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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/784,032, filed Mar. 14, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention pertains to a natural fungicide for edible and ornamental crops of the Musaceae family and particularly for bananas and plantain crops. This natural fungicide is also believed to be useful generally as a fungicide for plants that thrive in warm and moist environments that are vulnerable to fungal diseases. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Bananas ( Mussa  spp) are one of the most important export products in Central America and elsewhere in the world. In banana and other related crops, fungi and bacteria can cause severe losses. 
         [0004]    One of the main plant pathology problems that limit the banana production in Central America is Black Sigatoka which is caused by the fungus  Mycospharella fijiensis  Morelet. This disease of Black Sigatoka produces rapid deterioration of the plant leaves, affecting plant growth by decreasing photosynthetic capacity and reducing fruit quality. 
         [0005]    Black Sigatoka is caused by the Ascomycete fungus,  Mycosphaerella fijiensis,  which is sexually and asexually produced during its life cycle. The asexual phase occurs early in the disease, in which a low number of conidiophores emerge from the stomata. The sexual phase produces a large number of ascospores, which are responsible for the spread of the disease by the wind. It can cause significant reductions in leaf area, yield losses of 50% or more and premature ripening, resulting in significant crop losses. 
         [0006]    Currently, the most commonly used fungicides used in treating Black Sigatoka are dithiocarbamate and chlorothalonil. These products act on leaf surfaces to form a layer to impede fungi penetration. Systemic fungicides such as benzimidazoles and triazoles are also used. 
         [0007]    It is highly desirable to use natural fungicides where possible to control fungi growth in plants since the natural fungicides are more environmentally friendly than conventional chemical fungicides and are preferred by both farmers and consumers. Since crops raised in warm, moist tropical environments are particularly subject to fungal growth, they require the application of substantial amounts of fungicides making the use of natural fungicides even more desirable. 
         [0008]    While spices and herbs have been used in the past to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold in crops, no natural composition has heretofore been discovered or disclosed which is as effective as conventional chemicals in controlling fungal growth in edible and ornamental crops of the Musaceae family or generally in plants that thrive in warm and moist environments that are vulnerable to fungal diseases. Therefore, if natural fungicides that are as effective as conventional chemicals in controlling fungal growth in edible and ornamental crops of the Musaceae family or generally in plants that thrive in warm and moist environments that are vulnerable to fungal diseases could be found this would bring important environmental and safety advantages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    Embodiments comprise a composition containing spice essential oils and extracts dispersed in palm olein (or less preferably other vegetable oils), preferably containing antioxidants that prevent rancidity, and preferably also including an emulsifier to keep the product shelf stable and to aid in dispersion when it is diluted with water before application. 
         [0010]    Embodiments of the natural fungicide may contain the following components:
       garlic oil preferably obtained by steam distillation of bulbs of garlic  Allium sativum L.      rosemary oil obtained by steam distillation of rosemary leaves,  Rosmarinus officinalis L.      thyme oil extracted from thyme,  Thymus vulgaris.      cinammon oil distilled from the cinnamon bark of  Cinnamomum zeylanicum.      a blend of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) and Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as an antioxidant. Other appropriate antioxidants can be used.   polysorbate as an emulsifier. Other appropriate emulsifiers such as propylene glycol alginate can be used.   xanthan gum as a suspension agent and emulsifier.       
 
         [0018]    Concentration (% by weight) in natural fungicide composition (before dilution for application):
       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%.       
 
         [0027]    Optional ingredients:
       spearmint oil or natural flavor at an appropriate level to give the composition a pleasant odor.   mineral oil at an appropriate level to act as a fungistatic agent.       
 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    The following examples further illustrate embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. 
       Field Trials 
       [0031]    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.       
 
         [0041]    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. 
         [0042]    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. 
         [0043]    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 
       [0044]    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.       
 
         [0049]    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. 
         [0050]    The results thus indicate that the experimental natural composition performs as a protectant fungicide as effectively as conventional chemical fungicides. 
         [0051]    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. 
         [0052]    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.