Methods for weed growth control

Abstract

To provide a method for controlling growth of a weed plant using a biological herbicide that permits post-emergence foliar application.SOLUTION: Methods involve the application of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate preparation or isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of weed plants. The thiocyanate preparation or isothiocyanate preparation can be provided in the form of a glucosinolate hydrolysate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62 / 923,674, filed October 21, 2019, and 62 / 941,930, filed November 29, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Field of Disclosure The present disclosure relates to methods for controlling weed growth. In particular, the present disclosure relates to foliar application methods and compositions for controlling weed growth in the vicinity of cultivated plants. [Background technology]

[0003] Background to the disclosure The following paragraphs do not admit that anything discussed therein is prior art or part of the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0004] The growth of undesirable plants, such as weeds, can reduce the amount of resources available to cultivated plants and thus have a negative impact on the quality or yield of cultivated plants. A wide variety of chemical herbicides, as well as techniques and equipment for herbicide application, have evolved to control weed growth not only in commercial agriculture but also in horticulture, where weeds are considered unsightly. However, the large-scale use of chemical herbicides has raised serious concerns regarding their environmental impact and the toxicity of herbicide use to non-target species, including humans. Therefore, for example, some countries have recently taken measures to restrict or ban the use of the herbicide glyphosate due to human health concerns. In this regard, biological herbicides can provide a more desirable alternative for controlling weed growth. However, relatively few effective biological herbicides are commercially available for consumers or farmers. In particular, very few biological herbicides are available that can be applied to weed foliage after emergence. Post-emergence herbicides are desirable because they are used and applied only when it is determined that weeds will have a negative impact on the growth of cultivated plants. Thus, there remains a need in the art for biological herbicides, and in particular, there remains a need in the art for methods and compositions that allow for post-emergence foliar application. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Disclosure Overview The following paragraphs are intended to refer the reader to further discussion that follows, but are not intended to define or limit the claimed subject matter.

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling weed growth. Thus, in at least one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling the growth of weed plants, the method comprising applying a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of the weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation can be a hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation.

[0008] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can be a plant seed extract.

[0009] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can be a plant seed meal extract.

[0010] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can be a substantially pure preparation.

[0011] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can be obtained from a mustard plant.

[0012] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can include allyl thiocyanate (ATC).

[0013] In at least one embodiment, the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation can include allyl isothiocyanate (AITC).

[0014] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation may further comprise a diluent, excipient, or carrier.

[0015] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation can contain from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation.

[0016] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation may be applied to the foliage of weed plants prior to emergence of the cultivated plants.

[0017] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation may be applied to the foliage of weed plants after emergence of the cultivated plants.

[0018] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation may be applied by selective application to the foliage of one or more weed plants in the vicinity of one or more cultivated plants after emergence of the cultivated plants.

[0019] In at least one embodiment, the cultivated plant can be an agricultural plant or a horticultural plant.

[0020] In at least one embodiment, the agricultural plant can be wheat (Triticum aestivum), corn (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), or hemp (Cannabis sativa).

[0021] In at least one embodiment, the weed plant may be a dicotyledonous weed plant or a monocotyledonous weed plant.

[0022] In at least one embodiment, the weed plant may be a perennial weed plant.

[0023] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation can contain from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation and can be applied at a rate of from about 10 gal / acre to about 20 gal / acre.

[0024] In at least one embodiment, the cultivated plant may be a horticultural plant and the liquid formulation may be applied using a hand-held spray bottle containing the liquid formulation.

[0025] In at least one embodiment, the liquid formulation can be co-applied with another herbicidal formulation or with a pesticide formulation.

[0026] In at least one embodiment, the pesticide formulation can be an insecticide or a fungicide.

[0027] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides, in at least one embodiment, (a) a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation; and (b) instructions for applying to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants; and a commercial package for controlling the growth of weed plants, the kit comprising:

[0028] In at least one embodiment, the instructions include instructions for applying the liquid formulation after emergence of the weed plants and emergence of at least one weed leaf.

[0029] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a use of a thiocyanate preparation or an isothiocyanate preparation. Thus, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides, in at least one embodiment, a use of a thiocyanate preparation or an isothiocyanate preparation for preparing a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of the thiocyanate preparation or the isothiocyanate preparation for application to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

[0030] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a use of a liquid formulation comprising a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation. Thus, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides, in at least one embodiment, the use of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate composition for controlling the growth of weed plants by foliar application of the liquid formulation.

[0031] [The present invention 1001] applying a liquid formulation containing a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants. 1. A method for controlling the growth of weed plants, comprising: [The present invention 1002] 1001. The method of claim 10, wherein said thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation is a hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation. [The present invention 1003] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a plant seed extract. [The present invention 1004] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a plant seed meal extract. [The present invention 1005] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein said hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a substantially pure preparation. [The present invention 1006] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein said hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is obtained from a mustard plant. [The present invention 1007] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein said hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation comprises allyl thiocyanate (ATC). [The present invention 1008] 1002. The method of claim 1002, wherein said hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation comprises allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). [The present invention 1009] The method of any of claims 1001 to 1008, wherein said liquid formulation further comprises a diluent, excipient, or carrier. [The present invention 1010] 1009. The method of any of claims 1001 to 1009, wherein said liquid formulation comprises from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation. [The present invention 1011] The method according to any one of claims 1001 to 1010, wherein the liquid formulation is applied to the foliage of weed plants before emergence of cultivated plants. [The present invention 1012] The method according to any one of claims 1001 to 1010, wherein the liquid formulation is applied to the foliage of weed plants after emergence of the cultivated plants. [The present invention 1013] 13. The method of any of claims 1001 to 1010 or 1012, wherein the liquid formulation is applied by selective application to the foliage of one or more weed plants in the vicinity of the one or more cultivated plants after emergence of the cultivated plants. [The present invention 1014] The method according to any one of claims 1001 to 1013, wherein the cultivated plant is an agricultural plant or a horticultural plant. [The present invention 1015] 10. The method of claim 10, wherein the agricultural plant is wheat (Triticum aestivum), corn (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), or hemp (Cannabis sativa). [The present invention 1016] The method of any one of claims 1001 to 1015, wherein the weed plant is a dicotyledonous weed plant or a monocotyledonous weed plant. [The present invention 1017] The method according to any one of claims 1001 to 1015, wherein the weed plants are perennial weed plants. [The present invention 1018] 10. The method of any of claims 1001 to 1015, wherein the liquid formulation comprises from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation and is applied at a rate of from about 10 gal / acre to about 20 gal / acre. [The present invention 1019] 1019. The method of any of claims 1001 to 1018, wherein the cultivated plant is a horticultural plant and the liquid formulation can be applied using a hand-held spray bottle containing the liquid formulation. [The present invention 1020] The method of any of claims 1001 to 1019, wherein said liquid formulation is co-applied with another herbicidal formulation or with a pesticide formulation. [The present invention 1021] The method of claim 1020, wherein the pesticide formulation is an insecticide or a fungicide. [The present invention 1022] (a) a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation; and (b) instructions for applying to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants; 1. A kit or commercial package for controlling the growth of weed plants, comprising: [The present invention 1023] 1022. The kit of claim 1022, wherein the instructions include instructions for applying the liquid formulation after emergence of weed plants and emergence of at least one weed leaf. [The present invention 1024] Use of a thiocyanate preparation or an isothiocyanate preparation to prepare a liquid formulation containing a herbicidally effective amount of the thiocyanate preparation or the isothiocyanate preparation for application to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants. [The present invention 1025] 1. Use of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate composition to control the growth of weed plants by foliar application of the liquid formulation. Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, but it should be understood that the detailed description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, is given by way of example only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] The present disclosure will be described in the following paragraphs in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are provided by way of example only, to provide a better understanding of example embodiments and to more clearly show how various embodiments may be put into effect, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

