Plant defense elicitors

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the elicitors of defensive responses in useful plants to build up the plants' natural defense system against abiotic stresses and provide biostimulant activity, wherein the elicitor is pelargonic acid, or a derivative thereof.

Description

[0001] Plant defense elicitors

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to elicitors of defensive responses in useful plants to build up the plants’ natural defense system against abiotic stresses and as plant biostimulants.

[0004] The disclosure relates to uses and methods of pelargonic acid, or its agriculturally acceptable salt, ester or amide derivatives, as defense elicitors against abiotic stress and as biostimulants.

[0005] Furthermore, provided herein are agricultural compositions comprising pelargonic acid, or its agriculturally acceptable salts, esters or amides, and applications thereof.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] The disclosure relates to fatty acids, particularly pelargonic acid, or its agriculturally acceptable salt, esters or amide derivatives, as defense elicitors against abiotic stress and as biostimulants and which demonstrate highly effective activity combined with low phytotoxicity.

[0008] Pelargonic acid has long been known as a non-selective, contact herbicide. It has now been surprisingly found that pelargonic acid used at selected rates is highly effective as a defense elicitor and biostimulant in useful plants.

[0009] Due to the favorable environmental profile of pelargonic acid, the present disclosure represents an important new solution for farmers to control or prevent damage of useful plants caused by plant pathogens and stresses.

[0010] The use of pelargonic acid to control insects in a broad range of crops has been disclosed in PCT / EP2023 / 051467, PCT / EP2023 / 051472, PCT / EP2023 / 051473, PCT / EP2023 / 051475, PCT / EP2023 / 051478, PCT / EP2023 / 051479, PCT / EP2023 / 051484, PCT / EP2023 / 051486, and PCT / EP2023 / 051490.

[0011] The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention,” and “the present invention,” as used in this document, are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent application and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Covered embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are described and illustrated in the present document and the accompanying figures. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification, any or all figures, and each claim. Some of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention are discussed below.

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Plants are adversely affected by a wide range of environmental stresses categorized as (a) abiotic stress which includes salinity, floods, drought, temperature extremes, heavy metals, radiation, etc., and (b) biotic stress such as attacks by various pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, oomycetes, and plant pests such insects, arachnids, and nematodes. If the stress is prolonged, plant growth, and productivity are severely diminished.

[0014] To overcome these environmental stresses, plants have evolved complex physiological and biochemical adaptations systems, such as cell signaling pathways and cellular responses, production of stress proteins, upregulation of the antioxidant machinery, and accumulation of compatible solutes.

[0015] Compounds, which when perceived by a plant give rise to such defense responses, are commonly referred to as plant defense elicitors, plant elicitors or simply elicitors.

[0016] The fact that the pelargonic acid compositions of the present disclosure are well tolerated by plants at the concentrations required for eliciting defensive responses allows the treatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagation stock, and the locus of the plants, e.g., of the soil.

[0017] According to the disclosure all plants and plant parts may be treated. By plants, it is meant all plants and plant populations, cultivars and plant varieties.

[0018] By plant parts, it is meant all above ground and below ground parts and organs of plants such as shoot, leaf, blossom and root, whereby for example leaves, needles, stems, branches, blossoms, fruiting bodies, fruits, and plant propagation materials, including seed as well as roots, corms, rhizomes, and runners.

[0019] For the purpose of the present disclosure, the following terms have the following meaning:

[0020] In the present disclosure, an "active ingredient" is a compound which directly exerts a biologically relevant effect, preferably a pesticidal effect or biostimulant effect as described herein.

[0021] The term "auxiliary agent" or “auxiliary” refers to a compound or combination of compounds which do not exert a biologically relevant effect of their own but support the effects of the active ingredient(s). When auxiliary agents are used, their choice will depend on the active ingredients and on the procedures selected for the treatment.

[0022] The abbreviations used herein have their conventional meaning within the chemical and biological arts.

[0023] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a polymer” optionally includes a combination of two or more polymers, and the like.

[0024] As used herein, the term “and / or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

[0025] As used herein, and unless otherwise indicated, the term “about” when used in connection with numeric values, parameters or numerical ranges such as amounts, volumes, volume ratios, volume percentages, weight ratios, weight percentages, or application rates of ingredients of a composition, means an amount, a volume, a volume ratio, a volume percentage, a weight ratio, a weight percentage, or an application rate that is recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art to provide a desired effect equivalent to that obtained from the specified amount, volume, volume ratios, volume percentages, weight ratio, weight percentage, or application rate, is encompassed herein and should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0026] As used herein, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and variations thereof, are inclusive and open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps beyond those explicitly recited. As used herein, the phrase “consisting of’ is closed and excludes any element, step, or ingredient not explicitly specified. As used herein, the phrase “consisting essentially of’ limits the scope of the described feature to the specified materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the disclosed feature.

[0027] As used herein, the term “agriculturally acceptable carrier” refers to a substance that aids the administration of an active agent to and absorption by an agricultural crop and may be included in the compositions of the present disclosure without causing a significant adverse toxicological effect on the agricultural crop. An agriculturally acceptable carrier is thus compatible with the other ingredients of the formulation and not deleterious to the environment or organism (e.g., plant) to which it is applied. Non-limiting examples of agriculturally acceptable carriers include water, NaCl, normal saline solutions, normal sucrose, normal glucose, binders, fillers, disintegrants, lubricants, coatings, and the like. One of skill in the art will recognize that other agriculturally acceptable carriers are useful in the present disclosure.

[0028] As used herein, term “plant defense inducing amount” means the amount of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, that is effective to stimulate the useful plant to enhance nutrition efficiency, abiotic stress tolerance and / or crop quality traits, regardless of its nutrients content, when the pelargonic acid composition is applied to useful plant.

[0029] Any numerical range disclosed herein is meant to include all sub-ranges subsumed within the recited one. For instance, a range from 1 to 10 includes all sub-ranges between and including the recited minimal value 1 and the recited maximum value 10 and any value inbetween, including any and all decimal values.

[0030] As used herein, a "composition" comprises at least one active ingredient, e.g., pelargonic acid, and at least one auxiliary agent. The terms “composition” and “formulation” may be used interchangeably throughout the text and are meant as having the same meaning.

[0031] Terms “plant” and “crop” are used interchangeably throughout the text and are meant as having the same meaning. Pelargonic acid, when used according to the present disclosure, is well tolerated by the environment and when well tolerated by the plants is suitable for protecting the plants and plant organs.

[0032] While the use of pelargonic acid is preferred, an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises the use of at least one pelargonic acid derivative alone or in mixtures with pelargonic acid. The pelargonic acid derivatives suitable for use in the present disclosure are selected from salts, esters and amides of pelargonic acid.

[0033] In some embodiments, if used, the at least one pelargonic acid derivative comprises one or more salts or esters of pelargonic acid.

[0034] Esters of pelargonic acid include esters of pelargonic acid with an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, butanol, ethane- 1,2-diol, propane-1, 3-diol, propane-1,2, 3- triol (glycerol) and mixtures thereof. In one aspect, the ester can be cholesterol pelargonate.

