METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR SCARE BIRDS AWAY FROM CULTIVATED PLANTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plant propagation material coated with a composition comprising a solvent extract selected from the group consisting of: (i) an extract of a pepper plant Piper nigrum, and (ii) an extract of a ginger plant Zingiber officinale.

Description

METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR SCARE BIRDS AWAY FROM CULTIVATED PLANTS FIELD OF INVENTION In this document, compositions and methods useful for scaring birds away from crop plants are provided, more particularly, for scaring birds away from feeding on the propagation materials of crop plants, e.g., seeds. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since agriculture began sowing and cultivating crops, it has had to contend with various pests and diseases that affect planted crops and, consequently, production. One of the common pests that farmers have tried to find a solution against is birds. The main problem farmers encounter with birds is that newly planted seeds, seedlings, and seeds from mature crops are attractive to them and provide an easy food source. One of the solutions commonly used by farmers and gardeners to scare away birds is the scarecrow. Unfortunately, such solutions are known to have only limited effectiveness, especially due to birds' well-developed cognitive abilities; they learn relatively quickly that scarecrows aren't all that frightening, regardless of the creativity of those who make them. Among the solutions that have been tested in recent decades are repellent solutions applied before or during planting. Many chemicals have been tested, and some have shown some effectiveness. One of the best-known bird repellents is the fungicide thiram. Thiram has long been known for its effectiveness as a bird repellent, for example, against thrushes and house sparrows (Griffin and Baumgartner, 1958, Proc. Of the Okla. Acad. of Sci., 78-82). Methiocarb (also known as Mesurol) has also been reported to show some repellent effect against blackbirds and crows when corn seeds are treated (Stickley and Guarino, 1972, J. Wildlife Management 36(1), 150-152), as well as against various birds when pine seeds are treated (Fuller et al., 1984, Tree Planter's Notes 35(1), 12-17).Turpentine was also tested as a bird repellent on sunflower seeds, but its effectiveness was considered too limited (Mason and Bonwell, 1993, Crop Protection 12(6), 453-457). Anthraquinone is also known as an efficient bird repellent in seed treatment and has been marketed under the trade name Avipel® (Werner et al., 2011, Applied Animal Behaviour Science 129, 162-169). The potential bird-repellent properties of spices and aromatic plants have also been tested. One of the most documented is garlic, particularly garlic extract, which is often described as garlic oil. For example, garlic oil has been shown to have some repellent effect against the European starling (Hile et al., 2004, J. Agrie. Food Chem. 52, 2192-2196). Chili peppers, and particularly their main component, capsaicin, are also known to be bird irritants. They have been marketed as a bird-repellent gel under the trade name AviGo® by Rentokil®. There are also several reports indicating that black pepper and its main component, piperine, have some repellent effect on birds.However, this is usually true only with high concentrations (0.5 to 1%). In that case, the quail or the common starling reduces its consumption of the treated food, whereas food consumption is not affected with lower doses (Hilmi et al., 2015, Media Peternakan 38(3): 150-155; Mason and Clarke, 1995, Auk 112: 511-514). However, a major challenge in identifying a bird repellent to protect seeds planted in fields, seedlings germinating from them, or seeds of mature crops is ensuring that the repellent does not cause harmful effects on the seeds or seedlings. A typical effect that repellents can have on seeds is toxicity, which impairs germination and seedling growth. Currently, there are few bird repellents sold on the market as seed treatments, and therefore there is an urgent need in the industry for an effective, economical and environmentally safe product, for example, that comes preferably from a biological material, that has a repellent effect against birds and that, at the same time, can be used safely on various seeds, that is, that does not affect the biology of the seed (for example, its germination). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is a plant propagation material treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated with a composition comprising a plant extract selected from the group consisting of the following: (I) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (II) an extract of a ginger plant Zingiber officinale. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the plant extract comprising the composition is an oleoresin. According to a certain embodiment, the composition comprises an extract of a plant of the genus Piper, specifically, an extract of the Piper nigrum plant, and more specifically, an extract of the fruits of the Piper nigrum plant. The invention also relates to a propagation material treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated with a composition comprising the compound piperine. The invention also comprises a plant propagation material treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with a composition comprising (I) at least 50% v / v of an extract of a plant of the genus Pipery and (II) up to 50% v / v of at least one extract of another plant with a bird-repellent effect. According to one specific embodiment, the extract of another plant with a bird-repellent effect is an extract of the garlic plant, Allium sativum. More specifically, the extract of the garlic plant, Allium sativum, is an oil obtained from the steam distillation of crushed garlic cloves. The invention relates generally to plant propagation material and is more specifically suitable for use as plant propagation material using a seed. Alternatively, it is also suitable for use as plant propagation material using a fruit. According to the invention, the seed or fruit must be a seed or fruit that has been harvested or is still ripening on the plant that produces it. The invention also relates to a field for the growth of a cultivated plant, comprising at least one plant propagation material as described above. The invention also relates to a method for protecting plant propagation material against birds, which comprises the step of treating said plant propagation material with a composition as described above. Other objects and features will be partly apparent and partly developed later. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In general, the products, compositions and methods described herein can be applied to many types of plant propagation material, including seeds, but also to seedlings, plants or the site where plants grow, where bird control is sought. One aspect of this disclosure relates to plant propagation material treated with a composition comprising a plant extract selected from the group consisting of the following: (I) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (II) an extract of a ginger plant Zingiber officinale. In the context of the present invention, the term “treated” refers to a process of applying the composition to plant propagation material, and the resulting plant propagation material is actually coated, or in other words, prepared, distributed, or covered with said composition. Therefore, an aspect of this disclosure relates to plant propagation material coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with a composition comprising an extract MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor of a plant selected from the group consisting of the following: (I) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper and (II) an extract of a ginger plant Zingiber officinale. In the context of the present invention, and in accordance with the conventional meaning of this term, an “extract” refers to a composition obtained by applying a chemical or mechanical process to a biological material or a part thereof, and which does not contain the complete chemical constituents of the initially extracted material. Within this meaning, an “extract” is not a material in which all the constituents of the initially extracted material are rearranged in a different form; that is, an extract is not simply a ground or pulverized material. Nor is an extract merely a physical part of the extracted material, such as the leaves or seeds of a whole plant.Therefore, an extract is a chemical portion of the initially extracted material; that is, in the context of the invention, a chemical portion of a pepper plant of the genus Pipero, or of a part thereof, or of a ginger plant (Zingiber officinale), or of a part thereof. A similar way of defining an extract is, for example, an “extracted chemical portion.” In one respect, the plant extract is a solvent extract, meaning that the whole plant or only a certain part of the plant comes into contact with a solvent to extract certain plant components into the solvent. The solvent used for extraction can be a non-aqueous organic solvent, such as ethanol, acetone, ether, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, or hexane. A combination of ethyl acetate, acetone, and hexane is preferred. The extraction can be repeated several times to extract as much of the extractable component as possible. After solvent extraction, the solvents can be removed, for example, by evaporation. This results in a semi-solid extract, which is often classified as a resin. A preferred type of plant extract, according to the invention, is an extract known as an oleoresin. An oleoresin is a combination of two types of extract: (I) a resin extracted with the solvent, as described above, and (II) a distillate obtained by steam distillation. According to this embodiment, the plant extract of the invention is an oleoresin comprising a resin extracted by solvent from the plant and a distillate obtained from the steam distillation of the plant. According to one specific embodiment, the solvent extract and the steam distillate extract are obtained from the same plant material; that is, the plant parts used for extraction are first subjected to steam distillation, from which the distillate component is obtained.These same parts of the plant used for steam distillation are subjected to solvent extraction, from which the component is obtained. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor resin. Alternatively, the distillate component and the resin component can be obtained from different groups of plant material. Both the distillate component and the resin component combine to form the oleoresin. Oleoresins can contain varying proportions of the distillate and resin components, resulting in oleoresins with different compositions and properties. They can also contain additional components other than plant extracts. These additional components may include, for example, propylene glycol, triacetin, or any other additive that facilitates the blending of the distillate and resin components, thereby enhancing the oleoresin's properties. Therefore, the plant extract according to the invention is a composition comprising a solvent-extracted resin, i.e., it is a solvent-extracted resin by itself or an oleoresin. According to a particular embodiment, the plant propagation material is treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with a composition comprising a plant extract of the genus Piper. This may include, for example, the species Piper nigrum or Piper longum. A preferred species of Piper for carrying out the invention is Piper nigrum. This includes all varieties of the Piper nigrum species. Any part of the plant of the genus Piper can be used to carry out the invention. According to one aspect of the invention, the plant propagation material is treated with a composition comprising a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. According to the invention, the extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum is an extract containing piperine, a compound naturally present in various species of the genus Piper, most notably in the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. Therefore, the extract is obtained by any method that allows for the extraction of at least piperine. Several known extraction methods exist, such as those described in Gorgani et al. (2017), Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 16: 124-140. According to one embodiment, the extract is a solvent extract. The solvent used for the extraction can be a non-aqueous organic solvent, for example, ethanol, acetone, ether, dichloroethane, ethyl acetate, or hexane. It is preferred that the solvent used be a combination of solvents comprising ethyl acetate, acetone, and hexane. The extraction can be repeated several times to extract the majority of the extractable component.After solvent extraction, the solvents can be removed, for example, by evaporation. This yields a semi-solid extract that qualifies as a resin. A preferred type of extract according to the invention is an oleoresin, comprising a mixture of a steam distillate of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum iviA / a / zuz ι / υ i uuor and a solvent-extracted resin from the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. A particular aspect of this disclosure is therefore directed to plant propagation material treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated with a fruit oleoresin from the black pepper plant Piper nigrum. Solvent extracts of black pepper, or compositions comprising such extracts as oleoresins, contain the compound piperine (Gorgani et al., 2017, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, Vol 16:124-140). The oleoresins of black pepper (Piper nigrum) can contain varying proportions of the distillate and resin components to obtain an oleoresin with the desired piperine properties. These oleoresins can contain from 10% to 60% piperine. Depending on the requirements, oleoresins with varying piperine content can be obtained by blending appropriate qualities of the resin and distillate, and by adjusting the piperine dosage in the oleoresin. The piperine content can be measured using a standard protocol, specifically by measuring the absorbance after ethanol extraction, with a maximum absorbance at 342–345 nm under UV light. Oleoresins may contain at least 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, or 60% piperine. According to one specific embodiment, an oleoresin from black pepper (Piper nigrum) comprises 38% piperine.Oleoresins may also contain proportions of volatile oils, depending on the amount of distillate introduced for their preparation. The invention can also be carried out with chemically synthesized piperine (Olsen and Spessard, 1981, J. Agrie. Food Chem. 29: 942-944). Therefore, the invention also relates to a propagation material treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or coated with piperine. A preferred source for plant extracts from the genus Piper is the fruit of these plants, particularly the fruit of the black pepper plant, Piper nigrum. The fruit of the black pepper plant, Piper nigrum, from which the extract is obtained, can be used in any form: fresh or dried, ripe or unripe, cooked or uncooked. It is preferred that the fruit of the black pepper plant, Piper nigrum, from which the extract is obtained be used in the form of cooked, dried, and unripe fruit. To improve the extraction process, the fruit is crushed before being subjected to steam distillation and / or contact with one or more solvents. A preferred source for ginger extract (Zingiber officinale) is the rhizome of the plant. Preferably, the rhizome is dried and crushed or pulverized before extraction. According to this embodiment, the extract can be either a solvent extract or an oleoresin of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale). For the preparation of an oleoresin of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale), the ginger rhizomes are dried and crushed, and then subjected to steam distillation to obtain a steam distillate, or solvent extraction to obtain a resin, which are then combined in the desired proportions. The solvent-extracted resins and the oleoresins contain the compound gingerol. Extracts from plants of the genus Piper or from the ginger plant Zingiber officinale also do not naturally contain an effective amount of the bird repellent component anthraquinone.The inventors have discovered that plant propagation materials, particularly seeds, that are treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with a composition comprising an extract of the fruit of the black pepper plant (Piper nigrum) or an extract of the rhizomes of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) are significantly less attractive to birds than if they are not treated with such a composition. The extract of the fruit of the black pepper plant (Piper nigrum) or the extract of the rhizomes of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) thus acts as a bird repellent or renders the plant propagation materials unpalatable to birds. When plant propagation materials, for example, seeds, are treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with a composition of the invention, they become "repellent" or "unpalatable" to birds.This means that bird consumption is reduced compared to untreated plant propagation materials, such as seeds—that is, compared to untreated plant propagation material that is not coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or coated with the composition. It is important to note that the inventors have also discovered that, unlike some other plant extracts that can repel birds, extracts of black pepper (Piper nigrum) or extracts of ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) have the significant advantage of being safe for the plant propagation materials, i.e., seeds, treated with them.For example, extracts from the fruits of black pepper plants (Capsicum), particularly Capsicum annuum, known for their bird-repellent properties, appear to be unsafe for seeds and should therefore not be used to treat them. A similar situation, as demonstrated by the inventors, applies to extracts of clove (Syzygium aromaticum). An important advantage of the compositions according to the invention is that they are safe for plant propagation materials, particularly seeds. "Safe for plant propagation materials, particularly seeds," in the context of the present invention, means that the ability of such plant propagation materials or seeds to germinate and develop into a fertile plant is not affected by the treatment, covering, coating, preparation, distribution, or application of the compositions of the invention to such plant propagation materials or seeds. In the case of seeds, and this is also generally true for other types of plant propagation materials, the natural ability to germinate and develop into a fertile plant often varies among seeds of the same plant species or even the same variety. This is because plants systematically produce a small percentage of non-viable seeds. In the seed production industry, this can also be due to damage inflicted on some seeds during the various processing steps. Generally, this percentage of non-viable seeds is low, typically below 5%. However, it can vary—ideally lower, though occasionally higher—depending on the type or variety of plant from which the seeds are produced, as well as the quality of the seed production process.The ability of seeds to germinate and become a fertile plant, therefore, should be understood as a reference to an average ability assessed on various seeds, preferably at least 10 seeds, but even better if it is on 50 or 100 seeds. Therefore, the treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated plant propagation material, in particular, the treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated seeds, according to the invention, are plant propagation materials or seeds whose ability to germinate or become a fertile plant is not significantly affected by the treatment, covering, coating, preparation, distribution or coating with the compositions of the invention. The composition, according to the invention, and plant propagation materials, particularly seeds, treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with said composition become repellent and / or unpalatable to birds. The birds relevant in the context of the present invention are wild birds, as opposed to domestic birds that are bred by humans and kept in captivity for that purpose in an enclosed area, whether in a cage, a warehouse, or an area covered by netting, or even in uncovered areas in the case of birds that cannot or have been rendered unable to fly. However, certain birds are bred in captivity and then released, generally when they are adults, and such birds are also relevant to the present invention, at least during the part of their life in which they live freely in nature.All birds relevant to the invention. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor can therefore be characterized as free birds, either because they have spent their entire lives in the wild or because they were raised by humans and then released into the wild. The birds relevant to the invention can therefore also be characterized as non-captive birds or birds not kept in captivity. They can also be characterized as birds, except domestic or captive birds. In the context of seeds as plant propagation material, the compositions of the invention are repellent against birds and / or are unpalatable to birds whose diet consists, in part or entirely, of plant seeds. Such birds are commonly referred to as seed-eating birds or granivorous birds. According to this embodiment, the invention is most useful against birds that feed on crop seeds.Birds that feed on crop seeds include, for example, birds of the family Corviidae, more specifically, of the genus Corvus, such as the common rook (Corvus frugilegus), the carrion crow (Corvus corone), and the western jackdaw (Corvus monedula). Birds that feed on crop seeds also include, for example, birds of the family Columbidae, specifically of the genus Columba, such as the common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), the rock dove (Columba livia), and the collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto). Birds that feed on crop seeds also include, for example, birds of the family Phasianidae, more specifically of the genus Phasianus, such as the common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), or of the genus Perdix, such as the grey partridge (Perdix perdix). The common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is also a bird known for feeding on crop seeds. The seeds, according to the invention, can be any seeds from any plant. It is preferred that the seeds, according to the invention, be crop seeds, i.e., seeds of cultivated plants. The seeds are attractive to birds, both when sown individually and when they are the product of mature plants. Therefore, the invention can be applied to isolated and processed seeds ready for sowing. Such seeds can be treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered with the composition of the invention, either before sowing, where the composition coats the seeds, or before or after sowing in the plots or rows. The seeds can also be on the plant that produces them, for example, when they are mature and have not yet been harvested. Such seeds can be directly exposed, like cereal or sunflower seeds, or they can be inside a fruit.Both types of seed are of interest to the invention. According to one particular embodiment, the seeds, according to the invention, are seeds that are present in a field where they have been sown to grow or where they have grown. In the latter case, the seeds are present on mature plants. Therefore, the invention is also directed to a field comprising seeds MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor treated with a composition according to the invention. The seeds or other plant propagation materials, according to the invention, can also be seeds stored in containers, such as bags or boxes. Therefore, the invention also includes any type of container, such as bags or boxes, that holds the seeds or other plant propagation materials, according to the invention. Many cultivated plants are not grown from seed, but rather through vegetative propagation. Vegetative propagation is a form of plant reproduction that does not involve sexual reproduction, but instead utilizes the ability of certain plants to grow a new plant from a parent plant. This parent plant part can be any part, depending on the plant in question. It can also be a specialized reproductive organ in certain plants. The specialized reproductive organ from which a plant can grow may consist of rhizomes, tubers, bulbs, stems, corms, or shoots. Some examples of crops that grow from such organs are potatoes (tubers), onions, garlic, shallots (bulbs), apple trees, cherry trees, and banana trees (shoots). The plant parts that can be used as propagation material include stem cuttings or leaves.An example of a crop that can be grown from cuttings is sugar cane (stem cuttings). In general, the compositions according to the invention can therefore be applied to various types of plant parts used for the reproduction of new plants. These plant parts include seeds and pulp, but also all parts of plants used for vegetative propagation. For the purpose of the present invention, all these plant parts may be covered by the term “plant propagation material” or “plant reproductive material,” which therefore includes all material produced from sexual reproduction (seeds and fruits) and material produced asexually (plant parts for vegetative propagation). Therefore, the intent also extends to plant propagation material treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or coated with a composition comprising a plant extract selected from the group consisting of the following: (I) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper; (II) an extract of a ginger plant, Zingiber officinale. In a particular embodiment, the extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piperes is an extract of the plant Piper nigrum. According to one particular embodiment, the propagation material is a seed. According to another embodiment, the plant propagation material is a part of the plant for vegetative reproduction. The plant propagation material, whether seeds or any part of the plant for vegetative reproduction, according to the The plant propagation material of the invention is a viable plant propagation material, in the sense that it can be sown and grow into a fertile plant. The plant propagation material, according to the invention, is not one that has been prepared as food or for the purpose of feeding; that is, it is not one that, for example, has been fermented, cooked, or roasted. Therefore, the plant propagation material of the invention is a viable, unfermented, uncooked, and unroasted plant propagation material. It can therefore also be characterized as a plant propagation material, with the exception of plant propagation material that is prepared for the purpose of feeding or plant propagation material that has been fermented, cooked, or roasted. Crops can be any plant that can be obtained by conventional methods of cultivation and optimization, or by biotechnological genetic engineering, or by methods of genetic treatment, or combinations of these methods, including genetically modified plants (GMOs or transgenic plants) and plant varieties that may or may not be protected by plant breeders' rights. Genetically modified plants (GMOs or transgenic plants) are plants with a heterologous gene that has been stably integrated into the genome. The term “heterologous gene” basically refers to a gene that is provided or assembled outside the plant and introduced into the nuclear, chloroplast, or mitochondrial genome. This gene gives the transformed plant improved agronomic or other properties by expressing a protein or polypeptide of interest or by reducing or eliminating other genes present in the plant (using, for example, antisense technology, cosuppression technology, RNA interference (RNAi) technology, or microRNA (miRNA) technology). A heterologous gene located in the genome is also called a transgene. A transgene defined by its particular location in the plant genome is called a transformation event or a transgenic event. The seeds or propagation materials of cultivated plants that can be treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed, or coated, according to the composition of the invention, include seeds or propagation materials of the following: cotton, flax, vine, fruits, vegetables, such as Rosaceae sp. (e.g., pome fruits, such as apples and pears, but also fruits such as apricots, cherries, almonds, and peaches, and white fruits such as strawberries), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp., Musaceae sp. (e.g., banana trees and plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (e.g., coffee), Theaceae sp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (e.g., lemons, oranges, and grapefruits); Solanaceae sp. (e.g., tomatoes), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (e.g. lettuce), Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae sp., Cucurbitaceae IVIA / a / / U1UUD l sp. (e.g., cucumber), Alliaceae sp. (e.g., leek, onion); larger crops, such as Gramineae sp. (e.g., corn, turfgrass, cereals such as wheat, rye, rice, barley, oats, millet, and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (e.g., sunflower), Brassicaceae sp. (e.g., cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale, radish, and the oilseeds rapeseed, mustard, horseradish, and cress), Fabaceae sp. (e.g., peas, beans, peanuts), Papilionaceae sp. (e.g., soybeans), Solanaceae sp. (e.g., potatoes), Chenopodiaceae sp. (e.g., sugar beet, fodder beet, chard, beetroot); Useful plants or ornamental plants for gardens or wooded areas, including genetically modified versions of each of these plants. According to a particular embodiment, the seeds or crop propagation materials that can be treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or coated, according to the compositions of the invention, are seeds or plant propagation materials of maize (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), wheat (Triticum aestivum), rapeseed (Brassica napus), rice (Oryza sativa), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), barley (Hordeum vulgare), peas (Pisum sativum), beans (Phaseolus sp., Vicia sp., Vigna sp.). The plants and plant varieties whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention include plants and plant varieties that are resistant to one or more biotic stressors. In other words, such plants exhibit improved defense against animal and microbial pests, such as nematodes, insects, termites, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses, and / or viroids. Plants and plant varieties whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention include those plants that are resistant to one or more abiotic stressors. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, exposure to cold temperatures, exposure to heat, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, exposure to strong light, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, and shade avoidance. The plants and plant varieties whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention include those plants characterized by improved production characteristics. The increased production in such plants may result from, for example, improvements in plant physiology, growth, and development, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency, nitrogen utilization, carbon assimilation, photosynthesis, and increased efficiency of the MA / a / ¿u¿i / uiuuof accelerated germination and ripening. The producer may also be affected by the improvement of plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions), including, but not limited to, early flowering, control of flowering for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, number and distance of internodes, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, number of pods or ears, number of seeds per pod or ear, seed volume, improved seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence, and lodging resistance.Other production characteristics include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content and composition for cotton or starch, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in antinutritional components, improved processability, and better storage stability. The plants and plant varieties whose seeds are to be treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention include plants and plant varieties that are hybrid plants already expressing the characteristics of heterosis or hybrid vigor, resulting in an overall increase in production, vigor, health, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or layered according to the invention, include herbicide-tolerant plants and plant varieties, that is, plants that become tolerant to one or more herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetic transformation or by selecting plants that contain a mutation conferring such herbicide tolerance. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or layered according to the invention, include insect-resistant transgenic plants and plant varieties, that is, plants that have become resistant to attacking certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selecting plants that contain a mutation that confers such insect resistance. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention, include transgenic plants and plant varieties resistant to diseases, that is, plants that become resistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selection of plants that contain a mutation that confers such insect resistance. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties that tolerate abiotic stressors. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selecting plants that contain a mutation conferring such stress resistance. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or covered, according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties that show an alteration in the quantity, quality or storage stability of the harvested product and / or altered properties of specific ingredients of the harvested product. The plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties, such as cotton plants, with alterations in fiber characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selecting plants that contain a mutation that confers such an alteration in fiber characteristics. The plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or layered according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties, such as rapeseed or related cabbage, with altered oil profile characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selecting plants that contain a mutation conferring such an altered oil profile characteristic. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties, such as rapeseed or related cabbage, with altered seed shattering characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation or by selecting plants containing a mutation that confers this altered seed shattering characteristic and include plants, such as rapeseed, with delayed or reduced seed shattering. Plants and plant varieties (obtained by means of plant biotechnology methods, such as genetic engineering), whose seeds can be treated, covered, coated, prepared, distributed or covered, according to the invention, include plants and plant varieties, such as tobacco plants, with alterations in post-translational protein modification patterns. Another aspect of the invention also relates to a treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered plant propagation material, with a composition comprising (I) at least 50% v / v of a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and (II) up to 50% v / v of at least one extract of another plant with a bird-repellent effect. According to one specific embodiment, the propagation material is a seed. According to this embodiment, “at least one other plant extract with a bird-repellent effect” can be any plant extract that has both a bird-repellent effect (i.e., a feed-reducing effect by birds) and is safe for the plant propagation material in question, particularly seed, in reduced doses. Examples of such plant extracts could be extracts of the ginger plant Zingiber officinale. According to another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered plant propagation material, with a composition comprising (I) at least 50% v / v of a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and (II) up to 50% v / v of a garlic clove extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum. According to another aspect of the invention, it also relates to a treated, coated, prepared, distributed, or covered plant propagation material, with a composition comprising (I) between 70% and 95% v / v of a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and (II) between 5% and 30% v / v of a garlic clove extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum. More specifically, the invention also relates to a treated, coated, covered, prepared, distributed, or covered plant propagation material, with a composition comprising (I) 90% v / v of a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and (II) 10% v / v of a garlic clove extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum. According to a specific aspect of the invention, the fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum is an oleoresin obtained from crushed pepper fruits. Garlic clove extract from the Allium sativum plant can be obtained from cloves MA / a / x'uzi / uiuuof fresh or dried, which may be crushed or pulverized. According to a specific aspect of the invention, the clove extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum is a distillate, in the form of an oil, obtained by steam distillation of the pulverized dried cloves. A specific embodiment of the invention, therefore, is directed to plant propagation material, in particular a seed, treated or coated or covered or coated or coated or dipped or battered, with a composition comprising an oleoresin from the fruit of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and an oil from the cloves of the garlic plant Allium sativum, in the proportions presented above. Application to seeds The invention relates to a plant propagation material, in particular a seed, treated or covered or coated or coated or dipped or battered, with a composition that is repellent or inedible to birds. Accordingly, the invention also relates to a method for protecting plant propagation material, in particular seeds, from birds, wherein said plant propagation material, in particular seeds, is treated or covered or coated or lined or bathed or battered, with a composition according to the invention that is repellent or inedible to birds. For example, in one aspect, the invention comprises administering a composition comprising a fruit extract of the black pepper plant Piper nigrum to seeds, wherein the dosage of the composition is at least approximately one (1) gram per seed unit or at least approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 75, or 90 grams per seed unit. A “seed unit” according to the present invention refers to a quantity of seeds corresponding to 50,000 seeds. The method may comprise administering the composition in a dosage of approximately one (1) to approximately 100, approximately 5 to approximately 95, or approximately 10 to approximately 90 grams per seed unit. The dosage may depend on the type of seeds being treated, and an expert in the technique would know how to adjust the dosage accordingly. As a guideline, it is proposed that: (i) for corn seeds, the dosage is approximately 20 to approximately 100 grams per seed, approximately 30 to approximately 90 grams per seed, or approximately 30 to 50 grams per seed; (ii) for wheat seeds, the dosage is approximately 1 to approximately 20 grams per seed, approximately 2 to approximately 19 grams per seed, or approximately 5 to 18 grams per seed; (iii) for sunflower seeds, the dosage is approximately 1 to approximately 50 grams per seed. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor approximately 2 to approximately 48 grams per seed unit or approximately 5 to 45 grams per seed unit. Depending on the type of seed, the expert in the technique would also know how to convert these proposed doses to a corresponding dose per seed weight (e.g. kg) and / or to a corresponding dose per sowing area (e.g. hectare). In another aspect, the invention comprises administering a composition comprising an extract of ginger rhizomes (Zingiber officinale) to seeds, wherein the dosage of the composition is at least approximately one (1) gram per seed unit or at least approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 75, or 90 grams per seed unit. The method may comprise administering the composition in a dosage of approximately one to approximately 100, approximately 5 to approximately 95, or approximately 10 to approximately 90 grams per seed unit. The method may comprise administering the composition comprising a fruit extract of the black pepper plant (Piper nigrum) and an extract of the cloves of the garlic plant (Allium sativum) in a combined dose of at least approximately 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, or 90 grams per seed unit. The method may also comprise administering the composition in a dose of approximately 20 to approximately 70, approximately 30 to approximately 60, or approximately 40 to approximately 50 grams per seed unit. The seed treatment methods described herein may be used in connection with any plant species and / or its seeds. These methods are used in connection with seeds that are agronomically important. The seed may be a transgenic seed capable of growing from a transgenic plant and incorporating a transgenic event that confers, for example, tolerance to a particular herbicide or herbicide combination, increased disease resistance, increased tolerance to insects, drought, stress, and / or increased yield. The seed may comprise a plant breeding trait, including, for example, in one embodiment, a disease-tolerant plant breeding trait. In another embodiment, the seed includes at least one transgenic and one plant breeding trait. The treatment method may involve applying the treatment composition to a seed or other plant propagation material before sowing, thus simplifying the sowing process. In this way, the seeds or other plant propagation material can be treated, coated, or dipped, for example, in a central location and then distributed for planting. This can allow the person planting the seeds to avoid the complexity and difficulty of the process. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor effort associated with handling and applying seed treatment compositions and simply planting treated or coated or covered or coated or dipped or battered seeds, in a manner that is conventional for regular untreated seeds. The treatment composition can be applied to seeds or other plant propagation material using any standard seed treatment methodology, including, but not limited to, mixing in a container (e.g., a bottle or sack), mechanical application, turning, spraying, dipping, and solid matrix priming. Seed coating methods and application apparatus are disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,918,413, 5,891,246, 5,554,445, 5,389,399, 5,107,787, 5,080,925, 4,759,945, and 4,465,017, among others. Any conventional active or inert material can be used to bring the seeds into contact with the seed treatment composition, such as seed coating materials, including, but not limited to, water-based seed coating materials. For example, the seed treatment composition can be applied to a seed using a solid matrix primer. For instance, a quantity of the seed treatment composition can be mixed with a solid matrix material, and the seed can then be placed in contact with the solid matrix material for a period that allows the seed treatment composition to coat the seed. The seed can then optionally be separated from the solid matrix material and stored or used, or the mixture of solid matrix material and seed can be stored or planted directly.Non-limiting examples of useful solid matrix materials include polyacrylamide, starch, clay, silica, alumina, soil, sand, polyurea, polyacrylate, or any other material capable of absorbing or adsorbing the seed treatment composition over time and releasing the fungicide from the seed treatment composition into or within the seed. It is important to ensure that the seed treatment composition and the solid matrix material are compatible. For example, the solid matrix material should be chosen so that it can release the seed treatment composition at a reasonable rate, such as over a period of minutes, hours, days, or weeks. Inhibition is another method for treating seeds with a seed treatment