[0033] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a chemical reaction showing the hydrolysis of glucosinolates to produce glucosinolate hydrolysates. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Detailed Description of Disclosure Various methods, compositions, or systems are described below to provide examples of aspects of each claimed subject matter. No aspect described below limits any of the claimed subject matter, and all claimed subject matter may extend to methods, compositions, or systems other than those described below. The claimed subject matter is not limited to methods, compositions, or systems having all of the features of any one method, composition, or system described below, or to features common to many or all of the compositions, systems, or processes described below. It is possible that a method, composition, or system described below is not an aspect of any of the claimed subject matter. Subject matter disclosed in the methods, compositions, or systems described below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject of another protective legal document, e.g., a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors, or patentees do not intend to waive, disclaim, or make available to the public such subject matter by its disclosure in this document.

[0035] As used in this specification and claims, singular forms such as "a," "an," and "the" include the plural and vice versa unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Throughout this specification, unless otherwise stated, "comprise," "comprises," and "comprising" are used inclusively rather than exclusively, so that a stated integer or group of integers may include one or more other unstated integers or groups of integers.

[0036] The term "or" is inclusive unless modified, for example, by "either."

[0037] When ranges are used herein, for example, with respect to concentrations, all combinations and subcombinations of ranges, as well as specific implementations therein, are intended to be included. Other than in the working examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients or reaction conditions used herein should be understood to be modified in all instances by the term "about." When referring to a number or range of numbers, the term "about" means that the stated number or range of numbers is an approximation within experimental variation (or statistical experimental error); thus, the number or range of numbers may vary by 1% to 15% of the stated number or range of numbers, as will be readily apparent from the context. Furthermore, all ranges of values ​​described herein specifically include the limits of the range, as well as any intermediate values ​​and subranges within the given range, with such intermediate values ​​or subranges being individually and specifically disclosed (e.g., the range of 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.90, 4, and 5). Similarly, other terms of degree, such as "substantially" and "approximately," used to modify terms herein, should be understood to mean a reasonable amount of deviation from the modified term, and therefore, the end result, should not be significantly altered. These terms of degree should be interpreted as including deviations from the meaning of the modified term, if such deviations do not negate the meaning of the modified term.

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the formulations described herein have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined solely by the claims.

[0039] All publications, patents, and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0040] definition The term "thiocyanate," as used herein, refers to the chemical structure: TIFF2025128154000002.tif12128 refers to a class of compounds having the formula -R, where -R is any side group -R1 of a glucosinolate, or -R is an electron pair.

[0041] The term "isothiocyanate," as used herein, refers to the chemical structure: TIFF2025128154000003.tif13128 refers to a class of compounds with the formula -R, where -R is an optional side group -R1 of a glucosinolate.

[0042] The term "glucosinolate" refers to the chemical structure: TIFF2025128154000004.tif38128 and -R1 is TIFF2025128154000005.tif246157, wherein the corresponding glucosinolates are progoitrin (I); epiprogoitrin (II); sinigrin (III); sinalbin (IV); gluconapolieferin (V); gluconapin (VI); glucobrassicanapin (VII); gluconasturtiin (VIII); glucobrassicin (IX); 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin (X); 4-methoxy-glucobrassicin (XI); neoglucobrassicin (XII); glucoraphenin (XIII); glucoraphanin (XIV); glucochlearin (XV); and glucoin. Also known as berberine (XVI); glucocheirolin (XVII); glucoapparin (XVIII); glucoalisine (XIX); glucoaubrietin (XX); glucobarvain (XXI); glucolepidin (XXII); glucolimnantin (XXIII); glucolesquerlin (XXIV); glucojirsutin (XXV); glucoarabin (XXVI); and glucoerucin (XXVII).

[0043] The terms "allyl thiocyanate" or "ATC", which may be used interchangeably herein, refer to the compound having the chemical structure: Refers to compounds with TIFF2025128154000006.tif10128.

[0044] The terms "allyl isothiocyanate" or "AITC," which may be used interchangeably herein, refer to the compound having the chemical structure: Refers to the compound with TIFF2025128154000007.tif13128.

[0045] The phrase "herbicidally effective amount," as used herein, refers to any amount that will retard or prevent the growth of weed plants for a limited or extended period of time, and further includes any amount that is lethal to weed plants.

[0046] The phrase "controlling the growth of weed plants," as used herein, means that the growth of weed plants is reduced, retarded, or prevented compared to growth in the absence of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate, and includes killing the weed plants.

[0047] The term "cultivated plant," as used herein, refers to a plant that humans choose to grow for any agricultural or horticultural purpose.

[0048] The terms "weed" and "weed plant", which may be used interchangeably herein, refer to plants whose growth is considered undesirable, especially in the vicinity of cultivated plants.

[0049] The term "substantially pure" as used herein in connection with a chemical substance refers to a preparation of such a substance that is separated from the components that naturally accompany it. Typically, a chemical substance is substantially pure when at least 60% of a sample (by volume, wet or dry weight, or by mole percentage or mole fraction) is the compound of interest, more preferably at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%. Purity can be measured by any suitable technique, such as gas chromatography (GC) or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

[0050] General Practice As mentioned above, the present disclosure relates to a method for controlling the growth of weeds. The method of the present disclosure can retard the growth of weed plants or can be lethal to weed plants. One attractive feature of the present disclosure is that the method involves applying a herbicidal formulation after the emergence of weed plants, that is, only after it is determined that the weed has a negative effect on cultivated plants. This can also limit the amount of herbicide required to control the growth of weeds. Another advantage of the method of the present disclosure is that the herbicidally active compound can be obtained in the form of a natural extract.

