Patent Description:
Plants, i.e., crop plants and especially ornamental plants, are subjected to various forms of stress. In particular, plants are constantly exposed to their environment and cannot escape abiotic stress factors (drought, cold, frost, salinity, etc.). At the same time, they are also exposed to biotic stress factors, i.e., stresses resulting from the harmful action of a living or bioaggressive organism (viruses, fungi, bacteria, insects, pests, etc.) and more generally of a plant pathogen.

For the purpose of the invention, "abiotic stress" refers to a non-living stimulus on living vegetal organisms, for instance a climate hazard on a crop.

For the purpose of the invention, "plant pathogen" refers to a pathogen capable of infecting and/or invading a plant part and causing disease therein.

In general, these abiotic and biotic stresses cause morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants, resulting in a decrease in the per-hectare crop yield, i.e., a decrease in the production or the quality of dry matter.

In other words, a cultivated plant, for example a field-grown plant, is subjected to these various forms of stress, which, among other effects, will provoke a decrease in the production of dry matter by the plant compared to a plant cultivated under optimal conditions (controlled conditions with regard to water supply, daylight/nighttime period, absence of exposure to abiotic and/or biotic stresses, etc.).

To combat abiotic stress, especially water stress (or drought), farmers have adapted by simplifying their crop rotations and giving precedence to winter crops. The first consequence of this simplification is not only an increased risk that plants growing wild (weeds) and pests will develop resistance to phytopharmaceutical products, but also an increased risk of water pollution due to large applications of products at the same time of the year. The second consequence is the disproportionate cultivation of starch-producing plants (notably straw cereals) compared to protein-producing plants (legumes). In addition, to combat drought, farmers resort to extensive crop irrigation, which leads to environmental and economic problems.

Concerning the fight against biotic stresses, farmers use chemical or biocontrol products that rely on natural mechanisms. The use of chemicals in agriculture is controversial, however, given their potential toxicity for human health and for the environment. It is therefore necessary to minimize, as much as possible, the amount of these products that is used, while optimizing their effects.

To combat these different types of stress, curative treatments have been proposed that consist in applying to the plants a mixture of surfactants, such as sucrose stearate and β-sitosterol, following exposure to a biotic or abiotic stress. This is the case, for example, of document <CIT> of the Applicant, which describes the application of a composition containing <NUM>% sucrose stearate by weight and <NUM>% β-sitosterol by weight, diluted to <NUM>% in water.

Similarly, document <CIT> describes a composition for stimulating plant growth, where applicable in the presence of a stress factor, this composition being in the form of a concentrated suspension comprising a mixture of phytosterols in an amount greater than <NUM>% of the suspension by weight. The objective is to increase the concentration of phytosterols to allow application in smaller quantities. In practice, the amount of composition applied is <NUM>/ha. The composition furthermore contains a wetting agent and/or a surfactant, present in respective amounts of between <NUM>% and <NUM>%. The suspension is obtained by grinding the different constituents until the particle size becomes smaller than <NUM>. This document shows that the composition exhibits better biostimulant effects compared to the same unground composition. One of the drawbacks of this composition resides in its cost, which is linked to the large amount of phytosterols it contains, the price of phytosterols being particularly high.

<CIT> discloses a method for performing preventive treatment of a cultivated plant to limit the loss of dry matter linked to abiotic and/or biotic stress that involves applying a slurry mixture comprising at least one surfactant, and a mixture of phytosterols comprising β-sitosterol to the plant before the appearance of the abiotic and/or biotic stress. The base for preparing the slurry is in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion.

<CIT> relates to a composition for promoting the elongation of the main roots and the multiplication and elongation of secondary roots, for promoting flowering, for combating abiotic stress and for stimulating natural defense mechanisms against biotic stress comprising sucrose stearate and β-sitosterol. The composition is preferably, but not necessarily, in the form of an aqueous solution.

<CIT> discloses an emulsified or solubilised sterol composition wherein said sterol(s) are emulsified or solubilised in an aqueous solution of sucrose fatty acid ester(s) and/or polyglycerol fatty acid ester(s). Said emulsified or solubilised sterol composition is very stable and is useful for various products including food, cosmetics, drugs and agricultural chemicals.

The problem that the invention purports to solve is therefore that of developing an alternative phytosterol-based composition that can be applied in the lowest possible quantities while exhibiting high effectiveness with regard to abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in only a small loss of dry matter.

The Applicant has thus perfected the surfactant- and phytosterol-based compositions described in documents <CIT> and <CIT> by proposing no longer a solution or a suspension but rather an oil-in-water emulsion, which aqueous phase contains a surfactant that is in particulate form, with this composition also being referred to below as a multiphase composition.

The Applicant has thus ascertained that, most surprisingly, the composition of the invention has made it possible to drastically reduce the amount of phytosterols applied, thereby reducing the cost of the treatment.

It was also observed that the composition of the invention, when applied to the crop plant as a preventive care, i.e., prior to the onset of a stress, enabled a further reduction in the harmful effects of abiotic and/or biotic stresses, notably the loss of dry matter and the resulting decrease in per-hectare yields.

