Agrochemical compositions and methods of use

Abstract

Methods and compositions related to reducing injury in crops from agrochemicals are disclosed.

Description

Attorney Docket No.: SYG-741WO (115479.001097)AGROCHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF USECLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 741,056, filed January 1, 2025, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.INTRODUCTION

[0002] The present disclosure relates to methods of protecting crops and compositions therefor. In particular, the compositions and methods use a group 15 herbicide to reduce injury to crops.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] To facilitate growth of crops, it is often necessary to reduce unwanted vegetation which competes for resources against the crops. Competing vegetation is often controlled by use of herbicides. However, the effects of an herbicide are not always limited to the unwanted vegetation but can also impact the growth of the wanted vegetation or crop. Accordingly, there is a desire and need for compositions and methods which minimize damage to crops.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The disclosure includes methods of reducing injury in crops from agrochemicals, by applying to the locus of a crop an herbicidally effective amount of an agrochemical composition comprising at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof, and a second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof, wherein the second agrochemical is a group 15 herbicide, and the agrochemical composition produces a lower rate of crop injury than an otherwise equivalent agrochemical composition without the second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof.

[0005] The disclosure further includes agrochemical compositions having at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof and a second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof, where the second agrochemical is a group 15 herbicide and where the agrochemical composition produces a lower rate of crop injury than an otherwise equivalent agrochemical composition without the second agrochemical, or an agrochemical salt thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] FIG. 1 shows percent crop injury of various agrochemical treatments.

[0007] FIG. 2 shows percent crop injury of various agrochemical treatments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It has been surprisingly discovered that the use of a group 15 herbicide can reduce the damage from other agrochemicals.

[0009] Thus, in a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a composition comprising at least two herbicides where one of the herbicides is a group 15 herbicide, preferably S-metolachlor. In a second aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition of the invention as an herbicide. In a third aspect, the invention provides methods of (i) inhibiting plant growth, and (ii) controlling plants; said methods comprising applying to the plants or to the locus thereof a group 15 herbicide, preferably s-metolachlor, and an additional herbicide. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of controlling grasses and / or weeds in crops of useful plants which comprises applying to the useful plants or locus thereof or to the area of cultivation a herbicidally effective amount of a group 15 herbicide, preferably s-metolachlor, and an additional herbicide.

[0010] Group 15 herbicides are classified as long-chain fatty acid inhibitors. Group 15 herbicides include three chemical classes of chloroacetamides (e.g., acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor and S-metolachlor, dimethenamid-P), oxyacetamides (e.g., flufenacet), and pyrazoles (e.g., pyroxysulfone).

[0011] Metolachlor,exists as a racemate. S-metolachlor is the (S)-enantiomer, which is more active than the ( / / (-enantiomer.

[0012] The compositions and methods of the invention can be configured or designed to apply S-metolachlor at a rate greater than 1000 g / ha, greater than 1110 g / ha, greater than 1500 g / ha, greater than 2000 g / ha, or greater than 2220 g / ha. The S-metolachlor is optionally applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2200 g / ha less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha.

[0013] Composition and methods of the disclosure preferably include mesotrione,which is a selective herbicide, and has been generally used to control weeds in corn. Mesotrione is an inhibitor of the HPPD enzyme in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in plants, and is a group 27 herbicide. Group 27 herbicides are classified by the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). Group 27 herbicides are bleaching herbicides, but inhibit 4-hydroxyphenyl-pyruvatedioxygenase (4-HPPD). Currently Group 27 herbicides can be classified as triketone compounds, (e.g., mesotrione and sulcotrione), isoxazole compounds, (e.g., isoxachlortole and isoxaflutole), or pyrazole compounds (e.g. benzofenap, pyrazolynate, and pyrazoxyfen). Other classified Group 27 herbicides include: benzobicyclon, bromobutide (chloro)-flurenol, cinmethylin, cumyluron, dazomet, dymron, etobenzanid, fosamine, indanofan, metam, oxaziclomefone, oleic acid, pelargonic acid, and pyributicarb.

