Film and seed coating compositions

Abstract

Film Coating Composition The formed seed coating composition comprises a film-forming composition. [Solution] The thin film coating composition contains a rosin resin and / or a starch derivative and a wax dispersion. The total amount of rosin / starch and wax in the thin film coating composition ranges from 2 to 60% by weight. The seed coating formulation optionally contains agrochemical actives and / or nutrients and is applied to seeds or bulbs for wet and dry flowability, abrasion resistance, dust-off, germination, planting suitability, and color retention. In particular, the seed coating composition provides these properties while being essentially or completely free of microplastics. Methods for making the formulation and for treating seeds or bulbs with the seed coating formulation are also provided.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to films and seed coating compositions, methods of forming and coating films and seed coating compositions onto seeds or bulbs, and coated seeds or bulbs for use in coating seeds or bulbs. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, plant seeds are often coated before sowing to protect the seeds from damage during handling and / or improve handling properties.Seeds are often coated to provide the seeds and seedlings with useful substances (active ingredients) during germination, such as plant nutrients, growth stimulants, and plant protection products.Many existing seed coatings also have the disadvantage of containing undesirable components, such as microplastics. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention seeks to provide thin film and seed coating compositions that provide desirable wet flowability, abrasion resistance, dust-off, germination, and plantability for seeds coated with the formulation and plants produced from the coated seeds, preferably essentially or completely free of microplastics while providing the necessary physical properties.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present invention, i) rosin resin and / or starch derivatives; and ii) containing a wax dispersion; The total amount of the rosin resin and / or starch derivative and the wax dispersion is in the range of 2% by weight to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. A thin film coating composition is provided.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present invention, i) rosin resin and / or starch derivatives; and ii) formulating a wax dispersion; The total amount of the rosin resin and / or starch derivative and the wax dispersion is in the range of 2% by weight to 60% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. A method for forming a thin film coating composition is provided.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of coating seeds or bulbs, comprising applying to said seeds or bulbs a seed coating composition comprising a thin film coating composition according to the first aspect.

[0007] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a seed or bulb comprising a seed coating, said seed coating composition comprising a thin film coating composition according to the first aspect.

[0008] The thin film coating composition of the present invention can be used to improve seed or bulb physical qualities, particularly wet and dry flowability, abrasion resistance, dust-off, germination, planting suitability, and color retention. In particular, the seed coating composition can provide the necessary physical properties while allowing for seed coating that is essentially or completely free of microplastics. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] As used herein, the terms "for example," "for instance," "such as," or "including" are intended to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise specified, these examples are provided only as an aid in understanding the applications illustrated in this disclosure and are not intended to be limiting in any way.

[0010] As used herein, the term "seed" is intended to refer, in particular, to the mature ovule of gymnosperms and angiosperms, which comprises 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. When this layer adheres to the seed, particularly in cereal grains, it is sometimes called a spikelet or achene. As used herein, the term "seed coat" is intended to include a spikelet or achene. The term "seed" includes anything that can be planted in agriculture to produce a plant, including pelleted seeds, true seeds, plant seedlings, rootstocks, regenerating and plant-forming tissues, and tubers or bulbs.

[0011] As used herein, the term "coating" is intended to refer to the application of a material to a seed surface, for example, as a layer of material around the seed. Coatings include thin film coating, pelleting, and encrustation, or combinations of these techniques known in the art. The term "thin film coating" will be understood to refer to a concentrated composition that can be diluted and then formed into a slurry with other ingredients added, such as a pesticide active, to form a "seed coating" that is applied to the seed or bulb. As used herein, the term "seed coating composition" is intended to refer to a composition used to coat seeds.

[0012] The coating is preferably applied to substantially the entire surface area of ​​the seed to form a layer, such as 90% or more of the surface area of ​​the seed, however, the coating may be complete or partial, for example, 20% or more, or 50% or more of the surface area of ​​the seed.

[0013] The seed is a plant seed, for example an agricultural crop or field crop seed, a vegetable seed, an herb seed, a wildflower seed, an ornamental plant seed, a pasture seed, a tree seed, or a shrub seed.

[0014] Preferably, the plant seeds are seeds of agricultural crops. The seeds may be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous. Suitable seeds include crop seeds such as soybean, cotton, corn, cereals including, but not limited to, wheat, barley, oat, and rye, rapeseed (or canola), sunflower, sugar beet, flax, rapeseed, tobacco, hemp seed, alfalfa, signal grass, sorghum, chickpea, bean, pea, rice, and sugarcane. Examples of suitable vegetable seeds include asparagus, chives, celery, leek, garlic, beetroot, spinach, sugar beet, turnip, endive, chicory, parsley, fennel, radish, black salsify, eggplant, carrot, onion, tomato, pepper, lettuce, green beans, shallot, safflower, chicory, and crops in the Brassicaceae or Cucurbitaceae family.

[0015] Preferably, the seeds are selected from crop seeds selected from the group consisting of corn, sunflower, soybean, cotton, rice, and spinach.

[0016] Preferably, the plant seeds are capable of germinating. If necessary, the seeds may have had the outer covering removed (so-called dehulled or dehulled seeds).

[0017] The term "bulb" includes the bulb that grows into a bulbous plant, and can include the genera Allium, Anemone, Crocus, Daffodil, Eranthis, Galanthus, Hyacinth, Iris, Lilies, Muscari, Scilla, and Tulip.

[0018] The present invention may be used for seeds or bulbs, but it is envisaged that it may be particularly suitable for use with seeds.

