Natural enemy attraction method

Abstract

To find a mechanism to attract a natural enemy by applying composition with organic acid and / or its salt as an effective component to a plant body, and to provide an agricultural chemical material using the mechanism.SOLUTION: There is provided a method in which composition with organic acid and / or its salt as an effective component is applied to a plant body so that a volatile substance is diffused to the plant body and a natural enemy is attracted to the plant body.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body, causing the plant body to emit volatile substances, and attracting natural enemies of pests to the plant body.

Background Art

[0002] Current agriculture is in a situation where it has to rely heavily on synthetic chemical pesticides for pest control. On the other hand, against the backdrop of a healthy diet, the activation of sustainable production and consumption, and the expansion of the ESG investment market, the movement towards agriculture that emphasizes the SDGs and the environment has accelerated, and attempts to move away from agriculture that depends solely on synthetic chemical pesticides are becoming widespread both at home and abroad. In addition, in home gardens and home horticulture, due to the increasing safety orientation of users, the need for pest control agents derived from natural products is increasing. In response to these attempts and needs, proposals (such as Patent Documents 1 and 2) have been made to obtain a pest control effect using materials called specific control materials (specific pesticides) such as baking soda and acetic acid. However, these specific control materials (specific pesticides) have problems such as phytotoxicity occurring in the plant body because it is necessary to use a high-concentration spraying solution or apply a large amount of a low-concentration spraying solution in order to obtain a satisfactory pest control effect. In addition, the mechanism by which a pest control effect is obtained by specific control materials (specific pesticides) has not yet been fully elucidated.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a pesticidal material that discovers the function of attracting natural enemies by applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt to a plant body and utilizes this function.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The inventors of the present invention focused on the fact that plants emit volatile substances, and as a result of extensive research on the effects obtained by promoting the emission of these plant volatile substances, it was found that by applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt to a plant body, the volatile substances emitted by the plant body increase, and natural enemies are attracted to the plant body by the volatile substances, thus completing the present invention.

[0006] Specifically, the gist of the present invention is as follows. 1. A method of causing a plant body to emit volatile substances and attracting natural enemies to the plant body by applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt to the plant body. 2. An inducer for inducing the emission of volatile natural enemy attractants in a plant body, which contains acetic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the volatile substances emitted by the plant body increase, and natural enemies are attracted to the plant body by the volatile substances, so that pests can be controlled and the growth of the plant body can be promoted. According to the present invention, it is useful because a new pest control effect can be obtained without using chemically synthesized pesticides.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. <Regarding natural enemy attraction in the present invention> The present invention is to apply a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body, whereby the amount of volatile substances emitted and the types of volatile substances emitted increase, and further, natural enemies are attracted to the volatile substances, thereby exerting an effect of suppressing damage to the plant body by pests. That is, the present invention increases the emission of volatile substances that attract natural enemies from the plant body by applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to the plant body, thereby attracting natural enemies to the plant body and as a result suppressing damage to the plant body by pests. In the present invention, "attraction" means applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body to attract natural enemies that were not present on the plant body before application, attracting and establishing them, and establishing natural enemies that were present before application. "Emission" means applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body to emit volatile substances that were not emitted before application, and increasing the emission amount of volatile substances that were emitted before application.

