MXPA99003839A - 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 compositon that comprises (a) an exogenous chemical;(b) a first excipient substance which is a compound or mixture of compouds having the formula R14-CO-A-R15, wherein R14 is a hydrocarbyl group having about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in R14 and R15 is about 11 to about 27, and A is O or NH;and (c) a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic substance having a critical packing parameter greater than 1/3.

Description

COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING PLANTS WITH EXOGENQS CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to formulations and methods for increasing the effectiveness of exogenous chemicals used to treat plants. An exogenous chemical, as defined herein, is any chemical substance, either naturally or synthetically derived, that (a) has biological or is capable of releasing in an 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 cells or tissues of the plant and produce a stimulatory, inhibitory, regulatory, therapeutic, toxic or lethal response in the plant itself or in a pathogen, parasite or food organism present in or on the plant Examples of exogenous chemical substances include, but are not limited to a, chemical pesticides (such as herbicides, algicides, fungicides, bectepcidas, vincidas, insecticides, aphids, mitradas, nematicides , molluscicides and the like), plant growth regulators, fertilizers and nutrients, gemetocides, defoamers, desiccants, mixtures thereof and the like Exogenous chemicals, including herbicides applied to the foliage, have sometimes been formulated with surfactants, what when water is added, the resulting sprinkle composition is retained in easier and more effective form on foliage (v gr, leaves or other photosynthesizing organs) of plants Surfactants also bring other benefits, including improved contact of spray droplets with a waxy leaf surface and, in some cases Improved penetration of the accompanying exogenous chemical in the intepor of the leaves Through these and perhaps other effects, it has been known for a long time that surfactants increase the biological effectiveness of herbicidal compositions, or of other exogenous chemical compositions, when they are added or included in said compositions In this way, for example, the glyphosate herbicide (N-phosphonomethyoglycine) has been formulated with surfactants such as polyoxyalkylene type surfactants including, among other surfactants, polyoxyalkylenealkylamines Commercial formulations of herbicides of gllfosato marketed under the brand ROUNDUP® have been formulated with a surfactant composition based on said polyoxyalkylene alkylamine, in particular a polyethoxylated seboamine, this surfactant composition being identified as MON 0818 Surfactants have generally been combined with glyphosate or other exogenous chemicals either in a commercial concentrate (here called a "co-formulation"), or in a diluted mixture that is prepared from separate compositions, one comprising an exogenous chemical (v g, glosfosato) and another comprising surfactant, before being used in the field (i.e. , a tank mix) In the past, combinations of exogenous chemicals and surfactants or other adjuvants have been tried out. In some cases, the addition of a particular surfactant has not produced uniformly positive or negative changes in the effect of the exogenous chemical on the plant (e.g., a surfactant that could increase the activity of a particular herbicide on certain weeds). could interfere with, or antagonize, herbicidal efficacy in other weed species). Some surfactants tend to degrade very rapidly in aqueous solutions. As a result, surfactants that exhibit this property can only be used effectively in tank mixes (ie, mixed with the other ingredients in solution or dispersion in the tank just before the spraying takes place), instead of being co-formulated in an aqueous composition with the other ingredients in the first instance. This lack of stability, or inadequate counter life, has prevented the use of certain surfactants in some formulations of exogenous chemicals. Other surfactants, although chemically stable, are physically incompatible with certain exogenous chemicals, particularly in concentrated coformulations. For example, most classes of nonionic surfactants, including polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants, do not tolerate solutions of high ionic strength, such as in a concentrated aqueous solution of a glyphosate salt. Physical incompatibility can also lead to inadequate counter life. Others Problems that may originate from said incompatibility include the formation of agergadas large enough to interfere with commercial handling and application, for example blocked spray nozzles. Another problem that has been observed in the past is the effect of environmental conditions on the assimilation of an exogenous chemical composition in the foliage of a plant. For example, conditions such as temperature, relative humidity, presence or absence of sunlight and the health of the plant that will be treated can affect the assimilation of a herbicide in the plant. As a result, sprinkling exactly 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 greater amount of herbicide is commonly applied per unit area than what could actually be pecesapa in that situation, to ensure that adequate control of the undesirable plants will be achieved. For similar reasons, other exogenous chemicals applied to the foliage are also typically applied in quantities significantly greater than those necessary to give the desired biological effect in the particular situation in which they are used, to allow for the natural variability that exists in the efficiency of assimilation. foliar. There is therefore a need for exogenous chemical compositions which, through a more efficient assimilation in the foliage of the plant, allow for small amounts of use.