[0019] A "rosin resin" or "rosin ester" according to the present invention is any molecule in which at least two resin acid or resin acid derivative units are linked by at least two ester bonds. Any molecule having at least two hydroxyl groups can be used to provide the ester bonds between the at least two resin acid units. Common examples include, but are not limited to, glycerol esters, pentaerythritol esters, and (triethylene) glycol esters.

[0020] "Resin acids" according to the present invention are understood to include mixtures of various resin acid molecules. Readily available, naturally occurring mixtures of this type include, but are not limited to, tall oil rosin, gum rosin, or wood rosin. These natural mixtures may contain varying amounts of abietic and / or pimaric resin acids, such as abietic acid, palustric acid, neoabietic acid, levopimaric acid, pimaric acid, isopimaric acid, or dehydroabietic acid, among others. In addition to resin acids having one carboxylic acid functional group, resin acids having two or more carboxylic acid functional groups are also considered resin acids within the meaning of the present invention.

[0021] A "resin acid derivative" according to the present invention is any molecule having a molecular resin acid backbone but modified with at least one of the following: In one embodiment, at least one bond is hydrogenated (hydrogenation); in another embodiment, at least one of the rosin rings and backbone is dehydrogenated to produce an aromatic ring (dehydrogenation); and in yet another embodiment, adducts to the conjugated double bonds of the resin acid backbone are included, particularly the addition of maleic anhydride in a Diels-Alder reaction. The resulting adducts are considered to be a type of resin acid derivative according to the present invention.

[0022] A "resin dispersion" according to the present invention is a dispersion of rosin resin entities in which the solvent is generally water or an aqueous solution. However, non-aqueous solvents, particularly mixtures of organic solvents and water, should also be suitable, provided that foaming or other dispersibility properties are not adversely affected. Mixtures of other water-soluble solvents and water could also be used.

[0023] Suitably, any rosin resin or any rosin resin-based material conventionally used in resin dispersions is suitable for use in accordance with the present invention. For example, suitable classes of resins include rosin esters, rosin resins, pentaerythritol, glycerol, triethylene glycol esters of rosin, or mixtures thereof.

[0024] Suitable rosin resins include, but are not limited to, esters of natural and modified rosins and their hydrogenated derivatives. Suitably, mixtures of two or more of the above resins may be used in some embodiments.

[0025] Suitably, in other embodiments, the rosin can be unmodified or modified. There are many different ways to modify rosin. For example, rosin can be esterified. In some embodiments, the rosin is a glycerol, pentaerythritol, or triethylene glycol ester of resin acid. Suitably, in other embodiments, any low molecular weight compound containing multiple hydroxyl groups could be used to produce rosin esters.

[0026] Rosin resins suitable for the aqueous resin dispersion of the present invention include resin acids and rosin derivatives. Resin acids are produced from tree, rubber, or tall oil rosin. Wood rosin is harvested from tree stumps. Gum rosin is collected from tree sap in areas such as China and Brazil. Tall oil rosin is a by-product of the kraft paper process. The distribution of resin acid isomers varies within each of these sources. Resin acids may be partially or fully hydrogenated or disproportionated.

[0027] Rosin derivatives may be dimerized or polymerized from resin acids. Rosin derivatives also include rosin esters, which are the reaction products of resin acids with mono- or polyfunctional alcohols. Aromatic and aliphatic alcohols suitable for synthesizing rosin esters include, but are not limited to, pentaerythritol, glycerol, triethylene glycol, and methanol. Rosin derivatives may be modified with phenol, maleic acid, fumaric acid, or other suitable polar compounds. Resin acids may be partially or fully hydrogenated or disproportionated.

[0028] The rosin resin may be characterized by a ring and ball softening point ranging from about 10° C. to about 150° C. and have a molecular weight of 300 to 10,000 g / mol. More specifically, the resin has a softening point ranging from about 10° C. to about 100° C. and a molecular weight of 300 to 3,000 g / mol.

[0029] Rosin resin dispersions suitable for the present invention comprise aqueous dispersions of rosin resin containing 20 to 80% resin, preferably 30 to 70% resin, and more preferably 40 to 60% resin.

[0030] The composition may include starch derivatives as a substitute for or in addition to rosin. Starch derivatives of the present invention refer specifically to starch and related polymeric carbohydrates.

[0031] Examples include starch, and dextrins (including cyclodextrins), and maltodextrins.

[0032] Starch may be derived from plant sources, including corn / maize, rice, tapioca, and potato. Derivatives of starch obtained from these plant sources that have been modified by chemical / physical methods, including, but not limited to, hydrolysis, esterification, etherification, cross-linking, grafting, oxidation, and acetylation, or combinations thereof, are also contemplated herein. Starches modified by breeding and genetics, such as waxy corn starch, resistant starch, and other starches, are also included.

[0033] The starch used as the basis of the present invention may be from any natural source. Native starch is that found in nature. Starches from plants obtained by standard breeding techniques, including crossbreeding, translocation, inversion, transformation, or other methods of gene or chromosome engineering, are also suitable. In addition, starches from plants bred from artificial mutations and variations of the above general composition that can be produced by known standard methods of mutation breeding are also suitable.

[0034] Typical sources for starches and flours are cereals, tubers, legumes and fruits. Natural sources can be corn, pea, potato, sweet potato, banana, barley, wheat, rice, sago, amaranth, tapioca, arrowroot, canna, sorghum, and waxy or high amylose varieties thereof.