[0014] Chelates of mesotrione are disclosed in, for example: U.S. Patent 11,129,384 and U.S. Patent 5,912,207, incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. The chelates of mesotrione can be Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, or Fe. In preferred embodiments, the mesotrione is chelated with Cu, in particular, Cu+2.

[0015] The compositions and methods of the invention can be configured or designed to apply the mesotrione at a rate of less than 800 g / ha, less than 700 g / ha, less than 600 g / ha, less than 500 g / ha, less than 400 g / ha, less than 350 g / ha, less than 300 g / ha, less than 250 g / ha, less than 200 g / ha, or less than 150 g / ha, optionally, where at least 75 g / ha of mesotrione is applied.

[0016] The term “herbicide” as used herein means a compound that controls or modifies the growth of plants. The term “herbicidally effective amount” means the quantity of such a compound or combination of such compounds that is capable of producing a controlling or modifying effect on the growth of plants. Controlling or modifying effects include all deviation from natural development, for example killing, retardation, leaf burn, albinism, dwarfing and the like.

[0017] The term “locus” as used herein means fields in or on which plants are growing, or where seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or where seed will be placed into the soil. It includes soil, seeds, and seedlings, as well as established vegetation.

[0018] The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage, and fruits.

[0019] The term "plant propagation material” denotes all generative parts of a plant, for example seeds or vegetative parts of plants such as cuttings and tubers. It includes seeds in the strict sense, as well as roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants.

[0020] The term “safener” as used herein means a chemical that when used in combination with a herbicide reduces the undesirable effects of the herbicide on nontarget organisms, for example, a safener protects crops from injury by herbicides but does not prevent the herbicide from killing the weeds.

[0021] Crops are to be understood as being those which are naturally occurring, obtained by conventional methods of breeding, or obtained by genetic engineering. They include crops which contain so-called output traits (e.g. improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavour). Methods of the invention extend to selecting an HPPD tolerant soybean (i.e., a soybean tolerant of treatment with HPPD inhibitor herbicides), or crop, and further planting at least one HPPD tolerant soybean.

[0022] Crops are to be understood as also including those crops which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicides (e.g. ALS-, GS-, EPSPS-, PPO-, ACCase- and HPPD-inhibitors) by conventional methods of breeding or by genetic engineering. Examples of such crops include crops having a trait selected from: RR1, RR2 XTEND, XtendFlex, LibertyLink, Enlist E3, GTS 40-3-2, MON89788, A2704-12, GT27, LLGT27, FG72, MON94313, or GMB151.

[0023] In some examples, HPPD tolerant soybeans includes soybeans expressing modified p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (hppd) enzymes, which may be derived from a variety of sources. In one example, the gene source is Pseudomonas fluorescens, e.g. strain A32, and the gene is hppdPF W336, for example, as found in Event FG72. In another example, the HPPD tolerant soybean plant includes a plant having a reduced expression of at least one 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (HPPR) enzyme. In other examples, HPPD tolerant soybeans include soybeans modified to overexpress a gene coding for a tolerant HPPD, for example derived from Avena sativa (see for example US2011 / 0173718) or Arabidopsis (e.g. asinWO2013 / 064964, WO2014 / 177999). In other examples, HPPD tolerant soybeans include soybeans having a modified expression of triketone dioxygenase (TDO) proteins, for example, as found in soybean plants containing event MON94313.

