WO2022101613A1 - Biodegradable fungicide composition - Google Patents

Biodegradable fungicide composition Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022101613A1
WO2022101613A1 PCT/GB2021/052890 GB2021052890W WO2022101613A1 WO 2022101613 A1 WO2022101613 A1 WO 2022101613A1 GB 2021052890 W GB2021052890 W GB 2021052890W WO 2022101613 A1 WO2022101613 A1 WO 2022101613A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
oil
composition
carvacrol
microcapsule
polymer
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2021/052890
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Hong Zhang
Rachel Louise BRANAGHAN
Sarah Jane MAUDE
Estelle MOREAU
Anne GUIBOILEAU
Original Assignee
UPL Corporation Limited
Upl Europe Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by UPL Corporation Limited, Upl Europe Ltd filed Critical UPL Corporation Limited
Publication of WO2022101613A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022101613A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N25/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
    • A01N25/08—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing solids as carriers or diluents
    • A01N25/10—Macromolecular compounds
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N25/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests
    • A01N25/02—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators, characterised by their forms, or by their non-active ingredients or by their methods of application, e.g. seed treatment or sequential application; Substances for reducing the noxious effect of the active ingredients to organisms other than pests containing liquids as carriers, diluents or solvents
    • A01N25/04—Dispersions, emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates or gels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N31/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing organic oxygen or sulfur compounds
    • A01N31/08—Oxygen or sulfur directly attached to an aromatic ring system
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N65/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N65/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof
    • A01N65/08—Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
    • A01N65/22—Lamiaceae or Labiatae [Mint family], e.g. thyme, rosemary, skullcap, selfheal, lavender, perilla, pennyroyal, peppermint or spearmint
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01N—PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS
    • A01N65/00—Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing material from algae, lichens, bryophyta, multi-cellular fungi or plants, or extracts thereof
    • A01N65/08—Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
    • A01N65/24—Lauraceae [Laurel family], e.g. laurel, avocado, sassafras, cinnamon or camphor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01P—BIOCIDAL, PEST REPELLANT, PEST ATTRACTANT OR PLANT GROWTH REGULATORY ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR PREPARATIONS
    • A01P3/00—Fungicides

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to compositions of microencapsulated bio-pesticides that exhibit advantageous biological, commercial and/or environmental properties. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biodegradable fungicide composition, a process for preparation of the said composition and a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi with said composition.
  • Polymeric material-based delivery systems have been a boom in the agricultural industry over the past two decades, because of its adaptability, durability, cost saving and eco-friendliness.
  • the use of polymers has increased significantly over other types of materials, because of its many possible applications, true reflection of the ease offered to the design of new compositions with very different properties.
  • many synthetic polymers that have been developed are mainly derived from petroleum and coal as raw material, which make them incompatible with the environment, since they cannot be included in what is a natural recycling system.
  • the present invention is directed to a naturally occurring polymer-based microencapsulated composition comprising a bio-fungicide that is useful for application in agriculture.
  • Essential oils contain a wide range of volatile molecules, including mostly secondary metabolites, which possess several biological activities. An increasing number of essential oils has shown an interesting activity from an agricultural consideration, against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms in vitro and in planta and against plant pests and pathogens.
  • Carvacrol is a natural monoterpenoid phenol, (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol). It is isomeric with thymol and is produced by Thymus, Thymbra, Coridothymus, Satureja, Origanum, Lippia pepperwort, Origanum vulgare and wild bergamot. It is a volatile constituent having abundant presence in essential oils of many aromatic plants, including thyme and oregano. Carvacrol induces an immediate neurotoxicity and its hydrophobicity influences its penetration. Carvacrol also has an acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect which was found to be ten times stronger than that exerted by its structural isomer thymol.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent(s) as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading and efficient retention of the active ingredient.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising a biofungicide encapsulated with a biodegradable polymer, wherein the bio-fungicide is an essential oil and/or its constituent(s).
  • the present invention provides a biodegradable composition
  • a bio-fungicide encapsulated with a biodegradable polymer.
  • the present invention provides a biodegradable microcapsule composition
  • a biodegradable microcapsule composition comprising an essential oil or its constituent as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading, an efficient retention of the active ingredient and a controlled release rate of the active and/or its constituent(s).
  • the present invention provides a method for the preparation of a microencapsulated composition.
  • the present invention provides a method for controlling/treating phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the plant or a plant propagation material or at its locus, a microencapsulated composition according to the invention.
  • the present invention provides use of the biodegradable microcapsule composition for controlling/treating phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the plant or to a plant propagation material or at its locus a microencapsulated composition according to the invention.
  • the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.
  • the term ‘constituent’ refers to the volatile components of the essential oil, which include terpenes, phenols, aldehydes, fatty acids, phenols, ketones, esters, alcohols, nitrogen and sulphur compounds.
  • release rate refers to the amount of the active, i.e. the essential oil or its constituent released over a period of time.
  • retention refers to the retention of the active after subjecting a composition to accelerated storage conditions for 2 weeks at a temperature of 54°C.
  • plant propagation material refers to all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers (e.g. potatoes), which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, roots, grains, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots, sprouts and other parts of plants. Seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil, may also be included. These plant propagation materials may be treated prophylactically with a plant protection compound either at or before planting or transplanting.
  • the ‘fungicidally effective amount’ means the amount of the composition needed to achieve an observable adverse effect on growth, including the effects of necrosis, death, retardation, prevention, and removal, destruction, fungi mortality after feeding and exposure to the composition for an appropriate length of time.
  • the term "contacting” includes both direct contact (applying the compositions directly on the animal pest or plant - typically to the foliage, stem or roots of the plant) and indirect contact (applying the active compounds/compositions to the locus, i.e. habitat, breeding ground, plant, seed, soil, area, material or environment in which fungi is growing or may grow.
  • crop refers to both, growing and harvested crops.
  • the present invention is directed to encapsulation of a bio-fungicide with biopolymers that gradually replace synthetic polymers to address and resolve above mentioned problems, for developing microencapsulation technique with controlled release system.
  • a composition comprising a microencapsulated biopesticide, i.e. an essential oil and/or its volatile constituent as the active ingredient is having a good retention of the active ingredient. Moreover, the % loading of the active ingredient was found to be high. Additionally, the pesticidal activity of the composition was also found to be efficient against a broad spectrum of fungi.
  • a microencapsulated biopesticide i.e. an essential oil and/or its volatile constituent as the active ingredient
  • the present invention provides an agrochemical composition
  • a bio-fungicide wherein the bio-fungicide is encapsulated within or coated with a polymer or a combination of polymers; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer that forms a capsular wall which encapsulates the active bio-fungicide to form a microcapsule, or wherein the bio-fungicide particles are at least partially coated with the polymer(s).
  • the present invention provides a biodegradable microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule has high loading and efficient retention of the active ingredient.
  • the polymer is a biopolymer.
  • biopolymers replace the conventional synthetic polymers due to an increased interest in sustainable development.
  • Biopolymers used to obtain biodegradable materials have diverse provenances, such as products from vegetable origin (starches, celluloses, pectins, chitosan, zein, etc.); animal origin (casein, whey protein, and gelatin); microbial products (polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxyvalerate) and chemically synthesized polymers from the monomers of natural origin (polylactic acid).
  • the present composition is environmentally friendly, highly effective, low in toxicity, has good compatibility with the environment, and can be used for the prevention and treatment of various plant fungal diseases.
  • the present invention provides a fungicide composition comprising an essential oil encapsulated within a biopolymeric shell wall.
