MXPA99003840A - Composition and method for treating plants with exogenous chemicals - Google Patents

Abstract

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 (a) an exogenous chemical and (b) a first excipient substance which forms liposomes in aqueous dispersion and which consists of one or more compounds each having (i) a hydrophilic moiety comprising a cationic group and (ii) a hydrophobic moiety comprising two hydrocarbyl or acyl chains, wherein about 40 to 100 percent of said chains in the composition are saturated linear alkyl or alkanoyl groups having about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

Description

COMPOSITION AND ETHOD FOR TREATING PLANTS WITH EXOGENOUS CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to formulations and methods for increasing the effectiveness of exogenous chemical compounds used in the treatment of plants. An exogenous chemical compound, as defined herein, is any chemical substance, whether natural or synthetic, which (a) has biological activity or is capable of releasing in a plant an ion, portion or derivative that "has biological activity, and (b) is applied to a plant with the intention or result that the chemical or its ion, biologically active portion or derivative enters the living cells or tissues of the plant and induces a stimulatory, inhibitory response , regulatory, therapeutic, toxic or lethal in the plant itself or in a pathogen, parasite or food organism present inside or outside the plant Examples of exogenous chemical substances include, but are not limited to chemical pesticides (such as herbicides) , algaecides, fungicides, bactericides, viricides, insecticides, aphids, acaricides, nematlcides, molucicides and the like), regulators of plant growth, fertilizers and nutrients, gametocides, defoliators, deicers, mixtures thereof and the like. including herbicides applied to the leaves have sometimes been formulated with surfactants, so when water is added, the The resultant sprinkling composition is more easily and effectively retained on the foliage (eg leaves or other photosynthetic organs) of the plants. The surfactants they may also carry other benefits, including improved contact of spray droplets with a waxy leaf surface and in some cases enhanced penetration of the accompanying exogenous chemical compound into the leaves. Through these and perhaps other effects, surfactants have long been known to increase their biological effectiveness of herbicidal compositions, or other compositions of exogenous chemical compounds, when they are added to or included in said compositions. Thus, for example, the herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylene glycol) has been formulated with surfactants such as polyoxyalkylene type surfactants including, among other surfactants, -polyoxyalkylene alkylamines. Commercial formulations of glyphosate herbicide marketed under the tradename ROUNDUp® have been formulated with a surfactant composition based on said polyoxyalkyleneamilam, in particular a polyethoxylated seboamine, this surfactant composition being identified as MON 0818. Surfactants have generally been combined with glyphosate or other exogenous chemical compounds either in a commercial concentrate (hereinafter referred to as "co-formulation"), or in a diluted mixture that is prepared from separate compositions, one comprising an exogenous chemical compound (eg, glyphosate) ) and another comprising surfactant, before being used in the field (ie, a tank mixture). Various combinations of exogenous chemical compounds and surfactants or other adjuvants have been tried in the past. In some cases, the addition of a particular surfactant has not produced uniformly positive or negative changes in the effect of the exogenous chemical compound on the plant (for example, a surfactant that can increasing the activity of a particular herbicide on certain weeds may interfere with the effectiveness of the herbicide on another species of weed, or may antagonize it). Some surfactants tend to degrade very rapidly in aqueous solutions. As a result, surfactants having this property can be used only efficiently in tank mixes (ie, mixed with the other ingredients in solution or dispersion in the tank shortly before the spray)., instead of being co-formulated in an aqueous composition with the other ingredients in the first case. This lack of stability, or inadequate storage life, has prevented the use of certain surfactants in some exogenous chemical formulations. Other surfactants, although chemically stable, are physically compatible with certain exogenous chemical compounds, in particular in concentrated formulations, for example, most classes of nonionic surfactant, including chicken-oxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants, do not tolerate solutions. of high ionic strength, as for example in a concentrated aqueous solution of a glyphosate salt. Physical incompatibility can also lead to inadequate shelf life. Other problems that may arise from such incompatibility include the formation of aggregates large enough to interfere with commercial handling and application, for example by blocking spray nozzles. Another problem that has been observed in the step is that the effect of environmental conditions on the absorption of an exogenous chemical composition in the foliage of the plant. For example, conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, presence or absence of sunlight and health of the plant to be treated, can affect the absorption of the herbicide in the plant.

As a result, the exact spraying of the same herbicidal composition in two different situations can result in a different herbicidal control of the sprayed plants. A consequence of the variability described above is that a higher herbicide rate per unit area is often applied which could actually be required in that situation, so that it is true that adequate control of the unwanted plants is achieved. For similar reasons, exogenous chemical compounds other than the -Applied in the leaves at speeds significantly greater than those necessary to give the desired biological effect in the particular situation where they are used, to allow the natural variability that exists in the efficacy of the follicular absorption. There is therefore a need for compositions of exogenous chemical compounds that, through the most efficient absorption to the foliage of the plant, allows for reduced rates of use. Many exogenous chemical compounds are commercially packaged as a liquid concentrate that contains a significant amount of water. The packed concentrate is sent to distributors or retailers. Finally, the packed concentrate ends up in the hands of an end user, who dilutes the concentrate more by adding water according to the instructions on the package label. In this way the prepared diluted composition is then sprayed onto the plants. A significant portion of the cost of such packaged concentrates is the cost of transporting the concentrate from the manufacturing site to the places where the end user buys it. Any Concentrated liquid formulation containing relatively less water and therefore more exogenous chemical compound would reduce the cost per unit amount of exogenous chemical compound. However, an important limit on the manufacturer's ability to increase the load of exogenous chemical compound in the concentrate is the stability of that formulation. With some combinations of ingredients, a limit will be reached at which any further reduction of water content in the concentrate makes it unstable (eg, separated into discrete layers), which may make it commercially unacceptable. Accordingly, there is a need for improved formulations -of exogenous chemical compounds, particularly herbicides, that are stable, less sensitive to environmental conditions and that allow the use of small amounts of exogenous chemical compound to achieve the desired biological effect inside or outside the plants. There is also a need for stable liquid concentrated formulations of exogenous chemical compounds that contain less water and more exogenous chemical compound than the concentrates of the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions wherein exogenous chemical compounds are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition comprising (a) an exogenous chemical compound and (b) a first excipient substance that forms liposomes in aqueous dispersion and which consists of one or more compounds each having (i) a hydrophilic portion comprising a cationic group and (il) a hydrophobic portion comprising two hydrocarbyl or acyl chains, wherein about 40 to 100% of said chains in the composition are linear alkyl or acyl groups "saturated" having about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, preferably about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.Preferably, the cationic group is an amino or ammonium group.A "excipient substance" as the term used in this patent is any substance other than the exogenous chemical compound and water that is added to the composition, and that satisfies the other conditions described. "Substances - excipients "includes inert ingredients, although a excipient substance useful in the present invention does not have to be devoid of biological activity In a preferred embodiment, the carrier substance comprises one or more phospholipids selected from the group consisting of C8-22 acylphosphatidylcholines. and diacylphosphatidylethanolamines of C8.22, wherein about 40 to 100% of acyl chains in said phospholipids are saturated alkanoyl chains In a more specific embodiment, the first excipient substance is a phospholipid or mixture of phospholipids, approximately 40 to 100% of which consists of a dipalmitoyl or distearoyl ester of phosphatidylcholine or a mixture thereof In a preferred embodiment, the weight / weight ratio of the carrier substance to the exogenous chemical compound is from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100. .

A wide variety of exogenous chemical compounds can be used in the compositions and methods of the present invention. A preferred class of exogenous chemical compounds applied to the leaves, that is, exogenous chemical compounds that are normally applied after the emergency to the foliage of the plants. A preferred subclass of exogenous chemical compounds applied to the leaves are those that are soluble in water. By "water soluble" in this context it is understood that they have a solubility in distilled water at 25 ° C greater than about 1% by weight. Especially preferred water soluble exogenous chemical compounds are salts having an anionic portion and a cationic moiety. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the anionic and cationic portions is biologically active and has a molecular weight of less than about 300. Particular examples of said exogenous chemical compounds wherein the cationic portion is biologically active are paraquat, -diquat and chloromequat. Most commonly it is the anionic portion that is biologically active. Another preferred subclass of exogenous chemical compounds is one that exhibits systemic biological activity in the plant. Within this subclass, an especially preferred group of exogenous chemical compounds is N-phosphonomethylglycine and herbicidal derivatives. N-phosphonomethylglycine, often referred to by its common name glyphosate, can be used in its acid form, but most preferably it is used in the form of a salt. Any water-soluble salt of g-phosphate can be used in the practice of this invention. Some preferred salts include the sodium, potassium, ammonium, mono, di, tri and tetra-alkylammonium salts of C 1-4, mono, di and tri-alkanolammonium of C 1-4, mono, di and tri-alkylsulfonium of C 1- and sulfoxonium . The ammonium, monoisopropylammonium and trimethylsulfonium salts of g-phosphate are especially preferred. Mixtures of salts can also be used in certain situations. A composition of the present invention comprises an exogenous chemical compound and a first excipient substance as described earlier can have a number of different physical forms. For example, the composition may further comprise water in an effective amount to render the composition a dilute aqueous composition ready to be applied to the foliage of the plant. Said composition typically contains from about 0.02 to about 2% by weight of the exogenous chemical compound, but for some purposes it can contain up to about 10% by weight or even more of the exogenous chemical compound. Alternatively, the composition can be a stable, shelf-stable composition comprising the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 10 to about 90% by weight. Said shelf stable concentrates can be, for example, (1) a solid composition comprising the exogenous chemical substance comprising from about 30 to about 90% by weight, such as a water soluble or water dispersible granular formulation., or (2) a composition further comprising a liquid diluent, wherein the composition comprises the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of from about 10 to about 60% by weight. In this latter embodiment, it is especially preferred that the exogenous chemical substance is soluble in water and is present in a solid phase of the composition in an amount of from about 15 to about 45% by weight of the composition. In particular, said composition may be, for example, an aqueous solution concentrate or an emulsion having an oil phase. If it is an emulsion, it can very specifically be, for example, an oil-in-water emulsion, a water-in-oil emulsion or a water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsion.