[0051] According to the present specification, in one aspect, the present disclosure provides, in at least one embodiment, a method for controlling the growth of weed plants, the method comprising applying a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate preparation or an isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of the weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

[0052] A thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation can be prepared, for example, by obtaining a glucosinolate preparation and hydrolyzing the glucosinolate components in the preparation to obtain a glucosinolate hydrolysate containing thiocyanate and / or isothiocyanate compounds. A relevant glucosinolate hydrolysis reaction can be as shown in Figure 1. Note that an enzyme known as myrosinase can catalyze the hydrolysis reaction, which is discussed further below.

[0053] The thiocyanate preparation, isothiocyanate preparation, glucosinolate preparation, or glucosinolate hydrolysate may be obtained by isolation from a natural source containing glucosinolate compounds. Thus, plants containing glucosinolates may be used herein. Such plants include plants belonging to the botanical families Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), Akianaceae, Bataceae, Bretschneideraceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, Drypetes (Euphorbiaceae), Gyrostemonaceae, Limnanthaceae, Moringaceae, Pentadiplantdraceae, Resedaceae, Salvadoraceae, Tovariaceae, and Tropeaolaceae. Plants according to the present invention may be readily obtained by growing or cultivating such plants using conventional agricultural methods. In some embodiments, the glucosinolate preparation, glucosinolate preparation, thiocyanate preparation, or isothiocyanate preparation may be obtained from a mustard plant. The terms "mustard" and "mustard family," as used herein, refer to any plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family, including any plant belonging to the genera Brassica, Sinapis, and Erysimum.Mustard plants that may be used in accordance with the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, Brassica napus (rapeseed), Brassica juncea (Oriental, Indian, or brown mustard), Brassica carinata (Abyssinian or Ethiopian mustard), Brassica nigra (black mustard), Brassica rapa (rapeseed), Sinapis alba (yellow or white mustard), Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard), Erysimum corinthium, and any cultivars or variants thereof, such as the canola cultivar of Brassica napus. According to the present specification, mixtures of any of the aforementioned plants, or plant material obtained from such plants, may also be used.

[0054] Glucosinolate preparations, glucosinolate hydrolysates, thiocyanate preparations, or isothiocyanate preparations may be obtained by grinding glucosinolate-containing plants, plant parts, plant components, or plant materials, or mixtures thereof, which may optionally be prepared or washed, for example, by drying to remove moisture or washing to remove foreign matter such as soil material or any plant components such as seed husks or shells. Plant parts, plant components, and plant materials that can be used as raw materials include, but are not limited to, plant seeds, stems, roots, or leaves that can be obtained or were obtained from one of the aforementioned plant species. Grinding of plant material may be achieved using a grinding device, such as a grinder, blender, or mill, or another device capable of substantially fragmenting the plant material. Operating conditions are generally selected to fragment the plant tissue to the extent that the integrity of the plant cell walls is compromised and rupture occurs.

[0055] In one aspect, seed parts, such as seed meals, including de-oiled seed meals, can be used as raw materials from which glucosinolate preparations can be prepared. Such de-oiled meals can be purchased commercially or prepared by subjecting plant seeds to solvent extraction, hydraulic pressing, expeller pressing, cold pressing, or a combination thereof, or other oil removal methods known to those skilled in the art, to obtain a de-oiled or defatted plant meal. The resulting seed parts are then used as starting materials to prepare glucosinolate preparations.

[0056] Grinding of the plant material is preferably carried out in the presence of water or another aqueous extractant, such as an aqueous buffer, or a lower alcohol, e.g., a C1-C4 alcohol, or a lower ketone, e.g., a C3-C4 ketone, or a mixture thereof. Glucosinolates are readily soluble in such aqueous extractants. The ratio of plant material to extractant can be selected to be less than about 1:100 (w / v), more preferably less than or about 1:10 (w / v), and most preferably less than or about 1:1 (w / v). Grinding can be carried out at a temperature of from at or about 4°C to at or about 50°C, preferably from at or about 18°C ​​to at or about 25°C. In other embodiments, grinding is carried out in the absence of an extractant, which is mixed with the ground plant material. The insoluble proteins and other insoluble plant components of the solid, comminuted plant material, e.g., fibrous plant material, may then be separated from the liquid portion. Such separation may be achieved using a separation device, such as, but not limited to, a decanter, a centrifuge, or a filter, or other device suitable for separating the liquid portion from the solid plant material. The resulting liquid portion is the glucosinolate preparation that may be used according to the present invention.

[0057] In some embodiments, after obtaining the liquid portion, the extraction / separation process may be repeated one or more times, thereby achieving further removal of additional solid plant material. Additionally, to increase yield, the solid plant material may be extracted more than once. In embodiments where the ground plant material contains vegetable oil, e.g., vegetable seed oil, additional centrifugation may be used to separate the vegetable oil from the aqueous portion.

[0058] In some embodiments, the glucosinolates present in the liquid portion can be concentrated and separated from other plant components present in the liquid portion, for example, by evaporation of the extractant and filtration, for example, by one or more ion exchange filtration steps or by nanofiltration, to obtain a purer concentrate, e.g., a substantially pure glucosinolate preparation, or, as described below, to obtain a substantially pure, hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation.

[0059] Referring again to Figure 1, the enzyme myrosinase catalyzes the conversion of glucosinolates to produce glucosinolate hydrolysates containing glucose, unstable aglycones, and thiocyanate and / or isothiocyanate compounds. Generally, plants containing glucosinolates also contain myrosinase. However, because myrosinase is stored in different intracellular compartments or different plant cells, glucosinolates in plant cells are usually stable in vivo. When the cell wall breaks down during the milling process, glucosinolates and myrosinase come into contact with each other, a hydrolysis reaction can begin. Therefore, thiocyanate and / or isothiocyanate compounds may form during the milling and extraction process.

[0060] The extent to which the hydrolysis reaction proceeds can be controlled by controlling the temperature at which the grinding and extraction / separation steps are performed. Thus, for example, by performing these steps at, for example, about 4°C, the resulting glucosinolate preparation can contain substantially intact glucosinolates. The resulting glucosinolate concentrate can be freeze-dried or spray-dried to obtain a substantially dry glucosinolate concentrate, or the preparation can be stored in liquid form, for example, at about 4°C. The concentration of glucosinolate in the preparation can vary from about 5% to about 100%, preferably 5% to 80%, and most preferably 5% to 50%. The preparation can be obtained at a later stage, and the hydrolysis reaction can be carried out by ensuring the presence of a sufficient amount of water or aqueous buffer and raising the temperature of the preparation, for example, to about 18°C ​​to about 40°C.

