TW201842853A - Pesticide - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pesticide nano-emulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed as droplets in the solvent to form the nano-emulsion.

Description

pesticide

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present application claims the benefit of the Singapore Patent Application No. 10201703634R, filed on May 3, 2017.

The present invention relates to a pesticide. In particular, the present invention relates to an oil-based pesticide formulation and an oil-based pesticide adjuvant for use in plants and soil.

Background of the Invention The following discussion of the background of the invention is merely intended to facilitate an understanding of the invention. It should be understood that the discussion does not identify or acknowledge that any of the referenced materials are part of the common general knowledge of those skilled in the art as disclosed in the priority date of the present invention.

Damage to agricultural products (such as fruits and vegetables) by pests causes the United States to lose about 30% of the crops and up to 50% of the world's crops. Crop losses are mainly caused by insect pest damage and plant diseases. In addition, insects can also serve as carriers for bacterial or viral plant diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and use pesticides to prevent crop losses.

Chemical pesticides have been developed and are typically formulated as solid compositions such as water dispersible granule compositions and wettable powder compositions. The conventional solid compositions comprise the active compound, a mineral carrier, and a wetting agent and/or a dispersing agent (see, for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,093,682, U.S. Patent No. 5,595,749, U.S. Patent No. 4,804,399). The pesticidal active ingredient is also delivered to a solid carrier such as kaolin, chalk, limestone, sodium aluminum citrate and potassium aluminum citrate, corn flour, sawdust, cellulose powder, activated charcoal and the like. However, such compositions often leave toxic residues that may have long-term effects on humans and the environment.

Therefore, liquid pesticides have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings of solid pesticides. However, due to solubility limitations, liquid pesticides may be limited in the number and amount of components present in the liquid pesticide composition. The inability to dissolve a high percentage of certain components in liquid pesticide compositions is a major drawback. In addition, there may be incompatibility between the different components, which makes it difficult to manufacture or difficult to store for a long period of time.

Concentrated liquid pesticide compositions are advantageous because the high cost of shipping large volumes can be minimized. However, concentrated liquid pesticides may have problems with phase stability because solid components may precipitate or settle, or liquid components may form separate liquid phases. Therefore, there is a need to develop a concentrated liquid pesticide that is effective in killing pests and exhibits improved phase stability superior to conventional concentrated liquid pesticides even when diluted prior to use.

In addition, a high percentage of certain components, such as oil, can cause clogging of the spray equipment, application is uneven and problematic, and the efficiency of the application machine is reduced. Importantly, crop damage can occur due to the use of a high percentage of certain components. Therefore, there is a need to develop a liquid pesticide which can effectively kill pests and avoid the problems mentioned above.

Therefore, a pesticide is needed in the art to improve the above mentioned problems.

The present invention seeks to solve and/or ameliorate the problems of the prior art by providing an oil-based pesticide formulation and an oil-based pesticide adjuvant capable of controlling plant pests.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention, there is a pesticide nanoemulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer And (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the droplets comprise an average size ranging from 50 nm to 350 nm.

In some embodiments, the droplets comprise an average size ranging from 100 nm to 250 nm.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the stabilizer ranges from 0.5% to 5.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the inert ingredient mixture further comprises an adhesive having a concentration ranging from 0.25% to 3.00% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the horticultural oil is less than 90% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the horticultural oil ranges from 20.0% to 70.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion and the concentration of the inert ingredient mixture is from 30.0% to 80.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the amount of the horticultural oil is 45.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion and the concentration of the inert component mixture is 55.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the emulsifier ranges from 0.1% to 10.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the surfactant ranges from 0.5% to 30.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the solvent comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is water and the second solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the pesticide nanoemulsion is suitable for dilution from about 100 to 800 times to form a dilute pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the horticultural oil ranges from 0.056% to 0.45% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the stabilizer ranges from 0.001% to 0.017% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion.

In another aspect of the invention, there is a pesticide formulation comprising an effective amount of at least one pesticide and an adjuvant emulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients And comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the adjuvant nano Emulsion.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the particular embodiments, and is not intended to Other definitions of selected terms used herein can be found in embodiments of the invention and are used throughout the specification. In addition, all of the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" are to be construed as meaning to include the group as a whole or whole. Group, but does not exclude any other whole or whole group.

In addition, throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "include" or "includes" or "including" are to be understood as meaning to include the whole or the whole as stated. Groups, but do not exclude any other whole or whole group.

As used herein, the term "about" typically means +/- 5% of the stated value, more typically +/- 4% of the stated value, more typically +/- 3% of the stated value, more typically +/- 2% of the stated value, even more typically +/- 1% of the stated value, and even more typically +/- 0.5% of the stated value.

Throughout the present invention, certain embodiments may be disclosed in a range format. It should be understood that the description of the range format is for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosed scope. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered as a For example, a description of ranges such as 1 through 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges, such as 1 to 3, 1 to 4, 1 to 5, 2 to 4, 2 to 6, 3 to 6, etc., and Individual values within the range, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The range is not limited to integers and may include small quantities of measurements as applicable. This applies regardless of the width of the range.

As used herein, the term "concentrate" refers to a formulation that can be diluted to form a use solution. For example, the transport of concentrates may be easier and less expensive than dilute solutions.

As used herein, the term "highly concentrated formulation" refers to a formulation that requires significant dilution to achieve the desired desired dosage/use concentration.

As used herein, the terms "emulsion" and "nanoemulsion" are used interchangeably and refer to a mixture of two immiscible materials. One substance (dispersed phase) can be dispersed in another substance (continuous phase). For example, it will be appreciated that in the pesticide formulations of the present invention, the horticultural oil is present in the form of minute droplets (including but not limited to micron and nanodroplets) or microvesules dispersed in a solvent, wherein the oil and solvent Not compatible with each other. Small oil droplets can be uniformly and homogeneously distributed in the solvent, but it should be understood that small oil droplets may be unevenly distributed in the solvent, for example, when the pesticide emulsion is allowed to stand for a relatively long period of time. As used herein, the term "nano emulsion" refers to an emulsion having a small oil droplet size ranging from about 50 nm to about 400 nm.