The Applicant has made the assumption that the surfactant present in the aqueous phase plays a particular role in the wetting properties of the composition and in the penetration of the composition through the cuticle, notably through a solubilization of the epicuticular waxes (the waxes situated on the outermost part of the surface of the cuticle) and of some or all of the waxes present on the inside of the cutin layer, thereby creating access pathways for aqueous-based materials.

The epicuticular waxes appear to form "crystals" on the surface of the leaf that would account for the creation of angles preventing the drops from spreading appropriately.

Thus, the particulate surfactant would therefore allow the solubilization of these waxes and would reduce, even eliminate, the presence of these angles. At the same time, the surfactant present in the aqueous phase would ensure a loosening of the bonds between the constituent molecules of the cutin, thereby facilitating the penetration of the droplets containing the mixture of phytosterols into the cellular membrane of the plant.

As a consequence, it is possible to reduce the quantity of phytosterols contained in the composition by improving its diffusion into the cellular membrane of the plant in order to obtain beneficial effects for the plant that are at least similar to, and usually better than, those provided by the compositions of the prior art.

The first surfactant, i.e., the one present at the interface of the oil droplets and of the aqueous phase, plays a conventional role in stabilizing the emulsion.

The invention is as claimed in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the description, lipophilic droplets are also named oil droplets.

The composition is deemed to be "multiphase" in that it comprises two distinct oil and water phases, but it cannot be described as a suspension or as an emulsion, given that the aqueous phase also contains a third phase made of solid particles. It could therefore be described as a suspo-emulsion.

According to a first characteristic of the composition, at least one first surfactant (SF1) is located at the interface of the lipophilic droplets and of the aqueous phase and selected from among the SFs that are soluble in the aqueous phase (WATER SF1) and the SFs that are soluble in the lipophilic droplets (OIL SF1). Generally, WATER SF1 and OIL SF1 differ from each other by the proportion of their hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts. Practically, the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of WATER SF1 is higher than the one of OIL SF1. In contrast, the hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of OIL SF1 is higher than the one of WATER SF1. In specific embodiments, WATER SF1 and OIL SF1 are identical.

According to the second characteristic of the composition, at least one second surfactant (SF2) is suspended in the aqueous phase, said second surfactant having the form of particles insoluble in the aqueous phase.

In the context of the invention, the expression "insoluble in the aqueous phase" refers to a compound which presents the inability to form with water a homogenous solution at the microscopic or the macroscopic level, at a given temperature and atmospheric pressure.

By contrast, the word "solubility" refers to a compound which leads to a homogenous solution without remaining insoluble particles when it is added to a liquid, at a given temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Advantageously, the first surfactant (WATER SF1) is soluble in water heated at <NUM> at a concentration of at least <NUM>/L.

Advantageously, the first surfactant (OIL SF1) is soluble in the oil phase heated at <NUM> at a concentration of at least <NUM>/L.

Advantageously, the limit of solubility in the water of the second surfactant (SF2) observed practically at <NUM> is less than <NUM>/L, preferably less than <NUM>/L, more preferably, less than <NUM>/L.

The Applicant has noted that the phytosterols composition formulated this manner and applied to the crop plant in an effective amount as a preventive measure, i.e., prior to the onset of the stress, enabled a reduction in the harmful effects of abiotic and/or biotic stresses, notably the loss of dry matter and the resulting decrease in per-hectare yields.

An "effective amount", as used herein, is an amount sufficient to affect beneficial or desired results.

In particular, the composition of the invention presents the advantages of improving plant growth and of reducing the number of days during which the cultivated plant is below the wilting point. The plant is thus more able to combat the deleterious effects of exposure to abiotic and/or biotic stress.

In other words, the application of the composition of the invention to a cultivated plant prior to the onset of an abiotic and/or biotic stress, increases the time spent in the easily usable soil water reserve (EUSWR) and reduces the time spent below the wilting point, i.e., the time spent in the soil survival reserve (SSR). The result is improved dry matter production and/or yield.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "easily usable soil water reserve" (or EUSWR) refers to the proportion of the usable soil water reserve (USWR) that a cultivated plant can extract without reducing its transpiration (or evapotranspiration), experiencing water stress or limiting its growth. The EUSWR generally represents <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the USWR depending on the depth of the soil and the species of plants cultivated.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "soil survival reserve" (or SSR) refers to the proportion of the USWR that a cultivated plant cannot extract. The plant is consequently in a state of water stress, because its transpiration (or evapotranspiration) is not reduced. Therefore, the cultivated plant limits its growth or even wilts.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "wilting point" (or WP) refers to the soil water status below which the plant can no longer draw the water necessary for its growth, i.e., the point below which the tension between the roots and the plant is high and the roots can no longer extract water from the soil. It is therefore the threshold below which the cultivated plant has entirely consumed the EUSWR and will wilt, albeit reversibly, but with an impact on the yield. This parameter is determined in particular through the measurement of soil humidity, for example by means of a neutron probe, a tensiometer or a time-domain reflectometry (TDR) moisture meter. The wilting point depends on the field capacity, on the amount of water available to the plant according to the various soil types and on the variety of plant cultivated.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "yield" refers to the amount of product harvested, whether seeds or fruits, dry matter or green matter, or wine, over a given cultivation area.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "cultivated plant," in contrast to a naturally existing plant, refers to all plants that can be cultivated, i.e., sown, planted and exploited, by man.

