Abstract:
A process for controlling bacterial and fungal growth in a plant that includes (a) applying to a surface of a plant an aqueous composition that include a copper compound, a zinc compound, and a manganese compounds; and (b) allowing the composition to dry to form a treated plant. The treated plant displays increased resistance to bacterial and fungal growth relative to an untreated plant.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates to treating plants to control bacterial and fungal growth. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Pathogenic bacteria and fungi are known to infect and damage a number of plants. For example, oak wilt disease and Dutch elm disease are caused by different species of the fungus  Ceratocystis . Bacterial species known to infect plants include species of the genus  Xanthomonas, Pseudomonas, Erwinia , and  Corynebacterium . Copper-based compositions have been used effectively to protect plants from bacteria and fungi. However, such compositions are not effective against copper-resistant bacteria and fungi that have now developed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A process for controlling bacterial and fungal growth in a plant is described that includes (a) applying to a surface of a plant an aqueous composition that include a copper compound, a zinc compound, and a manganese compound; and (b) allowing the composition to dry to form a treated plant. The treated plant displays increased resistance to bacterial and fungal growth relative to an untreated plant. 
         [0004]    As used herein, the term “compound” includes hydrates. The term “plant” includes seeds. 
         [0005]    Examples of suitable copper compounds include water-soluble copper compounds selected from the group consisting of copper sulfate, copper chlorate, copper nitrate, copper chloride, and combinations thereof The amount of copper metal in the composition is between 1 and 5% by weight based upon the weight of the composition. 
         [0006]    Examples of suitable zinc compounds include water-soluble zinc compounds selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, zinc chlorate, zinc nitrate, zinc chloride, and combinations thereof The amount of zinc metal in the composition is between 1 and 5% by weight based upon the weight of the composition. 
         [0007]    Examples of suitable manganese compounds include water-soluble manganese compounds selected from the group consisting of manganese sulfate, manganese chlorate, manganese nitrate, manganese chloride, and combinations thereof The amount of manganese metal in the composition is between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight based upon the weight of the composition. 
         [0008]    The composition may also include a nickel compound. Examples of suitable nickel compounds include water-soluble nickel compounds selected from the group consisting of nickel sulfate, nickel chlorate, nickel nitrate, nickel chloride, and combinations thereof The amount of nickel metal in the composition is between 0.1 and 0.5% by weight based upon the weight of the composition. 
         [0009]    The composition may also include tannic acid. 
         [0010]    Plants treated with the composition exhibit increased resistance to bacterial and fungal growth related to untreated plants. Moreover, including zinc and manganese in combination with copper enables the compositions to treat copper-resistant fungi and bacteria. At the same time, the composition is non-phytotoxic. 
         [0011]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The fungicidal/bactericidal aqueous compositions include a copper compound, a zinc compound, and a manganese compound. The compositions are effective against a variety of fungi and bacteria. In particular, the inclusion of zinc and manganese renders the compositions effective against copper-resistant fungi and bacteria such as  Xanthomonas campestris  and  Pseudomonas syringae . Examples of suitable copper, zinc, and manganese compounds, as well as their relative amounts, are described in the Summary of the Invention, above. The compositions may also include a nickel compound as a stabilizer. Examples of suitable nickel compounds, and their relative amounts, are described in the Summary of the Invention, above. Other ingredients may be included as well. Examples of suitable additional ingredients include tannic acid, surfactants (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate), pigments (e.g., SMC white, which also can function as a solvent/carrier) to facilitate visualization upon application to a plant surface, and ammonium salts (e.g., ammonium formate). If desired, agents to adjust the viscosity and/or adherent properties of the composition may be included. Examples include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyoxyethylene, polyvinyl alcohol, and poyacrylamide. 
         [0013]    The compositions are prepared by combining the ingredients in an aqueous carrier. The resulting compositions can be applied directly. Alternatively, the compositions can be dried to form a powder and then reconstituted for use at the appropriate time. The compositions may be applied to a plant surface using conventional techniques such as spraying, painting, or dipping. The compositions may be applied to surfaces such as foliage or to seeds, which are then planted in a conventional manner. 
         [0014]    The compositions are useful for treating a variety of plants. Examples include citrus plants (e.g., grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, tangelo, and tangerine); field crops (e.g, alfalfa, oats, peanuts, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and barley); small fruits (e.g., blackberry, cranberry, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, and strawberry); tree crops (e.g., almond, apple, apricot, avocado, banana, cacao, cherry, coffee, filberts, mango, nectarine, olive, peach, pear, pecan, plum, prune, and walnut); vegetables (e.g., beans, broccoli, brussel sprout, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, collars, cucumber, eggplant, honeydew, muskmelon, onions, peas, peppers, pumpkin, squash, tomato, and watermelon); vines (e.g, grapes, hops, and kiwi). Additional examples include ginseng, live oak and sycamore and ornamentals (e.g., aralia, azalea, and begonia, bulbs (e.g, Easter lily, tulip, and gladiolus), carnation, chrysanthemum, cotoneaster, euonymus, India hawthorn, ivy, pachysandra, periwinkle, philodendron, pyracantha, rose, and yucca. 
       Examples 
       [0015]    Tomato plants approximately three weeks old were sprayed until runoff with the compositions set forth in Examples 1-3, below, at 25% label rate to evaluate efficacy of each composition against  P.syringae  JL-71 bacteria. The compositions were allowed to dry for 24 hours following applications. Bacteria were transferred to new plates approximately one week prior to inoculations to ensure fresh bacterial cultures. Five mL of sterile water was added to each bacteria plate and a flamed spreader was used to suspend cultures in added water. Suspended cultures were then collected, optical density at 600 nm was measured, and cultures were adjusted to OD 600 =0.01. Each fully developed true leaf on the tomatoes was injured at six spots/leaf using a thin metal probe to allow for an infection point. Tomatoes were sprayed with bacteria solutions until runoff. Plants were kept under domes to keep humidity high for three days following inoculation. One week after inoculations disease and vigor ratings were taken. Disease and vigor ratings were averaged for each treatment and standard error was calculated. In each case, the compositions inhibited bacterial growth without harming the plant. 
       Example 1 
       [0016]    A fungicidal/bactericidal aqueous composition was prepared by combining combining the ingredients in the amounts listed below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredients 
                 Sample (g) 
                 Wt. % 
                 Metal % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 DI Water 
                 76.96 
                 15.393 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Tannic Acid, 
                 5.42 
                 1.084 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Powder, Technical 
               