  • the bio-fungicide is an essential oil.
  • the essential oil is selected from one or more of sesame oil, pyrethrum, glycerol-derived lipids or glycerol fatty acid derivatives, cinnamon oil, cedar oil, clove oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, angelica oil, mint oil, turmeric oil, Wintergreen oil, rosemary oil, anise oil, carvacrol oil, cardamom oil, caraway oil, chamomile oil, coriander oil, guaiacwood oil, cumin oil, dill oil, mint oil, parsley oil, basil oil, camphor oil, cananga oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, ginger oil, copaiba balsam oil, perilla oil, cedarwood oil, jasmine oil, palmarosa sofia oil, western mint oil, star anis oil, tuberose oil, neroli oil, tolu balsam oil, patchouli oil, palmarosa oil, Chamaecyparis obt
  • the essential oil is carvacrol oil.
  • the essential oil is thyme oil.
  • the essential oil is thymol oil.
  • the essential oil is orange oil.
  • the essential oil is cinnamon oil.
  • a volatile constituent of an essential oil is encapsulated.
  • the volatile constituent of an essential oil is carvacrol.
  • the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 1% to 80% by weight of the composition.
  • the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 10% to 70% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment the present composition comprising at least 20% or at least 50% of essential oil by weight of the composition.
  • the fungicide composition comprises carvacrol oil encapsulated within one or more biodegradable polymers.
  • the carvacrol oil is used in an amount in the range of 1 to 80% or 5 to 70%, or 10 to 60%, or 10 to 50%, preferably 10 to 40% by weight of the composition.
  • carvacrol oil is used in an amount in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
  • the fungicide formulation comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer that forms a capsular wall which encapsulates the active compound to form a microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides a controlled release bio-fungicide formulation comprising an essential oil and/or its constituent encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein the loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
  • the present invention provides a controlled release bio-fungicide formulation comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein the loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
  • the microcapsule shell can be formed by a polymer or polymers which wholly or partially covers a fungicide rich core.
  • the shell of the microcapsule can be comprised by a wall, in which is made up of a polymer or a mixture of polymers.
  • the polymers that are used to construct the microcapsule wall includes at least one type of biopolymer.
  • the biopolymer is selected from at least one from the group of polysaccharides for example starches, carrageenan, maltodextrins, or arabic gum, lipids for example stearic acid, mono- and diglycerides, or proteins for example albumins, pea protein, gelatin, and casein or combinations thereof.
  • the formulation with high loading of active ingredient can be prepared by using biodegradable polymers.
  • the biopolymer is Maltodextrin.
  • the biopolymer is Arabic gum.
  • the biopolymer is a combination of Maltodextrin and Arabic gum.
  • gum arabic and arabic gum refer to the same compound and have been used interchangeably.
  • the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 : 100 to 100: 1 .
  • the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 :50 to 50:1.
  • the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1.
  • biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 3: 1.
  • microcapsules of the present invention provide improved shelf life and controlled release of the active ingredient.
  • the controlled release of the active ingredient was found to lead to a superior efficacy of the compositions of the present invention.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising an essential oil and/or its constituent encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 : 10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising carvacrol encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising thymol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of thymol oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising thyme oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of thyme oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
  • the present invention provides solid or liquid formulation comprising microcapsules comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated with biodegradable polymers.
  • formulation may be in the form of Water Dispersible Granules (WDG), Wettable Powders (WP), Suspension Concentrates, Emulsifiable Concentrate, Suspoemulsions, Capsule Suspensions etc.
  • WDG Water Dispersible Granules
  • WP Wettable Powders
  • Suspension Concentrates Emulsifiable Concentrate
  • Suspoemulsions Suspoemulsions
  • Capsule Suspensions etc.
  • WDG Water Dispersible Granules
  • WP Wettable Powders
  • Suspension Concentrates Emulsifiable Concentrate
  • Suspoemulsions Suspoemulsions
  • Capsule Suspensions etc.
  • the choice of any preferred formulation type is not particularly limiting.
  • the formulation is a solid formulation (WP).
  • the essential oil may be absorbed or absorbed on a carrier, and particles of the carrier embedded with the essential oil may be at least partially coated with biodegradable polymer(s).
  • the formulation is a liquid formulation preferably capsule suspension formulation.
  • the present invention provides a capsule suspension formulation comprising microcapsules comprising an essential oil encapsulated within a biopolymeric wall.
  • composition of the present invention may contain agriculturally acceptable adjuvants, carriers, diluents, surfactants, surface-active substances, wetting agents, emulsifiers, fillers, dispersants, pigments, antifoaming agents, anti-freezing agents, freezing agents, viscosity modifier, colorants, solvents, preservatives etc.
  • Suitable agricultural carriers may include, but are not limited to, crop oil concentrates; methylated seed oils, emulsified methylated seed oil, nonylphenol ethoxylate; benzylcocoalkyldimethyl quaternary ammonium salt; blend of petroleum hydrocarbon, alkyl esters, organic acid, and anionic surfactant; C9-C11 alkylpolyglycoside; phosphated alcohol ethoxylate; natural primary alcohol (C12- Cie) ethoxylate; di-sec-butylphenol EO-PO block copolymer; polysiloxane-methyl cap; nonylphenol ethoxylate, urea ammonium nitrate; tridecyl alcohol (synthetic) ethoxylate (8EO); tallow amine ethoxylate ; PEG(400) dioleate-99, alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; alkylarylsul
  • Suitable liquid carriers that may be employed in a composition of the present invention may include water or organic solvents.
  • the organic solvents include, but are not limited to, petroleum fractions or hydrocarbons such as mineral oil, aromatic solvents, paraffinic oils, and the like; vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; esters of the above vegetable oils; esters of monoalcohols or dihydric, trihydric, or other lower polyalcohols (4-6 hydroxy containing), such as 2-ethyl hexyl stearate, n-butyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol dioleate, di-octyl succinate, di-butyl adipate, di-octyl phthalate and the like; est
  • Organic solvents include, but are not limited to toluene, xylene, petroleum naphtha, crop oil, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethyl alkylamides, dimethyl sulfoxide.
  • Solid carriers that may be employed in the compositions of the present invention may include but are not limited to attapulgite, pyrophyllite clay, silica, kaolin clay, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earth, lime, calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, Fuller's earth, talc, cottonseed hulls, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, walnut shell flour, lignin, cellulose etc.
  • the present invention also provides a microencapsulated essential oil formulation comprising a plurality of microcapsules, each containing at least one essential oil, wherein said formulation or microencapsulated essential oil is prepared according to the method of the invention.
  • compositions/formulations of the present invention are stable and provide desired controlled release of carvacrol.
  • the present invention provides naturally occurring polymer- based microcapsules comprising carvacrol oil for controlled release on fungal disease management.
  • the formulations according to the present invention are useful in combating, preventing or controlling phytopathogenic diseases which comprises applying to a phytopathogen, to the locus of a phytopathogen, or to a plant susceptible to attack by a phytopathogen, or to propagation material thereof.
