PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING BACTERIAL, FUNGAL AND VIRAL DISEASES IN CROPS OR PLANTS WITH SODIUM CHLORITE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

A technique for eliminating bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases in growing plants involves the generation of chlorine dioxide gas by dissolution of sodium chlorite with an activating acid in an aqueous solution. Foliar application of the dissolved gas solution to soil or plants growing in fields follows. Preferred acid solutions contain phosphoric acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.4), Citric Acid (C.sub.6H.sub.8O.sub.7) or a mix of both.

Claims

1. A method for the elimination of at least one of bacteria, fungi, virus, and mold in growing plants and the stimulation of plant health, vitality, and productivity comprising the step of: applying a chlorine dioxide solution containing phosphorus to at least one of growing plants, a plant substrate, irrigation water and soil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the chlorine dioxide solution is formed by the step of mixing a sodium chlorite solution with an acid in solution.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the acid in solution is a phosphonic acid (H.sub.3PO.sub.3) or other phosphorous based acids or acid solutions containing phosphorus.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of mixing the sodium chlorite solution with the multivalent acid in solution is taken within approximately 30 minutes of the step of applying the chlorine dioxide solution to at least one of growing plants, a plant substrate, irrigation water and soil.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of mixing the sodium chlorite solution with the phosphonic acid (h3PO3) or other phosphorous based acids or acid solutions containing phosphorus is taken approximately within between 30 minutes and four hours of the step of applying the chlorine dioxide solution.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the mulivalent acid is a trivalent acid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the trivalent acid is phosphoric acid.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the acid is at least one of the group of citric acid, sulfuric acid, chlorhidric acid, sulfamic acid, oxalic acid and acetic acid.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein approximately 324 ml of the sodium chlorite solution at 1.5 to 2.5% concentration by weight and approximately 324 ml of the acid solution at 1.0 to 5.0% concentration by weight are used for each acre of growing plants.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of chlorine dioxide provides approximately between 0.0055 and 0.011 pounds per acre on at least one of growing plants, soil, and a plant substrate.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying comprises spray treatment.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying comprises soil treatment.

13. A composition for elimination of at least one of bacteria, fungi, virus, and mold in growing plants, and the stimulation of plant health, vitality, and productivity comprising: chlorine dioxide and phosphorus in solution.

14. The composition of claim 13, wherein the chlorine dioxide and phosphorus solution concentration is approximately that created with: an amount of sodium chlorite in aqueous solution having a concentration found in approximately 0.63 pounds of NaClO.sub.2 per gallon of water; and an equal amount by weight of approximately 1-5% concentration acid in aqueous solution; and approximately 211 gallons of water.

15. The composition of claim 14, wherein the acid is at least one of the group of phosphonic, or phosphorus acid solutions or an acid solution containing phosphorus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic chart of the application process.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic chart of the creation of the product of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] The present invention relates to a method of reducing bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases in growing plants. The method, shown generally as element 10 in FIG. 1 involves the generation of chlorine dioxide gas by dissolution of sodium chlorite with an activating acid in an aqueous solution and by foliar application of the dissolved gas to plants growing in fields. Efficacious acid solutions may be monovalent or multivalent acids. One efficacious multivalent acid solution contains phosphoric acid.

Example I

[0025] An aqueous solution containing approximately 0.63 pounds of NaCl per gallon of water is applied to a spray tank partially filled with approximately 800 liters (approximately 211 gallons) of water. An equal amount by weight of approximately 1% concentration phosphoric acid is added to the same spray tank. Citric, sulfuric, chlorhidric (or hydrochloric), sulfamic, oxalic or acetic acids may be added instead of phosphoric acid.

[0026] In one embodiment, in order to achieve a 0.05 pound of active ingredient per acre application rate, a predetermined amount of the sodium chlorite solution was added to a spray tank partially filled with water. For each fluid ounce of sodium chlorite solution added to the tank, 1 fluid ounce of 1% concentration phosphoric acid was added, and the tank was then topped off with water. Foliar spray application to the banana field then followed promptly. Alternatively, a second application may be made as necessary.

[0027] Bananas treated with the Example I treatment presented a reduction of 77% in the evolutive stage of Sigatoka Nigra and a 100% reduction of presence of the disease in the fourth leaf of the acreage three weeks after a single application. Additionally, bacterial (Erwinia sp.) infections were controlled in the process. Only one application was required during the growing season. The plants treated with the Example I treatment were observed to have less spotting and to be 30 to 40% healthier and greener looking than treated with traditional fungicide treatment. Treated plants were also healthier and greener than an untreated control group.

Example II

[0028] A field fungicide test was conducted on acreage, on bell peppers presenting severe incidence of fungal anthracnose and viral ringspot.

[0029] The sodium chlorite solution to which the diluted phosphoric acid activator was added in accordance with Example I was applied to selected acreage at a rate of 0.05 lbs. sodium chlorite per acre. The plants were treated twice. The second application was made five (5) days after the first application. Additional applications made once per month may be made as an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Symptoms on bell peppers treated twice in this Example II disappeared after 4 days, leaving only a discolored spot where the infection attacked the leaves. Heavily affected necrotic leaves dropped off, less affected leaves recovered and crop production did not suffer.

[0031] The sodium chlorite and the acid solution are used on the growing crops as follows and shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] Sodium chlorite (Product A) 12 is a precursor chemical for the production of chlorine dioxide, which is an active compound that destroys and controls fungicidal, bactericidal and viral growth in growing crops.

[0033] An acid such as phosphoric acid (Product B) 14 is an activator that, when mixed in approximately equal proportions with the sodium chlorite, generates a chlorine dioxide solution at an efficacious concentration. Citric, sulfuric, chlorhidric (or hydrochloric), sulfamic, oxalic or acetic acids may be added instead of phosphoric acid.

[0034] Both Products A 12 and B 14 are added to a quantity of water 16 to be applied on the crops themselves 16, irrigation water, soil and/or growing substrate for the crops by the appropriate method. Methods that may be selected by a user include spray, irrigation, immersion, or other methods known in the art, so that the applied solution is prepared correctly and applied in the correct manner and quantity in a secure manner.

[0035] The microbicidal effect of the solution created is almost immediate (approximately less than 30 minutes).

[0036] All crops may be treated, in all stages of growth, from seed to harvest, also the water used to irrigate them and the substrate they grow in may be treated with the solution.

[0037] In one embodiment of the process of the present invention, up to 324 ml (cc) of the prepared sodium chlorite and phosphoric acid solutions (each) are used per acre of growing crops. This equals to up to 800 ml (cc) each of the prepared sodium chlorite (1.5 to 2.5%) and phosphoric acid (1.0 to 3.0%) solutions per hectare. Active ingredient applied to the fields is between 0.0055 and 0.011 pounds per acre or approximately 0.0136 to 0.0272 pound per hectare.

[0038] The Products A+B may be combined just before application to the crops or other use as described herein. Application may be done about four (4) hours after mixture preparation so that the mixture is active during application. The products may be mixed in a mixing tank and then brought to an application area, or they may be mixed and then the product is brought to the application area.

[0039] One method of mixing is illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, Solution A including NaCl 20 is combined with water 22. In a storage tank 24 in the proportions discussed above. To this mixture, Solution B 26 containing acid as described above is added in the storage tank 24, and after letting Solution B 26 react in the storage tank 24 for approximately 15 minutes, the prepared product 28 is ready for application. Application may be made within about four (4) hours of preparation of the final product. Other methods of application and creation are known in the art to achieve the resulting concentrations of the active ingredients in the prepared product are also contemplated.

[0040] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.