[0010] <Regarding organic acids and / or their salts> The active ingredient of the composition in the method of the present invention is an organic acid and / or its salt, and it is an invention of applying a composition containing an organic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body. The organic acids in the present invention include carboxylic acids having a carboxyl group (-CO 2 OH group) and sulfonic acids having a sulfo group (-SO 3 OH group). Among them, carboxylic acids are preferred. Examples of carboxylic acids include saturated carboxylic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid, unsaturated carboxylic acids such as oleic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acids such as malic acid and citric acid, aromatic carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid, and dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid and succinic acid. Among them, organic acids having 1 to 10 carbon atoms are preferred. For example, saturated fatty acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, enanthic acid, caprylic acid, pelargonic acid, and capric acid, dicarboxylic acids such as oxalic acid, malonic acid, succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, fumaric acid, and maleic acid, hydroxycarboxylic acids such as lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid, and tartaric acid, and aromatic carboxylic acids such as benzoic acid, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, and salicylic acid. Among these organic acids, saturated carboxylic acids having 1 to 5 carbon atoms are preferably used as the active ingredient in the present invention. In addition, when using acetic acid, for example, as the active ingredient of the composition in the method of the present invention, in addition to pure acetic acid, brewed vinegar or synthetic vinegar, which is table vinegar, is included. These are commercially available, and for example, cereal vinegar, extra strong vinegar, high-concentration brewed vinegar, powdered table vinegar (a mixture of acetic acid and dextrin, etc.) can be used. Also, fruit vinegars such as wine vinegar and apple vinegar can be used. Examples of the salts of organic acids include sodium salts, potassium salts, calcium salts, magnesium salts, ammonium salts, ethanolamine salts, triethanolamine salts, etc. When using acetate as the active ingredient in the present invention, sodium salts, triethanolamine salts, ammonium salts, and potassium salts are preferred. These salts may be added to the composition of the present invention as a single substance, or an organic acid and a corresponding neutralizing agent may be added separately to form a salt during formulation preparation. For example, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide as a neutralizing agent can be added separately and used as a sodium salt. As the neutralizing agent, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc. are suitable. As the active ingredient in the present invention, those containing the above organic acid and / or its salt may be used alone or in combination of two or more. The active ingredient in the emission inducer of the present invention is acetic acid and / or its salt.

[0011] The composition or emission inducer in the present invention can contain the organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt, which is the active ingredient, in a content of preferably 0.04% by weight or more, more preferably 0.05% by weight or more, and still more preferably 0.06% by weight or more of the whole composition or emission inducer. Also, if too much organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt is used, in addition to phytotoxicity to plants, there are also users who are concerned about the pungent odor caused by the organic acid (or acetic acid). Therefore, the content is preferably 10% by weight or less, more preferably 4% by weight or less, and still more preferably 1% by weight or less. The composition or the emission inducer in the present invention can be directly applied to the plant body, or a preparation containing a predetermined active ingredient can be diluted with water at the time of use and then used to treat the plant body. When diluting and using, it is preferable to appropriately adjust the dilution ratio according to the concentration of the organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt, which is the active ingredient, in the whole composition or emission inducer. Even in the preparation diluted with water, the content of the organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt, which is the active ingredient, is preferably adjusted to be 0.04% by weight or more, more preferably 0.05% by weight or more, still more preferably 0.06% by weight or more, and preferably 10% by weight or less, more preferably 4% by weight or less, still more preferably 1% by weight or less for use.

[0012] The composition or the emission inducer in the present invention can be used as various preparations. Examples of the preparations include oil agents, emulsions, wettable powders, flowable agents (aqueous suspensions, oil-in-water emulsions, etc.), microcapsule agents, powders, granules, tablets, liquid agents, spray agents, aerosol agents, etc. Among them, spray preparations such as spray agents and aerosol agents, and spraying agents in which a liquid agent is filled in a container with a watering can head are suitable as preparation types that can maximize the performance of the composition or emission inducer in the present invention. To make a spray agent or an aerosol agent, an aerosol can or a medicine bottle equipped with a spray device for supplying a predetermined spray pattern and spray particles can be used. As one production example of the above-mentioned preparation, an organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt, which is the active ingredient, is dissolved in a solvent using a surfactant as needed to prepare a solution (solution A), and this solution A is mixed with an appropriate amount of water and stirred to make a preparation, thereby obtaining a composition or an emission inducer in the present invention that does not need to be diluted at the time of use. As the water, tap water, ion-exchanged water, distilled water, filtered water, sterilized water, groundwater, etc. can be used.