By "plants" is meant all plants and plant populations such as desirable and undesirable wild plants, cultivars and plant varieties (whether or not protectable by plant variety or plant breeder's rights). Cultivars and plant varieties can be plants obtained by conventional propagation and breeding methods which can be assisted or supplemented by one or more biotechnological methods such as by use of double haploids, protoplast fusion, random and directed mutagenesis, molecular or genetic markers or by bioengineering and genetic engineering methods.

The term "plant" includes whole plants and parts thereof, including, but not limited to, shoot vegetative organs/structures (e.g. leaves, stems and tubers), roots, flowers and floral organs/structures (e.g. bracts, sepals, petals, stamens, carpels, anthers and ovules), seeds (including embryo, endosperm, and seed coat) and fruits (the mature ovary), plant tissues (e.g. vascular tissue, ground tissue, and the like) and cells (e.g. guard cells, egg cells, and the like), and progeny of same. "Fruit" and "plant produce" are to be understood as any plant product which is further utilized after harvesting, e.g. fruits in the proper sense, nuts, wood etc., that is anything of economic value that is produced by the plant.

As another characteristic, the majority of the lipophilic droplets present in the composition before addition of SF2, advantageously at least <NUM>% of the lipophilic droplets (also named Dv90 emulsion) has a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, most preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> with a peak maximum preferably of less than <NUM>, advantageously between <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM> as determined by laser diffraction.

An essential feature of the invention is that the composition contains at least two surfactants, referred to as SF1 and SF2.

The composition therefore contains a first surfactant (SF1) located at the interface of the oil droplets and of the aqueous phase. This first SF is selected from among the SFs that are soluble in the aqueous phase (WATER SF1) and the SFs that are soluble in the oil droplets (OIL SF1).

Therefore, at the interface of the oil droplets and of the aqueous phase, the composition can contain:.

The composition also contains a second surfactant (SF2).

The second surfactant (SF2) is in the form of particles.

Advantageously at least <NUM>% of the particles of the composition of the invention (also named Dv90 suspo-emulsion) has a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>, advantageously between <NUM> and <NUM> with a peak maximum preferably of between <NUM> and <NUM> as determined by laser diffraction.

In other words, the composition can contain:.

To facilitate the method of manufacture of the composition, the composition contains at least two SFs, and respectively at least one OIL SF1 and/or WATER SF1 and at least one SF2, with OIL SF1 or WATER SF1 and SF2 being identical.

As for exemple, fatty acid sugar esters may be used as both WATER SF1 and OIL SF1 since they are soluble in oil and in water at different temperatures.

In practice, WATER SF1, OIL SF1 and SF2 are selected according to the desired solubility in lipophilic droplets or in water, from among the group comprising:.

In the rest of the description and claims the terms "sucrose stearate" and "saccharose stearate" are used indifferently. As well, "sucrose palmitate" and "saccharose palmitate" are used indifferently.

In the description and in the claims, the expression "saccharose stearate" designates pure saccharose stearate or a mixture of saccharose esters of fatty acids containing mostly saccharose stearate. Example of pure saccharose stearate corresponds to <NPL>]. Example of a mixture of saccharose ester of fatty acids containing mostly saccharose stearate corresponds for example to <NPL>] or [<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>].

In the description and in the claims, the expression "saccharose palmitate" designates pure saccharose palmitate or a mixture of saccharose esters of fatty acids containing mostly saccharose palmitate. Example of pure saccharose palmitate corresponds to <NPL>]. Example of a mixture of saccharose ester of fatty acids containing mostly saccharose palmitate corresponds to <NPL>].

The composition contains at least one OIL SF1 or WATER SF1 and at least one SF2, with both of them being sucrose stearate.

In practice, fatty acid sugar esters are solids at ambient temperature. Being naturally lipophilic compounds, they are insoluble in the aqueous phase and are therefore candidates for the role of SF2. They are also soluble in the oil droplets, but only on the condition that they undergo prior heating to their melting temperature, which can easily be determined by a person skilled in the art. For this reason, they are also candidates for the role of OIL SF1. This explains why OIL SF1 and SF2 may be the same.

Fatty acid sugar esters may also be used as both WATER SF1 and OIL SF1. Indeed, sucrose esters are generally soluble in water at high temperature. It concerns sucrose stearate which is soluble in water at around <NUM>.

Advantageously, the fatty acid sugar esters are saccharose stearate, saccharose palmitate and their polyesters, or mixtures thereof.

According to a specific embodiment, the first surfactant, in this case OIL SF1 or WATER SF1, and the second surfactant SF2 contain sucrose stearate or, advantageously, a mixture containing saccharose stearate and sucrose palmitate.

According to a specific embodiment, the first surfactant (OIL SF1) and/or (WATER SF1) and the second surfactant (SF2) is a mixture containing:.

The first surfactant OIL SF1 and/or WATER SF1 and the second surfactant SF2 is sucrose stearate (preferably <NPL>] or [<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>]). The composition contains one first surfactant OIL SF1 or WATER SF1 and one second surfactant SF2 where OIL SF1 or WATER SF1 and SF2 are sucrose stearate.

According to a specific embodiment, the first surfactant (SF1) represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, and the second surfactant (SF2) represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight.

