Flow aid composition

Abstract

1. A method for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds with a flow aid composition comprising a modified starch, an unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant. 2. A flow aid composition comprising a modified starch, an unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant, and further wherein the flow aid composition (i) is free-flowing and / or (ii) reduces seed clumping for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is related to and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 975,512, filed February 12, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] Disclosed herein are flow aid compositions for application to one or more seeds optionally coated / treated with a seed coating composition. More specifically, disclosed herein are one or more flow aid compositions comprising a modified starch, an unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, and optionally one or more mineral earth lubricants. Also disclosed herein are methods for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds optionally coated / treated with a seed coating composition with one or more flow aid compositions comprising a modified starch, an unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, and optionally one or more mineral earth lubricants. The one or more flow aid compositions described herein provide a renewable and sustainable alternative with comparable or superior flow and plantability to traditionally used lubricants, such as talc alone and in combination with graphite.

[0003] Crop farmers are constantly seeking to improve crop yields to meet the increasing demand for food. One approach used by the agricultural industry is seed treatment (seed coating), in which seeds are treated / coated with one or more active ingredients, including, for example, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, nutrients, plant growth hormones, and beneficial microorganisms, to protect the seeds from disease, fungi, and / or insects when planted. During the seed coating process, a seed coating binder is used to apply an active ingredient slurry to the surface of the seeds. These seed coatings deliver one or more active ingredients to the seeds or seedlings during germination, allowing them to provide healthy root mass for superior emergence and strength, thereby resulting in higher crop yields.

[0004] Farmers plant the coated / treated seeds using a commercially available seed planter. When farmers use an air planter, a fan in the air planter's metering device moves a large volume of air through the planter's seed disk. In moderate to high humidity environments, the moisture level is elevated by the large volume of air drawn through the planter. The treated / coated seeds are hygroscopic and absorb this moisture, making the coated seeds sticky and causing bridging of the seeds within the planter. When farmers use a vacuum planter, the coated / treated seeds are added to a hopper, which, when exposed to moderate to high atmospheric humidity, causes the coated / treated seeds to become sticky and bridging within the planter. This poor flow of the coated seeds through the planter results in poor singulation, skipping, doubling, and poor seed release index, which otherwise impacts crop yield.

[0005] To alleviate these problems, farmers currently use talc, graphite, or talc / graphite mixtures (e.g., 80% talc / 20% graphite powder) as seed flow and lubricants. However, talc tends to rapidly absorb moisture present on the surface of coated / treated seeds in high to moderate humidity environments, preventing the talc from uniformly covering the seed surface, which causes the seeds to clump in the hopper and results in poor plantability of the coated / treated seeds. Furthermore, talc poses increased health risks, especially when it contains trace levels of asbestos. Graphite, on the other hand, is expensive and therefore not a desirable option. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 shows a photograph of seeds coated / treated with Active Ingredient Blend A, which contains a commercial seed coating / treatment in combination with water, colorant, and a binder (polymer or bio-renewable starch).

[0007] [Figure 2] 1 shows a photograph of seeds treated with Active Ingredient Blend B, which contains a commercial seed coating / treatment in combination with water, colorant, and binder (polymer or bio-renewable starch).

[0008] [Figure 3] 1 shows a photograph of the coated / treated seeds of Example 1H mixed in Example 3D with a powder form of a flow aid composition described herein comprising (i) no flow aid / lubricant, (ii) talc, or (iii) a hydrophobically modified starch.

[0009] [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the steel funnel used for the flowability measurements performed in Example 2.

[0010] [Figure 5] 1 is a graph of flowability results for Examples 2A-2C.

[0011] [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the steel funnel used for the flowability measurements performed in Example 3.

[0012] [Figure 7] 1 is a graph of relative flowability results for Examples 3A-3E.

[0013] [Figure 8] 1 is a graph of relative flowability results for Examples 4A-4G.

[0014] Disclosed herein is a method for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds with a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant. Further disclosed herein is a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant, and the flow aid composition (i) is free-flowing and / or (ii) reduces seed clumping for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof, the seeds optionally being coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder. Still further disclosed herein is a plurality of seeds comprising a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant and, optionally, a coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder. In one embodiment, the one or more modified starches are hydrophobically modified starches. In another embodiment, the hydrophobically modified starches include starches derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with alkyl or alkenyl succinates, and complexed with polyvalent cations. In yet another embodiment, the one or more hydrophobically modified starches are starch aluminum octenyl succinates.

[0015] Reference will now be made in detail to various embodiments herein, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the following examples. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, unless otherwise indicated or implicit from context, the details and embodiments described herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way. Additionally, features described in connection with various or specific embodiments should not be construed as not being suitable for use in connection with other embodiments disclosed herein, unless explicitly stated or implicit from context.

[0016] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plurals unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Furthermore, all units, prefixes, and symbols may be written in their SI-approved form. Throughout this disclosure, various embodiments are presented in range format. This description in range format should be understood merely for convenience and simplicity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Thus, the description of a range should be construed as including all the possible subranges specifically disclosed as well as individual numerical values ​​within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).

[0017] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiments of the present invention pertain. Many methods and materials similar to, modified from, or equivalent to those described herein can be used to practice one or more of the embodiments described herein without undue experimentation. In describing and claiming the embodiments, the following terms can be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.

[0018] The term "seed(s)" as used herein refers, inter alia, to the mature ovule of gymnosperms and angiosperms, which contains an embryo surrounded by a protective covering. The protective covering can include a seed coat (testa). Some seeds include a pericarp or fruit coat around the seed coat. Particularly when this layer is tightly adhered to the seed, such as a cereal kernel, it is in some cases referred to as a caryopsis or achene. In practical terms, the term "seed(s)" includes, but is not limited to, pelleted seeds, true seeds, plant seedlings, rootstocks, regenerable and plant-forming tissues, and those that can be planted in agriculture to produce plants, including tubers or bulbs.

[0019] The term "coating" as used herein refers to the application of a material to the surface of a seed, for example, as a layer of material around the seed. The term coating includes film coating, pelleting, and encrustation, or a combination of these techniques. The pellets obtained by pelleting are also known as seed pills. The coating is preferably applied to substantially the entire surface of the seed, such as over 90% or more of the surface area of ​​the seed, to form a layer. However, the coating can be complete or partial, for example, over 20% or more, or over 50% of the surface area of ​​the seed.

