Plant care product applicable by spray methods and process for the manufacture of said product

Abstract: This product applicable by spray methods consists of: fungicides; preservatives (antioxidants); sprouting control products (applicable to warehoused potatoes); and agricultural insecticides (post-harvest). The fungicides consist of Imazalil, Methyl-thiophanate; Ortho-phenylphenol; Alkali-earth silicates and combustible wax. The preservatives consist of Diphenylamine, Ethoxyquin, Alkali-earth silicates and combustible wax. The sprouting control products consist of Chlorpropham, Silicates and Combustible wax. The insecticides consist of Propoxur, Pyretrines, Silicates and Combustible wax. The process for manufacturing the products consists of the following operations: mixing the ingredients; grinding; homogenization; and packaging of the product in metal spray can with air chamber. This invention is applicable for the treatment of units to be used for storing fruits and vegetables which are either empty or containing said fruits and vegetables.

Description: The object to which the present invention which is protected under this patent refers consists of a sprayable plant care product and the process for manufacturing said product, specially apt for treating fruits and vegetables after harvesting. As a result of the above, the effect thereof is preferably applicable both for the treatment of empty units used for the storage and handling of fruits and vegetables (cold storage or degreening chambers, warehouses, trucks or railcars, etc.) and for spraying directly on the fruit and vegetable products proper. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The application of insecticide products dispersed in the form of fumes and used for the disinsecting of closed, empty units is already known. This application is usually made by means of smoke pots which, as a result of involving a known method, is easy and convenient to use. The contents of these pots include: a) An inert matrix comprised of a porous product which is not involved in the combustion (i.e. silicates). b) An active ingredient which is borne and dispersed by the gases produced in the combustion, forming a dry smoke. c) A combustible product capable of continuing to burn one ignited. d) An air chamber at the top for supplying the oxygen necessary for the combustion. The fuel is initially ignited by means of a fuse which is inserted inside the fuel and which is lit once the unit has been cleared and closed. The gas by-products of the combustion build up pressure inside the pot, from which they spurt out through a hole in the center of the top, carrying along the active material which is dispersed in the smoke and expands with it, permeating the entire arena. The biocidal process described above has not been used in plant care application on fruits and vegetables. WO 95/03696, ES 8700547 and US 3,956,849 disclose that the biocidal process using smoke-generating compositions has been used to treat fruits and vegetables with fungicides and/or insecticides using a combination of combustible carriers and oxidizers as fuel ingredients. US 3,956,849 further discloses a smoke-generating mixture comprising ammonium nitrate and dicyandiamide to generate an exothermic reaction as base for generating smoke, wherein the exothermic reaction is regulated by silica additive within the smoke-generating mixture, said silica additive accelerates the exothermic reaction to an extent in direct proportion to the amount of silica present. FR 2 202 646 discloses the use of a combustible wax as fuel in insecticidal smoke generating compositions which solely contain phosphate esters of pyridines as active principle. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To bring the biocidal process using fumes in plant care application on fruits and vegetables into being, lengthy research focused mainly on the effect of the active ingredient on the different applications advocated has been required for the full-scale development thereof. Independently of the research conducted for selecting the most effective products, it has been necessary to set out a distinction between those to be used preferably for disinfecting the environment and those used selectively for directly treating the fruits and vegetables. In fact, one and the other are subject to differing requirements, said requirements revolving around gauging the figures for the amount of build-up left on the fruits or vegetable treated in order to ensure that they are within the limits of tolerance set forth in each consumer country. Apart from the above, it has been necessary to determine the optimum concentrations of active ingredient given in the form of percentages of the net weight of the pot contents such that they will also fulfill the objectives of plant care effectiveness and economy of use without overdoses or underdoses. All of the research required for achieving the desired, anticipated results having been completed, ideal products have been selected to comprise the active ingredient, taken exclusively from among those authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture for plant care treatments in variable proportions although with preferred percentages. Taking into account all of the aforementioned criteria, the compositions of these spray products are as follows: a) Fungicide : (Formula 1) PRODUCT FIELD OF APPLICATION PREFERRED % - Imazalil 0% - 50% 10% - Methyl-thiophanate 0% - 50% 12% - Ortho-phenylphenol 0% - 50% 25% - Alkali-earth silicates 5% - 75% 40% - Combustible wax 5% - 50% 13% b) Fungicide : (Formula 2) PRODUCT FIELD OF APPLICATION PREFERRED % - Thiabendazole, Prochloraz, Fosetyl-Al, Guazatine, Diclorah, Iprodione, Procymidone 0% - 50% 25% - Alkali-earth silicates 5% - 75% 50% - Combustible wax 5% - 50% 25% c) Preservatives (Antioxidants) : PRODUCT FIELD OF APPLICATION PREFERRED % - Diphenylamine, Ethoxyquin 0% - 50% 25% . - Alkali-earth silicates 5% - 75% 50% - Combustible wax 5% - 50% 25% d) Sprouting Control Products : (for spraying warehoused potatoes) PRODUCT FIELD OF APPLICATION PREFERRED % - Chlorpropham 0% - 50% 25% - Alkali-earth silicates 5% - 75% 50% - Combustible wax 5% - 50% 25% e) Agricultural Insecticides : (Post-harvest) PRODUCT FIELD OF APPLICATION PREFERRED % - Propoxur, Pyrethrines 0% - 50% 25% - Alkali-earth silicates 5% - 75% 50% - Combustible wax 5% - 50% 25% The process for manufacturing the different. products entails, in any case, the following operations: Mixing of both the active and inactive ingredients. Grinding of the mixture into fine particles. Homogenization of the ground mixture. Packaging of the product in the metal spray pot with air chamber. The treatment described of the fruits and vegetables affords the following advantages: Fast, direct and widespread action without further handling. As a result of the above, economical application. Possibility for use as back-up treatment in those cases in which changes in the healthiness of the fruits or vegetables are detected or the anticipated storage time is extended. Dry treatment, entailing the advantage over bathing of not adding any moisture which can add pollution.

