MIXTURES OF SABADILLA ALKALOIDS AND MACROLIDES AND USES THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention is directed to pesticidal mixtures comprising sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide and methods of controlling pests by application of pesticidal mixtures comprising sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide.

Claims

1. A pesticidal mixture comprising an effective amount of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide.

2. The mixture of claim 1, wherein the sabadilla alkaloids are derived from Schoenocaulon officinale.

3. The mixture of claim 1, wherein the sabadilla alkaloids are veratridine and cevadine.

4. The mixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one macrolide is selected from an avermectin and a milbemycin.

5. The mixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one macrolide is selected from the group abamectin, doramectin, emamectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, selamectin, lepimectin, milbemectin, milbemectin oxime, moxidectin, salts thereof and isomers thereof.

6. The mixture of claim 1 wherein the at least one macrolide is abamectin.

7. The mixture of claim 1 further comprising one or more excipients selected from the group consisting of solvents, anti-caking agents, stabilizers, defoamers, slip agents, humectants, dispersants, wetting agents, thickening agents, emulsifiers, penetrants, adjuvants, polymers, propellants and/or preservatives.

8. A method of controlling a pest comprising applying a pesticidal mixture comprising an effective amount of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide to the pest or the pest's environment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pest is at least one of an insect, a mite, a tick, a helminth and a fungus.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pest is selected from the group consisting of flies (Diptera), beetles (Coleoptera), aphids (Homoptera), whiteflies (Hemiptera), capterpillars/worms (Lepidoptera) and mites (Acari).

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the pest is selected form the group consisting of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), silverleaf whitefly B biotype (Bemisia tabaci B Biotype), silverleaf whitefly Q biotype (Bemisia tabaci Q Biotype), twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus).

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the sabadilla alkaloid is applied at a rate from about 1 to about 1,000 grams per hectare.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the sabadilla alkaloid is applied at a rate from about 10 to about 700 grams per hectare.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the sabadilla alkaloid is applied at a rate from about 22 to about 105 grams per hectare.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one macrolide is applied at a rate from about 1 to about 1,000 grams per hectare.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one macrolide is applied at a rate from about 1 to about 100 grams per hectare.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one macrolide is applied at a rate from about 5 to about 30 grams per hectare.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Applicant unexpectedly discovered that pesticidal mixtures of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide provided enhanced pesticidal activity compared to either pesticide alone. Further, Applicant discovered that pesticidal mixtures of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide were capable of controlling a large variety of pests.

[0013] The present invention is directed to pesticidal mixtures comprising an effective amount of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide.

[0014] Sabadilla alkaloids may be derived from any species of Schoenocaulon. The genus Schoenocaulon includes the following species: S. calcicola, S. caricifolium, S. comatum, S. conzattii, S. dubium (alt. S. gracile), S. framei, S. ghiesbreghtii (alt. S. drummondii, S. yucatanense), S. ignigenum, S. intermedium, S. jaliscense, S. macrocarpum (alt. S. lauricola), S. madidorum, S. megarrhizum, S. mortonii, S. oaxacense, S. obtusum, S. officinale, S. pellucidum, S. plumosum, S. pringlei, S. rzedowskii, S. tenorioi, S. tenue, S. tenuifolium, S. texanum, and S. tigrense. In a preferred embodiment the sabadilla alkaloids are derived from S. officinale. In another preferred embodiment the sabadilla alkaloids are veratridine and cevadine.

[0015] Macrolides suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to avermectins and milbemycins. In a preferred embodiment the at least one macrolide of the present invention is selected from a group consisting of abamectin (avermectin B1), doramectin, emamectin, eprinomectin, ivermectin, selamectin, lepimectin, milbemectin, milbemectin oxime and moxidectin, salts thereof and isomers thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, the macrolide is abamectin.

[0016] As used herein, all numerical values relating to amounts, weight percentages and the like are defined as about or approximately each particular value, namely, plus or minus 10%. For example, the phrase at least 5% by weight is to be understood as at least 4.5% to 5.5% by weight. Therefore, amounts within 10% of the claimed values are encompassed by the scope of the claims.

[0017] As used herein, w/w denotes weight by weight of the total mixture.

