The invention relates to compositions useful in the field of
agricultural chemistry and methods for making and using the compositions. The compositions include (i) a permeabilizing agent, and (ii) a
active component, for example, a
pesticide or
plant growth regulator, and can include additional components as well, for example, flow agents. The permeabilizing agent, or a mixture of permeabilizing agents, acts as an
adjuvant to the
active component or chemicals to improve the degree of
efficacy of the
active component or speed of action of the active component. The permeabilizing agents are typically one or more chelating agents, cationic materials, anionic materials, and zwitterionic materials, and include
polyphosphate salts. Examples of cationic materials include polyamines such as
ethylenediamine and
quaternary ammonium salts. The
active components can be pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, virucides,
bacteriocides, and acaricides. Examples of suitable
active components include
plant growth regulators, defoliators, dessicants,
transfection agents, wood treatments (CCA or other chemicals that are effective against termites), traps, disinfectants, marine paints and the like. The compositions can be prepared by mixing the components in a suitable manner, and the compositions can be used by applying the compositions to a
plant in need of treatment thereof in an amount effective for the desired use, employing conventional application techniques. In one embodiment, the
active components are defoliants, and the composition is used for plant defoliation, for example, with respect to cotton plants.