[0061] In other embodiments, the plant material may be heated to temperatures above about 60°C, about 70°C, or about 80°C before or during grinding. At these temperatures, myrosinase activity is substantially irreversibly lost. Thus, a glucosinolate preparation substantially free of hydrolysis products can be obtained. In such embodiments, subsequent exogenous myrosinase addition is required to obtain a hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation. Myrosinase preparations may be obtained, for example, as described in Wade et al., 2015, Phytochem Anal. 26(1): 47-53, or Bellostas et al., 2008, J. Biochem. Biophys Methods 70 (6): 918-925, or may be purchased commercially, for example, from Sigma-Aldrich, and used to contact the glucosinolate components in the preparation, thereby hydrolyzing the glucosinolate components.

[0062] In embodiments herein where the plant material is crushed, extracted, separated, and optionally further extracted at a temperature of about 18°C ​​to about 40°C, preferably about 18°C ​​to about 25°C, and not exposed to temperatures above about 40°C, the glucosinolate components in the glucosinolate preparation will undergo hydrolysis during these steps to yield a glucosinolate hydrolysate containing thiocyanate and / or isothiocyanate compounds.

[0063] In the resulting glucosinolate hydrolysate, at least about 50%, about 60%, about 70%, about 80%, about 90%, about 95%, or about 99% of the glucosinolate components are hydrolyzed. The resulting glucosinolate hydrolysate may contain about 1 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml, e.g., about 5 mg / ml, about 10 mg / ml, about 20 mg / ml, about 25 mg / ml, about 30 mg / ml, or about 40 mg / ml, of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate. Thiocyanate compounds that may be present in the glucosinolate hydrolysates of the present disclosure include allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and allyl thiocyanate (ATC). It should be noted that glucosinolate hydrolysates may contain, in addition to one or more isothiocyanate and / or thiocyanate compounds, other elements, such as additional hydrolysis products, e.g., glucose, aglycone, and aglycone degradation products, e.g., nitriles, oxazolidine-2-thiones, and epithionitriles. Thus, in some embodiments, the isothiocyanate or thiocyanate preparations of the present disclosure can be mixtures containing two or more isothiocyanate compounds, or two or more thiocyanate compounds, respectively, or the isothiocyanate or thiocyanate preparations of the present disclosure can be mixtures containing two or more compounds selected from thiocyanate compounds, isothiocyanate compounds, glucose, aglycone, and aglycone degradation products that are not isothiocyanates or thiocyanates.

[0064] In some embodiments, glucosinolate hydrolysates can be used to extract isothiocyanate or thiocyanate compounds to obtain a substantially pure isothiocyanate or thiocyanate preparation from which myrosinase, non-isothiocyanate or non-thiocyanate hydrolysis products, such as glucose, and aglycone products have been removed to obtain a substantially pure isothiocyanate or thiocyanate preparation. Such a substantially pure preparation can be obtained, for example, by chromatographic methods.

[0065] Analytical methods for quantifying glucosinolates, glucosinolate hydrolysis, and glucosinolate hydrolysis products are known in the art, including, for example, enzymatic assays in which glucosinolate preparations are hydrolyzed using commercially available myrosinase.The glucose formed can be converted by hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase to produce nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), which can be measured spectrophotometrically at 340 nm or 520 nm.In addition, glucosinolates, glucosinolate hydrolysis, and glucosinolate hydrolysis products can also be quantified by gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, which are described in detail in, for example, European Food Safety Authority Journal, 2008, 590: 1-76.

[0066] As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the glucosinolate preparation, glucosinolate hydrolysate preparation, isothiocyanate preparation, or thiocyanate preparation can be obtained from seed meal. In an exemplary embodiment, the seed meal is mustard seed meal. In this embodiment, any process that obtains mustard seed meal containing glucosinolates can be used. Mustard seeds can be purchased commercially or easily obtained through conventional agricultural production of mustard plants. The mustard seeds are preferably washed to remove non-mustard plant material and dried before further processing. To clean the mustard seeds, the seeds can be subjected to a basic separation procedure by contacting the seeds with a separating means, such as a vibrating screen or a grain cleaner, for example, but not limited to, a grain cleaner manufactured by Damas A / S (Denmark). Such an operation can separate the mustard seeds from non-mustard seed material, such as stones, sticks, dirt, leaves, weed seeds, shed husks, etc. The mustard seeds may optionally be dried, for example, using equipment used for drying grains, such as a grain dryer, e.g., a grain dryer manufactured by Vertec Industries Limited (Canada). The grain dryer may be operated to reduce the seed moisture content, for example, from at or about 5% to at or about 7%. The dried mustard seeds may be stored or mixed with other mustard seeds. To prepare mustard seed meal, the outer seed coating, also called the husk or bran, may be removed from the seeds by grinding or cracking the seeds or using another suitable peeling process, thereby obtaining seed kernels. The oil or fat content of the prepared seed meal may vary. Both full-fat meal and defatted meal may be used in the present disclosure. If full-fat meal is desired, the mustard seeds, or optionally the seed kernels, are subjected to a process that does not result in the extraction of oil. If defatted meal is desired, the seeds, or optionally the seed kernels, are subjected to a process that results in the removal of oil. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, a defatted meal is prepared. Thus, mustard seeds or kernels can be ground using a mill, such as a hammer mill, to obtain mustard powder.Seed oil can be removed from the flour by, for example, organic solvent extraction, e.g., using hexane, or mechanically separating it from non-seed oil components. Mechanical separation can be achieved, for example, using an oil press or oil expeller, e.g., a Taby Press manufactured by Skeppsta Maskin AB (Sweden) or a Komet oil expeller manufactured by Monforts Oekotec GmbH (Germany). A combination of mechanical oil removal followed by organic solvent extraction can also be used to achieve further oil removal from mustard seeds. Preferably, the mustard seed meal used in the present disclosure contains a total seed oil content of at least or about 2% to up to or about 50%, more preferably from approximately 10% to 15%, most preferably 15%. The resulting seed meal contains a sufficient concentration of active myrosinase complex to release an effective amount of glucosinolate degradation products upon addition of water. The amount of water present in the final myrosinase preparation can vary from 1 to 99%, e.g., 60 to 90%, 70 to 90%, or 80 to 90%. In preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, the mustard seed meal containing the active myrosinase complex has a moisture content of 12% or less than about 12%. Spray-dried preparations may be obtained, which may contain about 0.5% to 5%, or about 1% to about 3% water. Many processes for processing raw mustard seeds into oil and meal are known in the art. A further process that may be used is that disclosed in Morra, M. J., 2000-2002, Subcontract Report National Renewable Energy Laboratory NREL / SR-510-3628, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0067] Thus, briefly summarized, a relatively pure glucosinolate preparation, glucosinolate hydrolysate, thiocyanate preparation, or isothiocyanate preparation can be prepared from natural raw materials, particularly plant materials that naturally contain glucosinolate compounds. The glucosinolate preparation can be obtained and subjected to conditions that allow hydrolysis of the glucosinolate components of the preparation, thereby obtaining a glucosinolate hydrolysate. The glucosinolate hydrolysate can be used as the isothiocyanate preparation and / or thiocyanate preparation, or can be used to extract the isothiocyanate and / or thiocyanate.

