WO2023049163A1 - Concentrés de revêtement non toxiques pour utilisations agricoles - Google Patents

Concentrés de revêtement non toxiques pour utilisations agricoles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023049163A1
WO2023049163A1 PCT/US2022/044223 US2022044223W WO2023049163A1 WO 2023049163 A1 WO2023049163 A1 WO 2023049163A1 US 2022044223 W US2022044223 W US 2022044223W WO 2023049163 A1 WO2023049163 A1 WO 2023049163A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
oil
agricultural
formulation
harvest
phytochemical
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2022/044223
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Damian Hajduk
Anne Feng XIE
Brian Lin
Yeon S. CHOI
Matheus Geraldo Pires De Mello Ribeiro
Yuliani SANJAYA
Original Assignee
Crop Enhancement, Inc.
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 Crop Enhancement, Inc. filed Critical Crop Enhancement, Inc.
Priority to EP22873517.1A priority Critical patent/EP4404746A1/fr
Priority to CA3231275A priority patent/CA3231275A1/fr
Priority to MX2024003388A priority patent/MX2024003388A/es
Publication of WO2023049163A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023049163A1/fr

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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
    • A01N25/02—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
    • 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
    • A01N25/30—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 characterised by the surfactants
    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B7/00—Preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables
    • A23B7/16—Coating with a protective layer; Compositions or apparatus therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23B—PRESERVING, e.g. BY CANNING, MEAT, FISH, EGGS, FRUIT, VEGETABLES, EDIBLE SEEDS; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES; THE PRESERVED, RIPENED, OR CANNED PRODUCTS
    • A23B9/00—Preservation of edible seeds, e.g. cereals
    • A23B9/14—Coating with a protective layer; Compositions or apparatus therefor

Definitions

  • This application relates to coating formulations for agricultural uses.
  • Agricultural chemicals used as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and the like are prone to erosion and leaching from treated soils and plants.
  • fertilizers that are applied to fields can suffer run-off or loss caused by rapid watering, rain, or other water exposures.
  • chemicals that are applied to foliar surfaces are prone to loss due to erosion from treated plants.
  • pre-emergent agents i. e. , those agents that are applied to the soil before the germination of plants or weeds
  • Dissipation of a pre-emergent agent by microbial activity, photodegradation, chemical degradation, run-off by water exposure, and the like, is undesirable during the germination period, and it is advantageous that the agent be retained in the top one or two inches of soil during this period.
  • These problems are especially important for optimizing the properties of agents that need to act over a prolonged period of time to obtain their desired effect, as opposed to those agents that exert their effects immediately, like, for example, a pesticide that kills on contact.
  • agricultural chemicals can be washed off with rain or can be wiped off too easily.
  • conventional pesticides can be selected based on a variety of factors, including, for example, pest species and crop-specific management programs. Due to the biological and behavioral complexity of pest species, it is desirable to provide pre-harvest protection that has a range of properties, so that the performance parameters can be adjusted to manage a particular pest on a particular crop. For example, for coatings applied to plant surfaces, it would be advantageous to optimize the durability and flexibility of a coating for use with a particular plant surface. Moreover, while coatings exist that can be applied to plant surfaces, there remains a need in the art, for example, to optimize these coatings for coverage and drying time, so that they are targeted to the feeding behavior, reproductive activities, and lifecycle of specific pests.
  • an optimized coating regimen would be tailored to the behavior of the pest species and its interaction with its hosts.
  • a range of pest-inhibiting mechanisms may therefore be desirable for a coating, with options for customization.
  • a coating may cloak the agricultural surface and render it unrecognizable to a particular pest.
  • the coating may alter the natural behavior of pests on their hosts by interfering with their feeding, reproduction, or motility.
  • the ingested coating material may interfere with its metabolism or digestion, thus impairing its natural developmental or reproductive processes.
  • a new generation of herbicides and other such agricultural treatment agents are biologically derived.
  • biological control agents that require delivery to agricultural targets, where retention and/or controlled release of those agents in proximity to the agricultural target is desired.
  • the term “agricultural target” is selected from the group consisting of a leaf, a fruit, a vegetable, a seed or seed case, a stem, a post-harvest agricultural product, and a soil, agricultural growth medium, or other agricultural substrates as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.
  • a delivery formulation providing improved retention properties would be suitable for use with biological control agents.
  • Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, insect pheromones, nutrients and other agricultural treatment agents are also advantageously used in spraying fruits or vegetables and plants directly.
  • cocoa pods can be afflicted by “black pod” disease, treated by spraying the pods with both fungicides and insecticides.
  • Black pod is a plant disease caused by Phytophthora type oomycetes such as Phytophthora infestans, the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine.
  • Enhanced retention of the treatment agents on the target e.g., the cocoa pod
  • a naturally derived coating for the cocoa pods could also create a physical barrier (i.e., a barrier coating composition, formed for example as a film) to deter pests, and could reduce or eliminate the need for additional treatment agents.
  • a barrier coating composition formed for example as a film
  • Agricultural treatment agents are costly and can cause environmental damage if misused. There is a need for materials and methods to improve the efficiency and costs associated with the use of agricultural treatment agents, or to reduce or eliminate the need for agricultural treatment agents.
  • the formulation forms a cured coating on an agricultural target.
  • the curing is water-resistant, resistant to friction, or rainfast.
  • the cured coating retains the suspended particulate matters on the agricultural target when subject to an adverse condition, where the adverse condition can be a condition such as rainfall, friction, wind, water exposure, and secondary agricultural treatment.
  • the formulation is stable against phase separation.
  • the formulation comprises food grade ingredients, or comprises organically produced ingredients, or comprises ingredients generally recognized as safe.
  • the formulation consists essentially of organically produced ingredients, or consists essentially of ingredients generally recognized as safe.
  • the concentrated liquid suspension contains only non-aqueous liquids.
  • the organic phase of the formulation can be about 40 to about 99% by weight of the formulation.
  • the organic phase can comprise a drying oil
  • the drying oil can be selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, raw linseed oil, boiled linseed oil, castor oil, castor oil glycidyl ether, tung oil, poppy seed oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, salicomia oil, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, perilla oil, soybean oil, com/maize oil, canola/rapeseed oil, and walnut oil.
  • the drying oil comprises a-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the drying oil is a naturally derived mixture of one or more acylglycerols capable of undergoing a spontaneous transformation from a liquid to a solid state upon exposure to oxygen; in embodiments, the drying oil comprises one or more different acylglycerols.
  • the spontaneous transformation is characterized by the development of crosslinks between double bonds on the one or more acylglycerols; in embodiments, the spontaneous transformation results in the formation of a polymer network.
  • the organic phase of the formulation comprises a first oil and a second oil mixed together to form a blend, and wherein at least one oil of the first oil and the second oil is the drying oil, and this formulation can have one or more physical properties that are different than the physical properties of the first oil and the second oil, which physical properties can be selected from the group consisting of glass transition temperature of the cured film, solubility of small molecules in the cured film, permeability of the cured film to small molecules, film stiffness, film tack, film drying time, and durability.
  • this formulation can have improved pest control properties when compared to pest control properties of a control formulation whose organic phase comprises a single drying oil, and the pest control properties can be selected from the group consisting of diminished pest survival time, diminished pest fecundity, pest feeding deterrence, pest reproductive deterrence, and reduced plant damage.
  • the organic phase of the formulation comprises a-linolenic acid or linoleic acid.
  • the first oil and the second oil are both drying oils, and the first oil and the second oil can have different degrees of unsaturation.
  • the blend comprises at least one additional oil; the at least one additional oil can be a drying oil and the at least one oil can be selected from the group consisting of linseed oil, raw linseed oil, boiled linseed oil, castor oil, castor oil glycidyl ether, tung oil, poppy seed oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, salicomia oil, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, perilla oil, soybean oil, com/maize oil, canola/rapeseed oil, and walnut oil.
  • the blend further comprises a diluent, and the diluent can be selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil, a petroleum distillate, an alcohol, a terpene, and a glycol.
  • the suspended particulates are about 0.5 to about 50% of the formulation.
  • the suspended particulates can be durably suspended in the organic phase or easily resuspended in the organic phase.
  • the suspended particulates are selected from the group consisting of clay minerals and organically modified minerals.
  • the clay minerals can be selected from the group consisting of kaolin clays, smectite clays, illite clays, chlorite clays, sepiolite, and attapulgite.
  • the clay mineral can be a bentonite clay.
  • the organically modified mineral is a clay mineral
  • the organically modified mineral can be modified with an organic modifier selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, fatty amine, fatty amide, fatty ester, fatty amine quat, quaternary amine surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, fatty alcohol, decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, linseed oil, alkenyl succinic anhydride, styrene maleic anhydride copolymer, colophony, rosin, chitosan, and a castor oil derivative.
  • an organic modifier selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, fatty amine, fatty amide, fatty ester, fatty amine quat, quaternary amine surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, fatty alcohol, decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, linseed oil, alkenyl succinic anhydride, s
  • the formulation further comprises a pesticide, herbicide, beneficial bacterium, beneficial fungus, plant growth regulator, pheromone, sunscreen, biopesticide, or nutrient.
  • the formulation further comprises a botanical extract or a plant oil.
  • the formulation further comprises an additional particulate material.
  • the additional particulate matter can be selected from the group consisting of talc, calcium carbonate, gypsum, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate, com starch, cellulose fibers, psyllium fibers, ethylene bis stearamide, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, oleic acid, wax, carnauba wax, and beeswax, or it can be kaolin or titanium dioxide.
  • the formulation further comprises a surfactant.
  • the surfactant can be selected from the group consisting of anionic, cationic, nonionic, biodegradable, food grade and organic surfactants.
  • the formulation further comprises an adjuvant selected from the group consisting of cellulosics, polylactic acid, poly glycolic acid, and polylactic-glycolic acid.
  • the formulation further comprises a salt or a curing additive.
  • the formulations disclosed herein can further comprise polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether and/or a low molecular weight nonionic silicone polyether surfactant.
  • the formulations can further comprise an additional material selected from the group consisting of a pesticide, a hydrophilic sorbent, a phytochemical, a phytochemical absorbent, a phytochemical inhibitor, a surface-cleaning additive, a sanitizing additive, and an indicator. If the additional material is a pesticide, it can have immediate bioavailability or triggered release.
  • the additional material is a phytochemical, which can be formulated for sustained release.
  • the additional material is a phytochemical absorbent, which can be an ethylene absorber.
  • the additional material can be a surface-cleaning additive, which can comprise a surfactant or a foaming agent, where the foaming agent can be a peroxide-generating compound.
  • the additional material can be a sanitizing additive, which can comprise a poly cation or a peroxide-generating compound.
  • an aqueous formulation comprising the concentrated liquid suspension as described above and an agricultural treatment agent.
  • a coated agricultural treatment agent comprising an agricultural treatment agent and the concentrated liquid suspension as described above, wherein the concentrated liquid suspension is applied to the agricultural treatment agent as a coating.
  • a plant product having a surface treated with the formulation as described above.
  • a method of treating an agricultural target comprising providing an agricultural formulation of a concentrated liquid suspension comprising an organic phase and suspended particulates, and applying the agricultural formulation onto the agricultural target, thereby treating the agricultural target.
  • the method protects the agricultural target from a pest or from environmental damage.
  • the treatment comprises non-lethally altering the behavior of the pest.
  • the agricultural target is a soil surface or an agricultural growth medium.
  • the soil surface is treated to produce a beneficial effect selected from the group consisting of erosion control, nutrient retention, agricultural treatment agent retention, dust control, delivery of beneficial microbes, delivery of biopesticides, or augmentation of beneficial microbial growth.
  • the agricultural target is a plant surface.
  • the plant surface can be selected from the group consisting of leaves, fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, grains, stems, and roots.
  • the plant surface can be a harvested product surface for a harvested product.
  • the agricultural target is an agricultural growth medium.
  • the agricultural formulation is applied to the agricultural target at a dosing rate of about 1 to about 200 lbs. of formulation per acre of crop.
  • the agricultural formulation is diluted with a solvent prior to the step of applying the formulation.
  • methods of producing a beneficial effect in an agricultural target, wherein the beneficial effect is evident in the agricultural target post-harvest comprising the steps of applying a formulation as described herein to a surface of the agricultural target either pre-harvest or post-harvest, thereby producing the beneficial effect in the agricultural target.
  • the step of applying the formulation can be performed pre-harvest or post-harvest.
  • the beneficial effect is selected from the group consisting of reduced mechanical damage to the plant product, reduced post-harvest dehydration of the agricultural target, protection from excess post-harvest water absorption by the agricultural target, reduced post-harvest water vapor absorption by the agricultural target, protection from adverse post-harvest effects due to disease-causing microorganisms, post-harvest protection from insect or vertebrate pests, and post-harvest modification of the metabolism of the agricultural target.