Many exogenous chemicals are packaged commercially as a liquid concentrate that contains a significant amount of water. The packed concentrate is sent to distributors or wholesalers. 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. The diluted composition prepared in this way is then sprinkled on 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 place where the end user buys it. Any concentrated liquid formulation containing relatively less water and therefore more exogenous chemical would reduce the cost per unit amount of the exogenous chemical. However, an important limit on the manufacturer's ability to increase the exogenous chemical load in the concentrate is the stability of that formulation. With certain combinations of ingredients, a limit will be reached in which any further reduction of the water content in the concentrate will cause it to become unstable (eg, split into discrete layers), which could make it commercially unacceptable. Accordingly, there is a need for formulations of improved exogenous chemicals, particularly herbicides, that are stable, effective, less sensitive to environmental conditions, and that allow the use of small amounts of exogenous chemical to achieve the desired biological effect in or on the plants. There is also a need for formulations liquid and stable concentrates of exogenous chemicals that contain less water and more exogenous chemical than the concentrates of the antepor BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions ep where exogenous chemicals 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, (b) a first excipient substance which is a compound or mixture of compounds having the formula R14-C0-A-R'5 VII wherein R14 is a hydrocarbyl group having about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 is a hydrocarbyl group has 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in R1- and R1S is from about 11 to about 27, and A is O or NH, and (c) a second excipient substance lime is an amphiphilic substance having a critical packing parameter of more than 1/3"Amphiphilic" means that it has at least one water-soluble and polar main group that is hydrophilic and at least one organic residue soluble in water that is hydrophilic, contained within the same molecule. A "excipient substance", as that term is used in this patent, is any substance that is not an exogenous chemical, and water is added to the composition 'Excipient substances' include inert ingredients, although an excipient substance useful in the present invention does not have to lack biological activity. In a preferred embodiment, the weight / weight ratio of said exogenous chemical excipient second substance is It is particularly preferred that the weight / weight ratio of the substance substance to the exogenous chemical is also from about 1 3 to about 1 100. In another embodiment, R 14 is saturated in from about 40 to 100 percent. by weight of all compounds having the aforementioned formula ep composition R14 preferably has about 11 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 preferably has 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and A is preferably O In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention , the first excipient substance is a C1-4 alkyl ester of a C12-18 fatty acid, very preferably a C1-4 alkyl ester of a saturated Ct218 fatty acid. Especially preferred are propyl, isopropyl or butyl esters of C12 18 fatty acids, such as butyl stearate. variety of exogenous chemicals in the compositions and methods of the present invention A preferred class of exogenous chemicals applied to foliages, ie exogenous chemicals that are normally applied after the emergence of foliage of plants A preferred subclass of exogenous chemicals applied to foliage is the one of those which are water-soluble "Water-soluble" is intended to mean in this context that it has a solubility in distilled water at 25 ° C of more than about 1% by weight. The water-soluble exogenous chemicals that are especially preferred are the salts having an anionic portion and a cationic portion 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 chemicals in which the cationic portion is biologically active are paraquat, dicuat and chlormequat Ammonium potion that is biologically active is more common Another preferred subclass of exogenous chemicals is that of those that exhibit systemic biological activity in the plant Within this subclass, an especially preferred group of exogenous chemicals is N-phosphonomethylglycine and its derivatives herbicides N-phosphonomethylglycine, commonly called by its common name glosfosate, may be used in its acid form, but is more preferably used in the form of a salt. Any water-soluble salt of glyphosate may be used in the practice of this invention. Some salts that are preferred include the sodium, potassium salts. , ammonium, mono-, di-, tp- and tetraalkylammon of C1-C4, mono-, di- and tpalcanolamonio of C1-C4, dr- and tpalquilsulfo or of C1-C4 and sulfoxonium. Especially preferred are the ammonium, monoisopropylammonium salts and glyphosate tpmethylsulfonium Salt mixtures may also be useful in certain situations The compositions of the present invention can be used in plant treatment methods. The foliage of the plant is placed in contact with a biologically effective amount of the composition. "Contacting" in this context means applying the composition on the foliage. A composition of the present invention comprising an exogenous chemical and a first excipient substance as described above may have a number of different physical forms. For example, the composition may further comprise water in an effective amount such as to make the composition a dilute aqueous composition ready for application to the foliage of a plant. Said composition typically contains about 0.02 to about 2 weight percent of the exogenous chemical, but for some purposes may contain up to about 10 weight percent or even more of the exogenous chemical. Alternatively, the composition can be a stable, counter-stable concentrate composition comprising the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 10 percent to about 90 percent by weight. Such stable counter concentrates may be, for example, (1) a solid composition comprising the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 30 to about 90 weight percent, such as a granular formulation soluble or dispersible in water or (2) ) a composition further comprising a liquid diluent, wherein the composition comprises the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 10 to about 60 weight percent. In this Finally, it is especially preferred that the exogenous chemical substance is water-soluble and is present in an aqueous phase of the composition in an amount of about 15 to about 45 percent by weight of the composition. In this embodiment the first excipient substance is present predominantly in an oil phase of the composition, said composition typically being in the form of an emulsion, which may be more specifically, for example an oil in water emulsion, a water emulsion in oil or a multiple emulsion of water in oil in water. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the solid or aqueous composition further comprises a solid inorganic particulate colloidal material. As described above, one embodiment of the invention is a sprayable composition comprising an exogenous chemical, an aqueous diluent and a first excipient substance. The term "spray composition" is sometimes used in the present to mean a sprayable composition. In a related embodiment of the invention, a concentrated composition is provided which, after dilution, dispersion or dissolution in water, forms the aspeable composition just described. The concentrated composition contains a reduced amount of the aqueous diluent, or, in a particular embodiment, is a dry composition having less than about 5% water by weight. Typically, a concentrated composition of the invention contains at least about 10% by weight of the exogenous chemical, preferably at least about 15%.