As described above, one embodiment of the invention is a spreadable composition. The term "spray composition" is sometimes used herein to imply a sprinkling composition. In a related embodiment of the invention, a concentrated composition is provided which, under dilution, aspersion or dissolution in water, forms the sprayable composition just described. The concentrated composition contains a reduced amount of the aqueous diluent or in a particular embodiment, it is a dry composition having less than about 5% by weight of water. Typically, a concentrated composition of the invention contains at least about 10% by weight of the - Exogenous chemical substance, preferably at least about 15%.

The weight ratio of the first excipient substance to the exogenous chemical substance is preferably between about 1: 3 and about 1: 100. It has been surprising the high level of biological effectiveness, specifically herbicidal effectiveness of a glyphosate composition, shown in said low ratios of the first excipient substance to exogenous chemical substance. Larger relationships may also be effective but are likely not to be economical in most situations and increase the risk of producing an antagonistic effect on the effectiveness of the exogenous chemical compound. Exogenous chemical compositions of the prior art that have included liposome-forming excipient substances typically contain a higher percentage of liposome-forming excipient than of exogenous chemical compound. The compositions of the present invention may contain less of the excipient substance than the exogenous chemical compound and in some embodiments much less. This makes the compositions of the present invention much less expensive than prior art compositions described above. It is surprising that the increase in biological activity that has been observed when using the present invention can be achieved with the addition of relatively small amounts of said excipient substance. As indicated above, the first excipient substance comprises a liposome-forming compound having a hydrophilic moiety comprising a cationic group and a hydrophobic moiety comprising two independently saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl or acyl chains. The liposome-forming compounds useful in the invention can be illustratively represented as formulas I-IV below. All those compounds having two hydrocarbyl chains R1 and R2 each independently have from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms. A number of subclasses of said liposome donor compounds are known. A subclass has the formula N + (CH 2 R 1) (CH 2 R 2) (R 3) (R) Z "wherein R 3 and R 4 are independently hydrogen, CH alkyl or C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl and Z is a suitable agriculturally acceptable anion A second subclass has the formula N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH (OCH2R1) CH2 (OCH2R2) wherein R5, Rs and R7 are independently hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or hydroxyalkyl of C1.4 and Z is a suitable anion. A third subclass has the formula N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH (OCOR1) CH2 (OCOR2) r wherein R5, R6, R7 and Z are as defined above.

A fourth subclass has the formula N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH2OPO (0") OCH2CH (OCOR1) CH2 (OCOR2) wherein R5, R6 and R7 are as defined above The compounds of formulas l-IV will have the indicated formulas in an acid medium, for example, at a pH of 4 and may have the same formulas in other pH as well However, it can be understood that the compositions of the present invention are not limited to use at a pH of 4. It is preferred that about 40 to 100% of the R1 and R2 chains in the composition are saturated straight-chain alkyl groups each having from 7 to about 21 carbon atoms Examples of suitable agriculturally acceptable anions Z including hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate and acetate. In all of the above subclasses of liposome-forming substances, the hydrophobic portion comprises a cationic group, especially an amino or ammonium group. The compound as a whole is in some cases cationic (as in I, II and III) and in some cases neutral (as in IV). Where the amino group is quaternary, it behaves as a cationic group independently of pH. Where the amino group is secondary or tertiary, it behaves as a cationic group when it is protonated, ie, in an acid medium, for example at a pH of 4. In a preferred embodiment, the composition further comprises a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic quaternary ammonium compound or mixture of said compounds. The hydrophobic portion of the quaternary ammonium compound is a saturated alkyl or haloalkyl group having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms. Preferred quaternary ammonium compounds (other than liposome formers and having two hydrocarbyl chains) to be used as the second excipient substance in the compositions of the invention have the formula R8-Wa-XY - (CH2) "- N + (R9) (R10) (R11) T wherein R8 represents the hydrophobic portion and is a hydrocarbyl or haloalkyl group having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, W and Y are independently O or NH, a and b are independently 0 or 1 but at least one of a and b is 1, X is CO, SO or S02, n is 2 to 4, R9, R10 and R11 are independently C1- alkyl and T is a suitable anion. R8 in a particular embodiment is hydrocarbyl having from about 12 to -about 18 carbon atoms. R8 can also be fluorinated. In a specific embodiment, R8 is perfluorinated and preferably has from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms. Suitable agriculturally acceptable anions T include hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate and acetate. In a preferred embodiment, R8 is saturated perfluoroalkyl having from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms, X is CO or S02, Y is NH, a is 0, b is 1, n is 3, R9, R10 and R11 are methyl, and T is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide and iodide. In another preferred embodiment, the composition further comprises a second excipient substance which is a compound or mixture of compounds of the formula wherein R is a hydrocarbyl group having from about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms carbon ep R14 and R15 is from about 11 to about 27, and A is O or NH R14 preferably has from about 11 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 preferably has from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and A is preferably 0. In another, the second excipient substance is a C1-4 alkyl ester of a fatty acid of C12-18, for example, a propyl, isopropyl or butyl ester of a C12-18 fatty acid. Butyl stearate is an especially preferred example. The aqueous composition in embodiments comprising a compound of formula VII can be an emulsion comprising an oil phase containing the second excipient substance, for example, a multiple emulsion of water in oil in water or an oil in water emulsion. In any of the above particular embodiments, the exogenous chemical compound and / or second excipient substance can be encapsulated within or associated with the liposomes formed by the first excipient substance but do not necessarily have to be encapsulated or associated. "Associated" in this context means attached to or at least partially interspersed in some way in a vesicle wall, as opposed to being encapsulated. In another embodiment of the invention, the exogenous chemical compound and / or second excipient substance is not encapsulated in the liposomes at all nor is it associated therewith. Although the present invention does not preclude the possibility of such encapsulation or association of the exogenous chemical compound, a preferred currently diluted liposomal spray composition encapsulates less than 5% by weight of the exogenous chemical compound that is present in the overall composition. Another dilute liposomal sprayable modality of the present invention does not have a substantial amount (it is say, less than 1% ep weight) of the exogenous chemical compound encapsulated in the liposomes. As a drop of said liposomal composition dries on the leaves of the plant, the portion of the exogenous chemical compound that is encapsulated in the liposomes may change. The composition of the present invention that includes an exogenous chemical compound can be applied to the foliage of plants in an amount that is effective to achieve the desired biological effect of the exogenous chemical compound. For example, when the exogenous chemical compound is a postemergence herbicide, the composition can be applied to the plant in a herbicidally effective amount. The compositions and methods of the present invention have a -number of advantages. They provide increased biological activity of exogenous chemical compounds inside or outside of plants compared to previous formulations, either in terms of greater fundamental biological effect, or obtain an equivalent biological effect while using a reduced rate of application of the exogenous chemical compound . Certain herbicidal formulations of the present invention can avoid antagonism that has been observed in some herbicidal formulations of the prior art, and can minimize the rapid production of necrotic lesions on the leaves. "that in some situations conceals the overall translocation of the herbicide in the plant." Certain herbicidal compositions of the invention modify the spectrum of activity of the herbicide through a range of plant species For example, certain formulations of the present invention containing glyphosate may provide good herbicidal activity against broadleaf weeds while not losing any herbicidal effectiveness on narrowleaf weeds.Other can increase herbicide effectiveness on narrowleaf weeds to a greater degree than on broadleaf weeds. they can increase the effectiveness that is specific to a narrow scale of species or even or a single species. Another advantage of the present invention is that it generally employs relatively small amounts of the excipient substances in relation to the amount of exogenous chemical compound employed. This makes the compositions and methods of the present invention relatively cheap and also tends to reduce the problems of instability in specific compositions wherein one or both of the excipient substances are physically incompatible with the exogenous chemical compound. In addition, the compositions of the present invention are less sensitive in some cases to environmental conditions such as relative humidity at the time of application to the plant. Also, the present invention allows the use of smaller amounts of herbicides or other pesticides, while still obtaining the required degree of control of weeds or other unwanted organisms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE MODALITIES Examples of exogenous chemical substances that may be included in compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, chemical pesticides (such as herbicides, algaecides, fungicides, bactericides, viricides, insecticides, aphids, acaricides, nematicides, molluscicides and the like), regulators of plant growth, fertilizers and nutrients, gametocides, defoliators, desiccators, mixtures thereof and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the exogenous chemical compound is polar.