[0013] Examples of the liquid carriers used in the preparation include alcohols (such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, butanol, hexanol, benzyl alcohol, ethylene glycol, etc.), ethers (such as diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, etc.), esters (such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, isopropyl myristate, ethyl lactate, etc.), ketones (such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone, etc.), aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons (such as xylene, toluene, alkylnaphthalene, phenylxylylethane, kerosene, light oil, hexane, cyclohexane, etc.), halogenated hydrocarbons (such as chlorobenzene, dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloroethane, etc.), nitriles (such as acetonitrile, isobutyronitrile, etc.), sulfoxides (such as dimethyl sulfoxide, etc.), heterocyclic solvents (such as sulfolane, γ-butyrolactone, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-octyl-2-pyrrolidone, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone), acid amides (such as N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethylacetamide, etc.), alkylidene carbonates (such as propylene carbonate, etc.), vegetable oils (such as soybean oil, cottonseed oil, etc.), essential oils (such as orange oil, hyssop oil, mint oil, lemon oil, etc.), and water.

[0014] Examples of surfactants used in the preparation include nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, and amphoteric surfactants. Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyoxyalkylene allyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene allyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether formaldehyde condensate, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer alkyl phenyl ether, sorbitan fatty acid ester (e.g., sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan laurate), polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, glycerin fatty acid ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, polyoxyethylene castor oil, propylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether, polyoxyalkylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene resin acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, modified silicone oil, and the like.Examples of anionic surfactants include sodium, calcium or ammonium salts of alkyl sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene benzyl (or styryl) phenyl ether sulfates or polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer sulfates; alkyl sulfonates, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl benzene sulfonates (e.g., calcium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, etc.), mono- or di-alkyl naphthalene sulfonic acids, naphthalene sulfonic acid formaldehyde condensates, lignin sulfonic acids, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfonates or polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinates of sodium, calcium, ammonium or alkanolamine salts; sodium or calcium salts of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene, mono- or di-alkyl phenyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene benzyl (or styryl) phenyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymer phosphates, etc. Examples of cationic surfactants include, for example, quaternary ammonium salts, alkylamine salts, alkyl pyridinium salts, alkyl oxides, etc. Examples of amphoteric surfactants include, for example, alkyl betaines, amine oxides, lecithins, etc. Incidentally, the surfactant can also be used as a spreading agent. Examples of the spreading agent used during formulation include glycerin fatty acid ester, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, propylene glycol fatty acid ester, polyethylene glycol fatty acid ester, lecithin, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil, modified silicone oil, etc. Among them, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, modified silicone oil, polyglycerin fatty acid ester, sucrose fatty acid ester, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether, and polyoxyethylene alkyl ether are preferred.

[0015] Examples of the propellant used when making an aerosol include, for example, butane gas, chlorofluorocarbon gas, alternative chlorofluorocarbons (HFO, HFC, etc.), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), dimethyl ether, and carbon dioxide gas. Examples of the solid carrier include, for example, clays (kaolin, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, clay, acid clay, etc.), synthetic hydrated silicon oxide, talc, zeolite, ceramic, other inorganic minerals (sericite, quartz, sulfur, activated carbon, calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, etc.), porous bodies, etc.

[0016] In the composition or the diffusion inducer of the present invention, an antifoaming agent, a preservative, an antioxidant, a thickening agent, etc. can be added as necessary during formulation preparation. Examples of the antifoaming agent include, for example, silicone-based antifoaming agents, fluorine-based antifoaming agents, etc. Examples of the preservative include, for example, organic nitrogen sulfur-based compounds, organic bromine-based compounds, isothiazoline-based compounds, benzyl alcohol mono(poly)hemiformal, 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, potassium sorbate, sodium dehydroacetate, etc. Examples of antioxidants include tetrakis[methylene-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate]methane, dibutylhydroxytoluene (BHT), butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), propyl gallate, vitamin E, mixed tocopherols, α-tocopherol, ethoxyquin, ascorbic acid, and the like. Examples of thickeners include polyvinylpyrrolidone, xanthan gum, polyvinyl alcohol, guar gum, carboxyvinyl polymer, and the like.

