WO2001060160A1

WO2001060160A1 - Herbicidal composition

Info

Publication number: WO2001060160A1
Application number: PCT/EP2001/001542
Authority: WO
Inventors: Modesto Giberti
Original assignee: Chemia SpA
Current assignee: Chemia SpA
Priority date: 2000-02-16
Filing date: 2001-02-13
Publication date: 2001-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2002-08-16
Also published as: AU2001237378A1; ITFE20000003A1; ITFE20000003A0

Abstract

A herbicidal composition comprising an effective amount of at least one herbicide selected from glyphosate and glusosinate, in combination with at least one component selected from amino acids, peptides and protein fragments.

Description

HERBICIDAL COMPOSITION

The present invention provides a herbicidal composition containing glyphosate and/or glufosinate in combination with amino acids, peptides or protein fragments.

N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine and 4- [hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl] -D,L- homoalanine, respectively known as glyphosate and glufosinate, exert a marked herbicidal activity against a large variety of weeds through inhibition of glutamine- synthase and of chlorophyll photosynthesis. They are non-selective and non-residual systemic herbicides effective on mono- and di-cotyledon weeds, either perennial (Cynodonplactylon, convolvulus, arvensis, cirsium arvense, cyperus spp) or annual, usually applied thereon at a post-emergence stage. The herbicides are absorbed by the growing leaves and then systemically delivered to the hypogean or epigaean plant. The observable effects consist in a progressive yellowing and withering of the weeds followed by complete darkening and tissue disintegration leading to plant death.

Before use, the active ingredients are dissolved in water with alkaline bases and the solution is added with adjuvants such as ethoxylated fatty amines, fatty alcohols and others, to promote plant absorption and improve the biological activity of the herbicide.

It has been surprisingly found that the combined use of glyphosate and/or glufosinate with amino acids, low-chained peptides or protein fragments increases the herbicidal activity as compared with conventional formulations of the same active ingredients, reducing the period necessary for killing the weeds. This results of great advantage for the farmer, since the seeding of the soil can be anticipated by 4-6 days thus allowing a more efficient planning of the seed-time depending on the season period. Furthermore, the co- formulation of the active ingredients with amino acids, peptides or protein fragments, reduces the environmental impact of conventional herbicidal formulations with known adjuvants, such as fatty amines or alcohols which may additionally contain dioxanes known for their carcinogenic effects.

Accordingly, the invention provides a herbicidal composition comprising at least one of glyphosate and glufosinate as the active ingredient, in combination with amino acids, low-chain peptides or protein fragments.

Since glyphosate and glufosinate contain in their molecule three and, respectively, two acidic groups, they are normally used as a water soluble salt, preferably in form of a monobasic salt, either organic or inorganic, for example as an ammonium or trimethylsulphonium salt or a salt of organic amines such as isopropylamine. Glyphosate is preferably used as the trimethylsulphonium salt, more preferably in acidic form, whereas glufosinate is preferably used as the ammonium salt. The amounts of the active ingredients, alone or in combination, generally range from 0.1 to 80% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.5 to 50%. All the naturally-occurring amino acids can be used in the composition of the invention. Single amino acids or mixtures thereof are preferably used, either as free amino acids or in form of salts. Low-chained peptides or protein fragments can be obtained by acidic, enzymatic or thermal hydrolysis of row proteinaceous starting material from natural vegetable sources (soy, sunflowers) or animal sources like leather scraps, casein and milk derivatives, or they are directly prepared by chemical synthesis. Typical hydrolysis conditions used in the preparation of peptides or protein fragments are specified in the examples. Preferably the peptides have a molecular mass lower than 10,000 dalton and consist of 2 to 80 amino acids. Peptones are examples of protein fragments obtained with mild hydrolysis of proteinaceous material. The amount of amino acids, peptides or protein fragments is generally between 0.1 and 60% by weight of the composition, preferably from 10 to 50%. Besides the active ingredient(s) and the amino acids, peptides or protein fragments, the herbicidal compositions according to the invention may contain further ingredients, including, but not limited to, insecticides, repellent agents, fungicides, surfactants such as ethoxylated nonylphenol or others allowing to reduce the surface tension, organic or inorganic acids such as acetic, citric, hydrochloric, sulphuric, nitric acid, adjuvants commonly used in herbicidal compositions, or different compounds with herbicide activity. Such compositions are generally in form of solutions, liquid dispersions or suspensions, ready to use or requiring suitable dilution, as well as in form of powders, granules, pellets, water dry granules ( dg), flakes, to be dissolved, dispersed or suspended before use. They can be applied onto weeds by means of spraying, according to known procedures.

According to a preferred embodiment, the herbicidal composition contains glyphosate as the sole active ingredient, in combination with amino acids, peptides or protein fragments, preferably with single amino acids or mixtures thereof, optionally with other ingredients as above specified. In a more preferred embodiment the amount of acid glyphosate is 36% by weight of the composition or w/v.

The invention further provides a method for controlling weeds which comprises applying the above described herbicidal composition to vegetation. As used herein, the term "weeds" refers to mono- and dicotyledones plants, either perennial (e.g. Cynodonplactylon, Convolvulus arvensis, Cirsium arvense, cyperus spp) or annual.