A preferred group of exogenous chemical compounds are those that are normally applied after emergence to the foliage of the plants, that is, exogenous chemical compounds applied to the foliage. Some exogenous chemical compounds useful in the present invention are water-soluble salts, for example, salts that comprise biologically active ions and also comprise counterions, which may be biologically inert or relatively inactive. A particularly preferred group of these water-soluble exogenous chemical compounds or their ions or biologically active portions are systemic in plants, i.e., to some extent translocated from the point of entry into the foliage to other parts of the plant where they can exert their desired biological effect. Especially preferred among these are the herbicides, plant growth regulators and nematicides, particularly those which have a molecular weight, excluding counterions, of less than about 300. Very especially preferred among these are the exogenous chemical compounds having one or more groups functional groups selected from ammo, carboxylate, phospholate and phosphinate groups. Among said compounds, an even more preferred group are exogenous herbicidal chemical compounds or plant growth regulators having at least one of each amino functional group, carboxylate and either phosphonate or phosphinate. Salts of N-phosphonomethylglycine are examples of this group of exogenous chemical compounds. Additional examples include glufosinate salts, for example the ammonium salt (DL-homoalanin-4-yl (methyl) phosphinate). Another preferred group of exogenous chemical compounds that can be applied by the method of the invention are nematicides such as those described in U.S. Patent No. 5,389,680, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Preferred nematicides of this group are salts of 3,4,4-trifluoro-3-butenoic acid or of N- (3,4,4-tpfluoro-1-oxo-3-butenyl) glycine. Exogenous chemical compounds that can be usefully applied by the method of the present invention are normally, but not exclusively, those that are expected to have a beneficial effect on the overall growth or overall yield of the desired plants such as crop plants, or an effect deleterious or lethal on the growth of undesirable plants such as weeds. The method of the present invention is particularly useful for herbicides, especially those that are normally applied after emergence to unwanted vegetation foliage. Herbicides that can be applied by the method of the present invention include but are not limited to any of the standard reference works listed as the "Herbicide Handbook" Weed Science Society of Amepca, 1994, 7a. Edition, or the "Farm Chemicals Handbook", Meister Publishing Company, 1997 edition. Illustratively these herbicides include acetanilides such as acetochlor, alachlor and metolachlor, aminotriazole, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, bipyridyls such as paraquat, bromacil, cyclohexenones such as clethodim and sethoxydim, dicamba, diflufenican, dinitroanilines such as pendimethalin, diphenyl ethers such as acifluorfen, fomesafen and oxyfluorfen, fatty acids such as Cg_to fatty acids, fosamine, flupoxam, glufosinate, glyphosate, hydroxybenzonitriles such as bromoxillin, imidazolinones such as imazaquin and imazetapyr, isoxaben, norflurazon, phenoxies such as 2,4-D, phenoxypropionates such as diclofop , fluazifop and quizalofop, picloram, propanil, substituted ureas such as fluometuron and isoproturon, sulfonylureas such as chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, halosulfuron, methosulfuron, primisulfuron, sulfometuron and sulfosulfuron, thiocarbamates such as tpalate, triazines such as atrazine and metribuzin, and triclopir. Herbicidally active derivatives of any known herbicide are also within the scope of the present invention. A herbicidally active derivative is any compound that is a minor structural modification, most commonly but not restrictively a salt or ester, of a known herbicide. These compounds retain the essential activity of the herbicide of origin but can not necessarily have a potency equal to that of the herbicide of origin. These compounds can be converted to the herbicide of origin before or after they enter the treated plant. It is also possible to use mixtures of co-formulations of a -herbicide with another ingredient or more than one herbicide. An especially preferred herbicide is N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate), a salt, adduct or ester thereof, or a compound which is converted to glyphosate in the tissues of the plant or which otherwise provides glyphosate. The glyphosate salts that can be used in accordance with this invention include but are not limited to alkali metal salts, for example sodium and potassium; ammonium salt, alkylamine, for example dimethylamine and isopropylamine salts, alkanolamine, for example ethanolamine salts; alkylsulfone, for example trimethylsulfonium salts; sulfoxonium salts; and mixtures thereof. The herbicidal compositions sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® and ACCORD® contain the monoisopropylamine salt (1PA) of N-phosphonomethylglycine. The herbicidal compositions sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® Dry and RIVAL® contain the monoammonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine. The herbicidal composition sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® Geoforce contains the monosodium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine. The herbicidal composition sold by Zeneca as TOUCHDOWN® contains the tnmethylsulphonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine The herbicidal properties of N-phosphonomethylglycine and its derivatives were first discovered by Franz, then described and patented in US Pat. No. 3,799,758, issued March 26, 1974. A number of herbicidal salts of N-phosphonomethylglycine were patented by Franz in US Pat. No. 4,405,531, issued September 20, 1983. two patents are incorporated herein by reference Because the most important commercial herbicide derivatives of N-phosphonomethyl glycine are certain salts thereof, the glyphosate compositions useful in the present invention are further deciphered with respect to said salts. These salts are well known and include salts of ammonium, IPA, alkali metal (such as mono, di and tpsodium salts, and mono, di and tppotasio salts), and salts of tpmetilsulfonio The salts of N-fosfonometiIghcina are commercially significant In part because they are soluble in water The salts listed immediately above are highly soluble in water, thus allowing highly efficient solutions. Centrifuges can be diluted at the site of use According to the method of this invention as regards glyphosate herbicide, an aqueous solution containing a herbicidally effective amount of glyphosate and other components according to the invention is applied to the foliage of the plants Said aqueous solution can be obtained by diluting a concentrated ghfosato solution with water, or dissolving or dispersing in water a dry glyphosate formulation (eg, granulated, powder, tablet or block). The exogenous chemical compounds they must be applied to the plants at a sufficient speed to give the desired biological effect. These rates of application are usually expressed as the amount of exogenous chemical compound per unit area treated, eg, grams per hectare (g / ha). What constitutes a "desired effect" varies according to the standards and practice of those who research, develop, sell and use a specific class of exogenous chemical compounds. For example, in the case of a herbicide, the amount applied per unit area to give 85% control of the plant species as measured by the reduction in growth or mortality is often used to define the commercially effective rate.

