Compositions for improving budbreak and flowering
The invention relates to a composition formulated to produce improved budbreak, flowering and disease resistance in perennial fruit crops and/or ornamental trees, comprising: (a) one or more compounds represented by the structure: in which R′ is OH or OCOCH 3 , and R″ is H, a monovalent cation, any C1-C10 alkyl group (saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched), any C7-C10 alkaryl group, or a phenyl group; and (b) an alkoxylated amine represented by the structure: in which A is selected from N, N 1 R 1 , or N→O, and wherein R 1 is H, methyl or benzyl, R 2 is any C8-C22 alkyl group (saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched), R 3 is any C2-C4 alkyl group (linear or branched), x is in the range of 0 to 4 and y+z is in the range of 2 to 50. A method of use is also included, as is a method for preparing the composition.
1. A composition formulated to produce improved budbreak, flowering and disease resistance in perennial fruit crops and/or ornamental trees, comprising:
(a) one or more compounds represented by the structure:
in which R′ is OH or OCOCH 3 , and R″ is H, a monovalent cation, any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl group, any C7-C10 alkaryl group, or a phenyl group, present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 40%;
(b) an alkoxylated amine represented by the structure:
in which A is selected from N, N + R 1 , or N→O, and wherein R 1 is H, methyl or benzyl, R 2 is any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C8-C22 alkyl group, R 3 is any linear or branched C2-C4 alkyl group, x is in the range of 0 to 4 and y+z is in the range of 2 to 50; and
(d) one or more nitrogen compounds selected from the group consisting of urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate;
wherein the composition has a pH of about 3 to 7.6.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein (a) is salicylic acid or a salicylate comprising a monovalent cationic salt of salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, ethyl salicylate, isopropyl salicylate, allyl salicylate, butyl salicylate, isobutyl salicylate, 3-methyl-2-butenyl salicylate, isoamyl salicylate, pentyl salicylate, hexyl salicylate, cis-3-hexenyl salicylate, ethylhexyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, benzyl salicylate, p-cresyl salicylate, phenethyl salicylate, 2-phenylpropyl salicylate, 3-phenylpropyl salicylate, or 2-acetoxysalicylate.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein (a) is salicylic acid, a monovalent cationic salt of salicylic acid or methyl salicylate.
4. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the cation is an alkali metal ion, an ammonium ion, amine, a quaternary ammonium ion or an amine oxide.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein
(a) is salicylic acid, and
(b) is an alkoxylated amine represented by the structure:
in which A is selected from N, N + R 1 or N→O, and wherein R 1 is H, methyl or benzyl, R 2 is any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C8-C22 alkyl group, R 3 is any linear or branched C2-C4 alkyl group, x is in the range of 0 to 4 and y+z is in the range of 2 to 50.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is formulated for application to perennial fruit crops.
7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein
(a) is salicylic acid, and
(b) is an alkoxylated amine represented by the structure:
in which A is selected from N, N + R 1 , or N→O, and wherein R 1 is H, methyl or benzyl, R 2 is any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C8-C22 alkyl group, R 3 is any linear or branched C2-C4 alkyl group, x is in the range of 0 to 4 and y+z is in the range of 2 to 50.
8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein (b) is present in an amount of about 1% to about 99%.
9. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein (d) is present in an amount of about 1% to about 80%.
10. The composition according to claim 1 , further comprising
(c) one or more fatty acid esters comprising a C6-C22 fatty acid and a C1-C4 alcohol.
11. The composition according to claim 10 , wherein (c) is present in an amount of about 1% to about 80%.
12. A method for improving budbreak, flowering and disease resistance in perennial fruit crops and/or ornamental trees, comprising applying to aerial plant parts physiologically effective amounts of a composition comprising:
(a) one or more compounds represented by the structure:
in which R′ is OH or OCOCH 3 , and R″ is H, a monovalent cation, any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C1-C10 alkyl group, any C7-C10 alkaryl group, or a phenyl group, present in the composition in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 40%,
(b) an alkoxylated amine represented by the structure:
in which A is selected from N, N + R 1 , or N→O, and wherein R 1 is H, methyl or benzyl, R 2 is any saturated, unsaturated, linear or branched C8-C22 alkyl group, R 3 is any linear or branched C2-C4 alkyl group, x is in the range of 0 to 4 and y+z is in the range of 2 to 50; and
(d) one or more nitrogen compounds selected from the group consisting of urea, ammonium nitrate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate;
wherein the composition has a pH of about 3 to 7.6.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the composition is applied at an application rate in the range from about 5 kg/Ha to about 200 kg/Ha.
14. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
diluting the composition into water.
15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein applying the composition comprises spraying aerial plant parts during winter dormancy.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the perennial fruit crops are selected from the group consisting of vine fruits, berry fruits, pip fruits, stone fruits and nuts.
17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the composition further comprises (c) one or more fatty acid esters comprising a C6-C22 fatty acid and a C1-C4 alcohol.