composition. For example, a seedling can be directly immersed in the seed treatment composition for a period of time. During this immersion period, the seed absorbs or becomes impregnated with a portion of the seed treatment composition. Optionally, the mixture of the seedling and the seed treatment composition can be agitated, for example, by shaking, rolling, turning, or other means. After imbibition, the seed can be separated from the seed treatment composition and optionally dried, for example, by shaking or air drying. The seed treatment composition can be applied to seeds using conventional film coating techniques and machines, such as fluidized bed techniques, roller mills, rotostatic seed treaters, and drum coaters. Other methods, such as discharge beds, may also be useful. The seeds can be pre-primed before coating. After or simultaneously with coating, the seeds are optionally dried and then optionally transferred to a priming machine. Such procedures are generally known in the art. If the seed treatment composition is applied to the seed in the form of a coating, the seeds can be coated using a variety of methods known in the art. For example, the coating process may involve spraying the seed treatment composition onto the seed while agitating the seed in a suitable piece of equipment such as a drum or agglomeration plate. When seed is coated on a large scale (e.g., commercial scale), the coating can be applied using a continuous process. Generally, the seed is fed into the treatment equipment (such as a drum, mixer, or agglomeration plate) either by weight or flow rate. The amount of the treatment composition fed into the equipment can vary depending on the weight of the seed being coated, the seed surface area, the concentration of the active ingredients in the treatment composition, the desired concentration in the finished seed, and similar factors. The treatment composition can be applied to the seed using a variety of methods, such as a spray nozzle, a rotating disc, or a rotary plate. The amount of liquid can be determined by testing the formulation and the required rate of the active ingredient necessary for efficacy.As the seed falls into the treatment equipment, the seed can be treated (e.g., by spraying or misting with the seed treatment composition) and passed through the continuously moving / turning treater where it can be evenly coated and dried before storage or use. Alternatively, the seed coating can be applied using a batch process. For example, a known weight of seeds can be introduced into the treatment equipment (such as a drum, mixer, or agglomeration plate). A known volume of the seed treatment composition can then be introduced into the treatment equipment at a rate that allows the seed treatment composition to be applied. MA / a / x'uzi / uiuuof evenly on the seeds. During application, the seed can be mixed, for example, by turning or tossing. Optionally, the seed can be dried or partially dried during the tossing operation. When the coating is complete, the treated sample can be removed to an area for further drying or for further processing, use, or storage. In a further alternative embodiment, the seed coating can be applied using a semi-batch process that incorporates features of each of the batch process and continuous process embodiments presented above. Seeds can be coated in laboratory-sized commercial treatment equipment such as a drum, mixer, or agglomeration plate by introducing a known weight of seeds into the treater, adding the desired amount of the seed treatment composition, turning or rotating the seed, and placing it on a tray for deep drying. Seeds can also be treated by placing a known quantity of seed in a bottle neck or receptacle with a lid. While turning the seed, the desired amount of the seed treatment composition can be added to the receptacle. The seed is turned until it is coated with the treatment composition. After coating, the seed can optionally be dried, for example, on a tray. The treated seeds can also be wrapped with a coating film to protect the bird-repellent coating. Such coatings are known in the art and can be applied using conventional fluidized bed and drum seed coating techniques. The coatings can be applied to seeds that have been treated with any of the seed treatment techniques described above, including, but not limited to, solid matrix priming, imbibition, coating and spraying, or by any other seed treatment technique known in the art. Application to plants and / or soil Another aspect of disclosure in general relates to the protection of plant propagation material and / or seed against bird damage. For example, in one aspect, a composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper is provided to plant propagation material and / or seed exogenously. Generally, the composition is applied to the plant propagation material, seed, and / or the surrounding soil where it is sown through spraying, dripping, and / or other forms of liquid application. In one aspect, the composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper is applied directly to the soil surrounding a seed or other plant propagation material, a seedling, or a plant that is maturing and producing seeds. The application can be carried out using any method or apparatus known in the art, including, but not limited to, a portable sprayer, mechanical sprinkler or irrigation, including drip irrigation. For example, the composition according to the invention can be applied to plants and / or soil using a drip irrigation technique. Preferably, the composition is applied directly to the base of the plants or the soil immediately adjacent to the plants. The composition can be applied through existing drip irrigation systems. This process is particularly preferred for use with cotton, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, vegetables, and ornamental plants. In another example, the treatment composition can be applied to plants and / or soil using a flood application. Preferably, a sufficient quantity of the treatment composition is applied in such a way that it drains through the soil to the root area of ​​the plants. The flood application technique is particularly preferred for use with turfgrass and crop plants, including corn. In some embodiments, the composition is applied to the soil after planting. In other embodiments, however, the composition can be applied to the soil during planting. In still other embodiments, the composition can be applied to the soil before planting. When the composition is applied directly to the soil, it can be applied using any method known in the art. For example, it can be tilled into the soil or applied in furrows. Compositions for the treatment of the seed, plant or soil Another realization of the disclosure in general relates to a treatment composition comprising an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Pipero from a ginger plant Zingiber officinale as described herein for use in accordance with the methods for preparing the treated seeds described herein. In general, the compositions described herein may include all known additives, excipients, or other desired components. For example, in some embodiments, the treatment composition also includes a surfactant. Examples of anionic surfactants include alkyl sulfates, alcohol sulfates, alcohol ether sulfates, alpha-defining sultanates, alkylated ether sulfates, arylsulfonates, alkylsulfonates, alkylaryl sultanates, sulfosuccinates, monophosphate or diphosphate esters of polyalkoxylated alkyl alcohols or alkyl phenols, monosulfosuccinate or disulfosuccinate esters of polyalkoxylated alcohols or alkanols, alcohol ether carboxylates, and phenol ether carboxylates. In one embodiment, the surfactant is an alkylaryl sultanate. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor Non-limiting examples of commercially available anionic surfactants include sodium dodecyl sulfate (Na-DS, SDS), MORWET D-425 (a condensed sodium salt of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate, available from Akzo Nobel), MORWET D-500 (a condensed sodium salt of alkyl naphthalene sulfonate with a block copolymer, available from Akzo Nobel), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (Na-DBSA) (available from Aldrich), diphenyloxide disulfonate, condensed naphthalene formaldehyde, DOWFAX (available from Dow), dihexyl sulfosuccinate and dioctyl sulfosuccinate, condensed alkyl naphthalene sulfonate and salts thereof. Non-limiting examples of nonionic surfactants include sorbitan esters, ethoxylated sorbitan esters, alkoxylated alkylphenols, alkoxylated alcohols, block copolymer ethers, and lanolin derivatives. According to one embodiment, the surfactant comprises a block copolymer alkyl ether. Non-limiting examples of commercially available nonionic surfactants include SPAN 20, SPAN 40, SPAN 80, SPAN 65 and SPAN 85 (available from Aldrich); TWEEN 20, TWEEN 40, TWEEN 60, TWEEN 80 and TWEEN 85 (available from Aldrich); IGEPAL CA210, IGEPAL CA-520, IGEPAL CA-720, IGEPAL CO-210, IGEPAL 00-520, IGEPAL 00-630, IGEPAL 00-720, IGEPAL 00-890 and IGEPAL DM-970 (available from Aldrich); Triton X-100 (available from Aldrich); BRIJ S10, BRIJ S20, BRIJ 30, BRIJ 52, BRIJ 56, BRIJ 58, BRIJ 72, BRIJ 76, BRIJ 78, BRIJ 92V, BRIJ 97 and BRIJ 98 (available from Aldrich); PLURONIC L-31, PLURONIC L-35, PLURONIC L-61, PLURONIC L-81, PLURONIC L-64, PLURONIC L-121, PLURONIC 10R5, PLURONIC 17R4 and PLURONIC 31R1 (available from Aldrich); Atlas G-5000 and Atlas G-5002L (available from Croda); ATLOX 4912 and ATLOX 4912-SF (available from Croda); and SOLUPLUS (available from BASF), LANEXOL AWS (available from Croda). Non-limiting examples of cationic surfactants include monoalkyl quaternary amine, fatty acid amide surfactants, amidoamine, imidazoline, and polymeric cationic surfactants. In some embodiments, the compositions according to the invention comprise a cosolvent in addition to water. Non-limiting examples of cosolvents that may be used include ethyl lactate, methyl soyate / ethyl lactate cosolvent mixtures (e.g., STEPOSOL, available from Stepan), isopropanol, acetone, 1,2-propanediol, n-alkylpyrrolidones (e.g., the AGSOLEX series, available from ISP), a petroleum-based oil (e.g., the AROMATIC series and the SOLVESSO series, available from Exxon Mobil), isoparaffin fluids (e.g., the ISOPAR series, available from Exxon Mobil), cycloparaffin fluids (e.g., NAPPAR 6, available from Exxon Mobil), mineral spirits (e.g., the VARSOL series, available from Exxon Mobil), and mineral oils (e.g., kerosene). Examples of commercially available organic solvents include MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor pentadecane, ISOPAR M, ISOPAR V and ISOPAR L (available from Exxon Mobil). In some embodiments, the treatment composition according to the invention can be formulated, mixed in a seed treater tank, incorporated into the seed by coating, or combined with one or more additional active ingredients. The additional active ingredients may comprise, for example, a pesticide or a biological agent. In some embodiments, the treatment composition comprises a composition according to the invention, e.g., an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, and another pesticide, for example, a nematicide, insecticide, fungicide, and / or herbicide. In some embodiments, the treatment composition comprises