Claims: Plant care product applicable by a smoke generating method, characterized in that it is comprised of at least one active ingredient, 5 to 75 %-wt. of alkali-earth silicates, and 5 to 50 %-wt. of a combustible wax, said plant care product being a fungicidalproduct in which said at least one active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of imazalil, methyl-thiophanate and ortho-phenylphenol, wherein the proportion of each of said substances is in the range of 0 to 50 %-wt.; or a fungicidal product in which said at least one active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of thiabendazole, prochloraz, fosetyl-al, guazetine, dicloran, iprodione and procymidone, the overall amount being in the range of 0 to 50 %-wt.; or a preservative product in which said at least one active ingredient is selected from diphenylamine and ethoxyquin, the overall amount being in the range of 0 to 50 %-wt.; a sprouting control product in which said active ingredient is chlorpropham, said substance being present in a total amount of up to 50 %-wt.; an agricultural insecticidal product in which said at least one active ingredient is selected from propoxur and pyrethrins, the overall amount being in the range of 0 to 50 %-wt.. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a fungicidal product in which said active ingredient consists of a combination of imazalil and ortho-phenylphenol, wherein it is preferred that imazalil and ortho-phenylphenol are present in an amount of 10 %-wt. and 25 %-wt., respectively, said alkali-earth silicates are present in an amount of 40 %-wt., and said combustible wax is present in an amount of 13 %. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a fungicidal product in which said active ingredient consists of a combination of imazalil, methylthiophanate and ortho-phenylphenol, wherein it is preferred that imazalil, methyl-thiophanate and ortho-phenylphenol are present in an amount of 10 %-wt., 12 %-wt. and 25 %-wt., respectively, said alkali-earth silicates are present in an amount of 40 %-wt., and said combustible wax is present in an amount of 13 %. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a fungicidal product in which said active ingredient consists of a combination of thiabendazole, prochloraz, fosetyl-al, guazetine, dicloran, iprodione and procymidone, wherein it is preferred that said substances are present in a total amount of 25 %-wt., said alkali-earth silicates are present in an amount of 50 %-wt. and said combustible wax is present in an amount of 25 %. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a preservative product in which said active ingredient consists of a combination of diphenylamine and ethoxyquin, wherein it is preferred that diphenylamine and ethoxyquin are present in a total amount of 25 %-wt., and alkali earth silicates are present in an amount of 50 %-wt., and said combustible wax is present in an amount of 25 %-wt.. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is a sprouting control product containing chlorpropham in an amount of 25 %-wt., alkali earth silicates in an amount of 50 %-wt., and combustible wax in an amount of 25 %-wt.. Plant care product according to claim 1, characterized in that it is an agricultural insecticidal product in which said active ingredient consists of a combination of propoxur and pyrethrins, wherein it is preferred that said substances are present in a total amount of 25 %-wt., alkali earth silicates are present in an amount of 50 %-wt., and combustible wax is present in an amount of 25 %-wt.. Process for manufacturing a plant care product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the steps of: mixing the ingredients, grinding the mixture into fine particles, homogenizing the ground mixture, and packaging the product in a metal smoke pot with an air chamber.

Inventors: SANCHEZ DE LEON RODRIGUEZ RODA, SANCHEZ DE LEON RODRIGUEZ RODA, JUAN ANTONIO
Applicants: ESPAN FOOD MACH, FOOD MACHINERY ESPANOLA S.A.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A01N25
IPC codes: A23B9, A23L3, A23B7, A01N3, A01N25