The present invention relates to a liquiditable pesticide formulation for plants and/or soil that provides a mode of physical action. The various components of the pesticide formulation can be multifunctional. For example, the particular component can be an emulsifier and an adhesive; or a stabilizer and an emulsifier. As an example, the polysaccharide or its derivative may be both a stabilizer and an emulsifier, and thus two inert ingredients are considered for the purposes of the present invention. Thus, the invention can be used to control the growth and spread of pest and plant diseases. Examples of pests that can be controlled and/or eliminated by the pesticide formulations of the present invention include, but are not limited to, insects (eg, mosquitoes, flies, wasps, ants, tide worms, mites, mites, mites, wheat mites, orange rust螨, spider mites, shield mites and soft mites, powder scale insects, white flies, leaf curlers, leaf miner, fungus mites, nematodes, sharpshooters and thrips), fungi or combinations thereof. Plant diseases include, but are not limited to, greasy spot, silver rot, and powdery mildew.

One aspect of the present invention is a pesticide nanoemulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; Iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the nanoemulsion. The average size of the droplets can range from about 2 nanometers (nm) to about 400 nm. In the present invention, the horticultural oil is not a carrier such as used for other active ingredients. Surprisingly, the inventors have found that other active ingredients are not necessary as it is found that horticultural oils are effective active ingredients even at relatively low concentrations. The term "relatively low concentration" refers to a horticultural oil concentration that is lower than prior art horticultural oil based pesticides, which typically comprise horticultural oil in a concentration ranging from about 90% to 98% w/w of the formulation. . In addition, no toxic residue remains or negligible toxic residue remains. Therefore, the horticultural oil-based pesticide of the present invention has low toxicity and low impact on non-target beneficial insects, humans and the environment. In contrast, prior art pesticides often leave toxic residues that may have long-term effects on humans and the environment. Depending on the application and needs, the pesticide nanoemulsion can be diluted prior to use or can be used directly in the form of a concentrated formulation (ie, "concentrate"). Advantageously, the pesticidal nanoemulsion is phase stable and can effectively kill pests at least as well as conventional pesticides. Preferably, the horticultural oil droplets and solvent are immiscible with each other. The small oil droplets are suitable for association and/or interaction with emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants and/or other components in the pesticide nanoemulsion to form micelles. It should be understood that if the horticultural oil contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, the horticultural oil can form microcapsules by themselves, and the microcapsules are also suitable for emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants and pesticides in the pesticide nanoemulsion. / or other components associated and / or interact. Thus, the term "droplets" as used throughout this specification herein includes, but is not limited to, micelles.

In some embodiments, the horticultural oil used contains little to no volatile organic compounds, and the primary mode of action is asphyxiation via arthropods and plant pathogens, wherein the physical effect of the oil is the active ingredient because the oil coating prevents breathing and Kill the pests. Examples of oils containing little to no volatile organic compounds include, but are not limited to, vegetable oils such as olive oil, soybean oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, and rapeseed oil.

In some embodiments, the droplets have an average size of from about 50 nm to about 400 nm, from about 50 nm to about 350 nm, from about 50 nm to about 300 nm, from about 50 nm to about 250 nm, from about 50 nm to about 200. Nm, about 50 nm to about 150 nm, about 100 nm to about 350 nm, about 100 nm to about 300 nm, about 150 nm to about 350 nm, about 150 nm to about 250 nm, about 200 nm to about 350 nm, From about 250 nm to about 350 nm, and even more preferably from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. The size of the small oil droplets helps to effectively penetrate the insect pests while reducing the phytotoxicity of the plants, as the droplets do not block the pores. The even distribution of the oil can also be maintained for a long period of time without agitation. Stable formulations with a uniform oil distribution provide greater pest-tolerant efficacy than conventional oil pesticide products, even when the oils of the present invention are lower in concentration than conventional pesticide formulations. At the same time, problems such as clogging of the spray equipment, uneven application and problems, reduced efficiency of the application of the machine, and crop damage can be reduced or avoided.

Advantageously, the pesticide of the present invention provides a mode of physical action whereby the oil layer can form on the plant and cause the pest to suffocate and/or interfere with or disrupt its normal biological and/or physiological function. More advantageously, pests will not be able to develop resistance to the horticultural oil based pesticides of the present invention. More advantageously, the horticultural oil-based pesticide of the present invention has low toxicity and low impact on non-target beneficial insects due to the minimal or absence of any residual effects of the formulations of the present invention. Therefore, the pesticide of the present invention can selectively target pests while minimizing no harm or damage to the beneficial insects.

The above mentioned advantages result from the emulsification of the horticultural oil which is present in the pesticide as an active ingredient in order to kill the pest. In particular, when a pesticide is sprayed onto a plant, such as a plant surface, the nanoemulsion can improve the delivery and distribution of the small oil droplets because the relatively small size of the droplets as described above significantly increases the number of droplets, which in turn Increase the probability of horticultural oil exposure to pests. When exposed to pests, horticultural oil can cause the worm to suffocate and/or interfere with or destroy its normal biological and/or physiological functions, with minimal or negligible toxicity to the plant. Additionally, the pest can be selectively targeted such that the non-target beneficial insect is not damaged or minimized.

In addition, the reduced droplet size of the pesticide increases the surface area of the plant that is contacted by the horticultural oil, thereby increasing the efficacy of the pesticide.