[0068] Next, for the preparation of a liquid formulation containing a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate, the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation prepared as described above can be contacted with other ingredients in a suitable agitated mixing vessel, such as a mechanical blender or mixer, or other suitable device that provides sufficient circulation or agitation to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Mixing conditions, such as time and temperature, can be adjusted, but are typically selected to dissolve or suspend the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation and to obtain a homogeneous liquid formulation. Generally, mixing can be carried out at ambient conditions.

[0069] Other components that can be included in the liquid formulation include at least one diluent, carrier, or excipient.Suitable diluents include water, buffer, alcohol, water-soluble polyol (for example, glycol, glycerin, glycerol, diglycerin, triglycerin, polyglycerin), or vegetable oil.Suitable excipients that can be included in the liquid formulation include surfactants, pH adjusters (acids, bases, buffers), salts, antifoaming agents, humectants, penetrants, adhesives, wetting agents, odorants, viscosity adjusters, co-herbicides (including but not limited to all herbicides described in the present disclosure), pesticides (for example, insecticides or fungicides, and further including but not limited to all pesticides described in the present disclosure), pigments, cryoprotectants, preservatives, and processing aids.Suitable carriers that can be included in the liquid formulation include solid carriers, such as silica, diatomaceous earth, chalk, or clay. The order in which these ingredients are added to the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation can vary and is generally not critical, although it may be useful to first mix the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation with the diluent and then add the other ingredients.

[0070] It should be noted that in embodiments herein that use less pure glucosinolate preparations, components other than glucosinolates in the preparation may impart some of the properties of the above-described components. Thus, for example, some endogenous sugars may be retained in the glucosinolate preparation, which may facilitate the attachment of the formulation to plant stem and leaf tissue.

[0071] As used herein, the liquid formulation contains a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isocyanate preparation. Such liquid formulations can be prepared by including an amount of the thiocyanate preparation or isocyanate preparation such that the final concentration of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate in the liquid formulation is at least about 0.4 mg / ml of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate, and further, the concentration can range, for example, from about 1 mg / ml of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate to about 50 mg / ml of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate, e.g., about 5 mg / ml, about 10 mg / ml, about 15 mg / ml, about 20 mg / ml, about 25 mg / ml, about 30 mg / ml, about 35 mg / ml, about 40 mg / ml, or about 45 mg / ml; or from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml, from about 1 mg / ml to about 45 mg / ml, from about 5 mg / ml to about 40 mg / ml, from about 10 mg / ml to about 30 mg / ml, or from about 15 mg / ml to about 25 mg / ml.

[0072] As used herein, liquid formulations can be used in applications where the liquid formulation is applied to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

[0073] Generally, the liquid formulations herein can be used when one or more plants are cultivated and weed plants are undesirable growing near the cultivated plants. In this regard, proximity can refer to a distance of within about 100 m, within about 50 m, within about 25 m, within about 10 m, within about 5 m, or within about 1 m. The cultivated plants can be any cultivated plant, including any agricultural plant or crop, at any stage of development, or any horticultural plant. Agricultural crops include, but are not limited to, wheat (Triticum aestivum), corn (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), rapeseed (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and hemp (Cannabis sativa). Furthermore, cultivated plants can be grown indoors, for example in a greenhouse, or outdoors, on any scale, for example for commercial agricultural or horticultural purposes, or for home or garden use.

[0074] The target weed plants may vary depending on, for example, the geographic location and environmental factors prevalent in the growing area of ​​the cultivated plants, as would be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The methods of the present disclosure can be used to control the growth of a wide variety of weed plants. Examples of weedy plants include, but are not limited to, the following dicotyledonous plants: velvet leaf (Abutilon theophrasti), pigweed (Amaranthus spp.), buttonweed (Borrelia spp.), rape, canola, Indian mustard, and others (Brassica spp.), comelina (Commelina spp.), Dutch geranium (Erodium spp.), sunflower (Helianthus spp.), morning glory (Ipomoea spp.), kochia (Kochia scoparia), mallow (Malva spp.), wild bindweed (wild jasmine), and wild jasmine. buckwheat), smartweed (Polygonum spp.), purslane (Portulaca spp.), Russian thistle (Salsola spp.), sida (Sida spp.), field mustard (Sinapis arvensis), and cocklebur (Xanthium spp.).

[0075] Further examples of weedy plants include, but are not limited to, the following monocotyledonous plants: oat (Avena fatua), carpetgrass (Axonopus spp.), downy brome (Bromus tectorum), crabgrass (Digitaria spp.), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crusgalli), goosegrass (Eleusine indica), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), and the like. multiflorum), rice (Oryza sativa), ottochloa (Ottochloa nodosa), bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), grass reeds (Phalaris species), foxtail millet (Setaria species), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and corn (Zea mays).

[0076] Further examples of weedy plants include, but are not limited to, the following perennial dicotyledonous plants: mugwort (Artemisia spp.), milkweed (Asclepias spp.), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), and kudzu (Pueraria spp.).

[0077] Further examples of weedy plants include, but are not limited to, the following perennial monocotyledonous plants: brachiaria (Brachiaria species), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), quackgrass (Elymus repens), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), guineagrass (Panicum maximum), dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum), reeds (Phragmites species), sorghum (Sorghum halepensis), and corngrass (Sorghum spp.). halepense), and cattail (Typha species).

[0078] Still other perennial weed plant species include, but are not limited to, horsetail (Equisetum spp.), bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), blackberry (Rubus spp.), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and gorse (Ulex europaeus).