  • Blast Magnaporthe grisea
  • Helminthosporium leaf spot Helminthosporium leaf spot
  • sheath blight Sheath blight
  • bakanae disease Gibberella fujikuroi
  • Rhizoctonia solani Rhizoctonia damping-off
  • smut Ustilago maydis
  • brown spot Cochliobolus heterostrophus
  • copper spot Gloeocercospora sorghi
  • southern rust Puccinia polysora
  • gray leaf spot Cercospora zeae-maydis
  • white spot Phaeosphaeria mydis and/or Pantoea ananatis
  • Rhizoctonia damping-off Rhizoctonia solani
  • blossom blight (Monilinia mali), canker (Valsa ceratosperma), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria alternata apple pathotype), scab (Venturia inaequalis), powdery mildew, bitter rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), crown rot (Phytophtora cactorum), blotch (Diplocarpon mali), and ring rot (Botryosphaeria berengeriana).
  • scab (Venturia nashicola, V. pirina), powdery mildew, black spot (Alternaria alternata Japanese pear pathotype), rust (Gymnosporangium haraeanum), and phytophthora fruit rot (Phytophtora cactorum).
  • brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), powdery mildew, scab (Cladosporium carpophilum), and phomopsis rot (Phomopsis sp.).
  • anthracnose (Elsinoe ampelina), ripe rot (Glomerella cingulata), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator), rust (Phakopsora ampelopsidis), black rot (Guignardia bidwellii), botrytis, and downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola).
  • anthracnose Cold-totrichum lagenarium
  • powdery mildew Sphaerotheca fuliginea
  • gummy stem blight Mycosphaerella melonis
  • Fusarium wilt Fusarium oxysporum
  • downy mildew Pseudoperonospora cubensis
  • Phytophthora rot Phytophthora sp.
  • damping-off Pythium sp.
  • kidney bean anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemthianum).
  • Diseases of peanut leaf spot (Cercospora personata), brown leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii).
  • brown spot (Alternaria longipes), powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum), anthracnose (Colletotrichum tabacum), downy mildew (Peronospora tabacina), and black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae).
  • sclerotinia rot Sclerotinia sclerotioruni
  • Rhizoctonia damping-off Rhizoctonia solani
  • Diseases of cotton Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).
  • Diseases of sugar beet Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora beticola), leaf blight (Thanatephorus cucumeris), Root rot (Thanatephorus cucumeris), and Aphanomyces root rot (Aphanomyces cochlioides).
  • Black sigatoka Mycosphaerella fijiensis
  • Yellow sigatoka Mycosphaerella musicola
  • the fungal disease is powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii). In some embodiments, the fungal disease is powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in grapes.
  • the composition is effective for protecting the plant from powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).
  • the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Phytophthora sp.
  • the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Phytophthora infestans.
  • the composition is effective for protecting the tomato plant from late blight infections caused by Phytophthora infestans.
  • the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Botrytis cinerea (grey mold disease).
  • the composition is effective for protecting strawberries from infections caused by Botrytis cinerea (grey mold disease).
  • the present invention provides a microcapsule of carvacrol oil for controlled release on grape disease management.
  • the average particle size of the microcapsules is in the range of from about 0.5 micron to about 100 microns in diameter.
  • the present invention provides a method of preparing the microcapsules comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide, and at least one wall forming polymer; and forming a microcapsule having a polymeric wall, wherein the wall at least partially encompasses a portion of the fungicide, forming said microcapsule.
  • the method for preparation of an essential oil microcapsule comprising; a) preparing a mixture of essential oil, surfactants, and encapsulating polymers; b) adding the mixture into water to obtain emulsions; c) subjecting obtained emulsion into a spray dryer to obtain microcapsules.
  • the method for preparation of a carvacrol microcapsule comprising; a) preparing a mixture of carvacrol, surfactants, and encapsulating polymers; b) adding the mixture into water to obtain emulsions; c) subjecting obtained emulsion into a spray dryer to obtain microcapsules.
  • the process involves mixing active ingredient, surfactants, and encapsulating material.
  • the mixture is added into water and subjected to agitation to obtain an emulsion which is fed into a spray dryer at required temperature for example inlet air temperature is 120°C and the outlet air temperature is 100°C.
  • the emulsion is then dried, and the microcapsules are collected in the collection chamber.
  • microcapsules are further mixed with carrier for example water and additional dispersants if required, under agitation to obtain liquid formulations.
  • carrier for example water and additional dispersants if required
  • the present invention provides a method of controlling fungal disease, comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide formulation comprising microcapsule comprising essential oil or its constituent encapsulated by a biopolymeric wall; the wall at least partially encapsulating the fungicide to form a microcapsule, and applying said encapsulated fungicide to a surface, for example the leaves, stems or trunk of a plant.
  • the present invention provides a method of controlling fungal diseases, comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide formulation comprising microcapsule comprising carvacrol encapsulated by a biopolymeric wall; the wall at least partially encapsulating the fungicide to form a microcapsule, and contacting said encapsulated fungicide to a surface, for example the leaves, fruits, stems or trunk of a plant.
  • the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 100 to 2000 g a.i./ha.
  • the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 200 to 1500 g a.i./ha. In an embodiment, the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 200 to 1000 g a.i./ha.
  • the application rate of the fungal composition is in an amount of 200 to 5000 ml/ha.
  • the application rate of the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 400 to 4500 ml/ha.
  • the application rate of the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 1000 to 3000 ml/ha.
  • composition of the present present invention may be used for foliar applications, or applied to plant surfaces, plant propagation material or to the locus thereof, seed treatment application, ground or soil drenching applications.
  • compositions of the present invention may be accompanied by a package, which comprises instructions for using the composition for protecting a plant from fungal attack.
  • the package comprises instructions for using the composition for controlling fungal disease infecting a plant.
  • the instructions comprise application rates, application times, target fungal pathogen, and/or target plant as described herein.
  • composition of the present invention can be combined with at least one additional agrochemical component.
  • pesticides include but are not limited to herbicides, fungicides, miticides, larvicides, avicides, insecticides, nematicides and rodenticides.
  • the present invention provides a composition comprising an essential oil and/or its volatile constituent as the active ingredient with good retention of the active ingredient even at accelerated stability storage test conditions.
  • the % loading of the active ingredient was found to be as high, considering the volatile nature of essential oils and its constituents.
  • the present composition also possesses a controlled release rate of the active, thereby reducing the possibility of phytotoxicity. Additionally, the pesticidal activity of the composition was also found to be efficient against a broad spectrum of fungi.
  • the present invention may be used to control diseases in agricultural crops for cultivating the plants without any phytotoxicity to the plant.
  • crops on which the present compositions can be used include but are not limited to corn, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oat, sorghum, cotton, soybean, peanut, buckwheat, beet, rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, tobacco, etc.; vegetables: solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, pimento, pepper, A potato, etc., cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, water melon, melon, squash, etc., cruciferous vegetables such as radish, white turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, leaf mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., asteraceous vegetables such as burdock, crown daisy, artichoke, lettuce, etc, liliaceous vegetables such as green onion, onion, garlic, and asparagus, 4h, ammiaceous vegetables such as carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc., chenopodiaceous vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, etc., lam
  • berries such as blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc., grape, kaki fruit, olive, plum, banana, coffee, date palm, coconuts, etc., trees other than fruit trees; tea, mulberry, flowering plant, trees such as ash, birch, dogwood, Eucalyptus, Ginkgo biloba, lilac, maple, Quercus, poplar, Judas tree, Liquidambar formosana, plane tree, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae, fir wood, hemlock, juniper, Pinus, Picea, and Taxus cuspidate, etc.
  • composition of the present invention can be packaged as a kit-of-parts.
  • a kit-of-parts may contain various components of the formulation of the present invention and an instruction manual that may can be used as per the instruction manual.
  • the representative weights of the components used for capsule suspension (CS) preparation are summarized in the table below.