[0020] As used herein, the term "seed coating composition" refers to an aqueous composition or slurry used to coat seeds.

[0021] As used herein, the term "pre-blend" refers to an aqueous composition that is formed (i.e., in the form of a stable emulsion and / or dispersion) prior to the addition of the other components of the seed coating composition. In one embodiment, the pre-blend is formed at a location separate from the seed coating composition.

[0022] The term "active" as used herein refers to any component that is directly or indirectly beneficial to a plant or plant seed, for example, through a biological effect on the plant, seed, or against organisms harmful to the plant, such as fungi, pests, and insects. Plant enhancers include plant protection products, softeners, growth promoters, growth regulators, and the like.

[0023] As used herein, the terms "hydrophobic," "hydrophobically," and "water-insoluble" describe materials that are primarily non-polar and have limited or no solubility in water, although such materials can be suspended in water as molecules or particles.

[0024] The term "alkoxy" as used herein refers to the -OR radical or group, where R is alkyl as defined above, such as methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, or 2-propoxy, n-, iso-, or tert-butoxy. In certain embodiments, preferred alkoxy groups of the invention have 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In other embodiments, preferred alkoxy groups of the invention have 3 or more carbon atoms, preferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms. Alkoxy groups can be optionally substituted where permitted by available valences. Examples of substituted alkoxy groups include trifluoromethoxy, hydroxymethyl, hydroxyethyl, hydroxypropyl, and alkoxyalkyl groups (such as methoxymethyl, methoxyethyl, polyoxoethylene, polyoxopropylene, and similar groups). Unless specifically described as "unsubstituted," reference to a chemical moiety herein is understood to include substituted variants.

[0025] The term "alkyl" as used herein refers to a saturated straight or branched hydrocarbon chain having, for example, 1 to 20 carbon atoms. In some embodiments, alkyl groups include "C" groups, including methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, sec-butyl, t-butyl, pentyl, n-pentyl, tert-pentyl, neo-pentyl, iso-pentyl, 2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, 4-methylpentyl, 2,3-dimethylbutyl, hexyl, n-hexyl, tert-hexyl, neo-hexyl, iso-hexyl, sec-hexyl, and the like. l 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, preferred alkyl groups of the invention have 3 or more carbon atoms, preferably 4 to 6 carbon atoms. Alkyl groups can be optionally substituted where allowed by available valences. Unless specifically described as "unsubstituted," reference to a chemical moiety herein is understood to include substituted variants.

[0026] As used herein, the term "combination" refers to a mixture of two or more compounds (or other referenced components).

[0027] The terms "free," "absent," "substantially free," or "substantially free" refer to a composition, mixture, or ingredient that does not contain a particular compound, or to which a particular compound or a compound containing a particular compound has not been added. If a particular compound is present through contamination and / or use in a minimal amount in a composition, mixture, or ingredient, the amount of the compound is less than about 3% by weight. In some embodiments, the amount of the compound is less than 2%, less than 1%, less than 0.5%, or 0.0% by weight.

[0028] As used herein, the terms "weight percent," "wt. %, "percent by weight," "% by weight," and variations thereof refer to the concentration of a substance as the weight of that substance divided by the total weight of the composition and multiplied by 100. As used herein, it is understood that "percent," "%," and the like are intended to be synonymous with "weight percent," "wt. %," and the like.

[0029] The methods and compositions can include, consist essentially of, or consist of the components and ingredients described herein, in addition to other ingredients. As used herein, "consisting essentially of" means that the methods and compositions can include additional steps, components, or ingredients so long as the additional steps, components, or ingredients do not materially alter the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed methods and compositions.

[0030] Disclosed herein is a method for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds with a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, wherein the flow aid composition optionally comprises a mineral earth lubricant. Further disclosed herein are a plurality of seeds comprising a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, wherein the flow aid composition optionally comprises a mineral earth lubricant and, optionally, a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder. Still further disclosed herein are flow aid compositions comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, wherein the flow aid composition optionally comprises a mineral earth lubricant.

[0031] In some embodiments, the flow aid composition comprises 1 to 99% by weight of modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the methods for improving seed planter flowability described herein further comprise planting one or more seeds, optionally planting the one or more seeds using a mechanical seed planter.

[0032] In some embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are renewable, sustainable, and non-hazardous to health. In other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein uniformly mix and coat one or more seeds in a planter hopper, providing excellent lubrication properties. In yet other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein address safety, environmental, and performance drawbacks associated with using talc alone or in combination with graphite as a seed planter flow aid. In yet other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are free-flowing. In still yet other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein (i) are free-flowing, and / or (ii) reduce seed clumping for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof, optionally coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder. In yet other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein improve crop yield and / or mechanized planting efficiency. In still yet other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein reduce clogging of planters and / or seed clumping so that seed placement is uniform and seeds are evenly dispersed without equipment malfunction.

[0033] In some embodiments, the seeds are coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient. In other embodiments, the seeds are uncoated / untreated. In still other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein reduce seed clumping and / or cross-linking for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof, and the one or more seeds are optionally coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is (i) an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a crop desiccant, a fungicide, a biopesticide, a biological agent containing a bacterial or fungal genus, a bactericide, a bacteriostat, an insecticide, a nematicide, an insect repellent, or any combination thereof; or (ii) an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a crop desiccant, a fungicide, a bacteriostat, an insecticide, a nematicide, an insect repellent, a triazine, a sulfonylurea, a uracil, a urea, and an organic phosphonate, a nitrilooxime fungicide, an azole imidazole fungicide, a benzimidazole fungicide, a phenylpyrrole fungicide, a phenylamide fungicide, a carboxomide fungicide, a phenylpyrrole fungicide, a phenylamide ... The binder may be a fungicide, a triazole fungicide, a sulfur enamide fungicide, a dithiocarbamate fungicide, a neonicotinoid insecticide, an acylamine fungicide, a chlorinated aromatic, a dichloroaniline fungicide, a carbamate insecticide, an organothiophosphate insecticide, a perchlorinated organic insecticide, a miticide, propynyl sulfite, a triazapentadiene miticide, a chlorinated aromatic miticide, a tetradiphane, a dinitrophenol miticide, a binaplacryl, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a fertilizer, a biopesticide of plant or microbial origin, or a biologically living beneficial microorganism from the genus bacteria or fungi, or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, the binder optionally comprises a modified starch comprising amylose, amylopectin, or any combination thereof. In yet other embodiments, the binder comprises (i) a modified starch, optionally including amylose, amylopectin, or any combination thereof, (ii) a bio-renewable or synthetic polymer, or (iii) a combination thereof.In yet other embodiments, the seed coating composition comprises a binder, an active ingredient, and one or more additional ingredients selected from solvents, thickeners, colorants, defoamers, biocides, surfactants, and effect pigments.