In various embodiments, the concentration of the inert ingredient mixture is from about 30.0% to about 80.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. As mentioned above, the inert ingredient mixture comprises an emulsifier, a stabilizer and a surfactant. When the concentration of the inert ingredient mixture is from about 30.0% to about 80.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, the concentration of the horticultural oil ranges from about 20.0% to about 70.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In various embodiments, the stabilizer may comprise a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof. The concentration of the stabilizer may range from about 0.5% to 5.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. This concentration range of stabilizers is beneficial for maintaining the size and dispersibility of the droplets in the pesticide nanoemulsion. Stabilizers can have emulsifying properties and can be considered co-emulsifiers.

In some embodiments, the inert ingredient mixture of the pesticidal nanoemulsion further comprises an adhesive having a concentration ranging from about 0.025% to about 1.500% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. In some embodiments, the concentration of the adhesive ranges from about 0.25% to 3.00% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The adhesive preferably comprises solid particles suitable for obtaining a Pickering emulsion of a pesticide nanoemulsion. The adhesive may have emulsifying properties and may be considered as a co-emulsifier.

In various embodiments, the emulsification of the horticultural oil promotes a reduction in the concentration of the oil sufficient to control the pest while reducing the risk of horticultural oil damaging the plant. Preferably, the concentration of the horticultural oil is less than about 90.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, less than about 50.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, and less than about 1.0% of the pesticide nanoemulsion. w. In various embodiments, the concentration of the horticultural oil ranges from about 0.15% to about 85.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, from about 0.15% to about 50.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, and about about the pesticide nanoemulsion. 5.0% to about 85.0% w/w, about 5.0% to about 80.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, about 5.0% to about 70.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, about 5.0% of the pesticide nanoemulsion To about 60.0% w/w, about 5.0% to about 50.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, about 10.0% to about 80.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, and about 10.0% to about 100% of the pesticide nanoemulsion. 70.0% w/w, about 10.0% to about 60.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, about 10.0% to about 50.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion, more preferably about 5.0% of the pesticide nanoemulsion About 80.0% w/w, and even more preferably from about 5.0% to about 45.0% w/w, from about 5.0% to about 50.0% w/w or from about 10.0% to about 50.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the emulsifier ranges from about 0.05% to about 10.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. In some embodiments, the concentration of the emulsifier ranges from about 0.1% to about 10.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. In some embodiments, the emulsifier does not comprise a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof.

Preferably, the concentration of the surfactant ranges from about 0.5% to about 30.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

In contrast, prior art horticultural oil based pesticide concentrates typically comprise horticultural oil at a concentration ranging from about 90% to 98% w/w of the formulation, and concentrations ranging from about 2% to 10% w of the formulation. /w emulsifier and surfactant to produce a stable emulsified concentrate. Thus, the pesticidal nanoemulsion of the present invention advantageously can effectively kill pests at least at a lower concentration than the prior art horticultural oil based pesticide concentrates. In addition, prior art horticultural oil based pesticides use horticultural oils having relatively large droplet sizes, which in turn negatively affect plant physiology, such as causing burnt leaves, reduced photosynthetic synthesis, reduced evapotranspiration, and reduced flowering and fruit reduction. Thus, the pesticidal nanoemulsion of the present invention can exhibit reduced phytotoxicity because the relatively small droplet size as described above can result in a reduced likelihood of blocking evapotranspiration through the surface of the blade and through the pores, thereby resulting in evapotranspiration. Obstruction, growth stagnation can be avoided or minimized, and/or crop yield reduction can be avoided or minimized.

In some embodiments, the solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The solvent may comprise a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is water and the second solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion.

The pesticidal nanoemulsion as described above can be used directly or in a form suitable for concentration of the formulation (i.e., "concentrate"). In some embodiments, the dilution factor is about 150 to 700 times to form a dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. In some embodiments, the dilution factor is about 100 to 800 times to form a dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of the present invention can exhibit dilution thickening characteristics. In particular, the viscosity of the pesticide nanoemulsion initially increases with dilution, reaches a maximum, and then decreases with further dilution. An increase in viscosity with increasing dilution may correspond to an increase in the concentration of a stabilizer such as a water-soluble polysaccharide, as the concentration of other components such as surfactants and/or salt components decreases as dilution increases.

Another aspect of the invention is a dilute pesticide emulsion comprising (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. In some embodiments, the average size of the droplets ranges from about 2 nm to about 400 nm. In some embodiments, the average size of the droplets is from about 50 nm to about 350 nm. The various components of the dilute pesticide emulsion can be multifunctional. For example, the particular component can be an emulsifier and an adhesive; or a stabilizer and an emulsifier. As an example, the polysaccharide or its derivative may be both a stabilizer and an emulsifier, and thus two inert ingredients are considered for the purposes of the present invention.

In dilute pesticide nanoemulsions, horticultural oil droplets and solvents are immiscible with each other. The small oil droplets are suitable for association and/or interaction with emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants and/or other components in the pesticide nanoemulsion to form micelles. It should be understood that if the horticultural oil contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, the horticultural oil can form microcapsules by themselves, and the microcapsules are also suitable for emulsifiers, stabilizers, surfactants and pesticides in the pesticide nanoemulsion. / or other components associated and / or interact. In some embodiments, the average size of the droplets is from about 50 nm to about 400 nm, from about 50 nm to about 350 nm, from about 50 nm to about 100 nm, from about 100 nm to about 250 nm. The size of the small oil droplets helps to effectively penetrate the insect pests while reducing the phytotoxicity of the plants, as the droplets do not block the pores. The even distribution of the oil can also be maintained for a long period of time without agitation. Stable formulations with a uniform oil distribution provide greater pest-tolerant efficacy than conventional oil pesticide products, even when the oils of the present invention are lower in concentration than conventional lean pesticide formulations. At the same time, problems such as clogging of the spray equipment, uneven application and problems, reduced efficiency of the application of the machine, and crop damage can be reduced or avoided.

