Patent Description:
Paddy field farming remains the dominant form of growing rice in modern times. A paddy field is a flooded field of arable land used for growing semiaquatic crops, most notably rice. Protecting rice plants in paddy fields against insect pests such as rice stem borer, rice leaf folder, early sucking pest is very labor intensive. Most insecticidal commercial products on the market require an applicator to walk through the paddy field which takes typically approximately <NUM> hours per hectare paddy field. This is for example the case for foliar applications with a backpack sprayer or when distributing granules where the plants grow. This also means that there is a significant cost for the farmer involved in this process.

Hence, it is the aim of this invention to provide a new type of insecticidal composition which will make the application of insecticides in paddy fields much easier. Furthermore, it is also the aim of this invention to provide a new composition comprising a combination of thiamethoxam and chlorantraniliprole which is as effective as the current commercial product but uses significantly less insecticide. This is a further important benefit of the current invention as it is always the aim to use as little of insecticides as possible in view of environmental concerns.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose oil suspension concentrates comprising chlorantraniliprole.

<CIT> discloses an oil dispersion concentrate comprising neonicotinoid e.g. thiamethoxam and optionally a further active such as chloroantraniliprole.

The present invention provides a new insecticidal composition specifically designed for paddy fields which is applied directly as liquid into the water of the paddy field. The rice grower does not need to go into the field but can simply "splash" the composition into the paddy field from the edge of the paddy field. Such a composition needs to pass many difficult technical hurdles:.

This means that a technically difficult balancing of all these chemical-physical properties needs to be made in order to achieve a composition which can be used by direct application into the water of a paddy field. A further complication are the properties of the active ingredients which are the focus of this invention: chlorantraniliprole which has very low water solubility (<NUM>/liter at <NUM>-<NUM>) and thiamethoxam which has a high water solubility (<NUM>/liter at <NUM>-<NUM>). Furthermore, thiamethoxam is known to be susceptible to hydrolysis under basic pH <NUM>-<NUM> conditions.

It is the purpose of this application to provide an insecticidal composition which addresses all of the above challenges. Hence, in a first aspect of the invention, as embodiment <NUM>, there is provided an oil suspension concentrate composition comprising.

wherein the sum of components adds up to one liter.

The term "oil suspension concentrate composition" according to embodiment <NUM> means a concentrate where the active ingredient(s) are suspended as solid particles in an oil phase. The oil used in the "oil phase" of the present invention is generally comprised of water-immiscible solvents which are well-known to a skilled person in the art. However, it has been found that for the purpose of this invention esters of fatty acids are particularly suitable.

The term "dispersing agent" according to embodiment <NUM> means agents which ensure both (i) the long term stability of the oil suspension concentrate and (ii) the stability after the concentrate has been diluted with water or added into the paddy field. In embodiment <NUM>, the amounts and types of dispersing agents is given. This is an essential balance between dispersants which stabilize the oil suspension concentrate and dispersants which stabilitze the suspension after dilution with water, i.e. they prevent flocculation of the solid particles upon dilution with water.

The term "emulsifying agent" according to embodiment <NUM> means agents are able to emulsify the oil phase into water when the oil suspension concentrate composition is diluted into water. Emulsifiers are selected based upon their ability to spontaneously form this emulsion. Their performance is dictated by the nature of the surfactant and their collective effect on how they arrange themselves at the oil/water interface. The type and amounts of emulsifying agent given in embodiment <NUM> are a fine balance so as to ensure the oil suspension concentrate emulsifies quickly when added into water but still allows the crucial spreading effect over the whole paddy field.

The term "thickening agent" according to embodiment <NUM> are an important part of the oil suspension concentrate composition. If the composition is not stabilised effectively the solid active ingredient(s) will sediment forming a hard pack layer preventing re-dispersion. In order to reduce this sedimentation, the viscosity of the composition is increased using a thickening agent.

The term "adjuvant" according to embodiment <NUM> means an agent which improves the uptake of the active ingredient into the plants. The activity of an adjuvant is dependent on the specific nature of the active ingredient(s). It has been found that polyether modified polysiloxane type adjuvants are particularly suitable for the oil suspension concentrates according to embodiment <NUM>.

The following embodiments represent preferred embodiments of the oil suspension concentrate compositions according to embodiment <NUM>.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to embodiment <NUM>, wherein the active ingredient further comprises thiamethoxam.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to embodiment <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the pH value of a <NUM>% dilution of the oil suspension concentrate in deionized water at <NUM> is between <NUM> and <NUM>.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the active ingredient comprises chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam in a ratio by weight of from <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably a ratio by weight is <NUM> to <NUM>.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the oil suspension concentrate has a particle size d50 of between <NUM> to <NUM> microns, as defined in ISO <NUM>-<NUM>, and a d90 of between <NUM> and <NUM> microns as defined in ISO <NUM>-<NUM>.

The particle size distribution of the composition and active ingredient(s) is crucial as it influences the uptake of the active ingredient(s) into the plants. The particle size range in embodiment <NUM> provides this important balance.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the dispersion has a density of between <NUM> and <NUM>/ml (measured using an anton Paar densiometer via the method OECD <NUM> ).

In order to reduce this sedimentation, the viscosity/density of the composition is increased using a thickening agent. Thus, the density range of embodiment <NUM> has been determined to determine this property.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a preferred embodiment of the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein composition comprises.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam, each, is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of ethoxylated C9-<NUM> alcohol is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of propylene-oxide/ethylene-oxide block copolymer with average molecular weight of the poly(propylene oxide) block of the block copolymer molecule is in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> gram/mol and the weight percentage of the poly(ethylene oxide) block as part of the entire block copolymer molecule is in the range of <NUM> and <NUM>% is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of <NUM>-pyrrolidinone-<NUM>-ethenyl-homopolymer is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of naphtalenesulfonic acid sodium salt is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of hydroxystearic acid-polyethylene glycol is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of ethoxylated castor oil is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided he oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of maize starch is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of fumed silica is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of polyethylene glycol <NUM> is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the amount of polyether modified polysiloxane is between <NUM> and <NUM> gram / liter.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the ester of a fatty acid is an oleic acid methyl ester.