Advantageously, the first surfactant (OIL SF1) is identical to the second surfactant (SF2). In this case, the first surfactant preferably represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, and the second surfactant preferably represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight and is sucrose stearate (preferably <NPL>] or [<NUM>-<NUM>-<NUM>]).

As mentioned above, in a specific embodiment, the composition contains at least one WATER SF1, at least one OIL SF1 and at least one SF2.

According to a specific embodiment, the phytosterols mixture of the invention contains free phytosterols and/or conjugated phytosterols, with the conjugated phytosterols being advantageously selected from among the group comprising phytosterol esters, phytosterol glycosides, acylated phytosterol glycosides and mixtures thereof.

Examples of free phytosterols in the context of the invention include β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, cholesterol and brassicasterol, and mixtures thereof.

One example of a phytosterol ester in the context of the invention is that of esterified β-sitosterol.

Examples of phytosterol glycosides in the context of the invention include β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside and glucosyl stigmasterol.

Examples of acylated phytosterol glycosides in the context of the invention include <NUM>:<NUM> sitosteryl glucose, <NUM>:<NUM> sitosteryl glucose, <NUM>:<NUM> stigmasteryl glucose, and <NUM>:<NUM> stigmasteryl glucose.

According to a specific embodiment, the mixture of phytosterols also contains at least one precursor of the phytosterols biosynthetic pathway or at least one of its derivatives. This can be, for example, a molecule selected from among the group comprising squalene, squalane, mevalonate and cycloartenol.

According to a specific embodiment, the phytosterols mixture in the context of the invention contains β-sitosterol.

Advantageously, the phytosterols mixture contains β-sitosterol, representing at least <NUM>% of the phytosterols mixture by weight, preferably at least <NUM>%, with the balance to <NUM>% containing in particular, and where appropriate, campesterol, stigmasterol and brassicasterol.

As an example, a phytosterols mixture of the invention can be an extract of phytosterols obtained from oleaginous seeds such as soybeans, pine seeds, sunflower seeds or rapeseeds. One possible example of said phytosterols mixture is the raw material with <NPL>]. Phytosterols mixture of the invention can also be an extract of phytosterols obtained from pine's wood after conversion into wood pulp.

According to a specific embodiment, the phytosterols mixture represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, advantageously between <NUM>% and <NUM>%, and preferably between <NUM>% and <NUM>%.

According to a specific embodiment, the composition of the invention contains:.

According to another specific embodiment, the composition of the invention contains:.

According to a specific embodiment, the weight ratio of the mixture of phytosterols to the first surfactant (SF1) and second surfactant (SF2) is between <NUM> and <NUM>, and advantageously between <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to a specific embodiment, the composition of the invention also contains at least one component selected from among the group including:.

Of course, all the above components can have more properties that the ones cited above.

According to another embodiment, the composition of the invention also contains an antioxydant agent selected from the group comprising citric acid and its salts, tartric acid and its salts, sodium lactate, potassium lactate, calcium lactate, lecithins, tocopherols, polyphenols, butylhydroxyanisole, butylhydroxytoluol, octyl gallate, dodecyl gallate, lycopen.

According to a specific embodiment, the composition of the invention advantageously comprises:.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a slurry resulting from the dilution of the composition as previously described.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "slurry" therefore refers to the composition of the invention diluted in water or in a solution containing water and one or more active ingredients. The product which is applied on the plant in the fields is the slurry.

Advantageously, the viscosity of the slurry of the invention is less than or equal to <NUM> cP, advantageously equal to or strictly higher than 1cP, and less than or equal to <NUM> cP. In the context of the invention, the viscosity is measured using an Anton Paar QC300 viscometer, and the measurement is made at ambient temperature with the DG26 measurement system.

Advantageously, the pH of the slurry of the invention is between <NUM> and <NUM>, preferably between <NUM> and <NUM>, and is even more advantageously between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In the context of the invention, the Applicant hypothesizes that diluting the composition as a slurry enables the solubilization of the solid component of the second surfactant that is still in suspension in the aqueous phase, or an increase in the quantity of the second surfactant that is present in solubilized form, thereby ensuring a more effective slurry, and therefore a more effective composition of the invention.

According to a specific embodiment, the mixture of phytosterols and the surfactant(s) of the invention are combined with at least one active ingredient.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "active ingredient" refers to a product that allows the plant to combat preferably abiotic and/or biotic stresses, advantageously selected from the group comprising:.

The term "bactericide", as used herein, refers to the ability of a substance to increase mortality or inhibit the growth rate of bacteria.

The term "insecticide" as well as the term "insecticidal" refers to the ability of a substance to increase mortality or inhibit growth rate of insects. As used herein, the term "insects" comprises all organisms in the class "Insecta".

The term "nematicide" and "nematicidal" refers to the ability of a substance to increase mortality or inhibit the growth rate of nematodes. In general, the term "nematode" comprises eggs, larvae, juvenile and mature forms of said organism.

The term "acaricide" and "acaricidal" refers to the ability of a substance to increase mortality or inhibit growth rate of ectoparasites belonging to the class Arachnida, sub-class Acari.

Plant growth regulator may be selected from the group consisting of:.

Fungicides and fungistatics may be selected among the group:.

Insecticidal compounds may be selected from the group consisting of:.