Herbicidal effectiveness is one of the biological effects that can be increased through this invention. "Herbicidal effectiveness" as used herein refers to any observable measure of plant growth control, which may include one or more of the actions of (1) elimination, (2) inhibition of growth, reproduction or proliferation and (3) removal, destruction or otherwise diminishing of the occurrence and activity of the plants. The herbicide effectiveness data reported here report "inhibition" as a percentage following a standard procedure in the art that reflects a visual assessment of plant mortality and growth reduction compared to untreated plants, done by technicians specially trained to do said observations and record them. In such cases, a single technician makes all percent inhibition evaluations within any experiment or trial. These measurements are based on the regularity reported by Monsanto Company in the course of its herbicide business. The selection of application rates that are biologically effective for a specific exogenous chemical compound is within the reach of the ordinary agricultural scientist. Those skilled in the art also they will recognize that the individual conditions of the plant, the meteorological conditions and the growth conditions, as well as the specific exogenous chemical compounds and the formulation thereof selected will affect the efficiency achieved in putting this invention into practice. Application rates useful for exogenous chemical compounds used may depend on all the above conditions. With respect to the use of the method of this invention for glyphosate herbicide, much information is known about the appropriate application rates. During two decades of glyphosate use and published studies related to this use have provided abundant information from which a technician in - Weed control can select glyphosate application rates that are herbicidally effective on particular species at particular growth stages in various particular environmental conditions. The herbicidal glyphosate compositions or derivatives thereof are used to control a very wide variety of plants worldwide. Such compositions can be applied to a plant in a herbicidally effective amount and can effectively control one or more plant species from one or more of the following genera without restriction: Abutilon, Amaranthus, Artemisia, Asclepias, Oats, Axonopus, Borrepa, Brachiaria, Brassica, Bromus, Chenopodium, Cirsium, Commelina, Convolvulus, Cynodon, Cyperus, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Eleusme, Elymus, Equisetum, Erodium, Helianthus, Imperata, Ipomoea, Kochía, Lolium, Malva, Oryza, Ottochloa, Panicum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phragmites, Polygonum, Portulaca, Pteridium, Pueraria, Rubus, Salsola, Setaria, Sida, Sinapis, Sorghum, Triticum, Typha, Ulex, Xanthium and Zea. Very particular species for which compositions are used of glyphosate are illustrated without limitation by the following: Annual broadleaf plants: abutilon (Abutilon theophrasti) amaranth (amaranthus spp.) (Borreria spp.) rapeseed oilseed, cañola, mustard of India, etc. (Brassica spp.) Commelina (Commelina spp.) Geraniáceas (Erodium spp.) Sunflower (Hßlianthus spp.) Convulvuláceas (Ipomoea spp.) Quenopodiaceous (Kochia scoparia) malváceas (Malva spp.) (Polygonum spp.) Portulacáceas (Portulaca spp. ) Russian thistle (Salsola spp.) AIDS (Sida spp.) wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) (Xanthium spp.) Annual narrow leaf plants: Wild Oats (Avena fatua) (Axonopus spp.) (Bromus tectorum) (Digitaria spp.) (Echinochloa crus-galli) (Eleusine indica) (Lolium multiflorum) Rice (Oryza sativa) (Ottochloa nodosa) (Paspalum notatum) (Phalans spp.) (Setaria spp.) (Triticum aestivum) (Zea mays) Evergreen broadleaf plants: (Artemisa spp.) (Asclepias spp.) (Cirsium arvense) (Convolvulus arvensis) (Pueraria spp.) Perennial narrow-leaved plants: (Brachiaria spp.) (Cynodon dactylon) (Cynodon esculentus) (C. rotundus) (Elymus repens) (Imperata cylmdrica) (Lolium perennial) (Panicum maximum) (Paspalum dilatatum) (Phragmites spp.) (Sorghum halepense) (Typha spp.) Other perennial plants: (Equisetum spp.) (Pteridium aquilinum) (Rubus spp.) (UITX europaeus) Therefore, the method of the present invention, as it relates to glyphosate herbicide, may be useful over any of the above species. The effectiveness of greenhouse tests, usually at lower exogenous chemical compound rates than those that are normally effective in the field, is a proven indicator of field performance consistency at normal rates of use. However, even the most promising compositions sometimes fail to exhibit increased performance in individual greenhouse tests. As illustrated in the examples herein, an increment pattern arises over a series of greenhouse tests; When this pattern is identified, this is strong evidence of biological increase that will be used in the field. The first excipient substance in compositions of the present invention is selected from the class of amphiphilic liposome-forming substances. These include various lipids of synthetic origin such as animal or vegetable, including phospholipids, ceramides, sphingolipids, surfactants of Dialkyl and Polymeric Surfactants A variety of these materials are known to those skilled in the art and are commercially available. Lecithms are particularly rich in phosphohpides and can be derived from a number of plant and animal sources. Soy lecithin is a particular example. of a relatively inexpensive commercially available material including such substances Many other substances that can be used to form liposomes have been disclosed, the present invention includes compositions comprising any liposome-forming substances, provided that other previously exposed requirements are met, and the use of said compositions to increase the biological effectiveness of exogenous chemical compounds applied to the foliage of plants. For example, US Patent No. 5,580,859 incorporated herein by reference, discloses liposome-forming substances having a cationic group including oruro N- (2,3-d? (9- (Z) -octadecen? lox?)) - prop-1-? lN, N, N-tpmet? lamon? o (DOTMA) and 1, 2-b ? s (oil? lox?) - 3- (tpmet? lamon? o) propane (DOTAP) Liposome-forming substances that are not in themselves cationic but contain a cationic group as part of the hydrophobic moiety include for example dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamm (DOPE) Any of these liposome-forming sub-types can be used with or without the addition of cholesterol The substances contain portions that are hydrophilic and hydrophobic within the same molecule They have the ability to self-assemble in aqueous solution or dispersion in structures that are more complex than simple micelles The nature of the aggregate that is formed can be related to the critical packaging parameter P by the following equation: P = V / IA where V is the volume of the hydrophobic tail of the molecule, / is the effective length of the hydrophobic tail and A is the area occupied by the hydrophilic main group on the surface of the aggregate. The most probable auro-assembled structures are spherical micelles when P is less than 1/3, rod-shaped micelles when P is between 1/3 and 1-4, lamellae when P is between 1 and 1, and inverse structures when P is greater than 1. Preferred materials in the present invention have P greater than 1. /3. The cationic liposome forming substances having a hydrophobic portion comprising two hydrocarbyl chains are accompanied by a counterion (anion), identified as Z in the above formulas I, II and III. Any suitable anion can be used, including agriculturally acceptable anions such as hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate and acetate. In a specific embodiment wherein the exogenous chemical compound has a biologically active anion, that anion can serve as the counter ion for the liposome-forming substance. For example, glyphosate can be used in its acid form together with the hydroxide of a cationic liposome-forming substance such as a compound of formula I. Compounds of formula I known in the art as liposome formers include chloride and bromide of disteapldimethylammonium (also known in the art as DODAC and DODAB, respectively). Compounds of formula II known in the art as liposome formers include DOTMA a referred to above and dimyristoxypropyldimethylhydroxyethylammonium bromide (DMRIE). The compounds of the formula III known in the art as liposome formers include dioleo? loxi-3- (dimet? lamon? o) propane (DODAP) and DOTAP referenced above. Compounds of formula IV known in the art as liposome formers include DOPC and DOPE, to which reference was made above. In many liposome-forming substances known in the art, the hydrophobic hydrocarbyl chains are unsaturated, having one or more double bonds. Commonly used in a particular way in the pharmaceutical technique are the dioleyl and theleoleoyl compounds. A potential problem with these is that in an oxidizing environment they are oxidized at the site of the double bond. - This can be inhibited by including an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid in the formulation. Alternatively, the problem can be avoided by using liposome-forming substances wherein a high proportion of the hydrophobic hydrocarbyl chains are completely saturated. Thus, in a composition of the present invention, from about 40 to 100% of the hydrocarbyl chains (R1 and R2 in formulas I-IV) in the composition are saturated straight-chain alkyl groups. Particularly preferred compositions use liposome-forming substances in which R1 and R2, together with the adjacent CH2 or CO groups shown in formulas I-IV, form both palmityl (cetyl) or palmitoyl or, alternatively, both form stearyl or stearoyl groups . Phospholipids, due to their low cost and favorable environmental properties, are particularly favored among the liposome-forming substances in the method and compositions of the invention. Plant lecithins, such as soy lecithin, are a rich source of phospholipids; however, in vegetable lecithins, a high proportion of hydrocarbyl chains Hydrophobic compounds of phospholipids are typically unsaturated. One embodiment of compositions according to the present invention comprises saturated phospholipid and unsaturated phospholipid, with the weight ratio of saturated phospholipid to unsaturated phospholipid being greater than about 1: 2. In particularly preferred embodiments, (1) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are saturated C 2-2-2 dialkanoyl phospholipid, (2) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are saturated dialkanoyl phospholipid. of C? 6.i8, (3) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are distearoyl phospholipid, (4) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are dipalmitoyl phospholipid, or (5) at least 50% by weight of the -phospholipids are distearoylphosphatidylcholine, and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or a mixture thereof. Higher proportions of saturated alkanoyl phospholipids are generally found in animal optic lecithins, such as for example egg yolk lecithin, than in vegetable lecithins. Illustratively, sample analysis of lecithin from egg yolk and soy lecithin have shown 45% acyl chains in egg yolk lecithin and only 22% acyl chains in soy lecithin as saturated alkanoyl chains.