  • the preparation procedure was as follows: The raw material mixture was made according to the designed ratios by including carvacrol oil, surfactants, and encapsulating material. The mixture was added into water and emulsions were generated under agitation. Then the emulsion was fed into a spray dryer and the microcapsules were collected.
  • microcapsules are further mixed with water, additional dispersants with designed ratios as mentioned in the table above.
  • the final product is made under agitation.
  • the present inventors have selected a series of three test samples, each for the WP formulation and the CS formulation. These samples were tested for their physicochemical stability.
  • the stability of the WP formulation of the present invention is reflected in the retention of the composition after subjecting it to an accelerated storage testing for 2 weeks at 54°C. There was no considerable change in the weight of the composition after the testing period. The results for dilution sediment testing also showed good results.
  • the stability of the CS formulation of the present invention is reflected in the retention of the composition after subjecting it to accelerated storage testing for 2 weeks at 54 °C. There was no considerable change in the weight of the composition after the testing period. The results for dilution sediment testing also showed good results.
  • Example 3 Controlled release of carvacrol The carvacrol release (%) rates of the WP formulations according to the present invention were studied and the results are presented in below table. The samples were prepared as per the examples provided above.
  • Bio-efficacy of present fungicide formulations was evaluated on plant pathogens as represented in below table 5.
  • Formulation 1 was the WP formulation (540g/kg) and Formulation 2 (230 g/L) was the CS formulation of carvacrol and were prepared as described in Example 1.
  • the tested method used for evaluation was agar plates test method. The rates at which the formulations were tested were at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 g. a.i/l.
  • Example 5 Evaluation of the carvacrol oil microencapsulated composition against Phytophtora spp.
  • the present inventors have performed pot trial studies to evaluate the efficacy of the present composition against Phytophtora spp. causing soil diseases in tomato crop.
  • the efficacy of the composition was evaluated versus a commercially used Azoxystrobin formulation.
  • the wettable powder formulation was used for the purposes of this evaluation at a concentration of 540g/kg.
  • the application was made through soil drenching at a rate of 1000g ai/ha.
  • the application of the formulation was first made at time ‘A’.
  • the second application of the formulation was made at time ‘B’, i.e. at 14 days after the first application ‘A’.
  • Example 5 Evaluation of the carvacrol oil microencapsulated composition against Botrytis cinerea causing fungal rot in strawberry.

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Abstract

The present invention provides compositions of microencapsulated bio-fungicides comprising an essential oil and/or its constituent encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1:10 to 10:1, wherein loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biodegradable fungicide composition, a process for preparation and a method of controlling fungi with said composition.

Description

Title: Biodegradable fungicide composition
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to compositions of microencapsulated bio-pesticides that exhibit advantageous biological, commercial and/or environmental properties. More particularly, the present invention relates to a biodegradable fungicide composition, a process for preparation of the said composition and a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungi with said composition.
Background of the invention
Polymeric material-based delivery systems have been a boom in the agricultural industry over the past two decades, because of its adaptability, durability, cost saving and eco-friendliness. The use of polymers has increased significantly over other types of materials, because of its many possible applications, true reflection of the ease offered to the design of new compositions with very different properties. However, many synthetic polymers that have been developed are mainly derived from petroleum and coal as raw material, which make them incompatible with the environment, since they cannot be included in what is a natural recycling system.
There has been a growing demand of environment friendly products, thus promoting the development of biodegradable based biopolymers such as lipids, polysaccharides, and proteins, which have been studied as renewable and inexpensive raw materials and are considered as an alternative to nonbiodegradable petroleum derivatives.
Therefore, recent studies focus on finding new technologies to use naturally occurring biodegradable materials (natural polymers). The integrated use of natural resources as a source of conservation becomes an excellent choice and innovation in the development of new eco-friendly and biodegradable products.
The present invention is directed to a naturally occurring polymer-based microencapsulated composition comprising a bio-fungicide that is useful for application in agriculture.
Essential oils contain a wide range of volatile molecules, including mostly secondary metabolites, which possess several biological activities. An increasing number of essential oils has shown an interesting activity from an agricultural consideration, against a broad spectrum of micro-organisms in vitro and in planta and against plant pests and pathogens.
Carvacrol is a natural monoterpenoid phenol, (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol). It is isomeric with thymol and is produced by Thymus, Thymbra, Coridothymus, Satureja, Origanum, Lippia pepperwort, Origanum vulgare and wild bergamot. It is a volatile constituent having abundant presence in essential oils of many aromatic plants, including thyme and oregano. Carvacrol induces an immediate neurotoxicity and its hydrophobicity influences its penetration. Carvacrol also has an acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect which was found to be ten times stronger than that exerted by its structural isomer thymol. It acts at the picrotoxinin site of the GABA (y-aminobutyric acid) receptor-ionophore complex and as an antagonist, thus, inhibiting the chloride uptake through the chloride channel. However, due to challenges relating to reduced stability and low retention of carvacrol as an active, there has been a lack of progress in providing such formulations.
The prior art literature is silent on the challenges relating to the low loading, stability and retention of an essential oil or its volatile constituent(s) as an active ingredient in a biodegradable fungicide composition for agricultural use. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a biodegradable bio-fungicide composition such that an efficient retention of the active accompanied with efficient fungicidal properties is obtained.
Object of the invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a biodegradable microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent(s) as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading and an efficient retention of the active ingredient.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a biodegradable composition comprising a microcapsule encapsulating a bio-fungicide. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a process for preparing a biodegradable composition comprising a microcapsule encapsulating a biofungicide.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling fungi by applying the biodegradable microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading and an efficient retention of the active ingredient.
Summary of invention
The present invention provides a microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent(s) as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading and efficient retention of the active ingredient.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a composition comprising a biofungicide encapsulated with a biodegradable polymer, wherein the bio-fungicide is an essential oil and/or its constituent(s).
In another aspect the present invention provides a biodegradable composition comprising a bio-fungicide encapsulated with a biodegradable polymer.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a biodegradable microcapsule composition comprising an essential oil or its constituent as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule is having a high loading, an efficient retention of the active ingredient and a controlled release rate of the active and/or its constituent(s).
In another aspect the present invention provides a method for the preparation of a microencapsulated composition.
In another aspect the present invention provides a method for controlling/treating phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the plant or a plant propagation material or at its locus, a microencapsulated composition according to the invention.
In one aspect the present invention provides use of the biodegradable microcapsule composition for controlling/treating phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the plant or to a plant propagation material or at its locus a microencapsulated composition according to the invention.
Description of present invention
For the purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of materials/ingredients used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about".
Thus, before describing the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particularly exemplified composition/systems or process parameters that may of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments of the invention only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms discussed herein is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to various embodiments given in this specification. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions will control.
It must be noted that, as used in this specification, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances.
As used herein, the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. As used herein, the term ‘constituent’ refers to the volatile components of the essential oil, which include terpenes, phenols, aldehydes, fatty acids, phenols, ketones, esters, alcohols, nitrogen and sulphur compounds.
As used herein, the term release rate refers to the amount of the active, i.e. the essential oil or its constituent released over a period of time.
As used herein, the term retention refers to the retention of the active after subjecting a composition to accelerated storage conditions for 2 weeks at a temperature of 54°C.
The term "plant propagation material" refers to all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers (e.g. potatoes), which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, roots, grains, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots, sprouts and other parts of plants. Seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil, may also be included. These plant propagation materials may be treated prophylactically with a plant protection compound either at or before planting or transplanting.
