Hinokitiol As A Plant Pesticide
The present invention discloses that a natural tropolone compound, hinokitiol, also known as β-Thujaplicin as an effective biopesticide for use in controlling plant pests. In particular, hinokitiol and/or salts thereof may be used in modulating non-Erwinia plant microbial infection or in the formulation of a non-Erwinia antimicrobial agent. Alternatively, hinokitiol may be used as a natural herbicide to control the germination and growth of weeds. The formulation used in the present invention may contain a chelator, pH adjustor and UV protection agent in an amount effective to stabilize said hinokitiol.
1 . A composition comprising hinokitiol, salt thereof, or combination of the foregoing, an acid chelator and a carrier and/or diluent.
2 . The composition wherein said composition comprises hinokitiol.
3 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a hinokitiol salt.
4 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said hinokitiol salt thereof, or combination of the foregoing is in an organic solvent.
5 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said hinokitiol salt thereof, or combination of the foregoing is in an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of formic acid, propionic acid, ethanol, butanol and acetone.
6 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition is in the form of an emulsifiable concentrate, microemulsion, soluble liquid, emulsion oil-in-water, suspension concentration, wettable granule, or wettable powder.
7 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a non-hinokitiol antifungal agent.
8 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a non-hinokitiol bioherbicidal or non-hinokitiol chemical herbicidal agent.
9 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said chelator is selected from the group consisting of EDTA, citric acid and a citric acid salt.
10 . The composition according to claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a non-phytotoxic nonionic surfactant.
11 . The composition according to claim 10 , wherein said composition further comprises a basic pH stabilizing agent.
12 . The composition according to claim 11 , wherein said composition comprising said pH stabilizing agent has a pH of 7-10.
13 . The composition according to claim 11 , wherein said composition further comprises a UV protection agent.
14 . The composition according to claim 13 , wherein said UV protection agent is selected from the group consisting of L-ascorbic acid, humic acid, bentonite, sodium salt of oxylignin and calcium lignosulfonate.
15 . A composition comprising hinokitiol, an acid chelator, a non-phytotoxic nonionic surfactant, butanol, propylene glycol, an acid chelator, and a UV protection agent, pH stabilizing agent and a diluent and/or carrier.
16 . The composition according to claim 15 , wherein the pH stabilizing agent is a metal hydroxide.
17 . A method for modulating non-Erwinia microbial infection in a plant comprising applying to said plant and/or seeds thereof and/or substrate used for growing said plant an amount of hinokitiol and/or salt thereof to modulate non-Erwinia, non- Pseudomonas microbial infection in said plant.
18 . A method for modulating fungal infection in a plant comprising applying to said plant and/or seeds thereof and/or substrate used for growing said plant the composition of claim 1 to modulate non-Erwinia, non- Pseudomonas microbial infection in said plant.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein said growth substrate is soil.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein said composition is applied prior to harvest of said plant.
21 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein said non-Erwinia microbial infection is fungal infection.
22 . The method according to claim 21 , wherein said fungal infection is a Fusarium sp., Botrytis sp., Monilinia sp., Colletotrichum sp, Verticillium sp.; Microphomina sp., and Phytophtora sp, Mucor, Rhizoctonia, Geotrichum, Phoma, or Penicillium infection.
23 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein said non-Erwinia microbial infection is bacterial infection.
24 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein said non-Erwinia microbial infection is Xanthomonas infection.
26 . A method for modulating growth of monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds comprising applying to said weeds an amount of hinokitiol effective to modulate growth of said weeds.
27 . A method for modulating emergence of monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds in soil comprising applying to said weeds or soil an amount of the composition of claim 1 effective to modulate emergence of said weeds.
28 . The method according to claim 27 , wherein said weeds are broadleaved and/or grass weeds.