WO2020102800A1 - Rhamnolipid repellent and disinfectant - Google Patents

Abstract

A process includes applying a composition that includes rhamnolipid and a carrier to an article intended for contact with a plant.

Description

RHAMNOLIPID REPELLENT AND DISINFECTANT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent

Application No. 62/768,385, filed on November 16, 2018, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

[0002] The present technology is generally related to rhamnolipid compositions and their use in methods of preventing or minimizing the spread or transmission of pathogens in plants.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one aspect, a process includes applying a composition comprising rhamnolipid and a carrier to an article intended for contact with a plant. In some embodiments the article includes clothing, a tool, or a machine. In some embodiments, the plant is a bush, shrub, or tree, while in other embodiments, the plant is a cannabis plant. In any such embodiments, a concentration of the rhamnolipid in the composition is sufficient to inhibit or prevent the transfer of pathogens from the article to living and/or non-living items. In any embodiments, the rhamnolipid includes a mono-rhamnolipid, a di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof. In any of the embodiments herein, the carrier may be water.

[0004] In another aspect, a process includes contacting cannabis seeds with a composition comprising rhamnolipid and a carrier, to minimize or prevent the growth of a pathogen on the seed either before or after planting. In some embodiments, the contacting is conducted for at least 1 hour, at least 10 hours, at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours, prior to planting. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises liposomes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0005] Various embodiments are described hereinafter. It should be noted that the specific embodiments are not intended as an exhaustive description or as a limitation to the broader aspects discussed herein. One aspect described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced with any other embodiment(s).

[0006] As used herein,“about” will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and will vary to some extent depending upon the context in which it is used. If there are uses of the term which are not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the context in which it is used,“about” will mean up to plus or minus 10% of the particular term.

[0007] The use of the terms“a” and“an” and“the” and similar referents in the context of describing the elements (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is

incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ( e.g .,“such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claims unless otherwise stated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential.

[0008] The agricultural industry is facing issues with viruses, bacteria, and/or fungi leading to disease and mortality of plants, due to unsanitary cultivation practices. Shoes, clothing articles, tools, and machinery have been found to be responsible for transferring pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and/or fungi to plants in nurseries, leading to devastating results and disease progression. Such issues are of particular importance to the cannabis industry which had typically not received the attention needed to ensure that sanitary practices are followed. The issues may also be of particular importance in plant nurseries or farm settings where disease outbreaks may be prevalent or isolated. For example, where pathogen transfer between species or high populations of the same species is found. Before entering any nurseries, using clothing articles and tools soaked or sprayed with rhamnolipid may inhibit the transfer of pathogens affecting cannabis plants and other plants, trees and bushes.

[0009] Provided herein are compositions that include rhamnolipids to minimize or eliminate the transfer of pathogens that may affect plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes in the agricultural industry. Also provided are processes of using the rhamnolipid-containing compositions. Illustrative pathogens that may be treated with rhamnolipid compositions include, but are not limited to, viruses, yeasts, mold, bacteria, and fungus. Illustrative plant diseases that may be treated with the rhamnolipid compositions include, but are not limited to, hemp canker, citrus greening, African palm disease, and the like. Illustrative plant pathogens that may be treated with the rhamnolipid compositions include, but are not limited to, Candidatus Liberibacter, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Guignardia citricarpa, Xanthomonas campestris, Phytium aphanidermatum , Pythium splendens , Pythium myriotylum, Phythophthora capsici , Plasmopara lactucae-radicis, Colletotrichum orbiculare, Pythium, Phytophthora , P. thomii, Colletotrichum falcatum, Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium verticillioides, Red clover vein mosaic carlavirus, Ascochyta spp., Ascochyta prasadii, Phoma spp., Didymella spp., Phoma exigua, Phoma glomerate, Phoma herbarum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Aspergillus japonicus , Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia brachyspora, Greeneria uvicola, Nigrospora sphaerica , Trichoderma sp., Penicillium sclerotiorum, Peronospora belbahrii, Phytoplasma palmae, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria mali, Aspergillus niger, Aureobasidium pullulans, Botrytis cinereal, Cercospora kikuchii, Chaetonium globosum, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Colletotrichum orbiculare, Cylindrocarpon destructans, Didymella bryoniae, Fusarium solani, Fusarium sp., Fusarium sacchari, Gliocadium virens, Magnaporthe grisea, Mucor miehei,