The ‘fungicidally effective amount’ means the amount of the composition needed to achieve an observable adverse effect on growth, including the effects of necrosis, death, retardation, prevention, and removal, destruction, fungi mortality after feeding and exposure to the composition for an appropriate length of time.
As used herein, the term "contacting" includes both direct contact (applying the compositions directly on the animal pest or plant - typically to the foliage, stem or roots of the plant) and indirect contact (applying the active compounds/compositions to the locus, i.e. habitat, breeding ground, plant, seed, soil, area, material or environment in which fungi is growing or may grow.
The term "crop" refers to both, growing and harvested crops.
The present invention is directed to encapsulation of a bio-fungicide with biopolymers that gradually replace synthetic polymers to address and resolve above mentioned problems, for developing microencapsulation technique with controlled release system.
The present inventors have surprisingly found that a composition comprising a microencapsulated biopesticide, i.e. an essential oil and/or its volatile constituent as the active ingredient is having a good retention of the active ingredient. Moreover, the % loading of the active ingredient was found to be high. Additionally, the pesticidal activity of the composition was also found to be efficient against a broad spectrum of fungi.
In an aspect the present invention provides an agrochemical composition comprising a bio-fungicide, wherein the bio-fungicide is encapsulated within or coated with a polymer or a combination of polymers; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer that forms a capsular wall which encapsulates the active bio-fungicide to form a microcapsule, or wherein the bio-fungicide particles are at least partially coated with the polymer(s).
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a biodegradable microcapsule comprising an essential oil or its constituent as the active ingredient, wherein said microcapsule has high loading and efficient retention of the active ingredient.
In an embodiment, the polymer is a biopolymer.
According to the present invention, biopolymers replace the conventional synthetic polymers due to an increased interest in sustainable development. Biopolymers used to obtain biodegradable materials have diverse provenances, such as products from vegetable origin (starches, celluloses, pectins, chitosan, zein, etc.); animal origin (casein, whey protein, and gelatin); microbial products (polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxyvalerate) and chemically synthesized polymers from the monomers of natural origin (polylactic acid).
The present composition is environmentally friendly, highly effective, low in toxicity, has good compatibility with the environment, and can be used for the prevention and treatment of various plant fungal diseases.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicide composition comprising an essential oil encapsulated within a biopolymeric shell wall. In an embodiment the bio-fungicide is an essential oil.
In an embodiment, the essential oil is selected from one or more of sesame oil, pyrethrum, glycerol-derived lipids or glycerol fatty acid derivatives, cinnamon oil, cedar oil, clove oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, angelica oil, mint oil, turmeric oil, Wintergreen oil, rosemary oil, anise oil, carvacrol oil, cardamom oil, caraway oil, chamomile oil, coriander oil, guaiacwood oil, cumin oil, dill oil, mint oil, parsley oil, basil oil, camphor oil, cananga oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, ginger oil, copaiba balsam oil, perilla oil, cedarwood oil, jasmine oil, palmarosa sofia oil, western mint oil, star anis oil, tuberose oil, neroli oil, tolu balsam oil, patchouli oil, palmarosa oil, Chamaecyparis obtusa oil, Hiba oil, sandalwood oil, petitgrain oil, bay oil, vetivert oil, bergamot oil, Peru balsam oil, bois de rose oil, grapefruit oil, lemon oil, mandarin oil, orange oil, oregano oil or carvacrol as its constituent, lavender oil, Lindera oil, pine needle oil, pepper oil, rose oil, iris oil, orange oil, tangerine oil, tea tree oil, tea seed oil, thyme oil or carvacrol as its constituent, thymol oil or carvacrol as its constituent, garlic oil, peppermint oil, onion oil, linaloe oil, Japanese mint oil or spearmint oil.
In one preferred embodiment the essential oil is carvacrol oil.
In one preferred embodiment the essential oil is thyme oil.
In one preferred embodiment the essential oil is thymol oil.
In one preferred embodiment the essential oil is orange oil.
In one preferred embodiment the essential oil is cinnamon oil.
In one preferred embodiment a volatile constituent of an essential oil is encapsulated.
In one preferred embodiment the volatile constituent of an essential oil is carvacrol.
In an embodiment the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 1% to 80% by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 10% to 70% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment the essential oil is used in an amount in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment the present composition comprising at least 20% or at least 50% of essential oil by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment the fungicide composition comprises carvacrol oil encapsulated within one or more biodegradable polymers.
In an embodiment the carvacrol oil is used in an amount in the range of 1 to 80% or 5 to 70%, or 10 to 60%, or 10 to 50%, preferably 10 to 40% by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment the carvacrol oil is used in an amount in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment the fungicide formulation comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer that forms a capsular wall which encapsulates the active compound to form a microcapsule.
In an embodiment the present invention provides a controlled release bio-fungicide formulation comprising an essential oil and/or its constituent encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein the loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment the present invention provides a controlled release bio-fungicide formulation comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein the loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
In an embodiment, the microcapsule shell can be formed by a polymer or polymers which wholly or partially covers a fungicide rich core. The shell of the microcapsule can be comprised by a wall, in which is made up of a polymer or a mixture of polymers. Typically, the polymers that are used to construct the microcapsule wall includes at least one type of biopolymer. The biopolymer is selected from at least one from the group of polysaccharides for example starches, carrageenan, maltodextrins, or arabic gum, lipids for example stearic acid, mono- and diglycerides, or proteins for example albumins, pea protein, gelatin, and casein or combinations thereof.
In an embodiment the formulation with high loading of active ingredient can be prepared by using biodegradable polymers.
In some embodiment the biopolymer is Maltodextrin.
In some embodiments the biopolymer is Arabic gum.
In some embodiments the biopolymer is a combination of Maltodextrin and Arabic gum.
For the purposes of the present invention gum arabic and arabic gum refer to the same compound and have been used interchangeably.
In an embodiment, the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 : 100 to 100: 1 .
In an embodiment, the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 :50 to 50:1.
In an embodiment, the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1.
In an embodiment, the biopolymer combination of maldodextrin to gum arabic is in a ratio of 3: 1.
The microcapsules of the present invention provide improved shelf life and controlled release of the active ingredient. The controlled release of the active ingredient was found to lead to a superior efficacy of the compositions of the present invention.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising an essential oil and/or its constituent encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 : 10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising carvacrol encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising thymol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of thymol oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a microcapsule comprising thyme oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein loading of thyme oil in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule.
In an embodiment the present invention provides solid or liquid formulation comprising microcapsules comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated with biodegradable polymers.
In an embodiment, formulation may be in the form of Water Dispersible Granules (WDG), Wettable Powders (WP), Suspension Concentrates, Emulsifiable Concentrate, Suspoemulsions, Capsule Suspensions etc. However, the choice of any preferred formulation type is not particularly limiting.
In an embodiment the formulation is a solid formulation (WP).
In an embodiment, the essential oil may be absorbed or absorbed on a carrier, and particles of the carrier embedded with the essential oil may be at least partially coated with biodegradable polymer(s). In another embodiment the formulation is a liquid formulation preferably capsule suspension formulation.
In this embodiment, the present invention provides a capsule suspension formulation comprising microcapsules comprising an essential oil encapsulated within a biopolymeric wall.
In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention may contain agriculturally acceptable adjuvants, carriers, diluents, surfactants, surface-active substances, wetting agents, emulsifiers, fillers, dispersants, pigments, antifoaming agents, anti-freezing agents, freezing agents, viscosity modifier, colorants, solvents, preservatives etc.
