Patent Description:
It is known that adjuvants may improve the biological performance of an agrochemical and that certain alcohol alkoxylates may behave as such adjuvants.

<CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> disclose use of adjuvants of formula.

alkyl-O-(PO)m-(EO)n-H in agrochemical formulations.

The present invention relates to a use of a class of alcohol alkoxylates which behave surprisingly better than other known adjuvants.

The adjuvants used in the present invention have the structure R-O-[R<NUM>O]m-[R<NUM>O]n-H where R is a C<NUM> to C<NUM> (C<NUM>-<NUM>; that is from C<NUM> to C<NUM>) straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group, Ri is isopropyl, R<NUM> is ethyl, m is from <NUM> to <NUM> and n is from <NUM> to <NUM>. This means that each RiO represents a propylene oxide [PO] unit and each R<NUM>O represents an ethylene oxide [EO] unit.

Suitably the carbon chain of R is such that it is a blend of C<NUM> and C<NUM>.

In one aspect R is preferably C<NUM> to C<NUM> straight chain alkyl; more preferably it is a blend of C<NUM> and C<NUM>.

In another aspect R is preferably oleyl.

The noun "agrochemical" and term "agrochemically active ingredient" are used herein interchangeably, and include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, molluscicides, fungicides, plant growth regulators and safeners; preferably herbicides, insecticides and fungicides; and more preferably fungicides and herbicides.

An agrochemical, or a salt of the agrochemical, selected from those given below is suitable for the present invention.

Suitable herbicides include pinoxaden, bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, fomesafen, tralkoxydim, napropamide, amitraz, propanil, pyrimethanil, dicloran, tecnazene, toclofos methyl, flamprop M, <NUM>,<NUM>-D, MCPA, mecoprop, clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop methyl, haloxyfop, quizalofop-P, indol-<NUM>-ylacetic acid, <NUM>-naphthylacetic acid, isoxaben, tebutam, chlorthal dimethyl, benomyl, benfuresate, dicamba, dichlobenil, benazolin, triazoxide, fluazuron, teflubenzuron, phenmedipham, acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cyclodim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, pendimethalin, dinoterb, bifenox, oxyfluorfen, acifluorfen, fluazifop, S-metolachlor, glyphosate, glufosinate, paraquat, diquat, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, bromoxynil, ioxynil, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazapic, imazamox, flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, picloram, amodosulfuron, chlorsulfuron, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, triasulfuron, triallate, pebulate, prosulfocarb, molinate, atrazine, simazine, cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, sulcotrione, isoproturon, linuron, fenuron, chlorotoluron, metoxuron, iodosulfuron, mesosulfuron, diflufenican, flufenacet, fluroxypyr, aminopyralid, pyroxsulam, XDE-<NUM> Rinskor and halauxifen-methyl.

Suitable fungicides include isopyrazam, mandipropamid, azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, kresoxim methyl, mefenoxam, famoxadone, metominostrobin, picoxystrobin, cyprodanil, carbendazim, thiabendazole, dimethomorph, vinclozolin, iprodione, dithiocarbamate, imazalil, prochloraz, fluquinconazole, epoxiconazole, flutriafol, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, hexaconazole, paclobutrazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, triadimefon, trtiticonazole, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, mancozeb, metiram, chlorothalonil, thiram, ziram, captafol, captan, folpet, fluazinam, flutolanil, carboxin, metalaxyl, bupirimate, ethirimol, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, orysastrobin, metominostrobin, prothioconazole, adepidyn, bixafen, fluxapyroxad, prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin, revysol, solatenol and xemium.

Suitable insecticides include thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, fipronil, abamectin, emamectin, tefluthrin, emamectin benzoate, bendiocarb, carbaryl, fenoxycarb, isoprocarb, pirimicarb, propoxur, xylylcarb, asulam, chlorpropham, endosulfan, heptachlor, tebufenozide, bensultap, diethofencarb, pirimiphos methyl, aldicarb, methomyl, cyprmethrin, bioallethrin, deltamethrin, lambda cyhalothrin, cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, imiprothrin, permethrin, halfenprox, oxamyl, flupyradifurone, sedaxane, inscalis, rynaxypyr, cyantraniliprole, sulfoxaflor and spinetoram.