[0024] Crops are also to be understood as being those which have been rendered resistant to harmful insects by genetic engineering methods, for example Bt maize (resistant to European corn borer), Bt cotton (resistant to cotton boll weevil) and also Bt potatoes (resistant to Colorado beetle). Examples of Bt maize are the Bt 176 maize hybrids of NK® (Syngenta Seeds). The Bt toxin is a protein that is formed naturally by Bacillus thuringiensis soil bacteria. Examples of toxins, or transgenic plants able to synthesise such toxins, are described in EP-A-451 878, EP-A-374753, WO 93 / 07278, WO 95 / 34656, WO 03 / 052073 and EP-A-427 529. Examples of transgenic plants comprising one or more genes that code for an insecticidal resistance and express one or more toxins are KnockOut® (maize), Yield Gard® (maize), NuCOTIN33B® (cotton), Bollgard® (cotton), NewLeaf® (potatoes), NatureGard® and Protexcta®. Plant crops or seed material thereof can be both resistant to herbicides and, at the same time, resistant to insect feeding ("stacked" transgenic events). For example, seed can have the ability to express an insecticidal Cry3 protein while at the same time being tolerant to glyphosate. Another example includes Intacta 5+ (available in soybean varieties that express the cp4 epsps gene, originating from thebacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens, CP4 strain, which confers tolerance to glyphosate; the dmo gene of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, which encodes the DM0 protein that confers tolerance to the herbicide dicamba; the tdo gene of Oryza sativa which expresses the triketone dioxygenase (TDO) protein, which confers tolerance to the herbicide mesotrione; the pat of Streptomyces viridochromogenes.which encodes the PAT protein, which confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate; the ft_t.1 gene, a modified version of the R-2,4-dichlorophenoxypropionate dioxygenase (Rdpa) gene of Sphingobium herbicidovorans, which expresses an FT T.l protein (FOPs and 2,4-D dioxygenase) that confers tolerance to the herbicide 2,4-D; and five insecticidal proteins Cry2Ab2, CrylA.105, Cry 1 Ac, CrylA.2, and CrylB.2).

[0025] In aspects of the invention, or in any particular embodiment, the weeds, e.g. to be controlled and / or growth-inhibited, may be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds, which are tolerant or resistant to one or more other herbicides for example, HPPD inhibitor herbicides such as mesotrione, PSII inhibitor herbicides such as atrazine or EPSPS inhibitors such as glyphosate. Such weeds include, but are not limited to resistant Amaranthus biotypes.

[0026] Compositions and methods of this invention can also be mixed with one or more further pesticides including herbicides typically different to HPPD-inhibitors for example, fungicides, insecticides, nematocides, bactericides, acaricides, growth regulators, chemosterilants, semiochemicals, repellents, attractants, pheromones, feeding stimulants or other biologically active compounds to form a multi-component pesticide giving an even broader spectrum of agricultural protection.

[0027] For example, the compositions and methods can include bicyclopyrone.Bicyclopyrone is an HPPD inhibitor with a subclass as a triketone Group 27 herbicide. The bicyclopyrone can optionally be applied at a rate of less than 200 g / ha, less than 150 g / ha, less than 100 g / ha, or less than 75 g / ha, optionally, wherein at least 50 g / ha of bicyclopyrone is applied. Bicyclopyrone can be applied at a rate of at least 60 g / ha, at least 75 g / ha, least 100 g / ha, or at least 150 g / ha. The compositions that include bicyclopyrone can optionally include atrazine. Atrazine is a chlorinated triazine systemic herbicide that is used to selectively control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds before they emerge; atrazine is a triazine and group 5 herbicide: photosystem II inhibitor. The atrazine can optionally be applied at a rate of less than 4000 g / ha, less than 3500 g / ha, less than 3000 g / ha, less than 2500 g / ha, less than 2000 g / ha, less than 1500 g / ha, or less than 1000 g / ha.

[0028] The weight ratio of the second agrochemical to the other active ingredients in the agrochemical composition can be, for example, 1:100 to 100:1 or 1:10 to 10:1.Other weight ratio of the second agrochemical to the other active ingredients can be about 2220:260 to 1110:560 or about 2220:210 to 1110:420. Accordingly, embodiments within the disclosure also include a weight ratio of S-metolachlor to mesotrione of 1110-2220:210-420.

[0029] Similarly compositions and methods of the invention (which includes those comprising one or more additional herbicides as described above) can further include one or more safeners. In particular, the following safeners are especially preferred: AD 67 (MON 4660), benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, furilazome, isoxadifen-ethyl, mefenpyr-diethyl, mephenate, oxabetrinil, naphthalic anhydride (CAS RN 81-84-5), TI-35, N-isopropyl-4-(2-methoxy-benzoylsulfamoyl)-benzamide (CAS RN 221668-34-4) and N-(2-methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfonamide. Such safeners may also be used in the form of esters or salts, as mentioned e.g. in The Pesticide Manual, 15th Ed. (BCPC), 2009. Thus, the reference to cloquintocet-mexyl also applies to cloquintocet and to a lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, iron, ammonium, quaternary ammonium, sulfonium or phosphonium salt thereof as disclosed in WO 02 / 34048 and the reference to fenchlorazole-ethyl also applies to fenchlorazole, etc.