Neurospora crassa, Penicillium funiculosum, Phytophthora sp., Pythium sp., Rhizoctonia solani, Erwinina carotovora, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Ralstonia solanacearum.

[0010] Rhamnolipids are mainly produced through fermentation using

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but they also can be produced by Rhodotorula taiwanensis, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Pseudomonas Rhizophila, Pseudomonas Chlororaphis and Burkholderia sp. Rhamnolipids are amphipathic having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, which allows the material to penetrate cell membranes of disease-causing bacteria.

[0011] In one aspect, a composition is provided that comprises rhamnolipid and a carrier. The rhamnolipid may be present in the composition at a concentration sufficient to inhibit, or prevent, the transfer of pathogens from an article contacted with the composition to living and/or non-living items. The rhamnolipid may include mono- rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid in the composition includes from about 5 wt% to about 95 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 95 wt% to about 5 wt% di-rhamnolipid. This may include from about 0.01 wt% to about 99.99 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 99.99 wt% to about 0.01 wt% di- rhamnolipid, from about 20 wt% to about 80 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 80 wt% to about 20 wt% di-rhamnolipid, or from about 30 wt% to about 70 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 70 wt% to about 30 wt% di-rhamnolipid. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid in the composition includes about 37 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 63 wt% di-rhamnolipid, about 40 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 60 wt% di-rhamnolipid, or about 50 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 50 wt% di-rhamnolipid. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid in the composition includes about 100 wt% mono- rhamnolipid, or about 100 wt% di-rhamnolipid. Other amounts and ranges for the mono- and di- rhamnolipid may be used as well.

[0012] The composition may include the rhamnolipid at a concentration of about 1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm. This may include from about 1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm, from about 1 ppm to about 5,000 ppm, from about 1 ppm to about 1,000 ppm, from about 100 ppm to about 10,000 ppm, from about 100 ppm to about 5,000 ppm, or from about 100 ppm to about 1,000 ppm. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid is present from about 100 ppm to about 300 ppm, from about 200 ppm to about 400 ppm, from about 300 ppm to about 500 ppm, from about 400 ppm to about 600 ppm, from about 500 ppm to about 700 ppm, from about 600 ppm to about 800 ppm, from about 700 ppm to about 900 ppm, from about 800 ppm to about 1000 ppm, or from about 900 ppm to about 1100 ppm. The composition may also include the rhamnolipid as powder form and may include the rhamnolipid from greater than 0 wt% to 100 wt%. This may include from about 0.01 wt% to 100 wt%, about 1 wt% to about 100 wt%, about 5 wt% to about 100 wt%, or about 10 wt% to 50 wt%.

[0013] The composition may also include other materials such as non-toxic agents, diluents, biosurfactants, and the like. The composition may also include other materials such as liposomes or agents such as citronella, or a mixture of any two or more thereof. In some embodiments, the carrier is a solution, a gel, paste, powder, or a polymer. In some embodiments, the carrier includes water.

[0014] In another aspect, a process is provided for applying any of the

compositions described herein to an article that is intended for contact with a plant. Such articles may include, but are not limited to articles of clothing, a tool, or a machine. The plants for which the article is intended to contact include brushes, shrubs, trees, flowers, annuals, perennials, and the like. The statement that the article in on intended for contact with a plant includes those articles that may come in contact with a plant. Such contact may occur in a garden, plant nursery, greenhouse, and the like. In any of the above embodiments, the plant may be a cannabis plant.