It is known that phospholipids are chemically unstable, at least in acidic media, where they tend to degrade to their smooth counterparts. Thus, where phospholipids are used in place of more stable liposome-forming substances, it is usually preferred to adjust the pH of the composition upwards. In the case of glyphosate composition, the pH of a composition based on a monosal such as the monoisopropylammonium salt (IPA) is typically about 5 or less. When phospholipids are used as the first excipient substance in a glyphosate composition of the invention, it will be preferable to increase the pH of the composition, for example to approximately 7. Any convenient basis can be used for this purpose; it will often be more convenient to use the same base that was used in the glyphosate salt, for example isopropylamine in the case of glyphosate IPA salt. Compounds useful as the second excipient substance herein include quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula V above. In the compounds of formula V, R8 unless perfluorinated preferably has from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms, R8 is preferably perfluorinated, in which case preferably it has from about 6 to about 12 carbon atoms. Preferably n is 3. The R9 juposes are preferably methyl. The sulfonylamino compounds of formula V are especially preferred. Suitable examples include 3 - (((heptadecafluoroctyl) sulfonyl) amino) -N, N, N-trimethyl-1-propaminium iodide, available for example as Fluorad FC-135 from 3M Company, and the corresponding chloride. It is believed that Fluorad FC-754 from 3M Company is the corresponding chloride. Derivatives of Fluorad FC-754, herein described as "FC-acetate" and "FC-salicylate", have been prepared by the following procedure. (1) The solvent in a sample of Fluorad FC-754 is gently evaporated by heating in a glass beaker 70-80 ° C to leave a solid residue, (2) the solid residue is allowed to cool to room temperature, (3) an aliquot of 1 g of the residue is placed in a centrifuge tube and dissolved in 5 ml of isopropanol, (4) a saturated solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) is prepared in isopropanol, (5) that solution is added dropwise to the residue solution of FC-754; this results in the formation of a precipitate and the addition of KOH solution continues until the precipitate is no longer formed, (6) the tube is centrifuged at 4000 fm for 5 minutes, (7) more KOH solution is added to vepficate if precipitation is complete; if not, the tube is centrifuged again, (8) the supernatant is decanted into another glass tube, (9) a saturated solution of acetic acid (or salicylic acid) is prepared in isopropanol, (10) this solution is added to the supernatant in an amount sufficient to reduce the pH to 7, (11) the isopropanol is evaporated from the neutralized solution by heating at 60 ° C until completely dried, (12) the residue (either the acetate or salicylate salt) is dissolved in an adequate amount of water and then it is ready to be used. Another class of quaternary ammonium compounds useful as the second excipient substance in the present invention has the formula N + (R16) (R17) (R18) (R19) Q "wherein R16, R17, R18 and R19 are independently C alkyl groups. .β and Q is a suitable anion, such as, for example, hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate or acetate.In preferred compounds of the formula VIII all the R groups are the same.The particularly preferred compounds of the formula VIII are tetrabutylammonium salts, wherein the exogenous chemical compound comprises a biologically active anion, a salt of formula VIII wherein Q is that anion which is an option that provides both the exogenous chemical compound and the second excipient substance. glyphosate tetrabutylammonium salt Other quaternary ammonium compounds that may be used include compounds having a single hydrocarbyl group of C 12-22 and three groups selected from benzyl groups or C1 alkyl, attached to the quaternary carbon atom. Specific examples include cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and benzalkonium chloride.

Another class of compound useful as the second excipient substance is an amide or ester of the formula VII above. R14 in the formula VII is preferably aliphatic and has from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms, preferably from about 13 to about 21 carbon atoms. Especially it is preferred that R1 ^ is a saturated straight-chain alkyl group. R 5 is preferably an aliphatic group having 1-6 carbon atoms, most preferably alkyl or alkenyl having 2-4 carbon atoms. An especially preferred compound of the formula VII to be used as the second excipient substance is butyl stearate. Since the compounds of the formula VII, including butyl stearate, are generally oily liquids, the aqueous compositions containing them are typically emulsions having at least one aqueous phase and at least one oil phase, the compound having at least one aqueous phase and at least one oil phase, the compound of the formula VII being present predominantly in the oil phase. Said emulsions can be emulsions of water in oil, oil in water or multiple emulsions of water in oil in water (water / oil / water). The compositions according to the present invention are typically prepared by combining water, the exogenous chemical compound and the first excipient substance. Where the first excipient substance is one that readily disperses in water, simple mixing with gentle agitation may be sufficient. However, most liposome-forming substances including most forms of lecithin require high shear to disperse in water, and in such cases the emission of sound or microfluidization of the first excipient substance is currently preferred. iiposome forming in water. This can be done before or after the second excipient substance and / or the exogenous chemical compound is added.

Sound emission or microfluidization will generally produce hposomes or other aggregate structures other than simple micelles. The precise nature, including average size, of liposomes or other aggregates depends among other things on the input of energy during sound emission or microfluidization. The higher energy input generally results in smaller liposomes. Although it is possible to trap or otherwise loosely or tightly bind the exogenous chemical compound in or on liposomes or other supramolecular scratches, the exogenous chemical compound it does not need to be trapped or bound, and in fact the present invention is effective when the exogenous chemical compound is not trapped or bound in the aggregates at all. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the liposomes or other aggregates have an average diameter of at least 20 nm, most preferably at least 30 nm. The average liposome diameters can be determined by light scattering techniques. The concentrations of the various components will vary, in part depending on whether the concentrate is being prepared so that it is subsequently diluted before spraying a plant, or whether a solution or dispersion is being prepared so that it can be sprayed without further dilution. In an aqueous glyphosate formulation that includes a dialkyl surfactant, for example a cationic dialkyl surfactant of the formula I, the appropriate concentration scales are: glyphosate 0.1-400 grams of acid equivalent (ae) / liter, and agent dialkyl surfactant 0.001-10% by weight. In a formulation of aqueous glyphosate that uses an organic cationic fluoride and lecithin surfactant, suitable concentrations can be: glyphosate 0.1-400 g a.e./l, organic fluoride surfactant 0.001-10% by weight, and egg yolk lecithin 0.001-10% by weight.

In solid glyphosate formulations, higher concentrations of ingredients are greater due to the elimination of most of the water. The weight / weight ratios of the ingredients may be more important than the absolute concentrations. For example, in a formulation of glyphosate containing egg yolk lecithin and an organic cationic fluorine surfactant, the acid equivalent ratio (ae) of lecithin to glyphosate is preferably in the range of about 1: 3 to about 1. : 100 It is generally preferred to use a ratio of lecithin to glyphosate (a.e.) close to as high as it can be incorporated into the formulation while maintaining stability, in the presence of an amount of the organic fluorine surfactant sufficient to give the desired increase in herbicidal effectiveness. For example, a ratio of lecithin / glyphosate a.e. on the scale of about 1: 3 to about 1: 10 will generally be useful, although lower ratios of about 1: 10 to about 1: 100 may be beneficial in particular weed species in particular situations. The ratio of organic fluoride surfactant, when present, to glyphosate a.e. it is also preferably on the scale of about 1: 3 to about 1: 100. Because organic fluoride surfactants tend to have a relatively high cost, it will generally be desirable to keep this ratio as low as possible that is consistent with achieving the desired herbicide effectiveness.

The ratio of organic fluoride surfactants, where present, to lecithin is preferably in the range of about 1: 10 to about 10: 1, most preferably in the range of about 1: 3 to about 3: 1 and very preferably around 1: 1. The scales described herein may be used by one skilled in the art to prepare compositions of the invention having suitable concentrations and ratios of ingredients. The preferred or optimal concentrations and ratios of ingredients for any particular use or particular situation can be determined by routine experimentation. Although the combination of the components could be done in a tank mix, it is preferred in the present invention that the combination be made before application to the plant, to simplify the tasks required of the person applying the material to the plants. However, it has been found that in some cases the biological effectiveness of a liposome-containing composition prepared from starch as a diluted dispersion composition is greater than that of a composition having the same ingredients at the same concentrations but diluted from the same. of a concentrated formulation previously prepared. Although vain compositions of the present invention are described, as compositions comprising certain listed materials, in some preferred embodiments of the invention the compositions will consist essentially of the indicated materials. Optionally, other acceptable agricultural materials can be included in the compositions. For example, more than one exogenous chemical compound may be included. Also, several agriculturally acceptable adjuvants can be included, whether or not their purpose is to contribute directly to the effect of the exogenous chemical compound on a plant. For example, when the exogenous chemical compound is a herbicide, the liquid nitrogen fertilizer or ammonium sulfate could be included in the composition. As another example, stabilizers can be added to the composition. In some cases it might be convenient to include microencapsulated acid in the composition, to reduce the pH of a spray solution in contact with a leaf. One or more surfactants may also be included. The surfactants herein mentioned may be trade names and other surfactants which may be useful in the method of the invention, are indicated in standard reference works such as McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, - 1997 edition, Handbook of Industrial Surfactants, 2a. edition, 1997, published by Gower, and International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 6a. Edition, 1995.

The compositions of the present invention can be applied to plants by spraying, using any conventional methods for spraying liquids such as spark plugs, sprays or the like.

The compositions of the present invention can be used in precision agricultural techniques, in which apparatuses are used to vary the amount of exogenous chemical compound applied to different parts of a culture field, depending on variables such as the particular plant species present , soil composition and the like. In one embodiment of said techniques, a global location system operated with the spray apparatus can be used to apply the desired amount of the composition to different parts of a crop field. The composition at the time of application to the plants is preferably diluted sufficiently to be easily sprayed using standard agricultural spraying equipment. The preferred application speeds for the present invention they vary depending on the number of factors, including the type and concentration of active ingredient and the species of plant in question. The speeds useful for applying an aqueous composition to a foliage crop field can range from about 25 to about 1,000 liters per hectare (I / ha) by spray application. The preferred application rates for aqueous solutions are in the range of about 50 to about 300 l / ha. Many exogenous chemical compounds (including glyphosate herbicide) must be absorbed by plant tissues and translocated within the plant to produce the desired biological effect (eg, herbicide). Thus, it is important that a herbicidal composition is applied in such a manner that it excessively damages and disrupts the normal functioning of the local tissue of the plant so rapidly that the translocation is reduced. However, a limited degree of local damage may be insignificant, or even beneficial, in its impact on the biological effectiveness of certain exogenous chemical compounds.