[0017] <Regarding natural enemies> In the present invention, the "natural enemy" means a biological species that causes the death of a specific species of organism and ultimately suppresses the reproduction of that species. The natural enemies in the present invention include not only "predatory natural enemies" that prey on living organisms as food but also "parasitic natural enemies" that kill pests by parasitism. For example, examples of "predatory natural enemies" include ladybugs, predatory stink bugs, pirate bugs, lacewings, bees, cockroaches, earwigs, minute pirate bugs, spider mites, spiders, and examples of "parasitic natural enemies" include parasitic wasps and parasitic flies. There is no limitation on the natural enemy species attracted by the composition or the release inducer in the present invention, but from an ecological perspective for each natural enemy species, it is preferable in terms of attracting ladybugs, predatory stink bugs, pirate bugs, minute pirate bugs, spider mites, and spiders as "predatory natural enemies" and parasitic wasps and parasitic flies as "parasitic natural enemies", more preferable in terms of attracting ladybugs, predatory stink bugs, minute pirate bugs, and spider mites as "predatory natural enemies" and parasitic wasps as "parasitic natural enemies", and particularly preferable in terms of attracting the seven-spotted ladybug, the multicolored Asian ladybeetle, the convergent lady beetle, the tobacco ladybug, the large milkweed bug, the red-shouldered six-spotted mite, the Swirskii mite, the Phytoseiulus persimilis, the Neoseiulus womersleyi, the Neoseiulus californicus, the Amblyseius cucumeris as "predatory natural enemies" and the Trichogramma ostriniae, the Trichogramma dendrolimi, the Campoletis chlorideae, the Glyptapanteles liparidis, the Habrobracon hebetor as "parasitic natural enemies". Examples of the combination of pests and their "natural enemies" in the present invention include, for example, mite-eating mites that feed on spider mites, mite-eating mites that feed on thrips, small flower bugs, leafhoppers, mite-eating mites that feed on aphids or thrips, ladybugs that parasitize aphids, aphid wasps that parasitize aphids, and small wasps that parasitize fruit flies.

[0018] <Regarding plants> The plants in the present invention are not limited as long as they are plant species capable of emitting volatile substances from the above-ground part. Specifically, for example, root vegetables such as radish, carrot, burdock, and potato; leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, cabbage, green onion, onion, broccoli, and asparagus; fruit vegetables such as tomato, cherry tomato, eggplant, cucumber, pepper, pumpkin, green bean, broad bean, and okra; aromatic vegetables such as perilla, ginger, wasabi, basil, mint, rosemary, and parsley; fruit-like vegetables such as strawberry, melon, and watermelon; flower plants such as rose, tulip, pansy, chrysanthemum, hydrangea, morning glory, and marigold; fruit trees such as blueberry, persimmon, orange, Japanese apricot, and lemon; trees such as cherry tree, hydrangea, azalea, rhododendron, sweet osmanthus, camellia sasanqua, and camellia japonica; foliage plants such as pothos, ivy, dracaena, and monstera; succulent plants such as cactus and aloe, etc. can be mentioned. The composition or emission inducer in the present invention has no limitation on the part of the plant to which it is attached as long as it can be attached to the plant. However, from the viewpoint of good absorption efficiency, it is preferably applied to the plant stem and leaf part or the root. The treatment time of the composition or emission inducer in the present invention may be appropriately selected according to the growth status of the plant. The application frequency is preferably once every 1 to 10 days, more preferably once every 1 to 7 days, and even more preferably once every 1 to 4 days. The application means is not particularly limited. As the application amount of the composition or the emission inducer in the present invention to the plant body, regardless of the application frequency, the integrated treatment amount of the organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt, which is the active ingredient, for a plant body with a ground part less than 60 cm is in the range of 0.0001 g / week or more and 5 g / week or less, preferably in the range of 0.0005 g / week or more and 3 g / week or less, more preferably in the range of 0.001 g / week or more and 1 g / week or less. For a plant with a ground part of 60 cm or more, the integrated treatment amount of the organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt is in the range of 0.001 g / week or more and 50 g / week or less, preferably in the range of 0.005 g / week or more and 30 g / week or less, more preferably in the range of 0.01 g / week or more and 10 g / week or less.

