Glucosinolate Hydrolysate Herbicide for Post-Emergence Weed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for effective biological herbicides that can be applied post-emergence to control weed growth without harmful environmental impact, as chemical herbicides have significant toxicity concerns and few biological alternatives are available for post-emergence foliar application.

Innovation Solution

A liquid formulation containing a herbicidally effective amount of thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation, derived from hydrolyzed glucosinolate extracts, is applied to weed foliage to control weed growth, which can be used pre- or post-emergence of cultivated plants.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical herbicides are used to control weed growth, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but environmental toxicity and harm to non-target species increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental toxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the naturally occurring glucosinolates found in mustard family plants (which can be harmful to weeds) into a beneficial biological herbicide. The myrosinase enzyme catalyzes the breakdown of glucosinolates into active thiocyanate compounds that selectively kill weeds while being safe for cultivated plants and the environment, thus transforming a potential harm into a beneficial control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The biological herbicide formulation uses naturally occurring enzymes (myrosinase) and plant-derived compounds (glucosinolates) to provide self-regulating weed control. The system leverages the plant's own biochemical pathways to produce the active herbicidal compounds, eliminating the need for synthetic chemical herbicides and their associated environmental harms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biological herbicides are used to reduce environmental toxicity, then environmental friendliness is improved, but availability of effective post-emergence herbicidal agents decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental toxicityVSAvoidavailability of post-emergence herbicidal agents

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the biochemical parameters of the biological herbicide by controlling the hydrolysis of glucosinolates through myrosinase enzyme activity. This parameter change enables the formulation to be effective as a post-emergence herbicide, expanding the availability and versatility of biological herbicidal agents for selective weed control after crop emergence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If post-emergence herbicide application is used to control weeds selectively, then precision in weed control is improved, but timing constraints and application complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselectivity in weed controlVSAvoidapplication timing flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary preparation of the biological herbicide formulation using stable glucosinolate and myrosinase components that can be stored and applied at optimal times. The pre-formulated liquid preparation allows farmers to apply the herbicide at the precise moment of maximum weed vulnerability, maintaining selectivity while improving application timing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method effectively retards or kills weed growth, reducing the need for large-scale chemical herbicide use and minimizing environmental toxicity, while being applicable at various stages of weed development.

Implementation Method 1

applying a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation to foliage of a weed plant to thereby control growth of the weed plant

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiological herbicidal action:

Implementation Method 2

the thiocyanate or isothiocyanate preparation can be a hydrolyzed glucosinolate preparation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Data Source

PatentUS12369581B2Methods for weed growth control

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 MUSTGROW BIOLOGICS CORP

AI summary

Provided are methods to control growth of weed plants. The methods involve the application of a liquid formulation comprising a herbicidally effective amount of a thiocyanate preparation or isothiocyanate preparation to the foliage of weed plants. The thiocyanate preparation or isothiocyanate preparation can be provided in the form of a glucosinolate hydrolysate.