[0079] The liquid formulation may be applied to the weed plants at any stage of leaf development, including shortly after weed leaf emergence, e.g., within two or three days after the weed plant leaves are first visible to the naked eye, or when the weed plants exhibit more mature leaves, e.g., when the weed plants exhibit leaves that are at least one week old, at least two weeks old, at least three weeks old, or at least four weeks old, or when the weed plants are at a developmental stage where they have grown at least one or two leaves. The concentration and frequency of application may vary and may depend, for example, on the degree of growth control desired, the age and species of the weed plants to be controlled, and the weather and other conditions prevailing at the application site. Generally, the application concentration may range from about 10 gal / acre to about 20 gal / acre, e.g., about 12.5 gal / acre, about 15 gal / acre, or about 17.5 gal / acre, and the application frequency may vary from a single application to daily, weekly, or monthly applications.

[0080] In some embodiments, the liquid formulation may be applied to the foliage of weed plants prior to emergence of the cultivated plants.

[0081] In some embodiments, the liquid formulation may be applied to the foliage of weed plants after emergence of the cultivated plants.

[0082] The degree of control can vary as desired. Thus, for example, the growth of weed plants after application of a liquid formulation can be controlled so as to slow or prevent the growth of the weed plants, or to kill the weed plants.

[0083] To apply liquid formulation, the liquid formulation can be sprayed, including by target spraying or broadcast spraying on weed plants, or by rubbing on the foliage of weed plants.Therefore, the liquid formulation is preferably placed in a device that can contain the liquid formulation and apply the liquid formulation to the foliage of weed plants, and the device can include any conventional herbicidal dispensing or spraying device, such as any spray tank.In one exemplary embodiment, the spraying device can be a household hand-held spray bottle that can dispense the liquid formulation, thereby enabling the liquid formulation to be used in the home and garden.

[0084] In addition, in some embodiments, the liquid formulation can specifically target weed plants, while limiting the contact of cultivated plants growing near weed plants with the liquid formulation, including the leaves of the cultivated plants.Such targeted application can be realized, for example, by using a spray tank or a spray bottle.Therefore, for example, it can be sprayed in this way on weeds growing in paths around farms, or similarly, it can be sprayed on individual weed plants or small areas containing weed plants in home gardens.Therefore, it can be said that the liquid formulation is useful for selective application to the stems and leaves of weed plants near cultivated plants.

[0085] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the liquid formulation can be simultaneously applied with at least one other herbicide or pesticide formulation. In this regard, the term "simultaneous application" refers to the simultaneous or sequential application of the liquid formulation of the present disclosure and at least one other herbicide or pesticide formulation, particularly in such a way that the cultivated plants benefit from more than the additive effects of the application of each individual formulation. Simultaneous application can be achieved by premixing or tank-mixing the individual formulations, followed by application of the premixed formulation, or by applying a first formulation (i.e., either the liquid formulation of the present disclosure or at least one other herbicide or pesticide formulation) and then applying a second formulation. Generally, the second formulation can be applied less than 10 days, for example, less than 5 days, for example, within 1-2 days after application of the first formulation.

[0086] Thus, in some aspects, the formulations of the present disclosure may be co-applied with another herbicidal formulation, or with another insecticidal or fungicidal formulation, for example, each of which contains an active compound, i.e., a herbicide, an insecticide, and a fungicide.

[0087] Examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include lipid synthesis inhibitors, for example, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors, such as aryloxyphenoxypropionates (FOPs) (e.g., clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, cyclofop-methyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, haloxyfop-R-methyl, propaquizafop, or quizalofop-P-ethyl), cyclohexadiones (DIMs) (e.g., alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cycloxydim, profoxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, or tralkoxydim), or phenylpyrazolines (DENs) (e.g., pinoxaden).

[0088] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include amino acid synthesis inhibitors, for example, acetolactate (ALS) inhibitors, such as imidazolinones (e.g., imazapic, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazampyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr), pyrimidinyl(thio)benzoates (e.g., bispyribac-Na, pyribenzoxim, pyriftalid, pyrithiobac-Na, or pyriminobac-methyl), sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinones (e.g., flucarbazone-Na or propoxycarbazone-Na), sulfonylureas (e.g., amidosulfuron, azimsulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cinosulfuron, cyclosulfamuron, ethametsurfuron-methyl, ethoxysulfuron, flazasulfuron), and the like. , flupyrsulfuron-methyl-Na, foramsulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, imazosulfuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, nicosulfuron, oxasulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, prosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, rimsulfuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, thislfuron-methyl, triasulfuron, tribenuron-methyl, trifloxysulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, or tritosulfuron), or triazolopyrimidines (e.g., cloransulam-methyl, diclosulam, florasulam, flumetsulam, metosulam, or penosulam); or other amino acid synthesis inhibitors, for example, EPSP synthase inhibitors, such as glycine (e.g., glyphosate or sulfosate).

[0089] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include root growth inhibitors, such as microtubule inhibitors, for example, benzamides (e.g., isoxaben), benzoic acids (e.g., chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA)), dinitroanilines (e.g., benefin (benfluralin), butralin, dinitramine, ethalfluralin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, or trifluralin), phosphoramidates (e.g., amiprophos-methyl or butamifos), or pyridines (e.g., dithiopyr or thiazopyr).

[0090] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include plant growth inhibitors, such as benzoic acids (e.g., chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA)), phenoxycarboxylic acids (e.g., clomeprop, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, dichloroprop (2,4-DP), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 4-4(-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid (MCPB), or mecoprop (MCPP, CMPP), pyridine carboxylic acids (e.g., clopyralid, fluroxypyr, picloram, or triclopyr), or quinoline carboxylic acids (quinclorac or quinmerac).

[0091] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include photosynthesis inhibitors, such as triazines (e.g., ametrine, atrazine, cyanazine, desmetrin, dimethametryn, prometon, prometryn, propazine, simazine, cymatrine, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutrin, trietadine), triazinones (e.g., hexazinone, metamitron, or metribuzin), phenylcarbamates (e.g., desmedipham or phenmedipham), pyridazinones (e.g., pyrazone (chloridazon)), uracils (e.g., bromacil, lenacil, or terbacil), nitrils (e.g., nitrils ... tolyls (e.g., bromofenoxime, bromoxynil, or ioxynil), benzothadiazinones (e.g., bentazone), phenylpyridazines (e.g., pyridate or pyridafol), ureas (e.g., chlorbromuron, chlorotoluron, chloroxuron, dimefuron, diuron, ethidimuron, fenuron, fluometholone, isoproturon, isouron, linuron, methabenzthiazuron, metobromuron, metoxuron, monolinuron, nebron, siduron, or tebuthiolone), or amides (e.g., propanil or pentanochlor).

[0092] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include nitrogen metabolism inhibitors, such as glutamine synthesis inhibitors, for example, phosphinic acids (e.g., glufosinate ammonium or bialaphos (bilanaphos)).