[0034] In some embodiments, the modified and / or unmodified starch used in the flow aid composition or seed coating / treatment comprises a starch base material derived or obtained from any starch source. In some embodiments, the starch source is selected from starches derived from plant sources, including cereals such as sorghum; tubers such as potato and tapioca; legumes such as pea; corn; wheat; barley; oats; triticale; rice; sago; waxy starches such as maize, waxy potato, and waxy rice; high-amylose starches, i.e., starches having an amylose content of at least 30% by weight, and more specifically at least 65% by weight, such as amylose corn; and others, including starches derived from conventional inbred or genetically modified plant species. In some embodiments, starch flour is used. In some embodiments, the starch base is purified to about 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 99% purity. Purification can be carried out according to methods known to those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, the starch base may be used from the starch source without purification, and the crude starch source is used in a subsequent derivatization step.

[0035] In some embodiments, the starch base is used without chemical modification (unmodified). In other embodiments, the starch base is modified using chemical, enzymatic, or physical modification. In still other embodiments, the starch base is modified to have one or more anionic moieties and multivalent cations. In yet still other embodiments, the hydrophobically modified starch and / or modified or unmodified starch is obtained from a starch base selected from corn, high amylose corn, waxy corn, potato, pea, rice, waxy rice, sago, tapioca, waxy tapioca, and mixtures thereof.

[0036] In a further embodiment, the modified starch contained in one or more flow aid compositions or seed coatings or treatments described herein is a native starch that has been modified using chemical, enzymatic, or physical modification, and optionally contains amylose, amylopectin, or a combination thereof (e.g., dent starch). In some embodiments, the modified starch is selected from crosslinked starches (e.g., adipate and epichlorohydrin); esterified starches (e.g., acetylated and succinated, such as OSA octenyl succinate, with or without aluminum salts); etherified starches (e.g., ethylated starches (e.g., hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated starches), propylated, carboxymethyl, and cationic); phosphated starches (e.g., monophosphate anionic, diphosphate crosslinked); cationic, anionic, nonionic, or zwitterionic starches; succinate and substituted succinate starch derivatives; oxidized starches (e.g., those in which carbonyl or carboxyl groups have been added to starch using an oxidizing agent); and combinations thereof (e.g., cationic and anionic (e.g., amphoteric) and crosslinked propylated). In other embodiments, the starch base may be hydrolyzed with acids, enzymes, or oxidizing agents to reduce molecular weight and have a different base chemistry or structure from the source material (e.g., waxy, 100% amylopectin, potato, natural anionic phosphate, etc.). In still other embodiments, the starch base is dextrinized (e.g., dry-roasted under acidic conditions) or pregelatinized (e.g., hot or cold water dispersible). Procedures for modifying starches are well known and are described, for example, in Modified Starches: Properties and Uses, Ed. Wurzburg, CRC Press, Inc., Florida (1986).

[0037] In yet other embodiments, the modified starch is (i) modified by oxidation, phosphate addition, cross-linking, esterification, etherification, dextrinization, or any combination thereof; (ii) etherified, methylated, ethylated, propylated, alkoxylated, carboxymethylated, cationic, esterified, acylated, succinated, propylated, and phosphate cross-linked, dextrinized, or any combination thereof; (iii) acid, enzyme, oxidizing agent, and / or physical hydrolysis to reduce molecular weight; or (iv) acid hydrolyzed 2-hydroxypropyl ether, dextrin hydrogen octenyl butanedioate, acetate hexadioate, 2-hydroxyl-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether chloride, canary dextrin, or any combination thereof.

[0038] In another embodiment, the modified starch contained in one or more flow aid compositions described herein performs in moderate and high humidity environments to provide improved or equivalent flow properties compared to talc alone or in combination with graphite. In yet another embodiment, the modified starch contained in one or more flow aid compositions described herein is hydrophobically modified. In yet another embodiment, the modified starch contained in one or more flow aid compositions described herein has water repellent properties that provide excellent lubrication properties as a flow aid for seed planters.

[0039] In yet another embodiment, the hydrophobically modified starch comprises a starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation. In yet another embodiment, the hydrophobically modified starch comprises a starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl succinate comprises 7 to 20 carbons. In yet another embodiment, the hydrophobically modified starch comprises a starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation, wherein the alkyl or alkenyl succinate is octenyl succinate, nonyl succinate, decyl succinate, or dodecyl succinate.

[0040] In yet other embodiments, the starch substrate is oxidized using an oxidizing agent to provide a starch derivative containing one or more anionic moieties. In some embodiments, the anionic moieties are present in greater amounts than naturally occurring on the starch substrate. In other embodiments, the anionic moieties do not naturally occur on the starch substrate. In further embodiments, the anionic moieties are a combination of one or more different anionic moieties. In some embodiments, the one or more anionic moieties are selected from carboxylates, succinates, sulfonates, phosphates, and mixtures thereof. In still other embodiments, the one or more anionic moieties are selected from carboxylates, sulfonates, phosphates, and mixtures thereof. In other embodiments, the oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite, which is useful for producing starch carboxylate derivatives containing carboxylate anionic moieties. In some embodiments, the starch carboxylate derivatives are further modified with succinic anhydride or an alkyl or alkenyl succinic anhydride having an alkyl or alkenyl chain of 7 to 20 carbons, such as nonylsuccinic anhydride, octenylsuccinic anhydride, decylsuccinic anhydride, or dodecylsuccinic anhydride.

[0041] In further embodiments, the polyvalent cation is selected from metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the polyvalent cation is divalent or trivalent. In yet other embodiments, the divalent cation is calcium. In yet still other embodiments, the trivalent cation is aluminum, cobalt, iron, or a combination thereof. In still yet other embodiments, the polyvalent cation is aluminum, magnesium, calcium, or a mixture thereof.