[0015] Illustrative articles may include, but are not limited to articles of clothing such as shoes, boots, gloves, hats, undergarments, socks, jackets, scarves, pants, or shirts. After contacting of the composition with the article, the composition may dried onto the article and/or the article may be stored or sealed in a plastic container, a rubber container, a paper container, or a cloth container. Illustrative containers may include, but are not limited to, a box, suitcase, closet, bag, trunk, or the like.

[0016] In the process, the applying may be conducted indoors or outdoors. In some embodiments, the applying is conducted in a humidity range from about 30% to about 70%. In any of the embodiments of the process, the temperature of the composition and/or the article is greater than about 0 °C. This includes temperatures of greater than about 10 °C, greater than about 15 °C, greater than about 20 °C, greater than about 25 °C, or greater than about 30 °C. Temperatures of from about 0 °C to about 45 °C, or from about 10° C to about 30°C, may also be preferred. [0017] In the processes, the article may be an article is amenable to washing in either a dish washing machine or a clothes washing machine and the composition comprising the rhamnolipid may be added to a wash or softener cycle for application to the article. In other embodiments, of the process, the composition may be applied to a cloth or fabric which is then used to wipe or apply the composition to the article.

Alternatively, the carrier may be cloth or fabric, such as a dryer sheet, which after washing may be used in a drying cycle of the article to apply the rhamnolipid to the article.

[0018] In other embodiments of the process, the applying of the composition may be either as a spray or a mist.

[0019] According to any of the above embodiments, the applying may be conducted at least 1 hour in advance of contact of the article with the plant. This may include where the applying may be conducted at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours in advance of contact of the article with the plant.

[0020] In yet another aspect, a process is provided for contacting cannabis seeds with any of the compositions described herein that include rhamnolipid and a carrier, to minimize or prevent the growth of a pathogen on the seed either before or after planting. According to this aspect, the contacting may be, in some embodiments, conducted for at least 1 hour. This may include, contacting the composition with the cannabis seeds for at least 10 hours, at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours, prior to planting.

[0021] In a further aspect, an article is provided that includes a composition comprising a rhamnolipid and a carrier; and an article of clothing, a tool, or a machine; wherein the article is in contact with, or is intended for contact with a plant. In some embodiments, the carrier may be absent such that after the composition is applied to an article the carrier is removed to dry the composition on the article. As noted above, the plant may be a bush, shrub, tree, or cannabis plant. According to various embodiments, the article may be an article of clothing that is one or more of a shoe, boot, glove, hat, undergarment, sock, jacket, scarf, pants, and a shirt.

[0022] In such embodiments, the rhamnolipid may include a mono-rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof. The rhamnolipid may include mono-rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid in the composition includes from about 5 wt% to about 95 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 95 wt% to about 5 wt% di-rhamnolipid. This may include from about 20 wt% to about 80 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 80 wt% to about 20 wt% di-rhamnolipid, or from about 30 wt% to about 70 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 70 wt% to about 30 wt% di- rhamnolipid. In some embodiments, the rhamnolipid in the composition includes about 37 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 63 wt% di-rhamnolipid, about 40 wt% mono- rhamnolipid and about 60 wt% di-rhamnolipid, or about 50 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 50 wt% di-rhamnolipid. Other amounts and ranges for the mono- and di- rhamnolipid may be used as well.

[0023] In some embodiments of the article, the composition may also include liposomes and/or citronella. In some embodiments of the article, the carrier comprises water or a dryer sheet.

[0024] In any of the embodiments herein of processes or compositions, the compositions that include rhamnolipid may further include trace amounts of metals or metal ions. Illustrative metals or metal ions include, but are not limited to, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Zn, or mixtures of any two or more thereof.

[0025] The present invention, thus generally described, will be understood more readily by reference to the following examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

[0026] Example 1. Demonstration of the process of utilizing rhamnolipids to decontaminate items used or worn during the cultivation of plants, trees, shrubs, or bushes.