[0035] The wax, if designated as biodegradable or non-polymeric, may be selected from the group consisting of natural waxes, or mineral or synthetic waxes. Preferably, the wax is selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, beeswax, sunflower wax, soybean oil wax, rice bran wax, lanolin wax, sugarcane wax, palm wax, or other vegetable waxes, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) wax, calcium stearate, or polylactic acid (PLA) wax.

[0036] A mixture of two or more waxes can also be present in the thin film coating composition of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the wax is selected from the group consisting of vegetable waxes. The wax is used as a wax dispersion or emulsion product, which can be an anionic dispersion / emulsion, a nonionic wax dispersion / emulsion, or a cationic wax dispersion / emulsion. Most preferably, the wax can be an anionic or nonionic dispersion / emulsion. Cationic wax dispersions / emulsions can cause caking problems when the thin film coating composition is formulated with an anionically stabilized active ingredient.

[0037] The film coating composition and / or seed coating composition may also contain other ingredients as needed. These other ingredients include: diluents, absorbents or carriers such as carbon black; talc; diatomaceous earth; kaolin; aluminum, calcium or magnesium stearate; sodium tripolyphosphate; sodium tetraborate; sodium sulfate; sodium, aluminum and mixed sodium-aluminum silicates; and sodium benzoate, surfactants, substances that swell in water, such as carboxymethylcellulose, collodion, polyvinylpyrrolidone and microcrystalline cellulose; disintegrants, such as sodium or potassium acetate, salts of sodium carbonate, bicarbonate or sesquicarbonate, ammonium sulfate and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate; Wetting agents such as alcohol ethoxylate and alcohol ethoxylate / propoxylate wetting agents; Dispersants such as sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates and acrylic copolymers such as comb copolymers with polyethylene glycol side chains capped onto a polyacrylic backbone; · Antifoaming agents, for example polysiloxane antifoaming agents, typically 0.005% to 10% by weight of the formulation; viscosity modifiers, such as commercially available water-soluble or miscible gums, e.g., xanthan gum, and / or cellulosic materials, e.g., carboxy-methyl, ethyl, or propyl cellulose; and / or organic acids, or esters or salts thereof, such as ascorbic acid, e.g., ascorbyl palmitate, sorbic acid, e.g., potassium sorbate, benzoic acid, e.g., methyl and propyl benzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate, propionic acid, e.g., sodium propionate, phenol, e.g., sodium 2-phenylphenate; or formaldehyde as such or paraformaldehyde; or inorganic substances, such as sulfuric acid and its salts, typically in an amount of 0.01% to 1% by weight of the formulation, Pigment concentrates, effect pigments and pearlescent pigments may be selected from those including:

[0038] The amount of water in the seed coating composition is suitably less than 85% by weight, preferably less than 80% by weight, more preferably less than 75% by weight, especially in the range 35 to 70% by weight, especially 45 to 65% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0039] The thin film and / or seed coating compositions of the present invention may also include one or more optional pigments that function to provide an aesthetic effect when coated on a seed. The pigments are preferably inorganic and may be, for example, effect and / or color pigments known in the art.

[0040] Examples of suitable effect pigments include pearlescent pigments of different particle sizes. Effect pigments having a particle size of 60 μm or less, or 15 μm or less may be used. The particle size of the effect pigments is preferably 200 μm or less, more preferably 100 μm or less. Typically, the particle size of the effect pigments is 1 μm or more. Another effect pigment may be aluminum. Effect pigments can be used to create an attractive decorative appearance on the seeds.

[0041] Examples of color pigments include Pigment Red 112 (CAS No. 6535-46-2), Pigment Red 2 (CAS No. 6041-94-7), Pigment Red 48:2 (CAS No. 7023-61-2), Pigment Blue 15:3 (CAS No. 147-14-8), Pigment Green 36 (CAS No. 14302-13-7), Pigment Green 7 (CAS No. 1328-53-6), Pigment Yellow 74 (CAS No. 6358-31-2), Pigment Orange 5 (CAS No. 3468-63-1), Pigment Violet 23 (CAS No. 6358-30-1), Pigment Black 7 (CAS No. 97793 37 8), and Pigment White 6 (CAS No. 98084-96-9). The particle size of the color pigment is preferably 100 μm or less, more preferably 50 μm or less. Typically, the particle size of the color pigment is 25 μm or more.

[0042] Dyes such as anthraquinone, triphenylmethane, phthalocyanine, derivatives thereof, and diazonium salts may be used in addition to or as an alternative to colored pigments.

[0043] The amount of pigment in the film and / or seed coating composition, if present, suitably ranges from 0.1 to 15% by weight, preferably from 1.0 to 8.0% by weight, more preferably from 2.0 to 5.0% by weight, especially from 2.5 to 3.5% by weight, and especially from 2.8 to 3.2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0044] The seed coating composition of the present invention may also include a surfactant, such as a wetting agent, dispersant, and / or emulsifier, which may aid in mixing / emulsifying / dispersing the wax and / or pigment particles in the preblend and seed coating composition.

[0045] The seed coating composition of the present invention may include additional ingredients such as one or more selected from solvents, thickeners, antifoaming agents, preservatives, and slip additives.

[0046] Suitable thickeners include agar, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan, chitin, fucoidan, ghatti, gum arabic, karaya, laminaran, locust bean gum, pectin, alginate, guar gum, xanthan gum, diutan gum, and tragacanth, bentonite clay, HEUR (hydrophobically modified ethoxylated urethane) thickener, HASE (hydrophobically modified alkali swellable emulsion) thickener, and polyacrylate.Gum is generally preferred due to its low cost, availability, and excellent ability to enhance the physical properties of the resulting coating film.

