Bioactive acid agrichemical compositions and use thereof

Abstract

A method of controlling pathogenic fusarium fungi in agriculture through the application of a bioactive composition comprising a) an organic acid, b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion or ion source, and c) optionally, at least one surfactant.

1 . A method of controlling pathogenic  fusarium  fungi in agriculture said method comprising applying a bioactive composition comprising a) an organic acid, b) at least one antimicrobial metal ion or ion source, wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, zinc, a combination of silver and zinc, a combination of silver and copper, a combination of copper and zinc and a combination of silver, copper and zinc, and c) optionally, at least one surfactant, wherein the acid is present in the bioactive composition at a level of 0.01 to 10 weight percent and in at least a 2 times molar excess relative to the antimicrobial metal ions (b), the pH of the acid/antimicrobial metal ion combination in purified water is at least 2 and less than 6, and the antimicrobial metal ion (b) is present in the bioactive composition in an amount of 500 ppm or less in the case of a single metal ion or 1000 ppm or less in the case or multiple metal ions to the seeds of the pertinent crop or plant; to the soil in which the seed, crop or plant is or is to be planted; to the aqueous environment in which the plants are growing: or to the matter of the plant itself wherein said seeds, soil, aqueous environment and/or plant is contaminated with or exposed to  fusarium  fungi. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition is applied at a rate or amount whereby the amount of the antimicrobial metal ion(s) (b) is no more than about 500 grams per acre. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition is applied at a rate or amount whereby the amount of the antimicrobial metal ion(s) (b) is no more than about 250 grams per acre. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pH is from 1.5 to 5 and wherein the molar excess of acid, relative to the antimicrobial metal ions, is at least 2 times. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acid is present in a molar excess of at least 5 times relative to the antimicrobial metal ions (b). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acid is present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 4 weight percent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are either silver or copper or zinc. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are a agrichemical composition of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial metal ions are selected from the group consisting of silver ions, copper ions, zinc ions, a combination of silver and copper ions, a combination of silver and zinc ions, a combination of copper and zinc ions and a combination of silver, copper and zinc ions. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial ion is present at a concentration of from about 1 ppm to about 300 ppm in the case of a single metal ion and from about 2 to about 500 in the case of multiple metal ions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial ion is present at a concentration of from about 5 ppm to about 150 ppm in the case of a single metal ion and from about 5 ppm to about 50 ppm in the case of multiple metal ions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the antimicrobial metal ion source is selected from antimicrobial metal salts, antimicrobial metal ion ion-exchange complexes and antimicrobial metal ion containing soluble glasses. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition comprises at least one surfactant that impacts or interacts with cell wall membranes of microorganisms or the function thereof and is present in an amount of from about 0.001 to about 3 weight percent. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein a combination of two or more surfactants is employed, each surfactant independently an anionic surfactant, a non-ionic surfactant or an amphoteric surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the surfactants are selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, mono- and di-glycerides, amine oxides, ether carboxylates, betaines, sulfobetaines, and glycinates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the surfactants are selected from the group consisting of sulfonates, sulfates, sulfosuccinates, sarcosinates, and amine oxides. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acid is a carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition further comprises one or more conventional agrichemical additives selected from protective colloids, adjuvants, stabilizers, binders, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetrating agents, antifreeze agents, defoaming agents, foaming agents, oils for spraying, corrosion inhibitors, surfactants, fillers, wetting agents, dispersing agents, emulsifiers, rain fasteners, and dyes and other known active ingredients which have pesticide or plant growth related properties or both. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition is applied to plants that are infected with or exposed to  fusarium.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the bioactive composition is applied to soybeans. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the bioactive composition is applied to seeds that are infected with or have been exposed to  fusarium.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the seeds are soybean seeds.