Herbicidal Composition Synergy for Broad-Spectrum Weed Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current herbicides face challenges in providing broad-spectrum weed control with minimal crop damage, stability, ease of handling, and effectiveness against herbicide-tolerant weeds, particularly in agricultural settings.

Innovation Solution

Compositions comprising imazapic, aminopyralid, and metsulfuron, in various salt forms, are applied post-emergently or pre-emergently to control undesirable vegetation, offering a combination of herbicidal active ingredients that can be used alone or with other herbicides to enhance weed control efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If single herbicide applications are used, then application simplicity is maintained, but weed control spectrum is limited and herbicide resistance develops

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control spectrumVSAvoidcomposition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple herbicides with different modes of action (imazapic as an imidazolinone, aminopyralid as a pyridinecarboxylic acid, and metsulfuron as a sulfonylurea) into a single composition. This merging approach broadens the weed control spectrum by targeting different weed species and physiological pathways, while simultaneously managing herbicide resistance through multi-mode-of-action synergy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite herbicide formulation containing imazapic, aminopyralid, and optionally metsulfuron in specific concentration ranges. This composite material leverages the complementary herbicidal properties of each component to achieve enhanced broad-spectrum control of both grass and broadleaf weeds, while the specific formulation ensures stability and compatibility among the different chemical compounds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If herbicide combinations are used, then weed control efficacy is enhanced, but crop damage risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweed control efficacyVSAvoidcrop damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise concentration parameters for each herbicide component: imazapic at 0.1-100 g ai/ha, aminopyralid at 0.1-200 g ai/ha, and metsulfuron at 0.1-50 g ai/ha. These parameter ranges are optimized to achieve synergistic weed control while maintaining crop safety. The formulation ensures that each component is present at effective but controlled levels, preventing excessive phytotoxicity while maximizing herbicidal activity against target weeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If conventional herbicides are used, then application is simple, but effectiveness against herbicide-tolerant weeds is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness against tolerant weedsVSAvoidformulation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the challenge of herbicide resistance into an opportunity by combining multiple herbicides with different modes of action. The composition includes imazapic (ACCase inhibitor), aminopyralid (auxin-like herbicide), and metsulfuron (ALS inhibitor), each targeting different physiological pathways. This approach effectively counters herbicide-tolerant weed populations that have developed resistance to single-mode-of-action herbicides, turning the resistance problem into a manageable situation through multi-target inhibition.

Inventive Principle:

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

Data Source

PatentUS10098349B2Herbicidal compositions containing imazapic, aminopyralid and optionally metsulfuron

Publication Date: 2018.10.16 CORTEVA AGRISCIENCE LLC

AI summary

Herbicidal compositions comprising (a) imazapic or salt thereof, (b) aminopyralid or salt thereof, and optionally (c) metsulfuron or an ester thereof are described herein.