[0030] The compositions of the invention can be applied before or after planting of the crops, before weeds emerge (pre-emergence application) or after weeds emerge (post-emergence application). Where a safener is combined with mixtures of the invention, it is preferred that the mixing ratio by weight of herbicide to safener is from 100:1 to 1:10, especially from 20:1 to 1:1.

[0031] According to certain methods disclosed herein, a herbicide and a safener can be applied simultaneously, separately, or sequentially. Simultaneous application in this context refers to application of a single composition including both the herbicide(s) and the safener(s). For example, a composition might be applied to the locus pre-emergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence. Separate application refers to contemporaneous application of more than one composition, e.g., one composition including herbicide(s) and another including safener(s). Sequential application refers to application of the herbicide(s) and safener(s) at distinct times, one before the other. For example, in sequential application, the safener might beapplied before sowing the seeds as a seed treatment and the composition of the invention might be applied to the locus pre-emergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence.

[0032] The amount of a composition according to the invention to be applied, will depend on various factors, such as the compounds employed; the subject of the treatment, such as, for example plants, soil or seeds; the type of treatment, such as, for example spraying, dusting or seed dressing; the application time; and / or other factors. In agricultural practice the application rates of the composition according to the invention depend on the type of effect desired, and typically range from 30 to 4000 g of total composition per hectare, and more commonly between 30 and 2000g / ha. The application is generally made by spraying the composition, typically by tractor mounted sprayer for large areas, but other methods such as dusting (for powders), drip or drench can also be used.

[0033] The individual components of the composition of the invention may be utilised as the technical active ingredient as produced. More typically however, the compositions according to the invention may be formulated in various ways using formulation adjuvants, such as carriers, solvents and surface-active substances. The formulations can be in various physical forms, e.g. in the form of dusting powders, gels, wettable powders, water-dispersible granules, water-dispersible tablets, effervescent pellets, emulsifiable concentrates, microemulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, oil-flowables, aqueous dispersions, oily dispersions, suspo-emulsions, capsule suspensions, emulsifiable granules, soluble liquids, water-soluble concentrates (with water or a water-miscible organic solvent as carrier), impregnated polymer films or in other forms known e.g. from the Manual on Development and Use of FAO and WHO Specifications for Pesticides, United Nations, First Edition, Second Revision (2010). Such formulations can either be used directly or diluted prior to use. The dilutions can be made, for example, with water, liquid fertilisers, micronutrients, biological organisms, oil or solvents.

[0034] The formulations can be prepared e.g. by mixing the active ingredient with the formulation adjuvants in order to obtain compositions in the form of finely divided solids, granules, solutions, dispersions or emulsions. The active ingredients can also be formulated with other adjuvants, such as finely divided solids, mineral oils, oils ofvegetable or animal origin, modified oils of vegetable or animal origin, organic solvents, water, surface-active substances or combinations thereof.

[0035] The active ingredients can also be contained in very fine microcapsules.Microcapsules contain the active ingredients in a porous carrier. This enables the active ingredients to be released into the environment in controlled amounts (e.g. slow-release). Microcapsules usually have a diameter of from 0.1 to 500 microns. They contain active ingredients in an amount of about from 25 to 95 % by weight of the capsule weight. The active ingredients can be in the form of a monolithic solid, in the form of fine particles in solid or liquid dispersion or in the form of a suitable solution. The encapsulating membranes can comprise, for example, natural or synthetic rubbers, cellulose, styrene / butadiene copolymers, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylate, polyesters, polyamides, polyureas, polyurethane or chemically modified polymers and starch xanthates or other polymers that are known to the person skilled in the art. Alternatively, very fine microcapsules can be formed in which the active ingredient is contained in the form of finely divided particles in a solid matrix of base substance, but the microcapsules are not themselves encapsulated.

