgenic crops which are résistant to growth regulators such as, for example, dicamba, or to herbicides which inhibit essential plant enzymes, for example acetolactate synthases (ALS), EPSP synthases, glutamine synthases (GS) 35 or hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPD), or to herbicides from the group of the sulfonylureas, the glyphosates, glufosinates or benzoylisoxazoles and analogous active compounds.

When the compositions according to the invention are employed in transgenic crops, not only do the effects toward harmfit! plants observed in other crops occur, but frequent l y also effects which are spécifie to application in the particular transgenic crop, for example an altered or specifically widened spectrum of weeds which can be controlled, altered application rates which can be used for the application, preferably good combinability with the herbicides to which the transgenic crop is résistant, and influencing of growth and yield of the transgenic crop plants. The invention therefore also provides for the use of the compositions according to the invention for control of harmful plants in transgenic crop plants.

Preference is given to the use of the compositions according to the invention in economically important transgenic crops of com and sugar cane. The invention therefore also provides for the use of the compositions according to the invention for control of harmful plants in transgenic crop plants or crop plants having tolérance through sélective breeding.

The components A, B and C can be converted together or separately to customary formulations, for example for application by atomizing, watering and spraying, such as solutions, émulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, pastes, granules, aérosols, active compound-impregnated naturel and synthetic substances, microencapsulations in polymeric substances. The formulations may comprise the customary auxiliaries and additives.

These formulations are produced in a known manner, for example by mixing the components A, B and C with extenders, i.e. liquid solvents, pressurized liquefïed gases and/or solid carriers, optionally with use of surfactants, i.e. emulsifiers and/or dispersants and/or foam formers.

If the extender used is water, it is also possible to use, for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Essentially, suitable liquid solvents are: aromatics such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics or chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example minerai oil fractions, minerai and vegetable oils, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and the ethers and esters thereof, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide, and water.

Useful solid carriers include: for example ammonium salts and ground naturel minerais, such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and ground synthetic minerais, such as fînely divided sîlica, alumina and silicates; useful solid carriers for granules include: for example crushed and fractionated natural rocks, such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite, dolomite and synthetic granules of inorganîc and organic flours, and granules of organic material, such as sawdust, coconut shells, com cobs and tobacco stalks; useful emulsifiers and/or foam formers include: for example nonionic and anionic emulsifiers, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, e.g. alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulfonates, alkylsulfates, arylsulfonates and protein hydrolyzates; useful dispersants include: for example lignosulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

Tackifiers, such as carboxymethyl cellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in the form of powders, granules or latices, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, and also natural phospholipids, such as cephalins and lecithins, and synthetic phospholipids can be used in the formulations. Further additives may be minerai and vegetable oils.

It is possible to use colorants such as inorganîc pigments, for example iron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian blue, and organic colorants such as alizarin colorants, azo colorants and métal phthalocyanine colorants, and trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganèse, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

In general, the formulations comprise between O.l and 95 percent by weight of the components A, B and C, preferably between 0.5 and 90% by weight. As such or in their formulations, the components A, B and C can also be used as a mixture with other active agrochemical compounds for controlling unwanted végétation, for example for controlling weeds or for controlling unwanted crop plants, finished formulations or tank mixes, for example, being possible.

Also possible are mixtures with other known active compounds such as fongicides, insecticides, acaricides, nematicides, bîrd antifeedants, plant nutrients and soil improvers, and likewise with additives and formulation auxiliaries customary in crop protection.

The components A, B and C can be used as such, in the form of their formulations or in the use forms prepared therefrom by further dilution, such as ready-to-use solutions, suspensions, émulsions, powders, pastes and granules. Application is typically accomplished, for example, by watering, sprinkling, spraying, broadcasting.

The components A, B and C can be applied to the plants, plant parts or area under cultivation (soil), preferably on the green plants and plant parts, and to the soil. One possible use is the joint application of the active compounds in the form of tank mixes, where the formulated concentrated formulations of the individual active compounds are, together, mixed in a tank with water, and the spray liquor obtained is applied.

ΙΟ

For application, the formulations in commercial form are, if appropriate, diluted in a customary manner, for example in the case of wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrâtes, dispersions and water-dispersible granules with water. Dust-type préparations, granules for soil application or granules for scattering and sprayable solutions are not normally diluted further with other inert substances prior to application.