As used herein, "biocontrol product" is defined as agents or products that use natural mechanisms. They form a set of tools that can be used, alone or in combination with other plant protection methods, to combat crop enemies in integrated pest management. There are four main types of biocontrol agents:.

The traditional treatment of cultivated plants consists in applying active ingredients (a phytopharmaceutical product and/or a biocontrol product and/or a nutrient) to the cultivated plant in particular, where they provide an effect by the sole means of an interaction with the surface of the plant. Given the protective role played by the cuticle, they undergo little or no penetration into the plant by means of passive diffusion.

Unexpectedly, the Applicant has noted that when the combination of phytosterols and of surfactants of the invention is combined with at least one active ingredient, this facilitates the diffusion and passive penetration of the active ingredient into the plant cell by means of the cuticle and plant cell membrane passage mechanisms which were described previously. The composition or the slurry described in the invention therefore allows the presence of a higher concentration or quantity of active ingredient in the plant. On condition that the composition or slurry is applied preferably prior to the onset of the stress, a systemic action of the active ingredient in the plant is observed, leading in turn to an enhanced fight against biotic stresses. In addition, the composition or slurry makes it possible to decrease the doses of active ingredients used while guaranteeing the improved effectiveness of these active ingredients.

The invention relates to the composition above disclosed, said composition containing at least one active ingredient as above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is also an agricultural kit containing separately the composition of the invention (before dilution) and at least one active ingredient as described above.

In use, the composition of the invention may be mixed by the farmer with an effective amount of the active ingredient and then diluted in order to obtain a slurry which is applied on the plant.

Another option is to dilute the composition of the invention in order to obtain the slurry and only then, to add to the slurry the at least one active ingredient.

In the context of the invention, the expression "boron compound" and "molybdenum compound" cover all chemical compounds that present themselves into the form of a chemical element, a molecule (organic, inorganic or organometallic), a covalent compound or a salt.

According to a specific embodiment, boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) compounds form a single molecule chosen from the group comprising molybdenum boride or dimolybdenum monoboride or combination thereof.

Depending on their form and nature, the boron and molybdenum compounds may be present in the aqueous phase as a water-soluble salt or as an acid, in the lipophilic droplets as an organometallic molecule or both in aqueous phase and in the lipophilic droplets.

When boron compound is added to the composition of the invention, it may be added as a water-soluble salt or as an acid. When it is added as a water-soluble salt, the salt is chosen from the group comprising sodium tetraborate (borax), or any other salt which contains at least, one, two, three or four boron atoms in its chemical formula, taken alone or in combination of these.

Practically, the boron compound-containing salt may be anhydrous or complexed with a plurality of water molecules.

Preferentially, the boron compound is added as an acid and is boric acid.

When molybdenum compound is added to the composition of the invention as a water-soluble salt, the salt is chosen from the group comprising sodium molybdate, ammonium molybdate, molybdenum disilicide, molybdenum(IV) disulphide, molybdenum(IV) oxide, molybdenum(VI) oxide.

Practically, the Mo compound-containing salt may be anhydrous or complexed with a plurality of water molecules.

Preferentially, the Mo salt is sodium molybdate dihydrate.

In a preferred embodiment, Mo compound is added as a water salt and Bo is added as an acid, advantageously boric acid and sodium molybdate dihydrate.

When boron compound is added to the composition of the invention as a boron compound-containing organometallic molecule, it is chosen from the group comprising alkylboronic acids (methylboronic acid, ethylboronic acid, propylboronic acid, phenylboronic acid), trimethylboroxine, trimethoxyboroxine, borate compounds (trimethylborate, triethylborate, tripropylborate, triphenylborate and other di- or tri-alkylsubstituted borate compounds), borane compounds (trimethylborane, triethylborane, tripropylborane, triphenylborane and other di- or tri-alkylsubstituted borane compounds), pinacol ester of boronic acids (phenylboronic pinacol ester, benzylboronic pinacol ester, bis(pinacolato)diboron and alkylsubstituted pinacol esters of boronic acid), isomers or closo-carboranes (ortho-, meta- and para-carborane), taken alone or in combination of these.

When molybdenum compound is added to the composition of the invention as an organometallic molecule, it is chosen from the group comprising dimolybdenum tetraacetate, molybdenum stearate and other carboxylic acids of molybdenum wherein the carboxylate ligand is between <NUM> and <NUM> carbons.

Advantageously, boron and molybdenum compounds are present in the aqueous phase.

In use and according to a preferred embodiment, the composition of the invention containing boron and molybdenum compounds is diluted in order to obtain a slurry which is applied on the plant.

In that embodiment, the applicant has noted that the composition was particularly efficient when the concentration of boron and molybdenum compounds the nutrients is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>% by weight of the total composition before dilution, i. e before obtaining the slurry.

The concentration of boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) compounds as nutrients is respectively comprised between <NUM> - <NUM> wt%, preferably <NUM> - <NUM> wt%, preferably about <NUM> wt% of at least a boron compound and between <NUM> - <NUM> wt%, preferably <NUM> - <NUM> wt%, preferably about <NUM> wt% of at least a molybdenum compound.