  • the post-harvest modification of the metabolism of the agricultural target is selected from the group consisting of modifying the respiration rate of the agricultural target, modifying the rate of ripening or decay for the agricultural target, and delaying the loss of a phytochemical compound from the agricultural target.
  • the phytochemical compound is selected from the group consisting of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
  • FIG.1 is a graph showing rolling ball distance and alkene conversion as functions of time.
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing force on a probe required to displace a film vs probe displacement, as measured for a cured linseed oil film.
  • FIG. 3 is a graph showing distance traveled in the rolling ball test as a function of curing time in blends of linseed and soybean oils.
  • FIG. 4 is a graph showing modulus of elasticity for a film, as a function of % soybean oil in blends of linseed and soybean oil.
  • FIG. 5 is a graph showing distance traveled in the rolling ball test as a function of curing time in blends of linseed oil and different vegetable oils.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph showing the weight loss in storage for coated and uncoated berries as a function of time.
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing the mean differential conductivity of coated and uncoated berries as a function of time.
  • FIG. 8 is a bar chart showing the mean differential conductivity of berries coated before and after shaking.
  • FIG. 9 is a graph showing the weight loss rate during storage as a function of differential conductivity.
  • FIG. 10 is a bar chart showing the incidence of Botrytis in various berry populations.
  • FIG. 11 is a nominal logistic plot of the cumulative probability of observing a specific damage rating as a function of differential conductivity.
  • FIG. 12 is a bar chart showing the differential conductivity of various berry populations.
  • the present disclosure relates to nontoxic agricultural formulations in the form of a concentrated liquid suspension, where the formulation can form a cured coating on an agricultural target.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations comprise an oil phase and a solid particulate phase, with the solid particulate phase suspended in a durable suspension.
  • durable suspension refers to a suspension of the solid particulate phase in the oil phase so that the particulate materials in the solid particulate phase do not separate from the oil phase over a predesignated period of time, or so that the particulate materials, if they separate out from the oil phase, are easily re-suspended and remain suspended for a predesignated period of time.
  • the concentrated liquid suspensions of nontoxic agricultural formulations can be diluted in water to make solutions of the agricultural formulation for application by spraying, brushing, dipping, broadcasting, or irrigating.
  • the agricultural formulations can be applied to a variety of agricultural substrates or targets, such as agricultural surfaces, including plant surfaces (leaves, fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, grains, stems, roots, etc.), soils or agricultural growth media, and harvested plant products such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, stems, roots, and the like.
  • a plant surface is a surface of plant whether pre- or post-harvest; a plant product is a post-harvest agricultural product.
  • Agricultural formulations and methods for treating agricultural substrates and targets are disclosed herein.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations comprise a plant oil that contains fatty acid or fatty ester functional groups that have at least one degree of unsaturation, such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
  • the plant oil contains unsaturated fatty groups such as alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid, where these fatty groups can be in the form of a fatty acid, fatty acid salt, fatty ester, triglyceride, diglyceride, monoglyceride, or fatty amide.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations comprise a plant oil that contains fatty acids, in the form of free fatty acids or esters, salts, or amides of fatty acids, that contain acyl chains with sufficient unsaturation to yield at least two carbon-carbon double bonds per molecule.
  • the fatty acids comprise unsaturated fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid.
  • the plant oil is a drying oil.
  • drying oil refers to a self-crosslinking oil consisting of glycerol triesters of fatty acids, or to the plant oils described herein.
  • drying oil can refer to naturally derived mixtures of glycerol esters of fatty acids (acylglycerols) in which the oil spontaneously transforms from a liquid to a solid state upon exposure to oxygen. This transformation occurs through the development of crosslinks between double bonds on different acylglycerols, resulting in the formation of a polymer network.
  • Drying oils are therefore characterized by a high concentration of molecules with at least two degrees of unsaturation, such as polyunsaturated acylglycerols.
  • drying oils can be characterized by high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially alpha-linolenic acid.
  • drying oils include linseed oil (i.e. , flax seed oil, including boiled linseed oil (BLO) and raw linseed oil (RLO)), tung oil, poppy seed oil, canola/rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, fish oil, hemp oil, com/maize oil, dehydrated castor oil, tall oil, perilla oil and walnut oil.
  • drying oils can also suspend particulate materials, either so that the particulate materials do not separate from the drying oil (a “durable” suspension), or so that the particulate materials are easily resuspended in the drying oil if they initially separate out (also a “durable suspension”).
  • linseed (or flaxseed) oil is a drying oil that is derived from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant.
  • Linseed oil contains significant amounts of the triglyceride linolein, formed as an acylglycerol with three molecules of linoleic acid.
  • the oil phase of the concentrated liquid suspension comprises drying oils, waxes, cellulosics, raw linseed oil, boiled linseed oil, castor oil, castor oil glycidyl ether, magnesium stearate, linseed oil, tung oil, poppy seed oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, salicomia oil, sunflower oil, com oil, hemp oil, wheat germ oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, canola oil, evening primrose oil, perilla oil, walnut oil, and the like.
  • the oil phase of the concentrated liquid suspension contains diluents such as mineral oil, a petroleum distillate, an alcohol, a terpene, or a glycol such as glycerin or propylene glycol to improve fluid handling properties, or to improve the flexibility of the dried film.
  • the oil phase contains a-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, or a combination thereof.
  • the oil phase contains raw linseed oil alone or in combination with other oils.
  • two or more drying oils having different degrees of unsaturation can be blended together to form the oil phase, resulting in films that express different physical properties than would be found with any single one of the component oils.
  • properties such as duration of wetness, drying profile, tackiness, or film stiffness can be tuned by combining two or more drying oils.
  • Other properties such as glass transition temperature of the cured film, solubility of small molecules in the cured film, permeability of the cured film to small molecules, and the like, can be tuned by combining two or more drying oils and allowing the blend to cure and form a film.
  • oils that possess a lower concentration of unsaturated bonds typically exhibit a weaker ability to form films; by contrast, oils with a higher concentration of unsaturated bonds exhibits a higher affinity to form films.
  • a variety of drying oils having different unsaturation profiles can be measured and mixed, resulting in formulations having a range of properties desirable for pest controls.
  • Selecting the oils for a given blend and varying the amount of the component oils within the blend affords a mechanism for tuning, adjusting, and customizing the physical properties of the blend when it is used as an oil phase for a concentrated liquid suspension.
  • the unsaturated oils used alone to form the oil phase of the concentrated liquid suspension can also be blended together to form the oil phase. Two or more unsaturated oils can be used, in proportions that exploit the properties of each.
  • drying oils can be used, such as linseed oil, boiled linseed oil, castor oil, castor oil glycidyl ether, tung oil, poppy seed oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, salicomia oil, sunflower oil, com oil, hemp oil, wheat germ oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, sesame oil, canola oil, evening primrose oil, perilla oil, walnut oil, and the like.
  • the oil phase contains a-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, or a combination thereof.
  • non-drying oils can be used in addition to the drying oils as described herein.
  • the oil blend comprises at least one drying oil and one additional oil, wherein the additional oil is miscible with the drying oil.
  • the additional oil can be a monoacylglyceride, a diacylglyceride, a triacylglyceride, a naturally occurring mixture of such components such as a plant oil, or an artificially prepared mixture of these components.
  • an oil phase formed from oil blends has certain advantageous properties as compared to an oil phase formed from a single blend.
  • such properties can include improved drying properties, improved impact on pest control (e.g., decreased pest survival, decreased pest fecundity, pest feeding deterrence, pest reproductive deterrence, reduced plant damage, and the like) manifested either pre-harvest or post harvest, and one or more beneficial post-harvest effects such as reduced dehydration of the plant product, protection from excess water absorption by the plant product, reduced water vapor absorption by the plant product, protection from adverse effects due to disease-causing microorganisms, protection from insect or vertebrate pests, and modification of the metabolism of the plant product.
  • pest control e.g., decreased pest survival, decreased pest fecundity, pest feeding deterrence, pest reproductive deterrence, reduced plant damage, and the like
  • beneficial post-harvest effects such as reduced dehydration of the plant product, protection from excess water absorption by the plant product, reduced water vapor absorption by the plant product, protection from adverse effects due to disease-causing microorganisms, protection from insect or vertebrate pests,
  • blending more expensive oil components with less expensive oil components in a single blend for use as an oil phase can have cost advantages while providing comparable performance characteristics vs a single oil component in an oil phase.
  • an oil phase comprising a blend of oils can be mixed more easily with the other components of the non- toxic agricultural formulations as disclosed herein.
  • the concentrated liquid suspension contains particulate material suspended in the oil phase described above.
  • the particulate material can be a clay mineral.
  • Clay minerals include, without limitation, the following types of clays: (a) kaolin clays (including the minerals kaolinite, dickite, halloysite, and nacrite (polymorphs of AhSi2O5(OH)4); (b) smectite clays, including dioctahedral smectites such as such as nontronite and montmorillonite, and trioctahedral smectites such as saponite; (c) illite clays, which include the clay-micas; (d) chlorite clays, and (e) other clay types such as sepiolite and attapulgite.
  • the clay mineral can be a bentonite clay.
  • the particulate material can be an organically modified mineral such as an organoclay.
  • an organoclay can comprise a mineral such as a bentonite, kaolin, zeolite, attapulgite, or talc that is modified with an organic modifier such as a fatty acid, fatty amine, fatty amide, fatty ester, fatty amine quat, quaternary amine surfactant, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, fatty alcohol, decyl alcohol, dodecyl alcohol, linseed oil, alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer, colophony, rosin, chitosan, or a castor oil derivative such as THIXCIN®.
  • an organoclay can comprise a mineral such as a bentonite, kaolin, zeolite, attap
  • the particulate material can be talc, calcium carbonate, gypsum, magnesium silicate, calcium silicate, com starch, cellulose fibers, psyllium fibers, ethylene bis stearamide, microcrystalline cellulose, stearic acid, paraffin wax, carnauba wax, or beeswax, with particulate materials used either individually or together as mixtures.
  • the particulate material can be a specialized particle that is chosen to form barriers, for example, against moisture or pest infestation.
  • specialized particles can comprise planar high-aspect-ratio particles such as clays, mica, and the like, that have the ability to form a flat organized film when mixed with suitable binders.
  • the particulate material of the formulation can be a nonclay mineral such as mica, talc, silica, titanium dioxide, gypsum, calcium carbonate, aluminum phosphate, and the like.
  • the particulate material of the formulation can be bentonite, exfoliated bentonite, organoclays, kaolin, gypsum, zeolite, fuller’s earth, or diatomaceous earth.
  • clay for these applications can be exfoliated by use of the methods set forth in W02013/123150 (PCT Application No. PCT/US13/2684 entitled “Processes for Clay Exfoliation and Uses Thereof”), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
  • the incorporation of particles in the barrier films provides additional benefits of reflecting or absorbing light and heat energy. Certain fruits and vegetables are subject to crop losses or economic damage due to exposure to environmental stresses like excessive sunlight, freezing or frost conditions, oxidative damage, microbial or fungal growth, osmotic swelling and cracking during wet conditions, heat stress, and desiccation during low humidity or windy conditions.
  • the incorporation of particles in the barrier films of the disclosed formulations can reduce the damages caused by these stresses.
  • TiCh titanium dioxide
  • UV ultraviolet
  • Other sunscreen materials such as conjugated organic compounds may also be included.
  • the agricultural formulations are provided in the form of a concentrated liquid suspension comprising an oil-based continuous phase and suspended particulates.
  • the concentrated suspension is a liquid with a viscosity between about 10 cP and about 50,000 cP, as measured by a Brookfield LVDV-III+ Rheometer with spindle LV-3 or LV-4 at 30 rpm; alternatively, the concentrated suspension is a paste-like fluid with a viscosity between about 50,000 cP and 500,000 cP, as measured by the same instruments under the same conditions.
  • the concentrated suspension is a liquid with a viscosity between about 50 cP and about 5000 cP.
  • the concentrated suspension is stable against separation of the particulates from the oil based continuous phase (i. e. , phase separation), such that the suspension resists sedimentation for at least 24 hours after it is mixed. In embodiments, the suspension resists sedimentation for at least 90 days after it is mixed. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains more oil-based liquid than suspended particulates on a mass basis. In embodiments, the mass ratio of particulates to oil-based liquid in the formulation is in the range of 1 to 100 parts of particulates per 100 parts of oil-based liquid. In embodiments, the concentrated liquid suspension is free of water.
  • the agricultural formulation comprises surfactants to improve dispersibility of the particulate minerals in the oil phase, to provide surface stabilization of the particulate minerals in oil, and/or to improve the wetting of the diluted formulation on an agricultural target.