[0035] Salts of pelargonic acid include metal salts, ammonium salts, alkanolamine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, and the choline salts of pelargonic acid. In one aspect, the metal salts are alkali metal salts, alkaline-earth metal salts, or aluminum, copper, iron, or zinc salts. Alkali metal salts of fatty acids include lithium, sodium, potassium, and rubidium salts of pelargonic acid. Alkaline-earth metal salts of pelargonic acid include magnesium and calcium salts. Such salts may be formed by reacting the pelargonic acid with a base comprising the desired metal cation, for instance by reacting one or more fatty acids with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in case of alkali metals, magnesium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide for alkaline-earth metals, or aluminum hydroxide, copper hydroxide, zinc hydroxide or iron hydroxide for other metals. Alkanolamine salts include the dimethylethanolamine, and the mono-, di-, tri-ethanolamine salts of pelargonic acid. Quaternary ammonium salts can be prepared by combining pelargonic acid with a quaternary ammonium with a hydroxyl group to form L-camitine, L-acetyl carnitine, and betaine salts. The choline salts may be prepared by combining pelargonic acid with choline hydroxide to form choline pelargonate, choline gamma-homocholine, beta-methylcholine, acetyl choline, acetyl gamma homocholine, and (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl)trimethylammonum salts.

[0036] Additional salts include dimethylethanolamine pelargonate, 2-(pyrrolidine-l-yl)ethan-l-ol, and 3-(l-pyrrolidinyl)l,2-propanediol salts of pelargonic acid. Amide derivatives of pelargonic acid may be prepared by methods known in the art including by reacting pelargonic acid with an amine via a condensation reaction with a condensation reagent, such as N-di cyclohexylcarbodiimide, oxalyl chloride, thionyl chloride, phosphorous trichloride, or phosphorous pentachloride; by reacting pelargonic acid with an amine in the presence of a catalyst; and by first forming a derivative of pelargonic acid, such as pelargonic acid chloride, an alcohol ester of pelargonic acid, a pelargonic acid phenol ester etc., and reacting said derivative with an amine.

[0037] “Low Phytotoxicity” of pelargonic acid, as used herein means that the toxic effect on plants is absent or at such a level so as not to adversely impact the growth and / or yield of the plant under a given set of test conditions, e.g., at a given concentration of pelargonic acid.

[0038] Phytotoxic effects may be measured in a number of different ways, for example, according to the principles set out in OEPP / EPPO Bulletin (2014) 44(3), 265-273 “PP 1 / 135 (4) Phytotoxicity assessment”.

[0039] The phytotoxic effect on plants may be assessed visually as a function of the percentage of discoloration to the leaves and / or the appearance of necrosis. When the pelargonic acid compositions are applied to the foliage of the useful plants in accordance with the teachings herein, will typically result in a level of phytotoxicity of less than 20%, less than 15%, or less than 10% necrosis of the leaves in comparison to untreated plants.

[0040] In one aspect, the uses of pelargonic acid will result in phytotoxicity of 7% or less, whilst the most preferred uses will typically result in phytotoxicity of 5% or less. The above values are approximate as any purely visual assessment is likely to contain a degree of subjectivity.

[0041] As used herein the term “useful plants” includes Com, Cotton, Cereals including wheat (winter and spring), spelt, durum, rye, barley, oats, millet and triticale, Oilseed rape (as used herein the term oilseed rape includes Brassica napus subsp. napus. also referred to as Argentine canola, rapeseed or rape and the specific group of cultivars, canola, Brassica rapa, also known as Polish Canola and Brassica juncea, also known as brown mustard), Perennials as used herein includes Coffee, Fruit trees such as Abiu, Almond, Amla (Indian gooseberry), Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Bael, Ber (Indian plum), Carambola (starfruit), Cashew, Cherry, Citrus (clementine, lemon, lime, orange etc.), Coconut, Crab apple, Damson, Durian, Elderberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Guava, Jackfruit, Jujube, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Medlar, Morello cherry, Mulberry, Olive, Pawpaw, both the tropical Carica papaya and the North American Asimina triloba, Peach and nectarine, Pear, Pecan, Persimmon, Plum, Pomelo, Quince, Pomegranate, Rambutan, Sapodilla (chikoo), Soursop, Sugar-apple (sharifa), Sweet chestnut, Tamarillo, Ugli fruit, Walnut and Water Apple, Grapes, Rice, Sorghum, Soybean, Turfgrass, Vegetables including Brassica oleracea (e.g., cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Chinese broccoli, collard greens), Brassica rapa (e.g., turnip, Chinese cabbage, napa cabbage, bok choy), Raphanus sativus (e.g., radish, daikon, seedpod varieties), Daucus carota (e.g., carrot); Pastinaca sativa (e.g., parsnip), Beta vulgaris (e.g., beetroot, sea beet, Swiss chard, sugar beet), Lactuca sativa (e.g., lettuce, celtuce), Aspargus officinalis (e.g., asparagus), Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus lunatus (e.g., green bean, French bean, runner bean, haricot bean, Lima bean), Vicia faba (e.g., broad bean), Pisum sativum (e.g., pea, snap pea, snow pea, split pea), Solanum tuberosum (e.g., potato), Solanum melongena (e.g., eggplant), Solanum lycopersicum (e.g., tomato), Cucumis sativus (e.g., cucumber), Cucurbita spp. (e.g., pumpkin, squash, marrow, zucchini, gourd), Allium cepa (e.g., onion, spring onion, scallion, shallot), Allium sativum (e.g., garlic), Allium ampeloprasum (e.g., leek, elephant garlic), Capsicum annuum (e.g., pepper, bell pepper, sweet pepper), Spinacia oleracea (e.g., spinach), Dioscorea spp. (e.g., yam), Ipomoea batatas (e.g., sweet potato) vA Manihol esculenta (e.g., cassava).

[0042] Plants and plant cultivars which are preferably treated according to the present disclosure include those that are resistant against herbicides or one or more biotic stresses, i.e., said plants show a better defense against animal and microbial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, acari, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and / or viroids. This includes plants made resistant to the above biotic stress by way of breeding including mutagenesis, genetic modification through gene editing, e.g., CRISPR, or transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques (i.e., transgenic plants) such that that they are capable of synthesizing one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxin-producing bacteria, especially those of the genus Bacillus.

[0043] The compositions according to the disclosure can advantageously be used to treat transgenic plants, plant cultivars or plant parts that contain genetic material which imparts advantageous and / or useful properties (traits) to these plants, plant cultivars or plant parts. Therefore, it is contemplated that the compositions of the present disclosure may be combined with one or more recombinant traits or transgenic event(s) or a combination thereof. For the purposes of this disclosure, a transgenic event is created by the insertion of a specific recombinant DNA molecule into a specific position (locus) within the chromosome of the plant genome. The insertion creates a novel DNA sequence referred to as an “event” and is characterized by the inserted recombinant DNA molecule and some amount of genomic DNA immediately adjacent to / flanking both ends of the inserted DNA. Such trait(s) or transgenic event(s) include, but are not limited to, pest resistance, water use efficiency, yield performance, drought tolerance, seed quality, improved nutritional quality, hybrid seed production, and herbicide tolerance, in which the effectiveness of the trait is measured with respect to a plant lacking such trait or transgenic event. Concrete examples of such advantageous and / or useful properties (traits) are better plant growth, vigor, stress tolerance, standability, lodging resistance, nutrient uptake, plant nutrition, and / or yield, in particular improved growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to levels of water or soil salinity, enhanced flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated ripening, higher yields, higher quality and / or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, better storage life and / or processability of the harvested products, and increased resistance against animal and microbial pests, such as against insects, arachnids, nematodes, mites, slugs and snails.