The herbicidal composition is generally applied onto weeds at a post-emergence stage. It can be used for different applications, including weed removal from cultivated soils or uncultivated lands such as industrial areas, roads or railways, golf- or sport-courses in general, in silviculture or floriculture. The following examples illustrate the invention in greater detail. EXAMPLE 1

The following herbicidal composition is prepared:

Water 42.50 g

Isopropylamine 16.50g Glyphosate ( 95% acid) 31g

Amino acids (50% sol.) lOg

The solution containing the glyphosate salt is added with amino acids in a reactor under stirring and then brought to a volume necessary to have a final concentration of acid-equivalent glyphosate of 360g/l. EXAMPLE 2

The following formulation is prepared:

Water 38.5g

Ammonia 30% 20g

Glyphosate (acid) 95% 31 g Amino acids (60% sol.) 10.5g

The solution of glyphosate-ammonium salt is added with a 60% amino acids solution and then diluted as in Example 1 to a final concentration of acid-equivalent glyphosate of 360g/l.

EXAMPLE 3 The compositions of Example 1 and 2 have been comparatively tested with conventional commercial products. The tests were carried out using a weeding bar pulled by a tractor according to the following conditions:

Dose: 5 litres/Ha

Water: 200 litres/Ha Pressure: 2 bars (fan nozzles)

Velocity: 6Km/h

Parcels: 12m width - 90m length: 1080 square meters with large overrunning weeds in the vegetative stage.

Wind: absent during the test

T: 22-24°C

Farm: 1^st test: Azienda Agricola Fergnani Gianpaolo - Madonna dei boschi (Ferrara)

2^nd test: Azienda Agricola Diegoli Dr. Graziano - via Provani 1802 Frazione Galeazza, Crevalcore (Bologna)

The results of two different tests are reported in the following Table:

- : n.d.

X: start of yellowing XX: start of darkening

XXX: complete darkening and tissue disintegration EXAMPLE 4

Preparation of an amino acid mixture: leather scraps material 89% and concentrated sulphuric acid 11% are introduced in a reactor and heated at a temperature <160°C for a period of 10 to 20 hours.

When the desired rate of hydrolysis is obtained, the reaction mixture is neutralised with ammonium hydroxide and after cooling a solution containing amino acids and peptides is obtained. A typical aminogram is as follows (%w/w):

Amino acids Combined Free Hydroxyproline 2.6 0.5

Aspartic acid 1.5 0.3 Threonine 0.8 0.2 Serine 0.8 0.3 Glutamic acid 2.8 0.8 Proline 3 0.8

Glycine 5.1 2 Alanine 1.9 0.7 Cysteine 0.4 0.3 Valine 0.6 0.1 Methionine 0.2 0.1

Isoleucine 0.3 0.1 Leucine 0.8 0.8 Thyrosine 0.4 traces Phenylalanine 0.9 0.7 Lysine 0.7 0.3

Hystidine 0.2 traces

Arginine 1.7 0.8

Tryptophan 1.1 0.7

Claims

1. A herbicidal composition comprising an effective amount of at least one herbicide selected from glyphosate and glufosinate, in combination with at least one component selected from amino acids, peptides and protein fragments.

2. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1, wherein glyphosate and glufosinate are in form of water soluble, organic or inorganic salts.

3. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-2, wherein glyphosate is in acidic form or as trymethylsulphonium salt and glufosinate is as ammonium salt.

4. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-3, having a content of herbicides ranging from 0.1 to 80% by weight of the composition.

5. A herbicidal composition according to claim 4, wherein said content ranges from 0.5 to 50%.

6. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-5, wherein the herbicide is glyphosate.

7. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-6, wherein single amino acids or mixtures of different amino acids are used.

8. A herbicidal composition according to claim 7, wherein the amino acids are free amino acids or salts thereof.

9. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-6, wherein the peptides contain from 2 to 80 amino acids.

10. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-6 and 9, wherein the peptides or protein fragments are obtained by acidic, enzymatic or thermal hydrolysis of row proteinaceous starting material of animal or vegetal origin.

11. A herbicidal composition according to claims 1-10, wherein the amount of amino acids, peptides or protein fragments is comprised between 0.1 and 60% by weight of the composition.

12. A herbicidal composition according to claim 11, wherein said amount ranges from 10 to 50%.

13. A herbicidal composition according to any preceding claim, further comprising insecticides, repellent agents, fungicides, surfactants, organic or inorganic acids, adjuvants, additional herbicides.

14. A herbicidal composition according to any preceding claim, which is in a liquid or solid form selected from solution, dispersion, suspension, powder, granules, pellets, flakes, water dry granules.

15. A method for controlling weeds which comprises applying a herbicidal composition according to any preceding claim onto green vegetation.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the weeds comprise perennial or annual mono- and dicotyledones.

17. A method according to claims 15-16, wherein the herbicidal composition is applied at a post-emergence stage.

18. The use of at least a herbicide selected from glyphosate and glufosinate and of amino acids, peptides or protein fragments for the preparation of a herbicide composition.