  • surfactants to improve dispersibility of the particulate minerals in the oil phase, to provide surface stabilization of the particulate minerals in oil, and/or to improve the wetting of the diluted formulation on an agricultural target.
  • particulate materials such as minerals can be hydrophilic in nature, so that they do not readily become suspended in an oil.
  • the formulation contains a surfactant or dispersant that can act as wetting agents.
  • the agricultural formulation can comprise additives such as an ethoxylated alcohol, a sorbitan fatty ester, an alkylpolyglycoside, an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide (EO/PO) copolymer, guar, xanthan, soy lecithin, or an ethoxylated sorbitan stearate.
  • a nonionic silicone polymeric surfactant such as Sylgard OFX-0309 (Dow) and Triton HW-1000 (Dow) can be employed as a wetting agent.
  • a variety of additives can act as wetting agents.
  • various additives are also understood to facilitate the stable suspension of the particulate minerals in the oil phase, allowing a durable and stable concentrated liquid formulation.
  • the agricultural formulation comprises dispersants or suspending agents to improve dispersibility and dilutability of the formulation into water, to improve the stability of the diluted formulation, and/or to improve the wetting of the diluted formulation on an agricultural target.
  • the concentrated liquid suspension contains a dispersant or suspending agent such as guar, xanthan, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan, alginate, gelatin, pectin, starch, hydroxypropylguar, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxypropylethyl cellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and ethylcellulose.
  • the dispersant or suspending agent is added to the agricultural formulation at about 0.01% to about 5% on a weight basis. In embodiments, the dispersant or suspending agent is added to the agricultural formulation at about 0.1% to about 2% on a weight basis. In embodiments, the dispersant or suspending agent is added to the agricultural formulation at about 0.1% to about 1% on a weight basis.
  • the agricultural formulation comprises one or more stabilizing additives, which may be added in amounts ranging from 0.1 wt% to 30 wt%, depending on the additive.
  • stabilizing additives can be employed to increase the viscosity of the continuous phase, thereby reducing the sedimentation rate, but these render the formulation difficult for the users to pour.
  • additives can be selected that cause the continuous phase to exhibit pseudoplastic behavior, i.e., where the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate.
  • a formulation containing such additives exhibits a reduced sedimentation rate but can still be poured easily, since the shear rate characteristic of sedimentation is considerably less than that of pouring, mixing, or other fluid transfer processes.
  • stabilizing additives can be selected that cause the continuous phase to form a fragile solid at low shear stresses that transforms into a liquid once a critical stress level is exceeded.
  • the composition and concentration of such an additive is chosen such that the critical stress is slightly greater than the shear stress associated with sedimentation.
  • a formulation containing such additives exhibits essentially no sedimentation, but flows freely once the fragile solid is disrupted by shaking, mixing, or other forms of gentle agitation.
  • stabilizing additives producing this behavior comprise one or more macromolecules that contain weakly associating groups. Interaction among these weakly-associating groups leads to the formation of a network structure that extends throughout the formulation and is characterized by a yield stress.
  • additives especially suitable for manifesting these properties include nonionic triblock copolymers, such as poloxamers, composed of a central hydrophobic chain (e.g., polyoxypropylene) between two hydrophilic chains (e.g., polyoxyethylene), for example, those provided by the PLURONIC® series of materials (BASF), and poly ether amines, such as the poly ether diamines in the JEFF AMINE® ED series (Huntsman).
  • nonionic triblock copolymers such as poloxamers, composed of a central hydrophobic chain (e.g., polyoxypropylene) between two hydrophilic chains (e.g., polyoxyethylene), for example, those provided by the PLURONIC® series of materials (BASF), and poly ether amines, such as the poly ether diamines in the JEFF AMINE® ED series (Huntsman).
  • useful stabilizing additives can include castor oil derivatives such as trihydroxystearin and related rheology modifiers (THIXCIN® and THIXATROL® (Elementis Specialties)), or RHEOCIN® or RHEOCIN T® (BYK Additives and Instruments). Additives for these purposes can be added at doses ranging from 0.01 to 1 wt%, preferably from 0.05 to 0.3 wt%.
  • the stabilizing additive can be added to the agricultural formulation at an elevated temperature relative to that of the formulation while mixing with high intensity, for example at a temperature ranging from about 55°C to about 65°C.
  • stabilizing additives can include modified urea, urea-modified polyamides, urea-modified polyurethanes, hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene resins (KRASOL® (Cray Valley)), glycol ethers (e.g., the DOW ANOLTM series (Dow Chemical)), polyamides, polyester amides, and the like.
  • KRASOL® Cray Valley
  • glycol ethers e.g., the DOW ANOLTM series (Dow Chemical)
  • polyamides polyester amides, and the like.
  • compounds such as the BYK® products: BYK 7411 ES, BYK 431, BYK 430 and BYK 425 (BYK Additives and Instruments) can be used.
  • glycol ethers e.g., the DOW ANOLTM series (Dow Chemical)
  • the selected glycol ethers will preferably have a high solubility in water.
  • the Dowanol TPM can be used at a dose ranging from about 3 to about 5 wt% and preferably about 4 wt%.
  • stabilizing additives can include surfactants derivatized from fatty acids such as fatty acid poly diethanolamide: examples of these are cocamide diethanolamine, lauramide diethanolamine, soyamide diethanolamide and the like, representative versions of which can be found in the AMIDEXTMCE, KD, LSM products from Lubrizol.
  • surfactants derived from fatty acids such as the polyglycerol esters of fatty acids can be used as stabilizing additives.
  • These fatty-acid derived additives can be added at a dose ranging from about 1 to about 5 wt% and preferably about 3%.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise biodegradable ingredients, or consist essentially of biodegradable ingredients.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise organically produced, or “organic” ingredients as defined in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) ingredients list.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise food grade ingredients as defined by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise inert ingredients as defined in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EP A) Inert Ingredients List in 40 CFR180 paragraphs 910-960.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise FIFRA Minimal Risk ingredients as defined in 40 CFR152.25, under the United States Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
  • the agricultural formulations are nontoxic, naturally derived, and/or organic, and the formulations can be used to prevent damage to crops by insects, animals, fungi, bacteria, and environmental damage.
  • the formulation ingredients are derived from food grade raw materials.
  • the formulation ingredients comprise materials generally recognized as safe (“GRAS”) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as set forth in 21 CFR 170.3 and 21 CFR 170.30, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), sections 201(s) and 409, or consist essentially of materials generally recognized as safe.
  • GRAS materials generally recognized as safe
  • This concentrated liquid suspension has a number of commercial advantages, for example a highly concentrated product form that minimizes the volume of product to be shipped from the point of manufacture to the point of use.
  • the storage capacity requirements are minimized by having a highly concentrated product form.
  • It also offers advantages over the solid, granular, or powdered formulations: ease of handling as liquid product, compatibility with automated pumping equipment, safer for handling with reduced worker exposure, and less dust formation.
  • the minimal amount of water in the product can provide benefits in lowered viscosity, reduced tendency for mold and bacteria growth, and a lower freezing point or pour point of the product.
  • the concentrated liquid suspension can be diluted with water or with other solvents at or near the point of use to form a diluted liquid suspension, and the diluted liquid suspension can then be applied to an agricultural target by methods such as spraying, misting, fogging, electrostatic spraying, dipping, brushing, or broadcasting.
  • the dilution can be accomplished by inline mixing or batch mixing to form the diluted suspension, and the diluted suspension can be handled and applied using conventional spraying equipment.
  • the diluted suspension is formed as an oil-in-water emulsion or an oil-in-water suspension, where the oil phase comprises the drying oil.
  • the agricultural formulation When applied to an agricultural target, the agricultural formulation forms a curable coating comprising the oil or oil blend and the particulate material.
  • the curing mechanism is based on the behavior of the drying oil(s), where crosslinks develop between double bonds of neighboring fatty acid or triglyceride chains via atmospheric oxygen insertion, forming a cured polymer network.
  • the rate of curing can be increased by use of curing additives, i.e., additives such as oxidants or metal salts that accelerate the rate of curing of the drying oil(s).
  • the concentrated suspension is made by blending a surfactant, a drying oil, and particulates, where the surfactant represents about 0.1 to about 15% by mass of the suspension.
  • the suspension contains no water. In embodiments, the suspension contains less than about 20% water by mass.
  • the concentrated suspension contains from about 40% to about 98% by mass of an oil phase. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains from about 50% to about 90% by mass of an oil phase. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains from about 60% to about 80% of an oil phase. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains from about 1% to about 50% by mass of suspended particulates. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains from about 10% to about 40% by mass of suspended particulates. In embodiments, the concentrated suspension contains from about 20% to about 35% by mass of suspended particulates.
  • the concentrated suspension is made by blending a surfactant, a blend of drying oils, and particulates where the particulates concentration ranges from about 0% to about 38% of the suspension by mass, and the surfactant concentration ranges from about 4% to about 10% of the suspension by mass, with the blend of drying oils forming the remainder of the suspension.
  • the formulation is water-free; in other embodiments, water is present at amounts ranging from about 0% to about 5% by mass.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise or consist essentially of ingredients that are nontoxic, such that they have a low toxicity towards plants or animals.
  • Low toxicity can be defined as having a LD 50 of >1000 mg/kg, or preferably a LD 50 of >5000 mg/kg.
  • Toxicity has been classified by Hodge-Stemer classes, based on article “Tabulation of Toxicity Classes” by Harold Hodge and James Sterner, published in American Industrial Hygiene Association Quarterly Volume 10, Issue 4, 1949.
  • the agricultural formulations can fit the description of Hodge- Sterner classes 1, 2, or 3; in preferred embodiment, the formulations can fit the description of Hodge- Sterner class 1.
  • the agricultural formulations comprise naturally derived ingredients, such as plant oils, triglycerides, and naturally occurring minerals.
  • the agricultural formulations can be applied such that they dry into the form of a porous film, allowing for transpiration by the plant.
  • the porous film can be formed by incorporating or forming micropores in the form of gas voids, or by incorporating porous minerals.
  • the micropores can be formed by dissolution or degradation of a minor component of the coating, leaving behind a porous coating.
  • the agricultural formulations disclosed herein can be used as vehicles or adjuvants for conveying agricultural treatment agents in fluid form to agricultural targets.
  • the term “treat” means to beneficially affect the longevity, productivity, or other biological or economic aspect of an agricultural target
  • an “agricultural treatment agent” refers to any chemical or biological active ingredient used to carry out such treatments.
  • secondary agricultural treatment refers to an agricultural treatment that is applied in addition to, before, or subsequent to a treatment with the agricultural formulations disclosed herein.
  • Non-limiting examples of agricultural treatment agents include pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, sulfur, copper oxide, plant growth regulators, plant hormones, pheromones, insecticidal soaps, insect pheromones, sunscreens, beneficial bacteria, beneficial fungi, Trichoderma, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), Aspergillus, nematodes, RNAi; Botanical extracts and essential oils such as neem, clove, d- limonene, citrus extract, pinene, pine extract, capsaicin, camphor, geraniol; probiotics, beneficial bacteria or beneficial fungi, extracts from bacterial cultures or fungal cultures, Spinosyn A, Spinosyn D, biopesticides, biofungicides, nematodes, biological control agents, and nutrients.
  • the term “nutrient” or “nutrients” refers to those elements that are essential to plant growth.
  • the term “nutrients” includes both macronutrients and micronutrients. Besides the essential elements for growth provided by air and water (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen), there are the three macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) that plants require in large quantities, and a number of secondary nutrients and micronutrients (calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and the like) that are required in smaller, even trace, amounts.
  • the micronutrients can perform especially critical functions in the plant lifecycle, such as enhancing sugar translocation, strengthening protein formation, increasing photosynthesis, improving root strength, enabling plant immunity, and the like.
  • Nutrient-containing foliar sprays can be used to provide essential nutrients to plants, for example to correct nutritional deficiencies that limit plant growth or increase susceptibility to pests and pathogens.
  • simple sprays that are currently in use consist of one or more nutrients dissolved or dispersed in water; after application, these formulations are easily washed or brushed off the foliar surface. This susceptibility to wash-off or brush-off decreases nutrient availability, and it can add to the run-off of these chemicals into local water supplies.
  • the formulations disclosed herein contain nutrients, and form a nutrient-containing film that retains one or more nutrients on the foliage.
  • Nutrients may be supplied as salts, complexes, chelates, or organic-inorganic compounds. Nutrients may be dissolved in the formulation, dispersed in the formulation, or adsorbed to a component of the formulation. In embodiments, for example, nutrients may be adsorbed to the clay present in the formulation.
  • Dispersed nutrients may take the form of particles with a mean particle size of less than lOOp, less than lOp, or less than Ip.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can be combined with a pheromone that affects mating behavior or causes mating confusion in insects.
  • the pheromone-containing agricultural formulation can be used to deter successful insect reproduction or oviposition, or to cause insects to deposit eggs in areas where the resulting larvae will not survive.