[0044] Among DNA sequences encoding proteins which confer properties of tolerance to such animal and microbial pests, in particular insects, mention will particularly be made of the genetic material from Bacillus thuringiensis encoding the Bt proteins widely described in the literature and well known to those skilled in the art. Mention will also be made of proteins extracted from bacteria such as Photorhabdus (W097 / 17432 and WO98 / 08932). In particular, mention will be made of the Bt Cry or VIP proteins which include the CrylA, CrylAb, CrylAc, CryllA, CrylllA, CryIIIB2, Cry9c Cry2Ab, Cry3Bb and CrylF proteins or toxic fragments thereof and also hybrids or combinations thereof, especially the CrylF protein or hybrids derived from a CrylF protein (e.g. hybrid CrylA-CrylF proteins or toxic fragments thereof), the CrylA-type proteins or toxic fragments thereof, preferably the CrylAc protein or hybrids derived from the CrylAc protein (e.g. hybrid CrylAb-CrylAc proteins) or the CrylAb or Bt2 protein or toxic fragments thereof, the Cry2Ae, Cry2Af or Cry2Ag proteins or toxic fragments thereof, the CrylA.105 protein or a toxic fragment thereof, the VIP3Aal9 protein, the VIP3Aa20 protein, the VIP3A proteins produced in the COT202 or COT203 cotton events, the VIP3Aa protein or a toxic fragment thereof as described in Estruch et al. (1996), Proc Natl Acad Sci US A. 28;93(11):5389- 94, the Cry proteins as described in WO2001 / 47952, the insecticidal proteins from Xenorhabdus (as described in WO98 / 50427), Serratia (particularly from S. entomophild) or Photorhabdus species strains, such as Tc-proteins from Photorhabdus as described in WO98 / 08932. Also, any variants or mutants of any one of these proteins differing in some amino acids (1-10, preferably 1-5) from any of the above-named sequences, particularly the sequence of their toxic fragment, or which are fused to a transit peptide, such as a plastid transit peptide, or another protein or peptide, is included herein.

[0045] Another and particularly emphasized example of such properties is conferred tolerance to one or more herbicides, for example imidazolinones, sulphonylureas, glyphosate or phosphinothricin by either mutagenesis, for example, Clearfield™ imidazolinone tolerant varieties, or transgenic techniques. Among DNA sequences encoding proteins which confer properties of tolerance to certain herbicides on the transformed plant cells and plants, mention will be particularly be made to the bar or PAT gene or the Streptomyces coelicolor gene described in WO2009 / 152359 which confers tolerance to glufosinate herbicides, a gene encoding a suitable EPSPS (5-Enolpyruvylshikimat-3-phosphat-synthase) which confers tolerance to herbicides having EPSPS as a target, especially herbicides such as glyphosate and its salts, a gene encoding glyphosate-n-acetyltransferase, or a gene encoding glyphosate oxidoreductase. Further suitable herbicide tolerance traits include at least one ALS (acetolactate synthase) inhibitor (e.g., W02007 / 024782), a mutated Arabidopsis ALS / AHAS gene (e.g., U.S. Patent 6,855,533), genes encoding 2,4-D-monooxygenases conferring tolerance to 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and genes encoding Dicamba monooxygenases conferring tolerance to dicamba (3, 6-di chi oro-2 -methoxybenzoic acid).

[0046] Yet another example of such properties is resistance to one or more phytopathogenic fungi, for example Asian Soybean Rust. Among DNA sequences encoding proteins which confer properties of resistance to such diseases, mention will particularly be made of the genetic material from glycine tomentella, for example from any one of publicly available accession lines PI441001, PI483224, PI583970, PI446958, PI499939, PI505220, PI499933, PI441008, PI505256 or PI446961 as described in W02019 / 103918.

[0047] Further and particularly emphasized examples of such properties are increased resistance against bacteria and / or viruses owing, for example, to systemic acquired resistance (SAR), systemin, phytoalexins, elicitors and also resistance genes and correspondingly expressed proteins and toxins.

[0048] Crops may also be modified for enhanced resistance to fungal (for example Fusarium, Anthracnose, or Phytophthora), bacterial (for example Pseudomonas) or viral (for example potato leafroll virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, cucumber mosaic virus) pathogens.

[0049] Crops also include those that have enhanced resistance to nematodes, such as the soybean cyst nematode.

[0050] Representative transgenic events in transgenic plants or plant cultivars which can be treated in accordance with the present disclosure include Event 531 / PV-GHBK04 (cotton, insect control, described in W02002 / 040677), Event 1143-14A (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02006 / 128569); Event 1143-5 IB (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02006 / 128570); Event 1445 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A 2002- 120964 or W02002 / 034946); Event 17053 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-9843, described in WO2010 / 117737); Event 17314 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-9844, described in WO2010 / 1 17735); Event 281-24-236 (cotton, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-6233, described in W02005 / 103266 or US-A 2005-216969); Event 3006-210-23 (cotton, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-6233, described in US-A 2007-143876 or W02005 / 103266); Event 3272 (corn, quality trait, deposited as PTA-9972, described in W02006 / 098952 or US-A-2006-230473); Event 33391 (wheat, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-2347, described in W02002 / 027004), Event 40416 (corn, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-11508, described in WO11 / 075593); Event 43A47 (com, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-11509, described in WO2011 / 075595); Event 5307 (corn, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA- 9561, described in W02010 / 077816); Event ASR-368 (bent grass, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-4816, described in US-A 2006-162007 or W02004 / 053062); Event B 16 (corn, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A-2003-126634); Event BPS-CV127- 9 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB No. 41603, described in W02010 / 080829); Event BLRI (oilseed rape, restoration of male sterility, deposited as NCIMB 41193, described in W02005 / 074671), Event CE43-67B (cotton, insect control, deposited as DSM ACC2724, described in US-A-2009-217423 or W02006 / 128573); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in USA-2010-0024077); Event CE44-69D (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02006 / 128571); Event CE46-02A (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02006 / 128572); Event COT102 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A 2006-130175 or W02004 / 039986); Event COT202 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A-2007-067868 or W02005 / 054479); Event COT203 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02005 / 054480); ); Event DAS21606-311606 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11028, described in WO2012 / 033794), Event DAS40278 (com, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-10244, described in WO201 1 / 022469); Event DAS-44406-6 / pD AB 8264.44.06.1 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11336, described in WO2012 / 075426), Event DAS-14536-7 / pDAB8291.45.36.2 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11335, described in WO2012 / 075429), Event DAS-59122-7 (corn, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA 11384, described in US-A 2006-070139); Event DAS-59132 (corn, insect control - herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in W02009 / 100188); Event DAS68416 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA- 10442, described in WO2011 / 066384 or WO2011 / 066360); Event DP-098140-6 (com, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8296, described in US-A 2009- 137395 or

