SUN PROTECTANT FOR CROP PLANTS

Abstract

The present invention relates to the compositions comprising algae, specifically Spirulina platensis and Chlorella, and their use for the treatment of crops, such as fruits, vegetables and arable crops against heat stress, especially sunburn.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. An agricultural composition for treating a crop against heat stress, the agricultural composition comprising: an algae or a mixture of algae; and at least one ingredient selected from osmoprotectants, elicitors, binding agents, auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

19. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the heat stress is sunburn.

20. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein: the osmoprotectants are selected from betaine, ectoine, trehalose, proline, lysine, glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine; the elicitors are selected from auxins, gibberellins, salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, jasmonic acid, benzoic acid, chitosan, beta-glucans, and carrageenans; the binding agents are selected from arabic gum, xanthan gum, diutan gum, cellulose, alginates, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax; and the auxiliaries are selected from emulsifiers, solvents, surfactants, carriers, dispersants, thickeners, hydrophobizing agents, moisture-retaining agents, extenders, solid carriers, and anti-foaming agents.

21. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the algae is selected from Spirulina, Chlorella, and mixtures thereof.

22. The agricultural composition of claim 21, wherein: the osmoprotectants are selected from betaine, ectoine, trehalose, proline, lysine, glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine; the elicitors are selected from auxins, gibberellins, salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, jasmonic acid, benzoic acid, chitosan, beta-glucans, and carrageenans; the binding agents are selected from arabic gum, xanthan gum, diutan gum, cellulose, alginates, carnauba wax, and candelilla wax; and the auxiliaries are selected from emulsifiers, solvents, surfactants, carriers, dispersants, thickeners, hydrophobizing agents, moisture-retaining agents, extenders, solid carriers, and anti-foaming agents.

23. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the agricultural composition is a liquid.

24. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the agricultural composition has an algae concentration from 1 g/L to 500 g/L.

25. The agricultural composition of claim 18, comprising at least one osmoprotectant, wherein the agricultural composition has a concentration of osmoprotectant from 0.0001 g/L to 500 g/L.

26. The agricultural composition of claim 18, comprising at least one elicitor, wherein the agricultural composition has a concentration of elicitors from 0.0001 g/L to 500 g/L.

27. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the algae comprises Spirulina platensis.

28. The agricultural composition of claim 18, comprising: the algae or mixture of algae at a concentration from 1 g/L to 500 g/L; at least one osmoprotectant at a concentration from 0.0001 g/L to 500 g/L, the at least one osmoprotectant being selected from betaine, ectoine, trehalose, proline, lysine, glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine; and at least one elicitor at a concentration from 0.0001 g/L to 500 g/L, the at least one elicitor being selected from auxins, gibberellins, salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, jasmonic acid, benzoic acid, chitosan, beta-glucans, and carrageenans.

29. The agricultural composition of claim 28, wherein the algae is selected from Spirulina, Chlorella, and mixtures thereof.

30. The agricultural composition of claim 28, wherein the algae comprises Spirulina platensis.

31. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the agricultural composition is in the form of a powder or granules.

32. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the crop is selected from fruits, vegetables, and arable crops.

33. The agricultural composition of claim 18, wherein the crop is selected from melons, apples, pears, mango, citrus, grapes, peaches, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, kiwi, cucumbers, tomatoes, pumpkins, potatoes, sugar beets, corn, oilseed rape, cereals and soybeans.

34. A method for protecting crops against heat stress, the method comprising: applying the agricultural composition according to claim 18 to the crops.

35. A kit, comprising: a first container containing therein a liquid composition of an algae or a mixture of algae; and a second container provided with the first container, the second container containing therein a powder or granular composition, the powder or granular composition comprising at least one ingredient selected from osmoprotectants, elicitors, binding agents, auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

36. The kit of claim 35, further comprising an agriculturally acceptable solvent or diluent.

37. A method for preparing a heat-stress protectant composition, the method comprising: mixing a first composition with a second composition, wherein: the first composition is a liquid composition, a powder composition, or a granule composition and comprises an algae or a mixture of algae; and the second composition is a liquid composition, a powder composition, or a granule composition and comprises at least one ingredient selected from osmoprotectants, elicitors, binding agents, auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] Following abbreviations with the following meaning are used:

DAA=days after first application of treatment
SP=Spirulina platensis
EC=ectoine
AC=lambda-carrageenan
BE=betaine

LYS=L-lysine

[0038] Composition and formulation are terms herein used interchangeably as having the same meaning.