  • Agricultural treatment agents can comprise agricultural chemicals that may be formulated as liquids, solutions, dispersions, pastes, gels, or aerosols. Agricultural treatment agents can non-lethally alter the behavior of a pest.
  • agricultural treatment agents can comprise biological control agents, which exert a beneficial effect on an agricultural target through their biological activity, for example by competing with agricultural pathogens for space or nutrient on the agricultural target, or by antagonizing the growth of agricultural pathogens, by inducing resistance in the agricultural target, by acting as a natural enemy to an agricultural pest, by causing mating confusion, by causing excessive grooming behavior, or by other biologically-mediated processes.
  • an agricultural target can include plant surfaces and seed surfaces (pre- or post-harvest), plant products, and soil or agricultural growth media surfaces.
  • the term “agricultural chemical” refers to an active chemical ingredient used for agricultural purposes, such as an herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, fertilizer, insecticide, probiotic, nematicide, plant growth regulator, plant hormone, insect hormone, pheromone, pest repellent or nutrient.
  • the formulation can serve as a protective coating for plants, fruits, vegetables, foliage, berries, seeds, nuts, and the like, while also delivering an agricultural chemical.
  • the agricultural chemicals can be herbicides such as dicamba, chloramben, nicosulfuron, and glyphosate; they can be insecticides such as imidacloprid, neonicotinoids, pyrethroids, chlorantraniliprole, or sulfoximines.
  • the agricultural chemicals can be fungicides such as azoxystrobin, calcium polysulfide, Metalaxyl, chlorothalonil, fenarimol, copper salts, cuprous oxide, metal-dithiocarbamate complexes, ferbam, mancozeb, mefenoxam, myclobutanil, pyraclostrobin, prothioconazole, propiconazole, sulfur, thiophanate methyl, triadimefon, and trifloxystrobin.
  • the agricultural chemical can be an oilsoluble chemical, a water-soluble chemical, or a dispersible solid material.
  • the agricultural treatment can be a physical agent such as a sunscreen or a moisture retainer.
  • agents such as caffeine, benzoic acid, para-amino benzoic acid, avobenzone, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide can be used as sunscreens.
  • humectant agents such as urea, glycerol, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, calcium chloride, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) can be used as moisture retainers.
  • the agricultural treatment agent can comprise a biological agent such as gram-positive bacterium, a gram-negative bacterium, a motile microbe, a nonmotile microbe, a root nodule microbe, a soil microbe, a rhizosphere microbe, a fungus, and the like.
  • a biological agent such as gram-positive bacterium, a gram-negative bacterium, a motile microbe, a nonmotile microbe, a root nodule microbe, a soil microbe, a rhizosphere microbe, a fungus, and the like.
  • the biological agent comprises one or more beneficial microbes.
  • microbe is interchangeable with “microorganism,” referring to a microscopic single-celled or multicellular organism.
  • Classes of microorganisms include, but are not limited to, organisms such as bacteria, fungi, algae, archaea, viruses, and protozoa.
  • Use of microbes as agricultural treatment agents can offer agricultural benefits such as enhancing nitrogen fixation, suppression of disease, protection against plant pathogens, inducing disease-resistance in plants, improving nutrient uptake, stimulating growth and productivity, improving tolerance to environmental stress and the like.
  • microbes used for agricultural treatment can provide direct protection for a plant by infecting insect pests or plant-pathogenic microorganisms that may attack the plant.
  • Beauveria bassiana a fungus naturally present in soils, may be used as an entomological pathogen against insect pests.
  • microbes used for agricultural treatment can provide indirect protection for a plant by competing with pathogenic species for nutrients, by restricting or eliminating nutrients required by pathogenic species or insect pests, or by producing antimicrobial compounds that adversely affect pathogenic species.
  • microbes used for agricultural treatment can increase the supply or bioavailability of nutrients to the plant.
  • microbes used for agricultural treatment can stimulate beneficial biological activity within the plant, for example, stimulating foliar growth, stimulating root growth, stimulating immune response, fostering tolerance of abiotic stress, and the like.
  • the agricultural treatment can comprise a biological agent such as beneficial bacteria or fungi, for example fungi in mycorrhizal relationship with the roots of plants, entomopathogenic strains of fungi, Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, Nomuraea, Tolypocladium, Lecanicillium, Entomophthora muscae, Beauveria bassiana, Pandora neoaphidis, Hirsutella thompsonii, Neozygites floridana, Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus aspergillus, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and nematodes.
  • beneficial bacteria or fungi for example fungi in mycorrhizal relationship with the roots of plants, entomopathogenic strains of fungi, Beauveria, Metarhizium, Isaria, Nomuraea, Tolypocladium, Le
  • the agricultural treatment agent can be a biopesticide as defined by the United States EPA (https://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides).
  • the agricultural treatment agent can be produced by bacteria, such as spinosyn A and spinosyn D, which are produced by Saccharopolyspora spinosa.
  • the formulation can comprise a beneficial microbe that is a viable microbe.
  • a viable microbe can be a propagatable microbe, i.e., one that is a living organism capable of replication.
  • the beneficial microbe can be viable but non-propagatable, having beneficial properties not dependent upon their replication.
  • certain of their beneficial attributes can arise from their capacity to release beneficial substances that contribute to the well-being (including absence of disease) in a plant, or certain of their beneficial attributes can arise from their capacity to induce a plant-beneficial effect when consumed by another organism having a relationship to such plant.
  • the viable beneficial microbe whether or not propagatable, can have an adverse effect on a pest that might otherwise infest a plant, for example if the pest consumes the microbe; this adverse effect on the pest thus has a beneficial effect on the otherwise vulnerable plant.
  • the formulation can comprise a beneficial microbe that is a non- viable microbe.
  • a beneficial microbe that is a non- viable microbe.
  • Such microbes while living organisms at some point, are no longer alive in the formulation, and their beneficial properties are not dependent upon their viability.
  • the non-viable microbes or substances derived from them can exert beneficial effects, for example by providing beneficial substances that contribute to the well-being (including absence of disease) in a plant, or by inducing a plant-beneficial effect when consumed by another organism having a relationship to such plant.
  • a microbe such as B. thuringesis can damage the gut of insects that consume it, even if the microbe itself is no longer alive.
  • Non-viable materials e.g., compounds derived from viable or non-viable microbes
  • biopesticides can include materials (e.g., compounds, secretions, excretions, etc.) derived from living microbes; biopesticides can also include materials derived from non-viable microbes (e.g., compounds, secretions, excretions, or derivatives from processing the microbes themselves).
  • the concentrated liquid suspension can comprise adjuvants such as cellulosic polymers, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, starch, thermoplastic starch, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polylactic-glycolic acid, propylene glycol, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, glycerin, osmotic suppressors such as calcium chloride, terpenes, and plant oils.
  • adjuvants such as cellulosic polymers, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, starch, thermoplastic starch, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polylactic-glycolic acid, propylene glycol, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, glycerin, osmotic suppressors such as calcium chloride, terpenes, and plant oils.
  • the drying-oil based agricultural formulation can comprise a cellulose-based or cellulose-derived material such as cellulose esters, cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose fibers, cellulose microfibers, cellulose nanofibers, cellulose ethers, ethylcellulose, methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and the like.
  • the cellulose-based or cellulose-derived material can be a cellulose-based polymer that has a drying oil covalently attached to it, for example by esterification.
  • a cellulose-derived material can contain a cellulose-based material as described above combined with one or more functional groups that impart advantageous properties.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating composition for agricultural surfaces can be formed from a biodegradable composition comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate such as polyhydroxybutyrate.
  • the present disclosure also relates to methods of using nontoxic agricultural formulations in the form of a concentrated liquid suspension.
  • the agricultural formulations can be applied to a variety of agricultural substrates or targets, such as plant surfaces (leaves, fruits, seeds, berries, nuts, grains, stems, roots, etc.), soils or agricultural growth media, and harvested plant products such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, stems, roots, and the like.
  • the soil surface can be treated to produce a beneficial effect selected from the group consisting of erosion control, nutrient retention, agricultural treatment agent retention, dust control, delivery of beneficial microbes, or augmentation of beneficial microbial growth.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to form seed coatings to improve properties of the seeds, such as viability, productivity, growth rate, emergence timing, insect resistance, mold resistance, dust control, resistance to flaking off of active pesticide ingredients, and moisture resistance.
  • the formulations can provide protection against Rhizoctonia and Fusarium and soybean rust and nematodes, aphids, maggots, and worms.
  • the formulations can offer reduced dusting of seed coatings for handling improvements, safety, environmental contamination, and avoiding nontarget applications.
  • the seed coatings can improve dry flow and nonclumping of the treated seeds; this results in less residue and requires less cleaning of equipment.
  • Seed coatings can include rooting compounds, hormones and plant growth regulators.
  • the formulation can be diluted with water and applied to an agricultural target to form a cured coating.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to tropical crops such as cocoa, coffee, papaya, mango, pineapple, avocado, melons, watermelons, and banana.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can deter cocoa pod borers (Conopomorpha cramerella) from damaging the crop.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can deter black pod infestations, for example involving Phytophthora species organisms such as P. palmivora, P. megakarya, P. capsici, P. citrophthora, P. megasperma, P. katsurae, and the like.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can deter frosty pod and witches’ broom disease (WBD) infestations, involving organisms such as basidiomycete fungi, Moniliophthora roreri, Moniliophthora pemiciosa, and the like.
  • WBD frosty pod and witches’ broom disease
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can deter insects such as the coffee berry borer, or plant diseases such as coffee rust.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can prevent or reduce the spread of fungal infestations by reducing the ability of spores to become airborne.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can prevent or reduce the spread of fungal infestations by reducing the ability of airborne spores to germinate on plant surfaces.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation can prevent or reduce the spread of fungal infestations by encapsulating or otherwise immobilizing fungi on plant surfaces, preventing part or all of the microorganism from obtaining access to the plant interior.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to vegetable crops such as squash, onion, celery, lettuce, spinach, pumpkin, tomato, eggplant, peppers, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, and the like.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to root crops such as potato, beet, carrot, turnip, ginger, and sweet potato.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to legume crops such as beans, soybeans, and peanuts.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to cereal grains such as com, oat, wheat, sorghum, alfalfa, barley, and rice.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to deter pests such as the com earworm, navel orangeworm, and pecan case borer.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to tree nut crops such as almond, cashew, macadamia, walnut, pecan, and pistachio.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to tree fruits such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, lemons, oranges, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to berry crops such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, and elderberries.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to grapes for production of table grapes, juice, or wine.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to turf grasses, lawns, golf courses, and ornamental plants. [0077]
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to improve the yield of a crop. The yield of a crop is determined by numerous factors, including plant health, nutrient and water availability, pest pressures, heat stress, environmental conditions, sunlight, and the microbiome around the plants. When applied to a crop, the nontoxic agricultural formulation can influence certain of these factors.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can reduce the water demand of a crop by reducing the loss of water vapor by transpiration to the atmosphere.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to protect plants and crops from diseases caused by microorganisms, including but not limited to microorganisms such as fungi, mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and the like, causing diseases such as potato virus X (PVX), potato virus Y (PVY), blight, zebra chip disease, bacterial infections, phytoplasmas, leafspot, brown rot, gall, downy mildew, com smut, apple rust, leaf curl, leaf spot, mosaic vims, oomycetes, mistletoe, dwarf mistletoe, scab, canker, anthracnose, and the like.
  • microorganisms including but not limited to microorganisms such as fungi, mold, mildew, bacteria, viruses, and the like, causing diseases such as potato virus X (PVX), potato virus
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to protect plants and crops from insect-bome bacteria and viruses.
  • infection refers to a pathological infestation of a plant by a microorganism, or a disease caused thereby. It is understood that an infection can result from an invasion of a plant by an exogenous source of microorganisms, where the attachment to or colonization of the plant by the microorganism results in plant pathology or disease, either by surface-directed activities, by entry of the exogenous microorganism into the plant interior, or by other pathogenic behaviors of the microorganism (e.g., toxin formation).
  • an infection can occur due to an endogenous source of microorganisms that behaves in a pathological manner, either by surface-directed activities, by entry of the endogenous microorganism into the plant interior, or by other pathogenic behaviors of the microorganism (e.g., toxin formation).
  • an infection can result when the microorganism is initially present on the plant surface (whether the microorganism is originally an exogenous one or an endogenous one), and entry of part or all of this microorganism into the plant interior results in the plant pathology.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation in preventing or ameliorating or eradicating infections (collectively, “treating infections”), can encapsulate or otherwise immobilize the potentially pathogenic microorganisms on the plant surface, thereby preventing part or all of the microorganisms from obtaining access to the plant interior.