Suitable plant growth regulators include paclobutrazole, trinexapac-ethyl and <NUM>-methylcyclopropene.

Suitable safeners include benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, dichlormid, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, mefenpyr-diethyl, MG-<NUM>, naphthalic anhydride and oxabetrinil.

Suitably, the agrochemical is selected from bicyclopyrone, mesotrione, pinoxaden, fomesafen,tralkoxydim, napropamide, amitraz, propanil, pyrimethanil, dicloran, tecnazene, toclofos methyl, flamprop M, <NUM>,<NUM>-D, MCPA, mecoprop, clodinafop-propargyl, cyhalofop-butyl, diclofop methyl, haloxyfop, quizalofop-P, indol-<NUM>-ylacetic acid, <NUM>-naphthylacetic acid, isoxaben, tebutam, chlorthal dimethyl, benomyl, benfuresate, dicamba, dichlobenil, benazolin, triazoxide, fluazuron, teflubenzuron, phenmedipham, acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor, pretilachlor, thenylchlor, alloxydim, butroxydim, clethodim, cyclodim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, pendimethalin, dinoterb, bifenox, oxyfluorfen, acifluorfen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, bromoxynil, ioxynil, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazapyr, imazaquin, imazethapyr, imazapic, imazamox, flumioxazin, flumiclorac-pentyl, picloram, amodosulfuron, chlorsulfuron, nicosulfuron, rimsulfuron, triasulfuron, triallate, pebulate, prosulfocarb, molinate, atrazine, simazine, cyanazine, ametryn, prometryn, terbuthylazine, terbutryn, sulcotrione, isoproturon, linuron, fenuron, chlorotoluron, metoxuron, isopyrazam, mandipropamid, azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, kresoxim methyl, famoxadone, metominostrobin and picoxystrobin, cyprodanil, carbendazim, thiabendazole, dimethomorph, vinclozolin, iprodione, dithiocarbamate, imazalil, prochloraz, fluquinconazole, epoxiconazole, flutriafol, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, hexaconazole, paclobutrazole, propiconazole, tebuconazole, triadimefon, trtiticonazole, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, mancozeb, metiram, chlorothalonil, thiram, ziram, captafol, captan, folpet, fluazinam, flutolanil, carboxin, metalaxyl, bupirimate, ethirimol, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, orysastrobin, metominostrobin, prothioconazole, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, nitenpyram, fipronil, abamectin, emamectin, bendiocarb, carbaryl, fenoxycarb, isoprocarb, pirimicarb, propoxur, xylylcarb, asulam, chlorpropham, endosulfan, heptachlor, tebufenozide, bensultap, diethofencarb, pirimiphos methyl, aldicarb, methomyl, cyprmethrin, bioallethrin, deltamethrin, lambda cyhalothrin, cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate, imiprothrin, permethrin, halfenprox, paclobutrazole, <NUM>-methylcyclopropene, benoxacor, cloquintocet-mexyl, cyometrinil, dichlormid, fenchlorazole-ethyl, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, mefenpyr-diethyl, MG-<NUM>, naphthalic anhydride and oxabetrinil.

Preferred agrochemical active ingredients are selected from fomesafen (suitably as the sodium salt), mesotrione, nicosulfuron, pinoxaden, isopyrazam, epoxiconazole, solatenol and cyantraniliprole.

More preferably, the agrochemical is fomesafen (suitably as the sodium salt), mesotrione, nicosulfuron or pinoxaden.

The various editions of The Pesticide Manual [especially the 14th and 15th editions] also disclose details of agrochemicals, any one of which may suitably be used in the present invention.

The adjutants of formula (I) are used in an agrochemical composition.

The compositions per se are not part of the invention.