[0042] In some embodiments, one or more anionic moieties are carboxylate and the multivalent cation is aluminum. In other embodiments, the hydrophobically modified starch is aluminum starch octenyl succinate. In yet other embodiments, the hydrophobically modified starch is aluminum-free.

[0043] Hydrophobically modified starches comprising starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, octenyl succinate, and a polyvalent cation can be made by oxidizing a starch base to produce a starch derivative, which is subsequently mixed with octenyl succinate anhydride to produce a mixture, which is further mixed with a polyvalent cation.

[0044] Typically, starch, when commercially available in a dry state, does not flow freely but rather tends to clump into clumps or cakes. In other words, individual starch granules tend to stick together and clump into larger lumps, thus impeding flow and ease of movement. Alternatively, free-flowing modified starches may exhibit ease of flow comparable to that of a liquid. For example, by placing a quantity of dry, free-flowing modified starch in a jar and shaking the jar, the modified starch moves with a liquid-like motion, while the unmodified starch rolls around in clumped lumps. Furthermore, when regular starch is placed in a standard separatory funnel with a tube having an inner diameter of approximately 6 mm, the regular starch cannot be poured through the tube, even when the funnel is vigorously shaken. In contrast, the majority of the free-flowing modified starch pours from the funnel under the same conditions, even when the funnel is kept stationary. In some embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein exhibit this free-flowing behavior.

[0045] In some embodiments, one or more of the flow aid compositions described herein further comprises a mineral earth lubricant. In other embodiments, the mineral earth lubricant is selected from graphite, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, and mixtures thereof. In yet other embodiments, one or more of the flow aid compositions described herein comprises 0.5 to 50 wt. % of the mineral earth lubricant, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0046] In still yet another embodiment, the one or more seeds mixed with one or more flow aid compositions described herein are (i) agricultural seeds, vegetable seeds, herb seeds, wildflower seeds, ornamental seeds, grass seeds, tree seeds, shrub seeds, or any combination thereof; or (ii) soybean, cotton, corn, peanut, maize, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, mustard, sunflower, sugar beet, safflower, millet, chicory, flax, rapeseed, buckwheat, tobacco, hemp, cannabis, alfalfa, signal grass, clover, sorghum, chickpea, kidney bean, pea, vetch, rice, sugarcane, linseed, asparagus, chives, celery, leek, garlic, beetroot, spinach, beet, curly kale, (iii) selected from cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, savoy cabbage, white cabbage, red cabbage, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, turnip, endive, chicory, watermelon, melon, cucumber, gherkin, marrow, parsley, fennel, pea, kidney bean, radish, burdock, eggplant, sweet corn, popcorn, carrot, onion, tomato, pepper, lettuce, green bean, melon, shallot, broccoli, brassica, Brussels sprouts, and any combination thereof; or (iv) corn seeds, cotton seeds, rice seeds, sorghum seeds, oat seeds, rye seeds, barley seeds, soybean seeds, vegetable seeds, wheat seeds, sugar beet seeds, sunflower seeds, lettuce seeds, hemp seeds, cannabis seeds, spinach seeds, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more seeds are capable of germination. In other embodiments, one or more seeds are dehulled (so-called hulled or dehulled seeds), and in still other embodiments, one or more seeds are primed or unprimed (treated to improve germination rate, e.g., osmopriming, hydropriming, and matrix priming).

[0047] In one embodiment, one or more seeds are coated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient to provide one or more coated / treated seeds, and the coated / treated seeds are mixed with one or more flow aid compositions described herein and placed in a commercially available seed planter for planting. In some embodiments, the commercially available seed planter is an air planter (typically using a fan in an air planter metering device to move large volumes of air through the seed disk of the planter) or a vacuum planter.

[0048] In some embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are applied at any time after one or more seeds have been coated / treated with a seed coating composition up until the time the one or more seeds are planted. In other embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are mixed with one or more seeds at the planting site, either after one or more seeds have been coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient, or simultaneously with one or more seeds that are coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient. In yet another embodiment, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are mixed with one or more seeds in a planter or hopper manually or by a mechanized system, such as a mechanized weighing system. In some embodiments, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are substantially free of talc, either alone or in combination with graphite.

[0049] In further embodiments, the flow aid composition may be present in an amount of about 2.8-141.8g / 45.4kg, about 14.2-113.4g / 45.4kg, about 28.4-99.2g / 45.4kg, about 42.5-85.0g / 45.4kg, about 56.7-85.0g / 45.4kg, about 56.7-70.9g / 45.4kg, or about 5.7g / 45.4kg, about 14.2g / 45.4kg, about 21.3g / 45.5kg, about 28.4g / 45.4kg, about 56.7g / 45.4kg, about 70.9g / 45.4kg, about 85.0g / 45.4kg, about 99.2g / 45.4kg, about 114.4 ... g / 45.4 kg, about 127.6 g / 45.4 kg, about 141.8 g / 45.4 kg, or about 5.7 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 14.2 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 21.3 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 28.4 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 42.5 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 56.7 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 70.9 g / 45.4 kg, about 85.0 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 99.2 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 113.4 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 127.6 g / 45.4 kg or more, or about 141.8 g / 45.4 kg or more to the one or more seeds. In yet another embodiment, one or more flow aid compositions described herein are applied to the one or more seeds in a manner sufficient to deliver desired properties. coated seeds

[0050] An embodiment includes a seed that has been coated and then subsequently treated with the flow aid of the present disclosure. The seed is a plant seed, such as a crop seed, a vegetable seed, an herb seed, a wildflower seed, an ornamental seed, a grass seed, a tree seed, or a shrub seed.

[0051] Preferably, the plant seeds are agricultural crops. The seeds can be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous. Suitable seeds include, for example, soybean, cotton, corn, peanut, maize, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, mustard, rapeseed (or canola), sunflower, sugar beet, safflower, millet, chicory, flax, rapeseed, buckwheat, tobacco, hemp, cannabis, alfalfa, signal grass, clover, sorghum, chickpea, kidney bean, pea, vetch, rice, sugarcane, and linseed seeds. Examples of suitable vegetable seeds include asparagus, chives, celery, leek, garlic, beetroot, spinach, beet, curly kale, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, savoy cabbage, white cabbage, red cabbage, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, turnip, endive, chicory, watermelon, melon, cucumber, gherkin, marrow, parsley, fennel, peas, beans, radish, burdock, eggplant, sweet corn, popcorn, carrot, onion, tomato, pepper, lettuce, green beans, melon, shallot, broccoli, brassicas, and Brussels sprouts.