[0051] W02008 / 112019); Event DP-305423-1 (soybean, quality trait, not deposited, described in US-A-2008-312082 or W02008 / 054747); Event DP-32138-1 (com, hybridization system, deposited as ATCC PTA-9158, described in US-A-2009-0210970 or W02009 / 103049); Event DP-356043-5 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8287, described in US-A 2010-0184079 or W02008 / 002872); Event EE-1 (brinjal, insect control, not deposited, described in WO 07 / 091277); Event Fil 17 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209031 , described in US-A 2006-059581 or W098 / 044140); Event FG72 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11041 described in

[0052] WO201 1 / 063413), Event GA21 (com, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209033, described in US-A-2005-086719 or WO 98 / 044140); Event GG25 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209032, described in US-A 2005-188434 or W098 / 044140); Event GHB 119 (cotton, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA- 8398, described in W02008 / 151780); Event GHB614 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6878, described in US-A-2010-050282 or W02007 / 017186); Event GJ11 (corn, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 209030, described in US- A 2005-188434 or WG98 / 044140); Event GM RZ13 (sugar beet, virus resistance, deposited as NCIMB-41601, described in W02010 / 076212); Event H7-I (sugar beet, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41158 or NCIMB 41159, described in US-A 2004-172669 or WO 2004 / 074492); Event JOPLINI (wheat, disease tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A-2008-064032); Event LL27 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB41658, described in W02006 / 108674 or US-A-2008-320616); Event LL55 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as NCIMB 41660, described in WO 2006 / 108675 or US-A-2008-196127); Event LLcotton25 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3343, described in W02003 / 013224 or US-A-2003-097687); Event LLRICE06 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 203353, described in US6,468,747 or W02000 / 026345); Event LLRice62 ( rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC 203352, described in W02000 / 026345), Event LLRICE601 (rice, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-2600, described in US-A-2008-2289060 or W02000 / 026356); Event LY038 (com, quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA-5623, described in US-A-2007-028322 or W02005 / 061720); Event MIR162 (com, insect control, deposited as PTA- 8166, described in US-A-2009-300784 or W02007 / 142840); Event MIR604 (corn, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A-2008-167456 or W02005 / 103301); Event MON15985 (cotton, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA- 2516, described in US-A-2004-250317 or W02002 / 100163); Event M0N810 (com, insect control, not deposited, described in US-A-2002- 102582); Event MON863 (com, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-2605, described in W02004 / 011601 or US-A-2006- 095986); Event MON87427 (com, pollination control, deposited as ATCC PTA-7899, described in WO2011 / 062904); Event MON87460 (corn, stress tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8910, described in W02009 / 111263 or US-A-2011-0138504); Event MON87701 (soybean, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA- 8194, described in US-A 2009- 130071 or W02009 / 064652); Event MON87705 (soybean, quality trait - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-9241, described in US-A-2010-0080887 or W02010 / 037016); Event MON87708 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-9670, described in WO2011 / 034704); Event MON87712 (soybean, yield, deposited as PTA-10296, described in W02012 / 051199), Event MON87754 (soybean, quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA-9385, described in WO2010 / 024976); Event MON87769 (soybean, quality trait, deposited as ATCC PTA- 8911 , described in US-A-2011-0067141 or W02009 / 102873); Event MON88017 (com, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-5582, described in US-A-2008-028482 or W02005 / 059103); Event MON88913 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-4854, described in W02004 / 072235 or US-A-2006-059590); Event MON88302 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-10955, described in WO2011 / 153186), Event MON88701 (cotton, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11754, described in WO2012 / 134808), Event MON89034 (com, insect control, deposited as ATCC PTA-7455, described in WO 07 / 140256 or US-A-2008-260932); Event MON89788 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-6708, described in US-A-2006-282915 or W02006 / 130436); Event MSI 1 (oilseed rape, pollination control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-850 or PTA-2485, described in W02001 / 031042); Event MS8 (oilseed rape, pollination control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-730, described in W02001 / 041558 or US-A-2003-188347); Event NK603 (com, herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-2478, described in US-A 2007-292854); Event PE-7 (rice, insect control, not deposited, described in W02008 / 114282); Event RF3 (oilseed rape, pollination control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-730, described in W02001 / 041558 or US-A-2003-188347); Event RT73 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in W02002 / 036831 or US-A-2008-070260); Event SYHT0H2 / SYN-000H2-5 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11226, described in WO2012 / 082548), Event T227-1 (sugar beet, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in W02002 / 44407 or US-A-2009-265817); Event T25 (corn, herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A-2001-029014 or W02001 / 051654); Event T304-40 (cotton, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-8171, described in US-A-2010-077501 or W02008 / 122406); Event T342-142 (cotton, insect control, not deposited, described in W02006 / 128568); Event TC1507 (corn, insect control - herbicide tolerance, not deposited, described in US-A-2005-039226 or W02004 / 099447); Event VIP1034 (corn, insect control - herbicide tolerance, deposited as ATCC PTA-3925, described in W02003 / 052073), Event 32316 (com, insect control-herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA-11507, described in WO201 1 / 084632), Event 4114 (com, insect control-herbicide tolerance, deposited as PTA- 11506, described in W02011 / 084621), Event EE-GM3 / FG72 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11041) optionally stacked with Event EE-GM1 / LL27 or Event EE- GM2 / LL55 (WO2011 / 063413 A2), Event DAS-68416-4 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N° PTA-10442, WO2011 / 066360AI), Event DAS-68416-4 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N° PTA-10442, WO2011 / 066384AI), Event DP-040416-8 (corn, insect control, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11508, WO201 1 / 075593 Al), Event DP-043 A47-3 (com, insect control, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11509, WO2011 / 075595AI), Event DP- 004114-3 (corn, insect control, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11506, WO2011 / 084621 Al), Event DP-032316-8 (corn, insect control, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11507, WO2011 / 084632AI), Event MON-88302-9 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N° PTA-10955, WO2011 / 153186AI), Event DAS-21606-3 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession No. PTA-11028, WO2012 / 033794A2), Event MON-87712-4 (soybean, quality trait, ATCC Accession N°. PTA-10296, W02012 / 051199A2), Event DAS-44406-6 (soybean, stacked herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N°. PTA-11336, WO2012 / 075426 Al), Event DAS-14536-7 (soybean, stacked herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N°. PTA-11335, WO20 12 / 075429 Al), Event SYN-000H2-5 (soybean, herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N°. PTA-11226, WO2012 / 082548 A2), Event DP-061061-7 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, no deposit N° available, W02012071039AI), Event DP-073496-4 (oilseed rape, herbicide tolerance, no deposit N° available, US2012131692), Event 8264.44.06.1 (soybean, stacked herbicide tolerance, Accession N° PTA-11336, WO2012075426A2), Event 8291.45.36.2 (soybean, stacked herbicide tolerance, Accession N°. PTA-11335, WO2012075429 A2), Event SYHT0H2 (soybean, ATCC Accession N°. PTA-11226, WO2012 / 082548A2), Event MON88701 (cotton, ATCC Accession N° PTA- 11754, WO2012 / 134808AI), Event KK179-2 (alfalfa, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11833, W02013 / 003558AI), Event pDAB8264.42.32.1 (soybean, stacked herbicide tolerance, ATCC Accession N° PTA-11993, WG2013 / 010094 Al), and Event MZDT09Y (com, ATCC Accession N° PTA-13025, WO2013 / 012775AI).

