Biopolymer-based seed coatings compositions and methods for use
A seed or seedling is coated with a cross-linked biopolymer and, optionally, a second binder selected from underivatized guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, polyacrylamide, poly(methacrylic acid), poly(acrylic acid), polyacrylate, poly(ethylene glycol), polyethyleneoxide, polyamide, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, underivatized starch, cationic starch, corn starch, wheat starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca, waxy maize, sorghum , waxy sarghum, sago, dextrin, chitin, chitosan, xanthan gum, carageenan gum, gum karaya, gum arabic, pectin, cellulose, hydroxycellulose, hydroxyalkyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose, or hydroxypropyl cellulose. The seed coating composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 30% as compared to an analogous composition that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer.
1. A coated seed composition comprising:
at least one seed; and
at least one layer coating all or part of the seed, the layer comprising:
a crosslinked biopolymer having an average particle size of less than 400 nm, wherein the crosslinked biopolymer is less than 1% wt of the at least one seed; and
optionally, a second binder comprising guar, derivatized guar, starch, derivatized starch, or a combination of any of the foregoing,
wherein the composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 30% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the layer comprises the crosslinked biopolymer and the second binder.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the crosslinked biopolymer is amylose or amylopectin.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the Heubach dustmeter is set with the following parameters: rotation speed 30 rpm, rotation time 120 seconds and airflow rate 20 L/min.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 50% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
6. The composition of claim 1 wherein composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 70% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
7. The composition of claim 1 wherein composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 90% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, barley, rice, peas, oats, soybean, sunflower, alfalfa, sorghum , rapeseed, sugar beet, cotton, tobacco, forage crops, linseed, hemp, grass, vegetables, fruits and flowers seeds.
9. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one active ingredient.
10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the at least one active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of herbicides, plant growth regulators, crop dessicants, fungicides, bacteriocides, bacteriostats, microorganisms, insecticides, insect repellants, adjuvants, surfactants, fertilizers and any mixtures thereof.
11. The composition of claim 1 wherein the derivatized guar comprises carboxymethyl guar, hydroxyethyl guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, cationic guar, cationic hydroxypropyl guar, hydrophobically modified guar, hydrophobically modified carboxymethyl guar, hydrophobically modified hydroxyethyl guar, hydrophobically modified hydroxypropyl guar, cationic hydrophobically modified hydroxypropyl guar, hydrophobically modified carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, hydrophobically modified cationic guar, or any combination thereof.
12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the seed has a shelf-life at room temperature in ambient conditions in an unsealed container without added salts or adjuvants of at least two months.
13. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one filler.
14. The composition of claim 13 wherein the at least one filler is selected from the group consisting of wood flours, clays, activated carbon, carbohydrates, sugars, dextrins, maltodextrins, diatomaceous earth, cereal flours, wheat flour, oat flour, barley flour, calcium carbonate, calcium bentonite, kaolin, china clay, talc, perlite, mica, vermiculite, silicas, quartz powder, montmorillonite and mixtures thereof.
15. The composition of claim 1 wherein the second binder comprises a cationic hydroxypropyl guar.
16. The composition of claim 1 wherein the second binder comprises trimethyamino (2-hydroxyl)propyl cationic guar.
17. The composition of claim 1 wherein the crosslinked biopolymer has an average particle size of less than 150 nm.
18. A method for preparing a coated seed composition having dust suppression benefits comprising the step of contacting at least a portion of at least one seed with at least one layer comprising:
a crosslinked biopolymer having an average particle size of less than 400 nm, wherein the crosslinked biopolymer is less than 1% wt of the at least one seed; and
optionally, a second binder comprising guar, derivatized guar, starch, derivatized starch, or a combination of any of the foregoing,
wherein the coated seed composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 30% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the Heubach dustmeter is set with the following parameters: rotation speed 30 rpm, rotation time 120 seconds and airflow rate 20 L/min.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 70% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein composition is characterized by a dust value, as measured using a Heubach dustmeter device, which is lower by at least 90% as compared to an untreated seed that does not contain the crosslinked biopolymer or the at least one layer.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein the Heubach dustmeter is set with the following parameters: rotation speed 30 rpm, rotation time 120 seconds and airflow rate 20 L/min.
23. The method of claim 18 wherein the layer comprises the crosslinked biopolymer and the second binder.
24. The method of claim 18 wherein the crosslinked biopolymer is amylose or amylopectin.
25. The method of claim 18 wherein the second binder comprises a cationic hydroxypropyl guar.
26. The method of claim 18 wherein the second binder comprises trimethyamino (2-hydroxyl)propyl cationic guar.