[0052] Preferably, the plant seeds are capable of germination. Optionally, the seeds can have their shells removed (so-called shelled or peeled seeds). The seeds can be primed or unprimed (treated to improve germination rate, for example, osmopriming, hydropriming, matrix priming).

[0053] The coated seeds are typically mixed with a flow aid and then placed into a commercially available seed planter. Air planters typically use a fan in the air planter metering device to move large volumes of air through the planter's seed disk. Vacuum planters can also be used. The coated seeds are placed into a vacuum planter hopper. Use of flow aids

[0054] The components of the compositions of the present invention can be applied to the treated seeds; they can be applied at any time immediately after treating the seeds (post-treatment dust application) or during planting of the seeds.

[0055] The flow aid can be added in situ at the planter after or simultaneously with the seed coating process. The coating material can be prepared by blending various ingredients together. In some embodiments, the composition forms a premix, which is then blended with the active ingredient.

[0056] The present disclosure also provides a method of adding a flow aid to seeds. In another aspect, the flow aid is added to pretreated seeds before the pretreated seeds are placed in soil. In another aspect, the seeds are pretreated with both a treatment described herein and a flow aid before planting. In yet another aspect, the flow aid can be applied to the seeds in a planter or hopper manually or by a mechanized system, such as a mechanized weighing system. In an aspect, the flow aid is added to the seeds in the planter.

[0057] In another aspect, the treatment is added to the seeds before they are placed in a bag or container for shipment to the planting area. A flow aid is added to the seeds after the seeds arrive at the planting area. In yet another aspect, the flow aids described herein are added to pre-treated seeds (seeds previously treated with a treatment) in the hopper of a planter mechanism or planting mechanism. In another aspect, the treatment and lubricant composition are added to the seeds before they are loaded into the planter or hopper for planting.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the methods described herein do not include talc. In certain embodiments, the methods described herein do not include graphite or graphite blends.

[0059] In embodiments, the flow aid composition is about 2.8 to 141.8 g / 45.4 kg, about 14.2 to 113.4 g / 45.4 kg, about 28.4 to 99.2 g / 45.4 kg, about 42.5 to 85.0 g / 45.4 kg, about 56.7 to 85.0 g / 45.4 kg, about 56.7 to 70.9 g / 45.4 kg, or about 5.7 g / 45.4 kg, about 14.2 g / 45.4 kg, about 21.3 g / 45.5 kg, about 28.4 g / 45.4 kg, about 56.7 g / 45.4 kg, about 70.9 g / 45.4 kg, about 85.0 g / 45.4 kg, about 99.2 g / 45.4 kg, about 114.4 g / 45.4 kg, or about 114.4 g / 45.4 kg. g / 45.4 kg, about 127.6 g / 45.4 kg, about 141.8 g / 45.4 kg, or about 5.7 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 14.2 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 21.3 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 28.4 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 42.5 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 56.7 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 70.9 g / 45.4 kg, about 85.0 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 99.2 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 113.4 g / 45.4 kg or more, about 127.6 g / 45.4 kg or more, or about 141.8 g / 45.4 kg or more. In yet another aspect, the compositions described herein are applied to the seeds in a manner sufficient to deliver the desired properties.