[0053] Further, a list of such transgenic event(s) is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and can be found on their website on the world wide web at aphis.usda.gov. For this application, the status of such list as it is / was on the filing date of this application, is relevant. The genes / events which impart the desired traits in question may also be present in combination with one another in the transgenic plants. Examples of transgenic plants which may be mentioned are the important crop plants, such as cereals (wheat, rice, triticale, barley, rye, oats), maize, soya beans, potatoes, sugar beet, sugar cane, tomatoes, peas and other types of vegetable, cotton, tobacco, oilseed rape and also fruit plants (with the fruits apples, pears, citrus fruits and grapes), with particular emphasis being given to maize, soya beans, wheat, rice, potatoes, cotton, sugar cane, tobacco and oilseed rape. Traits which are particularly emphasized are the increased resistance of the plants to insects, arachnids, nematodes and slugs and snails, as well as the increased resistance of the plants to one or more herbicides.

[0054] Commercially available examples of such plants, plant parts, or plant propagation materials, such as seeds, that may be treated with preference in accordance with the present disclosure include commercial products, such as plant seeds, sold or distributed under the GENUITY®, DROUGHTGARD®, SMARTSTAX®, RIB COMPLETE®, ROUNDUP READY®, VT DOUBLE PRO®, VT TRIPLE PRO®, BOLLGARD II®, ROUNDUP READY 2 YIELD®, YIELDGARD®, ROUNDUP READY® 2 XTEND™, INTACTA RR2 PRO®, VISTIVE GOLD®, and / or XTENDFLEX™ trade names.

[0055] Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the present disclosure are those plants which are resistant to one or more abiotic stresses, i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant health with respect to stress tolerance. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars with the composition of the present disclosure additionally increases the overall plant health.

[0056] Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the present disclosure, are those plants characterized by enhanced yield characteristics i.e., that already exhibit an increased plant health with respect to this feature. Increased yield in said plants can be the result of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield can furthermore be affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including but not limited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in anti -nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability. Preferably, the treatment of these plants and cultivars with the composition of the present disclosure additionally increases the overall plant health.

[0057] In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of inducing defensive responses in useful plants to build up the plants’ natural defense system against abiotic stresses, wherein the method comprises applying an elicitor-inducing effective amount of pelargonic acid or derivatives thereof, to a plant or to a locus of a plant.

[0058] In one aspect, the pelargonic acid is applied before the appearance of a stress factor. In one aspect, the stress factor is an abiotic stress.

[0059] In one aspect, when pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, are applied to the useful plant, such plant demonstrates better defense against abiotic stresses, such as cold or freezing temperature exposure, heat exposure, drought stress, flooding, osmotic stress, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, or limited availability of nutrients, such as nitrogen or phosphorus. In one aspect, when pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, are applied to the useful plant, such plant demonstrates a biostimulant effect in the absence or substantial absence of abiotic stresses. “Substantial absence of abiotic stresses”, as used herein, means that the abiotic stress, if present, would not be expected to or does not have a significant impact on the plant (e.g., loss of yield or quality) that would typically warrant taking steps (e.g., watering, fertilization etc.) to mitigate the abiotic stress. Biostimulant effects include increase in growth (including size of, e.g., roots, whole plants, fruits, grains etc., and number of e.g., fruits, tillers, tubers etc.), increase in yield, specifically increased yield that is not due to direct control of or elicitation of the plants defense mechanisms against abiotic or biotic stresses, increase in vigor, increase in plant dry biomass, increase in fruit production, increase in germination, increased growth in the early seedling stage and / or shortened time to plant maturity, flowering, grain maturation, fruit maturation, and / or fruit formation all when compared to a plant not contacted by the compositions of the present disclosure. The compositions of the present disclosure comprise pelargonic acid, optionally including derivatives thereof, a liquid or solid carrier and, optionally, one or more customary formulation auxiliaries, which may be liquid or solid, for example surfactants, antifoams, for example silicone oil, preservatives, clays, inorganic compounds, viscosity regulators, binders and / or tackifiers. The compositions may also further comprise a fertilizer, a micronutrient donor or other preparations which influence the growth of plants.

[0060] In one aspect, the pelargonic acid compositions are foliarly applied to the useful plants. Examples of foliar formulation types for pre-mix compositions are GR: Granules; WP: wettable powders; WG: water dispersable granules (powders); SG: water soluble granules; SL: soluble concentrates; EC: emulsifiable concentrate; EW: emulsions, oil in water; ME: micro-emulsion; SC: aqueous suspension concentrate; CS: aqueous capsule suspension; OD: oil-based suspension concentrate, and SE: aqueous suspo-emulsion. The type of pelargonic acid composition is to be selected to suit the intended aims and the prevailing circumstances.

[0061] Formulation components suitable for the preparation of the compositions according to the present disclosure are known per se.

[0062] As liquid carriers there may be used water, toluene, xylene, petroleum ether, vegetable oils, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acid anhydrides, acetonitrile, acetophenone, amyl acetate, 2-butanone, butylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, alkyl esters of acetic acid, diacetone alcohol, 1,2-di chloropropane, diethanolamine, p- di ethylbenzene, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol abietate, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, a,a-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-di oxane, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, diproxitol, alkylpyrrolidone, ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, ethylene carbonate, 1,1,1 -tri chloroethane, 2-heptanone, alpha-pinene, d-limonene, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, gammabutyrolactone, glycerol, glycerol acetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, hexadecane, hexylene glycol, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, isooctane, isophorone, isopropylbenzene, isopropyl myristate, lactic acid, laurylamine, mesityl oxide, methoxypropanol, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl laurate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methylene chloride, m-xylene, n-hexane, n-octylamine, octadecanoic acid, octylamine acetate, oleic acid, oleylamine, o-xylene, phenol, polyethylene glycol, propionic acid, propyl lactate, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol methyl ether, p-xylene, toluene, triethyl phosphate, triethylene glycol, xylenesulfonic acid, paraffin, mineral oil, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, or alcohols of higher molecular weight, such as amyl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, hexanol, octanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, N- methyl-2-pyrrolidone and the like.

[0063] Suitable solid carriers include, for example, talc, titanium dioxide, pyrophyllite clay, silica, attapulgite clay, kieselguhr, limestone, calcium carbonate, bentonite, calcium montmorillonite, cottonseed husks, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, ground walnut shells, lignin and similar substances.

[0064] A large number of surfactants may advantageously be used in both liquid and solid formulations, especially in those formulations which can be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Surfactants may be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or polymeric and they can be used as emulsifiers, wetting agents or suspending agents or for other purposes. Typical surfactants include, for example, salts of alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; salts of alkylarylsulfonates, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol ethoxylate; alcohol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as tri decyl alcohol ethoxylate; siloxanes, silicones, silanes, silicates and siliconates; soaps, such as sodium stearate; salts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, such as sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate; sorbitol esters, such as sorbitol oleate; quaternary amines, such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; and salts of mono- and di-alkylphosphate esters; esters of stearate and also further substances described e.g. in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual, MC Publishing Corp., Ridgewood New Jersey (1981).