[0027] A rhamnolipid decontamination solution containing 850 ppm of

rhamnolipid active matter was prepared as follows. The production medium consisted of a Ca-free mineral salt solution with 15.0 g/L NaNCb, 0.5 g/L MgSCL FLO, 1.0 g/L KC1, and 0.3 g/L K2HPO4. Soybean oil with a starting concentration of 250 g/L was used and 1 mL/L of the above-mentioned trace element solution was added. The trace element solution contained 2.0 g/L NaTGHsCF)^ H2O (sodium citrate hydrated), 0.28 g/L FeCl v6 H2O, 1.4 g/L ZnS0₄-7 H2O, 1.2 g/L C0CI2 6 H2O, 1.2 g/L CuSCriA H2O, and 0.8 g/L MnSOrfbO. Fermentation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Pseudomonas chlororaphis was carried out at 37° C, pH 6.9, and the process was carried out for 158 h. The rhamnolipid produced was purified by acidification and then an extraction was carried out using ethyl acetate. The molecular weight of the rhamnolipid was from 475 g/mol to 677 g/mol.

[0028] The rhamnolipid solution was determined to contain 4% active rhamnolipid as analyzed via the Orcinol spectrophotometric assay method outlined in Wang, Q. el. al. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 98, 842-853. A 10 g sample of this material was diluted to 1000 g total weight using filtered and ozonated purified drinking water, thus diluting the 40,000 ppm concentration in the Rhamnolipid fermentation product to 400 ppm (the is“Sample A”).

[0029] A pair of rounded toe work boots were decontaminated on the toe surface of each boot to remove bacteria and fungus by manually washing the surface with a paper towel imbibed with 1 ounce of household bleach by manually washing the surface for 60 seconds. The toes of the boots were covered with sterile gauze and allowed to air dry for 4 hours.

[0030] The contamination process included first collecting contaminated soil from a marsh area where mushrooms were observed to grow. Approximately a single loose spade shovel volume of soil was collected and sieved through a common aluminum door screen to collect about 3-4 ounce of fine, loose dirt free from roots and rocks into a new plastic zip lock bag.

[0031] The toes of the boots were then intentionally contaminated with the soil that was collected in the plastic bag. The boot toes were each covered with a teaspoon of the dirt sample and rubbed lightly with a paper towel to imbed some of the soil into the surface for 30 seconds, and then the excess was wiped off.

[0032] The boot toes were each sampled for growth of any mold, yeast, fungus, and/or bacteria contamination by swabbing with a sterile wooden cotton tip swab and then by wiping on two Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) plates, and on four nutrient agar plates. The six plates were incubated under standard conditions for 37 hours, and then were visually inspected for growth of colonies, and a cursory colony count was made.

[0033] The left boot toe was washed off with 16 ounces of deionized water and allowed to dry for 30 min. The right boot toe was washed off with 16 ounces of Sample A, as prepared above, and allowed to dry for 30 minutes.

[0034] The washed boot toes were again tested for mold, yeast, fungus, and/or bacterial contamination, as above. The agar plates that were then prepared, were incubated for 37 hours, and a colony count was determined. The results are presented in Table 1, where it is shown that washing with the Rhamnolipid solution (Sample A) reduces the colony count to zero in 5 out of the 6 plates.

Table 1. Colony count results after washing the round toe work boots

Restatement of claims from the priority document

[0035] Paragraph (“Para.”) 1. Spraying rhamnolipid on machinery and tools 24 hours before cultivating cannabis and other plants, trees, shrubs and bushes to inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens in plant, bush, shrub and tree nurseries.

[0036] Para. 2. Spraying clothes, shoes, boots, gloves, hats, undergarments, socks, jackets, scarfs and any other article of clothing with rhamnolipid and storing the articles of clothing in a sealed plastic, rubber, paper or cloth bag to be later used by nursery personnel to inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens.

[0037] Para. 3. Nursey personnel would wear clothing items utilizing claim 2 before entering a plant, tree, shrub and bush nursery to inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens to living and nonliving items located in the nursery.