EXAMPLES In the following illustrative examples of the invention, greenhouse tests were conducted to evaluate the relative herbicidal effectiveness of glyphosate compositions. Compositions included for comparative purposes comprise the following: Formulation B: consisting of 41% by weight of glyphosate IPA salt in aqueous solution. This formulation is sold in the United States by Monsanto Company under the trade name ACCORDR.

Formulation C: consisting of 41% by weight of glyphosate salt IPA in aqueous solution with a co-formulation (15% by weight) of a surfactant (MON 0818 from Monsanto Company) based on pohoxyethylene seboamma (15). This formulation is sold in Canada by Monsanto Company under the trade name ROUNDUPR. Formulation J: consisting of 41% by weight of glyphosate IPA salt in aqueous solution, together with surfactant. This formulation is sold in the United States by Monsanto Company under the trade name ROUNDUPR ULTRA. Formulations B, C and J contain 356 grams of acid equivalent - glyphosate per liter (ga.e./l). Various proprietary excipients were used in compositions of the examples. They can be identified as the following: Trade name Manufacturer Chemical description Fluorad FC-135 3M fluorinated quaternary alkylammonium iodide MON 0818 Monsanto sebum-based surfactant agent 15EO Fluorad FC-135, although defined only generically as before in the literature of 3M products and standard directives, has been specifically identified as CdFl 7S02NH (CH2) 3N + (CH3) 3l- in a paper by J. Linert & J N. Chasman of 3M, entitled "The effects of fluorochemical surfactants on recoatability" in the issue of December 20, d 1993 by American Paint & Coatings Journal, and reprinted as a business brochure by 3M. Where a self-excipient is a surfactant supplied as a solution in water or another solvent, the amount to be used is calculated on a true surfactant base, not an "as such" base. For example, Fluorad FC-135 it is supplied as 50% true surfactant, with 33% isopropanol and 17% water; in this way a composition containing 0.1% w / w of Fluorad FC-135 is provided as indicated herein, 0.2 g of the product as supplied is included in 100 g of the composition. The amount of lecithin, however, is always reported here on an "as such" basis, regardless of the phospholipid content in the lecithin sample used. The spray compositions of the examples contained an exogenous chemical compound, such as glyphosate IPA salt, in addition to the listed excipient ingredients. The amount of exogenous chemical compound was selected to provide the desired rate in grams per hectare (g / ha) when applied in a spray volume of 93 l / ha. Vanas velocities of exogenous chemical compounds were applied for each composition. Thus, except where otherwise indicated, when spray compositions were tested, the concentration of exogenous chemical compound varied in direct proportion to the rate of exogenous chemical compound, but the concentration of excipient ingredients remained constant in the different speeds of exogenous chemical compound. Concentrate compositions were tested by dilution, dissolution or dispersion in water to form spray compositions. In these spray compositions prepared from concentrates, the concentration of excipient ingredients vanished with that of the exogenous chemical compound. The following procedure was used to test compositions of the examples, except where indicated otherwise. Seeds of the indicated plant species were planted in square 85-mm pots in a soil mix that had previously been sterilized by steam and pre-fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer. 14-14-14 NPK at a speed of 3.6 kg / m ^. The pots were placed in a greenhouse with sub-irrigation. Approximately one week after the emergence, the seedlings were selected as necessary, including the - Removal of any unhealthy or abnormal plants, to create a uniform seed of test pots. The plants were maintained during the test in the greenhouse where they received a minimum of 14 hours of light per day. If natural light was insufficient to achieve the daily requirement, artificial light with an intensity of approximately 475 microeinsteins was used to compensate for the difference. The exposure temperatures were not accurately controlled but were averaged at approximately 27 ° C during the day and approximately 18 ° C during the night. The plants were irrigated during the test to ensure adequate soil moisture levels. The pots were assigned to different treatments in an experimental design completely leatopzado with 3 replicas. A series of pots was left untreated as a reference against which the effects of the treatments could be evaluated later. The application of glyphosate compositions was done by spraying with a tracking sprayer equipped with a 9501 E nozzle calibrated for provide a spray volume of 93 liters per hectare (l / ha) at a pressure of 166 kilopascals (kPa). After the treatment, the pots were returned to the greenhouse until they were ready for evaluation. Treatments were made using dilute aqueous compositions. These could be prepared as spray compositions directly from the ingredients, or by dilution with water of preformulated concentrated compositions. To evaluate herbicide effectiveness, all the plants in the test were examined by a single technician who recorded the percent inhibition, a visual measurement of the effectiveness of each treatment compared to untreated plants. The inhibition of 0% indicates that there is no effect and the 100% inhibition indicates that all the plants died completely. The inhibition of 85% or more is in most cases considered acceptable for normal herbicidal use; however, in greenhouse tests such as those in the examples, it is normal to apply compositions at rates that give less than 85% inhibition, since this makes it easier to discriminate between compositions that have different levels of effectiveness.

EXAMPLE 1 Spray compositions having excipient ingredients were prepared as shown in Table 1a. The lecithins used were provided by Avanti. In addition to the excipient ingredients shown, all the spray compositions contained glyphosate IPA salt. Three different glyphosate concentrations were used for each compositions listed in Table 1a, selected to provide glyphosate acid equivalent speeds as indicated in Table 1 b. Compositions were prepared by the following procedure. The required amount of the selected lecithin, in the form of powder, was dispersed in 50 ml of water by emitting sound in a Fisher Model 550 Sonic Desmembrator, set at an output level of 8, for 3 minutes. The other ingredients, including glyphosate, were added after the sound application. The pH of the spray composition was adjusted to 7 by the addition of isopropylamine. The compositions were recently prepared when applied in the greenhouse test of this example.

TABLE 1a 1-12 0.01 95 soybean 0.01 Plants of hobby (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by the standard procedures previously indicated. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and 19 days after seeding ECHCF and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application. As comparative treatments, Formulation B and Formulation C were applied alone and in tank mix with Fluorad FC-135. The results, averaged for all the replicas of each treatment, were. show in Table 1 b TABLE 1 b Composition Rate of glyphosate spray inhibition% ga.e./ha ABUTH ECHCF Formulation B 100 1 27 200 6 28 300 21 35 400 31 46 Formulation B 100 19 24 + FC-135 0.05% p / v 200 37 40 300 62 52 Formulation B 100 7 13 + FC-135 0.02% p / v 200 42 27 300 56 57 Formulation B 100 23 19 + FC-135 0 01% p / v 200 43 24 300 60 40 Formulation C 100 10 31 200 28 36 300 62 66 400 77 74 Formulation C 100 37 39 + FC-135 0.05% w / v 200 49 43 300 66 62 Formulation C 100 18 31 + FC-135 0.02% p / v 200 47 44 300 68 49 Formulation C 100 26 27 + FC-135 0.01% p / v 200 36 44 300 54 82 1-01 100 16 36 200 54 56 300 66 61 1-02 100 23 43 200 45 45 300 65 51 1-03 100 31 35 200 37 45 300 53 60 1-04 100 24 35 200 43 43 300 78 50 -05 100 24 36 200 45 44 300 58 66 -06 100 31 24 200 46 34 300 52 51 -07 100 49 33 200 65 39 300 73 63 -08 100 48 25 200 70 49 300 73 69 -09 100 45 27 200 59 53 300 71 84 -10 100 60 30 200 64 89 300 75 99 -11 100 47 51 200 66 65 300 80 78 -12 100 49 39 200 60 59 300 67 84In this test, glyphosate compositions containing egg yolk lecithin (1-01 to 1 -03) performed similarly to those containing soy lecithin (1-04 to 1-06) in ABUTH but were generally more effective than those containing soy lecithin in ECHCF, at least in the absence of Fluorad FC-135. The addition of Fluorad FC-135, as in compositions 1-07 to 1-12, increased the effectiveness of all compositions.

EXAMPLE 2 Spray compositions having excipient ingredients were prepared as shown in Table 2a. The phospholipids used were obtained from Avanti and had a purity of 98% or higher. In addition to the excipient ingredients shown, all compositions contained glyphosate IPA salt. Four different concentrations of glyphosate were used for each composition listed in Table 2a, selected to provide glyphosate acid equivalent rates as indicated in Table 2b. The compositions were prepared by the following procedure. The required amounts of the selected phospholipid, in the form of powder, were dispersed in 50 ml of water by applying sound in a Fisher Sonic Desmembrator, model 550, set at an output level of 8, for 3 minutes. Cholesterol, if included, was added before the sound application. Glyphosate was added after sonication. The compositions were recently prepared when applied in the greenhouse test of this Example.