Generally any agrochemically active ingredient will be present at a concentration of from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w; preferably from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w. Agrochemical compositions may be in the form of a ready-to-use formulation or in concentrate form suitable for further dilution by the end user, and the concentration of agrochemical and compound of formula (I) will be adjusted accordingly. In concentrated form, compositions typically contain an agrochemical at from <NUM> to <NUM>% w/w, more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>% w/w, even more preferably from <NUM> to <NUM>% w/w, of the total composition. Ready-to-use compositions will typically contain an agrochemical at from <NUM>% to <NUM>% w/w, more preferably from <NUM>% to <NUM>% w/w, and more preferably still from <NUM>% to <NUM>% w/w, of the total composition.

Typically a compound of formula (I) will have a concentration of from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w of the total composition; preferably from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w. When in concentrated form, compositions typically contain a compound of formula (I) at from <NUM>% to <NUM>% w/w, preferably from <NUM>% to <NUM>% w/w, more preferably from <NUM>% w/w to <NUM>% w/w and even more preferably from <NUM>% w/w to <NUM>% w/w of the total composition. Ready to use compositions typically contain a compound of formula (I) at from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w of the total composition, more preferably from about <NUM>% to about <NUM>% w/w and even more preferably from <NUM>% w/w to <NUM>% w/w of the total composition. If the specific individual compound of formula (I) is present with a blend of other compounds of formula (I) due to a variety of values of m and n, then these concentration ranges for the individual compound may be varied such that the lower limit is reduced by a factor of <NUM> and the upper limit is reduced by a factor of <NUM>.

The compositions may relate to concentrates designed to be added to a farmer's spray tank of water or they may be applied directly without further dilution.

Preferably compositions are be selected from an SC (suspension concentrate); an SL (soluble liquid); an EC (emulsifiable concentrate); a DC (dispersible concentrate); a WG (water dispersible granule); a SG (soluble granule); an EW (emulsion in water); a SE (suspension-emulsion); a CS (capsule suspension); and an OD (oil dispersion).

Furthermore, an adjuvant system as herein described may be designed to be added to a formulation of an agrochemical (for example by mixing with water in a farmer's spray tank).

The compositions may include other ingredients such as a dispersing agent, a surfactant, an emulsifier, a solvent, a polymer, an anti-foam agent, an anti-bacterial agent, a colourant and a perfume, which are well known to the man skilled in the art. Standard formulation publications disclose such formulation components suitable for use with the present invention (for example, <NPL>, <NPL>; and <NPL>, <NPL>). The compositions may also comprise other ingredients for improving formulation compatibility; such as hydrotropes and viscosity reducing aids, as discussed in <CIT>, which may be suitable for use with the alcohol alkoxylate adjuvants of the present invention.

The compositions may include other adjuvants. Suitable adjuvants are known to those skilled in the art, examples are given in <NPL>". Examples are surfactants (e.g. non-ionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric), wetting agents, spreading agents, sticking agents, humectants and penetration agents. Further examples of suitable adjuvants are mineral oils, vegetable oils, fatty acid esters, esters of aliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acids, alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, alkylamine ethoxylates, ethoxylates of triglycerides, ethoxylates of fatty acids, ethoxylates of fatty acid esters, ethoxylates of sorbitan fatty acid esters, alkyl polyglycosides and silicone based adjuvants. Preferred suitable adjuvants are surfactants which provide improved wetting or improved spray retention properties.

The following examples demonstrate the effect on biological performance of adjuvants used in accordance with the present invention; the adjuvants used are tabulated in Table A, along with comparative adjuvants. Further comparative adjuvants used were the commercial adjuvants ATPLUS® <NUM> F (a mineral oil adjuvant); Turbocharge® (an oil-adjuvant blend); Tween® <NUM> (a polyoxyethylene sorbitan laurate ester adjuvant) and the adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl) phosphate [TEHP].

In one aspect of the present invention Adjuvant <NUM> is preferred; in an alternative aspect, Adjuvant <NUM> is preferred; in another alternative aspect Adjuvant <NUM> is preferred.

