# US 2019/0166831 A1 · Use of compositions comprising pelargonic acid and specific non ionic surfactants for inhibiting the growth of suckers on plants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166831 A1 - Document ID: US20190166831A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/324,162 - Filed: 2017-08-18 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-18 - Assignees: Belchim Crop Protecdtion NV - Applicants: Belchim Crop Protecdtion NV - Inventors: Steven Van Pottelberge; Johan Desnouck; Caroline Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166831A1 ## CPC - A01N 37/02: Saturated carboxylic acids or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof - A01N 25/30: characterised by the surfactants - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract The present invention relates to the use of pelargonic acid and one or more nonionic surfactants for inhibiting the growth of suckers on plants. It also relates to a composition comprising pelargonic acid and one or more nonionic surfactants in an amount effective for inhibiting the growth of suckers in plants. Preferably, the composition comprises pelargonic acid in an amount between 50 and 90 w/w % and one or more polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters or sorbitan alkyl esters in an amount between 10 and 50 w/w %, in which 100 w/w % is the total amount of pelargonic acid and one or more polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters or sorbitan alkyl ester. It also relates to a method of applying pelargonic acid or the composition in an amount effective to inhibit for inhibiting the growth of suckers on plants. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-17. (canceled) ### Claim 18 Use of a composition comprising pelargonic acid and two or more nonionic surfactants for inhibiting the growth of suckers on plants, wherein said composition comprises pelargonic acid in an amount ranging from at least 0.5 g/l to at most 50.0 g/l, wherein said two or more nonionic surfactants are selected from polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters and sorbitan alkyl esters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The use according to claim 18, wherein a first nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester and wherein a second nonionic surfactant is a sorbitan alkyl ester. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The use according to claim 18, wherein the polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester is chosen from polyoxyethylenesorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The use according to claim 18, wherein the sorbitan alkyl ester is chosen from sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan trioleate and sorbitan isostearate. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The use according to claim 18, for inhibiting the growth of suckers on a tobacco, chrysanthemum, carnation and/or azalea plant. ### Claim 23 A composition comprising pelargonic acid in an amount between 50 and 90 w/w % and two or more nonionic surfactants in an amount between 10 and 50 w/w %, in which 100 w/w % is the total amount of pelargonic acid and two or more nonionic surfactants, wherein said two or more nonionic surfactants are selected from polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters and sorbitan alkyl esters. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The composition according to claim 23, wherein a first nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester, and wherein a second nonionic surfactant is a sorbitan alkyl ester. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The composition according to claim 23, wherein the polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl ester is chosen from polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The composition according to claim 23, wherein the sorbitan alkyl ester is chosen from sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan trioleate and/or sorbitan isostearate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The composition according to claim 23, wherein a first nonionic surfactant is polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate and wherein a second nonionic surfactant is sorbitan monooleate. ### Claim 28 A method for inhibiting the growth of suckers on plants, which comprises treating a plant with a composition comprising pelargonic acid and two or more nonionic surfactants, wherein said pelargonic acid is in an amount effective to inhibit the growth of one or more suckers on said plant, wherein said two or more nonionic surfactants are selected from polyoxyethylene glycol sorbitan alkyl esters and sorbitan alkyl esters. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein said plant is selected from tobacco, chrysanthemum, carnation and/or azalea. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the composition is applied during the initial development stage of an undesired sucker and wherein the composition is reapplied at a specified time interval of 3 days to 10 days, 4 to 8 days, or 5 to 7 days, as from the initial development stage of an undesired sucker and this until the full development stage of the plant. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the method comprises applying the composition in an amount ranging from at least 0.5 g/l to at most 50.0 g/l. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the method comprises spraying, sprinkling, showering, spritzing, spreading in droplets, spattering; dispersing, diffusing; and/or douching one or more plants with the composition.