Oil-based liquid pesticide concentrates are known to be typically diluted to an oil concentration of 1.0% to 2.0% w/w. At this oil concentration, there is a risk of negative secondary effects, including plant damage (phytotoxicity), which may occur depending on the type of plant, climatic factors, and the quality and stability of the oil-water diluted mixture. In particular, phytotoxicity may occur due to direct damage to leaf epidermal cells due to concentrated small oil droplets or photosynthetic clogging due to plant stomata clogging. Damage to plants may also occur because the dilution of the oil-based pesticide is inherently unstable and therefore requires constant energy input by means of agitation to maintain the diluent oil dispersion. Inadequate agitation often results in poor distribution of oil in water/solvent due to coalescence of small oil droplets, which in turn form larger oil droplets. Larger small oil droplets, when sprayed onto the surface of the blade, result in an uneven distribution of oil, which in turn may cause a change in potency against the target pest and increase the risk of phytotoxicity. Although the horticultural oil-based pesticide of the present invention can be used at a conventional oil concentration and at least as efficiently as the conventional formulation, the horticultural oil-based pesticide formulation of the present invention is advantageously capable of being at an oil concentration of From about 0.056% to about 0.5% v/v, from about 0.056% to about 0.45% v/v, from about 0.15% to about 0.5% v/v or from about 0.15% to about 0.3% v/v of the pesticide nanoemulsion Effectively kills pests at lower dilutions. In addition and more importantly, the risk of phytotoxicity is reduced by less than 1% v/v of the horticultural oil in the diluted formulation.

In various embodiments, the stabilizer may comprise a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the concentration of the stabilizer ranges from about 0.001% to about 0.017% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. This concentration range of stabilizers is beneficial for maintaining the size and dispersibility of the droplets in the pesticide nanoemulsion. Stabilizers can have emulsifying properties and can be considered co-emulsifiers.

Preferably, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion comprises an adhesive. The adhesive preferably comprises solid particles suitable for obtaining a Pickering emulsion of a pesticide nanoemulsion. The adhesive may have emulsifying properties and may be considered as a co-emulsifier.

Preferably, the concentration of the horticultural oil ranges from about 0.01% to about 0.32% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, more preferably from 0.01% to about 0.27% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and even better. From 0.01% to about 0.15% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion.

Preferably, the emulsifier does not comprise a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof.

Preferably, the dilute pesticide emulsion comprises a surfactant.

Another aspect of the invention is a pesticide formulation comprising an effective amount of at least one pesticide and an adjuvant emulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients, comprising (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed as droplets in the adjuvant nanoemulsion. The average size of the droplets can range from about 50 nm to about 350 nm.

Another aspect of the invention is a pesticide formulation comprising an effective amount of at least one pesticide and a rare adjuvant nanoemulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients, And comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed as droplets in the rare adjuvant nanoemulsion. The average size of the droplets can range from about 50 nm to about 350 nm.

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and the pesticide formulation can be applied to the plant, soil, and/or intended area by means known in the art including, but not limited to, spraying, spraying, and gas. Sollation and / or direct pouring. The various components of the pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and the pesticide formulation can be multifunctional. For example, the particular component can be an emulsifier and an adhesive; or a stabilizer and an emulsifier. As an example, the polysaccharide or its derivative may be both a stabilizer and an emulsifier, and thus two inert ingredients are considered for the purposes of the present invention. The invention can be used in a variety of plants including, but not limited to, ornamental plants such as camellia and lilac; cereals and field crops such as oats, barley, wheat, rye, cotton, tobacco, corn, peanuts or soybeans; Fruits such as blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, bananas, peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pecans, avocados, grapes or tomatoes; vegetables such as broccoli, kale, broccoli, mustard Blue, lettuce, spinach, celery, onions or asparagus. The invention is applicable to seeds of plants, aquatic agricultural plants, roots and tuber crops, such as almonds or coffee beans; bulbs; bulbs; flowers, such as hops; stems; leaves;

The oil-based pesticide formulations and oil-based pesticide adjuvants of the present invention may comprise other additives including humectants and diffusing agents which improve the diffusion and area coverage of the applied formulation on the surface. Horticultural oil

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion and the formulation of the present invention comprise a horticultural oil. The horticultural oil is preferably present in the form of droplets in the formulation of the invention. Due to the hydrophobic nature of the oil, the droplets preferably associate and/or interact with emulsifiers, surfactants, stabilizers and/or binders in the formulation to form micelles. It should be understood that if the horticultural oil contains both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups, the horticultural oil can form its own microcapsules, which are associated with the emulsifier, surfactant, stabilizer and/or adhesive in the formulation. Combine and / or interact. The size of the droplets (measured in diameter) may range from a few nanometers to several micrometers, preferably from about 2 nm to about 400 nm, more preferably from 50 nm to about 400 nm, and even more preferably from about 50 nm to about 100. Within the nm range. The size of the droplets can be affected by the synthetic method, such as the rate of agitation of the hydrophobic horticultural oil in the solvent. In various embodiments, a higher agitation rate can result in smaller droplets.

The horticultural oil used in the present invention is effectively used as a pesticide for pest control. In particular, horticultural oils may be able to kill, destroy and/or control pests and/or their growth and spread. When used, the oil layer on the plant and/or soil causes the pest to suffocate and/or interfere with its normal biological function.

Horticultural oils include hydrophobic or substantially hydrophobic dormant oils and summer oils (also known as high grade super oils). Dormant oil is commonly used for pest control in the cool season, allowing plants to overwinter, while summer oil is typically used during the growing season.