[0060] The subject matter contemplated by this disclosure is described in the following numbered embodiments. 1. A method for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds with a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant. 2. One or more of the modified starches is hydrophobically modified; Optionally, the hydrophobically modified starch comprises a starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation; Optionally, the hydrophobically modified starch and / or modified or unmodified starch is obtained from a starch substrate selected from corn, high amylose corn, waxy corn, potato, pea, rice, glutinous rice, sago, tapioca, waxy tapioca, and mixtures thereof. 3. Contains derivatized starch, Optionally, the alkyl or alkenyl succinate contains 7 to 20 carbons and / or is octenyl succinate, nonyl succinate, decyl succinate, or dodecyl succinate; Optionally, the one or more anionic moieties are selected from carboxylates, sulfonates, phosphates, and mixtures thereof; 3. The method of claim 2, wherein optionally the multivalent cation is selected from (i) metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof. 4. One or more anionic moieties are carboxylates and the polyvalent cation is aluminum; Optionally, the hydrophobically modified starch is starch aluminum octenyl succinate. 5. The flow aid composition comprises 1 to 99 wt. % of the modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, based on the total weight of the composition; 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition optionally comprises a mineral earth lubricant selected from graphite, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, and mixtures thereof. 6. The seeds are coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient; Optionally, the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of (i) insecticides, plant growth regulators, crop desiccants, fungicides, biopesticides, biological agents containing bacteria or fungi, bactericides, bacteriostats, insecticides, nematicides, insect repellents, or any combination thereof; or (ii) insecticides, plant growth regulators, crop desiccants, fungicides, bacteriostats, insecticides, nematicides, insect repellents, triazines, sulfonylureas, uracils, ureas, and organic phosphonates, nitrilooxime fungicides, azole imidazole fungicides, benzimidazole fungicides, phenylpyrrole fungicides, phenylamide fungicides, carboxomide fungicides, triazole fungicides, and any combination thereof. 6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fungicide is a fungicide, a sulfur enamide fungicide, a dithiocarbamate fungicide, a neonicotinoid insecticide, an acylamine fungicide, a chlorinated aromatic, a dichloroaniline fungicide, a carbamate insecticide, an organothiophosphate insecticide, a perchlorinated organic insecticide, a miticide, propynyl sulfite, a triazapentadiene miticide, a chlorinated aromatic miticide, a tetradiphane, a dinitrophenol miticide, a binaplacryl, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a fertilizer, a biopesticide of plant or microbial origin, or a biologically living beneficial microorganism from the genus Bacteria or the genus Fungi, or any combination thereof. 7. The binder comprises a modified starch; Optionally, the modified starch comprises amylose, amylopectin, or any combination thereof; 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the modified starch is (i) modified by oxidation, phosphate addition, cross-linking, esterification, etherification, dextrinization, or any combination thereof; (ii) etherified, methylated, ethylated, propylated, alkoxylated, carboxymethylated, cationic, esterified, acylated, succinated, propylated, and phosphate cross-linked, dextrinized, or any combination thereof; (iii) acid, enzyme, oxidizing agent, and / or physical hydrolysis to reduce molecular weight; or (iv) acid hydrolyzed 2-hydroxypropyl ether, dextrin hydrogen octenyl butanedioate, acetate hexadioate, 2-hydroxyl-3-(trimethylammonio)propyl ether chloride, canary dextrin, or any combination thereof. 8. The seed in question is either (i) an agricultural seed, a vegetable seed, a herb seed, a wildflower seed, an ornamental plant seed, a grass seed, a tree seed, a shrub seed, or any combination thereof, or (ii) a seed derived from soybeans, cotton, corn, peanuts, maize, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, mustard, sunflower, sugar beet, safflower, millet, chicory, flax, rapeseed, buckwheat, tobacco, hemp, cannabis, alfalfa, signal grass, clover, sorghum, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas, vetch, rice, sugarcane, linseed, asparagus, chives, celery, leeks, garlic, beetroot, spinach, beets, curly kale, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, savoy cabbage, white cabbage, or any other plant or animal species. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of: radish, beet, red cabbage, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, turnip, endive, chicory, watermelon, melon, cucumber, gherkin, marrow, parsley, fennel, pea, kidney bean, radish, burdock, eggplant, sweet corn, popcorn, carrot, onion, tomato, pepper, lettuce, green bean, melon, shallot, broccoli, brassica, Brussels sprouts, and any combination thereof; or (iii) corn seed, cotton seed, rice seed, sorghum seed, oat seed, rye seed, barley seed, soybean seed, vegetable seed, wheat seed, sugar beet seed, sunflower seed, lettuce seed, hemp seed, cannabis seed, spinach seed, or a mixture thereof. 9. The flow aid composition is free-flowing; 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the flow aid composition optionally reduces seed clumping and / or bridging for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof, and the seeds are optionally coated / treated with the seed coating composition. 10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising planting said seeds, wherein said seeds are optionally planted with a mechanical seed planter. 11. A plurality of seeds comprising a flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant, and optionally a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder; Optionally, the plurality of seeds, wherein the seeds are selected from corn seeds, cotton seeds, rice seeds, sorghum seeds, oat seeds, rye seeds, barley seeds, soybean seeds, vegetable seeds, wheat seeds, sugar beet seeds, sunflower seeds, lettuce seeds, hemp seeds, cannabis seeds, spinach seeds, or mixtures thereof. 12. The modified starch is hydrophobically modified; 12. The seed of claim 11, comprising a starch that is optionally derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation. 13. Contains derivatized starch; Optionally, the alkenyl or alkyl succinate contains 7 to 20 carbons and / or is nonyl succinic anhydride, octenyl succinate, decyl succinate, or dodecyl succinate; Optionally, the one or more anionic moieties are selected from carboxylates, sulfonates, phosphates, and mixtures thereof; 13. The seed of claim 12, wherein optionally the polyvalent cation is selected from (i) metal ions, alkaline earth metal ions, and mixtures thereof, or (ii) aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof. 14. The seed according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the modified and / or unmodified starch is obtained from a starch substrate selected from corn, high amylose corn, waxy corn, potato, pea, rice, waxy rice, sago, tapioca, waxy tapioca, and mixtures thereof. 15. A flow aid composition comprising modified starch, unmodified starch, or a mixture thereof, the flow aid composition optionally comprising a mineral earth lubricant, the flow aid composition (i) being free-flowing and / or (ii) reducing seed clumping for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof, the seeds optionally being coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder; Optionally, a flow aid composition comprising a starch, wherein the modified starch is hydrophobically modified, optionally derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with alkyl or alkenyl succinate, and complexed with a polyvalent cation. Example

[0061] Embodiments of the present invention are further defined in the following non-limiting examples. It should be understood that these examples, while indicating specific embodiments of the present invention, are provided for illustrative purposes only. From the above discussion and these examples, one skilled in the art can ascertain the essential features of the present invention and can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present invention to adapt them to various uses and conditions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, various modifications of the embodiments of the present invention, in addition to those shown and described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Example 1 Preparation of seeds coated / treated with seed coating compositions Seed Coating Composition

[0062] A commercially available seed coating / treatment product, Avicta® Complete Corn 250 Seed Treatment (Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, Greensboro, NC), the composition of which is set forth in Table 1 (hereinafter "Active Ingredient Blend A"), was used to coat / treat the seeds in this example. Additionally, a commercially available seed coating / treatment product, Acceleron® Seed Treatment (Bayer Crop Science, St. Louis, MO), the composition of which is set forth in Table 2 (hereinafter "Active Ingredient Blend B"), was also used to coat / treat the seeds in this example. [Table 1] [Table 2]

[0063] The seed coating starch binders and commercially available synthetic polymers used in the seed coating / treatment of this Example 1 are listed in Table 3. [Table 3] Seed Coating / Treatment:

[0064] For seeds coated / treated with Active Ingredient Blend A, a 0.454 kg batch of corn seeds (XL-corn seeds, round variety from Corteva, Indianapolis, IN) was coated using a clear plastic bag. A seed coating / treatment slurry was prepared by combining Active Ingredient Blend A, liquid starch, or synthetic polymer, as described in Table 3, with water and colorant. The seed coating / treatment slurry and 0.454 kg of untreated corn seeds were then added to the plastic bag and shaken for 50 seconds to coat the corn seeds. After 50 seconds, 1.0 g of dry mica powder (Pyrisma® F80-51 SW Ferric red (Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, particle size d50 = 16 μm)) was added to each bag, which was then shaken for an additional 10 seconds to provide the uniformly coated dried seeds described in Table 4 and depicted in FIG. 1. [Table 4]

[0065] For seeds coated / treated with active ingredient blend B, a 136 kg batch of corn seed (corn seed, variety S-2338, Ingredion Inc., Westchester, IL) was coated using a continuous batch processing system. Active ingredient blend B, liquid starch or synthetic polymer binder, and colorant, as described in Table 3, were added to the treater bowl of the continuous batch processing system using an automated, calibrated metering device with a 60 second processing cycle time to provide the uniformly coated dry seeds described in Table 5 and depicted in Figure 2. [Table 5] Example 2 Comparison of flowability of coated / treated seeds in the presence and absence of flow aids

[0066] This example compares the coated / treated seeds of Example 1D mixed with a hydrophobically modified starch (starch, 1-octenylbutanediate, aluminum salt) to the coated / treated seeds of Example 1D mixed with an 80% talc / 20% graphite composition (hereinafter the "80 / 20 composition") and the coated / treated seeds of Example 1D that were not mixed with a flow aid, using a ratio of 56.0 g / 45.4 kg of seeds.