a composition according to the invention, e.g., an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Piper, and a biological agent. Non-limiting examples of insecticides and nematicides include carbamates, diamides, macrocyclic lactones, neonicotinoids, organophosphates, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethrins, spinosyns, synthetic pyrethroids, tetronic and tetramic acids. In another embodiment, insecticides and nematicides include abamectin, aldicarb, aldoxycarb, bifenthrin, carbofuran, chlorantraniliprole, clothianidin, cyantraniliprole, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, dinotefuran, emamectin, etiprol, fenamiphos, fipronil, flubendiamide, fostiazate, imidacloprid, ivermectin, lambda-cyhalothrin, milbemectin, thioxazafen, nitenpyram, oxamyl, permethrin, spinetoram, spinosad, spirodiclofen, spirotetramat, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, and thiodicarb. In one embodiment, the insecticide can be selected from the group consisting of clothianidin, thiamethoxam, thioxazafen, imidacloprid, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of useful fungicides include aromatic hydrocarbons, benzimidazoles, benzothiadiazole, carboxamides, carboxylic acid amides, morpholines, phenylamides, phosphonates, quinone inhibitors (e.g., strobilurins), thiazolidines, thiophanates, thiophene carboxamides, and triazoles. Non-limiting examples of fungicides include acibenzolar-S-methyl, azoxystrobin, benalaxyl, bixafen, boscalid, carbendazim, chlorothalonil, cyproconazole, dimethomorph, epoxiconazole, fludioxonil, fluopyram, flutianil, flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, fosetyl-AI, ipconazole, isopyrazam, cresoxim-methyl, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, metconazole, myclobutanil, orisastrobin, and penflufen. penthiopyrad, picoxystrobin, propiconazole, pyraclostrobin, sedaxane, siltiofam, tebuconazole, tifluzamide, thiophanate, tolclofos-methyl, trifloxystrobin and triticonazole. In one embodiment, the fungicide can be selected from the group consisting of ipconazole, metalaxyl, trifloxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, fluxapyroxad, sedaxane, fluopyram, mefenoxam, penflufen, azoxystrobin, and combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of herbicides include ACCase inhibitors, acetanilides, AHAS inhibitors, carotenoid biosynthesis inhibitors, EPSPS inhibitors, MA / a / ZUZ l / U 1 UUDr glutamine synthetase inhibitors, PPO inhibitors, PS II inhibitors, and synthetic auxins. Non-limiting examples of herbicides include acetochlor, clethodim, dicamba, flumioxazine, fomesafen, glyphosate, glufosinate, mesotrione, quizalofop, saflufenacil, sulcotrione, 2,4-D, trifloxysulfuron, and halosulfuron. In one embodiment, the herbicide can be selected from the group consisting of acetochlor, dicamba, glyphosate, and combinations thereof. Additional active ingredients may also include substances such as biological agents for pest control, microbial extracts, plant growth activators, or plant defense agents. Non-limiting examples of biological agents include bacteria, fungi, beneficial nematodes, and viruses. In certain embodiments, the biological agent may be a bacterium of the genus Actinomycetes, Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Alcaligenes, Aureobacterium, Azobacter, Bacillus, Beijerinckia, Brevibacillus, Burkholderia, Chromobacterium, Clostridium, Clavibacter, Comamonas, Corynebacterium, Curtobacterium, Enterobacter, Flavobacterium, Gluconobacter, Hydrogenophaga, Klebsiella, Methylobacterium, Paenibacillus, Pasteuria, , Photorhabdus, Phyllobacterium, Pseudomonas, Rhizobia, Serratia, Sphingobacterium, Stenotrophomonas, Variovorax and Xenorhabdus. In particular embodiments, the bacterium is selected from the group consisting of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus, lichenformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Chromobacterium sutsuga, Pasteuria penetraos, Pasteuria usage and Pseudomonas fluorescens. In certain embodiments, the biological agent may be a fungus of the genera Alternaria, Ampelomyces, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Beauveria, Colletotrichum, Coniothyrium, Gliocladium, Metarhizium, Muscodor, Paecilomyces, Bradyrhizobia, Trichoderma, Typhula, Ulocladium, and Verticillium. In another embodiment, the fungus is Beauveria bassiana, Coniothyrium minitans, Gliocladium virens, Muscodor albus, Paecilomyces lilacinus, or Trichoderma polysporum. In further embodiments, the biological agents may be plant growth activators or defense agents, including, but not limited to, harpin, Reynoutria sachalinensis, jasmonate, lipochitooligosaccharides, salicylic acid, and isoflavones. In another embodiment, the biological agent may be selected from the group consisting of Bacillus firmus. Having described the realizations in detail, it will be obvious that modifications and variations of the disclosure are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor EXAMPLES The following non-limiting examples are provided for further illustration. Example 1: Preparation of plant extract compositions Different compositions have been prepared according to the invention by extracting selected plant materials. A dried fruit extract of the pepper plant Piper nigrum, also known as black peppercorn, is prepared using a two-step extraction process. Crushed peppercorns are first steam distilled to produce a distillate. In a second extraction step, the crushed peppercorns are steam distilled and then subjected to solvent extraction using a solvent mixture comprising ethyl acetate, acetone, and hexane. After sufficient extraction time, the solvents are evaporated to obtain a semi-solid extract known as resin. An oleoresin is then formed by mixing the distillate with the resin, resulting in an oleoresin containing 38% piperine and 18% volatile oils. Similar extracts, i.e., oleoresins, have also been prepared from chili pepper (Capsicum annuum), cumin (Cuminum cyminum), clove (Syzygium aromaticum) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). An extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum was also prepared by steam distillation of dried crushed garlic cloves, which produces an oily distillate. A further composition according to the invention is a composition comprising 90% v / v of oleoresin from the black pepper plant Piper nigrum and 10% v / v of a distillate of garlic cloves Allium sativum. For the preparation of this composition, the desired percentage by volume of oleoresin from the black pepper plant Piper nigrum is mixed with the desired percentage by volume of the distillate of garlic cloves Allium sativum. Example 2: Effect on seed germination To assess the possible detrimental effects of some of the compositions prepared in example 1 on the ability of the seeds to germinate (i.e., seed germination), several compositions have been evaluated at various doses of sweet corn seeds. The various compositions evaluated were the following: Chili Nail Cumin Black pepper Ginger Each composition was used in 3 doses: 25 mL, 37.5 mL and 50 mL for 50,000 sweet corn seeds. In addition, a set of sweet corn seeds was treated with the commercially available bird repellent solution, namely the compound Thiram (Flowsan® product used at the recommended dose of 3 mL / kg of sweet corn seeds), as a control. Each composition was evaluated in 400 sweet corn seeds. Each composition was combined into a slurry mixture with colorant, polymer, and water at the specified dosages and allowed to mix thoroughly. The seeds were placed in a laboratory treater (drum), into which the treatment suspension was injected by depositing onto a spray disc. The seeds and suspension were then allowed to be turned over for approximately 30 seconds before being ejected into a suitable container or storage bag. Once treated with various compositions at various doses, the different seed lots were stored for 6 months before being evaluated for germination. The germination evaluation was rigorous (including a cold period) and consisted of sowing the seeds in soil under the following conditions: 7 days at 8 °C in darkness (cold period), followed by 7 days at 25 °C under a 17-hour light photoperiod (artificial light using LED lamps). Soil moisture was maintained throughout the evaluation. To avoid interference from potential soilborne diseases, all seed lots evaluated were treated at sowing with a commercial fungicide containing the compound Thiram (Pomarsol®). Seed germination was measured at two different times: First, 7+2 days after sowing (i.e., 2 days after the end of the cold period at 8°C), as a measure of germination rate; and Second, 7+7 days after sowing (i.e., at the end of the period at 25°C), as a measure of germination capacity. For the second measurement (i.e., 7+7 days after sowing), the seedlings were removed and categorized as “good”, “abnormal” or “not germinated”. The results of the germination assessments are summarized in Table 1. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor Table 1: Effect of compositions on seed germination Compositions (dosage per 50,000 sweet corn seeds, except for Flowsan®) Germination rate at 7+2 days after sowing (percentage of emerged seeds) General germination capacity at 7+7 days after sowing (percentage of emerged seeds) Unaffected germination capacity at 7+7 days after sowing (percentage of emerged “good” seeds) Flowsan 3 mL / Kg 97.50 97.00 95.25 Chili 25 mL 88.00 89.00 78.00 Chili 37.5 mL 87.00 91.50 84.00 Chili 50 mL 65.50 72.00 61.50 Clove 25 mL 93.50 95.50 89.00 Clove 37.5 mL 49.50 63.00 51.50 Clove 50 mL 22.00 36.00 30.50 Cumin 25 mL 90.00 91.50 82.50 Cumin 37.5 mL 87.50 93.50 84.50 Cumin 50 mL 74.00 79.50 68.00 Black Pepper 25 mL 99.00 98.50 97.00 Black Pepper 37.5 mL 99.50 98.50 97.00 Black Pepper 50 mL 98.00 97.00 94.00 Ginger 25 mL 98.50 97.50 93.50 Ginger 37.5 mL 97.00 96.50 93.00 Ginger 50 mL 97.00 97.00 94.00 The results presented in Table 1 show that certain compositions affect seed germination more than others. The black pepper composition is the least detrimental to seed germination, even at the highest doses tested. Ginger is only slightly detrimental to seed germination, but at a mildly acceptable rate. Cumin and chili pepper are moderately detrimental to seed germination. Cloves are almost non-detrimental to seed germination at the lowest dose tested, but become highly detrimental at the highest doses. Example 3: Effect on seed consumption by birds 3.1. Repellency test for the selection of compositions A preliminary test of the repellent power of various compositions was conducted on pigeons. The corn seeds treated as in Example 2 were used for the test, except that not all doses were used. Only the doses that proved acceptable from a seed germination perspective were evaluated. In fact, it would be pointless to demonstrate the repellent power of specific compositions if those compositions, at those doses, proved detrimental to seed germination. Therefore, the following compositions were used at the indicated doses: Chili pepper at a dose of 37.