Agricultural composition and method of using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to agricultural compositions comprising an acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor, one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxinic herbicides. The present invention further relates to methods for controlling weeds comprising applying, simultaneously or sequentially, an ACCase inhibitor and one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxinic herbicides to the weeds or to an area in need of weed control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an agricultural composition comprising an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor, one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxinic herbicides. The present invention further relates to a method for controlling weeds, which comprises simultaneously or sequentially applying an ACCase inhibitor and one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxinic herbicides, to a region requiring weed or weed control.

Background Art

[0002] Unwanted plants such as weeds can reduce the amount of resources available for crops and can have an adverse effect on crop yield and quality. For example, according to reports, weed infestation has caused an 80% reduction in soybean yield. Bruce, J.A., and J.J. Kells, Control of Canada fleabane (Conyza canadensis) in no-till soybeans (Glycine max) using preplant and preemergence herbicides, Weed Technol, 1990, 4, 642 - 647. Unwanted plants in the crop plant environment include broadleaf weeds, grasses, and sedges. To save time, money, and resources, herbicides for grasses are often mixed with herbicides for broadleaf weeds to control various weeds.

[0003] As described above, one way to control multiple weeds is to apply multiple herbicides sequentially or simultaneously. However, when applying multiple herbicides, care must be taken to ensure that each of the herbicides is stable and effective in their combined composition, either in formulation, tank mix, or after application.

[0004] Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors are herbicides that mainly control gramineous plants. These herbicides have been successfully used for over 40 years to control gramineous plants in crops. ACCase inhibitors are not effective against broadleaf weeds.

[0005] Auxin herbicides mainly control broadleaf weeds. These herbicides have been successfully used for over 60 years to control broadleaf weeds in cereals. Auxin herbicides are not effective against gramineous plants.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, in order to save time, money and resources, there is a need in the art for a composition comprising an ACCase inhibitor that is effective when combined with an auxin herbicide. This composition must be stable and effective upon application.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an agricultural composition comprising an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor, one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxin herbicides.

[0008] The present invention further relates to a method for controlling weeds, which comprises simultaneously or sequentially applying an ACCase inhibitor and one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxin herbicides, to a region in need of weed or weed control.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Detailed Description of the Invention The applicant unexpectedly discovered that the addition of one or more sugar alcohols to an agricultural composition containing an acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor (ACCase inhibitor) provides a stable composition and effective application when combined with an auxin herbicide.

[0010] In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an agricultural composition comprising an ACCase inhibitor and one or more sugar alcohols.

[0011] As used herein, the term "acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor" or "ACCase inhibitor" means tetronic and tetramic acid derivatives such as spirodiclofen, spiro mesifen, and spirotetramat; aryloxyphenoxypropionates (FOP) such as cyhalofop-butyl, dichlorprop-methyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, quizalofop, clodinafop-propargyl, metamifop, and haloxyfop-R-methyl; cyclohexanediones (DIM) such as clethodim, sethoxydim, profoxydim, and tralkoxydim; and phenylpyrazolines such as pinoxaden, but is not limited thereto.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the ACCase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of clethodim, fluazifop-P-butyl, and haloxyfop-R-methyl. In a more preferred embodiment, the ACCase inhibitor is clethodim.

[0013] In another preferred embodiment, the ACCase inhibitor can be present in the composition of the present invention at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 99.9% w / v, more preferably about 1% to about 99% w / v.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more sugar alcohols are selected from the group consisting of D-mannitol, D-sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol, L-arabitol, xylitol, 1D-chiro-inositol, inositol, myo-inositol, galactinol, L-kebratitol, D-pinitol, D-ononitol, D-myo-inositol-1,3-diphosphate, and galactinol. In a more preferred embodiment, the one or more sugar alcohols is D-sorbitol.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more sugar alcohols may be present in the composition of the present invention at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 99.9% w / v, more preferably about 1% to about 99% w / v.

[0016] In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention further comprises one or more auxin herbicides.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the one or more auxins are selected from the group consisting of dicamba, 2,4-D, dichlorprop, (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)acetic acid (MCPA), 4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)butanoic acid (MCPB), mecoprop, picloram, quinclorac, triclopyr, fluroxypyr, picloram, aminopyralid, clopyralid, and aminocyclopyrachlor, and their agriculturally acceptable salts and esters. In a more preferred embodiment, the one or more auxins is a salt of dicamba. In an even more preferred embodiment, the salt of dicamba is selected from the group consisting of dicamba-bipropamine, dicamba-diglycolamine, and dicamba-tetrabutylamine.

[0018] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more auxins may be present in the composition of the present invention at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 99.9% w / v, more preferably about 1% to about 99% w / v.

[0019] The composition of the present invention may further contain one or more excipients selected from the group consisting of a solvent, an anti-caking agent, a stabilizer, an antifoaming agent, a slip agent, a humectant, a dispersant, a wetting agent, a thickening agent, an emulsifier, an antifreeze and a preservative. Other components that enhance the biological activity of these components may optionally be included.