               
                   
                 Grade 
               
               
                   
                 Ammonium 
                 108.43 
                 21.686 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Formate (Purity &gt;97%) 
               
               
                   
                 Cupric Sulfate 
                 31.20 
                 6.241 
                 1.581 
               
               
                   
                 Pentahydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Zinc Sulfate 
                 44.17 
                 8.834 
                 3.136 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Nickel Sulfate 
                 8.86 
                 1.771 
                 0.392 
               
               
                   
                 Hexahydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Manganese Sulfate 
                 6.09 
                 1.218 
                 0.392 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Stedapol WAQ-LC 
                 10.79 
                 2.159 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Sodium Lauryl 
               
               
                   
                 Sulfate) 
               
               
                   
                 SMC White 
                 208.07 
                 41.614 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Pigment) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TOTAL 
                 500.00 
                 100.000 
                 5.501 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Example 2 
       [0017]    A fungicidal/bactericidal aqueous composition was prepared by combining combining the ingredients in the amounts listed below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredients 
                 Sample (g) 
                 Wt. % 
                 Metal % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 DI Water 
                 74.75 
                 14.950 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Tannic Acid, 
                 5.42 
                 1.084 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Powder, Technical 
               
               
                   
                 Grade 
               
               
                   
                 Ammonium 
                 108.43 
                 21.686 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Formate (Purity &gt;97%) 
               
               
                   
                 Cupric Sulfate 
                 38.94 
                 7.788 
                 1.973 
               
               
                   
                 Pentahydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Zinc Sulfate 
                 38.65 
                 7.730 
                 2.744 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Nickel Sulfate 
                 8.86 
                 1.771 
                 0.392 
               
               
                   
                 Hexahydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Manganese Sulfate 
                 6.09 
                 1.218 
                 0.392 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Stedapol WAQ-LC 
                 10.79 
                 2.159 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Sodium Lauryl 
               
               
                   
                 Sulfate) 
               
               
                   
                 SMC White 
                 208.07 
                 41.614 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Pigment) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TOTAL 
                 500.00 
                 100.000 
                 5.501 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       Example 3 
       [0018]    A fungicidal/bactericidal aqueous composition was prepared by combining combining the ingredients in the amounts listed below: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ingredients 
                 Sample (g) 
                 Wt. % 
                 Metal % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 DI Water 
                 64.35 
                 12.870 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Tannic Acid, 
                 5.42 
                 1.084 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Powder, Technical 
               
               
                   
                 Grade 
               
               
                   
                 Ammonium 
                 108.43 
                 21.686 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 Formate (Purity &gt;97%) 
               
               
                   
                 Cupric Sulfate 
                 85.91 
                 17.183 
                 4.354 
               
               
                   
                 Pentahydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Zinc Sulfate 
                 15.33 
                 3.066 
                 1.088 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Manganese Sulfate 
                 1.69 
                 0.338 
                 0.109 
               
               
                   
                 Monohydrate 
               
               
                   
                 Stedapol WAQ-LC 
                 10.79 
                 2.159 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Sodium Lauryl 
               
               
                   
                 Sulfate) 
               
               
                   
                 SMC White 
                 208.07 
                 41.614 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 (Pigment) 
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 TOTAL 
                 500.00 
                 100.000 
                 5.551 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0019]    A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.