TABLE 2a Composition% p / p Type of aspersion Phospholipid Cholesterol phospholipid 2-01 0.050 phosphatidylcholine, soy 2-02 0.050 phosphatidylethanolamine, soy 2-03 0.050 phosphatidylethanolamine, egg yolk 2-04 0.050 phosphatidylserine 2-05 0.050 phosphatidylinositol 2-06 0.050 diatearoylphasphatidylcholine 2-07 0.050 dilauroylphosphatidylcholine 2-08 0.050 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 2-09 0.050 L-dlpalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 2-10 0.050 dioleioylphosphatidylcholine 2-11 0.050 dioctanoylphosphatidylcholine 2-12 0.035 0.015 phosphatidylcholine, soy 2-13 0.045 0.005 phosphatidylcholine, soy Plants of hobby (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by standard procedures previously indicated. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application.

As comparative treatments, Formulation B, Formulation C and Formulation J were applied alone; Formulation B was also applied in tank mix with soy lecithin (45%, Avanti). The results, averaged for the replicas of each treatment, are shown in the Table 2b.

TABLE 2b Composition Rate of glyphosate spray inhibition% ga.e./ha ABUTH ECHCF Formulation B 150 3 13 250 13 33 350 33 38 450 47 67 Formulation B 150 0 20 -Hecitin at 0.05% w / v 250 0 32 350 30 42 450 52 50 Formulation C 150 48 43 250 67 57 350 77 90 450 85 93 Formulation J 150 40 60 250 65 88 350 77 98 450 77 97 2-01 150 43 20 250 48 25 350 58 37 450 60 30 -02 150 0 10 250 0 18 350 10 30 450 53 65 -03 150 8 22 250 32 28 350 37 32 450 62 32 -04 150 2 17 250 10 25 350 40 40 450 52 38 -05 150 7 22 250 45 27 350 55 27 450 67 32 -06 150 40 15 250 52 32 350 58 33 450 73 42 -07 150 42 27 250 52 30 350 58 33 450 55 33 2-08 150 42 20 250 52 52 350 63 38 450 60 37 2-09 150 50 15 250 62 25 350 70 50 450 72 70 -2-10 150 23 25 250 47 25 350 58 37 450 68 45 2-11 150 0 10 250 22 23 350 48 42 450 57 50 2-12 150 5 33 250 48 30 350 58 73 450 67 91 2-13 150 45 17 250 45 25 350 62 43 450 63 55 In this test, a glyphosate composition (2-01) containing phosphatidylcholine (98% purity) from the soy lecithin showed greater herbicidal effectiveness in ABUTH than a tank mix of Formulation B with soy lecithin (45). % phospholipid). An even greater effectiveness was evident with distearoylphosphatidylcholine (2-06) and L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcolna (2-09).

EXAMPLE 3 Spray compositions having excipient ingredients were prepared as shown in Table 3a. The phospholipids used were obtained from Avant! and had a purity of 98% or higher. In addition to the excipient ingredients shown, all compositions contained glyphosate IPA salt. Four different concentrations of glyphosate were used for each composition listed in Table 3a, selected to provide glyphosate acid equivalent rates as indicated in Table 3b. The compositions were prepared by the following procedure. The required amounts of the selected phospholipid, in powder form, were dispersed in 50 ml of water by applying sound in a Fisher Sonic Dismembered, model 550, set at an output level of 8, for 3 minutes. Cholesterol, if included, was added before the sound application. Glyphosate was added after sonication. The compositions were recently prepared when applied in the greenhouse test of this Example.

TABLE 3a Composition% w / w Type of spray Phospholipid Phospholipid 3-01 0.05 L-dioctanoylphosphatidylcholine 3-02 0.05 L-didecanoylphosphatidylcoiine 3-03 0.05 L-Dilauroylphosphatidylcholine 3-04 0.05 DL-Dilauroylphosphatidylcoate 3-05 0.05 L-Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine 3-06 0.05 DL- dimyristoistophosphatidylcholine 3-07 0.05 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidolphine 3-08 0.05 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 3-09 0.05 DL-dipalm? To? Lfosfatid? Lcolin 3-10 0.05 L-distearylphosphatidolphine 3-11 0.05 DL-distearylphosphatidylcholine 3-12 0.05 L-diaracidoylphosphatidylcholine 3-13 0.05 Ldbebepo? Lfosfat? D? Lcol? Na 3-14 0.05 L-dioleoylphosphatidylcholine 3-15 0.05 L-düinoleo? Lfosfat? D? Lcol? Na Plants of hobby (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by standard procedures previously indicated. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application.

As comparative treatments, Formulation B and Formulation J applied themselves; Formulation B was also applied in tank mix with soy lecithin (45%, Avanti). The results, averaged for the replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 3b.

TABLE 3b Composition Rate of glyphosate spray inhibition% ga.e./ha ABUTH ECHCF Formulation B 150 3 38 250 23 40 350 45 50 450 70 52 Formulation B 150 0 30 -Hecitin at 0.05% w / v 250 10 40 350 48 57 450 58 63 Formulation J 150 8 63 250 62 88 350 78 97 450 87 99 3-01 150 17 33 250 35 50 350 63 75 450 77 78 3-02 150 42 33 250 60 43 350 65 53 450 72 63 -03 150 37 30 250 58 63 350 72 73 450 73 77 -04 150 30 40 250 48 47 350 65 70 450 68 77 -05 150 20 30 250 30 40 350 50 60 450 68 63 -06 150 20 30 250 37 40 350 45 57 450 53 60 -07 150 33 37 250 33 58 350 42 60 450 50 60 -08 150 30 37 250 40 67 350 45 70 450 50 77 -09 150 27 43 250 37 60 350 43 62 450 45 63 -10 150 20 33 250 37 50 350 45 53 450 55 63 -11 150 22 40 250 27 50 350 45 57 450 58 60 -12 150 20 30 250 28 35 350 50 53 450 60 60 -13 150 20 23 250 25 43 350 45 53 450 50 57 -14 150 13 33 250 30 40 350 65 53 450 65 55 -15 150 8 27 250 27 40 350 50 57 450 65 60 In this test, the glyphosate compositions containing the shorter alkanoyl chain phospholipids (3-01 to 3-03) led to show greater herbicidal effectiveness. No large or consistent difference in this test was observed between saturated and unsaturated C-8 alkanoyl phospholipids (L-stearoyl, 3-10, versus L-oleoyl, 3-14, or L-llmoleoyl, 3-15 ).

EXAMPLE 4 Spray compositions having excipient ingredients were prepared as shown in Table 4a. The soy lecitin (45% phospollide) and pure phospholipids (> 98%) used were obtained from Avanti. In addition to the excipient ingredients shown, all the spray compositions contained glyphosate IPA salt. Four different concentrations of glyphosate were used for each composition listed in Table 4a, selected to provide acid equilibrium rates of ghfosate as indicated in Table 4b. The compositions were prepared by the following procedure. The required amounts of the selected phospholipid, in the form of powder, were dispersed in 50 ml of water by applying sound in a Fisher Sonic Desmembrator, model 550, set at an output level of 8, for 3 minutes. Coiesterol, if included, was added before the sound application. Glyphosate was added after sonication. The compositions were recently prepared when they were applied in the greenhouse test of this Example.

TABLE 4a Composition% p / p Spray type Fosfolí Coles Sitoes Phospholipid fast terol terol 4-01 0.05 soy lecithin 4-02 0.05 0.005 soy lecithin 4-03 0.05 0.010 soy lecitin 4-04 0.05 0.015 soy lecithin 4-05 0.05 0.01 soy lecithin 4-06 0.05 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-07 0.05 0.005 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-08 0.05 0.010 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-09 0.05 0.015 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-10 0.05 0.01 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-1 1 0.05 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-12 0.05 0.005 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-13 0.05 0.010 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-14 0.05 0.015 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine 4-15 0.05 0.01 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidolcolin Plants of hobby (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by standard procedures previously indicated. Applications were made spray compositions 19 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 16 days after application. As comparative treatments, Formulation B and Formulation J applied themselves; Formulation B was also applied in tank mix with soy lecithin (45% phospholipid, Avanti). The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 4b.