[0067] Example 2A: 1 g of the 80 / 20 composition in powder form was thoroughly mixed with 0.907 kg of the seeds of Example 1D. The seeds were then passed through a 2-quart funnel (see schematic of the funnel shown in Figure 4), and the elapsed time in seconds was recorded. Fourteen replicates were performed, and the results were averaged. The results of Example 2A are shown in Table 6 and depicted graphically in Figure 5.

[0068] Example 2B: 1 g of hydrophobically modified starch powder was thoroughly mixed with 0.907 kg of the seeds of Example 1D. The seeds were then passed through a 2-quart funnel as shown in Figure 4, and the elapsed time in seconds was recorded. Fourteen replicates were performed and the results were averaged. The results for Example 2B are shown in Table 6 and graphically depicted in Figure 5, with the lower values ​​indicating better flowability. The results from this test indicate that the hydrophobically modified starch powder performed slightly better than or equivalent to the 80 / 20 composition when using the same amount of powder lubricant.

[0069] Example 2C: The same method used in Examples 2A and 2B was used for Example 2C. For Example 2C, flowability was measured without any flow aid (the coated / treated seeds of Example 1D were used "as is"). [Table 6] Example 3 Comparison of flowability of coated / treated seeds mixed with talc or hydrophobically modified starch

[0070] This example then compared the flowability of seeds coated / treated with Active Ingredient Blend B mixed with either talc or hydrophobically modified starch (starch, 1-octenylbutanediate, aluminum salt) using a ratio of 58 g / 45.4 kg seed.

[0071] Examples 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, and 3E: 3.5 g of talc powder or hydrophobically modified powdered starch was thoroughly mixed with 2.72 kg of coated / treated seeds of Examples 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, or 1I. The seeds were then passed through a funnel as depicted in Figure 6, and the elapsed time in seconds was recorded. Flowability tests were conducted in a fume hood with a relative humidity of 35±4% and a temperature of 23.8±0.9°C. Ten replicates were performed for each example, and the results were averaged. Figure 3 shows photographs of coated / treated seeds of Example 1H further mixed with (i) no flow aid / lubricant, (ii) talc, or (iii) hydrophobically modified powdered starch. In contrast to talc, the hydrophobically modified powdered starch uniformly coated the coated / treated seeds of Example 1H and provided superior lubrication properties. Relative flowability data for Examples 3A-3E are presented in Table 7 and graphically depicted in Figure 7. [Table 7]

[0072] The data in Table 7 show that the hydrophobically modified starch performs similarly to talc at 35% relative humidity and 23.8°C. Example 4 Comparison of flowability of coated / treated seeds in the presence and absence of various flow aids

[0073] Using a ratio of 58 g / 45.4 kg seed, the flowability of seeds coated / treated with active ingredient blend B without or with talc was compared to seeds coated / treated with hydrophobically modified starch (starch, 1-octenylbutanediate, aluminum salt), unmodified corn starch, octenylsuccinic anhydride ("OSA") modified corn starch, unmodified corn starch blended with tricalcium phosphate, or a starch blend containing unmodified corn starch, hydrophobically modified starch, and tricalcium phosphate.

[0074] Examples 4A-4F: 3.5 g of each of hydrophobically modified starch (starch, 1-octenylbutanediate, aluminum salt) (Example 4F), unmodified corn starch (Example 4D), talc (Example 4E), octenylsuccinic anhydride ("OSA") modified corn starch (Example 4F), unmodified corn starch blended with tricalcium phosphate (Examples 4A and 4B), or a starch blend containing unmodified corn starch, hydrophobically modified starch, and tricalcium phosphate (Example 4C) was each thoroughly mixed separately with 2.72 kg of the coated / treated seeds of Example 1B. The seeds were then passed through a funnel depicted in FIG. 6, and the elapsed time in seconds was recorded.

[0075] Example 4G: 2.72 kg of the coated / treated seeds of Example 1B were passed through the funnel depicted in Figure 6 and the elapsed time in seconds was recorded. The seeds of Example 4G were not mixed with a flow aid before passing through the funnel.

[0076] Flowability tests were conducted in a fume hood with a relative humidity of 35±4% and a temperature of 23.8±0.9°C. Ten replicates were performed per test and the results were averaged. The relative flowability data are presented in Table 8 and illustrated graphically in Figure 8. [Table 8]

[0077] The data showed that coated / treated seeds mixed with modified starch, unmodified starch, or a blend of modified and unmodified starch mixed with tricalcium phosphate had better flow properties than coated / treated seeds not mixed with a flow aid. Example 5 Plantability of seeds coated / treated with Active Ingredient Blend B and mixed with flow aid

[0078] A plantability test was performed to measure the percentage of singulation, skips, and misses. The treated seeds were preconditioned for 48 hours under test conditions. A precision planting meter eSet using a John Deere vacuum planting head was used for this test. The planting meter was set to settings with a seed / acre count of 35,000, a speed of 6.6 km / h, and a vacuum speed of 124.8 kPa. The vacuum planting unit simulates planting in a field and uses air pressure to attach the seeds to a disk. The machine records information such as the percentage of singulation, skips, and multiples. Seeds from Example 1H were used in this test. Approximately 1000 g of seeds (hopper fill amount) were used for each test. Each test was performed using 1.32 g of the 80 / 20 composition of Example 2 in powder form, which was added to the seeds in the hopper. For the hydrophobically modified starch (starch, 1-octenyl butanediate, aluminum salt) alone and in combination with unmodified corn starch, 1.32 g of the starch being tested was added to the seeds in the hopper. Data from this test are presented in Table 9. [Table 9]

[0079] While the present invention has been described in conjunction with detailed descriptions herein, it is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not limiting on the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Other embodiments, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims. The features expressed in the foregoing specification, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, either in specific form or in terms of means for conveniently performing a disclosed function or a method or process for obtaining a disclosed result, can be utilized to realize the invention in various forms, either individually or in any combination of such features.