[0036] The formulation adjuvants that are suitable for the preparation of the compositions according to the invention are known per se. As liquid carriers there may be used: water, toluene, xylene, petroleum ether, vegetable oils, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, acid anhydrides, acetonitrile, acetophenone, amyl acetate, 2-butanone, butylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, cyclohexane, cyclohexanol, alkyl esters of acetic acid, diacetone alcohol, 1,2-dichloropropane, diethanolamine, p-di ethylbenzene, diethylene glycol, diethylene glycol abietate, diethylene glycol butyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, N,N-dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1,4-di oxane, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol dibenzoate, diproxitol, alkylpyrrolidone, ethyl acetate, 2-ethylhexanol, ethylene carbonate, 1,1,1 -trichloroethane, 2-heptanone, alpha-pinene, d-limonene, ethyl lactate, ethylene glycol, ethylene glycol butyl ether, ethylene glycol methyl ether, gamma-butyrolactone, glycerol, glycerol acetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, hexadecane, hexylene glycol, isoamyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, isooctane, isophorone, isopropylbenzene, isopropyl myristate, lactic acid, laurylamine, mesityl oxide, methoxypropanol, methyl isoamyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl laurate, methyl octanoate, methyl oleate, methylene chloride,m-xylene, / / -hexane, w-octylamine, octadecanoic acid, octylamine acetate, oleic acid, oleylamine, o-xylene, phenol, polyethylene glycol, propionic acid, propyl lactate, propylene carbonate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol methyl ether, p-xylene, toluene, triethyl phosphate, triethylene glycol, xylenesulfonic acid, paraffin, mineral oil, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and alcohols of higher molecular weight, such as amyl alcohol, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, hexanol, octanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, Mm ethyl -2 -pyrrolidone and the like.

[0037] Suitable solid carriers are, for example, talc, titanium dioxide, pyrophyllite clay, silica, attapulgite clay, kieselguhr, limestone, calcium carbonate, bentonite, calcium montmorillonite, cottonseed husks, wheat flour, soybean flour, pumice, wood flour, ground walnut shells, lignin and similar substances.

[0038] A large number of surface-active substances can advantageously be used in both solid and liquid formulations, especially in those formulations which can be diluted with a carrier prior to use. Surface-active substances may be anionic, cationic, non-ionic or polymeric and they can be used as emulsifiers, wetting agents or suspending agents or for other purposes. Typical surface-active substances include, for example, salts of alkyl sulfates, such as diethanolammonium lauryl sulfate; salts of alkylarylsulfonates, such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylphenol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as nonylphenol ethoxylate; alcohol / alkylene oxide addition products, such as tri decyl alcohol ethoxylate; soaps, such as sodium stearate; salts of alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, such as sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate; dialkyl esters of sulfosuccinate salts, such as sodium di(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate; sorbitol esters, such as sorbitol oleate; quaternary amines, such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride, polyethylene glycol esters of fatty acids, such as polyethylene glycol stearate; block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide; and salts of mono and di-alkylphosphate esters; and also further substances described e.g. in McCutcheon's Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual, MC Publishing Corp., Ridgewood New Jersey (1981).

[0039] Further adjuvants that can be used in herbicidal formulations include crystallisation inhibitors, viscosity modifiers, suspending agents, dyes, anti-oxidants, foaming agents, light absorbers, mixing auxiliaries, antifoams, complexing agents,neutralising or pH-modifying substances and buffers, corrosion inhibitors, fragrances, wetting agents, take-up enhancers, micronutrients, plasticisers, glidants, lubricants, dispersants, thickeners, antifreezes, microbicides, and liquid and solid fertilisers.