[0019] The composition or the emission inducer in the present invention, when applied to a plant body, increases the emission of volatile substances that attract natural enemies from the plant body, thereby attracting natural enemies to the plant body, and as a result, suppressing the damage caused by pests to the plant body. Based on the test examples described below, it will be explained as follows. As the volatile substances emitted from the plant body to which the composition containing acetic acid as the active ingredient in the present invention is applied, compared with the plant body to which the composition not containing acetic acid is applied, an increase in (Z)-3-hexenal, 1-penten-3-ol, (E)-2-hexenal, 1-octen-3-one, hexenyl acetate, 3-hexen-1-ol, and α-farnesene was confirmed (Table 1). The emission of 3,5-octadien-2-one was confirmed only in the plant body to which the composition containing acetic acid was applied, and no emission was confirmed from the plant body to which the composition not containing acetic acid was applied. It is considered that the plant body to which the composition or the emission inducer in the present invention is applied emits these components, the natural enemies are attracted to these components, and as a result, the damage caused by pests to the plant body is suppressed. It is not known at all that the application of an organic acid (salt) (or acetic acid (salt)) induces an increase in the emission amount of volatile substances that attract natural enemies. The present inventors have newly discovered this new function of the organic acid (salt) (or acetic acid (salt)) for the first time.

[0020] In addition, depending on the purpose, for example, a bactericide, a fungicide, an insect and acaridicide, a repellent, a fragrance, an essential oil, etc. may be used in combination. For example, bactericides such as bitertanol, bromoconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, hexaconazole, imazalil, microbutanil, simconazole, tetraconazole, thiabendazole, penthiopyrad, mancozeb; fungicides such as benzethonium chloride, benzalkonium chloride, chlorhexidine hydrochloride, chlorhexidine gluconate, hinokitiol, phenoxyethanol, isopropylmethylphenol; pyrethroid compounds such as pyrethrum extract, natural pyrethrin, prallethrin, imiprothrin, phthalothrin, allethrin, bifenthrin, resmethrin, phenothrin, cyphenothrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, etofenprox, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, bifenthrin, fenvalerate, fenpropathrin, empenthrin, silafluofen, transfluthrin, metofluthrin, profuthrin, carbamate compounds such as carbaryl, propoxur, methomyl, thiodicarb, oxadiazole compounds such as methoxadiazone, phenylpyrazole compounds such as fipronil, sulfonamide compounds such as amidoflumet, neonicotinoid compounds such as dinotefuran, imidacloprid, pyrrole compounds such as chlorfenapyr, etc., organophosphorus compounds such as fenitrothion, diazinon, malathion, pyridaphenthion, prothiofos, hokim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, etc., one or more of insect and acaridicides; repellents such as DEET, di-n-butyl succinate, hydroxyanisole, rotenone, ethyl-butylacetylaminopropionate, icaridin (picaridin), 3-(N-n-butyl-N-acetyl)aminopropionic acid ethyl ester (IR3535) can be used. As the fragrance and essential oil, one or more combinations appropriately selected from the group consisting of natural fragrances, synthetic fragrances, natural extracts, etc. can be used according to the use.

Examples

[0021] The present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples below, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the examples, unless otherwise specified, "parts" means parts by weight.

[0022] <Confirmation test of natural enemy attracting effect> (1) Test specimens Test specimen 1 Using 0.25 parts by weight of acetic acid, 0.05 parts by weight of a spreading agent (polyether-modified silicone: tricosiloxane ethoxylate), and ion-exchanged water, test specimen 1 was prepared with a total amount of 100 parts by weight. Test specimen 2 Using 0.05 parts by weight of a spreading agent (tricosiloxane ethoxylate) and ion-exchanged water, test specimen 2 was prepared with a total amount of 100 parts by weight.