Suitable agricultural carriers may include, but are not limited to, crop oil concentrates; methylated seed oils, emulsified methylated seed oil, nonylphenol ethoxylate; benzylcocoalkyldimethyl quaternary ammonium salt; blend of petroleum hydrocarbon, alkyl esters, organic acid, and anionic surfactant; C9-C11 alkylpolyglycoside; phosphated alcohol ethoxylate; natural primary alcohol (C12- Cie) ethoxylate; di-sec-butylphenol EO-PO block copolymer; polysiloxane-methyl cap; nonylphenol ethoxylate, urea ammonium nitrate; tridecyl alcohol (synthetic) ethoxylate (8EO); tallow amine ethoxylate ; PEG(400) dioleate-99, alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; alkylarylsulfonate salts, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol-alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol-Cis ethoxylate; alcohol-alkylene oxide addition products, such as tridecyl alcohol-Cis ethoxylate; soaps, such as sodium stearate; alkyl- naphthalene-sulfonate salts, such as sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate; sorbitol esters, such as sorbitol oleate; quaternary amines, such as lauryl trimethylammonium chloride; polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; salts of mono and dialkyl phosphate esters; vegetable or seed oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed/canola oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; and esters of the above vegetable oils, and in certain embodiments, methyl esters. Suitable liquid carriers that may be employed in a composition of the present invention may include water or organic solvents. The organic solvents include, but are not limited to, petroleum fractions or hydrocarbons such as mineral oil, aromatic solvents, paraffinic oils, and the like; vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, olive oil, castor oil, sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, linseed oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, tung oil and the like; esters of the above vegetable oils; esters of monoalcohols or dihydric, trihydric, or other lower polyalcohols (4-6 hydroxy containing), such as 2-ethyl hexyl stearate, n-butyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol dioleate, di-octyl succinate, di-butyl adipate, di-octyl phthalate and the like; esters of mono, di and polycarboxylic acids and the like. Organic solvents include, but are not limited to toluene, xylene, petroleum naphtha, crop oil, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerine, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethyl alkylamides, dimethyl sulfoxide.
Solid carriers that may be employed in the compositions of the present invention may include but are not limited to attapulgite, pyrophyllite clay, silica, kaolin clay, kieselguhr, chalk, diatomaceous earth, lime, calcium carbonate, bentonite clay, Fuller's earth, talc, cottonseed hulls, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, walnut shell flour, lignin, cellulose etc.
The present invention also provides a microencapsulated essential oil formulation comprising a plurality of microcapsules, each containing at least one essential oil, wherein said formulation or microencapsulated essential oil is prepared according to the method of the invention.
The compositions/formulations of the present invention are stable and provide desired controlled release of carvacrol.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides naturally occurring polymer- based microcapsules comprising carvacrol oil for controlled release on fungal disease management. The formulations according to the present invention are useful in combating, preventing or controlling phytopathogenic diseases which comprises applying to a phytopathogen, to the locus of a phytopathogen, or to a plant susceptible to attack by a phytopathogen, or to propagation material thereof.
The compositions according to the present invention is effective for the following plant diseases which may include:
Disease in rice: Blast (Magnaporthe grisea), Helminthosporium leaf spot (Cochliobolus miyabeanus), sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani), and bakanae disease (Gibberella fujikuroi).
Diseases in wheat: powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis) , Fusariuin head blight (Fusarium graminearum, F. avenacerum, F. culmorum, Microdochium nivale) , rust (Puccinia striiformis, P. graminis, P. recondita) , pink snow mold (Micronectriella nivale), Typhula snow blight (Typhula sp.) , loose smut (Ustilago tritici) , bunt (Tilletia caries) , eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides) , leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) , glume blotch (Stagonospora nodorum) , septoria, and yellow spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) .
Diseases of barley: powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis), Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, F. avenacerum, F. culmorum, Microdochium nivale), rust (Puccinia striiformis, P. graminis, P. hordei), loose smut (Ustilago nuda), scald (Rhynchosporium secalis), net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus), leaf stripe (Pyrenophora graminea) , and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani) .
Diseases in corn: smut (Ustilago maydis), brown spot (Cochliobolus heterostrophus), copper spot (Gloeocercospora sorghi), southern rust (Puccinia polysora), gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis), white spot (Phaeosphaeria mydis and/or Pantoea ananatis) and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).
Diseases of citrus: melanose (Diaporthe citri), scab (Elsinoe fawcetti), penicillium rot (Penicillium digitatum, P.italicum), and brown rot (Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora citrophthora) . Diseases of apple: blossom blight (Monilinia mali), canker (Valsa ceratosperma), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria alternata apple pathotype), scab (Venturia inaequalis), powdery mildew, bitter rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), crown rot (Phytophtora cactorum), blotch (Diplocarpon mali), and ring rot (Botryosphaeria berengeriana).
Diseases of pear: scab (Venturia nashicola, V. pirina), powdery mildew, black spot (Alternaria alternata Japanese pear pathotype), rust (Gymnosporangium haraeanum), and phytophthora fruit rot (Phytophtora cactorum).
Diseases of peach: brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), powdery mildew, scab (Cladosporium carpophilum), and phomopsis rot (Phomopsis sp.).
Diseases of grape: anthracnose (Elsinoe ampelina), ripe rot (Glomerella cingulata), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator), rust (Phakopsora ampelopsidis), black rot (Guignardia bidwellii), botrytis, and downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola).
Diseases of Japanese persimmon: anthracnose (Gloeosporium kaki), and leaf spot (Cercospora kaki, Mycosphaerella nawae).
Diseases of gourd: anthracnose (Colletotrichum lagenarium), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), gummy stem blight (Mycosphaerella melonis), Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum), downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis), Phytophthora rot (Phytophthora sp.), and damping-off (Pythium sp.).
Diseases of tomato: early blight (Alternaria solani), leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum), and late blight (Phytophthora infestans).
Diseases of eggplant: brown spot (Phomopsis vexans), and powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) Diseases of cruciferous vegetables: Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria japonica), white spot (Cercosporella brassicae), clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica). Diseases of onion: rust (Puccinia allii), and downy mildew (Peronospora destructor)
Diseases of soybean: purple seed stain (Cercospora kikuchii), sphaceloma scad (Elsinoe glycines), pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae), septoria brown spot (Septoria glycines), frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina), rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi), Yellow rust, brown stem rot (Phytophthora sojae), and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).
Diseases of kidney bean: anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemthianum). Diseases of peanut: leaf spot (Cercospora personata), brown leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii).
Diseases of garden pea: powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi), and root rot (Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi).
Diseases of potato: early blight (Alternaria solani), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica), and powdery scab (Spongospora subterranean f. sp. subterra nea).
Diseases of strawberry: powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca humuli), and anthracnose (Glomerella ci ng u I ata).
Diseases of tea: net blister blight (Exobasidium reticulatum), white scab (Elsinoe leucospila), gray blight (Pestalotiopsis sp.), and anthracnose (Colletotrichum theae- sinensis).
Diseases of tobacco: brown spot (Alternaria longipes), powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum), anthracnose (Colletotrichum tabacum), downy mildew (Peronospora tabacina), and black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae).
Diseases of rapeseed: sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotioruni), and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani). Diseases of cotton: Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani). Diseases of sugar beet: Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora beticola), leaf blight (Thanatephorus cucumeris), Root rot (Thanatephorus cucumeris), and Aphanomyces root rot (Aphanomyces cochlioides).