[0065] The compositions according to the disclosure can include an additive comprising an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a mineral oil, alkyl esters of such oils or mixtures of such oils and oil derivatives. The amount of oil additive, when present, in the composition according to the present disclosure is generally from 0.01 to 10%, based on the mixture to be applied. For example, the oil additive can be added to a spray tank in the desired concentration after a spray mixture has been prepared. Preferred oil additives comprise mineral oils or an oil of vegetable origin, for example rapeseed oil, olive oil or sunflower oil, emulsified vegetable oil, alkyl esters of oils of vegetable origin, for example the methyl derivatives, or an oil of animal origin, such as fish oil or beef tallow. Preferred oil additives comprise alkyl esters of C8-C22 fatty acids, especially the methyl derivatives of C12-C18 fatty acids, for example the methyl esters of lauric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid (methyl laurate, methyl palmitate and methyl oleate, respectively). Many oil derivatives are known from the Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants, 10th Edition, Southern Illinois University, 2010.

[0066] Some embodiments of the present disclosure include applying the pelargonic acid compositions to plant propagation materials, of a useful plant, plant propagation materials treated with pelargonic acid compositions, and to methods according to the present disclosure, which comprise applying a plant defense inducing amount of a pelargonic acid composition to the plant propagation materials.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, propagation material of a plant can be understood to denote all the generative parts of the plant, such as seeds, which can be used for the multiplication of the latter including vegetative plant material such as cuttings. There may be mentioned, as plant propagation material, seeds (in the strict sense), roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants. The plant propagation material can be treated with the pelargonic acid compositions before the material is sown or planted. Alternatively, the plant propagation material may be treated with the pelargonic acid compositions during sowing or planting. Additionally, the pelargonic acid compositions may be applied to the previously treated propagation material before or during its planting. The pelargonic acid compositions may be applied during the sowing of the seed. The pelargonic acid compositions may also be used to plant propagation material derived from plants grown in a green house and / or during transplantation.

[0068] Preferably, the plant propagation material is plant seeds.

[0069] The term "seed treatment" generally refers to application of a material to a seed prior to or during the time it is planted in soil to improve the handling characteristics of the seed, protect the seed prior to germination, support the germination and / or support the growth of the resulting plant. Some seed treatments are employed solely for the purpose of improving the handling characteristics or other physical characteristics of seeds and include no agricultural active ingredients. Other seed treatments bind one or more active ingredients to seeds for various beneficial purposes. For example, seed treatments that include one or more active ingredients are commonly used to ensure uniform stand establishment by protecting against soilborne diseases and insects. Typical examples include the application of pesticides such as fungicides, insecticides and plant growth regulators.

[0070] The seed treatment composition may also comprise or may be applied together and / or sequentially with further active compounds. These further compounds can be fertilizers or micronutrient donors or other preparations that influence plant growth, such as inoculants.

[0071] According to the present disclosure pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, is applied to seeds of the useful plants in an amount of from 0.3 grams of pelargonic acid / ton of seeds (g / t) to 100 g / t, preferably from 0.3 to 80 g / t.

[0072] As with the nature of the formulations, the methods of application, such as foliar, drench, spraying, atomizing, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevailing circumstances.

[0073] Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates (e.g., pre-mix or ready-mix compositions), the end user will normally employ dilute formulations (e.g., spray mix, spray tank or tank-mix (when combined with other pesticides or formulation auxiliaries) compositions).

[0074] Generally, the pre-mix compositions comprise 0.1 to 99%, especially 15 to 90%, of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, and 0 to 99.9% of at least one liquid or solid carrier, and 0 to 35%, especially 0.1 to 20%, of the composition to be formulation auxiliaries., e.g., surfactants (% in each case meaning percent by weight in the pre-mix composition).

[0075] Generally, a spray mix or spray tank formulation for foliar or soil application comprises 0.05 to 20%, especially 0.1 to 15 %, of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, and 99.95 to 80 %, especially 99.9 to 85 %, of a liquid carrier, and 0 to 20 %, especially 0.1 to 15 %, of formulation auxiliaries, e.g., surfactants (% in each case meaning percent by weight in the tank-mix composition).

[0076] The pelargonic acid, or derivative thereof, is applied in an effective amount to achieve the desired defensive, elicitor, or biostimulant response. The rates of application (grams of pelargonic acid / hectare org a.i. / ha or g / ha) vary and depend on the method of application, the crop plant, the defensive or elicitor response desired, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop.

[0077] In order to stimulate the useful plant’s defense mechanisms against abiotic stresses, or when a biostimulant response is desired, the pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, is applied in a plant defense inducing amount. Effective rates of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, for inducing a plant’s defense mechanisms against abiotic stresses and to elicit a biostimulant effect include from 1 to 2,600 g / ha, from 50 to 1,300 g / ha, from 150 to 1,000 g / ha, and from 150 to 650 g / ha.

[0078] In some embodiments, pelargonic acid, or compositions thereof, is applied to the useful plant when abiotic stresses are not present or are not present in an amount sufficient to cause damage to the plant or significantly impact quality or yield.

[0079] In some embodiments, pelargonic acid, or compositions thereof, provides an indirect elicitor effect by inducing the plant’s natural defense system to protect against abiotic stresses (e.g., environmental stresses) or stimulating or enhancing nutrition efficiency, crop quality traits, or yield regardless of its nutrients content.

[0080] The present compositions have been demonstrated to have low phytotoxicity, e.g., exhibiting zero or acceptable leaf scorching, at rates as described herein.

[0081] Methods of using the present compositions for inducing defensive responses in plants against abiotic stresses on useful plants are also part of the present disclosure. For example, the compositions are preferably used at a dilution, e.g., those dilutions preferred above, to provide effective response inducing properties coupled with low phytotoxicity.

[0082] The activity of the compositions according to the present disclosure may be broadened considerably, and adapted to prevailing circumstances, by adding additional pesticidally active agents, such as acaricides, fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and nematicides, to the pelargonic acid compositions. Compositions comprising combinations of (A) pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, and (B) at least one additional pesticidally active agent (i.e., other than pelargonic acid) may also have further surprising advantages which can also be described, in a wider sense, as super-additive ("synergistic") effects. Thus, for example, by using or employing compositions in the treatment according to the present disclosure, reduced application rates and / or a widening of the activity spectrum and / or an increase in the activity better plant growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, bigger fruits, larger plant height, greener leaf color, earlier flowering, higher quality and / or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, higher sugar concentration within the fruits, better storage stability and / or processability of the harvested products are possible, which exceed the effects which were actually to be expected.

[0083] According to the present disclosure, the expression “combination” stands for the various combinations of (A) pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, and (B) the at least one pesticidally active agent, for example in a single “ready-mix” or “pre-mix” form, in a combined spray mixture composed from separate formulations of the single active compounds, such as a “tank-mix”, and in a combined use of the single active ingredients when applied in a sequential manner, i.e., one after the other within a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days, e.g.; 2 hours to 7 days. Preferably, the order of applying the pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, and the at least one pesticidally active agent is not essential for working the present disclosure. Accordingly, the term “combination” also encompasses the presence of pelargonic acid composition and the at least one pesticidally active agent on a plant that has been treated.