[0023] (2) Method for confirming the natural enemy attracting effect As the test plants, kidney beans (Nagachidori) about 10 days after sowing in polypots (diameter 7.5 cm, volume 220 mL) filled with nursery soil (manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd.) were used. For the test plants, test specimen 1 or test specimen 2 was sprayed using a hand spray so that the entire above-ground part of the plant body was evenly wetted (about 10 - 20 mL was applied per application). 48 hours later, the same test specimen as the first time was sprayed again on the test plants by the above method. 72 hours after the second test specimen treatment, leaf discs (diameter 2 cm) were prepared from the primary leaves of the test plants treated twice with the test specimen. At the center of a 9-cm Petri dish lined with absorbent cotton moistened with water, a leaf disk treated with test specimen 1 and a control leaf disk treated with test specimen 2 were placed 5 mm apart, one by one, face down (Figure 1). At the center of each leaf disk, parafilm (5 mm × 5 mm, manufactured by Bemis) was placed to promote the settlement of the spider mite. As a bridge connecting the two leaf disks, parafilm (5 mm × 10 mm, manufactured by Bemis) was placed in the center between the leaf disks with the long side (10 mm) connecting the leaf disks, and one adult spider mite (Chili-top, manufactured by Agrisect Co., Ltd.) was inoculated at the center of the parafilm serving as the bridge. Thirty minutes after inoculating the spider mite, as the leaf disk selected by the spider mite, it was recorded on which leaf disk the spider mite was present. This confirmation test was repeated 10 times, and the percentage of individuals of the spider mite that selected each leaf disk was summarized and shown in Figure 2. The numbers in the bars in Figure 2 represent the average value of the number of individuals of the selected spider mite, and the length of the bar indicates the percentage (%) calculated from the number of individuals of the selected spider mite.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, it was revealed that the spider mite was attracted to the plant body to which test specimen 1 containing 0.25% by weight of acetic acid with respect to the whole composition was applied. Since it has been reported that indirect defense, which is a function of plants to attract natural enemies and control pests, involves volatile substances emitted by plants, in the present invention, the results of the above confirmation test are considered to involve volatile substances emitted by plants.

[0025] (3) Identification test of volatile substances emitted by the plant body As test specimens, the above test specimens 1 and 2 were used. <Collection method> As test plants, kidney beans grown in the same manner as in (2) above and cabbages (Hikari) about 30 days after sowing in polypots (7.5 cm in diameter, 220 mL in volume) filled with seedling raising culture soil (manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd.) were used. In addition, for the two types of test plants, Test Specimens 1 and 2 were treated in the same manner as in (2) above, and the volatile substances emitted by the test plants were collected by the following method. Air washed with activated carbon was adjusted to 0.3 L / min with a flow meter and passed through a glass container (12.5 cm in diameter, 2 L in volume) containing one test plant with the above-ground part covered with aluminum foil. The volatile substances emitted by the test plant were collected for 3 hours using a glass collection tube Tenax TA (60 / 80 mesh, filled with 180 mg, manufactured by Camsco). After collecting the volatile substances, 5 μL of nonyl acetate (1 μg / mL) diluted with hexane as an internal standard substance was added to the collection tube. Air washed with activated carbon was adjusted to 0.05 L / min with a flow meter and passed through the collection tube with the internal standard substance added for 1 minute to dry the collection tube. The volatile substances emitted by the above test plants were collected, and the volatile substances collected in the collection tube with the internal standard substance added were analyzed by the thermal desorption method described below. This analysis was repeated 15 times.

[0026] <Analysis method> Thermal desorption: TD-30 (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Gas chromatography mass spectrometer: GCMS-TQ8040 NX (manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation) Column: DB-WAX (inner diameter 0.25 mm, length 30 m, film thickness 0.25 μm) (manufactured by Agilent Technologies, Inc.) [TD-30 conditions] Tube desorption temperature: 250 °C Tube desorption flow rate: 0.07 L / min (for 10 minutes) Trap cooling temperature: -25 °C Trap desorption temperature: 250 °C (for 2 minutes) Joint temperature: 220 °C Valve temperature: 220 °C Transfer line temperature: 220 °C [GC Conditions] Carrier gas: Helium Carrier gas pressure: 61.8 kPa Injection mode: Splitless Column oven temperature: 40 °C (5 min) - (5 °C / min) - 220 °C (5 min) [MS Conditions] Ion source temperature: 200 °C Interface temperature: 250 °C Measurement mode: Single MS mode Scan mass range: m / z 45 - 500 After correcting the peak areas of the volatile substances emitted by the plants treated with Test Specimen 2 and the volatile substances emitted by the plants treated with Test Specimen 1 with an internal standard substance, a comparison was made. The average relative ratio of the volatile substances of Test Specimen 1 to the volatile substances of Test Specimen 2 in the same components was defined as the "degree of increase in volatile substances". The results for green beans are shown in Table 1, and the results for cabbages are shown in Table 2.