Materials and Methods

[0039] Compositions comprising Spirulina, as a representative of algae, alone or mixed with other ingredients were prepared by dissolving commercially available freeze-dried Spirulina platensis in predetermined amount of water to obtain solutions with predetermined concentrations of Spirulina.

[0040] All other ingredients, depending on the composition in question, were added sequentially to the solution to be present in the predetermined concentrations as illustrated by the examples.

[0041] Two control arms, for the purpose of efficacy comparison, were followed:

[0042] Control was the arm where no treatment was applied to observe the effect and extent of sunburn on unprotected crops.

[0043] Second control—Surround or Parka, was the arm were currently market-available compositions were applied, namely Surround (calcined kaolin particle film) or Parka (a blend of phospholipids in a cellulosic matrix).

EXAMPLES

[0044] The following examples illustrate the compositions according to the present invention and their efficacy in heat stress protection of crops.

Example 1. Mango Fruit, Trial 1

[0045] Test location: Thailand

Cultivar: Nam Dok Mai

[0046] Mango plots 4 m×12 m=48 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions were prepared as following: [0047] Surround: 10 000 grams of market available product Surround was dispersed in 1200 L of water [0048] SP: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 1200 L of water [0049] SP+EC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 1200 L of water with addition of 400 ml of ectoine solution of 2 g/L concentration [0050] SP+BE: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 1200 L of water with addition of 700 ml of betaine dispersion of 360 g/L concentration

Application Dates and Weather Conditions:

[0051]

TABLE-US-00001 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 10/04 9 h 30 55% 28° C. 10% 17/04 9 h 45 65% 28° C.  5% 24/04 9 h 30 81% 30° C. 10%

Application Equipment:

[0052] Motorized sprayer—hollow cone

Assessment Protocol:

[0053] Before the first application of treatment, severity data of affected fruit were estimated visually as the percentage of specified mango fruit that was affected by insects and disease. The number of affected fruits were counted on 20 plants per plot.

TABLE-US-00002 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen Surround 8.33 10 000   sprayed 3 SP 1.25 1500 times in 7 days SP + 1.25 + 1500 + intervals EC 0.000667 0.8 SP + 1.25 + 1500 + BE 0.21 252

Results:

[0054] FIG. 1. Sunburn incidence
FIG. 2. Total sunburn incidence—30 days after first application
FIG. 3. Surface damage intensity—30 days after first treatment

Example 2. Mango Fruit, Trial 2

[0055] Test location: Thailand

Cultivar: Nam Dok Mai

[0056] Mango plots 4 m×12 m=48 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions per ha: [0057] Surround: 10 000 grams of market available product Surround was dispersed in 1200 L of water [0058] SP+AC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 1200 L of water and 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration was added [0059] SP+LYS: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 1200 L of water and 2000 ml of L-lysine solution of 50 g/L concentration was added [0060] SP+BE+AC+EC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 1200 L of water with addition of 700 ml of betaine dispersion of 360 g/L concentration, 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration and 2000 ml of L-lysine solution of 50 g/L concentration

Application Dates and Weather Conditions:

[0061]

TABLE-US-00003 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 11/04 9 h 30 64% 28° C. 5% 18/04 9 h 00 65% 28° C. 5% 25/04 9 h 10 60% 27° C. 5%

Application Equipment:

[0062] Motorized sprayer—hollow cone

Assessment Protocol:

[0063] Before the first application of treatment, severity data of affected fruit were estimated visually as the percentage of specified mango fruit that was affected by insects and disease. The number of affected fruits were counted on 20 plants per plot.