The horticultural oils used in the present invention are typically processed into emulsified concentrates for dilution spray application to growing or post-harvest agricultural crops for the control of arthropods and fungal crop pests (including vegetables), hydrocarbons or Animal fatty oil. Typical oils used include ultra-refined paraffinic oils and vegetable oils such as soybean oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil or rapeseed oil. These oils contain very few to no volatile organic compounds, and the main mode of action is asphyxiation via arthropods and plant pathogens, where the physical effect of the oil is the active ingredient because the oil coating prevents breathing and kills pests. Examples of oils containing little to no volatile organic compounds include, but are not limited to, vegetable oils such as olive oil, soybean oil, palm oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, and rapeseed oil.

On the other hand, volatile vegetable oils have been used in recent years for their insecticidal properties. Such oils are highly aromatic due to the presence of various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), often referred to as secondary phytochemicals. Many volatile compounds have been shown to target biocidal activity against a wide range of diseases and pest types and are considered to act as plant defense chemicals. It has been used in a variety of applications ranging from medical to structural and agricultural pest control. Common examples of volatile vegetable oils include rosemary oil, garlic oil, clove oil, neem oil, and eucalyptus oil. The main difference between the horticultural oil used in the present invention and the volatile vegetable oil used in the prior art is the difference in the mode of action. Volatile vegetable oils rely on the toxic effects of VOCs, while horticultural oils use a physical mode of action.

Nanoemulsion is a relatively new formulation technology for oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion systems. Nanoemulsions are typically defined by a small oil droplet size reduction ranging from 50 nm to 400 nm, whereas conventional o/w emulsions are typically >400 nm. The advantage of nanoemulsion over conventional emulsion formulations is that smaller droplet sizes improve the distribution and targeting of small oil droplets to the target. Nanoemulsions have been used in a variety of industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural applications to increase the efficiency of delivering oil-miscible active ingredients in volatile vegetable oils to specific targets. However, the primary role of oils in their applications has been to serve as a carrier for oil-miscible active ingredients. In agriculture, for example, nanoemulsion formulations have been used to enhance the efficacy of oil-miscible pesticide active ingredients at established doses to increase pest mortality, or to reduce the required dosage required to achieve the desired level of control. The way.

In another aspect, the present invention uses nanoemulsion technology to improve the efficacy of horticultural oils in a completely different manner, wherein the oil is not used as a carrier for the oil-miscible active ingredient, in fact, the physical properties of the small oil droplets themselves Used as an active ingredient.

Viscosity affects the flow and spread of horticultural oil on the surface. Lighter oils spread more evenly, while heavier oils tend to be larger on the surface.

Horticultural oils can include synthetic oils and semi-synthetic oils. Preferably, the horticultural oil used in the compositions/formulations of the invention is edible. One or more horticultural oils can be used in the compositions/formulations of the invention. Emulsifier

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and the formulation of the present invention comprise an emulsifier. The emulsifier aids in the formation of the emulsion or prevents the emulsion from separating into its constituent phase. The emulsifier comprises a hydrophilic head that interacts with a hydrophilic solvent and a hydrophobic tail that interacts with a hydrophobic horticultural oil. In the emulsion, the emulsifier is positioned at the oil-solvent interface and maintains the separation of the oil from the solvent by reducing the surface tension.

Emulsifiers include, but are not limited to, acrylates, acrylate copolymers, agar, alginic acid and its derivatives, alginate derivatives including, but not limited to, ammonium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, seaweed Sodium and alginate propylene glycol), gum arabic, arabinogalactan, β-glucan, carrageenan, cellulose polymer, ceramide, chitin, dextran, diutetan gum Diutan gum), fussel blue algae, fucoidan, argan gum, glycogen, guar gum, guar gum, galena gum, laminin, lecithin, lignin locust bean gum, methacrylate , methyl methacrylate, modified starch, pectin, psyllium, polyvinylpyrrolidone, rhamnose gum, saponin and its derivatives (including but not limited to latex saponin), hard grapes Glycan, sulfonic acid, starch, starch hydroxyethyl ether, starch dextrin, tragacanth and Sanxian gum. Cellulose polymers include, but are not limited to, bacterial cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, ethyl-hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl Cellulose, methylcellulose, microparticulate cellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

Preferably, the emulsifier does not or is not a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof, especially when the stabilizer comprises a polysaccharide. However, in various embodiments, it is possible that both the stabilizer and the emulsifier comprise a polysaccharide, i.e., two polysaccharides will be present in the formulation. In these embodiments, preferably, the two polysaccharides are different polysaccharides. stabilizer

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and the formulation of the present invention comprise a stabilizer. The stabilizer stabilizes the emulsion by maintaining a homogeneous dispersion of the horticultural oil droplets in the solvent and preventing the horticultural oil from separating from the solvent (i.e., disintegrating the droplets to form a separate horticultural oil layer and solvent layer). Stabilizers can have emulsifying properties and certain stabilizers can be used as emulsifiers or co-emulsifiers. Preferably, the stabilizer in the compositions/formulations of the present invention is not a true emulsifier and is primarily used to stabilize the emulsion.

Stabilizers include, but are not limited to, proteins, polysaccharides, and derivatives thereof. In particular, stabilizers include, but are not limited to, acacia gum, agar, alginic acid and its derivatives, alginate derivatives (including but not limited to ammonium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, seaweed Sodium and alginate propylene glycol), gum arabic, carboxymethyl cellulose, carrageenan, gelatin, glycerin, glycogen, guar gum, galena gum, locust bean gum, mannitol, pectin and Derivatives, saponins or derivatives thereof, thorn gum, tragacanth and tri-sand.