TABLE 4b Composition Rate of glyphosate spray inhibition% ga.e./ha ABUTH ECHCF Formulation B 150 0 27 250 28 40 350 43 50 450 70 92 Formulation B 150 10 40 -r-lecithin at 0.05% w / v 250 33 53 350 48 73 450 77 77 Formulation J 150 45 77 250 77 98 350 93 97 450 98 100 4-01 150 20 43 250 37 73 or -or ? ro __. ^ co N3 __ *. ? M _- 4 ^ co ro __ 4 ^ co ro cn ^? J1 Ol ai 01 01 Ol Ol Ol Ol Ol Ol Ol Ol 01 Ol Ol Ol Oi Ol Ol Ol o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o < or «oi £ g S g 00 -. 00 -vl -J s. (D • s n l -4 ^ c-o ro - ~? - i 0) Ol? --j CO co Ol Ol Ol? or ro Ol CO o ro o? - J o? ? 00 Ol o? I heard or co 0) Ol * > i CO s > - O Ol o o - ^ 00 n? c 4 _- or s > l l o CO -. co -4 -4 or íl -vi 4 00 00 00 Ol *. o o CO -4 ^ 1 --I Ol O Ol -J -08 150 65 33 250 67 40 350 72 50 450 80 60 -09 150 65 37 250 72 47 350 70 53 450 78 80 -10 150 45 43 250 55 80 350 65 57 450 78 87 -11 150 57 33 250 73 50 350 73 73 450 78 83 -12 150 45 40 250 72 50 350 65 60 450 82 73 -13 150 43 43 250 65 47 350 70 60 450 82 83 -14 150 60 50 250 77 60 350 80 67 450 87 78 4-15 150 60 43 250 78 43 350 77 65 450 87 75 In this test, ghfosato compositions containing purified L- or D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (4-06 to 4-15) generally showed greater herbicide effectiveness than those containing soy lecithin (4-01 to 4-05).

EXAMPLE 5 Spray compositions having excipient ingredients were prepared as shown in Table 5a. Soy lecithin (45% phospholipid) and pure phospholipids (> 98%) used were obtained from Avanti. In addition to the excipient ingredients shown, all the spray compositions contained glyphosate IPA salt. Four different concentrations of glyphosate were used for each composition listed in Table 5a, selected to provide acid equilibrium rates of glyphosate as indicated in Table 5b. The compositions were prepared by the following procedure. The required amount of the selected phospholipid, in the form of powder, was dispersed in 50 ml of water by sound application in a Fishßr sonic dismembler, model 550, set at an output level dß 8, for 3 minutes. Sitosterol, if included, was added before sonication.

Other ingredients, including glyphosate, were added after the sonication. The compositions were recently prepared when applied in the greenhouse test of this Example.

TABLE 5a Composition% p / p Spray type Fosfolí Sitoes MON Phospholipid fast terol 0818 5-01 0.05 soy lecithin 5-02 0.05 0.01 soy lecithin 5-03 0.05 0.01 soy lecithin 5-04 0.05 0.01 0.01 soy lecithin 5- 05 0.05 L-dipaimitoylphosphatidylcholine -06 0.05 0.01 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -07 0.05 0.01 L-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -08 0.05 0.01 0.01 L-dipalmltoylphosphatidylcholine -09 0.05 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -10 0.05 0.01 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -11 0.05 0.01 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -12 0.05 0.01 0.01 D-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine -13 0.05 0.01 L-didecanoylphosphatidylcholine -14 0.05 0.01 L-dilauroylphosphatidolcolin -15 0.05 0.01 L-dimipstoylphosphatidylcholine 5-16 0.05 0.01 DL-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine Plants of hobby (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by standard procedures previously indicated. Applications of spray compositions were made 1 day after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of Herbicide Inhibition was made 17 days after application. As comparative treatments, Formulation B and Formulation J were applied alone. The results, averaged for the replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 5b.

TABLE 5b Composition Speed of% of i glyphosate spray inhibition ga.e./ha ABUTH ECHCF Formulation B 150 73 33 250 82 57 350 89 67 450 90 73 Formulation J 150 77 73 250 88 92 350 97 96 450 99 99 5-01 150 60 50 250 83 65 350 87 82 450 92 98 -02 150 80 75 250 87 70 350 97 97 450 97 95 -03 150 78 87 250 82 78 350 87 83 450 87 85 -04 150 50 78 250 87 77 350 92 95 450 94 87 -05 150 70 82 250 88 89 350 83 88 450 97 82 -06 150 78 87 250 80 75 350 93 90 450 97 94 -07 150 83 80 250 87 73 350 93 68 450 97 70 -08 150 72 70 250 90 82 350 97 85 450 94 88 -09 150 77 80 250 80 87 350 83 90 450 92 78 -10 150 77 90 250 82 83 350 90 93 450 98 87 -11 150 65 96 250 75 97 350 80 95 450 87 95 -12 150 67 93 250 83 97 350 87 96 450 94 90 -13 150 72 87 250 85 88 350 87 88 450 96 93 -14 150 77 88 250 80 85 350 94 92 450 95 83 -15 150 73 82 250 80 80 350 83 82 450 92 87 -16 150 70 77 250 83 88 350 93 80 450 98 88 In this test, glyphosate compositions containing purified L- or D-dipalmitoylphosphatidolphine (5-05 to 5-12) generally showed greater herbicide effectiveness than those containing soybean lecithin (5-1 5 to 5%). 04) The above description of the specific embodiments of the present invention is not intended to be a complete list of each possible embodiment of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications can be made to the specific embodiments described herein that would be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (3)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A composition for the treatment of plants consisting of a) an exogenous chemical compound and b) a first excipient substance forming liposomes in aqueous dispersion and consisting of one or more compounds having, each, i) a hydrophilic portion containing a cationic group and i) a hydrophilic portion containing two hydrocarbyl or acyl chains, wherein about 40 to 100 percent of said chains in the composition are saturated linear alkyl or alkanoyl groups having from about 8 to about 22 atoms carbon, said liposome-forming compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of -d) N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH20P0 (0) 0CH2CH (0C0R1) CH2 (0C0R2) wherein R1 and R2 are independently groups saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyls, each independently having from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms, wherein R5, R6 and R7 are independently hydrogen, C? _4 alkyl or hydrocarbon Ilo of C-1-4.

2. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that from about 40 to 100 percent of said chains in the composition are saturated linear alkyl or alkanoyl groups having from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that the first excipient substance is a phospholipid selected from the group consisting of Cg-22 alkanoylphosphatidylcholines and C-22-A alkanoylphosphatidylethanolamines. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 3, further characterized in that the first excipient substance is a dipalmitoyl or distearoyl ester of phosphatidylcholine or a mixture of them. 5. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the weight / weight ratio of the first excipient substance to the exogenous chemical compound is from about 1 3 to about 1: 100. 6. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that the first excipient substance is a lecithin of animal origin 7. The composition according to claim 6, further characterized in that the lecithin is derived from yolk of egg. 8 - The composition according to any of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that the herbicide is selected from the group consisting of acetanilides, dipyridyls, coclohexanones, dinitroanilines, diphenyl ethers. fatty acids, hydroxybenzonitriles, imidazole, phenoxies, phenoxypropionates, substituted ureas, sulfonylureas, thiocarbamates, tpazines, more specifically acetochlor, alachlor, matolachlor, aminotriazole, asulam, bentazone, bialaphos, diquat, paraquat, bromacil, cletodim, sethoxydim, dicamba, diflufenican , pendimethalin, acifluorfen, fatty acids of Cg_10, fomesafen, oxyfluorfen, fosamine, flupoxam, glufosinate, glyphosate, bromoxyl, imizaquin, imazetapyr, isoxaben, norflurazon, 2,4-D, diclofop, fluazifop, quizalofop, pícloram, propanil, fluometuron , isoproturon, chlorimuron, chlorsulfuron, halosulfuron, etsulfuron, pnmsulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, trialate, atrazine, metribuzin, triciopyr and herbicidal derivatives thereof 9. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that it comprises a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic quaternary ammonium compound or mixture of said compounds having the formula R8-Wa-XY- (CH2) n -N + (R9) (R1) (R11) T wherein R8 is a hydrocarbyl or haloalkyl group having about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, possibly fluorinated or perfluorinated, W and Y are independently O or NH, a and b are independently 0 or 1 but at least one of a and b is 1, X is CO, SO or SO2, n is 2 to 4, Rβ, R10 and R11 are independently C1- alkyl, and T is - a suitable anion. 10. The composition according to any of claims 1 or 8, further characterized in that it consists of a second excipient substance that is a compound or mixture of compounds having the formula R1 -CO-A-R15 wherein R4 is a hydrocarbyl group having from about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R "I5 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms ep R14 and R15 is about 11 to approximately 27, and A is O or NH. 11. The composition according to claim 10, further characterized in that R14 is saturated in about 40 to 100 times weight percent of all compounds having the established formula present in the composition 12 - The composition according to claim 9 or 10, further characterized in that the weight / weight ratio of the second substance excipient to the exogenous chemical compound is about from 1 3 to about 1 100 13 - The composition according to any of claims 1 to 12, further characterized in that the composition is a concentrated, storage stable composition containing the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 15 to about 90 percent by weight 14 - The composition according to claims 1 to 12, further characterized in that the composition is a solid composition containing the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of from about 30 to about 90 weight percent. 15 - The composition according to any of claims 1 to 13, character Also, it contains a liquid diluent and because the composition contains the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 15 to about 60 weight percent. The composition according to claim 15, further characterized in that the exogenous chemical substance is soluble. in water and is present in an aqueous phase of the composition in an amount of from about 15 to about 45 weight percent of the composition 17 - A method for treating plants consisting of contacting the foliage of a plant with a biologically effective amount of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 16