Practically the boron (B) compound/ molybdenum (Mo) compound ratio is comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The invention concerns a multiphase agricultural composition in the form of a suspo-emulsion as disclosed above, comprising lipophilic droplets containing a mixture of phytosterols comprising β-sitosterol, which represents at least <NUM>% of the phytosterols mixture by weight, with the balance to <NUM>% containing, where appropriate, campesterol, stigmasterol and brassicasterol, said lipophilic droplets being dispersed in an aqueous phase to form an oil-in-water emulsion, the composition further comprising:.

In that embodiment, the mixture of phytosterols represents preferably between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, advantageously between <NUM>% and <NUM>%, and preferably between <NUM>% and <NUM>%.

Advantageously, the first surfactant represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, and the second surfactant represents between <NUM>% and <NUM>% of the composition by weight, advantageously, the boron compound is boric acid and the molybdenum compound is sodium molybdate dihydrate, and are preferably present in the aqueous phase. If required, the composition further comprises at least one active ingredient selected from the group comprising:.

Another option is to dilute the composition not containing boron and molybdenum compounds with water containing boron and molybdenum compounds in order to obtain the slurry. In that case, concentration of boron and molybdenum compounds is adapted in consequences.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of manufacture for the previously described multiphase composition that is composed of the following steps:.

When present, a fluidifying agent, a solubilizing agent, and advantageously a wetting agent are added to the lipophilic phase and, where necessary, a chelating agent, a preservative, and/or and antioxidant are added to the aqueous phase.

In some embodiments, wetting agent may be used in the water phase and antioxidant may be added in the oil phase.

According to a specific embodiment, the first surfactant, in this case OIL SF1, is identical to the second surfactant (SF2) so that the surfactant that is present at the interface of the oil droplets and the aqueous phase of the dispersion is identical to the surfactant that is present in the aqueous phase in the form of solid particles.

According to a specific embodiment, the fluidifying agent is polyethylene glycol, and advantageously polyethylene glycol with a molar mass of <NUM> or <NUM>/mol.

According to a specific embodiment, the wetting agent is a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters, preferably comprising methyl tetradecanoate, methyl octadecanoate and methylhexadecanoate.

According to the invention, boron and molybdenum compounds are added in the aqueous phase and/or in the lipophilic phase before the emulsion is formed and/or directly in the emulsion after the emulsion is formed.

Depending on the chemical form of boron and molybdenum compounds (acid, water soluble salt or organometallic molecule), it is added either in the lipophilic phase, or in the water phase, or in both the lipophilic phase and the water phase before the emulsion is formed and/or directly in the emulsion after the emulsion is formed.

When the composition contains boron and molybdenum compounds present as acid, water soluble salt(s), boron and molybdenum compounds are added either in the aqueous phase (practically step b) above), before the emulsion is formed, or directly in the emulsion after the emulsion is formed (practically from the end of step d) to the end of step f)).

When the composition contains boron and molybdenum compounds present as an organometallic molecule(s), boron and molybdenum compounds are added in the lipophilic phase (practically step a) above).

According to a specific embodiment, the boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) compoundsare added in the aqueous phase, between step b) and c) as described above.

According to another embodiment, where the composition contains boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) compounds, they are added directly in the emulsion after the emulsion is formed (practically from the end of step d) to the end of step f)).

The invention also relates to a composition obtainable by the above-mentioned method.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to the use of the composition or slurry described previously in order to prevent the exposure of a cultivated plant to a biotic and/or abiotic stress.

The invention thus also relates to a preventive treatment process for a cultivated plant that aims to limit the loss of dry matter related to an abiotic and/or biotic stress; it consists in applying to the plant, prior to the onset of said abiotic and/or biotic stress, the composition or the slurry previously described.

Advantageously, within the meaning of the invention, the plant is cultivated in fields or under controlled conditions, for example using hydroponics, in a pot or in a greenhouse; preferably, in the context of the invention, the plant is cultivated in a field.

In general, abiotic stress is responsible for a decrease in yield or in production of dry matter and results from drought (a lack of water, or water stress), extreme temperatures (thermal stress), excess water (flooding), frost, wind, soil salinity (salt stress), ultraviolet radiation, insufficient access to certain nutrients, soil with stress-inducing characteristics (chemical composition, redox potential, etc.) or physical damage, and advantageously drought and/or extreme temperatures.

According to a specific embodiment, abiotic stress corresponds to water stress. In another embodiment, abiotic stress corresponds to thermal stress.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "water stress" refers to a state in which the water content of the cultivated plant is lower than the wilting point.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "prior to the onset of abiotic stress," particularly with regard to water stress, refers to the period during which the useful soil water reserve is properly filled, i.e., the time elapsed from the moment when the useful soil water reserve is sufficiently or completely full (field capacity) to the moment when the wilting point is reached.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "prior to the onset of abiotic stress," particularly with regard to thermal stress (or extreme temperatures), refers to the period before the point of vulnerability to frost and/or flower blast for each plant species and each developmental stage of these species. In other words, it refers to temperatures that are unfavorable to the growth and development of the plant, apart from all other crop conditions, such as water supply.

As regards drought, the Applicant has noted that the composition or slurry of the invention, when applied preventively to the cultivated plant, i.e., prior to the occurrence of abiotic stress, induces a closure of the stomata and therefore a decrease in evapotranspiration. Consequently, the plant's water consumption is reduced without causing a decrease in yield, i.e., in the production of dry matter.