[0040] The formulations according to the invention can include an additive comprising an oil of vegetable or animal origin, a mineral oil, alkyl esters of such oils or mixtures of such oils and oil derivatives. The amount of oil additive in the composition according to the invention is generally from 0.01 to 10 %, based on the mixture to be applied. For example, the oil additive can be added to a spray tank in the desired concentration after a spray mixture has been prepared. Preferred oil additives comprise mineral oils or an oil of vegetable origin, for example rapeseed oil, olive oil or sunflower oil, emulsified vegetable oil, alkyl esters of oils of vegetable origin, for example the methyl derivatives, or an oil of animal origin, such as fish oil or beef tallow. Preferred oil additives comprise alkyl esters of C8-C22 fatty acids, especially the methyl derivatives of C12-C18 fatty acids, for example the methyl esters of lauric acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid (methyl laurate, methyl palmitate and methyl oleate, respectively). Many oil derivatives are known from the Compendium of Herbicide Adjuvants, 10thEdition, Southern Illinois University, 2010.

[0041] The rates of application vary within wide limits and depend on the nature of the soil, the method of application, the crop plant, the pest to be controlled, the prevailing climatic conditions, and other factors governed by the method of application, the time of application and the target crop.

[0042] Preferred formulations can have the following compositions (weight %), wherein the term “active ingredient” refers to the total weight % of the combination of all active ingredients in the composition:Emulsifiable concentrates:active ingredient: 1 to 95 %, preferably 60 to 90 %surface-active agent: 1 to 30 %, preferably 5 to 20 %liquid carrier: 1 to 80 %, preferably 1 to 35 %Dusts:active ingredient: 0.1 to 10 %, preferably 0.1 to 5 %solid carrier: 99.9 to 90 %, preferably 99.9 to 99 %Suspension concentrates:active ingredient: 5 to 75 %, preferably 10 to 50 %water: 94 to 24 %, preferably 88 to 30 %surface-active agent: 1 to 40 %, preferably 2 to 30 %Wettable powders:active ingredient: 0.5 to 90 %, preferably 1 to 80 %surface-active agent: 0.5 to 20 %, preferably 1 to 15 %solid carrier: 5 to 95 %, preferably 15 to 90 %Granules:active ingredient: 0.1 to 30 %, preferably 0.1 to 15 %solid carrier: 99.5 to 70 %, preferably 97 to 85 %

[0043] Various aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be illustrated in more detail by way of example. It will be appreciated that modification of detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.EXAMPLES

[0044] The following examples illustrate some further aspects of the invention but are not intended to limit its scope. Where not otherwise specified throughout this specification and claims, percentages are w / w.

[0045] Field trials were conducted to evaluate agrochemicals effects in HPPD tolerant soybean lines. Herbicide tolerances of the soybeans are summarized in Table 1.

[0046] Table 1

[0047] In the trial, the soil was Southern Illinois Silt Loam (Sand:Silt:Clay 14:44:42 O.M. = 2.4; pH = 6.8). The trial design included random co-blocks with 3 replications.

[0048] Application of agrochemicals was pre-emergent using a spray volume of 15 gallons / acre. Percent injury evaluations were taken at 12, 18, 25, and 29 days after application.

[0049] Agrochemical treatments are defined in Table 2.Table 2* - mesotrione chelated with copper.** - ACURON® FLEXI is an agrochemical concentrate containing the following active ingredients: S-metolachlor (31.24%), mesotrione Cu (3.47%), and bicyclopyrone (0.87%) sold by Syngenta.*** - obtained as Dual Magnum®, an emulsifiable concentrate (EC) sold by Syngenta.**** - tank-mix of individual components.

[0050] The results of the trial are summarized in FIGs. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 shows the results of treatments which used twice the amount of agrochemical compared to the treatments shown in FIG. 1.

[0051] All lines were safe to bicyclopyrone alone applied at 2X, but showed some injury to mesotrione applied alone or in combination with bicyclopyrone or in a 3-way combination with S-metolachlor.

[0052] The acid form of mesotrione caused significant injury on the soybeans; 8 and 22% at IX and 2X rates, respectively. Bicyclopyrone was safe causing a maximum of 1% injury at the 2X rate. Injury increased, however, when mesotrione acid was applied in combination with bicyclopyrone to 20 and 24% at IX and 2X rates, respectively. Surprisingly, injury from the 3-way mixture of mesotrione acid+bicyclopyrone+S-metolachlor was lower than that from mesotrione acid alone or the combination of mesotrione acid+ bicyclopyrone; the 3 -way mixture caused only 5 and 17% injury at IX and 2X rates, respectively.