[0047] Examples of suitable defoamers include polyethylene glycol, glycerin, mineral oil defoamers, silicone defoamers, and non-silicone defoamers (such as polyethers, polyacrylates), dimethylpolysiloxane (silicone oil), arylalkyl-modified polysiloxanes, polyether siloxane copolymers with fumed silica. The defoamer may be present in some embodiments of the seed coating composition in an amount of at least 1 ppm by weight, or 0.1 to 0.3% by weight, based on the total weight of the seed coating composition.

[0048] The seed coating composition may further comprise one or more solvents other than water. The solvent may be selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons. Mixtures of solvents can also be used. The solvent is liquid at 20°C and 1 atmosphere. Examples of suitable solvents include glycols and their esters and ethers, particularly ethylene and propylene glycol and their esters and ethers, e.g., esters and ethers having C1-C6 alkyl and / or aromatic groups, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, benzyl, and phenyl ethers, including mono- and dialkyl ethers, and esters of these ethers, such as acetate esters, as well as ethylene and propylene glycol esters of fatty acids; polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polypropylene glycol and their esters, especially esters with fatty acids; butyl cellosolve, butyl carbitol, polyethylene glycol; alkyl alcohols having 10 or fewer carbon atoms, such as N-methylpyrrolidone, glycerin, ethanol, propanol, and butanol. Other examples of solvents include dipropylene glycol methyl ether and propylene glycol methyl ether. An important solvent is ethylene glycol. Further examples include synthetic esters such as propylene tetramer and lactate esters, especially ethyl lactate, and benzoate esters, such as isopropyl or 2-ethylhexyl benzoate. Aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, aliphatic and paraffinic solvents, and vegetable oils can also be used as solvents. Aromatic solvents are less preferred.

[0049] The seed coating composition may also contain components with a plasticizing effect, such as surfactants or antifreeze agents. Typical surfactants include amphiphilic organic compounds, typically containing a terminal branched, linear, or aromatic hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, or siloxane chain and a hydrophilic group. Some types of surfactants include nonionic, anionic, cationic, and amphiphilic surfactants, as well as organosilicone and organofluorine surfactants. Some examples of surfactants include polyoxyethylene glycol and polyoxypropylene ethers and esters, particularly their alkyl, aryl, and alkylaryl ethers, as well as sulfate, phosphate, and sulfonate compounds of such ethers, glucoside (alkyl) ethers, glycerol esters such as alkyl and fatty acid esters, sorbitan (alkyl) esters, acetylene compounds, cocamide compounds, and block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol. Further examples of surfactants include alkylamine salts and alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, such as betaine surfactants and amino acid surfactants; as well as polyhydric alcohols, fatty acid esters, particularly C12-C18 fatty acids, examples of polyglycerols include pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sorbitan, and sucrose, polyhydric alcohol alkyl ethers, fatty acid alkanolamides, and propoxylated and ethoxylated compounds such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, polyethoxylated tallowamines, and alkylphenol ethoxylates. Some examples of anionic surfactants include carboxylic acids, carboxylic acids, sulfonates, sulfonic acid compounds, and phosphonates, such as copolymers of lignin sulfonate and (linear) alkylarylsulfonate.

[0050] Antifreeze agents include, for example: ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and glycerin, with the preferred glycols being ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.

[0051] Biocides can be included in some embodiments of the seed coating composition, for example, as a preservative, to extend the shelf life of the seed coating composition prior to application to seeds, such as during storage. Examples of suitable biocides include MIT (2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; CAS No. 2682 20-4), BIT (1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one; CAS No. 2632-33-5), CIT (5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one), bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitro-propane-1,3-diol), and / or combinations thereof.

[0052] The seed coating composition may comprise one or more biologically active ingredients (plant enhancers, in particular plant protection products (also called PPPs)). Suitable examples of active ingredients, in particular plant enhancers, are fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, nematicides, molluscicides, biologicals, acaricides or miticides, pesticides, and biocides. Further possible active ingredients include disinfectants, microorganisms, rodenticides, weed killers (herbicides), attractants, (bird) repellents, plant growth regulators (such as gibberellic acid, auxins, or cytokinins), nutrients (such as potassium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, iron chelators), plant hormones, minerals, plant extracts, germination stimulants, pheromones, biologicals, and others.

[0053] The amount of active ingredient to be applied will of course depend strongly on the type of active ingredient and the type of seed used. However, typically, the amount of one or more active ingredients ranges from 0.001 to 200 g per kg of seed. Those skilled in the art can determine the appropriate amount of active ingredient depending on the active ingredient and the type of seed used. It is common for those skilled in the art to follow the advice of active ingredient suppliers (e.g., BASF, Bayer, Syngenta, Corteva, etc.), such as by using the specifications and technical data sheets and / or the following recommended standards.

[0054] Typical fungicides include captan ((N-trichloromethyl)thio-4-cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboximide), thiram tetramethylthioperoxydicarbonic diamide (commercially available as Proseed™), metalaxyl (methyl N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-N-(methoxyacetyl)-d,l-alaninate), fludioxonil (4-(2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile; commercially available in combination with mefenoxam as Maxim™ XL), difenoconazole (commercially available as Dividend™ 3FS), carbendazim iprodione (commercially available as Rovral™), ipconazole (commercially available as Rancona™ from Arysta), mefenoxam (commercially available as Apron™ XL), Tebco Fungicides include nazole, carboxin, thiabendazole, azoxystrobin, prochloraz, prothioconazole (commercially available from Bayer as Redigo), sedaxane (commercially available from Syngenta as Vibrance), cymoxanil (1-(2-cyano-2-methoxyiminoacetyl)-3-ethylurea), fludioxonil, metalaxyl, a mixture of cymoxanil and fludioxonil commercially available from Syngenta as Wakil, and oxadixyl (N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-methoxy-N-(2-oxo-3-oxazolidinyl)acetamide). The fungicide may be included in the seed coating composition in an amount of 0.0001 to 10% based on the total weight of the coated seeds.