The efficacy of Adjuvant <NUM> as an adjuvant for the herbicide nicosulfuron was tested in a glasshouse against four weed species. Nicosulfuron was added to the spray tank as a standard WG (water dispersible granule) formulation.

The plants were sprayed with nicosulfuron (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using nicosulfuron in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the commercially available tank-mix adjuvant, Atplus 411F®. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v, except Atplus 411F® which was added at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The weed species and their growth stage at spraying were Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH; growth stage <NUM>), Chenopodium album (CHEAL; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), and Setaria viridis (SETVI; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>).

Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of nicosulfuron, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for nicosulfuron and is at least as efficacious as the commercially available tank-mix adjuvant Atplus 411F®. Adjuvant <NUM> shows better efficacy for nicosulfuron than the comparative alkoxylated adjuvants Adjuvant <NUM> and Adjuvant <NUM>.

The efficacy of Adjuvant <NUM> as an adjuvant for the herbicide mesotrione was tested in a glasshouse against four weed species. Mesotrione was added to the spray tank as a standard SC (suspension concentrate) formulation.

The plants were sprayed with mesotrione (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using mesotrione in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the well-known adjuvant Tween® <NUM>. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v, except Tween® <NUM> which was added at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The four weed species were Polygonum convolvulus (POLCO; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), Brachiaria plantaginea (BRAPL; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), Commelina benghalensis (COMBE; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>) and Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>).

Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of mesotrione, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for mesotrione, and is almost as efficacious as the known adjuvant Tween®<NUM>. Adjuvant <NUM> shows better efficacy for mesotrione than the comparative alkoxylated adjuvants Adjuvant <NUM> and Adjuvant <NUM>.

The efficacy of Adjuvant <NUM> as an adjuvant for the herbicide pinoxaden was tested in a glasshouse against four weed species. Pinoxaden was added to the spray tank as a standard EC (emulsifiable concentrate) formulation.

The plants were sprayed with pinoxaden (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using pinoxaden in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl) phosphate. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The weed species and their growth stage at spraying were Alopecurus myosuroides (ALOMY; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), Avena fatua (AVEFA; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>); Lolium perenne (LOLPE; growth stage <NUM>) and Setaria viridis (SETVI; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>). Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of pinoxaden, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for pinoxaden and is almost as efficacious as the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl)phosphate, which is a very effective adjuvant for pinoxaden. Adjuvant <NUM> shows better efficacy for pinoxaden than the comparative alkoxylated adjuvants Adjuvant <NUM> and Adjuvant <NUM>.

The efficacy of Adjuvant <NUM> as an adjuvant for the herbicide fomesafen (as the sodium salt) was tested in a glasshouse against four weed species. Fomesafen sodium salt was added to the spray tank as a standard SL (soluble concentrate) formulation.

The plants were sprayed with fomesafen (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using fomesafen in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the commercially available adjuvant Turbocharge®. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v, except Turbocharge® which was added at a rate of or <NUM>% v/v. The weed species and their growth stage at spraying were Chenopodium album (CHEAL;growth stage <NUM>-<NUM> ), Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>), Setaria viridis (SETVI; growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>) and Commelina benghalensis (growth stage <NUM>-<NUM>).

Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of fomesafen, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results demonstrate that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for fomesafen and is at least as effective as the commercially available agrochemical adjuvant Turbocharge®. Adjuvant <NUM> shows better efficacy for fomesafen than the comparative alkoxylated adjuvants Adjuvant <NUM>, and Adjuvant <NUM>.

The plants were sprayed with nicosulfuron (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using nicosulfuron in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM> or the commercially available tank-mix adjuvant, Atplus 411F®. These adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v or <NUM>% v/v respectively. The weed species were Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH), Chenopodium album (CHEAL), Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA) and Setaria viridis (SETVI).

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for nicosulfuron and is at least as efficacious as the commercially available tank-mix adjuvant Atplus 411F®.

The plants were sprayed with mesotrione (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using mesotrione in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM> or the well-known adjuvant Tween® <NUM>. These adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v or <NUM>% v/v respectively. The four weed species were Polygonum convolvulus (POLCO), Brachiaria plantaginea (BRAPL), Commelina benghalensis (COMBE) and Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA). Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of mesotrione, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for mesotrione, and is at least as efficacious as the well-known adjuvant Tween®<NUM>.

