Isoxaflutole–Pyroxasulfone–Imidazolinone Mixtures for Crop-Safe Weed Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing herbicides like isoxaflutole face challenges in achieving effective weed control with lower application rates, stability issues in combinations with other herbicides, and prolonged herbicidal action, while maintaining compatibility with HPPD-tolerant soybeans and cotton crops.

Innovation Solution

Combining isoxaflutole with pyroxasulfone and imidazolinone herbicides, optionally with additional herbicides, to create mixtures with enhanced herbicidal action, improved stability, and reduced crop damage, allowing for lower application rates and extended weed control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If isoxaflutole is applied at higher rates to compensate for loss of action against resistant weeds, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but the amount of active compound and formulation auxiliaries increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidamount of active compound
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines isoxaflutole with pyroxasulfone and imidazolinone herbicides to create a multi-component mixture that provides synergistic weed control. This combination allows effective control of resistant weed biotypes while reducing the application rate of isoxaflutole compared to using it alone at high rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite herbicide formulation containing isoxaflutole, pyroxasulfone, and imidazolinone compounds. This composite mixture leverages the different modes of action of each active ingredient to overcome weed resistance while maintaining lower overall application rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If isoxaflutole is combined with other herbicides to improve weed control spectrum, then herbicidal activity is enhanced, but chemical and physical incompatibility and instability occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveherbicidal activityVSAvoidformulation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration ranges of isoxaflutole (0.1-100 g a.i./ha), pyroxasulfone (1-100 g a.i./ha), and imidazolinone (1-100 g a.i./ha) to achieve stable formulations. By carefully controlling these parameters, the mixture maintains chemical compatibility and formulation stability while providing enhanced herbicidal activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If higher application rates are used to achieve acceptable weed control, then weed control effectiveness is improved, but environmental friendliness and economic efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweed control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple herbicides with different modes of action into a single formulation that achieves superior weed control at lower total application rates. This reduces the environmental load compared to applying high rates of single herbicides, while maintaining effective control of resistant weed populations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 mixtures provide synergistic herbicidal activity, ensuring effective weed control with reduced soybean and cotton plant damage, and maintaining herbicidal persistence over time, while allowing for flexible application.

Implementation Method 1

Isoxaflutole is a herbicide that acts through inhibition of the plant enzyme hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme inhibition: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS12408667B2Herbicidal mixtures comprising isoxaflutole, pyroxasulfone and an imidazolinone herbicide; and their use in soybean and cotton cultures
Publication Date: 2025.09.09 BASF SE

AI summary

The present invention relates to herbicidal mixtures comprising isoxaflutole, pyroxasulfone and an imidazolinone herbicide. The herbicidal mixtures may comprise at least one further herbicide selected from the group consisting of glyphosate and its salts, glufosinate and its salts, L-glufosinate (glufosinate-P) and its salts, dicamba and its salts and esters, 2,4-D and its salts and esters, bicyclopyrone, fenquinotrione, mesotrione, tembotrione, tolpyralate and topramezone. Furthermore, the invention relates to methods and uses applying the herbicidal mixtures, especially for controlling undesirable vegetation in soybean and cotton cultures.