[0055] Typical insecticides include pyrethroid insecticides, organophosphate insecticides, caramoyloxime insecticides, pyrazole insecticides, amidine insecticides, halogenated hydrocarbons, neonicotinoid insecticides, and carbamate insecticides and their derivatives. Particularly suitable classes of insecticides include organophosphate insecticides, phenylpyrazole insecticides, and pyrethroid insecticides. Preferred insecticides are those known as terbufos, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, chlorethoxyphos, tefluthrin, carbofuran, imidacloprid, and tebupirimfos. Commercially available insecticides include imidacloprid (commercially available as Gaucho™), and clothianidin (commercially available as Poncho™ from BASF), thiamethoxam (commercially available as Cruiser™ from Syngenta), thiacloprid (commercially available as Sonido from Bayer), cypermethrin (commercially available as Langis™ from Arysta), methiocarb (commercially available as Mesurol from Bayer), fipronil (commercially available as Regent™ from BASF), and thiacloprid (commercially available as Sonido from Bayer). commercially available under the tradename Lumivia™ from Corteva), chlorantraniliprole (also known as rynaxypyr, 5-bromo-N-[4-chloro-2-methyl-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-2-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide, commercially available under the tradename Lumivia™ from Corteva), and cyantraniliprole (also known as thiadipyr, 3-bromo-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-4′-cyano-2′-methyl-6′-(methylcarbamoyl)pyrazole-5-carboxamide).

[0056] Commercially available nematicides include abamectin (available from Syngenta as Avicta™) and thiodicarb (available from Bayer as Aeris™).

[0057] Typical molluscicides include metaldehyde (commercially available as Meta™ from Lonza) or niclosamide (commercially available as Bayluscide™ from Bayer), thiazypyr and rynaxypyr (commercially available from Corteva).

[0058] Examples of suitable biological agents include Bacillus, Trichoderma, Rhizobium (for nitrogen fixation) and the like, which have been identified as seed treatments to protect plants and / or enhance their health and / or productivity.

[0059] These lists are not comprehensive and new active ingredients are continually being developed and can be incorporated into the film and / or seed coating compositions.

[0060] The nutrients may be present in addition to or instead of the pesticidal active substance. In such formulations, the nutrients are usually in dry form.

[0061] The nutrients may preferably be solid nutrients. In the present invention, solid nutrients are understood to mean substances whose melting point is above about 20° C. (at standard pressure). Solid nutrients may also include insoluble nutrient components, i.e., nutrient components whose water insolubility is such that a significant solid content is present in the concentrate after addition.

[0062] Nutrients refer to chemical elements and compounds that are desired or necessary to promote or improve plant growth. Suitable nutrients are generally described as macronutrients or trace elements. Suitable nutrients for use in the concentrates according to the present invention are all nutritional compounds.

[0063] Trace elements generally refer to trace metals or trace elements, and are often applied in lower doses.Suitable trace elements include trace elements selected from zinc, boron, chlorine, copper, iron, molybdenum, and manganese.Trace elements may be in soluble form, may be included as insoluble solids, and may be salts or chelated.

[0064] Macronutrients generally refer to those containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and include fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, and water conditioners. Suitable macronutrients include fertilizers and other nitrogen-, phosphorus-, potassium-, calcium-, manganese-, sulfur-containing compounds, and water conditioners.

[0065] Suitable fertilizers include inorganic fertilizers that provide nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, or sulfur. The fertilizers may be included in relatively low concentrations in dilute solutions or as more concentrated solutions that may contain solid fertilizers as well as solutions at very high levels.

[0066] It is expected that the inclusion of nutrients will depend on the particular nutrient and that trace elements will be included in lower concentrations than usual, while macronutrients will be included in higher concentrations than usual.

[0067] Biostimulants may enhance metabolic or physiological processes such as respiration, photosynthesis, nucleic acid uptake, ion uptake, nutrient delivery, or a combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of biostimulants include seaweed extracts (e.g., Ascophyllum nodosum), humic acids (e.g., potassium humate), fulvic acid, myo-inositol, glycine, and combinations thereof.

[0068] The rosin resin is suitably present in the thin film coating composition at a concentration in the range of 2% to 30% by weight, preferably 4% to 25% by weight, and more preferably 5% to 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

[0069] According to the present invention, the thin film coating composition may contain the starch derivative in an amount of 1 to 40 wt %, preferably 2 to 30 wt %, more preferably 3 to 20 wt %, and even more preferably 4 to 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

[0070] The wax is suitably present in the thin film coating composition at a concentration in the range of 0.5% to 30% by weight, preferably 1.0% to 25% by weight, more preferably 1.5% to 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the coating composition.

[0071] The weight ratio of rosin resin or starch to wax in the thin film coating composition may generally be from 1.5:1 to 0.5:1, more usually from 1.3:1 to 0.7:1, especially from 1.1:1 to 0.9:1.

[0072] A particular advantage of the present invention may be that the thin film and resulting seed coating composition may be free or substantially free of microplastics and / or microplastic particles.