[0020] The composition of the present invention can be applied by any convenient means. Those skilled in the art are familiar with application modes including foliar spraying such as spraying, chemigation (a method of applying the mixture through an irrigation system), granule application, or impregnating the mixture into fertilizers.

[0021] The composition of the present invention can be prepared as a concentrated formulation, a ready-to-use formulation, or a tank mix.

[0022] In another embodiment, the present invention further relates to a method for controlling weeds, which comprises simultaneously or sequentially applying an ACCase inhibitor and one or more sugar alcohols, and optionally one or more auxin herbicides, to an area in need of weed or weed control.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the ACCase inhibitor can be applied in an amount of about 1 to about 1,000 grams per hectare (g / HA), more preferably about 1 to about 100 g / HA, even more preferably about 30 to about 70 g / HA, even more preferably about 40 to about 60 g / HA, and most preferably about 55.4 g / HA.

[0024] In another preferred embodiment, one or more sugar alcohols can be applied in an amount of about 100 to about 100,000 g / HA, more preferably about 1,000 to about 30,000 g / HA, even more preferably about 1,700 to about 27,200 g / HA, even more preferably about 1,700, about 3,400, about 6,800, about 13,600 and about 27,200 g / HA, and most preferably about 6,800 g / HA.

[0025] In another preferred embodiment, one or more auxin herbicides can be applied in an amount of about 1 to about 1,000 g / HA, more preferably about 10 to about 100 g / HA.

[0026] In another embodiment, the weeds controlled by the composition of the present invention are at least one of Amaranthus tuberculatus, Conyza Canadensis, Ipomoea hederacea, Ipomoea lacunose, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Digitaria sanguinalis, Amaranthus palmeri, Brachiaria platyhylla, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus esculentus, Eclipta prostrate, Chenopodium species, Abutilon theophrasti, Setaria species, Setaria faberi, and annual weeds. As used herein, annual weeds include corn, sorghum, wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

[0027] In another embodiment, the area in need of weed control can include areas where it is desired to reduce the number of weeds or eliminate the weeds. For example, the composition of the present invention can be applied to areas used for cultivating crop plants such as outdoor orchards or vineyards. The mixtures of the present invention can also be applied to non-agricultural areas in need of weed control such as lawns, golf courses, or parks.

[0028] All numerical values related to amounts, weight percentages, etc. used in this specification are defined as "about" or "approximately", which means plus or minus 10% of each specific value. For example, the phrase "at least 5.0% by weight" should be understood as "at least 4.5% to 5.5% by weight". Therefore, amounts within 10% of the values recited in the claims are included in the claims.

[0029] Throughout this application, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include references to the plural.

[0030] These representative embodiments are in no way limiting and are described only to illustrate some aspects of the present invention.

[0031] These representative embodiments are in no way limiting and are described only to illustrate some aspects of the present invention.

[0032] Furthermore, the following examples are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting.

Examples

[0033] Agridex® is a crop oil concentrate, a registered trademark of Bayer CropScience, and is available from Bayer CropScience.

[0034] Induce® is an alkylaryl polyoxyl ether and a free fatty acid, a registered trademark of Helena Chemical Company, and is available from Helena Chemical Company.

[0035] Select Max® is used as a source of clethodim and is a registered trademark of Valent U.S.A., LLC and is available from Valent U.S.A., LLC. Select Max® contains 12.6% by weight of clethodim.

[0036] Example 1 - Mannitol and Sorbitol Improve the Efficacy of Clethodim in Maize Four tests were conducted on the efficacy of clethodim regardless of the presence or absence of mannitol or sorbitol. Specifically, four plots of corn were grown to a height of 12 inches. These plots were placed in a spray chamber for treatment. All compositions included 1% v / v of Agridex® and 0.25% v / v of Induce®. The treatments and results are described in Table 1 below. Table 1

Table 1

[0037] As seen in Table 1 above, at 14 days after treatment (DAT), the control of corn by clethodim + mannitol (30%) was approximately 10% higher compared to clethodim alone (20.8%), and the control by clethodim + sorbitol (92.2%) was approximately 71% higher. The increase in activity was observed as more efficient and rapid death of the tillers, as well as more complete death of the entire plant and less regrowth of the corn plants.

Claims

**Claim 1**: An agricultural composition comprising clethodim and one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol and mannitol. **Claim 2** The composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols are D-sorbitol. **Claim 3**: The composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols are D-mannitol. **Claim 4**: A method for controlling weeds, comprising simultaneously or sequentially applying clethodim and one or more sugar alcohols selected from the group consisting of sorbitol and mannitol to weeds or an area in need of weed control. **Claim 5**: The method according to claim 4, wherein clethodim is applied in an amount of 1 to 100 grams / hectare. **Claim 6**: The method according to claim 4, wherein clethodim is applied in an amount of 30 to 70 grams / hectare. **Claim 7**: The method according to claim 4, wherein clethodim is applied in an amount of 55.4 grams / hectare. **Claim 8** The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols are applied in an amount of 100 to 100,000 grams / hectare. **Claim 9** The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols are applied in an amount of 1,000 to 30,000 grams / hectare. **Claim 10** The method according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sugar alcohols are applied in an amount of 6,800 grams / hectare.

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