# US 8,999,419 B2 · Enhancement of potato tuber sprouting inhibitors using various combinations of agents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,999,419 B2 - Document ID: US8999419B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/820,183 - Filed: 2011-09-02 - Published: 2013-07-18 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-02 - Assignees: Washington State University - Applicants: Lisa Knowles; Norman R. Knowles - Inventors: Lisa Knowles; Norman R. Knowles - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8999419B2 ## CPC - A23B 7/154: Organic compounds; Microorganisms; Enzymes - A01N 35/02: containing aliphatically bound aldehyde or keto groups, or thio analogues thereof; Derivatives thereof, e.g. acetals - A23B: PRESERVATION OF FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; CHEMICAL RIPENING OF FRUIT OR VEGETABLES - 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 Compositions and methods for inhibiting the sprouting of potato tubers are provided. The compositions comprise combinations of i) α,β-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes, and ketones, C3 to. C14 aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, and/or C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols; and 2) conventional sprout Inhibitors, The effect of the combinations is additive and/or synergistic, and less of the conventional inhibitor is required to achieve the same or improved levels of sprout inhibition. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of inhibiting sprouting in potato tubers during storage, comprising simultaneously or substantially simultaneously applying during storage of the potato tubers a composition comprising i) one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of α,β-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes; α,β-unsaturated aliphatic ketones; C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes; C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic ketones; C3 to C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols; C3 to C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols; and ii) one or more sprout inhibitors selected from the group consisting of chlorpropham (CIPC), dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC and said CIPC is applied at a rate of 1-14 mg/kg of potato tubers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said method is carried out when sprouts begin to appear on said potato tubers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said essential oil is clove oil or mint oil. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is trans-2-nonenal and said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-decen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is DMN; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents 2-decanone and said one or more sprout inhibitors is DIPN; or said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-decen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is clove oil; said one or more sprout inhibiting agents is 3-nonen-2-one and said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC. ### Claim 6 A method of inhibiting sprouting in potato tubers during storage, comprising applying one or more sprout inhibitors selected from the group consisting of chlorpropham (CIPC), dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil to the potato tubers after wound healing and prior to sprouting at a rate that is lower than a label rate, and, when sprouts begin to appear, applying during storage of the potato tubers one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of α,β-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes; α,β-unsaturated aliphatic ketones; C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic aldehydes; C3 to C14 saturated aliphatic ketones; C3 to C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols; and C3 to C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying CIPC is carried out 2-8 weeks after transfer of the potato tubers to storage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the step of applying one or more sprout inhibiting agents is carried out 30-45 days after said step of applying CIPC. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of repeating the step of applying one or more sprout inhibiting agents multiple times during storage of the potato tubers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the step of repeating is performed at time intervals of from 4 to 12 weeks. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising a step of applying maleic hydrazide (MH) to the potato tubers prior to harvest. ### Claim 12 A composition for inhibiting sprouting of potato tubers during storage, comprising i) one or more sprout inhibiting agents selected from the group consisting of C8-C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols; and C8-C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic secondary alcohols; and ii) one or more sprout inhibitors selected from the group consisting of chlorpropham (CIPC), dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC, and wherein said composition is formulated such that when applied, CIPC is applied at a rate of 1-14 mg/kg of potato tubers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The composition of claim 13, further comprising one or more of dimethylnaphthalene (DMN), diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN), carvone, and an essential oil. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The composition of claim 14, wherein said essential oil is clove oil or mint oil. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said composition comprises: trans-2-nonenal plus CIPC; 3-decen-2-one plus CIPC, or 3-nonen-2-one plus CIPC. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said C3 to C14 alcohol is a primary or secondary C8 to C14 alcohol. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein said primary or secondary C8 to C14 alcohol is octanol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said C3 to C14 alcohol is a primary or secondary C8 to C14 alcohol. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein said primary or secondary C8 to C14 alcohol is octanol. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The composition of claim 12, wherein said C8-C14 saturated or unsaturated aliphatic primary alcohols is octanol. ### Claim 22 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is CIPC and said lower-than-label rate is 1-14 mg/kg of potato tubers. ### Claim 23 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is DMN and said lower-than-label rate is below 20 ppm. ### Claim 24 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein said one or more sprout inhibitors is DIPN and said lower-than-label rate is below 56 ppm.