[0084] The ratio of (A) pelargonic acid and (B) any additional pesticidally active agents is selected such that, when applied to the useful plants, the pelargonic acid and the pesticidally active agents are delivered at their respective desired rates, e.g., as taught on a product label or as can be determined by one experienced in the field, required for pest control. Because the application rates for the additional pesticidally active agents can vary greatly from one another, the general ratios of pelargonic acid to the additional active agent also can vary greatly. The compositions comprising mixtures of pelargonic acid with additional pesticidally active agents described above comprise pelargonic acid and an active agent as described above preferably in a mixing ratio of from 1000: 1 to 1 : 1, preferably in a weight ratio of 700:1 to 10:1, more preferably in a weight ratio of 500: 1 to 30: 1, and most preferably in a weight ratio of 100: 1 to 1 : 100. The combinations comprising mixtures of pelargonic acid and one or more active agents as described above can be applied, for example, in a single “ready-mix” form, in a combined spray mixture composed from separate formulations of the single active agent components, such as a “tank-mix”, and in a combined use of (A) a pelargonic acid, or derivative thereof, and (B) a separate composition comprising the additional active agent when applied in a sequential manner, i.e., one after the other with a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days. The order of applying the pelargonic acid, or derivative thereof, and the active agents as described above is not essential for working the present disclosure.

[0085] The following description and examples are shown for exemplary and explanatory purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0086] The features and characteristics illustrated and / or described herein in connection with various examples presented herein may be combined with the features and characteristics of other examples also provided herein and such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0087] Examples: Inducing plant defense responses and biostimulant effects in crops

[0088] In the following examples, following abbreviations shall be used:

[0089] AT : after treatment

[0090] DAT / DAA: days after treatment / days after application

[0091] DAI: days after inoculation

[0092] UNCK : untreated check

[0093] BBCH : scale used to identify the phenological development stages of plants

[0094] All applications below were made with an EC formulation containing 650 g / L of pelargonic acid (685 g / L of 95% purity pelargonic acid), an anionic emulsifier and a branched fatty acid ester solvent, unless it is noted otherwise.

[0095] Examples Inducing biostimulant responses in crops

[0096] Example 1 CROP: Solatium tuberosum

[0097] APPLICATION: Foliar application

[0098] EXPERIMENT / TRI AL Solanum tuberosum plants (BBCH 14-15, 5 replicate pots, 1 plant per PROTOCOL: pot with multiple shoots per plant) were sprayed with 500ml spraying volume using a standardized spraying cabinet. All spraying solutions were prepared freshly by adding the products to water.

[0099] Length of plants and number of tubers were measured 15 days after treatment. Treated plants showed an increase in plant length and number of tubers at day 15 after treatment. Table 1. Biostimulant effect in potato

[0100] Narita = Difenoconazole

[0101] Ranman Top = cyazofamid

[0102] Ravane = lambda-cyhalothrin

[0103] Vazyl = paraffin oil Example 2

[0104] CROP: Winter wheat (cv. Keitum)

[0105] APPLICATION: Seed treatment

[0106] EXPERIMENT / TRIAL A greenhouse trial was conducted to investigate the effect of PROTOCOL: pelargonic acid salts on the growth and development of wheat plants.

[0107] Seeds were coated in a Satec ML2000, 81 / ton coater with NH4-salt. For each object (treated and untreated) 10 repetitions were conducted.

[0108] The temperature in the climate-controlled greenhouse was 20 °C during the day and 12 °C at night. The relative humidity was around 60%.

[0109] Falcon tubes (50 ml) were filled with 50% sand / 50% potting soil. The seeds were placed at 1 cm depth. The plants of the treated object are compared with untreated seedlings. 14 days after sowing the height and the fresh weight of the leaves of each plant were measured and also the number of tillers was counted. On the same day root scans were taken of the plant. These were carried out with the Epson perfection V 370 Photo and processed with WinRHIZO. The program calculated the total root length, the total root surface, the average root diameter, the total root volume, the number of root tips and the number of root branching sites.

[0110] Seeds coated with ammonium pelargonate showed an increase in root length, surface and volume and an increase in tips and forks per plant. (Table 2)

[0111] FORMULATION NH4-salt Ammonium pelargonate: 8% PVOH in 81 water

[0112] T T PD'

[0113] Concentration tested: 2 L / mt

[0114] Table 2. Biostimulant effect of ammonium pelargonate on winter wheat (cv. Keitum) 14 days after sowing

[0115]

[0116] Example 3. Inducing abiotic stress responses in crops

[0117] DISEASE / PEST: Abiotic stress (drought stress and flooding)

[0118] CROP: Maize (cultivar Mofox)

[0119] APPLICATION: FOLIAR

[0120] EXPERIMENT / TRIAL

[0121] PROTOCOL' Seeds were drilled in trays and placed in a greenhouse.

[0122] Temp, regime for maize seeds: 25°C for 12h and 15°C at night.

[0123] Light regime: 16 h light and 8h dark for germination

[0124] 10 days after sowing the plants were treated with compositions according to the present disclosure.

[0125] 2 days after the treatment 10 plants from every condition were replanted in 8x8 pots.

[0126] Stress conditions were the following: no water / daily water gift / constant water supply(flood) Table 3. Efficacy assessment of pelargonic acid foliar treatment as abiotic stress elicitor / biostimulant on maize (cultivar Mofox) in flooding conditions

[0127] Table 4. Efficacy assessment of Pelargonic acid foliar treatment as abiotic stress elicitor / biostimulant on maize (cultivar Mofox) in drought conditions

[0128] Table 5. Efficacy assessment of pelargonic acid foliar treatment as abiotic stress elicitor / biostimulant on maize (cultivar Mofox) in daily watered (normal) conditions

[0129] The following embodiments are encompassed by the present disclosure:

[0130] Embodiment 1 is directed to a method of inducing defensive responses in useful plants to build up the plants’ natural defense system against abiotic stresses, which comprises applying a plant defense inducing amount of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, to a plant, a plant part, or to a locus of a plant.