[0093] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include pigment synthesis inhibitors, for example, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors, such as amides, anilidex, furanones, phenoxybutan-amides, pyrazoles (e.g., pyrasulfotole, benzofenap, pyrazolinates, or pyrazoxyfen), pyrazolones (e.g., topramezone), pyridazinones (e.g., norflurazone), pyridines, triketones (e.g., mesotrione, bicyclopyrone, or tembotrione), or isoxazoles (e.g., isoxaflutole or isoxachlortole); or diterpene synthesis inhibitors, such as isoxalidinones (e.g., clomazone).

[0094] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include cell membrane disrupting agents, for example, protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitors, such as diphenyl ethers (e.g., acifluorfen-Na, bifenox, chromomethoxyfen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, fomesafen, halosafen, lactofen, or oxyfluorfen), aryltriazolinones (e.g., carfentrazone-ethyl), N-phenylphthalamides (e.g., cinidon-ethyl, flumioxazin, or flumiclorac-pentyl), oxadiazoles (e.g., oxadiazolidinone), and the like. oxazolidinediones (e.g., pentoxazone), phenylpyrazoles (e.g., fluazolate or pyraflufen-ethyl), pyrimidinediones (e.g., benzfendizone or butafencil), or thiadiazoles (e.g., fluthiaacet-methyl or thidiadimine); and other membrane disrupting agents, such as dinitrophenols (e.g., 4,6-dinitro-o-cresol (DNOC), dinoseb, or dinoterb), as well as (photosystem I) PSI inhibitors, such as bipyridylium (e.g., diquat or paraquat).

[0095] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include shoot growth inhibitors, for example, very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA) inhibitors, such as chloroacetamides (e.g., acetochlor, alachlor, or butachlor), acetamides (e.g., diphenamide, napropamide, or naproanilide), oxyacetamides, or tetrazolinones (e.g., azafenidin, caffentrazone-ethyl, or sulfentrazone).

[0096] Further examples of herbicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include unclassified herbicides, such as disodium methylarsonate (DMSA), fosamine, monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), indaziflam, cinmethylin, methiozolin, acrolein, ammonium sulfate (AMS), benazolin, benoxacor, cacodylic acid, cloquintocet-mexyl, copper chelate, copper sulfate, cyprosulfamide, dicchlormid, dietholate, dimethipin, enothall, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, fluxofenim, maleic hydrazide, mefenpyr-diethyl, mefluidide, metaborate, oxaziclomefone, or sodium chlorate.

[0097] Next, regarding insecticides that can be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure, examples of insecticides that can be co-applied include inorganic insecticidal compounds, such as arsenic compounds (e.g., lead arsenite, arsenic trioxide, or copper acetoarsenate (Paris Green)); or fluoride compounds (e.g., sodium fluoride or sodium fluoroaluminate (cryolite)).

[0098] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include soaps and oils, such as water emulsions of petroleum distillates, or insecticidal soaps derived from animal or vegetable oils.

[0099] Further examples of pesticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include plant extracts.

[0100] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include field daisies, which may be used in conjunction with synergistic compounds such as piperonyl butoxide.

[0101] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include organochlorines, also known as chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and related compounds (e.g., methoxychlor and kertane), lindane, toxaphene, or cyclodienes (e.g., aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, cordan, heptachlor, or endusulfan).

[0102] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include neurotoxic insecticides, such as organophosphates, e.g., general-purpose organophosphate insecticides such as malathion, parathion, diazinon, chlorpyrofos, azinphosmethyl, acephate, folate, or phosmet; fumigating organophosphate insecticides such as 2,2-dichlorovinyldimethylphosphate (dichlorvos, DDVP); or systemic organophosphate insecticides such as dimethoate, disulfoton, demeton, or ronnel.

[0103] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, carbamates such as carbaryl (Sevin), carbofuran, propoxur, methomyl, bendiocarb, formetanate, oxamyl, or aldicarb.

[0104] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, synthetic pyrethroids such as resmethrin, permethrin, or fenvalerate.

[0105] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, foramidines such as chlordimeform or amitraz.

[0106] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, organosulfur and organtins such as aramite, tetradifon, cyhexatin, or hexakis.

[0107] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, avermectins, such as avermectin, abamectin, or ivermectin.

[0108] Further examples of insecticides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, neonicotinoids such as imidacloprid.

[0109] Next, examples of fungicides that can be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include mitotic disrupting compounds such as methyl benzimidazole carbamates, e.g., benzimidazole or thiophanate (e.g., thiophanate-methyl).

[0110] Further examples of antiseptics that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include, for example, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) signaling disrupting compounds, such as dicarboximides, iprodione.

[0111] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include sterol biosynthesis inhibitors, such as demethylation inhibitors, for example, difenoconazole, fenarimol, fenbuconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, propiconazole, tebuconazole, or triflumizole.

[0112] Further examples of disinfectants that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include RNA polymerase inhibitors, such as phenylamides, for example, mefenoxam.

[0113] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, such as carboxamides, for example, boscalid.

[0114] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include methionine biosynthesis inhibitors, such as anilinopyrimidines, e.g., cyprodinil.

[0115] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include respiratory inhibitors, such as quinone extrinsic inhibitors, for example, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, pyraclostrobin, or trifloxystrobin.

[0116] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include signal transduction interference compounds, such as azanaphtanlenes, for example quinolines (eg, quinoxyfen).

[0117] Further examples of bactericides that may be co-applied with the formulations of the present disclosure include protein synthesis inhibitors, such as glucopyranosyl antibiotics, e.g., streptomycin; or tetracycline antibiotics, e.g., oxytetracycline.

[0118] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include phosphonates, such as salts of phosphorous acid, or aluminum tris.

[0119] Further examples of disinfectants that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include multi-site contact activity compounds, such as inorganic compounds, such as copper hydroxide, fixed copper, or sulfur; dithiocarbamates and related compounds, such as thiram or ziram; phthalimides, such as captan; chloronitriles (phthalonitriles), such as chlorothalonil; or guanidines, such as dodine.

[0120] Further examples of fungicides that may be co-applied with the liquid formulations of the present disclosure include azadirachtin, bifenazate, or dicofol.

[0121] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present disclosure further includes the use of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation to prepare a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation for application to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

[0122] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a kit for controlling the growth of weed plants. (a) a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation; and (b) instructions for applying to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants; and a commercial package for controlling the growth of weed plants, the kit comprising:

[0123] In some embodiments, the instructions specify that the liquid formulation should be applied after the weed plants have emerged and the weed leaf tissue is visible, for example, when the weed plants are at the one or two leaf development stage.

