Monsanto Company

Monsanto Technology LLC

Joseph J Sandbrink

Daniel R Wright

Jane L Gillespie

James W Kassebaum

James M Warner

Jisheng Ge

Miguel M Dayawon

Ronald Joseph Brinker

Al Steven Wideman

Xiaodong Chris Xu

Andrew D Dyszlewski

Richard M Kramer

Anthony J I Ward

Xiaodong C Xu

Anthony J Ward

Paul C Feng

Domingo C Riego

Peter Joseph Raymond

Dennis H Williamson

Ron P Crockett

Donald L Suttner

Paul G Ratliff

Dawn Y Wyse-Pester

Bryan A Kliewer

Paul Cc Feng

Anthony Ji Ward

Jisheng, Ge

The present invention is directed to herbicidal compositions or formulations, and to methods of using such compositions or formulations to kill, or control the growth and proliferation of, unwanted plants. In particular, the present invention is directed to herbicidal compositions or formulations, as well as their methods of use, which comprise N-phosphonomethylglycine or a herbicidal derivative thereof, a pyridine analog or a herbicidal derivative thereof, and optionally one or more suitable surfactants, with N-phosphonomethylglycine being in excess relative to the pyridine analog. Such compositions cause early visual symptoms of treatment and/or enhanced effectiveness or control when applied to the foliage of plants.

Herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate and a pyridine analog

Aqueous herbicidal glyphosate compositions are provided, particularly sprayable, ready-to-use (RTU) formulations that are capable of inducing early visually apparent phytotoxic effects while minimizing antagonism to the glyphosate component of the composition and preserving the equally desirable attribute of prolonged control of the treated plants. The compositions combine a glyphosate component and a fatty acid component as a fast symptomology active ingredient and, in one embodiment, are enhanced by the concentration of the fatty acid component utilized and the inclusion of an agronomically acceptable inorganic ammonium salt, preferably ammonium sulfate. In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention include a nonionic surfactant component comprising certain water-soluble, alkoxylated alcohols.

Fast symptom glyphosate formulations

Herbicidal compositions are provided which cause rapid symptomology while delivering long term control of regrowth of plants. The herbicidal compositions comprise N-phosphonomethylglycine or a herbicidal derivative thereof, a bipyridilium or a herbicidal derivative thereof, and at least one surfactant. A herbicidal spray composition is preparable from a particulate solid concentrate or a liquid concentrate. Also provided is a method for killing or controlling the growth of plants comprising the step of contacting the foliage of said plants with an aqueous herbicidal composition of the invention.

Herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate bipyridilium

Herbicidal compositions containing glyphosate and bipyridilium

A composition is disclosed for application to a plant that comprises glyphosate, an aqueous diluent, and an excipient substance that is amphiphilic. The weight/weight ratio of the excipient substance to the exogenous chemical is between about 1:3 and about 1:100. The aqueous composition forms anisotropic aggregates on a wax layer, and the presence of the anisotropic aggregates can be detected by a test described herein. Compositions of the present invention, when applied to plants, provide enhanced biological activity per unit amount of glyphosate, as compared to otherwise similar compositions containing surfactants that do not form anisotropic aggregates. Without being bound by theory, it is presently believed that this enhanced biological activity results from the formation or enlargement of hydrophilic channels through the epicuticular wax of the plant.

Composition and method for treating plants with exogenous chemicals

A composition is disclosed for application to a plant that comprises an exogenous chemical (for example, a postemergent herbicide), an aqueous diluent, and a first excipient substance that is amphiphilic. The weight/weight ratio of the first excipient substance to the exogenous chemical is between about 1:3 and about 1:100. The aqueous composition forms anisotropic aggregates on a wax layer, and the presence of the anisotropic aggregates can be detected by a test described herein. Compositions of the present invention, when applied to plants, provide enhanced biological activity per unit amount of exogenous chemical, as compared to otherwise similar compositions containing surfactants that do not form anisotropic aggregates. Without being bound by theory, it is presently believed that this enhanced biological activity results from the formation or enlargement of hydrophilic channels through the epicuticular wax of the plant.