[0027]

Table 1

[0028]

Table 2

[0029] As shown in Table 1, the volatile substances emitted by the plants (green beans) treated with Test Specimen 1 containing acetic acid were compared with the volatile substances emitted by the plants (green beans) treated with Test Specimen 2 not containing acetic acid. An increase in (Z)-3-hexenal, 1-penten-3-ol, (E)-2-hexenal, 1-octen-3-one, hexenyl acetate, 3-hexen-1-ol, and α-farnesene was observed. As shown in Table 2, the volatile substances emitted by the plants (cabbages) treated with Test Specimen 1 containing acetic acid were found to have increased levels of (Z)-3-hexenal, 1-octen-3-ol, hexenyl acetate, heptanal, and octanal compared to the volatile substances emitted by the plants (cabbages) treated with Test Specimen 2 not containing acetic acid. Also, 3,5-octadien-2-one was not confirmed to be emitted by the plants (kidney beans) treated with Test Specimen 2 not containing acetic acid, but was confirmed to be emitted only by the plants (kidney beans) treated with Test Specimen 1 containing acetic acid. These volatile substances are known as plant scents, and in particular, (Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-hexenal, 3-hexen-1-ol, and hexenyl acetate are components known to be involved in plant defense. Therefore, the results of the confirmation test for the natural enemy attraction effect on volatile substances can be explained by the increase in the emission amount of volatile substances.

[0030] <Confirmation Test 1 for the Natural Enemy Attraction Effect by Volatile Substances> (1) Test Specimen In the "Identification Test of Volatile Substances Emitted by Plants" of the above "Confirmation Test for the Natural Enemy Attraction Effect", hexenyl acetate, hexanal, and (E)-2-hexenal (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) for which an increase was confirmed were used as test specimens by comparing the amount of volatile substances emitted by the plants (kidney beans, cabbages) treated with Test Specimen 1 containing acetic acid with the amount of volatile substances emitted by the plants treated with Test Specimen 2 not containing acetic acid.

[0031] (2) Test Method A parafilm (25 mm × 50 mm, manufactured by Bemis) was placed at the center of a 9-cm petri dish covered with absorbent cotton moistened with water as a scaffold for the chili thrips to walk freely. Filter papers (5 mm × 5 mm, manufactured by ADVANTEC) for impregnating volatile substances were placed at positions 5 mm from both ends of the long side and 10 mm from the short side of the parafilm used as the scaffold (Figure 3). One filter paper was impregnated with 5 μL of acetone as an untreated control, and the other filter paper was impregnated with 5 μL of a test specimen (hexenyl acetate: 99.7 μg, hexanal: 100.9 μg, (E)-2-hexenal: 100.5 μg diluted with 10 mL of acetone) as a test area to confirm the attracting effect. After impregnation, a folded parafilm (7 mm × 7 mm, manufactured by Bemis) was placed on each filter paper to promote the settlement of chili thrips. After installing the parafilm to promote settlement, 10 adult chili thrips (Chiliothrips, manufactured by Agrisect Co., Ltd.) were inoculated at the center of the parafilm used as the scaffold. Sixty minutes after inoculating the chili thrips, it was confirmed whether the chili thrips were present on or under the parafilm for promoting settlement in either the test area or the untreated control area. This confirmation test was repeated three times for (E)-2-hexenal, and twice for hexenyl acetate and hexanal. The proportion of chili thrips individuals that selected the test area / untreated control area was summarized in Figure 4. The length of the bar in Figure 4 indicates the proportion (%) calculated from the number of chili thrips individuals selected. There were chili thrips that did not move to either the test area or the untreated control area.