[0124] From the foregoing, it will be further appreciated that the present disclosure further includes the use of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate composition to control the growth of weed plants by foliar application of the liquid formulation.

[0125] It should now be apparent that the method of the present disclosure enables the control of weed plant growth by applying to the foliage of weed plants liquid formulations containing natural herbicidal compounds, particularly thiocyanate and isothiocyanate compounds present in glucosinolate hydrolysates. Examples of specific embodiments for carrying out the method of the present disclosure are now provided. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. [Example]

[0126] Example 1 - Preparation of isothiocyanate- and thiocyanate-containing glucosinolate hydrolysates Glucosinolate hydrolysate was prepared as follows: Brassica juncea seeds were heated to 80°C to inactivate myrosinase activity and then ground to extract the oil. Water was added to the ground seeds (10 parts water to 1 part plant material), and the resulting slurry was stirred to dissolve the sinigrin into the slurry. The slurry was then centrifuged using a decanter to produce a glucosinolate-enriched liquid phase, and the solids were extracted. The glucosinolate concentration in the liquid phase was further increased by nanofiltration to separate the glucosinolates from minerals and other low-molecular-weight water-soluble components. The residual oil in the extract was then removed using a disk centrifuge, further concentrating the glucosinolate concentration in the extract. The liquid phase was then evaporated for further concentration. The final semi-purified glucosinolate concentrate was then dried in a spray dryer to give a final concentration of sinigrin in the glucosinolate concentrate of >30%.

[0127] Dried mustard meal containing myrosinase was prepared as follows: Whole seed white mustard (Sinapis alba) was pre-dried to a residual moisture content of <6% and then the majority of the oil was removed by seed pressing. The final meal contained less than 15% residual oil. The temperature during seed pre-drying and pressing was kept below 70°C to prevent denaturation and therefore loss of myrosinase activity.

[0128] To prepare the glucosinolate hydrolysate, dry mustard meal and Brassica juncea glucosinolate concentrate were mixed at room temperature in amounts such that the preparation contained 0.96 units of myrosinase per mg of sinigrin. The resulting glucosinolate hydrolysate can be used to prepare a liquid herbicidal formulation.

[0129] Example 2 - Preparation of a liquid formulation for foliar application to weeds The glucosinolate hydrolysate of Example 1 can be prepared and the hydrolysate diluted with water (e.g., 1:10 w / w). The liquid formulation can then be used for foliar application to weed plants. This can be accomplished by thoroughly mixing a quantity of the liquid formulation in a water bath (e.g., a 1:5 to 1:100 dilution), and then spraying the diluted formulation at 10 to 20 gal / acre onto the field after emergence of the weed plants.

[0130] Example 3 - Application of glucosinolate hydrolysate formulations to weed forage to control weed plant growth A glucosinolate hydrolysate was prepared essentially as described in Example 1 by mixing 0.005 L of a Brassica juncea glucosinolate concentrate containing approximately 30% (w / w) sinigrin with 0.005 L of a Sinapis alba seed meal preparation containing myrosinase. The glucosinolate hydrolysate contained approximately 1 myrosinase per milligram of sinigrin. The entire glucosinolate hydrolysate (0.01 L) was then diluted with 9.4 L of water and applied to a 25 sq. ft. test plot (located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) where various native monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed species had emerged and exhibited one to two leaf development. Specifically, glucosinolate hydrolysate was applied to the shoot tissue of weed plants in the test plots by spraying the glucosinolate hydrolysate at a rate of 20 gal / acre (186.7 liters / hectare). An adjacent 25 sq. ft. control plot was not treated with the glucosinolate concentrate. 14 days after treatment of the shoot tissue with the glucosinolate hydrolysate, all monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed plants in the test plots treated with the glucosinolate hydrolysate had died. In contrast, the weed plant population in the adjacent control plot had matured and spread.

[0131] Fourteen days after the glucosinolate treatment, control plots were treated with a commercial liquid formulation, RoundUp® (glyphosate), by spraying the same formulation on the control plots. Two to three days after the RoundUp® treatment, weed plant populations in the control plots were substantially reduced; however, 14 days after the RoundUp® treatment, weeds were observed to have re-emerged and re-established in the control plots. In contrast, no weed plants were observed in the test plots that had been treated with glucosinolate hydrolysate 28 days prior.

Claims

1. applying a liquid formulation containing a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

1. A method for controlling the growth of weed plants, comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation is a hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation.

3. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a plant seed extract.

4. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a plant seed meal extract.

5. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is a substantially pure preparation.

6. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation is obtained from a mustard plant.

7. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation comprises allyl thiocyanate (ATC).

8. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation comprises allyl isothiocyanate (AITC).

9. 9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the liquid formulation further comprises a diluent, excipient, or carrier.

10. 10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the liquid formulation comprises from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation.

11. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the liquid formulation is applied to the foliage of weed plants before emergence of the cultivated plants.

12. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the liquid formulation is applied to the foliage of weed plants after emergence of the cultivated plants.

13. 13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 or 12, wherein the liquid formulation is applied by selective application to the foliage of one or more weed plants in the vicinity of the one or more cultivated plants after emergence of the cultivated plants.

14. 14. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cultivated plant is an agricultural plant or a horticultural plant.

15. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the agricultural plant is wheat (Triticum aestivum), corn (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), soybean (Glycine max), oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), peanut (Arachis hypogaea), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), or hemp (Cannabis sativa).

16. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the weed plant is a dicotyledonous weed plant or a monocotyledonous weed plant.

17. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the weed plants are perennial weed plants.

18. 16. The method of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the liquid formulation comprises from about 0.4 mg / ml to about 50 mg / ml of the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation and is applied at a rate of from about 10 gal / acre to about 20 gal / acre.

19. 19. The method of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the cultivated plant is a horticultural plant and the liquid formulation can be applied using a hand-held spray bottle containing the liquid formulation.

20. 20. The method of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the liquid formulation is co-applied with another herbicidal formulation or with a pesticide formulation.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the pesticide formulation is an insecticide or a fungicide.

22. (a) a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation; and (b) instructions for applying to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants; 1. A kit or commercial package for controlling the growth of weed plants, comprising:

23. 23. The kit of claim 22, wherein the instructions include instructions for applying the liquid formulation after weed plant emergence and emergence of at least one weed leaf.

24. Use of a thiocyanate preparation or an isothiocyanate preparation to prepare a liquid formulation containing a herbicidally effective amount of the thiocyanate preparation or the isothiocyanate preparation for application to the foliage of weed plants, thereby controlling the growth of the weed plants.

25. 1. Use of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate composition to control the growth of weed plants by foliar application of the liquid formulation.

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