[0131] Embodiment 2 is directed to a method according to Embodiment 1, wherein the useful plant is selected from the group consisting of Com, Cotton, Cereals including wheat (winter and spring), spelt, durum, rye, barley, oats, millet and triticale, Oilseed rape (as used herein the term oilseed rape includes Brassica napus subsp. napus, also referred to as Argentine canola, rapeseed or rape and the specific group of cultivars, canola, Brassica rapa, also known as Polish Canola and Brassica juncea, also known as brown mustard), Perennials as used herein includes Coffee, Fruit trees such as Abiu, Almond, Amla (Indian gooseberry), Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Bael, Ber (Indian plum), Carambola (starfruit), Cashew, Cherry, Citrus (clementine, lemon, lime, orange etc.), Coconut, Crab apple, Damson, Durian, Elderberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Guava, Jackfruit, Jujube, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Medlar, Morello cherry, Mulberry, Olive, Pawpaw, both the tropical Carica papaya and the North American Asimina triloba, Peach and nectarine, Pear, Pecan, Persimmon, Plum, Pomelo, Quince, Pomegranate, Rambutan, Sapodilla (chikoo), Soursop, Sugar-apple (sharifa), Sweet chestnut, Tamarillo, Ugli fruit, Walnut and Water Apple, Grapes, Rice, Sorghum, Soybean, Turfgrass, Vegetables including Brassica oleracea (e.g., cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Chinese broccoli, collard greens), Brassica rapa (e.g., turnip, Chinese cabbage, napa cabbage, bok choy), Raphanus sativus (e.g., radish, daikon, seedpod varieties), Daucus carota (e.g., carrot); Pastinaca sativa (e.g., parsnip), Beta vulgaris (e.g., beetroot, sea beet, Swiss chard, sugar beet), Lactuca sativa (e.g., lettuce, celtuce), Aspargus officinalis (e.g., asparagus), Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus lunatus (e.g., green bean, French bean, runner bean, haricot bean, Lima bean), Vicia faba (e.g., broad bean), Pisum sativum (e.g., pea, snap pea, snow pea, split pea), Solanum tuberosum (e.g., potato), Solanum melongena (e.g., eggplant), Solanum lycopersicum (e.g., tomato), Cucumis sativus (e.g., cucumber), Cucurbita spp. (e.g., pumpkin, squash, marrow, zucchini, gourd), Allium cepa (e.g., onion, spring onion, scallion, shallot), Allium sativum (e.g., garlic), Allium ampeloprasum (e.g., leek, elephant garlic), Capsicum annuum (e.g., pepper, bell pepper, sweet pepper), Spinacia oleracea (e.g., spinach), Dioscorea spp. (e.g., yam), Ipomoea batatas (e.g., sweet potato) and Manihot esculenta (e.g., cassava).

[0132] 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the useful plant is selected from Corn, Cotton, Cereals selected from wheat (winter and spring), spelt, durum, rye, barley, oats, millet, or triticale, Oilseed rape selected from Brassica napus subsp. napus. Brassica rapa, o Brassica juncea. Perennials selected from Coffee, Fruit trees comprising Abiu, Almond, Amla (Indian gooseberry), Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Bael, Ber (Indian plum), Carambola (starfruit), Cashew, Cherry, Citrus, Coconut, Crab apple, Damson, Durian, Elderberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Guava, Jackfruit, Jujube, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Medlar, Morello cherry, Mulberry, Olive, Pawpaw, tropical Carica papaya, the North American Asimina triloba,

[0133] Embodiment 3 is directed to a method according any of Embodiments 1 or 2, which comprises applying the pelargonic acid composition to said plant as a foliar spray.

[0134] Embodiment 4 is directed to a method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the composition is applied in an amount sufficient to deliver pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, to the useful plants in an amount of from 1 to 2,600 g / ha, from 50 to 1,300 g / ha, from 150 to 1,000 g / ha, or from 150 to 650 g / ha.

[0135] Embodiment 5 is directed to a method according to any of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the pelargonic acid is applied before the appearance of a stress factor.

[0136] Embodiment 6 is directed to a method according to Embodiments 1 or 2, which comprises applying the pelargonic acid composition to plant propagation material of said plant.

[0137] Embodiment 7 is directed to a method according any of Embodiments 1, 2, or 6, wherein the plant propagation material is a seed of said plant and the composition is applied in an amount sufficient to deliver pelargonic acid to the seeds in an amount from 0.3 to 100 g / t.

[0138] Embodiment 8 is directed to the use of compositions of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, as an elicitor to induce a plants’ defense to abiotic stress or as a biostimulant.

[0139] Embodiment 9 is directed to a plant propagation material treated with a pelargonic acid composition. Embodiment 10 is directed to a plant propagation material according to Embodiment 9, wherein the plant propagation material is a seed.

[0140] It is recognized that those of ordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. All publications, patent applications, patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0141] It is noted that the description and / or claims may be drafted to exclude any optional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve as an antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely,” “only,” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements or use of a “negative” limitation. As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Any recited method may be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order that is logically possible.

[0142] Where applicable or not specifically disclaimed, any one of the embodiments described herein is contemplated to be able to combine with any other one or more embodiments, even though the embodiments are described, under different aspects of the invention. As such, the preceding general areas of utility are given by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting on the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims.

[0143] Additional objects and advantages associated with the compounds, compositions, methods, and processes of the present invention will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the instant claims, description, and examples. For example, the various aspects and embodiments of the invention may be utilized in numerous combinations, all of which are expressly contemplated by the present description. These additional advantages, objects, and embodiments are expressly included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of inducing defensive responses in useful plants to build up the plants’ natural defense system against abiotic stresses, which comprises applying a plant defense inducing amount of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, to a plant, a plant part, or to a locus of a plant.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the useful plant is selected from Corn, Cotton, Cereals selected from wheat (winter and spring), spelt, durum, rye, barley, oats, millet, or triticale, Oilseed rape selected from Brassica napus subsp. napus, Brassica rapa, o Brassica juncea. Perennials selected from Coffee, Fruit trees comprising Abiu, Almond, Amla (Indian gooseberry), Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Bael, Ber (Indian plum), Carambola (starfruit), Cashew, Cherry, Citrus, Coconut, Crab apple, Damson, Durian, Elderberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Guava, Jackfruit, Jujube, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Medlar, Morello cherry, Mulberry, Olive, Pawpaw, tropical Carica papaya, the North American Asimina triloba, Peach, Nectarine, Pear, Pecan, Persimmon, Plum, Pomelo, Quince, Pomegranate, Rambutan, Sapodilla (chikoo), Soursop, Sugar-apple (sharifa), Sweet chestnut, Tamarillo, Ugli fruit, Walnut, or Water Apple, Grapes, Rice, Sorghum, Soybean, Turfgrass, and Vegetables selected from Brassica oleracea including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, red cabbage, Savoy cabbage, Chinese broccoli, collard greens, Raphanus sativus, Daucus carola, Pastinaca saliva. Beta vulgaris including beetroot, sea beet, Swiss chard, and sugar beet, Lactuca saliva. Aspargus officinalis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus, Phaseolus lunatus, Vicia faba, Pisum sativum, Potato, Solanum melongena, Tomato, Cucumis sativus, Cucurbita spp. selected from pumpkin, squash, marrow, zucchini, or gourd, Allium cepa, Allium sativum, Allium ampeloprasum, Capsicum annuum, Spinacia oleracea, Dioscorea spp., Ipomoea batatas, and Manihot esculenta.

3. A method according to claim 1, which comprises applying the pelargonic acid composition to said plant as a foliar spray.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the composition is applied in an amount sufficient to deliver pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, to the useful plants in an amount of from 1 to 2,600 g / ha, from 50 to 1,300 g / ha, from 150 to 1,000 g / ha, or from 150 to 650 g / ha.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pelargonic acid is applied before the appearance of a stress factor.

6. A method according to claim 1, which comprises applying the pelargonic acid composition to plant propagation material of said plant.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the plant propagation material is a seed of said plant and the composition is applied in an amount sufficient to deliver pelargonic acid to the seeds in an amount from 0.3 to 100 g / t.

8. Use of compositions of pelargonic acid, or derivatives thereof, as an elicitor to induce a plants’ defense to abiotic stress or as a biostimulant.

9. A plant propagation material treated with a pelargonic acid composition.

10. The plant propagation material according to claim 9, wherein the plant propagation material is a seed.

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