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Clove in a dose of 25 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Cumin in a dose of 37.5 mU / 50,000 corn seeds Black pepper at a dose of 50 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Ginger at a dose of 50 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Thiram (Flowsan® at 3 mL / kg) and Methiocarb (Mesurol® at 150 mL / 50,000 corn seeds) were used as references. In parallel, some control maize seeds were also used that did not receive any of the compositions being evaluated for repellency. However, all maize seeds, including the control seeds, received a basic treatment including a formulation solution, the fungicide Influx XL® (containing fludioxonil and metalaxyl-M), and a seed coating solution (Peridiam®). Pigeons were evaluated for feed consumption in individual cages (aviaries). They were provided with seeds as food under "no choice" conditions, meaning they were offered only one type of seed as food. On day -1 (one day before the test), the birds were offered 50 g of untreated sweetcorn seeds for 24 hours, and then the amount of sweetcorn seeds remaining was measured. On day 0, the birds were offered 50 g of treated sweetcorn seeds for 24 hours, and then the amount of sweetcorn seeds remaining was also measured. After comparing the weight of the remaining treated seeds with the weight of the remaining untreated seeds, the results were expressed as a percentage reduction in feed intake. The results are shown in Table 2. Table 2: Effect of compositions on seed consumption by part of the ML / a / ZUZ l / U 1 UUOf pigeons Composition (dosage per 50,000 sweetcorn seeds, except for Flowsan®) Percentage (%) reduction in feed intake Control 91.9 Flowsan® 3 ml / kg 99.1 Mesurol® 150 mL 99.6 Chili pepper 37.5 mL 99.3 Clove 25 mL 100 Cumin 37.5 mL 86.1 Black pepper 50 mL 97.9 Ginger 50 mL 100 These results confirmed that the market standards, i.e., Flowsan® and Mesurol® is a potent bird repellent. However, this test revealed that components other than those in the evaluated compositions also affected seed consumption by pigeons. In fact, the control also showed a significant bird-repellent effect, likely due to the inclusion of one of the components in all the tested seed types—either the solution, the fungicide, or the seed coating solution. Consequently, while it was possible to distinguish the bird-repellent effect of the different compositions, the results may not reflect the full extent of that effect. Nevertheless, chili peppers, cloves, black pepper, and ginger were observed to have a good bird-repellent effect, while cumin appeared to have none (compared to the control). 3.2. Second repellency test of the selection of compositions A similar experiment was performed as in example 3.1, under the same conditions. Here, the following compositions were used at the indicated doses: Cumin in three doses: 37.5 mL, 18.5 mL and 12.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Ginger in three doses: 50 mL, 25 mL and 16.7 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Thiram (Flowsan® at 3 mL / kg) was used as a reference. In addition, all maize seeds, including control seeds, received a base treatment including a formulation solution, the fungicide Influx XL® (containing fludioxonil and metalaxyl-M) along with a seed coating solution (Peridiam®). The results are shown in Table 3. Table 3: Effect of compositions on seed consumption by part of the MA / a / ¿u¿i / uiuuor doves Composition (dosage per 50,000 sweetcorn seeds, except for Flowsan®) Percentage (%) reduction in feed intake Flowsan® 3 mL / kg 66 Cumin 37.5 mL 0 Cumin 18.5 mL 0 Cumin 12.5 mL 0 Ginger 50 mL 33 Ginger 25 mL 0 Ginger 16.7 mL 33 Black pepper 90% - Garlic 10% 86 These results confirmed what was observed in Table 2, namely that the ginger extract had a repellent effect on the consumption of the food, while the cumin extract had none. The composition containing 90% black pepper extract and 10% garlic extract also confirmed the useful repellent effect of black pepper, as also observed in Table 2. 3.3. Third repellency test of the selection of compositions In a third trial, certain compositions were also evaluated for their feeding repellency in pigeons. However, the test procedure changed slightly compared to the trials in Examples 3.1 and 3.2. In fact, instead of simply comparing the effect of the evaluated compositions with the untreated seeds offered to the pigeons on day 1, here a group of pigeons was also offered untreated seeds on day 0 in parallel with the group of pigeons that received the seeds treated with a specific composition. The results for the group of pigeons that received the treated seeds were therefore compared with the results for the group of pigeons that received the untreated seeds in parallel on day 0 (rather than the results for the group of pigeons that received the untreated seeds on day 1). Two trials were conducted in this setting with different compositions. Essay 1: Black pepper at a dose of 40.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Garlic at a dose of 4.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Mixture of black pepper (90%) and garlic (10%) in the dose of 45 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Essay 2: Black pepper at a dose of 40.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Garlic at a dose of 4.5 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Mixture of black pepper (90%) and garlic (10%) in the dose of 45 mL / 50,000 corn seeds Thiram at a dose of 45 mL / 50,000 corn seeds The results are shown in Table 4. Table 4: Effect of compositions on seed consumption by pigeons Composition (dosage per 50,000 sweetcorn seeds) Percentage (%) reduction in feed intake Trial 1 Black pepper 40.5 mL 64 Garlic 4.5 mL 2.1 Black pepper (90%) and garlic (10%) 45 mL 66 Test 2 Black pepper 40.5 mL 54 Garlic 4.5 mL 2.6 Black pepper (90%) and garlic (10%) 45 mL 69.1 Thiram 45 mL 65 ML / a / ZUZ l / U 1 UUOf These trials confirmed that the reference product Thiram has a good repellent effect on pigeons consuming the seed. The black pepper composition also demonstrated similar efficacy, while the garlic composition did not have this repellent effect. These results explained that the overall effectiveness of the black pepper (90%) and garlic (10%) mixture was largely due to the black pepper component of the mixture. Example 4: Field trial measuring the effect of seed consumption by wild birds The trial was conducted in commercially planted sweet corn fields in the Zuelpicher Boerde region of the Rhineland in North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany. The distance between fields was a minimum of 500 m. The purpose of the field trial was to observe whether different bird species using recently sown sweetcorn fields show any preference for or avoidance of sweetcorn seeds coated with a repellent compared to untreated sweetcorn seeds. Accordingly, the trial was designed to allow a choice experiment with four options (two options treated with a black pepper composition according to the invention at two different dosage rates, one treated with Mesurol as a reference, and one untreated) offered to wild birds. Different sweetcorn seeds were offered at bait stations, and bird visits were recorded using motion-activated cameras. The visiting bird species and the amount of seed they consumed were assessed. Four fields were selected for the study to set up bait stations offering sweetcorn seeds treated differently (or untreated) (hereafter referred to as treatments). Each day, four bait stations were set up in the four fields, each with four different treatments (the four bait stations are designated as a “bait station set”) in a randomized design. The treatments were black pepper at a dosage rate of 1 (60.75 mL / 50,000 seeds), black pepper at a dosage rate of 2 (101.25 mL / 50,000 seeds), the standard treatment (Mesurol), and no treatment. The distance between bait stations within a “set” was 5 to 10 m. The bait stations consisted of a ground area of ​​approximately one square meter in which approximately 1 kg of seeds was placed in the center. Each bait station was monitored using battery-powered (AA) motion-sensitive infrared cameras (Browning BTC-8A). Video footage was recorded after a camera was triggered by animal movement. The cameras were set up in the morning before dawn and turned off at night. Recording was repeated for seven consecutive days. The sweetcorn seeds were replaced daily. Next, the video images were decoded, classified, and the bird species, number of bird visits, and amount of seeds consumed from individual treatments, as well as other behaviors, were recorded. The results of the compiled video recordings from the four test fields are summarized in Table 5 below: MA / a / xíuzi / uiuuor Table 5: Results of video recordings in the field trial Total number of bird visits and amount of seeds consumed (n = 2675 hours of video observation) Species Total number of visits at bait stations Total amount of seeds consumed UT ST BP1 BP2 UT ST BP1 BP2 Blackbird 3 13 1 5 0 0 0 0 Blue tit 6 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 Carrion crow 222 26 20 21 760.5 0 0 0 Common chaffinch 22 30 20 2 2.5 0 0 0 Common pheasant 90 68 50 36 1739 0 0 4.5 Common starling 9 6 9 4 3 0 0 0 Great tit 16 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 Blue jay 8 2 4 3 4 0 0 1 Magpie 4 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 Mistle Thrush 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 Skylark 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Song Thrush 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Stock Dove 3 2 5 5 0 0 0 0 Wheatear 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 White Wagtail 9 3 8 10 0 0 0 0 Wood Pigeon 358 44 59 45 4224 0 1 4 Cirl Bunting 50 8 11 9 20.5 0 0 0 TOTAL 802 208 200 145 6759.5 0 1 9.5 UT = no treatment, ST = standard, BP1 = black pepper at a dose rate of 1, BP2 = black pepper at a dosage rate of 2 In total, 17 bird species visited the bait stations, with 1,355 visits recorded. Wood pigeons, carrion crows, and common pheasants were the most abundant visitors. Some birds were more abundant in certain fields. Furthermore, some of the visiting birds are not exclusively granivorous, or if they were, they did not consume sweetcorn seeds as their preferred food, which may explain some lower levels of visits (also for untreated seeds) compared to others. The treatment of the sweet corn seed showed a clear effect on the analyzed parameters. Some individuals showed a clear preference for untreated seeds. Visits to animal feeding stations were influenced by the type of sweetcorn seeds. Many more birds visited bait stations offering untreated sweetcorn seeds than those offering treated seeds. Therefore, the treatment has a powerful repellent effect even before the birds investigate the seeds more closely. Furthermore, at the “next level” of a possible “repellent effect”, the proportion of visitors who actually handled the sweetcorn seeds, the birds showed a clear preference for the untreated seeds. Finally, the proportion of sweet corn seeds subsequently swallowed was significantly higher for untreated seeds than in all treatment groups. Consequently, the amount of seeds consumed was highest at animal feeding stations using untreated sweet corn seeds. Therefore, untreated seeds were detected at all three “levels” for a “possible treatment effect”. MA / a / x'uzi / uiuuof NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention as above, it is considered novel and, therefore, the contents contained in the following are claimed as property:

