Seed treatment formulations and methods of use

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to aqueous seed treatment formulations comprising a pesticidal agent, a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a graft copolymer, and a plasticizer. In one embodiment of the invention, PVA-compatible polymer emulsions are employed. The present invention also relates to uses of the disclosed compositions for protecting seeds from pests.

1 . An aqueous pesticide formulation comprising a) at least one pesticidal agent; b) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); c) a graft copolymer; and d) a plasticizer wherein:
 i. the amount of the pesticidal agent is from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the total formulation;   ii. the total amount of the PVA and the graft copolymer is from about 1.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the total formulation;   iii. the PVA to the graft copolymer ratio is from about 10-to-1 to about 1-to-2 parts by weight; and   iv. the amount of the plasticizer is from about 5.0% to about 15.0% by weight of the total formulation.   
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal agent is an insecticide. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the insecticide is a neonicotinoid. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 3 , wherein the neonicotinoid is clothianidin. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the pesticidal agent is a fungicide. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 5 , wherein the fungicide is a triazole. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the triazole is metconazole. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 5 , wherein the fungicide is ethaboxam. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer comprises a blend of a liquid plasticizer and a solid plasticizer. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid plasticizer comprises an alkyl glycol or polyol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, glycerol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, and triethylene glycol. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 9 , wherein the solid plasticizer comprises a polyol selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, trimethylol propane, glucose, methyl glucoside, and urea. 
     
     
         12 . The formulation of  claim 1  further comprising a polymer emulsion. 
     
     
         13 . The formulation of  claim 12 , wherein the polymer emulsion is based on an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer. 
     
     
         14 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the graft copolymer is comb-branched. 
     
     
         15 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation further comprises up to about 0.25% by weight of the total formulation of a low molecular weight surfactant. 
     
     
         16 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is water-miscible. 
     
     
         17 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the plasticizer is a mixture of solid and liquid plasticizers having a ratio of from about 3-to-1 to about 1-to-3 parts by weight. 
     
     
         18 . The formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising a wetting agent. 
     
     
         19 . The formulation of  claim 18 , wherein the wetting agent is a low molecular weight surfactant. 
     
     
         20 . The formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more formulation modifiers. 
     
     
         21 . The formulation of  claim 20 , wherein the formulation modifiers are selected from the group consisting of organic thickeners, inorganic thickeners, wax slip agents, defoamers, and antifoams. 
     
     
         22 . The formulation of  claim 20  wherein the formulation modifier comprises about 3% by weight of wax slip agent. 
     
     
         23 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the PVA has an average molecular weight from about 12,500 g/mole to about 125,000 g/mole. 
     
     
         24 . The formulation of  claim 23  that further comprises about 3% by weight of a polymer emulsion. 
     
     
         25 . An aqueous formulation comprising a) at least one pesticidal agent; b) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); c) a graft copolymer; and d) a plasticizer, wherein:
 i. the amount of the pesticidal agent is from about 35% to about 50% by weight of the total formulation;   ii. the total amount of the PVA and the graft copolymer is from about 1.0% to about 3.0% by weight of the total formulation;   iii. the PVA to graft copolymer ratio is from about 5-to-1 to about 1.5-to-1 parts by weight; and   iv. the amount of the plasticizer is from about 7.0% to about 12.0% by weight of the total formulation.   
     
     
         26 . The formulation of  claim 25  that further comprises about 3% by weight of a wax slip agent. 
     
     
         27 . A formulation comprising (as 100% active materials):
 i. about 0.07 to 0.25% by weight of the total formulation of a thickener;   ii. about 1.1 to 1.4% by weight of the total formulation of PVA;   iii. about 3.5 to 4.4% by weight of the total formulation of propylene glycol or glycerol;   iv. about 3.5 to 4.4% by weight of the total formulation of sorbitol;   v. about 0.2 to 0.4% by weight of the total formulation of a graft copolymer;   vi. about 0.1% by weight of the total formulation of a wetting agent;   vii. about 0.03 to 0.1% by weight of the total formulation of a defoamer;   viii. about 0 to 0.1% by weight of the total formulation of a preservative;   ix. about 40.0 to 48.0% by weight of the total formulation of a pesticide; and   x. the balance of the formulation is water to total 100% by weight.   
     
     
         28 . The formulation of  claim 27  that further comprises about 3% by weight of a wax slip agent. 
     
     
         29 . The formulation of  claim 27  that further comprises about 3% by weight of a polymer emulsion. 
     
     
         30 . A method of protecting seeds from pests comprising applying to the seeds an effective amount of the formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the PVA and the graft copolymer provide a protective layer between the pesticidal agent and the seeds, thereby prolonging shelf life. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the plasticizer is used to control the drying rate of the formulation.