Assay for selecting compositions providing enhanced effectiveness of exogenous chemicals applied to plants

Compositions of exogenous chemicals, particularly phloem-mobile exogenous chemicals, are provided for treatment of plants, wherein the composition comprises the exogenous chemical and an enhancing agent consisting of an anthraquinone or substituted anthraquinone. Specific compositions contain herbicides, particularly N-phosphonomethylglycine and herbicidal derivatives thereof, i.e., glyphosate. The compositions exhibit enhanced effectiveness compared to compositions in which the enhancing agent is not present. Also provided are processes for applying an exogenous chemical with an anthraquinone or substituted anthraquinone enhancing agent to achieve enhanced biological effectiveness.

Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises an exogenous chemical and a first excipient substance. The first excipient substance is an amphiphilic quaternary ammonium compound or mixture of such compounds, having the formula

A process is provided for enhancing the reliability and consistency of effectiveness of an exogenous chemical substance applied to foliage of a plant, involving application of a phenyl-substituted olefin compound to the foliage, either sequentially or simultaneously with the exogenous chemical substance. Also provided are plant treatment and concentrate compositions comprising an exogenous chemical substance and a phenyl-substituted olefin compound.

Process and compositions for enhancing reliability of exogenous chemical

A novel method is provided wherein plants are first treated with an exogenous chemical (e.g., glyphosate herbicide) and then sequentially treated with a liquid accession agent which provides improved biological (e.g., herbicidal) effectiveness such that plants are controlled with lower rates of the applied exogenous chemical (e.g., glyphosate herbicide). Sequential application has been demonstrated to reduce the antagonism to herbicidal effectiveness that can be exhibited when the accession agent is added to a herbicide in a tank mix or simple coformulation. Typical accession agents employed in the disclosed method include a class of surfactants known as superwetting agents, such as certain organosilicone-based and fluorocarbon-based surfactants.

Sequential application method for treating plants with exogenous

There is provided a new method of use of secondary or tertiary alcohol surfactants to enhance the efficacy and/or rainfastness of foliar-applied pesticidal and plant growth modifying agents. More specifically, there are provided new and useful compositions of such agents, in particular the herbicide N-phosphonomethylglycine or its salts or mixtures thereof, containing such efficacy-enhancing or rainfastness-enhancing surfactants.

Surfactants providing enhanced efficacy and/or rainfastness to

A novel herbicidal method is provided wherein plants are first treated with a glyphosate herbicide and then sequentially treated with a liquid accession agent which provides improved herbicidal effectiveness such that plants are controlled with lower rates of the applied herbicide. Sequential application has been demonstrated to reduce the antagonism to herbicidal effectiveness that may be exhibited when the accession agent is added to the herbicide in a tank mix or coformulation. Typical accession agents employed in the disclosed method include a class of surfactants known as superwetting agents, such as certain silicone-based and fluorocarbon-based surfactants.

Sequential application method for enhancing glyphosate herbicidal

Herbicidal compositions are provided comprising glyphosate or a salt thereof and an etheramine surfactant having the representative chemical structure (a) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain C.sub.6 to about C.sub.22 alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group, m is an average number from 1 to about 10, R.sub.2 in each of the m (O--R.sub.2) groups is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, R.sub.3 groups are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, and x and y are average numbers such that x+y is in the range from 2 to about 60; or (b) ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain C.sub.6 to about C.sub.22 alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group, m is an average number from 1 to about 10, R.sub.2 in each of the m (O--R.sub.2) groups is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, R.sub.3 groups are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, R.sub.4 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, x and y are average numbers such that x+y is in the range from 0 to about 60, and A.sup.- is an agriculturally acceptable anion; or (c) ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is a straight or branched chain C.sub.6 to about C.sub.22 alkyl, aryl or alkylaryl group, m is an average number from 1 to about 10, R.sub.2 in each of the m (O--R.sub.2) groups is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, R.sub.3 groups are independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkylene, and x and y are average numbers such that x+y is in the range from 2 to about 60.

Glyphosate formulations containing etheramine surfactants

New and useful herbicidal compositions comprising glyphosate and/or agriculturally acceptable salts and an acetylenic diol surfactant structurally characterized by a symmetrically substituted triple bond and adjacent hydroxyl groups or adjacent polymeric oxyalkylated units, and optionally a second surfactant, are provided.

Growing community of inventors

Des Peres, MO, United States of America

Joseph J Sandbrink