Diseases of rose: black spot (Diplocarpon rosae), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa), and downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa). Diseases of chrysanthemum and asteraceous plants: downy mildew (Bremia lactucae), leaf blight (Septoria chrysanthemi-indici), and white rust (Puccinia horiana).
Diseases of various groups: diseases caused by Pythium spp. (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium debarianum, Pythium graminicola, Pythium irregulare, Pythium ultimum), gray mold. (Botrytis cinerea), and Sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).
Disease of Japanese radish: Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria brassicicola).
Diseases of turfgrass: dollar spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa), and brown patch and large patch (Rhizoctonia solani).
Disease of banana: Black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), Yellow sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola).
Disease of sunflower: downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii).
Seed diseases or diseases in the early stages of the growth of various plants caused by Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Gibberella spp., Tricoderma spp., Thielaviopsis spp., Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Corticium spp., Phoma spp., Rhizoctonia spp. and Diplodia spp.
Viral diseases of various plants mediated by Polymixa spp. or Olpidium spp. and so on.
In one embodiment, the fungal disease is powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii). In some embodiments, the fungal disease is powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii) in grapes.
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting the plant from powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii).
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Phytophthora sp.
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Phytophthora infestans.
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting the tomato plant from late blight infections caused by Phytophthora infestans.
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting the plant from infections caused by Botrytis cinerea (grey mold disease).
In some embodiments, the composition is effective for protecting strawberries from infections caused by Botrytis cinerea (grey mold disease).
In an embodiment the present invention provides a microcapsule of carvacrol oil for controlled release on grape disease management.
In an embodiment the average particle size of the microcapsules is in the range of from about 0.5 micron to about 100 microns in diameter.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of preparing the microcapsules comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide, and at least one wall forming polymer; and forming a microcapsule having a polymeric wall, wherein the wall at least partially encompasses a portion of the fungicide, forming said microcapsule.
In an embodiment, the method for preparation of an essential oil microcapsule comprising; a) preparing a mixture of essential oil, surfactants, and encapsulating polymers; b) adding the mixture into water to obtain emulsions; c) subjecting obtained emulsion into a spray dryer to obtain microcapsules. In an embodiment, the method for preparation of a carvacrol microcapsule comprising; a) preparing a mixture of carvacrol, surfactants, and encapsulating polymers; b) adding the mixture into water to obtain emulsions; c) subjecting obtained emulsion into a spray dryer to obtain microcapsules.
In an embodiment, the process involves mixing active ingredient, surfactants, and encapsulating material. The mixture is added into water and subjected to agitation to obtain an emulsion which is fed into a spray dryer at required temperature for example inlet air temperature is 120°C and the outlet air temperature is 100°C. The emulsion is then dried, and the microcapsules are collected in the collection chamber.
Typically, the microcapsules are further mixed with carrier for example water and additional dispersants if required, under agitation to obtain liquid formulations.
In an embodiment the present invention provides a method of controlling fungal disease, comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide formulation comprising microcapsule comprising essential oil or its constituent encapsulated by a biopolymeric wall; the wall at least partially encapsulating the fungicide to form a microcapsule, and applying said encapsulated fungicide to a surface, for example the leaves, stems or trunk of a plant.
In an embodiment the present invention provides a method of controlling fungal diseases, comprising the steps of: providing a fungicide formulation comprising microcapsule comprising carvacrol encapsulated by a biopolymeric wall; the wall at least partially encapsulating the fungicide to form a microcapsule, and contacting said encapsulated fungicide to a surface, for example the leaves, fruits, stems or trunk of a plant.
In an embodiment, the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 100 to 2000 g a.i./ha.
In an embodiment, the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 200 to 1500 g a.i./ha. In an embodiment, the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 200 to 1000 g a.i./ha.
In an embodiment, the application rate of the fungal composition is in an amount of 200 to 5000 ml/ha.
In an embodiment, the application rate of the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 400 to 4500 ml/ha.
In an embodiment, the application rate of the microencapsulated bio-fungicide is in an amount of 1000 to 3000 ml/ha.
In an embodiment, the composition of the present present invention may be used for foliar applications, or applied to plant surfaces, plant propagation material or to the locus thereof, seed treatment application, ground or soil drenching applications.
In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention may be accompanied by a package, which comprises instructions for using the composition for protecting a plant from fungal attack. In some embodiments, the package comprises instructions for using the composition for controlling fungal disease infecting a plant. In some embodiments, the instructions comprise application rates, application times, target fungal pathogen, and/or target plant as described herein.
In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention can be combined with at least one additional agrochemical component. Examples of such pesticides include but are not limited to herbicides, fungicides, miticides, larvicides, avicides, insecticides, nematicides and rodenticides.
Advantageously, the present invention provides a composition comprising an essential oil and/or its volatile constituent as the active ingredient with good retention of the active ingredient even at accelerated stability storage test conditions. The % loading of the active ingredient was found to be as high, considering the volatile nature of essential oils and its constituents. The present composition also possesses a controlled release rate of the active, thereby reducing the possibility of phytotoxicity. Additionally, the pesticidal activity of the composition was also found to be efficient against a broad spectrum of fungi.
The present invention may be used to control diseases in agricultural crops for cultivating the plants without any phytotoxicity to the plant.
Examples of the crops on which the present compositions can be used include but are not limited to corn, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oat, sorghum, cotton, soybean, peanut, buckwheat, beet, rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, tobacco, etc.; vegetables: solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, pimento, pepper, A potato, etc., cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, water melon, melon, squash, etc., cruciferous vegetables such as radish, white turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, leaf mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., asteraceous vegetables such as burdock, crown daisy, artichoke, lettuce, etc, liliaceous vegetables such as green onion, onion, garlic, and asparagus, 4h, ammiaceous vegetables such as carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc., chenopodiaceous vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, etc., lamiaceous vegetables such as Perilla frutescens, mint, basil, etc, strawberry, sweet potato, Dioscorea japonica, colocasia, etc., flowers, foliage plants, turf grasses, fruits: pome fruits such apple, pear, quince, etc, stone fleshy fruits such as peach, plum, - nectarine, Prunus mume, cherry fruit, apricot, prune, etc., citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, rime, grapefruit, etc., nuts such as chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almond, pistachio, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, etc. berries such as blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc., grape, kaki fruit, olive, plum, banana, coffee, date palm, coconuts, etc., trees other than fruit trees; tea, mulberry, flowering plant, trees such as ash, birch, dogwood, Eucalyptus, Ginkgo biloba, lilac, maple, Quercus, poplar, Judas tree, Liquidambar formosana, plane tree, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae, fir wood, hemlock, juniper, Pinus, Picea, and Taxus cuspidate, etc.
In an embodiment the composition of the present invention can be packaged as a kit-of-parts. In an embodiment a kit-of-parts may contain various components of the formulation of the present invention and an instruction manual that may can be used as per the instruction manual. The main advantages of the present invention to include biodegradable polymers for limited impact of environment, controlled release of encapsulated active ingredients to enhance disease control, minimize the phytotoxicity of crops after application.
However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited by the examples in any manner. It will be appreciated by any person skilled in this art that the present invention includes aforesaid examples and further can be modified and - altered within the technical scope of the present invention.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, its combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
The invention will be illustrated with reference to the following examples.
EXAMPLES
Example 1 : Preparation of microencapsulated essential oil formulations
The representative weights of the components used for the preparation of the wettable powder (WP) formulation have been summarized in the table below.