[0018] The term effective amount means the amount of the formulation that will control the target pest. The effective amount will vary depending on the mixture concentration, the type of pest(s) being treated, the severity of the pest infestation, the result desired, and the life stage of the pest during treatment, among other factors. Thus, it is not always possible to specify an exact effective amount. However, an appropriate effective amount in any individual case may be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of sabadilla alkaloids to at least one macrolide is from about 100:1 to about 1:5, more preferably from about 20:1 to about 1:2 and most preferably from about 17.5:1 to about 1:1.2. Alternatively, the ratio of sabadilla alkaloids to at least one macrolide is from about 100:1 to about 2:1, from about 20:1 to about 2:1 and from about 17.5:1 to about 3.7:1.

[0020] The present invention is further directed to methods of controlling a pest comprising applying a pesticidal mixture comprising an effective amount of sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide to the pest or the pest's environment.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the pest is selected from an insect, a mite, a tick and a fungus.

[0022] In an embodiment, the pest controlled is selected from the group consisting of flies (Diptera), beetles (Coleoptera), aphids (Homoptera), whiteflies (Hemiptera), capterpillars/worms (Lepidoptera) and mites (Acari).

[0023] In a more preferred embodiment, the pest controlled is selected from the group consisting of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), silverleaf whitefly B biotype (Bemisia tabaci B Biotype), silverleaf whitefly Q biotype (Bemisia tabaci Q Biotype), twospotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus).

[0024] The pesticidal mixtures of the present invention can be applied by any convenient means. Those skilled in the art are familiar with the modes of application including spraying, brushing, soaking, in-furrow treatments, pressurized liquids (aerosols), fogging or side-dressing.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, sabadilla alkaloids are applied to the pest or the pest's environment at a rate necessary to control the pest. In a preferred embodiment the rate is from about 1 to about 1,000 grams per hectare (g/HA), preferably from about 10 to about 700 g/HA and most preferably from about 22 to about 105 g/HA.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one macrolide is applied to the pest or the pest's environment at a rate from about 1 to about 1,000 g/HA, preferably from about 1 to about 100 g/HA and most preferably from about 5 to about 30 g/HA.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment, pesticidal mixtures of the present invention comprise from about 0.01% to about 50% w/w sabadilla alkaloids.

[0028] In another preferred embodiment, pesticidal mixtures of the present invention comprise from about 0.01% to about 50% w/w of at least one macrolide.

[0029] As used herein, control a pest or controlling pest(s) refers to killing, incapacitating, repelling, or otherwise decreasing the negative impact of the pest on plants or animals to a level that is desirable to the grower or animal.

[0030] As used herein, pest's environment refers to any area that the pest is present during any life stage. One environment likely to be treated by the methods of the present invention includes the plants that the pest is living on and the surrounding soil. The pest's environment may also include harvested plants, gardens, fields, greenhouses, or other buildings, and various indoor surfaces and structures, such as furniture including beds, and furnishings including books, clothing, etc.

[0031] The articles a, an and the are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. For example, the methods of the present invention are directed to controlling pest but this can include control of a multiple pests (such as a more than one insect or more than one insect species).

[0032] The following examples are intended to illustrate the present invention and to teach one of ordinary skill in the art how to use the extracts of the invention. They are not intended to be limiting in any way.

EXAMPLES

Example 1Whiteflies

[0033] In this study, the response of whiteflies to application of a 3.7:1, 4.0:1, 17.5:1 and 1:1.2 1 ratio of sabadilla (S. officinale) alkaloids to at least one macrolide will be observed. Specifically, sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide will be applied to the pest at the respective rates of: 1) 22 g/HA and 6 g/HA; 2) 105 g/HA and 6 g/HA; 3) 22 g/HA and 26 g/HA; and 4) 105 g/HA and 26 g/HA.

[0034] The results of the study are predicted to show more than an additive effect. One can determine that the response is synergistic using the following formula: % Cexp=A+B(AB/100).

Example 2Spider Mites

[0035] In this study, the response of spider mites to application of a 3.7:1, 4.0:1, 17.5:1 and 1:1.2 1 ratio of sabadilla (S. officinale) alkaloids to at least one macrolide will be observed. Specifically, sabadilla alkaloids and at least one macrolide will be applied to the pest at the respective rates of: 1) 22 g/HA and 6 g/HA; 2) 105 g/HA and 6 g/HA; 3) 22 g/HA and 26 g/HA; and 4) 105 g/HA and 26 g/HA.

[0036] The results of the study are predicted to show more than an additive effect. One can determine that the response is synergistic using the following formula: % Cexp=A+B(AB/100).