[0038] Para. 4. Spraying rhamnolipid on pruning shears, cultivation machinery and other agricultural tools to inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens.

[0039] Para. 5. Spraying rhamnolipid on agricultural tools and storing them in sealed plastic, rubber, paper or cloth bags before using the tools in agricultural applications.

[0040] Para. 6. Using Paras. 1 through 5 where the rhamnolipid ratio is 63% di- rhamnolipid and 37% mono- rhamnolipid.

[0041] Para. 7. Using Paras. 1 through 5 where the rhamnolipid ratio is 60% di- rhamnolipid and 40% mono- rhamnolipid in outdoor and indoor climates where the humidity is between 30% and 70%.

[0042] Para. 8. Using Paras. 1 through 5 where the rhamnolipid ratio is 50% di- rhamnolipid and 50% mono- rhamnolipid in outdoor and indoor climates where the temperature is greater than 60 °F (equivalent to 15.5 °C).

[0043] Para. 9. Using Paras. 1 through 8 where the Rhamnolipid is used with liposomes.

[0044] Para. 10. Using Paras. 1 through 9 where the Rhamnolipid is mixed with a carrier.

[0045] Para. 11. Using Paras. 1 through 9 where the Rhamnolipid is mixed with tap water.

[0046] Para. 12. Using Paras. 1 through 9 where the Rhamnolipid is mixed with distilled water. [0047] Para. 13. Using Paras. 1 through 9 where the Rhamnolipid is mixed with

Citronella.

[0048] Para. 14. Washing clothes in a washing machine with rhamnolipid being used in place of fabric softener during the rinse cycle whereas the clothes will inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens when worn by nursey personnel.

[0049] Para. 15. Use Rhamnolipid wipes to remove diseases and pathogens from agricultural tools and machinery.

[0050] Para. 16. Using Rhamnolipid tents where a Rhamnolipid mist is applied inside a closed tent that maintains machinery and tools used in plant, tree, shrub, and bush nurseries to deter the transfer of diseases and pathogens.

[0051] Para. 17. When using a clothes dryer to dry clothes used by personnel in plant, tree, shrub and bush nurseries, use dryer sheets soaked in rhamnolipid to deter the transfer of diseases and pathogens.

[0052] Para. 18. Spraying holding tanks of vehicles that transport cannabis, and other plants, trees, shrubs and bushes to inhibit the transfer of diseases and pathogens.

[0053] Para. 19. Soaking cannabis seeds in Rhamnolipid for 12 hours before planting seeds for cultivation to inhibit growth of diseases and pathogens.

[0054] Para. 20. Soaking cannabis seeds in Rhamnolipid liposomes for 12 hours before planting seeds for cultivation to inhibit growth of diseases and pathogens.

[0055] While certain embodiments have been illustrated and described, it should be understood that changes and modifications can be made therein in accordance with ordinary skill in the art without departing from the technology in its broader aspects as defined in the following claims.

[0056] The embodiments, illustratively described herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation or limitations, not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, the terms“comprising,”“including,”“containing,” etc. shall be read expansively and without limitation. Additionally, the terms and expressions employed herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the claimed technology.

Additionally, the phrase“consisting essentially of’ will be understood to include those elements specifically recited and those additional elements that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed technology. The phrase“consisting of’ excludes any element not specified.

[0057] The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application. Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods and compositions within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds, compositions or biological systems, which can of course vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting.

[0058] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0059] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, particularly in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as“up to,”“at least,”“greater than,”“less than,” and the like, include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

[0060] All publications, patent applications, issued patents, and other documents referred to in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, patent application, issued patent, or other document was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety. Definitions that are contained in text incorporated by reference are excluded to the extent that they contradict definitions in this disclosure.

[0061] Other embodiments are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A process comprising contacting cannabis seeds with a composition comprising

rhamnolipid and a carrier, to minimize or prevent the growth of a pathogen on the seed either before or after planting.