TABLE-US-00004 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen Surround 8.33 10000 sprayed 3 SP + 1.25 + 1500 + times in 7 days AC 0.000833 1 intervals SP + 1.25 + 1500 + LYS 0.0833 100 SP + 1.25 + 1500 + BE + 0.21 + 252 + AC + 0.000833 + 1 + EC 0.000667 0.8

Results:

[0064] FIG. 4. Sunburn incidence
FIG. 5. Total sunburn incidence—30 days after first application
FIG. 6. Surface damage intensity—30 days after first treatment

Example 3. Apple Fruit, Trial 1

[0065] Test location: Europe

Cultivar: Apache

[0066] Plots: 7.25 m×3.5 m=21.8 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions per Ha: [0067] Surround: 10 000 grams of market available product Surround was dispersed in 500 L of water [0068] SP: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 500 L of water [0069] SP+BE: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 500 L of water and 700 ml of betaine dispersion of a concentration of 360 g/L was added [0070] SP+EC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 500 L of water and 400 ml of ectoine solution of a concentration of 2 g/L was added [0071] SP+AC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis was dispersed in 500 L of water and 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration was added

Application Dates and Weather Conditions:

[0072]

TABLE-US-00005 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 26/06  8 h 00 53% 24° C. 10% 09/07 11 h 00 47% 24° C. 50% 24/07 10 h 30 50% 25° C.  5%

Application Equipment:

[0073] Motorized sprayer—hollow cone

Assessment Protocol:

[0074] The number of affected fruits were counted 3 middle trees of each plot, on both sides. The affected fruits were not removed during the assessments. Before the first application, no sunburn damage was observed.

TABLE-US-00006 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen SP 3.00 1500 sprayed 3 SP + 3.00 + 1500 + times in 15 BE 0.504 252 days intervals SP + 3.00 + 1500 + EC 0.0016 0.8 SP + 3.00 + 1500 + AC 0.0020 1

Results:

[0075] FIG. 7. Sunburn incidence
FIG. 8. Total sunburn incidence—43 days after first application

Example 4. Apple Fruit, Trial 2

[0076] Test location: Europe
Cultivar: Golden delicious
Plots: 7.25 m×3.5 m=21.8 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions per Ha: [0077] Surround: 10 000 grams of market available product Surround was dispersed in 500 L of water [0078] SP+BE+AC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 500 L of water with addition of 700 ml of betaine dispersion of 360 g/L concentration and 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration [0079] SP+BE+EC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 500 L of water with addition of 700 ml of betaine dispersion of 360 g/L concentration and 400 ml of ectoine solution of 2 g/L concentration [0080] SP+AC+EC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 500 L of water with addition of 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration and 400 ml of ectoine solution of 2 g/L concentration

Application Dates and Weather Conditions:

[0081]

TABLE-US-00007 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 26/06  8 h 00 53% 24° C. 10% 09/07 11 h 00 47% 24° C. 50% 24/07 10 h 30 50% 25° C.  5%

Application Equipment:

[0082] Motorized sprayer—hollow cone

Assessment Protocol:

[0083] The number of affected fruits were counted on 3 trees of each plot, on both sides.
The affected fruits were not removed during the assessments.
Before the first application, no sunburn damage was observed.

TABLE-US-00008 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen Surround 20.00 10000 sprayed 3 SP + 3.00 + 1500 + times in 15 BE + 0.504 + 252 + days intervals AC 0.0020 1 SP + 3.00 + 1500 + BE + 0.504 + 252 + EC 0.0016 0.000833 SP + 3.00 + 1500 + AC + 0.0020 + 1 + EC 0.0016 0.8

Results:

[0084] FIG. 9. Sunburn incidence
FIG. 10. Total sunburn incidence—43 days after first application

Example 5. Apple Fruit, Trial 3

[0085] Test location: USA

Cultivar: Gala

[0086] Plots: 5 m×7 m=35 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions per ha: [0087] Parka: 10 L of the market available product emulsified in 400 L of water [0088] SP: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 400 L of water [0089] SP+BE: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 400 L of water and 700 ml of betaine dispersion of 360 g/L concentration added [0090] SP+AC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 400 L of water, followed by addition of 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution of 2 g/L concentration

Application Dates:

[0091]

TABLE-US-00009 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 05/07 8 h 30 30% 82° F. 10% 19/07 9 h 00 40% 75° F. 20% 27/07 9 h 00 20% 88° F. 10%

Application Equipment:

[0092] Motorized sprayer—hollow cone

Assessment Protocol:

[0093] 100 fruits per tree were inspected, and the affected fruits were counted.

