Natural fungicide composition

Abstract

A method for treating Black Sigatoka fungus in crops of the Musaceae family by applying a fungicidal composition comprising garlic oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil and cinnamon oil.

Claims

1. A method for treating Black Sigatoka fungus in crops of the Musaceae family comprising: applying a fungicidal composition to the crops comprising garlic oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil and cinnamon oil in the following percentages by weight before dilution: garlic oil: about 2.0-5.0% rosemary oil: about 0.5-2.5% thyme oil: about 0.5-2.5% cinnamon oil: about 0.5-2.5%.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the garlic oil, rosemary oil, thyme oil and cinnamon oil of the fungicidal composition are dispersed in a vegetable oil.

3. The method of claim 2 in which the vegetable oil is palm olein.

4. The method of claim 2 in which the fungicidal composition includes an emulsifier.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the emulsifier is chosen from the group consisting of polysorbate, propylene glycol alginate, and mixtures thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the fungicidal composition includes an antioxidant.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the fungicidal composition includes xanthan gum.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the fungicidal composition includes spearmint oil.

9. The method of claim 1 in which mineral oil is included in the fungicidal composition at an appropriate level to act as a fungistatic agent.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the fungicidal composition includes, in percentages by weight before dilution: palm olein: 74.500 emulsifier: 20.000 garlic oil: 2.000 rosemary oil: 0.500 thyme oil: 0.500 cinnamon oil: 0.500 xanthan gum: 0.500 antioxidant blend: 0.250 spearmint oil: 1.250.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the fungicidal composition is applied to banana crops.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the fungicidal composition is applied by aerial spraying.

13. A method for treating Black Sigatoka fungus in crops of the Musaceae family comprising applying to the crops a composition containing, in percentages by weight before dilution: palm olein: about 70.0-80.0% emulsifier: about 10.0-20.0% garlic oil: about 2.0-5.0% rosemary oil: about 0.5-2.5% thyme oil: about 0.5-2.5% cinnamon oil: about 0.5-2.5% xanthan gum: less than about 1% antioxidant blend: about 0-0.5%.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) The following examples further illustrate embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope.

Field Trials

(2) Generally, commercial application of the natural fungicide embodiments will be by aerial spraying using aircraft or helicopters. Therefore, in this example, a natural fungicide composition in accordance with embodiments was applied on a field by nebulization, simulating aerial application. The natural fungicide used as a concentrate in this example contained, in percentages by weight: palm olein: 74.500 emulsifier: 20.000 garlic oil: 2.000 rosemary oil: 0.500 thyme oil: 0.500 cinnamon oil: 0.500 xanthan gum: 0.500 antioxidant blend: 0.250 spearmint oil: 1.250.

(3) Hydraulic sprayers were used to convert the composition (natural fungicide+water) into aqueous droplets. The concentrate blend was diluted in mineral oil before spraying at different concentration levels to deliver from 2 to 4 liters of the natural fungicide composition (concentrate blend) per hectare of banana plantation or 3.7 kg of the natural fungicide composition (concentrate blend) per hectare.

(4) After different trials, the optimal application level was found to be 4 liters per hectare with approximately 32 applications per year. It is currently believed that the application level per hectare based on actives should be about 2 to 5 It (1.8 to 9 kg) of the natural fungicide and about 2 to 7 liters of mineral oil per hectare. And, results can be optimized through synergistic action with systemic treatments and modifications to standard soil fertilization routines.

(5) In this example, the application of 2 to 4 liters of the natural fungicide composition (concentrate blend) per hectare of banana plantation or 3.7 kg of the natural fungicide composition (concentrate blend) per hectare substantially prevented the formation of germinative tubes of Black Sigatoka (i.e., leaf damage according to the Stover scale). It is expected that the total number of applications necessary will vary depending weather conditions (rain amount, temperature, etc.), during the growing stage of the fruit.

Field Trial Results

(6) Fungicidal results were obtained by measuring leaf damage according to the Stover leaf damage severity scale, modified by Gauhl, on a scale of 0 to 6 obtained by applying the following compositions in an experimental banana plantation during 15 weeks: Application of natural fungicide composition described above. Application of recognized chemical protectant fungicide. Application of mineral oil. No treatment applied.

(7) At a concentration of 4 liter/hectare, the natural fungicide composition had results against Black Sigatoka fungus commensurate with the results obtained with a trusted chemical protectant fungicide, Dithane 60SC, which is available from Dow Agrosciences (generic name of the active ingredient is mancozeb). The results for mineral oil alone were substantially inferior to those obtained with the natural fungicide and, in the absence of any treatment, the level of leaf damage was yet worse.

(8) The results thus indicate that the experimental natural composition performs as a protectant fungicide as effectively as conventional chemical fungicides.

(9) All references are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

(10) The use of the terms a and an and the and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the ranges, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. The illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.