Preferably, the stabilizer used in the compositions/formulations of the invention comprises a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof. More preferably, the stabilizer used in the compositions/formulations of the invention is a polysaccharide or a derivative thereof. A polysaccharide is a monosaccharide unit chain (ie, a sugar) polymerized by a glycosidic bond to a carbohydrate molecule. Polysaccharides include linear and branched structures, and may be homogeneous repeats of one type of monosaccharide unit (homopolysaccharide) or heterogeneous repeats of more than one type of monosaccharide unit in a random or non-random arrangement (also known as Heteropolysaccharide). As used throughout this specification herein, polysaccharides and derivatives thereof include structures having more than three monosaccharide units and thus include, but are not limited to, oligosaccharides. A polysaccharide derivative refers to a polysaccharide chain of a monosaccharide unit in which one or more side branches of one or more monosaccharide units are modified, for example, the side branches may contain a hydroxyl group, an amine group, and/or a carboxylic acid. base. Advantageously, the polysaccharide can modulate the viscosity of the compositions/formulations of the invention. When the polysaccharide is used in combination with solid particles such as clay particles and the emulsion comprises droplets having an average size of from about 2 nm to about 400 nm, the emulsion can remain undivided into its constituent phase even when diluted. Therefore, coalescence and phase separation are prevented, and the dilute solution can remain as a suspension for a long period of time exceeding 30 days.

Preferably, the stabilizers in the compositions/formulations of the invention include, but are not limited to, acacia gum, agar, alginic acid and derivatives thereof, alginate derivatives (including but not limited to ammonium alginate) , calcium alginate, potassium alginate and sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate), gum arabic, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan, glycogen, guar gum, galac gum, saponin or derivatives thereof , locust bean gum, pectin and its derivatives, thorn bean gum, tragacanth or three immortal gum.

The polysaccharide may also be a thickening agent and a gelling agent in the compositions/formulations of the invention. Solvent

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and the formulation of the present invention comprise a solvent. The solvent acts as a diluent in the present invention and dissolves or partially dissolves and disperses or partially disperses the components of the composition/formulation of the present invention. The solvent may comprise one or more of the following: water, an aliphatic hydrocarbon, an aromatic hydrocarbon, a ketone, an alcohol (straight or branched chain), an ester, a guanamine or an ether. The aliphatic hydrocarbon may comprise a linear or branched alkane, a linear or branched alkene (alkene/olefin) and/or a cyclic alkane (cycloalkane). Preferably, the solvent is hydrophilic or substantially hydrophilic. More preferably, the solvent is water.

When the solvent is water, the stable oil-in-water emulsion can be formed by first constructing a microemulsion formulation comprising a polysaccharide or other polymer and solid particles. Microemulsion formulations can be formed by blending such various components. The polysaccharide or other polymer acts as a viscosity modifier that operates to form micron droplets to maintain the distribution of the small oil spheres of the dispersed phase, thereby stabilizing the emulsion. Additionally, the solid particles act as a co-emulsifier to further stabilize the formulation in the Pickering-type microemulsion. Thus, polysaccharides or other polymers and solid particles cooperatively act to stabilize the formulation. The micronlet formulation (i.e., the microemulsion formulation) is then subjected to a high shear mixer to form a nanodroplet emulsion that further reduces the size of the small oil sphere and enhances the stability of the emulsion. Thus, an emulsion formulation comprising small oil droplets having an average size ranging from about 2 nm to about 400 nm can be formed. Advantageously, the nanoemulsion formulations in a particular particle size range are both thermodynamically and kinetically stable. This can lead to better insect penetration and reduced phytotoxicity. In addition, the emulsion formulation produces a pesticide formulation having a shelf life of more than two years, which can be readily diluted to the desired end use concentration.

Preferably, the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: butyl acetate, dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate and ethyl acetate; and an alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethanol, isobutanol, isopropanol, Methanol, phenol and propylene glycol; or a mixture thereof.

One or more solvents may be used to dissolve and/or disperse the components of the compositions/formulations of the present invention. The solvent used to dilute the pesticide nanoemulsion to the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion may be different from the solvent in the pesticide nanoemulsion. Boundary surfactant

The pesticidal nanoemulsion, dilute pesticide nanoemulsion, and formulation of the present invention may comprise one or more surfactants. The surfactant can reduce the surface tension of the horticultural oil in the solvent. Surfactants include, but are not limited to, anionic, nonionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactants, block polymers or polyelectrolytes.

Anionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts of sulfates, sulfonates, phosphates or carboxylates. Examples of sulfates are fatty acids and oils, ethoxylated alkylphenols, alcohols, ethoxylated alcohols, and sulfates of fatty acid esters. Examples of sulfonate are alkyl aryl sulfonate, diphenyl sulfonate, alpha olefin sulfonate, fatty acid and oil sulfonate, ethoxylated alkyl phenol sulfonate, twelve Sulfonates of alkylbenzenes and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalene and alkylnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates and sulfosuccinamides. An example of a phosphate ester is a phosphate ester. Examples of carboxylic acid esters are alkyl carboxylates, carboxylated alcohols and alkylphenol ethoxylates.

Nonionic surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkoxylates, N-alkylated fatty acid guanamines, amine oxides, esters, and sugar-based surfactants. Examples of alkoxylates are compounds such as alkoxylated alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, decylamines, arylphenols, fatty acids and fatty acid esters. Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide can be used for alkoxylation, and ethylene oxide is preferred. Examples of N-alkylated fatty acid guanamines are fatty acid glucosamine and fatty acid alkanolamines. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerides and monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitan, ethoxylated sorbitan, sucrose and glucose esters, and alkyl polyglucosides.

Examples of suitable cationic surfactants are quaternary surfactants (e.g., quaternary ammonium compounds having one or two hydrophobic groups) and salts of long chain primary amines.

Amphoteric surfactants include, but are not limited to, alkyl betaines and imidazolines.

Block copolymers include, but are not limited to, block copolymers of the AB and ABA type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, and include alkanols, polyethylene oxides, and polypropylene oxides. ABC type block copolymer.

Polyelectrolytes include, but are not limited to, polybasic acids and polybasic bases. An example of a polybasic acid is an alkali metal salt of polyacrylic acid. Examples of polybasic bases are polyvinylamine and polyethylamine.