Embodiment <NUM> provides a particularly preferred embodiment of the inventive composition. As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided an oil suspension concentrate composition comprising.

The present invention also relates to a process for preparing an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>. An oil millbase is first prepared which is milled before being mixed with an oil premix. Hence, as embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a process for manufacturing the oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>, comprising the steps of.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a process according to embodiment <NUM>, wherein the active ingredient comprises thiamethoxam.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a process according to embodiment <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein the milling of the oil millbase comprises a pre-milling step on a corundum stone mill.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a process according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, wherein the milling of the oil millbase is to a particle size distribution d50 of between <NUM> to <NUM> microns and a d90 of less than <NUM> microns.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a method of controlling insect pests which comprises applying to a pest, to a locus of a pest, or to a plant susceptible to attack by a pest an insecticidally effective amount of an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a method of controlling insect pests in rice paddy fields, comprising applying an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of claims <NUM> to <NUM> directly into the water.

As embodiment <NUM>, there is provided a method according to embodiment <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein <NUM> to <NUM> liter of an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> is applied per <NUM> hectare rice field.

In an embodiment, present invention makes available a suspoemulsion composition (preferably an emulsion in water) comprising <NUM> to <NUM> parts of an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, or a composition obtained by any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, and <NUM> to <NUM> parts of water.

In an embodiment, there is provided a method according to embodiment <NUM> or <NUM>, wherein <NUM> to <NUM>, preferably <NUM> to <NUM>, liter, of a suspoemulsion composition according to the above embodiment is applied per <NUM> hectare rice field.

In an embodiment of embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>, the application directly into water is via drone application of a suspoemulsion and the composition is applied per <NUM> hectare rice field, wherein the suspoemulsion composition comprises <NUM> to <NUM> liter of an oil suspension concentrate composition according to any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM>, or a composition obtained by any one of embodiments <NUM> to <NUM> according to the above embodiment and <NUM> to <NUM> parts of water.

In an embodiment of the method embodiments of the present invention. , the pest is selected from Nilaparvata lugens, Chilo suppressalis, Hydrellia spp, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Scirpophaga incertulas, and Scirpophaga innotata.

A person skilled in the art of agrochemical formulations is aware of the different types of co-formulants mentioned in above embodiments. Examples of such co-formulants are commercially available under the tradenames Synperonic®, Tersperse®, Ultrasperse <NUM>®, Hypermer® B246, PVP K-<NUM>, PEG <NUM>, Break-Thru®, Emulsogen®, Nansa®, Atlox®, Aerosil®, Emerset® and Agnique®.

Application of an oil suspension concentrate composition according to the invention has been tested in a trial in Changsha, China. The trial was carried out in a rice paddy field of <NUM><NUM> and the oil suspension concentrate according to the invention was compared with conventional foliar sprayable suspension concentrates, i.e. spinetoram SC120 (<NUM> gram / liter), and granule formulations, i.e. chlorantraniliprole GR0. <NUM> (<NUM>% w/w chlorantraniliprole). The percentage control of Chilo sp. (rice stem borer) and rice leaf folder has been measured <NUM> DAT (days after treatment) and additionally at <NUM> and <NUM> DAT for the oil suspension concentrate according to the invention.

The composition of the oil suspension concentrate was as follows:.

<FIG> shows the results of the trail. The "Free splash" results represent the composition according to the invention, "Foliar" are the results using the Spinetoram SC120 formulation (commercial product) and "Broadcast" are the results using the GR0. <NUM> Chlorantraniliprole (CTPR) formulation (commercial product). The first and second columns represent the % control against the rice stem borer (RSB), the triangles represent the % control against the rice leaf folder (RLF). The first and second columns represent the % control of RSB after <NUM> days and <NUM> days of appearance of RSB, respectively, in the paddy field and the triangles represents the % control of RLF after <NUM> days of appearance of RLF. The results demonstrate that the "free splash" formulation according to the invention exhibits better control of RSB and RLF than conventional commercial products.

Table <NUM> provides the pH and particle size measurements over four weeks for the oil suspension concentrate in the table above. Malver Mastersizer <NUM> was used to determine the particle size distribution.

Table <NUM> provides the suspension stability measurements of two and four weeks for oil the suspension concentrate at <NUM> in the table above. The concentrate was tested for its suspensibility using a test based on CIPAC method MT <NUM> (https://www. php/d35/<NUM>-mt-<NUM>-dispersion-stability-of-suspo-emulsions) by observation of the disposition of the dispersed product at <NUM>% dilution after ½ hr maintained at <NUM> in a centrifuge tube for better visibility.

Claim 1:
An oil suspension concentrate composition comprising
a) from <NUM> to <NUM> gram / liter of an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient comprises chlorantraniliprole;
b) from <NUM> to <NUM> gram / liter of a dispersing agent comprising a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, a propylene-oxide/ethylene-oxide block copolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone and a naphtalenesulfonic acid salt;
c) from <NUM> to <NUM> gram / liter of an emulsifying agent comprising a hydroxystearic acid-polyethylene glycol, an ethoxylated castor oil and a dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid;
d) from <NUM> to <NUM> gram/ liter of a thickening agent,
e) from <NUM> to <NUM> gram / liter of a polyether modified polysiloxane; and
f) the rest an oil being an ester of a fatty acid,
wherein the sum of components adds up to one liter.