[0073] As used herein, the terms "microplastic" and "microplastic particles" are intended to specifically refer to materials consisting of solid polymer-containing particles, possibly containing additives or other substances, where more than 1% (weight / weight) of the particles have a diameter of 1 nm to 5 nm, or for fibers, a length of 3 nm to 15 nm and a length to diameter ratio of greater than 3. The polymers are natural and do not include those that have not been chemically modified (other than by hydrolysis), and do not include polymers that are biodegradable.

[0074] Preferably, the film and the resulting seed coating composition contain less than 5 wt. % of microplastics and / or microplastic particles, based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably less than 3 wt. %, even more preferably less than 2 wt. %, even more preferably less than 1 wt. %, especially less than 0.5 wt. %. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the film and the resulting seed coating composition may be free of any microplastic particles.

[0075] Coatings include coating techniques known in the art, and the present invention is contemplated to apply to all of the above coating types.

[0076] The thin film coating composition of the present invention can be diluted with other ingredients to form a slurry to make a seed coating composition that is then applied to the seeds or bulbs.

[0077] The seed coating composition of the present invention may be applied to seeds by conventional methods.

[0078] The seeds may be primed or unprimed (subjected to a treatment to improve germination rate, such as osmopriming, hydropriming, matrix priming).

[0079] Preferably, the seed coating composition is applied as a liquid composition and / or emulsion and / or dispersion and / or latex composition, which is then solidified (including cured and / or dried) to form the seed coating. As used herein, the term "liquid coating composition" is intended to include coating compositions in the form of suspensions, emulsions, and / or dispersions, preferably dispersions.

[0080] Conventional means of coating may be used for coating seeds. A variety of coating machines are available to those skilled in the art. Some well-known techniques include the use of drum coaters, fluidized bed techniques, rotary coaters (with and without integrated drying), and spouted beds. Suitably, the seed coating composition is applied to the seeds by a rotary coater, a rotary dry coater, a pan coater, or a continuous processing device.

[0081] Typically, the amount of seed coating composition applied to the seeds may range from 0.1 to 200 g dry weight per kg seed, preferably from 0.15 to 150 g dry weight per kg seed, more preferably from 0.25 to 100 g dry weight per kg seed.

[0082] The seed coating composition can be applied, for example, by thin-film application, spray application, dip application, or brush application of the seed coating composition. Application is optionally performed at room temperature, such as 25°C to 50°C, e.g., 5°C to 35°C, more frequently 15°C to 30°C, e.g., 18°C ​​to 25°C. Preferably, the seed coating composition is applied to the seeds by thin-film application. Thin-film coatings may be suitably applied by spraying a liquid coating composition onto the seeds, but typically the seeds are dropped or allowed to flow into an application device. Preferably, the method includes thin-film application of the seeds to apply the seed coating composition in the form of a thin-film coating composition.

[0083] Preferably, the method comprises applying a seed coating composition to form a film or seed coating layer.

[0084] The seed coating composition is suitably applied to the seeds so that the ratio of dry coating layer to seed is suitably in the range of 0.001 to 20:1 by weight, preferably 0.05 to 10:1, more preferably 0.01 to 1.0:1, especially 0.05 to 0.5:1, and especially 0.1 to 0.2:1.

[0085] Seed coating typically involves forming a fixed, moisture-permeable coating on the seed surface. The process typically involves applying a liquid seed coating composition to the seed prior to planting.

[0086] Additional thin film coat layers may be applied over the top of the coating layer of the present invention, if desired, to provide additional benefits including, but not limited to, decoration, coverage, activity, nutrients, and processing improvements such as quick drying, seed flowability, durability, and the like.

[0087] The coating provides good dust-off and abrasion resistance, thereby reducing dust generated during seed transfer and allowing a reduced amount of active material to be incorporated due to reduced coating loss.

[0088] The seed coating composition provides a more uniform coating across the seed and good film-forming properties without the need for added film-forming agents. The coating has also been found to be a tough, flexible coating with good adhesion.

[0089] The coating also provides good wet and dry flow properties to the coated seeds so that the seeds can be bagged and sold for later use or immediate use and are not so wet that they stick together during storage.

[0090] The formed coating of the present invention also provides ease of handling and a desirable viscosity that allows it to be applied to any seed to be coated.

[0091] The coating provides good dust-off and abrasion resistance, thereby reducing dust generated during seed transfer, and also provides for a reduction in the amount of active material to be incorporated due to reduced coating loss.

[0092] The coating provides good color retention, thereby reducing pigment loss during seed coating and processing.

[0093] All of the features described herein may be combined in any combination with any of the above aspects. [Example]

[0094] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, reference is now made, by way of example, to the following descriptions.

[0095] Unless otherwise specified herein or in the referenced test methods and procedures, all tests and physical properties listed were determined at atmospheric pressure and room temperature (i.e., 25°C).

[0096] Rosin-based formulations Based on the commercially available thin-film coating formulation Disco AG Red L-350, from which the binder and wax additives had been removed, thin-film coating formulations A to C were prepared according to Tables 1 and 2. A PPP (plant protection product) cocktail consisting of 10.5 wt.% fungicide (Maxim Quattro™ from Syngenta) and 89.5 wt.% insecticide (Cruiser™ 350FS from Syngenta) was used. Corn seeds with a total seed weight (TSW) of 420 g were coated with a slurry of 42.5 wt.% PPP cocktail, 17.7 wt.% thin-film coating formulation, and 39.8 wt.% water; the application rate was 10.3 g / kg of seed, resulting in 1.83 g of thin-film coating formulation applied per kg of seed. A reference sample was prepared by coating corn seeds with the same slurry based on the commercial thin coat formulation Disco AG Red L-350 applied at the same dosage of 1.83 g thin coat per kg of seed.