Claims

1. 1. A method for improving seed planter flowability, comprising mixing one or more seeds with a flow aid composition comprising a modified starch or a mixture of modified and unmodified starches; the one or more modified starches are hydrophobically modified starches derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with alkyl or alkenyl succinic acid, and complexed with a polyvalent cation, wherein one or more of the anionic moieties are carboxylates and the polyvalent cation is aluminum; the flow aid composition comprises a mineral earth lubricant, the mineral earth lubricant being selected from graphite, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, and mixtures thereof; The method, wherein the flow aid composition comprises 1 to 99% by weight of the modified starch or a mixture of the modified and unmodified starches, based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The method described in claim 1, wherein one or more of the modified starches is starch aluminum octenyl succinate.

3. A method as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more of the unmodified starches and / or modified starches are obtained from a starch substrate selected from corn, high amylose corn, waxy corn, potato, pea, rice, waxy rice, sago, tapioca, waxy tapioca, and mixtures thereof.

4. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the seeds are coated / treated with a seed coating composition comprising a binder and an active ingredient.

5. The active ingredient is (i) an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a crop desiccant, a fungicide, a biopesticide, a biological agent containing bacteria or fungi, a bactericide, a bacteriostat, an insecticide, a nematicide, an insect repellent, or any combination thereof, or (ii) an insecticide, a plant growth regulator, a crop desiccant, a fungicide, a bacteriostat, an insecticide, a nematicide, an insect repellent, a triazine, a sulfonylurea, a uracil, a urea, and an organic phosphonate, a nitrilooxime fungicide, an azole imidazole fungicide, a benzimidazole fungicide, a phenylpyrrole fungicide, a phenylamide fungicide, a carboxomide fungicide, a triazole fungicide.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the active ingredient is a fungicide, a sulfur enamide fungicide, a dithiocarbamate fungicide, a neonicotinoid insecticide, an acylamine fungicide, a chlorinated aromatic, a dichloroaniline fungicide, a carbamate insecticide, an organothiophosphate insecticide, a perchlorinated organic insecticide, a miticide, propynyl sulfite, a triazapentadiene miticide, a chlorinated aromatic miticide, a tetradiphane, a dinitrophenol miticide, a binaplacryl, an adjuvant, a surfactant, a fertilizer, a biopesticide of plant or microbial origin, or a biologically living beneficial microorganism from the genus bacteria or fungi, or any combination thereof.

6. The seed is (i) an agricultural seed, a vegetable seed, a herb seed, a wildflower seed, an ornamental plant seed, a grass seed, a tree seed, a shrub seed, or any combination thereof, or (ii) a seed selected from the group consisting of soybeans, cotton, corn, peanuts, maize, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, mustard, sunflower, sugar beet, safflower, millet, chicory, flax, rapeseed, buckwheat, tobacco, hemp, cannabis, alfalfa, signal grass, clover, sorghum, chickpeas, kidney beans, peas, vetch, rice, sugarcane, linseed, asparagus, chives, celery, leeks, garlic, beetroot, spinach, beets, curly kale, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, savoy cabbage, and white cabbage.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of: radish, red cabbage, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, turnip, endive, chicory, watermelon, melon, cucumber, gherkin, marrow, parsley, fennel, pea, kidney bean, radish, burdock, eggplant, sweet corn, popcorn, carrot, onion, tomato, pepper, lettuce, green bean, melon, shallot, broccoli, brassica, Brussels sprouts, and any combination thereof; or (iii) corn seed, cotton seed, rice seed, sorghum seed, oat seed, rye seed, barley seed, soybean seed, vegetable seed, wheat seed, sugar beet seed, sunflower seed, lettuce seed, hemp seed, cannabis seed, spinach seed, or a mixture thereof.

7. 1. A plurality of seeds comprising a flow aid composition comprising a modified starch or a mixture of modified and unmodified starch, the modified starch is a hydrophobically modified starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinic acid, and complexed with a polyvalent cation, wherein one or more of the anionic moieties is a carboxylate and the polyvalent cation is aluminum; the flow aid composition comprises a mineral earth lubricant, the mineral earth lubricant being selected from graphite, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, and mixtures thereof; A plurality of seeds, wherein the flow aid composition comprises 1 to 99% by weight of the modified starch or a mixture of the modified and unmodified starches, based on the total weight of the composition.

8. The seed of claim 7, further comprising a seed coating composition comprising an active ingredient and a binder.

9. The seed according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the seed is selected from corn seeds, cotton seeds, rice seeds, sorghum seeds, oat seeds, rye seeds, barley seeds, soybean seeds, vegetable seeds, wheat seeds, sugar beet seeds, sunflower seeds, lettuce seeds, hemp seeds, cannabis seeds, spinach seeds, or mixtures thereof.

10. 10. The seed according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the modified starch and / or unmodified starch is obtained from a starch substrate selected from corn, high amylose corn, waxy corn, potato, pea, rice, glutinous rice, sago, tapioca, waxy tapioca, and mixtures thereof.

11. 1. Use of a flow aid composition comprising modified starch or a mixture of modified and unmodified starch, the modified starch is a hydrophobically modified starch derivatized with one or more anionic moieties, etherified with an alkyl or alkenyl succinic acid, and complexed with a polyvalent cation, wherein one or more of the anionic moieties is a carboxylate and the polyvalent cation is aluminum; the flow aid composition comprises a mineral earth lubricant selected from graphite, tricalcium phosphate, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, mica, talc, titanium dioxide, kaolin clay, and mixtures thereof to render one or more seeds mixed therewith free-flowing; The flow aid composition comprises 1 to 99% by weight of the modified starch or a mixture of the modified and unmodified starches, based on the total weight of the composition.

12. The use of claim 11, wherein the flow aid composition reduces seed agglomeration and / or bridging for one or more seeds mixed with talc, graphite, or a mixture thereof.

Images