In other words, the invention also relates to a process for reducing the consumption of water by a cultivated plant under conditions of water stress that consists in applying to said plant, prior to the onset of water stress, the composition or slurry previously described.

The Applicant has noted that the composition was especially efficient for this specific effect on plants chosen from the group of soybean, corn, sunflower.

In practice, the biological mechanisms brought into play by the composition or slurry of the invention, especially at particularly low levels of phytosterols and therefore of β-sitosterol, lead to a stimulation of the vigor of the plant that provides the plant with improved resistance to water stress:.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "stimulation of the vigor of the plant" refers for example to a stimulation of various metabolic pathways of the plant that improve the plant's resistance to water stress.

Advantageously, the biological mechanisms described above lead to an improvement in the overall vigor of the plant and more generally the health of the plant.

The term "health of a plant" or "plant health" is defined as a condition of the plant and/or its products which is determined by several aspects alone or in combination with each other such as increased yield, plant vigor, quality of harvested plant parts and tolerance to abiotic and/or biotic stress.

The extent of the water supply accessible to the plant and the rate of consumption of this supply are therefore modulated by the signals whose transmission involves phytosterols, in particular β-sitosterol. These two mechanisms lead to an optimized consumption of accessible water by the plant.

More precisely, an effect of tolerance to water stress is observed; this effect is notably induced by β-sitosterol as used in the invention, as well as by the application of the composition or slurry prior to exposure to stress.

In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a preventive treatment process for a cultivated plant that aims to limit the loss of dry matter related to salt stress; it consists in applying to the plant the composition or slurry previously described.

According to a specific embodiment, as regards biotic stress resulting in a decrease in yield or in dry matter production, this can be caused by the harmful action of a plant pathogen living on the cultivated plants, whether a fungal infection and/or a bacterial infection and/or a viral infection and/or a pest attack and/or competition with weeds.

For example, a fungal infection of the plant can be mildew on grapes, tomatoes or potatoes, septoria on wheat, rynchospora on barley, or powdery mildew on straw cereals and grapes; a bacterial infection of the plant can be crown gall, bacterial canker or fire flight; a viral infection of the plant can be mosaic diseases or yellow dwarf viruses; pests capable of attacking a cultivated plant include aphids, flea beetles or weevils.

In particular, the composition or slurry of the invention helps to reduce the intensity of a fungal disease, advantageously without affecting its frequency.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "prior to the onset of biotic stress," in particular with regard to a fungal infection, refers to the period before the first symptoms appear, for example before the first spots appear on the leaves and/or stems of the cultivated plant.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "intensity of the fungal disease" refers to the average intensity of the disease on all of the leaves of the cultivated plant. The intensity of the disease on one leaf is the surface area of the leaf that is covered by the disease.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "frequency of the fungal disease" refers to the number of leaves on which the disease or spots can be observed.

It follows from the above that the composition or slurry of the invention, when applied to the plant prior to the onset of an infection, particularly a fungal infection, leads to a decrease in the surface area of the spotting or discoloration of the leaf compared to a plant that has not received the preventive treatment of the invention.

The Applicant has also noted that the composition or slurry of the invention improves the growth and development of the plant, and particularly that of the young seedling when the slurry is applied prior to the onset of the stress. In particular, these improvements are even more advantageous when the slurry is applied via seed imbibition.

The invention therefore also relates to a process for stimulating the growth and development of the young seedlings that consists in applying the composition or slurry previously described prior to the onset of an abiotic and/or biotic stress, preferably via seed imbibition. The process of the invention therefore limits the period of time during which the young seedling is exposed to abiotic and/or biotic stresses. Furthermore, the effect of the product applied via seed imbibition lasts over time, since the plants treated with the composition or slurry of the invention are more tolerant to an abiotic and/or biotic stress.

In practice, the young seedling is more fragile than the adult plant with respect to abiotic and/or biotic stresses. A young seedling that has been treated with the composition or slurry of the invention reaches a state of complete maturity (the adult plant stage) more quickly than a seedling that has not received this treatment.

Unexpectedly, the Applicant has noted that the first and second surfactants of the invention modify the state of the cuticle, making it permeable, i.e., they allow the mixture of phytosterols to penetrate inward to reach the internal components of the leaf or the plant, for example the plant cells.

In other words, the surfactants of the invention facilitate the crossing of the seed coat barrier and even the rupturing of the seed coats, and therefore accelerate germination. Next, the exogenous contribution of the mixture of phytosterols, particularly β-sitosterol, helps stimulate the growth and development of the seedling. The composition or slurry of the invention thus allows for an effective exogenous supply of phytosterols, notably β-sitosterol, possibly combined with one or several active ingredients, through the combination of a suitable composition and a system enabling the delivery of the phytosterols in the form of particles of a specific size, as mentioned previously.

For the purposes of the invention, the phrase "delivery of the phytosterols" refers to the transport of the phytosterols, which are hydrophobic, by means of the aqueous phase.

Furthermore, the second surfactant, which is present in the form of solid particles in suspension in the aqueous phase of the composition of the invention, helps solubilize the epicuticular waxes and provides facilitated pathways through the cuticle for the constituent compounds of said composition.

It follows from the above that the period during which the seedling could be subjected to stresses is shortened.