Table 1 : Formulation 1 (WP formulation)
Figure imgf000022_0001
Figure imgf000023_0001
The representative weights of the components used for capsule suspension (CS) preparation are summarized in the table below. The preparation procedure was as follows: The raw material mixture was made according to the designed ratios by including carvacrol oil, surfactants, and encapsulating material. The mixture was added into water and emulsions were generated under agitation. Then the emulsion was fed into a spray dryer and the microcapsules were collected.
Table 2: Formulation 2 (CS formulation)
Figure imgf000023_0002
The microcapsules are further mixed with water, additional dispersants with designed ratios as mentioned in the table above. The final product is made under agitation.
Example 2: Stability data
The present inventors have selected a series of three test samples, each for the WP formulation and the CS formulation. These samples were tested for their physicochemical stability.
Table 3(a)
Figure imgf000023_0003
Figure imgf000024_0001
The stability of the WP formulation of the present invention is reflected in the retention of the composition after subjecting it to an accelerated storage testing for 2 weeks at 54°C. There was no considerable change in the weight of the composition after the testing period. The results for dilution sediment testing also showed good results.
Table 3(b)
Figure imgf000024_0002
The stability of the CS formulation of the present invention is reflected in the retention of the composition after subjecting it to accelerated storage testing for 2 weeks at 54 °C. There was no considerable change in the weight of the composition after the testing period. The results for dilution sediment testing also showed good results.
It was observed from the above data that both solid and liquid formulations of present invention are stable.
Example 3: Controlled release of carvacrol The carvacrol release (%) rates of the WP formulations according to the present invention were studied and the results are presented in below table. The samples were prepared as per the examples provided above.
Table 4:
Figure imgf000025_0002
Example 4: Efficacy data
Bio-efficacy of present fungicide formulations was evaluated on plant pathogens as represented in below table 5. Formulation 1 was the WP formulation (540g/kg) and Formulation 2 (230 g/L) was the CS formulation of carvacrol and were prepared as described in Example 1. The tested method used for evaluation was agar plates test method. The rates at which the formulations were tested were at 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 g. a.i/l.
Figure imgf000025_0001
The present formulations significantly inhibit the growth of all pathogens, thus presented a very high efficacy on tested pathogens. Example 5: Evaluation of the carvacrol oil microencapsulated composition against Phytophtora spp.
The present inventors have performed pot trial studies to evaluate the efficacy of the present composition against Phytophtora spp. causing soil diseases in tomato crop. The efficacy of the composition was evaluated versus a commercially used Azoxystrobin formulation. The wettable powder formulation was used for the purposes of this evaluation at a concentration of 540g/kg. The application was made through soil drenching at a rate of 1000g ai/ha. The application of the formulation was first made at time ‘A’. The second application of the formulation was made at time ‘B’, i.e. at 14 days after the first application ‘A’.
Table 6
Figure imgf000026_0001
The aforementioned results show efficient fungicidal activity of the present carvacrol composition over the commercially used products.
Example 5: Evaluation of the carvacrol oil microencapsulated composition against Botrytis cinerea causing fungal rot in strawberry.
The efficacy of the present compositions, i.e. WP and CS formulation of carvacrol as prepared in Example 1 were evaluated for their fungicidal activity against Botrytis cinerea causing fungal rot in strawberry, versus Fenhexamid, which is used against B. cinerea. Detached fruits were subjected to artificial infestation by B. cinerea. The treatment formulations were applied onto the surface of detached fruits and observed for their efficacy to control grey mold. The observations were made 7 days after application. Table 7 (a): Treatment conditions
Figure imgf000027_0001
Table 7(b): Observation of % control
Figure imgf000027_0002
The % fungicidal efficacy of the grey mold diseases in strawberries using the present carvacrol formulations was significantly enhanced compared to Fenhexamid.

Claims

We claim,
1. A bio-fungicide composition comprising an essential oil or its constituent as an active, wherein the essential oil or its constituent is microencapsulated with biodegradable polymers.
2. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the essential oil is selected from one or more of sesame oil, pyrethrum, glycerol-derived lipids or glycerol fatty acid derivatives, cinnamon oil, cedar oil, clove oil, geranium oil, lemongrass oil, angelica oil, mint oil, turmeric oil, Wintergreen oil, rosemary oil, anise oil, carvacrol oil, cardamom oil, caraway oil, chamomile oil, coriander oil, guaiacwood oil, cumin oil, dill oil, mint oil, parsley oil, basil oil, camphor oil, cananga oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, ginger oil, copaiba balsam oil, perilla oil, cedarwood oil, jasmine oil, palmarosa sofia oil, western mint oil, star anis oil, tuberose oil, neroli oil, tolu balsam oil, patchouli oil, palmarosa oil, Chamaecyparis obtusa oil, Hiba oil, sandalwood oil, petitgrain oil, bay oil, vetivert oil, bergamot oil, Peru balsam oil, bois de rose oil, grapefruit oil, lemon oil, mandarin oil, orange oil, oregano oil or carvacrol as its constituent, lavender oil, Lindera oil, pine needle oil, pepper oil, rose oil, iris oil, orange oil, tangerine oil, tea tree oil, tea seed oil, thyme oil or carvacrol as its constituent, thymol oil or carvacrol as its constituent, garlic oil, peppermint oil, onion oil, linaloe oil, Japanese mint oil or spearmint oil.
3. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said biodegradable polymer is selected from starch, carrageenan, maltodextrin, gum arabic, stearic acid, mono- and diglyceride lipids, albumins, pea protein, gelatin, and casein or combinations thereof.
4. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the essential oil or its constituent is in an amount of 1% to 80% by weight of composition.
5. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the bio-fungicide is carvacrol.
6. The composition as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising agrochemically acceptable excipients.
28 The composition as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the average particle size of the microcapsules is from about 0.5 micron to about 100 microns in diameter. The composition as claimed in claims 1 to 7, wherein said composition is a controlled release microencapsulated formulation comprising carvacrol as biofungicide active encapsulated with biodegradable polymers. The composition as claimed in claim 8, wherein the biodegradable polymer(s) is gum arabic or maltodextrin, or a combination thereof. The composition as claimed in claim 9, wherein the biodegradable polymer is a combination of gum arabic or maltodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1. The composition as claimed in claim 1 is formulated as a solid or liquid. The composition as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said solid formulation is in the form of water dispersible granules or wettable powder. The composition as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said liquid formulation is in the form of a capsule suspension or a mixed formulation of capsule suspension and other dispersions. The composition as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said composition comprises a microcapsule comprising carvacrol encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition. A microcapsule comprising carvacrol oil encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the microcapsule. A method for the preparing an essential oil microcapsule comprising a) preparing a mixture of essential oil, surfactants, and encapsulating polymers b) adding the mixture of step(s) into water to obtain emulsions c) subjecting obtained emulsion into a spray dryer to obtain microcapsules A method for controlling/treating phytopathogenic fungi comprising applying to the plant or at its locus or to a plant propagation material, a fungicide composition comprising carvacrol encapsulated with biodegradable polymers, wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the concentration of the composition comprising the microencapsulated carvacrol is in an amount of 200 to 1500 g a.i./ha. Use of a composition for controlling phytopathogenic fungi, said composition comprising carvacrol encapsulated within a polymer; wherein the polymer is a biopolymer comprising gum arabic and maldodextrin in a ratio of 1 :10 to 10:1 , wherein carvacrol in the microcapsule is in the range of 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.
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