Working examples:

Post-emergence herbicidal activity against harmful plants and phytotoxicity toward useful plants:

Sugar cane having a height of 25 to 30 cm and harmful plants are treated with herbicidal compositions according to the invention comprising components A, B and C. For comparative purposes, the saine tests are carried out with herbicidal compositions comprising only components A and B, and also with herbicidal compositions comprising only component A. The herbicidal activity and phytotoxicity of the compositions according to the invention are shown in a comparative manner in the tables below.

The abbreviations mean:

BIDPI Bidens pilosa EPHHL Euphorbia heterophylla

IPOAO Ipomoea aristolochiaefolia

Table l

	Herbicidal composition	Dosage [g/ha]	Herbicidal activity [%] against
IPOAO	EPHHL	BIDPI
1	A5	50	38%	30%	42%
2	A5 + B1	50+150	37%	28%	38%
3	A5 + B1 + C4	50+ 150 + 480	77%	50%	85%

Table 2

	Herbicidal composition	Dosage [g/ha]	Herbicidal activity [%] against Saccharum offîcinarum (sugar cane)
1	A5	50	14%
2	A5 + B1	50+ 150	6%
3	A5 +C4	50 + 480	8%
4	A5 + B1 +C4	50+ 150 + 480	4%

H

The results in Table l show that the mixture (row 2) of herbicide A5 with safener Bl, within the margin of errer of the assessment, has the same herbicidal activity against harmful plants as herbicide A5 alone (row l ). The mixture (row 3) of herbicide A5 with safener Bl and herbicide C4 shows a markedly enhanced herbicidal activity against hamiful plants.

Surprisingly, the data in Table 2 show that the mixture (row 4) of herbicide A5 with safener Bl and herbicide C4 causes markedly less damage to the crop plant sugar cane than the mixture (row 2) of herbicide A5 with safenerBl.

Claims (9)

1. Claims

   A herbicidal composition comprising

   A) a compound from the group consisting of (A5) compound of the formula A5

   and (A6) compound of the formula A6

   or in each case their salts (component A),

   B) a compound from the group consisting of (Bl) isoxadîfen-ethyl and (B2) cyprosulfamide (component B) and

   C) a compound from the group consisting of (Cl) atrazine, (C2) hexazinone and (C4) metribuzin (component C).

   The herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising

   A) (A5) the compound of the formula A5

   (A5) or salts thereof (component A),

   B) a compound from the group consisting of (Bl) isoxadifen-ethyl and (B2) cyprosulfamide (component B) and

   C) (C4) metribuzin, (component C).

   The herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 1, comprising

   A) (A6) the compound of the formula A6

   (A6) or salts thereof (component A),

   B) a compound from the group consisting of (B 1 ) isoxadifen-ethyl and (B2) cyprosulfamide (component B) and

   C) (C4) metribuzin, (component C).
2. 4. The herbicidal composition as claimed in any of daims 1 to 3 in a mixture with formulation auxiliaries.
3. 5. The herbicidal composition as claimed in any of daims 1 to 4, comprising at least one forther pesticidally active substance from the group consisting of insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, fongicides, safeners, and growth regulators.
4. 6. The herbicidal composition as claimed in any of daims 1 to 4, comprising the components A and B in a ratio of from 1:100 to 6.7:1 and the components (A+B) and C in a ratio of from 1143 to 140:1.
5. 7. The herbicidal composition as claimed in any of daims 1 to 5, comprising the components A and B m a ratio of from 1:30 to 3:1 and the components (A+B) and C in a ratio of from 1:33.3 to 6:1.
6. 8. A method for controlling unwanted plants, wherein a herbicidal composition as claimed in any of daims 1 to 6 is applied to the plants or to the site of the unwanted végétation.
7. 9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control of unwanted plants takes place in crops of com or sugar cane.
8. 10. The use of atrazine, hexazinone or metribuzin for reducing the phytotoxicity in usefol plants.

   IL The use as claimed in claim 10, wherein it takes place in crops of com or sugar cane.
9. 12. The use as claimed in claim 11, wherein it takes place in crops of sugar cane.