[0097] [Table 1]

[0098] [Table 2]

[0099] Dust-off and wear results If not handled carefully, seeds coated with active substances and other enhancers can produce harmful levels of dust during handling and processing of large quantities of seeds. One of the primary purposes of thin film coatings is to retain the active substances on the seeds and reduce dust during handling.

[0100] Dust data for corn seeds treated with a thin film coat was obtained according to industry standards. 100 grams of seeds were subjected to a 2-minute Heubach test in duplicate, and the results were averaged to obtain the total amount of dust-off per 100,000 seeds. Corn seed abrasion was visually observed after a 10-minute abrasion test using a PharmaTest PTF20E fragile drum rotating at a speed of 25 rpm. The abrasion score is a visual quantification of seed quality after this abrasion test, which closely simulates handling conditions in the industry.

[0101] An abrasion score was assigned from 0 (high abrasion resistance / high quality seed) to 5 (low abrasion resistance / low quality seed). Tests are performed on freshly coated seeds to determine wet abrasion scores and on coated seeds after one week drying to determine dry abrasion scores.

[0102] Table 3 shows the dust (in g / 100,000 seeds) for different thin coat formulations tested on corn, as well as the abrasion score (0: high abrasion resistance; 5: low abrasion resistance) determined after a 10-minute abrasion test. These results show that the novel compositions provide excellent reduction in both dust and abrasion values ​​on corn.

[0103] [Table 3]

[0104] Wet and dry flowable The flowability of treated / coated seeds is as important in seed treatment facilities as it is in the field when passing through a seed sower. The lower the friction between the seeds, the better the efficiency at various stages. Typically, the addition of PPP and conventional thin film coats to seeds significantly reduces the flowability of the seeds, which is not a desired property. This can be improved by incorporating flow or slip agents into the thin film coat formulation. Flow agents are usually wax-based additives that reduce friction and improve the appearance of the seeds.

[0105] To test the flowability of the treated seeds, 1 kg of seeds is placed in a funnel equipped with a 40 mm diameter stopper. The stopper is opened and a timer is started at the same time. The wet and dry flowability of the seeds is measured for the time it takes for all the seeds to flow through the funnel by taking the average of 10 measurements made immediately after application for wet flowability and the average of 5 measurements made on the seeds 24 hours after application for dry flowability.

[0106] The flowability, expressed in g / sec, is calculated by the following formula: Flowability (in g / sec) = seed weight (in g) / average time (in seconds). If the seeds jammed in the funnel, the device was struck with a hammer and the average number of jams was calculated for both wet and dry flowability measurements. The results are shown in Table 4 and demonstrate the flowability of coated seeds according to the invention.

[0107] [Table 4]

[0108] Planting suitability Seed planting suitability was measured with a Meter Max Ultra unit using a corn disc, a speed of 8 km / h, and an 18-inch vacuum. Singulation (expressed in %) corresponds to the percentage of seeds that are planted accurately at regular intervals. Skip events correspond to the number of times (per 1,000 seeds) that there are no planting spots, and overlap events correspond to the number of times (per 1,000 seeds) that some seeds are planted in the same spot. The results collected in Table 5 demonstrate the superior planting suitability of the new thin film coat composition over the commercial product Disco AG Red L-350.

[0109] [Table 5]

[0110] Starch-based formulations Thin-film coating formulations D to F were prepared according to Tables 6 and 7 based on the commercially available thin-film coating formulation Disco AG Blue L-570, with the binder and wax additives removed. A PPP cocktail consisting of 38.2 wt.% of the fungicide Apron XL™ (from Syngenta) and 61.8 wt.% of the fungicide Maxim XL™ (from Syngenta) was used. 62.5 g of sunflower seeds with TSW were coated with a slurry of 37.4 wt.% PPP cocktail, 40.4 wt.% thin-film coating formulation, and 22.2 wt.% water; the application rate was 22.5 g / kg of seeds, resulting in 9.10 g thin-film coating formulation applied per kg of seeds. A reference sample was prepared by coating sunflower seeds with the same slurry based on the commercially available thin-film coating formulation Disco AG Blue L-570, applied at the same dosage of 9.10 g thin-film coating per kg of seeds.

[0111] [Table 6]

[0112] [Table 7]

[0113] Dust-off and wear results Dust data for sunflower seeds treated with the thin film coat was obtained according to industry standards. 100 grams of seeds were subjected to a 2 minute Heubach test in duplicate, and the results were averaged to obtain the total amount of dust off per 75,000 seeds. The results, shown in Table 8, demonstrate the excellent dust control of the new thin film coat.

[0114] [Table 8]

[0115] Wet and dry flowable To measure the wet and dry flowability of the coated sunflower seeds described in Example 1, a similar protocol was followed except the amount of seed used in the test was reduced to 500 g. The plug diameter was also changed to 35 mm. The results, shown in Table 9, demonstrate the excellent flowability of seeds coated according to the present invention.

[0116] [Table 9]

[0117] Planting suitability The plantability of sunflower seeds was measured using the same method as described above, using a sunflower disc, a speed of 8 km / hr, and a 12 inch vacuum. Table 10, which contains the results of these tests, shows that the plantability of sunflower seeds coated with the new thin film coat composition is in the same range as the commercial product Disco AG Blue L-570.