The ability of the surfactant to reduce the surface tension of the microdroplets/cells depends on the molecular structure of the surfactant. In particular, the hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) determines whether the surfactant is soluble in water and whether the water-immiscible droplets are stabilized (ie, emulsified) in water. The HLB value of the surfactant indicates the overall polarity of the molecule, and in the range of 1 to 40, the most common commercial surfactant has an HLB value of 1 to 20. The HLB value increases as the hydrophilicity increases. Surfactants having an HLB value of 0 to 7 are considered to be lipophilic, surfactants having an HLB value of 12 to 20 are considered to be hydrophilic, and surfactants having an HLB value of 7 to 12 are considered intermediate. Preferably, a nonionic surfactant is used in the present invention wherein the nonionic surfactant can have an intermediate HLB value depending on factors such as chain length and degree of ethoxylation. Preferably, the surfactant comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants: linear alcohol ethoxylates such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether; phenol ethoxylates such as hydrazine Phenolic ethoxylate, octylphenol ethoxylate and dodecylphenol ethoxylate; polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, such as polysorbate 20; sorbitan fatty acid ester For example, sorbitan monostearate; sucrose fatty acid esters such as sucrose stearate; and vegetable oil surfactants such as polyoxyethylene castor oil or derivatives thereof. Adhesive / adhesive

The pesticide nanoemulsion, the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion and the formulation of the present invention may comprise one or more adhesion and adhesion agents. Adhesives and adhesives can be used to help maintain the compositions/formulations of the present invention on the surface (e.g., the surface of the blade) for extended periods of time. In particular, the adhesive and adhesive can increase the adhesion of the droplets to the surface of the composition/formulation of the present invention. The thickening agent which increases the viscosity of the composition/formulation may also be an adhesive, however the adhesive may not be a thickening agent, i.e., it does not increase the viscosity of the composition/formulation. Increasing the adhesion of the droplets to the application surface increases the residence time, which improves the effect of the formulation on the pest. Charged adhesives and adhesives also improve the penetration of droplets into pests to improve the killing of such pests.

Adhesives and adhesives can be charged or uncharged. Charged adhesives include positively charged and/or negatively charged molecules. Preferably, the adhesive is positively charged to improve the adhesion of the tiny droplets/cells to the negatively charged portion of the plant, such as a blade.

Adhesives and adhesives include, but are not limited to, clay, cellulose, charcoal, diatomaceous earth, natural or synthetic citrate, titanium dioxide, magnesium citrate, aluminum citrate, talc, pyrophyllite clay, vermiculite, green slope Vermiculite clay, chalk, limestone, calcium carbonate, bentonite or Fuller's earth. Preferably, the adhesion and adhesion agent is one or more of the following: cellulose, chalk, charcoal, diatomaceous earth, kaolinite, limestone or vermiculite.

Adhesives and adhesives can have other characteristics such as wetting and spreading properties. Adhesives and adhesives may also have emulsifying properties and may be considered co-emulsifiers. pesticide

Pesticide nanoemulsions and their dilute formulations can be used as adjuvants in pesticide compositions/formulations. Thus, the pesticidal nanoemulsion and its diluted form can be used and/or mixed with one or more chemical and/or biological pesticides as active ingredients to form a pesticidal composition/formulation. When used as an adjuvant, the pesticide nanoemulsion can be regarded as an adjuvant emulsion concentrate, and the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion can be regarded as a rare adjuvant nanoemulsion.

As used throughout this specification herein, and when a pesticide nanoemulsion and/or a diluted formulation thereof is used as an adjuvant in a pesticide composition/formulation, "pesticide" means killing, destroying, and/or controlling pests and / or its chemical or biological agents that grow and spread. Examples of pesticides that can be combined with the pesticide nanoemulsion and/or its diluted formulations include, but are not limited to, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, acaricides, bactericides, nematicides, and algaecides. . Those skilled in the art will be aware of the many types and types of pesticides available.

In various embodiments, more than one oil may be present in the pesticide composition/formulation, such as an adjuvant nanoemulsion comprising a vegetable oil (as a horticultural oil component) and an essential oil (as a pesticide component). Instance example 1

A pesticide nanoemulsion according to an embodiment of the present invention was developed for controlling insects and disease pests (pesticide 1) in wine grapes. Pesticide 1 is a soybean oil-based pesticide comprising 45% w/w soybean oil and 55% w/w inert ingredient. When mixed with water to form a dilute pesticide nanoemulsion and applied directly to plants (including leaves, stems, flowers and roots) at a specified rate, tests have shown that economic control of pests in the vineyard is achieved, especially for fungal pests , such as Botrytis and/or powdery mildew; and insect pests such as aphids, white flies, spider mites and/or aphids (eg spider mites).

The characteristics of pesticide 1 are as follows: · Highly concentrated formulation - about 1.50 liters of pesticide 1/ha. · Easy to mix in water · Can be mixed with most crop protection products and nutrient tanks. Use under warm or cool growing conditions · Vine-safe for all varieties of wine grapes · Compatible with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) organic and sustainable production practices · Can be used Biological Control Alternative (BCA) products · Minimal personal equipment due to non-toxicity or negligible toxicity to humans

Zero day post-harvest interval (PHI) · 4 hours re-entry period · Enhance the efficacy against pests while minimizing the risks associated with conventional horticultural oils · Does not affect vine breathing or veraison (ie, maturity begins) ) odorless, no detectable residue · extremely low risk of pest resistance · low volatile organic compound (VOC) example 2

The efficacy of the pesticide 1 was compared to a mixture of pesticides comprising a commercially available emulsifiable suspension fungicidal insecticide (pesticide C1) and a commercially available microbial insecticide (pesticide C2). The pesticide C1 contained 11.3% active ingredient ( Beauveria bassiana strain GHA) and 88.7% inert ingredient, and the pesticide C2 contained a naturally occurring fungus ( Paecilomyces fumosoroseus ).