TABLE-US-00010 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen Parka 25 ml/L 10000 ml sprayed 3 SP 3.75 1500 times in 12 SP + 3.75 + 1500 + days intervals BE 0.63 252 SP + 3.75 + 1500 + AC 0.0025 1

Results:

[0094] FIG. 11. Total sunburn incidence—55 days after first application

Example 6. Citrus

[0095] Test location: USA
Cultivar: Citrus tangerine/Fairchild seedless
Plots: 7 m×7 m=49 m.sup.2, 4 plot repetitions
Spray solutions per ha: [0096] Surround: 10 kg dispersed in 1000 L of water [0097] SP: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 1000 L of water [0098] SP+BE: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 1000 L of water and 700 ml of betaine dispersion at a concentration of 360 g/L added [0099] SP+AC: 1500 grams of freeze-dried Spirulina platensis dispersed in 1000 L of water and 500 ml of lambda-carrageenan solution at a concentration of 2 g/L added

Application Dates:

[0100]

TABLE-US-00011 Application Application Relative Air Cloud date time humidity temperature coverage 25/06 12 h 00 12% 103° F.  10% 09/07 13 h 00 42%  96° F. 100%

Application Equipment:

[0101] Bacman flat fan sprayer—nozzle size 8002—compressed CO.sub.2 as propellant

Assessment Protocol:

[0102] All fruits on the trees were counted, and the percentage of affected fruits was calculated.

TABLE-US-00012 Composition Spray solution concentration Dose Dosage Ingredients of the ingredients g/L g/ha regimen Surround 15 15000 sprayed 2 SP 1.5 1500 times in 15 SP + 1.5 + 1500 + days interval BE 0.252 252 SP + 1.5 + 1500 + AC 0.001 1

Results:

[0103] FIG. 12. Sunburn incidence
FIG. 13. Total sunburn incidence—157 days after first application
As it is visible from the results obtained, Spirulina either alone or in combination with other ingredients, provides good results in protection of various crops against heat stress.

Compositions

[0104] The features and characteristics illustrated and/or described herein in connection with various examples and/or compositions presented herein may be combined with the features and characteristics of other examples and/or compositions, also provided herein respectively, and such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0105] Compositions according to the present invention comprise algae selected from Spirulina and Chlorella, and mixtures thereof.

[0106] The compositions according to the present invention can further comprise one or more ingredients selected from osmoprotectants, and/or elicitors and/or binding agents.

[0107] According to the present invention, osmoprotectants are selected from betaine, ectoine, trehalose, amino acids selected from proline, lysine, glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine; elicitors are selected from auxins, gibberellins, salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, jasmonic acid, benzoic acid, chitosan, beta-glucans and carrageenans (such as lambda-carrageenan); binding agents are selected from arabic gum, xanthan gum, diutan gum, cellulose and alginates, waxes such as carnauba wax or candelilla wax, and contemplated herein are any mixtures thereof.

[0108] The herein disclosed compositions can further comprise one or more agriculturally acceptable adjuvant or auxiliary.

[0109] An adjuvant or an auxiliary in the context of the present invention is a component which enhances the performance effect of the formulation.

[0110] Examples of adjuvants and auxiliaries are agents which promote one or more of the following effects: retention, spreading, attachment to the leaf/crop surface, penetration, physical, chemical, technical and/or biological effect, etc.

[0111] One aspect of the present invention is to provide compositions as described above additionally comprising at least one auxiliary component selected from the group comprising of emulsifiers, solvents, surfactants, carriers, dispersants, thickeners, hydrophobizing agents, moisture-retaining agents, extenders, solid carriers, anti-foaming agents and/or other auxiliaries.

