Malignant weed prevention and control agent and application of 4-ethyl caprylic acid
By using 4-ethyloctanoic acid as the active ingredient in herbicides, the problem of resistant weeds caused by existing chemical herbicides is solved, achieving effective suppression of noxious weeds and exhibiting high biosafety, low cost, and broad-spectrum weed control effects.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511814213.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-27
AI Technical Summary
The overuse of existing chemical herbicides has led to the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes, necessitating the development of sustainable, green, and safe weed control strategies. The use of 4-ethyloctanoic acid as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds has not been reported.
4-Ethyloctanoic acid is used as the active ingredient in herbicides to inhibit the germination of seeds and the growth of seedlings of noxious weeds. Significant inhibitory effects can be achieved even at low concentrations. Solvents such as water and alcohol are used as co-solvents.
4-Ethyloctanoic acid has a significant inhibitory effect on the seed germination or seedling growth of most noxious weeds. It has high biosafety, low cost, and broad spectrum, and is suitable for noxious weeds such as grasses, broadleaf weeds, and sedges.
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Figure CN121569809A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Background Technology
[0001] This invention relates to novel uses of 4-ethyloctanoic acid, particularly to novel uses of 4-ethyloctanoic acid as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds, and also to a herbicide with 4-ethyloctanoic acid as its active ingredient, belonging to the field of herbicide technology. Technical Field
[0002] Since the 1990s, chemical herbicides have been the mainstream weed control strategy due to their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, especially after the advent of herbicide-resistant genetically modified crops. However, the overuse of chemical herbicides has accelerated the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes. To date, 534 unique combinations of "herbicide-resistant weed species × site of action" have been recorded globally, involving 273 weed species (156 dicotyledons and 117 monocotyledons). The increasing spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, coupled with the banning of some high-risk herbicides, necessitates the development of sustainable, green, and safe weed control strategies.
[0003] Plant allelopathic effects are an ecological mechanism by which plants influence the growth of others by releasing specific secondary metabolites, providing new insights for developing environmentally friendly weed control strategies. These bio-derived herbicides, derived from natural allelochemicals, can minimize environmental impact and offer a promising environmentally friendly alternative to chemically synthesized herbicides. Currently, various allelochemicals with herbicidal activity, such as phenols, terpenes, and alkaloids, have been identified from over 2000 plant species across 30 families. These substances are highly active, inhibiting seed germination and seedling growth, making them ideal lead compounds for biopesticides. Studies have confirmed that plant extracts rich in these active ingredients, obtained through solvent extraction, can directly and effectively control weeds.
[0004] 4-Ethyloctanoic acid, also known as lanolinic acid, is a food flavoring agent permitted for use in both domestic and international regulations. It was first discovered in Virginia flue-cured tobacco, and subsequently found to be primarily found naturally in boiled lamb, roasted lamb, lamb fat, goat cheese, sheep cheese, and Virginia tobacco. Natural 4-ethyloctanoic acid was initially extracted from amaranth, but it can now be synthesized in large quantities using organic synthesis methods. 4-Ethyloctanoic acid has a strong muttony odor and is currently mainly used as a food flavoring agent, a key ingredient in blending lamb flavorings and giving them a unique flavor. There are also reports of its use as an insect attractant and fish bait additive, as well as a surfactant and emulsifier. However, to date, there are no reports of 4-ethyloctanoic acid exhibiting activity against noxious weeds, nor has it been used as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds. Summary of the Invention
[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the first objective of this invention is to provide a new use of 4-ethyloctanoic acid as a herbicide. 4-ethyloctanoic acid has a significant inhibitory effect on the seed germination or seedling growth of most noxious weeds even at low concentrations. Furthermore, 4-ethyloctanoic acid is a natural allelochemical with strong activity and high biological safety, making it suitable for widespread application.
[0006] The second objective of this invention is to provide a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds, which uses 4-ethyloctanoic acid as its active ingredient and has high inhibitory activity against seed germination or seedling growth of noxious weeds, and has high biosafety.
[0007] This invention provides the application of 4-ethyloctanoic acid as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds.
[0008] 4-Ethyloctanoic acid, CAS No.: 16493-80-4, has the following structural formula:
[0009]
[0010] 4-Ethyloctanoic acid can be extracted from natural plant and animal sources or synthesized artificially. Existing technologies primarily utilize it in the food, flavoring, and pharmaceutical fields, especially in the formulation of mutton flavorings. This invention, however, is the first to discover that it is a natural allelochemical with inhibitory activity against noxious weeds. It exhibits good inhibitory effects on the seed germination or seedling growth of most noxious weeds, therefore its application as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds is considered.
[0011] As a preferred embodiment, the 4-ethyloctanoic acid is used to inhibit the seed germination of noxious weeds or to inhibit the seedling growth of noxious weeds.