  • the non-toxic agricultural formulation in treating infections, can prevent the incursion of potentially pathological exogenous microorganisms onto the plant.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulation in treating infections, can counteract or prevent surface-directed activities or other behaviors of microorganisms, such as toxin formation.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to protect plants and crops from insect and animal damage caused by weevils, maggots, worms, slugs, flies, fruit flies, mites, ants, spiders, caterpillars, moths, grasshoppers, locusts, leafhoppers, leafrollers, leafminers, aphids, psyllids, ants, beetles, bugs, thrips, rabbits, deer, rodents, and the like.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be used to protect plants and crops from environmental stresses like excessive sunlight, freezing or frost conditions, oxidative damage, microbial or fungal growth, osmotic swelling and cracking during wet conditions, and desiccation during low humidity or windy conditions.
  • the agricultural formulations can be delivered to a point of distribution or a point of use.
  • the formulations remain stable for a prolonged period of time, for example 3-6 months or longer.
  • the concentrated liquid suspensions can be diluted with a diluent, for example water, and sprayed onto the plant surfaces.
  • the diluted liquid suspension can contain from about 60 to about 99% water.
  • the agricultural formulations can be applied onto an agricultural target by spraying, brushing, misting, aerosol application, fogging, backpack spraying, dipping, or irrigation on agricultural targets.
  • the spray solution can further be modified with small amounts of flow aids such as hydrophilic polymers to aid the dispersion of the droplets after spraying and to minimize drift of aerosol to nontarget areas, such as high molecular weight water soluble polyacrylamides.
  • flow aids such as hydrophilic polymers to aid the dispersion of the droplets after spraying and to minimize drift of aerosol to nontarget areas, such as high molecular weight water soluble polyacrylamides.
  • the formulations are resistant to friction or rubbing off, and/or they are water-resistant.
  • water-soluble polymers or waxes such as polyethylene glycols can be added to make the film easily removable after a few washes.
  • the formulation can be applied to an agricultural target, e.g., a plant, a fruit, a vegetable, and the like.
  • a formulation can be sprayed onto surfaces of an agricultural target, e.g., fruit or vegetable or plant surfaces (trunks, foliage, leaves, branches, seeds, berries, nuts, roots, and the like) or the soil or other agricultural growth medium, where the formulation can contain active ingredients. Oil droplets containing the active ingredient can coat the agricultural target surface and form a crosslinked film upon drying.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating can protect plants from pests such as weevils, maggots, worms, borers, slugs, flies, fruit flies, moths, grasshoppers, locusts, leafhoppers, leafrollers, aphids, ants, beetles, bugs, thrips, rabbits, deer, rodents, and the like.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating can protect plants and crops from damages caused by diseases transmitted by insects.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating can protect plants from diseases such as fungi, mold, mildew, citrus greening, huanglongbing (HLB) disease, leafspot, brown rot, gall, downy mildew, com smut, apple rust, leaf curl, leaf spot, mosaic vims, scab, canker, and anthracnose.
  • diseases such as fungi, mold, mildew, citrus greening, huanglongbing (HLB) disease, leafspot, brown rot, gall, downy mildew, com smut, apple rust, leaf curl, leaf spot, mosaic vims, scab, canker, and anthracnose.
  • diseases such as fungi, mold, mildew, citrus greening, huanglongbing (HLB) disease, leafspot, brown rot, gall, downy mildew, com smut, apple rust, leaf curl, leaf spot, mosaic vims, scab, canker, and anthracnose.
  • the drying-oil-based agricultural formulation can be used to form a nontoxic barrier coating composition when applied to an agricultural target, e.g., a plant, a fruit, a vegetable, and the like.
  • a formulation can be sprayed onto surfaces of an agricultural target, e.g., fruit or vegetable or plant surfaces (trunks, foliage, leaves, seeds, berries, nuts, roots, branches, and the like), where the formulation can be free of toxic ingredients such as pesticides.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating compositions can deter pest damage due to an altered sensory recognition of the plant surface; for example, the treated plant surface can have a different surface energy, slipperiness, compatibility with insect foot physiological structures, surface texture, odor profile, visual appearance, and heat signature compared with an untreated plant surface. This altered sensory presentation can change the behaviors of insects and animals such that they do not elect to eat or otherwise damage the treated plant.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating compositions can cause the pests to engage in grooming behaviors that can deter them from damaging the agricultural target.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating can immobilize pests that contact the coating by adhering to them.
  • the mechanical and rheological properties of the nontoxic barrier coating can be chosen such that once the coating adheres to the pest, the pest is unable to free itself from the coating, nor is it able to remove the coating from the agricultural target. Such pests may be present on the agricultural target prior to formation of the nontoxic barrier coating, or they may arrive at the agricultural target after the coating has been established. In embodiments, the nontoxic barrier coating can impede motion of the pest over the surface of the agricultural target leading to deleterious consequences for the pest, for example interfering with its ability to locate feeding or reproductive sites.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating can interfere with the odor profile associated with the pest or the plant surface to the detriment of the pest, for example selectively absorbing compounds emitted by the pest or plant surface, or releasing compounds that interfere with, block, confuse, or otherwise alter the odor profile.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating composition can serve as protection of the agricultural target from insects, fungi, animals, drought conditions, air pollution damage, heat stress, and solar damage.
  • the term “barrier coating” or “barrier coating composition” can be formed as a continuous or discontinuous film or can be otherwise applied at a desired thickness.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating formulation can be applied to an agricultural target at a dosing rate of about 1 to about 200 lbs.
  • the nontoxic barrier coating formulation can be applied to an agricultural target at a dosing rate of about 3 to about 100 lbs. of formulation per acre of crop. In embodiments, the nontoxic barrier coating formulation can be applied to an agricultural target at a dosing rate of about 10 to about 75 lbs. of formulation per acre of crop. In embodiments, a concentrated formulation of the nontoxic barrier coating formulation, whether comprising a single oil or an oil blend formulation, can be applied to an agricultural target at a dosing rate from 0.2 kg/ha to 100 kg/ha. (undiluted basis). In other embodiments, a concentrated formulation of the nontoxic barrier coating formulation can be applied to an agricultural target at a dosing rate from about 1-150 L/ha, or about 5-50 L/ha.
  • the nontoxic agricultural formulations can be applied to plant surfaces either pre-harvest or post-harvest, to produce a beneficial post-harvest effect on a harvested plant product, wherein the beneficial post-harvest effect is selected from the group consisting of reduced mechanical damage to the plant product, reduced dehydration of the plant product, protection from excess water absorption by the plant product, reduced water vapor absorption by the plant product, protection from adverse effects due to diseasecausing microorganisms, protection from insect or vertebrate pests, in particular those that might attack the plant product post-harvest, and modification of the metabolism of the plant product.
  • Modification of the metabolism can involve modifying the respiration rate of the plant product, modifying the rate at which the plant product ripens or decays, and/or delaying the loss of its phytochemical compounds such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
  • the formulations as disclosed herein are applied to a plant surface pre-harvest (i.e., prior to harvesting) in order to achieve a beneficial effect for the plant product post-harvest. Applying the formulation before harvest begins can protect the agricultural substrate or target throughout the harvesting process and subsequent handling steps. In other embodiments, the formulations as disclosed herein are applied to a plant surface during or immediately following harvesting. This can be advantageous in those situations wherein the harvesting process itself can damage the plant surface or can damage any coating formed from the applied formulation; under those circumstances it is desirable to wait until after harvesting has been completed.
  • Formulations for use in achieving post-harvest benefits can include additional materials such as pesticides, hydrophilic sorbents, phytochemicals, phytochemical absorbents, phytochemical inhibitors, surface cleaning agents, sanitizing agents, and indicators.
  • Coatings formed from the formulations herein can contain these and other additives selected for their post-harvest benefits.
  • a coating that contains a hydrophilic sorbent can absorb liquids released by the product following mechanical damage or decay, thereby decreasing the availability of nutrients required for microbial growth and potentially prolonging shelf-life in a post-harvest product.
  • such a coating can be applied pre-harvest or post-harvest, recognizing that a pre-harvest application would desirably be applied close to harvesting so that it does not absorb significant amounts of ambient moisture (rain, dew, irrigation water, and the like) that can affect its efficacy for absorbing plant-released liquids.
  • a coating that contains a phytochemical, a phytochemical absorbent or a phytochemical inhibitor such as a coating containing anthocyanins, flavonoids, or phenolic acids, can allow the agricultural product to absorb such metabolically active chemicals, thereby allowing them to modify the rate at which the agricultural product ripens or decays pre-harvest or post-harvest.
  • a coating that contains a surface cleaning or sanitizing agent can facilitate cleaning or sanitizing the surface of the agricultural product during post-harvest processing.
  • a coating that contains an indicator that is visible pre- harvest or post harvest for example so as to facilitate recognition of the agricultural product by automated or processing equipment, can facilitate the identification of changes in plant quality by automated equipment or human observations.
  • Such a coating, with an indicator present can thereby signal the degree of ripeness of the product, or can signal the presence of insect damage, or of microbial infection.
  • certain pesticide additives present in the formulation can be applied pre-harvest or post-harvest; if applied pre-harvest, the pesticide additive can affect target pests post-harvest.
  • the pesticide additive can have a high degree of bioavailability, becoming effective against target pests immediately or shortly after the formulation is applied to the plant surface.
  • the pesticide is not bioavailable immediately, but instead becomes effective against the target pests over time. This can occur if the pesticide is formulated as a sustained release agent, or if the pesticide is brought into contact with the target pests through degradation of the applied coating or by diffusion through the coating.
  • the pesticide is not available immediately after the formulation’s application, but becomes effective against the target pests upon mechanical damage to the coating or the underlying plant surface, which can trigger the release of the pesticide from the coating.
  • other events can trigger the release of the pesticide from the coating, for example exposing the coating to excessive moisture.
  • a pesticide additive in the formulation can act as an insecticide or a fungicide.
  • a phytochemical additive present in the formulation can be applied pre-harvest or post-harvest; if applied pre-harvest, the phytochemical additive can affect the surfaces of agricultural targets to exert topical post-harvest effects, and can be absorbed through the surface of the agricultural target to produce metabolic post-harvest effects.
  • a phytochemical additive can have a high degree of bioavailability, becoming effective immediately or shortly after the formulation is applied to the plant surface to produce desirable biological effects such as providing resistance to microorganisms and interfering with the activities of insect pests or animal predators, with the desirable biological effects advantageously manifesting themselves post-harvest.
  • the phytochemical is not be available immediately, but instead becomes biologically active over time.
  • the phytochemical additive comprises ethylene to enhance the ripening process, which can be applied itself or produced in situ by an ethylene generator system.
  • a phytochemical absorbent i.e., an absorber of phytochemicals
  • a phytochemical inhibitor i.e., an inhibitor of phytochemicals
  • the phytochemical absorbent can be an ethylene absorber, for example to slow the ripening process by absorbing exogenous ethylene.
  • the phytochemical inhibitor can comprise an ethylene inhibitor, for example 1 - methylcyclopropene, for example to slow the ripening process by inhibiting endogenous ethylene.
  • a surface cleaning additive and/or a sanitizing additive present in the formulation can be applied pre-harvest or post-harvest; if applied pre-harvest, the surface cleaning additive and/or sanitizing additive can clean or sanitize the post-harvest product.
  • the term “sanitizing” refers to a process that reduces the microbial population to a level that is deemed safe for the particular product, but that need not be a zero level of microbes.
  • a surface cleaning additive can comprise a surfactant.
  • a surface cleaning additive can comprise a foaming agent capable of generating gas upon exposure to water; gas produced by the foaming agent can fracture the coating formed by the formulation, thereby removing debris from the product surface.
  • a sanitizing additive can comprise a poly cation such as chitosan, or a per oxi de-generating compound such as urea peroxide.
  • a material used for an agricultural treatment is an agricultural treatment agent.
  • An agricultural treatment is intended to bring about a desired therapeutic effect, i.e., any effect that enhances a desired property such as the growth, vigor, or other advantageous aspect of production for agricultural products pre-harvest, or that enhances a desired property such as, without limitation, the appearance, taste, durability, or other advantageous properties of the agricultural product post-harvest.
  • a desired therapeutic effect can be a protective effect (e.g., protection against pests, fungi, sun damage, drought, ozone, acid rain, environmental toxins, etc.), or a nutrient effect (e.g., delivery of fertilizers, growth hormones, plant nutrients, etc.), or a pre-harvest enhancement effect (e.g., providing an agent that improves the natural properties of the product pre-harvest, including through genetic modification), or a post-harvest protective or enhancement effect (e.g., protecting the skins or surfaces of fruits, vegetables, or seeds post-harvest, or improving their appearance, taste, or commercial attractiveness).
  • a protective effect e.g., protection against pests, fungi, sun damage, drought, ozone, acid rain, environmental toxins, etc.