2. The process of Claim 1, wherein the contacting is conducted for at least 1 hour.

3. The process of Claim 2, wherein the contacting is conducted for at least 10 hours, at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours, prior to planting.

4. The process of any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the composition further comprises liposomes.

5. The process of any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises mono- rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof.

6. The process of any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 37 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 63 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

7. The process of any one of Claims 1-6, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 40 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 60 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

8. The process of any one of Claims 1-7, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 50 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 50 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

9. The process of any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the carrier comprises water.

10. The process of any one of Claims 1-9, wherein the composition further comprises citronella.

11. A process comprising applying a composition comprising rhamnolipid and a carrier to an article intended for contact with a plant.

12. The process of Claim 11, wherein the article comprises clothing, a tool, or a machine.

13. The process of Claim 11 or 12, wherein the plant is a bush, shrub, or tree.

14. The process of Claim 11 or 12, wherein the plant is a cannabis plant.

15. The process of any one of Claims 11-14, wherein the article comprises clothing that is one or more of a shoe, boot, glove, hat, undergarment, sock, jacket, scarf, pants, and a shirt.

16. The process of any one of Claims 11-15, further comprising storing the article in a sealed plastic, rubber, paper, or cloth bag.

17. The process of any one of Claims 11-16, wherein a concentration of the rhamnolipid in the composition is sufficient to inhibit or prevent the transfer of pathogens from the article to living and/or non-living items.

18. The process of any one of Claims 11-17, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises mono- rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof.

19. The process of Claim 18, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 37 wt% mono- rhamnolipid and about 63 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

20. The process of Claim 18, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 40 wt% mono- rhamnolipid and about 60 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

21. The process of Claim 18, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 50 wt% mono- rhamnolipid and about 50 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

22. The process of any one of Claims 11-21, wherein the applying is conducted in an outdoor or indoor setting where the humidity is from about 30% to about 70%.

23. The process of any one of Claims 11-22, wherein the applying is conducted in an outdoor or indoor setting where the temperature is greater than about 15 °C.

24. The process of any one of Claims 11-23, wherein the composition further comprises liposomes.

25. The process of any one of Claims 11-24, wherein the carrier comprises water.

26. The process of any one of Claims 11-25, wherein the composition further comprises citronella.

27. The process of any one of Claims 11-26, wherein the article comprises clothing and the applying comprises washing the clothing in a washing machine.

28. The process of any one of Claims 11-27, wherein the applying comprises wiping the article with a fabric comprising the composition.

29. The process of any one of Claims 11-28, wherein the applying comprises applying as a spray or mist.

30. The process of any one of Claims 11-29, wherein the carrier comprises a dryer sheet.

31. The process of any one of Claims 11-30, wherein the applying is conducted at least 1 hour, at least 12 hours, or at least 24 hours in advance of contact of the article with the plant.

32. An article comprising:

a composition comprising a rhamnolipid and a carrier; and

an article of clothing, a tool, or a machine;

wherein the article is in contact with a plant.

33. The article of Claim 32, wherein the plant is a bush, shrub, tree, or cannabis plant.

34. The article of Claim 32, wherein the article is an article of clothing that is one or more of a shoe, boot, glove, hat, undergarment, sock, jacket, scarf, pants, and a shirt.

35. The article of any one of Claims 32-34, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises mono- rhamnolipid, di-rhamnolipid, or a mixture thereof.

36. The article of any one of Claims 32-35, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 37 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 63 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

37. The article of any one of Claims 32-36, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 40 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 60 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

38. The article of any one of Claims 32-37, wherein the rhamnolipid comprises about 50 wt% mono-rhamnolipid and about 50 wt% di-rhamnolipid.

39. The article of any one of Claims 32-38, wherein the composition further comprises liposomes and/or citronella.

40. The article of any one of Claims 32-39, wherein the carrier comprises water.

41. The article of any one of Claims 32-40, wherein the carrier comprises a dryer sheet.