Compositions for post-harvest treatment and related methods

1. A composition for the post-harvest treatment of crops, the composition comprising:

about 1% to about 20%, by weight percent, of at least one fungicidally-active compound;

about 1% to about 80%, by weight percent, of at least one ether solvent; and

about 5% to about 40%, by weight percent, of at least one filler.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fungicidally active compound includes at least one compound chosen from a triazole derivative, a strobilurin, a carbamate, a benzimidazole, a N-trihalomethylthio compound, a substituted benzene, a carboxamide, a phenylamide, a phenylpyrrole and a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fungicidally active compound includes at least one compound chosen from fludioxonil, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, difenoconazole, propiconazole, thiabendazole, and azoxystrobin.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ether solvent has

a boiling point in the range of 130° C. to 200° C. and

a flash point in the range of 25° C. to 100° C.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ether solvent includes at least one glycol ether solvent.

6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the at least one glycol ether solvent includes propylene glycol methyl ether.

7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filler includes at least one of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, alpha-tocopherol, amyl acetate, decyl alcohol, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerine, hexanol, isopropyl myristate, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl oleate, N-methyl pyrrolidinone, octanol, oleic acid, oleyl alcohol, propylene glycol, p-xylene, and triacetin.

8. The composition of claim 1 , wherein when thermally fogged, the composition produces particles having a volume median diameter (VMD) in the range of 3 to 10 microns.

9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the composition produces particles having a VMD in the range of 3 to 10 microns when thermally fogged at a temperature in the range of 550 ° F. to 750 ° F.

10. A composition for the post-harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables, the composition comprising:

about 1% to about 20%, by weight percent, of at least one fungicidally-active compound chosen from at least one of fludioxonil, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, difenoconazole, propiconazole, thiabendazole and azoxystrobin;

about 1% to about 80%, by weight percent, of an ether solvent having thermal fogging capability; and

about 20% to about 35%, by weight percent, of a filler,

wherein when exposed to a temperature in the range of 550 ° F. to 750 ° F. in a thermal fogger, the composition produces particles having a VMD in the range of 3 to 10 microns.

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the filler includes at least one of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, alpha-tocopherol, amyl acetate, decyl alcohol, dimethylformamide, dimethylsulfoxide, dipropylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glycerine, hexanol, isopropyl myristate, methyl isobutyl ketone, methyl oleate, N-methyl pyrrolidinone, octanol, oleic acid, oleyl alcohol, propylene glycol, p-xylene, triacetin.

12. A method of treating post-harvest crops, the method comprising:

applying to the post-harvest crops an effective amount of a composition according to claim 1 .

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein applying includes fogging the composition of claim 1 with a thermal fogger to create a particles having a VMD in the range of 3 to 10 microns.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the composition is fogged at a temperature in the range of 550 ° F. to 750 ° F.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition is fogged from a ready-to-use formulation, without requiring a dilution step to create the particles having a VMD in the range of 3 to 10 microns.

16. A storage and shipping container comprising a composition as in claim 1 .