  • a nutrient effect e.g., delivery of fertilizers, growth hormones, plant nutrients, etc.
  • a pre-harvest enhancement effect e.g., providing an agent that improves the natural properties of the product pre-
  • Certain fruits and vegetables are subject to crop losses or economic damage due to exposure to environmental stresses like excessive sunlight, freezing or frost conditions, oxidative damage, microbial or fungal growth, osmotic swelling and cracking during wet conditions, and desiccation during low humidity or windy conditions. Reduction of these crop losses and economic damage is another example of a desired therapeutic effect of the coating formulations.
  • Other examples of desired therapeutic effects will be familiar to those having ordinary skill in the art.
  • the target can be treated with the formulation for an exposure time, which is the time deemed appropriate for achieving the desired therapeutic effect.
  • Exposure time for various formulations and targets will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. The exposure time can be preselected, or it can be determined following exposure based on the degree of achievement of the desired therapeutic effect, or based on other parameters that can be observed or determined by the skilled artisan.
  • the agricultural formulations and methods disclosed herein can prolong the therapeutic effects of an active agricultural ingredient, such as a biological agent or an agricultural chemical.
  • the disclosed formulations can act to protect the active agricultural ingredient from dispersion or deactivation after it contacts the agricultural target.
  • the agricultural formulations disclosed herein can deliver the agricultural chemicals to the agricultural target and retain them there; moreover, the agricultural formulations can protect the agricultural chemicals from adverse conditions such as rainfall, friction, wind, water exposure, and secondary agricultural treatments (e.g., subsequent sprayings or subsequent applications or utilizations of agricultural treatments) that might dilute or remove the agricultural chemical.
  • the agricultural formulations and methods disclosed herein can be used for delivering biological agents such as beneficial bacteria, beneficial fungi, and/or biological control agents to agricultural targets, and/or retaining biological control agents on agricultural targets.
  • biological control agents can include a variety of life forms, including plants, insects, and microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
  • the agricultural formulations can contain biological control agents in amounts from about 0.001% to about 10%.
  • the agricultural formulations can contain biological control agents in amounts from about 0.01% to about 1%.
  • the agricultural formulations can contain biological control agents in amounts from about 0.05% to about 0.5%.
  • the biological control agents comprise at least one strain of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), or an endotoxin produced by Bt.
  • Bt Bacillus thuringiensis
  • the use of Bt is understood to be safe and effective for control of insects, and the delivery of Bt by the agricultural formulations and methods disclosed herein can improve or prolong the effectiveness of insect control.
  • Biological control can include the importation of a natural enemy of an agricultural pest, the conservation of a natural enemy of an agricultural pest, or the augmentation of a natural enemy of an agricultural pest.
  • the formulations and methods disclosed herein can serve a role in biological control by delivering biological control agents to an agricultural target in a solid or a liquid formulation, or by providing a barrier coating or film that assists with other biological control endeavors.
  • a barrier coating as described above can include biological control agents in particulate form, so that the biological control agent is held in proximity to an agricultural surface, and/or it is released in a predetermined, time-release manner.
  • biological control agents may be formulated in liquid or solid form.
  • commercially available suspensions of spores, toxins, fungi, virus particles, and the like can be sprayed onto crops like conventional insecticides to act as biological control agents.
  • a non-exhaustive list of exemplary biological control agent formulations is set forth in Table 1 :
  • formulations and methods described above for producing agricultural treatments comprising solid or liquid agricultural chemicals can also be applied to agricultural treatment agents comprising biological control agents that have been formulated as solids or liquids.
  • Triethylenetetramine (TETA), Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO
  • Example 1 Preparation of linseed oil/rosin 1:1 mixture
  • Rosin was added to linseed oil at a 1 : 1 weight ratio. The mixture was mixed and heated above 60°C for 2 hours to solubilize rosin in linseed oil.
  • Example 2 Preparation of linseed oil/ castor oil glycidyl ether/triethylenetetr amine
  • Linseed oil, castor oil glycidyl ether (GE35-H) and triethylenetetramine (TETA) were mixed at a ratio of 1 : 1 :0.05.
  • the mixture was mixed with a vortexer (VWR Scientific Products, Mini Vortexer 945800) for approximately 10 seconds.
  • Example 3 Preparation of linseed oil/ castor oil glycidyl ether/ magnesium stearate / triethylenetetramine
  • Linseed oil, castor oil glycidyl ether (GE35-H), magnesium stearate, and triethylenetetramine (TETA) were mixed at a ratio of 1 : 1 :0.75:0.05.
  • the mixture was mixed with a vortexer (VWR Scientific Products, Mini Vortexer 945800) for approximately 10 seconds.
  • Example 4 Methods of treating an agricultural product
  • the formulations of Example 5 can be applied to cocoa pods in order to reduce damage to the fruit due to the infestation by the cocoa pod borer (Conopomorpha cramerella).
  • the formulations can be applied in the various stages of the pod growth, preferably in the time frame when the fruit skin is green, preferably after 2-4 weeks after the pods start growing on the plant.
  • the application can be performed using a standard spray applicator such as a backpack sprayer.
  • This application method is particularly suitable for pre-harvest coating application on large fruits growing on trees such as cocoa, pineapple, apples, and papaya although other application methods like conventional mechanical sprayers employed in large fields for row crops can also be used.
  • the formulation can reside on the cocoa pod skin for a few weeks at a time, protecting the fruit from cocoa pod borer.
  • the coating is expected be flexible and allow for growth of the fruit and a subsequent second application may be necessary a few weeks prior to harvest.
  • the fruits with no edible skins can be processed without a post-harvest wash.
  • other fruits and vegetables with edible skins such as papaya, mango, apples, cherries, tomatoes can require a simple post-harvest wash with a mild soap to remove the coating.
  • This applied coating is expected to produce a high yield of fruit with unblemished and intact skins with no impact of pest infestation. It is expected that the coated fruits and vegetables would be attractive to consumers and safe for consumption with just the washing steps commonly performed by the consumers of these fruits and vegetables.
  • Example 5 Formulations for treatment of agricultural targets
  • Formulations were prepared by blending the ingredients as shown in Tables 2 and 3 below. Each of the formulations was a viscous but free-flowing liquid.
  • Example 6 Formulations containing different surfactants
  • aqueous surfactants solutions were prepared for incorporation into a formulation. Each solution was prepared at 20% by adding 2 grams of surfactant to 8 grams of tap water. The list of surfactants tested and their hydrophilic-lipophilic balance
  • Table 4 [00108] An aliquot of 3.60 grams was taken from each of the 20% surfactant solutions of Table 4 and added to separate vials that each contain 21.60 grams of raw linseed oil. The surfactant solutions were agitated vigorously just before transferring to the linseed oil containing vials. After mixing the surfactant solutions with the raw linseed oil 10.80 grams of bentonite was added to each vial and again agitated vigorously. The final component percentages of each sample vial were 60% raw linseed oil, 30% bentonite, 8% water, and 2% surfactant; these samples are listed in Table 5.
  • Example 7 Formulations with bentonite or com starch particle types [00111] The following formulations were prepared.
  • Example 8 Formulations with different surfactants
  • Example 9 Formulations with suspension additives
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with the insecticidal soap potassium laurate.
  • An 18.88 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together.
  • a 0.32 g sample of potassium laurate was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum was added, and the sample was shaken and vortexed once more.
  • the last addition to the concentrated form was a 9.60 g sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added, the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing the insecticidal soap. To prepare a solution for application to plants, a 1.0 g aliquot of the formulation was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water. The vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 1 to 2 minutes the vial showed a stable dispersion in water without any sign of solids settling or oil splitting for at least 30 minutes.
  • Example 11 Agricultural formulation with geraniol
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with geraniol, an essential oil that is an insect repellent.
  • An 18.24 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well- mixed product.
  • a 0.64 g sample of geraniol was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum followed and the sample once more shaken and vortexed.
  • Example 12 Agricultural formulation with d-limonene
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with d-Limonene, a botanical oil insecticide.
  • An 18.24 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well-mixed product.
  • a 0.64 g sample of d-Limonene was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum followed and the sample once more shaken and vortexed.
  • the last addition to the concentrated form was a 9.60 g sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing d-limonene. To prepare a dilution for application on plants, a 1.0 g aliquot of the mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water. The 20 mL vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 30 minutes the emulsion was showing no signs of bentonite settling or oil separation.
  • Example 13 Agricultural formulation with capsaicin
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with the biopesticide capsaicin.
  • An 18.24 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well-mixed product.
  • a 0.64 g sample of Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce with 1500-2500 heat units on the Scoville scale (Mcllhenny Company) was added to the vial followed by more shaking and vortexing.
  • the amount of capsaicin in the sauce was about 90-160 ppm based on conversion of the Scoville unit scale where 16 million Scoville units is equal to pure capsaicin.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum followed and the sample was once more shaken and vortexed.
  • the last addition to the concentrated form was a 9.60 g sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing capsaicin.
  • Example 14 Agricultural formulation with neem oil
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with neem oil, a vegetable oil used as a pesticide for organic farming.
  • a 15.68 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well-mixed product.
  • a 3.20 g sample of neem oil (Blue Lily Organics) was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum followed and the sample was once more shaken and vortexed.
  • the last addition to the concentrated form was a 9.60 g sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing neem oil. To prepare a dilution for application on plants, a 1.0 g aliquot of the mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water. The 20 mL vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 30 minutes the emulsion was showing no signs of bentonite settling or oil separation.
  • Example 15 Rainfastness of agricultural formulation containing neem oil
  • the rainfastness of the agricultural formulation of Example 14 was tested as follows.
  • a comparative neem oil formulation was prepared with 15.90 g of tap water added to a 20 mL vial, followed by 1.0 g of neem oil, 0.0175 g of potassium laurate, and 0.1134 g of 1 ,0M sodium hydroxide (Sigma Aldrich). This comparative mixture was vortexed and found to be stable enough to spray.
  • 3 g of the comparative neem oil formulation was sprayed onto the surface of atared 5” x 3” acrylic sheet (Plaskolite brand) and then rolled with a paint roller.
  • the acrylic sheet material was used as a model of the plant surface.
  • a 3.0 g aliquot of the diluted agricultural formulation of Example 14 with neem oil was sprayed and rolled with a paint roller. Both treated acrylic sheets were allowed to dry for 18 hours so the coating could cure, their weights were recorded, and then the sheets were sprayed with water from a spray bottle for 15 seconds to simulate rainfall. After being sprayed with water, both sheets were put in a forced convection air oven at 37C for 1.5 hours to dry, and their weights were recorded again.
  • the sheet that was treated with the agricultural formulation of Example 14 containing neem oil retained 68% of the applied coating after simulated rainfall, while the sheet that was treated with the comparative formulation of neem oil, potassium laurate, and sodium hydroxide did not retain any of the coating after a simulated rainfall.
  • Example 16 Agricultural formulation with camphor oil
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with white camphor oil, an essential oil used as a pest repellent.
  • white camphor oil an essential oil used as a pest repellent.
  • a 15.68 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well-mixed product.
  • a 3.20 g sample of white camphor oil (Sigma Aldrich) was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum followed and the sample was once more shaken and vortexed.
  • the last addition to the concentrated form was a 9.60 g sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing white camphor oil. To prepare a dilution for application on plants, a 1.0 g aliquot of the mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water. The 20 mL vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 30 minutes the emulsion was showing no signs of bentonite settling or oil separation.
  • Example 17 Agricultural formulation with beneficial fungi
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with beneficial fungi.
  • An 18.56 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by a 1.60 g aliquot of the product SugaNate 160 and a 1.60 g aliquot of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well- mixed product.
  • a 0.32 g sample of the product “White Shark” (Plant Revolution Inc.) was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • White Shark is a beneficial fungus powder containing 187,875 CFU/g of Trichoderma koningii and 125,250 CFU/g of Trichoderma harzianum.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum was then added, and the mixture was once more shaken and vortexed.
  • a 9.60 g sample of bentonite was then added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added, the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing beneficial fungi.
  • Example 18 Agricultural formulation with sulfur
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared with elemental sulfur, which can be used as a fungicide.
  • An 18.56 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together to ensure a well- mixed product.
  • a 0.32 g sample of elemental sulfur powder was added to the vial and again shaken and vortexed.
  • a 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum was then added, and the mixture was once more shaken and vortexed.
  • a 9.60 g sample of bentonite was then added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application containing beneficial fungi. To prepare a dilution for application on plants, a 1.0 g aliquot of the mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water. The 20 mL vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 30 minutes the emulsion was showing no signs of bentonite settling or oil separation.
  • Example 19 Rainfastness of agricultural formulation with geraniol
  • Example 11 The rainfastness of the agricultural formulation of Example 11 was tested as follows.