[0118] [Table 10]

[0119] Spinach Seed Coating The film coat formulations B, C, and D described in the previous examples were applied to spinach seeds. Spinach seeds with 10.4 g of TSW were coated with a slurry of 5.6 wt. % fungicide Maxim® 480FS (from Syngenta), 70.8 wt. % film coat formulation, and 23.6 wt. % water; the application rate was 21.2 g / kg of seeds, resulting in 15.0 g of film coat formulation applied per kg of seeds. A reference sample was prepared by coating spinach seeds with the same slurry based on the commercial film coat formulation Disco Advanced Red L-773, applied at the same dosage of 15.0 g of film coat per kg of seeds. A special sample of seeds coated with PPP slurry without the film coat formulation was used as a reference for the germination test.

[0120] Germination results Germination tests were conducted on coated spinach seeds according to ISTA germination test standards. The results, shown in Table 11, showed that the novel coating composition had no adverse effect on seed germination compared to raw seeds and a reference treatment without a thin film coat.

[0121] [Table 11]

[0122] Rice seed coating Film coat formulations B and C described in the previous examples were applied to rice seeds. Rice seeds with 35.1 g of TSW were coated with a slurry of 27.7 wt. % insecticide Cruiser™ 350FS (from Syngenta), 32.3 wt. % film coat formulation, and 40.0 wt. % water; the application rate was 13.0 g / kg of seeds, resulting in 4.20 g of film coat formulation applied per kg of seeds. A reference sample was prepared by coating rice seeds with the same slurry based on the commercial film coat formulation Disco AG Red L-529, applied at the same dosage of 4.20 g film coat per kg of seeds.

[0123] Color retention results Rice seeds are typically soaked in the field for a period of 24 to 48 hours before sowing. During this soaking step, active ingredients and / or colorants present on the seeds can be released into the water if a thin or suboptimal thin coat is not applied during the seed treatment step. One of the key selling points of Disco AG Red L-529 is its excellent retention of active ingredients and colorants on the rice seeds during soaking.

[0124] Much better color retention was observed after 48 hours of soaking between rice seeds coated with Disco AG Red L-529 and thin-film coating formulations B and C. Thin-film coating formulations B and C enable superior color retention for rice seeds.

[0125] The invention is not limited to the details of the above embodiments, which have been described by way of example only. Many variations are possible.

Claims

1. 1. A thin film coating composition comprising: i) rosin resin and / or starch derivative, wherein the starch derivative is selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, and maltodextrin; and ii) wax dispersions, wherein the wax is selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, beeswax, sunflower wax, soybean oil wax, rice bran wax, lanolin wax, sugarcane wax, palm wax, or other vegetable waxes, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) wax, calcium stearate, or polylactic acid (PLA) wax; Including, the total amount of the rosin resin and / or the starch derivative and the wax dispersion is in the range of 2% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition; and the rosin resin is present in the thin film coating composition at a concentration ranging from 2% to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition; and Contains less than 1 wt. % of microplastics and microplastic particles based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition; Thin film coating compositions.

2. 2. The thin film coating composition of claim 1, wherein the rosin resin has a ring and ball softening point of 10° C. to 150° C. and a molecular weight of 300 to 10,000 g / mol.

3. 3. The thin film coating composition of claim 1, wherein the rosin resin is present in the thin film coating composition in the form of a dispersion.

4. 4. The thin film coating composition according to claim 1, wherein the rosin is a glycerol ester, a pentaerythritol ester, or a triethylene glycol ester of a resin acid.

5. 5. The thin film coating composition of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the starch derivative is derived from corn, pea, potato, sweet potato, banana, barley, wheat, rice, sago, amaranth, tapioca, arrowroot, canna, sorghum, and waxy or high amylose varieties thereof.

6. 6. The thin film coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wax may be selected from the group consisting of natural waxes, or mineral or synthetic waxes, if they are indicated to be biodegradable or non-polymeric.

7. 7. The thin film coating composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the thin film coating composition comprises the starch derivative in an amount of 1 to 40 wt. %, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

8. 8. The thin film coating composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wax is present in the thin film coating composition at a concentration ranging from 0.5 wt% to 30 wt%, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

9. 9. The thin film coating composition of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the thin film coating composition comprises less than 0.5 wt% microplastics and / or microplastic particles, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

10. 1. A method for forming a thin film coating composition, the method comprising: i) rosin resin and / or starch derivative, wherein the starch derivative is selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, and maltodextrin; and ii) wax dispersions, wherein the wax is selected from the group consisting of carnauba wax, beeswax, sunflower wax, soybean oil wax, rice bran wax, lanolin wax, sugarcane wax, palm wax, or other vegetable waxes, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) wax, calcium stearate, or polylactic acid (PLA) wax; The method includes blending the total amount of the rosin resin and / or the starch derivative and the wax dispersion is in the range of 2% to 60% by weight, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition; and the rosin resin is present in the thin film coating composition at a concentration ranging from 2% to 30% by weight, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition; and The method of claim 1, wherein the thin film coating composition comprises less than 1 wt. % microplastics and microplastic particles, based on the total weight of the thin film coating composition.

11. A seed or bulb coated with a seed coating composition, The seed or bulb, wherein the seed coating composition is a dilution of the thin film coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The seed of claim 11 , wherein the seed is a plant seed selected from crop seeds selected from the group consisting of corn, sunflower, soybean, cotton, rice, and spinach.

13. 1. A method for coating seeds or bulbs, comprising applying a seed coating composition to the seeds or bulbs, The seed coating composition comprises a thin film coating composition according to any one of claims 1 to 9. method.

14. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the amount of water in the seed coating composition is less than 85% by weight, preferably less than 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the seed coating composition.

15. 15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the seed coating composition comprises one or more bioactive ingredients.

Images