[0012] As a preferred embodiment, the noxious weeds include grass weeds, broadleaf weeds, and / or sedge weeds. As a more preferred embodiment, the noxious weeds include barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus rotundus, Lorrae polyantha, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus difformis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus retroflexus, or Ageratum conyzoides.
[0013] The present invention also provides a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds, which contains 4-ethyloctanoic acid.
[0014] As a preferred embodiment, the herbicide for controlling noxious weeds comprises a solvent; the solvent includes water and / or an alcohol. Alcohols, such as ethanol and other conventional alcohol solvents, are typically used as solubilizers.
[0015] As a preferred embodiment, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide for controlling noxious weeds is 0.05 g / L or higher. Generally, the higher the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid, the more significant its inhibitory effect on noxious weeds.
[0016] As a preferred embodiment, when the herbicide is used to control noxious weeds, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide is 0.05 g / L to 0.10 g / L. Generally, lower concentrations of 4-ethyloctanoic acid inhibit the germination of most noxious weed seeds; however, different noxious weeds exhibit varying degrees of seed resistance. When the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid reaches 0.1 g / L, it significantly inhibits the germination of the vast majority of noxious weed seeds.
[0017] As a preferred embodiment, when the herbicide is used to control noxious weeds in seedlings, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide is 6 g / L to 8 g / L. Generally, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid required in the herbicide is relatively high for the growth of noxious weed seedlings, and the inhibitory effect is significant when the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid reaches 6 g / L or higher.
[0018] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows:
[0019] 1) 4-Ethyloctanoic acid is a natural allelochemical with high activity and high biological safety. It can also be purchased directly through commercial channels at a low cost.
[0020] 2) 4-Ethyloctanoic acid inhibits the seed germination or seedling growth of most common noxious weeds. These noxious weeds cover almost all grass weeds, broadleaf weeds, and / or sedges, such as barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus rotundus, Lorrae polyantha, Cyperus difformis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus retroflexus, or Ageratum conyzoides. It has a broad spectrum of noxious weed control, and 4-Ethyloctanoic acid can exert a good control effect on noxious weeds even at low concentrations, with low usage costs. Attached Figure Description
[0021] Figure 1 This refers to the inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on the germination of grass weed seeds in Example 1.
[0022] Figure 2 This refers to the inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on the germination of broadleaf weed seeds in Example 2.
[0023] Figure 3 This refers to the inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on the germination of Cyperaceae weed seeds in Example 3.
[0024] Figure 4 This is an example of the inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on the growth of Bidens pilosa (left) and Ageratum conyzoides (right) seedlings in Example 4. Detailed Implementation
[0025] The following specific embodiments are intended to further illustrate the content of the present invention, rather than to limit the scope of protection of the claims.
[0026] The 4-ethyloctanoic acid used in the following specific examples is a commercially available analytical grade reagent.
[0027] Example 1
[0028] Inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on seed germination of grass weeds:
[0029] Experimental Methods: Five types of grassy weed seeds with uniform morphology and plump grains (barnyardgrass, ryegrass, barnyardgrass, crabgrass, and Echinochloa crus-galli) were selected as test materials and germinated in beakers containing distilled water for 24 h. Barnyardgrass and Echinochloa crus-galli were germinated at 4℃, while the other seeds were germinated at room temperature. An appropriate amount of seeds was evenly spread in 9 cm diameter petri dishes (pre-lined with double-layered filter paper), and 5 mL of 10 mg / L, 50 mg / L, and 80 mg / L 4-ethyloctanoic acid solutions were added respectively. An equal volume of distilled water was added as a control group (CK). Each experiment was repeated three times. Finally, the treated petri dishes were transferred to a constant temperature and humidity incubator and cultured at 28℃ with a light-dark cycle of 12 h / h. Root and shoot lengths of the different weeds were measured after 7 days, with root and stem length measurements repeated three times.
[0030] Experimental results: The inhibition rate generally increased with increasing concentration. Different plants showed significant differences in their responses to the same concentration; *Gnaphalium affine* was the most sensitive, while *Echinochloa crus-galli* was the least sensitive to shoot growth inhibition. The root growth inhibition rate was higher for *Barnyardgrass*, *Gnaphalium affine*, and *Digitaria sanguinalis* than for shoot growth inhibition.
[0031]
[0032] Note: Letters a, b, c, etc. indicate the significance of differences between different treatment groups.
