COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR INHIBITING PATHOGEN GROWTH ON PLANTS AND IMPROVING CROP SAFETY
A method for inhibiting growth of oomycete, fungal, or bacterial pathogens while improving crop safety on a plant or plant part is provided. The method includes applying to the plant or plant part or to soil, a composition comprising a C4-C10 α, β-unsaturated aldehyde and a glycol, wherein the composition is applied in an amount of 0.01-5 liters a.i./hectare or 0.01-0.5 liters a.i./1000 kg of produce or plants or plant parts in storage. Compositions comprising a C4-C10 α, β-unsaturated aldehyde and glycols are also provided.
1 . A method for inhibiting growth of oomycetes, fungi, and bacterial pathogens on a locus of a plant, a plant, or plant part, comprising applying to the loci, plant, or plant part, a composition comprising
one or more C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehydes, and
one or more glycol solvents,
wherein the molar, volumetric, or weight ratio of the one or more C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehydes to the one or more glycol solvents ranges from 50:50 to 99:1, wherein the moles, volume, or weight of the one or more glycol solvents is sufficient to reduce phytotoxicity of the one or more C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehydes to the locus of the plant, the plant or the plant part compared to a composition which lacks the one or more glycol solvents, and wherein the composition is applied in an amount of 0.01-5 liters/hectare of a crop or 0.01-0.5 liters/1000 kg of produce, plants, or plant parts in storage.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein application of the composition controls a disease caused by an oomycete pathogen.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the oomycete pathogen is selected from the group consisting of Phytophthora spp., Peronospora spp., Bremia spp., Albugo spp., Pythium spp., Phytopythium spp. and combinations thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein application of the composition controls a disease caused by a fungal pathogen selected from the group consisting of Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Colletotrichum, Ceratocystis, Diplodia, Monilinia, Penicillium, Phomopsis, Puccinia, Rhizopus, Mucor, Sclerotinia, Pseudocercospora, Ustilago , and combinations thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein application of the composition controls a disease caused by a bacterial pathogen selected from the group consisting of Xanthomonas, Psuedomonas, Pectobacterium spp., and combinations thereof.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied before or after disease establishment to the loci of the plant, the plant or plant part before harvest of the plant or plant part.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition is applied via foliar application.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the composition is applied via a soil application.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition is applied via an in-furrow, soil drenching of soil or soil less media, or seed treatment process.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition is applied to the plant or plant part after harvest of the plant or plant part in storage.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the composition is applied to bulbs, tubers, roots, fruits, vegetables, nuts, stems, or seeds.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plant or plant part comprises potatoes or citrus.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-pentenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-heptenal, trans-2-decenal, and combinations thereof.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde is trans-2-hexenal.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycol solvent comprises glycol ether, glycol ester, or glycol amine.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glycol solvent comprises a glycol selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, hexylene glycol, ethoxy diglycol, butylene glycol, and combinations thereof.
17 . A composition, comprising
a C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde; and
a glycol selected from hexylene glycol and ethoxy diglycol,
wherein a ratio of the C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde to the glycol is from 50:50 to 99:1.
18 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde is selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexenal, trans-2-octenal, trans-2-pentenal, trans-2-nonenal, trans-2-heptenal, trans-2-decenal, and combinations thereof.
19 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the C4-C10 alpha beta unsaturated aldehyde is trans-2-hexenal.
20 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein the ratio is from 75:25 to 95:5.
21 . The composition of claim 17 , further comprising one or more polymeric surfactants.