Formulation of a pesticide 1 containing 4.8 fluid ounces (fl. oz) / 25 gallons (gal) and another formulation containing pesticide 1 in an amount of 9.75 fl. oz / 25 gal, and including Comparison of the formulation of the pesticide C1-Pesticide C2 of 7.0 fl.oz/25 gal. The results for the efficacy of spider eggs are shown in Figure 1A, and the results for the efficacy of spider mites and larvae are shown in Figure 1B.

With respect to Figures 1A and 1 B, it was shown to contain 4.8 fl.oz / 25 gal (0.15% v/v) compared to a formulation containing pesticide 1 in an amount of 9.75 fl.oz / 25 gal (0.30% v/v) The amount of pesticide 1 formulation exhibited superior results most of the time, even after an extended period of time. Advantageously, both formulations containing Pesticide 1 were able to reduce the number of spider mites, adult larvae and larvae, as evidenced by the dramatic reduction in the number of spider mites, adult larvae and larvae relative to untreated controls. Surprisingly, the two formulations containing Pesticide 1 also showed superior results on day 28 compared to formulations containing pesticide C1-Pesticide C2, confirming that Pesticide 1 controls pests more reliably than industry standards. Therefore, it is also indicated that a relatively small amount of pesticide 1 (0.15% v/v) is sufficient to reduce the number of spider mites, the number of spider mites and the number of larvae. In comparison, Pesticides 1 acted similarly to the known horticultural pesticides known in the art for application between 1.0% and 2.0% v/v formulations or 0.90 to 0.98% w/w horticultural oil. However, in the present invention, this pest control level is achieved at levels as low as 0.15% v/v formulation or 0.068% v/v horticultural oil concentration. Example 3

Another pesticide nanoemulsion (pesticide 2) according to an embodiment of the present invention was developed. Pesticide 2 is a non-volatile vegetable oil based pesticide comprising 34% w/w palm oil as the active ingredient and 66% w/w inert ingredient.

Similar to pesticide 1, pesticide 2 also contains soy as an active ingredient and based on Table 1, it is shown to work well at a dilution rate of 9.75 fl.oz / 25 gal (0.3% v/v or 3.0 ml/L). . In particular, it was found that pesticide 2 can effectively minimize the aphids on strawberries and mini roses, successfully reduce the incidence of gray mold on strawberry fruits, reduce the incidence of white rust on chrysanthemums, and effectively inhibit tomato The white fly population / minimized. The efficacy data mentioned above demonstrates consistency at lower horticultural oil concentrations (45% w/w in pesticide 1 versus 34% w/w in pesticide 2). Table 1.

It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt;

In addition, although individual embodiments have been discussed, it should be understood that the invention also encompasses combinations of the embodiments discussed.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGS. 1A and 1B are respectively illustrated in the spider eggs (Fig. 1A) and the adult larvae and larvae (Fig. 1B), with 7.0 fl.oz/25 The efficacy of a formulation comprising one of the following two amounts of an embodiment of the pesticide according to the invention compared to an existing pesticide of the amount of gal: (a) 4.8 fl. oz / 25 gal, (b) 9.75 fl. The amount of oz/25 gal; Figure 1A illustrates the average number of spider eggs per tomato leaf versus the number of days after treatment (DAT). Pesticide 1 exhibited a significant reduction in egg number at both dilution rates relative to the untreated control on all days except DAT 14. Pesticides 1 also showed control comparable to the industry standard pesticides C1-C2 on all dates except DAT28, in which pesticide 1 maintained a significantly lower number of eggs; Figure 1B illustrates the average number of adult spider larvae and larvae in each tomato leaf The number of days after (DAT). Pesticide 1 exhibited a significant reduction in egg number at both dilution rates on all dates relative to the untreated control. Pesticides 1 also showed non-significant differences on all dates compared to the industry standard pesticides C1-C2.

Claims (16)

A pesticide nanoemulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; (ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 1, wherein the droplets comprise an average size ranging from 50 nm to 350 nm. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 2, wherein the droplets comprise an average size ranging from 100 nm to 250 nm. A pesticidal nanoemulsion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of the stabilizer ranges from 0.5% to 5.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticidal nanoemulsion of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inert component mixture further comprises an adhesive having a concentration ranging from 0.25% to 3.00% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticidal nanoemulsion of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of the horticultural oil is less than 90% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 6, wherein the concentration of the horticultural oil is from 20.0% to 70.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion and the concentration of the inert component mixture is from 30.0% to 80.0 of the pesticide nanoemulsion. % w/w. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 7, wherein the amount of the horticultural oil is 45.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion and the concentration of the inert component mixture is 55.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticidal nanoemulsion of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of the emulsifier ranges from 0.1% to 10.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticidal nanoemulsion of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concentration of the surfactant ranges from 0.5% to 30.0% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. A pesticidal nanoemulsion according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 11, wherein the solvent comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is water and the second solvent is at least 0.25% w/w of the pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticidal nanoemulsion according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pesticide nanoemulsion is suitable for dilution by about 100 to 800 times to form a dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 13, wherein the concentration of the horticultural oil is from 0.056% to 0.45% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. The pesticide nanoemulsion of claim 13 or 14, wherein the concentration of the stabilizer ranges from 0.001% to 0.017% v/v of the dilute pesticide nanoemulsion. A pesticide formulation comprising an effective amount of at least one pesticide and an adjuvant emulsion comprising: (a) a horticultural oil as an active ingredient; (b) a mixture of inert ingredients comprising: (i) an emulsifier; Ii) a stabilizer; and (iii) a surfactant; and (c) a solvent, wherein the horticultural oil is dispersed in the solvent in the form of droplets to form the adjuvant nanoemulsion.