[0032] As shown in Figure 4, it was revealed that chili thrips were attracted to hexenyl acetate, hexanal, and (E)-2-hexenal, for which the emission amount of the plant treated with Test Specimen 1 containing acetic acid increased compared to the emission amount of the plant treated with Test Specimen 2 not containing acetic acid.

[0033] <Confirmation Test 2 of the Attracting Effect of Volatile Substances on Natural Enemies> (1) Test Specimen In the "Identification test of volatile substances emitted by plants" in the above-mentioned "Confirmation test of natural enemy attracting effect", the amount of volatile substances emitted by plants (kidney bean, cabbage) to which test sample 1 containing acetic acid was applied was compared with the amount of volatile substances emitted by plants to which test sample 2 not containing acetic acid was applied, and hexenyl acetate and (E)-2-hexenal (manufactured by Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) for which an increase was confirmed were used as test samples.

[0034] (2) Test method A mixture of triethyl citrate (0.75 g) and hexenyl acetate or (E)-2-hexenal (0.25 g) was placed in a screw vial (4 mL) (manufactured by GL Sciences Inc.), and a microcapillary (1.0 μL) cut to 2 cm in length was passed through the top surface sealed with a septum screw cap (manufactured by GL Sciences Inc.) to obtain aroma source A (test section). In addition, a vial containing only triethyl citrate (1.0 g) was used as aroma source B (untreated section). At the center of the bottom surface of an acrylic cage with a mesh back (depth 24 cm × width 36 cm × height 24 cm, mesh only on the back), a plastic petri dish (diameter 9 cm, height 2 cm) for introducing 20 tobacco ladybugs or 10 coleman oil beetles, which are natural enemies, was placed. Two stands (bottom surface: diameter 8 cm, height 18 cm) were placed 3 cm to the left and right from the petri dish, and aroma sources A and B were placed at the center of the top surface of each stand, respectively. Five minutes after introducing the natural enemies into the petri dish, the number of natural enemies present in the outer periphery of the two stands and the space above the top surface of the stands was counted. A confirmation test for tobacco ladybugs using hexenyl acetate and a confirmation test for coleman oil beetles using (E)-2-hexenal were each conducted. This confirmation test was repeated 4 times, and the ratio of individuals of tobacco ladybugs or coleman oil beetles selected for the test section / untreated section was summarized in Fig. 5. The length of the bar in Fig. 5 indicates the ratio (%) calculated from the number of individuals of the selected tobacco ladybugs or coleman oil beetles. There were tobacco ladybugs or coleman oil beetles that did not move to either the test section or the untreated section.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 5, it was revealed that tobacco ladybugs or coleman aphid parasitoids were attracted to hexenyl acetate and (E)-2-hexenal, in which the emission amount of the plant body to which the test specimen 1 containing acetic acid was applied increased compared to the emission amount of the plant body to which the test specimen 2 not containing acetic acid was applied.

[0036] From the results of "Confirmation Tests 1 and 2 on the Natural Enemy Attraction Effect by Volatile Substances", by applying a composition containing an organic acid (or acetic acid) and / or its salt as an active ingredient to a plant body, the volatile substances emitted by the plant body are involved in the attraction of the plant body by natural enemies such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, tobacco ladybugs or coleman aphid parasitoids, and an increase in the emission amount of the volatile substances is considered to attract natural enemies such as Phytoseiulus persimilis, tobacco ladybugs, and coleman aphid parasitoids to the plant body. In addition, 72 hours after each treatment of the test specimen 1 and the test specimen 2 in the second round, volatile substances were collected from the test plants, and the collected volatile substances were analyzed by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). As a result, no difference was observed in the amount of acetic acid emitted from the test plants between the test specimen 1 and the test specimen 2. From this result, it was confirmed that the natural enemies were not attracted to the plant body due to the acetic acid emitted by the test plants.

Claims

1. A composition containing an organic acid and / or a salt thereof as an active ingredient, By applying it to the plant body, Allowing the plant body to emit volatile substances, A method for attracting natural enemies to the plant body.

2. Contains acetic acid and / or its salt as an active ingredient. An inducer of emission of volatile natural enemy attractants in plants.

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