Control of undesirable vegetation
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
InventorPaul C. Quimby, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Fungal pathogen is applied to weeds in such a manner that misting or an extended dew period is not necessary to germinate and grow the fungus. In particular, an oil-in-water invert emulsion containing a special additive is applied to the weeds at the same time or immediately after application of the fungal pathogen, wherein the special additive is (a) wax or (b) lecithin in combination with a calcium salt. Lecithin particularly is effective as an emulsifying agent for forming the emulsion, and for forming invert emulsions for applying chemical herbicides to weeds.
Claims19
In a method of applying a herbicidally effective amount of fungal pathogen to undesirable host vegetation, the improvement comprising spraying an additive-containing invert water-in-oil emulsion on said vegetation at the same time or immediately after application of said fungal pathogen to enable water which reaches said vegetation to remain thereon with minimal loss through evaporation, thereby supplying necessary moisture for fungal germination and growth, said oil being compatible with said pathogen, said additive selected from the group consisting of (a) a wax selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, beeswax, and natural plant wax, (b) lecithin in combination with calcium chloride or acetate, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b).
A formulation for applying fungal pathogen to undesirable host vegetation comprising a water-in-oil invert emulsion containing said fungal pathogen and an additive that enables water which reaches said vegetation to remain thereon with minimal loss through evaporation, thereby supplying necessary moisture for fungal germination and growth, said additive selected from the group consisting of (a) a wax selected from the group consisting of paraffin wax, beeswax and natural plant wax, (b) lecithin in combination with calcium chloride or acetate, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.