  • a comparative geraniol formulation was prepared with 15.90 g of tap water added to a 20 mL vial, followed by 1.0 g of geraniol, 0.0175 g of potassium laurate, and 0.1134 g of 1.0M sodium hydroxide (Sigma Aldrich). This comparative mixture was vortexed and found to be stable enough to spray. 3 g of the comparative geraniol formulation was sprayed onto the surface of atared 5” x 3” acrylic sheet (Plaskolite brand) and then rolled with a paint roller.
  • the sheet that was treated with the agricultural formulation of Example 11 containing geraniol retained 34.5% of the applied coating after simulated rainfall, while the sheet that was treated with the comparative formulation of geraniol, potassium laurate, and sodium hydroxide did not retain any of the coating after a simulated rainfall.
  • Example 20 Rainfastness of agricultural formulation with d-limonene
  • the rainfastness of the agricultural formulation of Example 12 was tested as follows. A comparative d-limonene formulation was prepared with 15.90 g of tap water added to a 20 mL vial, followed by 1.0 g of d-limonene, 0.0175 g of potassium laurate, and 0.1134 g of 1 ,0M sodium hydroxide (Sigma Aldrich). This comparative mixture was vortexed and found to be stable enough to spray.
  • both sheets After being sprayed with water, both sheets were put in a forced convection air oven at 37°C for 1.5 hours to dry, and their weights were recorded again.
  • the sheet that was treated with the agricultural formulation of Example 12 containing d-limonene retained 53.9% of the applied coating after simulated rainfall, while the sheet that was treated with the comparative formulation of d-limonene, potassium laurate, and sodium hydroxide did not retain any of the coating after a simulated rainfall.
  • Example 21 Agricultural formulation
  • a formulation suitable for agricultural application was prepared as follows. An 18.88 g aliquot of raw linseed oil was added to a 40 mL glass vial, followed by 1.60 g of SugaNate 160 and 1.60 g of a 40% Span 85 dispersion in water. These substances were shaken and vortexed together. A 0.32 g sample of xanthan gum was then added, and the mixture was once more shaken and vortexed. A 9.60 g sample of bentonite was then added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added the vial was placed on a bottle roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps.
  • the finished product was a formulation suitable for agricultural application in the form of a fluid suspension.
  • a 1.0 g aliquot of the mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 g of tap water.
  • the 20 mL vial was shaken and vortexed and observed. After 30 minutes the emulsion was showing no signs of solids settling or oil splitting.
  • Example 22 Rain fastness of agricultural formulation with Trichoderma
  • the rain fastness of the agricultural formulation of Example 17 was tested as follows.
  • a comparative Trichoderma formulation (Example 22a) was prepared with 14.85 g of tap water added to a 20 mL vial, followed by 0.15 g of the product “White Shark” (Plant Revolution Inc.). This comparative mixture was vortexed and found to be stable enough to spray. 3 g of this comparative Trichoderma formulation was then sprayed onto the surface of a 5” x 3” acrylic sheet (Plaskolite brand).
  • Example 17 On two separate 5” x 3” acrylic sheets, 3 g of diluted agricultural formulation of Example 17 (sa and b) with Trichoderma was sprayed onto each surface. All of the treated acrylic sheets were placed in a convection-free oven at 37°C for 1.5 hours to dry. Optical images of each sheet were taken using an optical microscope (Zeiss AxioImager.AlM). Each sheet was then exposed to simulated rainfall by spraying water from a spray bottle for 15 seconds. After being sprayed with water, the sheets were placed in a convection-free oven at 37°C for 1.5 hours to dry. Images of each sheet were again taken using an optical microscope.
  • Example 23 Agricultural formulations
  • each vial was shaken and vortexed.
  • the last addition to each vial was a 9.60 gram sample of bentonite that was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place in between each addition. After all of the bentonite had been added, each vial was placed on a roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps. After 30 minutes, each vial was removed and a 1.0 gram aliquot of each mixture was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 grams of tap water, forming diluted samples. The diluted samples were shaken and vortexed vigorously and observed. The concentrated samples were left to sit overnight.
  • a control was then prepared in the same manner using the amounts of 18.72 grams raw linseed oil, 1.60 grams 40% Span 85 dispersion in water, 1.60 grams water, 0.48 grams xanthan gum, and 9.60 grams bentonite. After 30 minutes on the roller a 1.0 gram aliquot was taken and added to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 grams of tap water, to form a diluted sample. The diluted sample was shaken and vortexed vigorously and observed. The concentrated sample was left to sit overnight.
  • Example 24 Seed coating with agricultural formulations
  • Burpee Pea Super Snappy seeds were coated with aqueous mixtures of 3%, 10%, and 16% (w/w) of the agricultural formulation of Example 21 in water; the coated seeds were then air dried at 22°C.
  • the seeds (six replicates of each coating type) were planted in Conrad Fafard Organic Potting Mix and watered daily. Germination rates, as determined by % of the planted seeds that sprouted, were recorded after different amounts of time as shown in Table 12.
  • Example 25 Agricultural formulations with stabilizers
  • each vial received its respective emulsion stabilizer, the samples were again shaken and vortexed. Then, a 9.60 gram sample of bentonite was added in thirds, with shaking and vortexing taking place in between each addition. After all of the bentonite was added to a vial, it was placed on a roller for 30 minutes to disperse any remaining solid clumps. After 30 minutes, each vial was removed and a 1.0 gram aliquot of each mixture was taken and added respectively to a 20 mL vial containing 15.65 grams of tap water, to form a dilute sample. The dilute samples were shaken and vortexed vigorously and observed.
  • Example 26 Trichoderma spore germination in agricultural formulations
  • the agricultural formulation of Example 17 was compared to a control formulation to assess the viability of the Trichoderma spores that each contained.
  • the control Trichoderma formulation was prepared as follows: 0.15 gm of the Trichoderma- containing product “White Shark” was added to 14.85 g of tap water in a 20 mL vial. This control mixture was vortexed and found to be stable enough to spray. 1 g of this control Trichoderma formulation was then sprayed onto the surface of a 1” x 3” glass slide. On a separate 1” x 3” glass slide, 1 g of the diluted agricultural formulation of Example 17 was sprayed on the surface.
  • Example 27 Trichoderma spore germination in agricultural formulations after simulated rainfall
  • Example 26 The experiment of Example 26 was reproduced in order to test the control and the experimental sample for the presence of viable spores following exposure to simulated rainfall.
  • a control Trichoderma formulation was prepared as described in Example 26.
  • a test formulation was prepared as described in Example 17. Each formulation was applied to a glass slide and dried as described in Example 26. After this drying had taken place, each glass slide was then exposed to simulated rainfall by spraying water from a spray bottle for 15 seconds. After spraying with water, both slides were placed in a convection- free oven at 37°C for 1.5 hours to dry.
  • each slide received a 0.2 g aliquot of a 0.02% aqueous potato dextrose agar solution and was incubated as described in Example 26. After 3 days, samples were inspected for spore germination as described in Example 26.
  • the glass slide that was treated with agricultural formulation of Example 17 containing Trichoderma showed germination (as evidenced by the appearance of branched hyphae) even after simulated rainfall, while the glass slide that was treated with the comparative formulation of Trichoderma did not exhibit any germination of Trichoderma after simulated rainfall.
  • Example 28 - 32 Additional materials:
  • Bentonite Sodium bentonite clay
  • BPM Halliburton
  • Jarfactant 325N an alkylpoly glycoside surfactant with an alkyl chain length of 9-11 carbon units (CAS# 132778-08-6) (Jarchem)
  • Ammonium hydroxide a 30% solution of ammonia and water (CAS# 1336-21-6)
  • Example 28 Formulation preparation
  • a polymer solution was first prepared.
  • An appropriate amount of Pluronic® Fl 08 was weighed, in accordance with the amount designated in Table 14.
  • An appropriate amount of water was added to a mixing vessel (e.g., a beaker for a large solution or a centrifuge tube for a small solution) so that an 18.2% solution of the Pluronic® F108 could be made.
  • the Pluronic® F108 was then added gradually and mixed into the water, with care being taken that the Pluronic® Fl 08 was mobilized thoroughly into the water and did not adhere to the vessel walls.
  • a centrifuge tube mixing vessel was used, it was then capped and placed on a laboratory roller at about 70% full speed.
  • Sedimentation stability was tested for the formulation prepared according to Example 28. To do so, a transparent plastic cylinder 1” in diameter was filled with a 12” column of freshly prepared formulation. Sedimentation of the aqueous phase in the concentrate resulted in the appearance of a layer of clear fluid at the top of the column, and the creation of a dense concentrate at the bottom of the column. The thickness of the clear fluid layer was determined by eye. The thickness of the dense concentrate was determined either by pouring the fluid from the tube and noting the height of the column of non- pourable material that remained behind, or by lowering a weight into the column and noting the depth at which the weight ceased to penetrate the fluid. Sedimentation measurements were made periodically until the sum of the clear and dense layers reached approximately 100%; see Table 15 below.
  • Example 30 Stabilizing the formulation against sedimentation with DowanolTM TPM
  • the agricultural formulation prepared according to Example 28 was used for the following experiment. 200g of the agricultural formulation was added to a beaker. Then, 8 g (4wt%) of Dowanol TPM (Dow) was added while stirring at 300 rpm. Mixing was continued for 10 minutes. The resulting mixture was a pourable fluid with pseudoplastic properties. A Brookfield YR-1 Rheometer was used to measure the yield stress at 0.1 rpm. The resulting Yield Stress was 12.7 Pa. The formulation was then tested for sedimentation stability according to Example 29. After 7 days, a clear layer with a thickness equal to 3% of the original column height was observed.
  • Dowanol TPM Dowanol TPM
  • Example 31 Stabilizing the formulation with THIXCIN® R (Elementis Specialties)
  • the agricultural formulation prepared according to Example 28 was used for the following experiment. 200g of the agricultural formulation was added to each of three beakers. Then, sufficient THIXCIN® R (Elementis Specialties) was added to each beaker to achieve THIXCIN® R concentrations of 0.05 wt%, 0.1 wt%, or 0.3 wt% while stirring at 300 rpm. Mixing was continued for 10 minutes while heating at 60 °C. Upon cooling to room temperature, the resulting mixtures were pourable fluids with pseudoplastic properties. All formulations were tested for sedimentation stability according to Example 29. After 7 days, no sedimentation was observed in any of the formulations tested.
  • An agricultural formulation was prepared as a concentrate, in small batch sizes (small ⁇ 250 g), using the reagents in amounts set forth below in Table 16:
  • Example 33 - 36 Additional materials:
  • Example 33 Formulation preparation
  • a formulation using the ingredients in Table 17 was prepared using batch mixing with an overhead mixer.
  • the solids (bentonite and methocel) were mixed in an enclosed container by hand shaking for 10-20 seconds.
  • the oil phase of the formulation was prepared by mixing a combination of desired oils using overhead mixer at a very low speed to prevent splashing (200-300 rpm).
  • the aqueous reagents (Jarfactant 325N and distilled water) and the non-aqueous reagents (Span 85 and Break Thru SP 133) were incorporated into the oil phase and mixed until homogeneity is reached. Under continuous mixing, the solids were added into the oil mixture last.
  • the mixing speed was slowly increased to a speed to create sufficient vortex (700-800 rpm) and maintained at that speed for 15 minutes to fully wet the solids and form an even mixture. Then the formula was further mixed under high shear using homogenizers, or highspeed dispersers (5000-6000 rpm) for 25 minutes to fully develop the formula body. After mixing, viscosity of the formulations was measured to determine differences between compositions, and as a measure of pourability.
  • Example 34 Methods used to evaluate properties of coatings
  • (b) Rolling ball tack test The rolling ball tack test was used to measure changes in coatings upon light exposure. The method was adapted from an industry standard measurement for pressure-sensitive adhesives. In this method, a stainless-steel ball rolled at a defined initial velocity across a coated surface. Adhesive interactions between the ball and the surface caused the ball to lose kinetic energy to the coating and eventually stop. The total distance traveled by the ball was used as a measure of the strength of these interactions. In general, two coating states were observed for a coated surface as a function of time. In the first state, the coating evolved from a predominantly viscous to a viscoelastic state.
  • (c) Test for film stiffness The flexibility or stiffness of a self-supporting film was determined by a force-deflection measurement. The results obtained were analyzed to estimate a Young’s modulus (or modulus of elasticity) for the film. To perform the measurements, films of known thickness were attached onto a stage across a circular orifice one inch in diameter using double-sided adhesive. A cylindrical probe one half meh in diameter was mounted on a translation stage, connected to a force sensor, and positioned above die center of the film. Using die translation stage, die probe was brought into contact with the center of the film, and the force required to deform the film was recorded as a function of the distance traveled by the probe.
  • FIG. 2 The force required to create a given deflection in a pure linseed oil film (SB0) 130 pm in thickness is shown in FIG. 2.