[0033] Example 2
[0034] Inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on seed germination of broadleaf weeds:
[0035] Experimental Methods: Four broadleaf weed seeds with uniform morphology and plump kernels (Amaranthus retroflexus, Ageratum conyzoides, Bidens pilosa, and Ipomoea quamoclit) were selected as test materials and germinated at room temperature for 24 h in beakers containing distilled water. An appropriate amount of seeds was evenly spread in 9 cm diameter petri dishes (pre-lined with double-layered filter paper), and 5 mL of 4-ethyloctanoic acid solution at different concentrations (10 mg / L, 50 mg / L, 80 mg / L, 100 mg / L, 500 mg / L, and 1000 mg / L) was added respectively. An equal volume of distilled water was added as a control group (CK). Each experiment was repeated three times. Finally, the treated petri dishes were transferred to a constant temperature and humidity incubator and cultured at 28℃ with a photoperiod of 12 h / h for seed germination. Root and shoot lengths of the different weeds were measured after 7 days, with root and stem length measurements repeated three times.
[0036] Experimental results: At 10 mg / L, the shoot growth inhibition rates of *Amaranthus retroflexus* and *Ageratum conyzoides* were -6.95% and -2.44%, respectively. At a high concentration of 80 mg / L, both showed complete inhibition of root and shoot growth, exhibiting a phenomenon of low concentration promoting growth while high concentration inhibiting growth. *Bidens pilosa* showed complete inhibition at a concentration of 100 mg / L, while *Ipomoea quamoclit* only showed complete inhibition at a concentration of 500 mg / L.
[0037]
[0038] Note: Letters a, b, c, etc. indicate the significance of differences between different treatment groups.
[0039] Example 3
[0040] Inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on seed germination of Cyperaceae weeds:
[0041] Experimental Methods: Two sedge seeds with uniform morphology and plump kernels (Cyperus difformis and Cyperus heterophylla) were selected as test materials and germinated at room temperature for 24 h in beakers containing distilled water. An appropriate amount of seeds were evenly spread in 9 cm diameter petri dishes (pre-lined with double-layered filter paper), and 5 mL of 4-ethyloctanoic acid solutions of different concentrations (10 mg / L, 50 mg / L, and 80 mg / L) were added respectively. An equal volume of distilled water was added as a control group (CK). Each experiment was repeated three times. Finally, the treated petri dishes were transferred to a constant temperature and humidity incubator and cultured at 28℃ with a photoperiod of 12 h / h for seed germination. Root and shoot lengths of the different weeds were measured after 7 days, with root and stem length measurements repeated three times.
[0042] Experimental results: Cyperus difformis showed root growth promotion at a low concentration of 10 mg / L; Cyperus spp. was completely inhibited at 50 mg / L, while Cyperus difformis was partially inhibited at 50 mg / L, and Cyperus difformis was completely inhibited at a concentration of 80 mg / L.
[0043]
[0044] Note: Letters a, b, c, etc. indicate the significance of differences between different treatment groups.
[0045] Example 4:
[0046] Inhibitory effect of 4-ethyloctanoic acid on the growth of whole weed seedlings.
[0047] Experimental method: 4-Ethyloctanoic acid was dissolved in a small amount of ethanol, then diluted with pure water to 6 g / L and sprayed on weeds. It was found that after spraying 4-ethyloctanoic acid, yellow spots immediately appeared on the surface of the weeds, and the leaves withered and wrinkled after 12 hours, showing typical symptoms of the herbicide's effects. Figure 4 It also has a certain degree of rapid effect. After 3 days, the fresh weight control efficacy against Bidens pilosa and Ageratum conyzoides was 54.67% and 48.65%, respectively.
Claims
The application of 1,4-ethyloctanoic acid is characterized by: It is used as a herbicide for controlling noxious weeds.
2. The application of 4-ethyloctanoic acid according to claim 1, characterized in that: The 4-ethyloctanoic acid is used to inhibit the seed germination of noxious weeds or to inhibit the seedling growth of noxious weeds.
3. The application of 4-ethyloctanoic acid according to claim 2, characterized in that: The noxious weeds include grass weeds, broadleaf weeds and / or sedge weeds.
4. The application of 4-ethyloctanoic acid according to claim 3, characterized in that: The noxious weeds include barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus rotundus, Lorrae polyantha, Cyperus difformis, Cyperus difformis, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus retroflexus, or Ageratum conyzoides.
5. A herbicide for controlling noxious weeds, characterized in that: It contains 4-ethyloctanoic acid.
6. The herbicide for controlling noxious weeds according to claim 5, characterized in that: Contains a solvent; the solvent includes water and / or alcohol.
7. A herbicide for controlling noxious weeds according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide for controlling noxious weeds is above 0.05 g / L.
8. The herbicide for controlling noxious weeds according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the herbicide is used to control noxious weeds, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide is 0.05 g / L to 0.10 g / L. When the herbicide is used to control noxious weeds, the concentration of 4-ethyloctanoic acid in the herbicide is 6 g / L to 8 g / L.