The fact that the compounds of the invention are not products that perform a specific type of activity, such as fungicides or biocides, makes it possible to consider an extensive spectrum of uses for a wide variety of crops, which can in particular improve the protection and therefore the profitability of minor crops for which the number of available phytopharmaceutical products is almost zero.

In practice, the composition or slurry of the invention is applied by spraying the leaves, by sprinkling, irrigation, seed imbibition, seed coating, drip irrigation or gravity irrigation of the cultivated plant, by incorporation into the soil, by addition to a hydroponic crop medium or by immersion.

Advantageously, the composition is applied to the cultivated plant by foliar spraying at a dose of composition of <NUM>/ha (hectare) to <NUM>/ha, preferably <NUM>/ha to <NUM>/ha. Practically, the required dose of the composition is diluted in water in order to obtain a slurry. The slurry is then applied on the plant at a volume of between <NUM> and <NUM>/ha, advantageously between <NUM> and <NUM>/ha.

In a specific embodiment, the composition contains <NUM>% by weight of phytosterols and the required dose of composition ranges from <NUM>/ha to <NUM>/ha. This means that the dose of phytosterols which is applied on the plant is between <NUM> to <NUM>/ha. Practically, the composition of the invention may not be applied directly on the plant and needs to be diluted to form a slurry. In the present embodiment, the slurry is applied on the plant, especially by foliar spraying at a volume of <NUM> to <NUM>/ha.

The slurry is preferably applied during a stage when the plant leaves cover the soil.

Advantageously, the slurry of the invention is applied only one time by foliar spraying and/or irrigation and/or seed imbibition.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously:.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously as a biostimulant for a cultivated plant.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously to improve the yield or dry matter production of a cultivated plant.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously to promote deeper root development for a cultivated plant.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously to control the opening or closing of the stomata of a cultivated plant.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously to improve the vegetative development and/or the flowering of a cultivated plant.

The invention also relates to the use of a composition comprising a mixture of phytosterols and of surfactants, notably polyols, and in particular of the composition or slurry as described previously, to strengthen the stem of the crop plant and improve its tolerance to physiological lodging. the adverse effects of lodging, which can include lower seed filling, loss of quality, yield loss and harvesting difficulties.

The invention also relates to the use of the composition or slurry as described previously to improve the effectiveness of phytopharmaceutical fungicide or biocontrol products.

According to a specific embodiment, the cultivated plant is a chlorophyllian plant, advantageously selected from among the group comprising field crops of cereals, oilseeds and protein crops; grapes; plants with roots and tubers; horticultural plants; grass; vegetables; herbs and spices; tree crops; or industrial crops intended for the production of raw material for processing. Preferably the cultivated plant is selected from among the group comprising nutrient
s, corn, barley, millet, moha, miscanthus, panicum, sorghum, peanuts, wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, protein peas, field peas, field beans, lupins, flax, truncated alfalfa, grapes, beets, potatoes, beans, lettuce, parsley and radishes.

The composition, the slurry, the method of manufacture of the composition of the invention, the treatment process for preventing an abiotic and/or biotic stress, as well as the uses previously described, present the advantages of corresponding exactly to societal demands relating to phytopharmaceutical products:.

The invention and the benefits it produces are more visible in the following figures and examples, which are given in order to illustrate the invention in a non-exhaustive fashion.

Any percentage by weight of an compound or a molecule of the invention refers to the total weight of the said invention, which means relative to the sum of all ingredients giving a hundred. This percentage by weight can by symbolized as wt%.

The various composition according to the invention are manufactured comprising the following steps:.

The particle size distribution and a microscope photograph of the composition <NUM> are shown respectively on <FIG>.

As shown on <FIG>, particles of the second surfactant (SF2) designated by <NUM> are much bigger than lipophilic droplets designated by <NUM>.

The composition (example <NUM>) is given in Table <NUM>:.

The objective is to evaluate soybean yield in field trials with plantations carried out with seeds subjected to hydric stress and treated with foliar application of the compositions of example <NUM> and <NUM> at different stages.

The description of the experimental setup is presented in Table <NUM>.

The description of the modalities considered is presented in Table <NUM>.

The yield is being considered in this study.

This trial shows that when the slurry of the invention is applied to soybean at an early stage of development (between V3 and V4 stage), the yield is improved for both compositions according to the preparation of example <NUM>, but mostly for the composition according to the preparation of example <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Multiphase agricultural composition in the form of a suspo-emulsion, comprising lipophilic droplets containing a mixture of phytosterols containing β-sitosterol, which represents at least <NUM>% of the phytosterols mixture by weight, with the balance to <NUM>% containing, where appropriate, campesterol, stigmasterol and brassicasterol, said lipophilic droplets being dispersed in an aqueous phase to form an oil-in-water emulsion, the composition further comprising:
- at least one first surfactant (SF1) located at the interface of the lipophilic droplets and of the aqueous phase, said SF1 being selected from among the surfactants that are soluble in the aqueous phase (WATER SF1) and the surfactants that are soluble in the lipophilic droplets (OIL SF1); and
- at least one second surfactant (SF2) suspended in the oil-in-water emulsion, said second surfactant having the form of particles insoluble in the aqueous phase, wherein SF1 and SF2 are sucrose stearate, and
- between <NUM> - <NUM> % by weight of at least one boron compound, and
- between <NUM> and <NUM>% by weight of at least one molybdenum compound.