[0112] The compositions of the present invention can be formulated into any customary type of agrochemical compositions, e. g. solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes, granules, pressings, capsules, and mixtures thereof.

[0113] Composition types examples are suspensions (e.g. SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concentrates (e.g. EC), emulsions (e.g. EW, EO, ES, ME), capsules (e.g. CS, ZC), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (e.g. WP, SP, WS, DP), pressings (e.g. BR, TB), granules (e.g. WG, SG, GR), etc.

[0114] According to the present invention, compositions disclosed herein can be provided as liquid compositions and/or powder and/or granules.

[0115] For example, liquid compositions, as contemplated herein, but without limitation to herein provided examples, are the following: [0116] liquid composition of one or more algae; [0117] liquid composition comprising one or more algae and one or more ingredients selected from elicitors, osmoprotectants, auxiliaries and any mixture thereof; [0118] liquid composition of one or more algae in one container supplied with the second container comprising liquid compositions of one or more ingredients selected from elicitors, osmoprotectants and auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

[0119] Furthermore, powder and/or granule forms can be provided as: [0120] powder and/or granule composition of one or more algae; [0121] powder and/or granule composition comprising one or more algae and one or more ingredients selected from elicitors, osmoprotectants, binding agents and auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof; [0122] powder and/or granule composition of one or more algae in one container supplied with the second container comprising powder and/or granule composition of one or more ingredients selected from elicitors, osmoprotectants, binding agents and auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

[0123] Liquid compositions as described above can be prepared, for example, by mixing selected algae and/or other ingredients, as described herein, in a suitable solvent and/or diluent.

[0124] One example of a suitable solvent and/or diluent according to the present invention is water.

[0125] Furthermore, any liquid composition as above can be supplied with any powder and/or granule composition as disclosed above and vice versa.

[0126] Any of the above-mentioned compositions can be supplied as a kit, for example but not meant to be limited to, liquid composition of one or more algae provided in one container supplied with the second container comprising powder and/or granule composition of one or more ingredients selected from elicitors, osmoprotectants, binding agents and auxiliaries, and mixtures thereof.

[0127] Any of the above-mentioned compositions and/or kits can be further supplied with any further agriculturally acceptable solvent and/or diluent.

[0128] All formulations described herein can be produced in a known manner, for example by mixing the active compounds with other ingredients and/or auxiliaries.

[0129] Methods for powder and/or granule preparations are well known in the prior art, for example as disclosed in paper by S. Shanmugam Granulation techniques and technologies: recent progresses, BioImpacts, 2015, 5(1), 55-63.

[0130] Whereas it is preferred to formulate commercial products as concentrates, the end user will normally use dilute formulations, and herein both concentrated and diluted compositions are contemplated and disclosed. Therefore, the content of the algae and/or osmoprotectants and/or elicitors and/or other auxiliaries prepared from the concentrate formulations may vary within wide ranges.

[0131] Compositions according to the present invention comprise algae in concentration of 1 g/L to 500 g/L.

[0132] Furthermore, when osmoprotectants and/or elicitors are present in the compositions according to the present invention, their concentration can vary from 0.0001 to 500 g/L.

[0133] Provided herein is a method for protecting crops against heat stress comprising the step of applying any of herein disclosed compositions to the crops.

[0134] Application on the crops takes place in a customary manner adapted to the application forms, for example liquid concentrates or granules can be mixed or dissolved respectively, in a suitable solvent and afterwards further diluted in a suitable diluent to the desired concentration and sprayed on the crops by diverse mechanical or manual sprayers.

[0135] The compositions according to the present invention have found its use in protection of crops against sunburn, wherein crops are selected from fruits, vegetables and arable crops.

[0136] Furthermore, fruits are selected from melons, apple, pears, mango, citrus, grape, peach, raspberry, gooseberry, cherries, kiwi; vegetables are selected from cucumbers, tomatoes and pumpkins; and arable crops are selected from potatoes, sugar beet, corn, oilseed rape, cereals and soybean.

[0137] According to the present invention, provided herein is a method for preparing heat stress protectant compositions, as disclosed herein, comprising a step of mixing algae with water.