Disclosed herein are compositions for attracting fire ants wherein the compositions contain at least one fire ant food source, and at least one of 10-oxo-dodecanoic acid, 11-oxo-dodecanoic acid, or a mixture thereof, and optionally a carrier. Disclosed are also methods for attracting fire ants, the methods involving treating an object or area with a fire ant-attracting effective amount of a composition of the invention.

The invention provides to a powdered composition of additives and a method of use thereof for increasing the visibility, potency and coverage of disinfectant solutions, such as bleach.

The invention provides to a powdered composition of additives and a method of use thereof for increasing the visibility, potency and coverage of disinfectant solutions, such as bleach.

A method for detecting the presence of bacterial spores is described by measuring microbial metabolic activity over time. Spores are distinguished from vegetative cells and other microorganisms by detecting a burst of metabolic activity indicating germination of spores. This method may be used to detect bacterial spores in a commercial process system, such as a papermaking system within the time frame of a typical work shift.

The invention is a coating for agricultural products, which includes at least 10% of renewably sourced and biodegradable sugar esters. The invention is also a method of making a coated agricultural product, including the steps of providing a coating composition comprising at least 10% of a renewably sourced and biodegradable sugar ester, heating the coating composition to a temperature to reduce its viscosity to below about 100 cP, adding the coating composition to an agricultural product to form a mixture, and cooling the mixture to produce a coated agricultural product. The invention is also a method of reducing dust released from an agricultural product that includes the step of providing a coating composition comprising at least 10% of a renewable sourced and biodegradable sugar ester. Enough of the coating composition is added to the agricultural product to reduce the amount of dust released from the agricultural product by at least half. Finally, the invention is also a method of reducing caking in a granular agricultural product.

The invention is a coating for agricultural products, which includes at least 10% of renewably sourced and biodegradable sugar esters. The invention is also a method of making a coated agricultural product, including the steps of providing a coating composition comprising at least 10% of a renewably sourced and biodegradable sugar ester, heating the coating composition to a temperature to reduce its viscosity to below about 100 cP, adding the coating composition to an agricultural product to form a mixture, and cooling the mixture to produce a coated agricultural product. The invention is also a method of reducing dust released from an agricultural product that includes the step of providing a coating composition comprising at least 10% of a renewable sourced and biodegradable sugar ester. Enough of the coating composition is added to the agricultural product to reduce the amount of dust released from the agricultural product by at least half. Finally, the invention is also a method of reducing caking in a granular agricultural product.

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same, in methods for imparting beneficial properties to target plant species. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable plant traits in agronomically important crop species.

The disclosure relates to isolated microorganisms—including novel strains of the microorganisms—microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same. Furthermore, the disclosure teaches methods of utilizing the described microorganisms, microbial consortia, and agricultural compositions comprising the same, in methods for imparting beneficial properties to target plant species. In particular aspects, the disclosure provides methods of increasing desirable plant traits in agronomically important crop species.

The present invention relates to methods for controlling or preventing infestation of a banana plant by phytopathogenic microorganisms of the genus Pseudocercospora, in particular Pseudocercospora fijiensis, comprising applying to a crop of banana plants, the locus thereof, or propagation material thereof, a compound according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y, A, B are as defined herein.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to methods for controlling or preventing infestation of a banana plant by phytopathogenic microorganisms of the genus Pseudocercospora, in particular Pseudocercospora fijiensis, comprising applying to a crop of banana plants, the locus thereof, or propagation material thereof, a compound according to formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y, A, B are as defined herein.

##STR00001##