The plants were sprayed with pinoxaden (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using pinoxaden in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM> or the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl) phosphate. These adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The weed species were Alopecurus myosuroides (ALOMY), Avena fatua (AVEFA); Lolium perenne (LOLPE) and Setaria viridis (SETVI).

Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of pinoxaden, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for pinoxaden, and is almost as efficacious as the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl)phosphate which is a very effective adjuvant for pinoxaden.

The plants were sprayed with fomesafen (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> and <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using fomesafen in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM> or the commercially available agrochemical adjuvant Turbocharge®. These adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v or <NUM>% v/v respectively. The weed species were Chenopodium album (CHEAL), Abutilon theophrasti (ABUTH), Setaria viridis (SETVI) and Xanthium strumarium (XANST).

The results demonstrate that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for fomesafen and is almost as efficacious as the commercially available agrochemical adjuvant Turbocharge®.

The plants were sprayed with mesotrione (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> or <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using mesotrione in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the well-known adjuvant Tween® <NUM>. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v, except Tween® <NUM> which was added at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The four weed species were Polygonum convolvulus (POLCO), Brachiaria plantaginea (BRAPL), Commelina benghalensis (COMBE) and Digitaria sanguinalis (DIGSA).

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for mesotrione, and is more efficacious than the known adjuvant Tween®<NUM>. Adjuvant <NUM> also shows better efficacy for mesotrione than the comparative Adjuvant <NUM>.

The plants were sprayed with pinoxaden (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM> or <NUM> grams of pesticide per hectare using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare. The spray tests were also carried out using pinoxaden in conjunction with Adjuvant <NUM>, Adjuvant <NUM> or the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl) phosphate. The adjuvants were added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v. The weed species were Alopecurus myosuroides (ALOMY), Avena fatua (AVEFA), Lolium perenne (LOLPE) and Setaria viridis (SETVI). Each spray test was replicated three times. The efficacy of the herbicide was assessed visually and expressed as a percentage of the leaf area killed. Samples were assessed at a time period of <NUM> days following application. The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the two rates of pinoxaden, the three replicates and the four weed species.

The results show that Adjuvant <NUM> is an effective adjuvant for pinoxaden and is almost as efficacious as the standard adjuvant tris(<NUM>-ethylhexyl)phosphate, which is a very effective adjuvant for pinoxaden. Adjuvant <NUM> shows better efficacy for pinoxaden than the comparative Adjuvant <NUM>.

Adjuvant <NUM> was tested as an adjuvant for agrochemical compositions comprising isopyrazam.

Two week old wheat plants were inoculated with the fungus Septoria tritici. Four days after inoculation, the plants were sprayed with a diluted suspension concentrate formulation of the fungicide isopyrazam (in the absence of an adjuvant) at rates of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> of the fungicide per litre of spray solution, using a laboratory track sprayer which delivered the aqueous spray composition at a rate of <NUM> litres per hectare, using a flat fan nozzle (LU <NUM>-<NUM>) at <NUM> bar. Spray tests were also carried out with diluted isopyrazam suspension concentrate additionally comprising Adjuvant <NUM>, which was added to the spray solution at a rate of <NUM>% v/v, based on the quantity of spray liquor. The leaves of the plants were assessed visually <NUM> days after infection and the damage was expressed as the percentage of the leaf area infected. Each spray test was replicated four times across the four application rates.

The results shown in Table <NUM> below are mean averages over the four rates of isopyrazam and the four replicates.

Claim 1:
Use of a compound of formula (I) to improve the biological performance of an agrochemical

        R-O-[PO]m-[EO]n-H     (I)

where R is a C<NUM> to C<NUM> straight or branched chain alkyl or alkenyl group, PO means a propylene oxide unit, EO means an ethylene oxide unit, m is from <NUM> to <NUM> and n is from <NUM> to <NUM>.