Claims

1. A viable plant propagation material coated with a composition comprising a plant extract selected from the group consisting of: (i) an extract of a pepper plant of the genus Pipery (ii) an extract of a ginger plant Zingiber officinale.

2. The plant propagation material of claim 1, wherein the plant extract is an oleoresin.

3. The plant propagation material of claim 2, wherein the composition is a composition comprising an extract of a plant of the genus Piper.

4. The plant propagation material of claim 3, wherein the composition comprises an extract of the Piper nigrum plant.

5. The plant propagation material of claim 4, wherein the composition comprises an extract of the fruits of the Piper nigrum plant.

6. A viable plant propagation material coated with a composition comprising the compound piperine.

7. A viable plant propagation material according to any of claims 1 to 6, coated with a composition comprising (i) at least 50% v / v of an extract of a plant of the genus Pipery (ii) up to 50% v / v of at least one extract of another plant having a bird-repellent effect.

8. The propagation material of the plants of claim 7, wherein the extract of another plant having a bird-repellent effect is an extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum.

9. The propagation material of the plants of claim 8, wherein the extract of the garlic plant Allium sativum is an oil obtained by steam distillation of crushed cloves.

10. The plant propagation material of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said plant propagation material is a seed.

11. The propagation material of the plants of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said propagation material of the plants is a fruit.

12. The plant propagation material of any of claims 10 or 11, wherein said plant propagation material is a seed or fruit that matures on the plant that produces it. MA / a / zuzi / uiuuor 13. A package containing plant propagation material according to any of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method for protecting plant propagation material from wild birds, comprising the step of treating said plant propagation material with a composition as described in claims 1 to 9.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plant propagation material is the plant propagation material of any of claims 10 to 12.