  • the stiffness data shown in FIG. 2 was fit to a model for a thin circular plate, fixed at the edge and subjected to a uniform pressure over a circular area at the center of the plate, in order to estimate the Young’s modulus and residual stress of the film (Young, W. C. Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain, 6th ed. 1989. McGraw-Hill Inc, New York, p477-478).
  • Example 35 Formulations with blends of soybean oil and linseed oil
  • Soybean oil and linseed oil were mixed at different ratios and then tested to determine the properties of different blends.
  • soybean oil and linseed oil were mixed at different ratios and then tested to determine the effects of the oil blend on the formulation’s physical properties.
  • the rolling ball test determined that drying time increased with increasing concentration of soybean oil in the blend (i. e. , SBO through SB75), as shown in FIG. 3. As seen in FIG. 4, the modulus of elasticity decreased with increasing soybean oil content. Blending different oils may therefore be used to adjust the final modulus of the dried film.
  • Example 36 Formulation with blend of canola oil and linseed oil
  • a formulation using the ingredients in Table 20 can be prepared using batch mixing with an overhead mixer.
  • the solids (bentonite) are weighed.
  • the oil phase of the formulation can be prepared by mixing a combination of oils using overhead mixer at a low speed to prevent splashing (200-300 rpm).
  • the reagents (Brij L4 and Sylgard OFX-0309) can be incorporated into the oil phase and mixed until homogeneity is reached. Under continuous mixing, the solids can be added into the oil mixture last.
  • Example 38 Formulation preparation
  • a formulation using the ingredients in Table 22 was prepared using batch mixing with an overhead mixer. First, the solids (bentonite) were weighed. Then the solids were slowly added into the oil phase of the formulation in a separate container, with mixing performed by an overhead mixer at a low speed to prevent splashing (200-300 rpm). After the mixture was mixed homogeneously with no visible big lumps of solids, the reagents (Brij L4 and Sylgard OFX-0309) were incorporated into the mixture and the mixing speed was slowly increased to a speed to create sufficient vortex (400-500 rpm) and maintained at that speed for 10 minutes to fully wet the solids and form an even mixture of all components. Then the formula was further mixed under high shear using highspeed dispersers (1800-2500 rpm) for 10 minutes to fully develop the formula body.
  • the reagents Brij L4 and Sylgard OFX-0309
  • Example 39 Sample preparation
  • Ripe strawberries were purchased from a local supermarket and inspected for visible decay or damage. Undamaged berries were washed, dried, and sorted by increasing weight into 5 blocks containing an equal number of berries. One strawberry was randomly selected from each block to create a sample of 5 berries. Six samples were assigned to each experimental treatment. [00203] Example 40: Preparation of coated samples
  • Example 39 Certain samples prepared in accordance with Example 39 were assigned to “coated” treatments and were then coated with an aqueous suspension of the agrochemical formulation prepared in Example 38. 15 grams of the concentrate formulation (which included 0.072% BBOT) were placed inside a 1 L container, diluted to 1.5% (w/w) with distilled water, and shaken to ensure thorough mixing. A stir bar was inserted into the bottle to allow continuous stirring of the dilution while spraying the product. The dilution was then connected to an automated spray system. The strawberries were placed on top of a stainless-steel rack inside the spray chamber and sprayed at the speed of 150 mm/s for 16 passes. Then, the rack was rotated by 180° and the strawberries were sprayed for another 16 passes. All samples (both coated and uncoated) were then dried under high intensity UV lamps for two hours and further air dried at 4 °C overnight prior to testing.
  • the concentrate formulation which included 0.072% BBOT
  • Example 41 Measuring weight change during storage
  • Ripe strawberries were purchased from a local supermarket and inspected for visible decay or damage. Undamaged berries were washed, dried, and sorted by increasing weight into 5 blocks containing an equal number of berries. One strawberry was randomly selected from each block to create a sample of 5 berries. Six samples were assigned to each experimental treatment.
  • FIG. 6 is a graph that shows the mean weight of the berries, expressed as a fraction of their initial mean weight (i.e., weight loss percent), as a function of time in storage. The graph allows the weight loss rate to be determined by the slope of a linear fit to the data. The slope and thus the weight loss rate is less for coated berries compared to uncoated berries.
  • Example 42 Creating and assessing mechanical damage
  • Example 43 Reduction in mechanical damage by coating
  • Example 39 84 samples were created as in Example 39 and were coated per Example 40, shaken per Example 42, or both.
  • Group 43-1 samples were uncoated and unshaken;
  • Group 43-2 samples were uncoated, and were shaken for Im;
  • Group 43-3 samples were uncoated, and were shaken for 2m; coated and unshaken;
  • Group 43-4 samples were coated and unshaken;
  • Group 43-5 samples were coated, and were shaken Im;
  • Group 43-6 samples were coated, and were shaken 2m.
  • Experimental samples were coated, shaken, or both. Coated samples were coated as described in Example 40. For all sample groups, mechanical damage was assessed using the specific conductivity testing protocol as described in Example 42.
  • FIG. 7 shows the mean specific conductivity of coated and uncoated berries as a function of shaking duration. For both coated and uncoated berries, specific conductivity increases with increasing shaking duration. For a given duration, the specific conductivity is lower for coated berries than for uncoated ones, demonstrating that the coating reduces mechanical damage to the berries.
  • FIG. 8 shows the mean specific conductivity of three sample sets: Group 2 (corresponding to samples in Group 43-5, uncoated and then shaken for Im), Group 5 (corresponding to samples in Group 43-5, coated and then shaken for Im), and Group 7 (corresponding to samples in Group 43-7, shaken for Im and then coated).
  • the value observed for shaken-then-coated berries is comparable to that of uncoated, shaken berries, demonstrating that the drop in specific conductivity seen in FIG. 7 is not due to partial blockage of electrolyte release by the coating.
  • Example 44 Relationship between mechanical damage and weight loss during storage
  • Samples were created as in Example 39 and were coated per Example 40, shaken per Example 42, or both.
  • a control group was uncoated and unshaken.
  • Group 44-1 samples were uncoated, and were shaken for Im;
  • Group 44-2 samples were uncoated, and were shaken for 2m;
  • Group 44-3 samples were coated and unshaken;
  • Group 44-4 samples were coated, and were shaken for Im;
  • Group 44-5 samples were coated, and were shaken for 2m.
  • Experimental samples were coated, shaken, or both. Coated samples were coated as described in Example 40.
  • mechanical damage was assessed as set forth in Example 42, in particular by using the specific conductivity testing protocol as described in that Example. Samples were then stored and periodically assessed for weight loss as described in Example 41.
  • weight loss rate as a function of mechanical damage, as assessed by differential conductivity measurements for the shaken berries.
  • the solid and dashed lines show the results of linear fits to the data. The same relationship is observed between weight loss rate and damage for coated and uncoated berries, suggesting that once the coating receives mechanical damage, its ability to reduce water vapor loss (as indicated by weight loss) is reduced.
  • Example 45 Cultivation of pathogens (B. cinered) and preparation of inoculum
  • Ripe strawberries from a local supermarket were kept at 4°C until the appearance of grey mold rot (Botrytis cinered).
  • PDA potato dextrose agar
  • the isolates were then purified by excising mycelial plugs from the growth margins of each colony and transferring them to Petri dishes containing either PDA or PDA-V 8 (PDA containing 15% V8 vegetable juice, adjusted to between pH 5 and pH 6 with CaCOs) media at 74°F. All cultures were routinely maintained at 74°F and greater than 90% relative humidity under a 12-hour photoperiod.
  • the inoculum was prepared by adding 5 mL of sterile 0.02% (w/v) Tween-80 to a Petri dish containing a 2- to 3-week-old culture of B. cinerea. A spatula was used to gently scrape the surface of the mold.
  • the resulting suspension was vortexed for one minute before filtering through a sterile 40 pm Nylon mesh to remove mycelial fragments.
  • the spore concentration was measured using a Neubauer hemocytometer and then adjusted to between IxlO 2 and IxlO 3 conidia per mL using sterile distilled water.
  • Example 46 Sanitization and inoculation
  • Ripe strawberries were acquired from a local market. After all berries showing signs of decay or damage were discarded, 73 berries were randomly assigned to unsanitized, sanitized, and sanitized and inoculated protocols. Berries to be sanitized were soaked in 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for 10 minutes, followed by rinsing with sterile distilled water for 2 minutes, and then being air dried on a sterile surface in a laminar flow hood. Sanitized samples that were to be inoculated were then dipped for 30s in an inoculum prepared as described in Example 45 and allowed to dry.
  • FIG. 10 shows the proportion of infected berries for each treatment. Unsanitized berries showed a high incidence of infection. Sanitized berries displayed relatively little infection, demonstrating that the sanitization protocol largely eliminated any inoculum initially present on the surface of the berries. Sanitized and inoculated berries showed significant infection. This suggests that the sanitization protocol does not compromise the ability of the berry to support Botrytis growth, and that the inoculation protocol effectively infects unprotected berries.
  • the extent of mold damage was also assessed visually through a rating scale where a rating of 0 represents no mold growth present, a rating of 1 represents the beginning stages of mold growth (less than 25% of the berry surface covered by mold), a rating of 2 represents an established stage of mold growth (between 25% and 50% of the berry surface covered by mold), a rating of 3 represents moderate mold growth (between 50% and 75% of the berry surface covered by mold), and a rating of 4 represents severe mold growth (greater than 75% of the berry surface covered by mold).
  • Example 39 8 samples were created as in Example 39, sanitized as in Example 46, and a single sample was assigned to each of the following treatment protocols:
  • Samples assigned to coated treatments were coated as described in Example 40 with the following modifications: the BBOT was excluded from the formulation; the coating was applied with a Preval spray unit (Preval, a division of Nakoma Products, LLC); and the samples were not left at 4°C overnight. Samples assigned to inoculated treatments were inoculated as described in Example 46, except with a 5s dipping time. After sample preparation, all berries were incubated for 4d at 74°F and greater than 90% relative humidity. After incubation, the severity of any resulting B. cinerea infection was assessed for each berry using differential conductivity measurements as described above. FIG. 11 displays the probability of observing a given damage rating as a function of differential conductivity.
  • the data are shown randomly distributed vertically within the region associated with the observed damage rating.
  • the lines on the graph show logistic fits to these data; they divide the graph into five areas labeled 0 - 4.
  • the vertical extent of each region at a given differential conductivity gives the relative probability of observing that mold damage rating at that conductivity. As conductivity increases, the heights associated with low damage ratings decrease, and those associated with high damage ratings increase, indicating that differential conductivity is positively correlated with the severity of B. cinerea infection.
  • Example 48 Reduction of disease severity by coating
  • Example 39 5 samples were created as in Example 39, sanitized as in Example 46, and a single sample was assigned to each of the following treatment protocols:
  • Samples assigned to coated treatments were coated as described in Example 40 with the following modifications: the BBOT was excluded from the formulation; the coating was applied with a Preval spray unit (Preval, a division of Nakoma Products, LLC); and the samples were not left at 4°C overnight. Samples assigned to inoculated treatments were inoculated as described in Example 46, except with a 5s dipping time. After sample preparation, all berries were incubated for 4d at 74°F and greater than 90% relative humidity, and the severity of any resulting B. cinerea infection was assessed for each berry using differential conductivity measurements as described in Example 47. FIG. 12 shows the mean differential conductivity observed for each treatment. Uncoated berries displayed relatively severe infection characterized by high differential conductivity.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne une formulation agricole non toxique d'une suspension liquide concentrée comprenant une huile siccative et des matières particulaires en suspension comprenant en outre un matériau supplémentaire; ainsi qu'une formulation aqueuse comprenant la suspension liquide concentrée et un agent de traitement agricole. L'invention concerne en outre des procédés de traitement d'une cible agricole.
PCT/US2022/044223 2021-09-21 2022-09-21 Concentrés de revêtement non toxiques pour utilisations agricoles WO2023049163A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004187549A (ja) * 2002-12-10 2004-07-08 Shiratori Nano Technology:Kk 青果物の鮮度保持システム
US20200029560A1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2020-01-30 Ecolab Usa Inc. SITU GENERATION OF PEROXYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS AT ALKALINE pH, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
WO2021146155A1 (fr) * 2020-01-14 2021-07-22 Crop Enhancement, Inc. Concentrés de revêtement non toxiques pour utilisations agricoles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2004187549A (ja) * 2002-12-10 2004-07-08 Shiratori Nano Technology:Kk 青果物の鮮度保持システム
US20200029560A1 (en) * 2010-12-29 2020-01-30 Ecolab Usa Inc. SITU GENERATION OF PEROXYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS AT ALKALINE pH, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
WO2021146155A1 (fr) * 2020-01-14 2021-07-22 Crop Enhancement, Inc. Concentrés de revêtement non toxiques pour utilisations agricoles

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