Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Inorganic active ingredient containing – Phosphorus or phosphorus compound
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-15
2002-01-15
Robinson, Allen J. (Department: 1616)
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Inorganic active ingredient containing
Phosphorus or phosphorus compound
C424S605000, C514S129000, C514S131000, C514S141000, C514S142000, C514S143000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06338860
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to compositions, and methods of use, which provide improved efficacy in controlling Phytophthora infections in plants. More particularly, the composition is comprised of an amount of phosphate (PO
4
) and phosphonate (PO
3
), with application of such composition particularly useful in lowering the occurrences of late blight.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
From 1845 to 1846, the Irish Potato Famine occurred, which was one of the most devastating crop failures in the history of the world. The potato famine was caused by the disease late blight which resulted in harvested potatoes quickly decaying, making them unsuitable for consumption. The disease is also known to cause defoliation in infected plants. Late blight is caused by a Phytophthora organism infecting a potato or tomato plant. As can be gathered, the Phytophthora organism, if not controlled, can cause major economic damage to agricultural crops, with the resulting damage causing the loss of millions of dollars in crop revenues. Additionally, there is the possibility of significant reduction of the potato and tomato supply available to consumers.
To control late blight, it has been recommended that the contaminated potatoes and/or tomatoes be buried in deep pits and covered by at least two feet of soil. In Northern Latitudes, the potatoes or tomatoes can be spread on the soil surface and allowed to freeze during the winter. These methods temporarily prevent the spread of the disease, but do not prevent infection and attack by the
Phytophthora infestans
. The treatment only addresses plants and crops after they have been destroyed. For this reason, it is desired to have a composition or method that can be administered to potato and tomato fields to actively control and prevent the spread of the
Phytophthora infestans
infestation.
Some species of the Phytophthora genus can be controlled, such as
Phytophthora parasitica
. In particular, fosetyl-al (ethyl phosphonate) can be administered to plants to control diseases such as root rot caused by
Phytophthora parasitica
. As such, it is known that many phosphonate (PO
3
) compositions are highly effective in combating the disease root rot and, in particular, some of the species of the genus Phytophthora. Unfortunately, fosetyl-al and other phosphonates, alone, do not control late blight and similar Phytophthora diseases caused by the species
Phytophthora sojae
. Thus, it is desired to have a method or composition that readily inhibits infection by and proliferation of
Phytophthora infestans.
Phosphorus is an essential element in plant nutrition because it governs the energy producing reactions, including those that are oxidative and photo phosphorylative. Phosphorous is essential to the production of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Energy-rich phosphate bonds of ADP and ATP provide the energy for many of the physiological reactions that occur in plants. As such, various forms of phosphorous are absorbed by plants for use as part of the photosynthetic process.
The element phosphorous appears in numerous general forms, including phosphonate (PO
3
) and phosphate (PO
4
). The term “phosphonate,” sometimes also referred to as “phosphite,” means the salts (organic or inorganic) of either phosphonic acid or phosphorous acid. Phosphonic and phosphorous acids have the formula H
3
PO
3
and a molecular weight of 82.00. Their structures from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry are shown below:
The term “phosphate” means the salts (organic or inorganic) of phosphoric acid having the formula H
3
PO
4
, molecular weight of 98.00 and having the following structure:
In the past, various phosphonate compounds have been proposed as useful in fungicidal and fertilizer compositions for application to plants. See, e.g. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,075,324 and 4,119,724 to Thizy, describing phosphorous acid, its inorganic and organic salts, as a plant fungicide; U.S. Pat. No. 4,139,616 to Dueret, describing fungicidal compositions based on phosphorous acid esters and salts thereof; U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,023 to Lacroix et al., describing organophosphorous derivatives as possessing systemic and contact fungistatic and fungicidal activity; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,334, 4,806,445, and 5,169,646 to Horriere et al., describing fungicidal compositions based on alkyl phosphonates; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,935,410 and 5,070,083 to Barlet, describing fungicidal aluminum tris-alkyl-phosphonate compositions; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,200 to Lovatt, describing formulations of phosphorous-containing acid fertilizer for plants. (The teachings of the proceeding U.S. Patents are hereby incorporated by reference.) The above references, disclosing phosphonate compositions, have been found to be effective for protecting plants and, particularly, grape vines, citrus and fruit trees, and tropical plants against fungal attack.
Note that phosphonate (PO
3
) alone is typically considered an unacceptable source of phosphorus (P) for plants. It is known that PO
3
must be converted to PO
4
to be utilized by a plant.
Once assimilated, phosphonates (PO
3
) have been shown to enhance the plant's phytoimmune system. The phosphonate induced stimulation of the phytoimmune system is triggered by the induction of ethylene production, followed by a rapid accumulation of phytoalexins at the site of infection. Phytoalexins are antibiotics which result from the interaction between the host plant and a pathogen. The phytoalexins are synthesized by and accumulate in the plant to inhibit the pathogen. The phytoalexins will accumulate at the site of an infection to prevent further spread of the disease, thereby reducing symptomatic expression of the disease.
In the past, phosphates (PO
4
) were not viewed as a solution to pathological acerbation of fungal infections or infections produced by other genuses. This is because phosphates (PO
4
) are viewed primarily as a fertilizer with only limited, or even detrimental, phytoimmune properties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,200 teaches that phosphate fertilizers inhibit beneficial symbiosis between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi, and further promote bacterial and fungical growth in the rhizosphere, including the growth of pathogenic fungi and other small soil-borne organisms. (Col. 2, lines 18-28). Phosphates (PO
4
) have also been considered to be a competitive inhibitor for phosphonate assimilation, thus inhibiting the ability of phosphonates (PO
3
) to protect against fungus attack. See, Pegg, K. G. and deBoer, R. F., “Proceedings of the Phosphonic (Phosphorous) Acid Work Shop,”
Australiasian Plant Pathology
, Vol. 19 (4), pp. 117 and 144, 1990. Yet further, phosphonates (PO
3
) and phosphates (PO
4
) were believed to be “biological strangers,” with the presence of phosphonates (PO
3
) or esters of phosphonates, exerting little or no influence on enzyme reactions involving phosphates. Robertson, H. E. and Boyer, P. D., “The Biological Inactivity of Glucose 6—phosphonate (PO
3
), Inorganic Phosphites and Other Phosphites,”
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics
, 62 pp. 380-395 (1956).
Accordingly, the requirements for a successful phosphonate-based fungicide depend on the promotion of the phosphonate-induced pathological acerbation of fungical or other genus infections. More particularly, it is desired to have a composition and/or method that prevents
Phytophthora infestans
infection and destruction of plants.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for use in preventing infection by and manifestations of the genus Phytophthora and, more particularly,
Phytophthora infestans
. The composition will be comprised of phosphate (PO
4
) and phosphonate (PO
3
) constituents which, when combined, provide for a synergistic effect that results in the substantial protection against infection of plants by Phytophthora, especially
Phytophthora infestans
. As such, the phosphate and phosphonate constituents can be combined to form a composition, which can be applied to plants, e
Foliar Nutrients, Inc.
Lathrop & Gage L.C.
Robinson Allen J.
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