[0053] The Cu salt of mesotrione applied alone or in combination with bicyclopyrone was safer than the acid form of mesotrione applied alone or in combination with bicyclopyrone. Acuron® Flexi (the 3 -way combination containing Cu salt of mesotrione, bicyclopyrone, and S-metolachlor) was safer than mesotrione Cu applied alone or in combination with bicyclopyrone.

[0054] Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

Claims1. A method of reducing injury in crops from agrochemicals, comprising:applying to the locus of a crop an herbicidally effective amount of an agrochemical composition comprising:at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof, anda second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof;wherein:the second agrochemical is a group 15 herbicide, andthe agrochemical composition produces a lower rate of crop injury than an otherwise equivalent agrochemical composition without the second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the crop is soybean.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the soybean is tolerant to at least one of HPPDs, auxins, glyphosate, or glufosinate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the soybean is tolerant to at least HPPDs.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the soybean is tolerant to at least HPPDs, and at least one of auxins, glyphosate, or glufosinate.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the soybeans have a trait selected from: RR1, RR2 XTEND, XtendFlex, LibertyLink, Enlist E3, GTS 40-3-2, MON89788, A2704-12, GT27, LLGT27, FG72, MON 94313, or GMB151.

7. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the group 15 herbicide is a chloroacetamide.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the chloroacetamide is S-metolachlor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the S-metolachlor is applied at a rate greater than 1000 g / ha or greater than 1110 g / ha, and optionally wherein the S-metolachlor is applied at a rate less than 2220 g / ha.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the S-metolachlor is applied at a rate less than 2220 g / ha.

11. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the at least one first agrochemical includes an HPPD inhibitor, or an agrochemical salt thereof.

12. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the at least one first agrochemical includes bicyclopyrone, or an agrochemical salt thereof.

13. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the at least one first agrochemical includes (a) mesotrione or an agrochemical salt thereof, and (b) bicyclopyrone or an agrochemical salt thereof.

14. The method of any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the bicyclopyrone is applied at a rate greater than 50 g / ha.

15. The method of any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the bicyclopyrone is applied at a rate greater than 60 g / ha.

16. The method of any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the bicyclopyrone is applied at a rate of 60-200 g / ha, 60-150 g / ha, 60-110 g / ha, or 60-100 g / ha.

17. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the rate of crop injury is lower by at least 6 percentage points, or at least 7 percentage points, or at least 17 percentage points.

18. The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the agrochemical composition is prepared by diluting an agrochemical concentrate comprising the at least one first agrochemical or agrochemical salt thereof, and the second agrochemical or agrochemical salt thereof.

19. The method of any one of claims 1-17, wherein the agrochemical composition is prepared by tank-mixing a first agrochemical composition comprising the at least one first agrochemical or agrochemical salt thereof, and a second agrochemical composition the second agrochemical or agrochemical salt thereof.

20. The method of any one of the proceeding claims, wherein the applying is preemergence.

21. A method of reducing injury in crops from agrochemicals, comprising:applying to the locus of a crop an herbicidally effective amount of an agrochemical composition comprising:at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof, and a second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof;wherein:the crop is an HPPD-tolerant soybean;the second agrochemical is a group 15 herbicide, andthe agrochemical composition produces a lower rate of crop injury than an otherwise equivalent agrochemical composition without the second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof includes an HPPD inhibitor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof includes at least one of: bicyclopyrone or an agrochemical salt thereof, and mesotrione or an agrochemical salt thereof.

24. The method of any one of claims 21-23, wherein the group 15 herbicide is a chloroacetamide.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the chloroacetamide is S-metolachlor.

26. An agrochemical composition, comprising:at least one first agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof; and a second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof;wherein the second agrochemical is a group 15 herbicide; andwherein the agrochemical composition produces a lower rate of crop injury than an otherwise equivalent agrochemical composition without the second agrochemical or an agrochemical salt thereof.

27. The composition of claim 26, wherein the second agrochemical is S-metolachlor.

28. The composition of any one of claims 26 or 27, wherein the at least one first agrochemical includes mesotrione or an agrochemical salt thereof and bicyclopyrone or an agrochemical salt thereof.

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