An alternative embodiment is a composition that does not comprise an exogenous chemical itself, but that is designed for application to a plant in conjunction with or as a vehicle for the application of an exogenous chemical. This composition comprises a first excipient substance as described above. Said composition may be sprayable, in which case it will also comprise an aqueous diluent, or it may be a concentrate that requires dilution, dispersion or dissolution in water to provide a spreadable composition. Thus, this embodiment of the invention can be provided as an individual product and applied to a plant, diluted as appropriate with water, simultaneously with the application of an exogenous chemical (e.g. in tank mixing with the exogenous chemical), or before or after application of the exogenous chemical, preferably within about 96 hours before or after the application of the exogenous chemical. In all embodiments, it is believed that the second excipient substance forms supramolecular aggregates in aqueous solution or dispersion. In particular, it is believed that the aqueous compositions of the present invention form aggregates in aqueous solution or dispersion, most of which are not simple micelles. "Majority" means that more than 50% by weight of the second excipient substance present is in the form of complex aggregates that are not simple micelles, e.g., as double layers or multilamellar structures. Preferably, more than 75% by weight is in the form of complex aggregates that are not simple micelles.

Whether or not an amphiphilic substance forms said aggregates depends on its molecular architecture. The effects of molecular architecture on the supramolecular self-assembly of amphiphilic molecules are well known and understood, as established for example by J.N. Israelachvill, D.J. Mitchell and B. W. Ninham ep Faradav Transactions II. volume 72, pp. 1525-1568 (1976) and in numerous recent articles and monographs. An important aspect is the "critical packaging parameter" (P) that is defined in the literature by the following equation: P = V / IA where V is the volume of the hydrophobic residue of the molecule, / is the effective length of the residue hydrophobic and A is the area occupied by the upper hydrophilic group. These dimensions can be calculated from physical measurements such as those described in the literature and have been published for numerous amphiphilic compounds. The amphiphilic substances useful as the second excipient substance herein have a critical packing parameter of more than 1/3. The second excipient substance forms aggregates in aqueous solution or dispersion which preferably have at least one dimension that is greater than two times the molecular length of the second excipient substance. In an embodiment of the invention, the second excipient substance is a liposome-forming material. A lysosome forming material gap is an amphiphilic compound or mixture of said compounds, preferably having two hydrophobic portions, each of which is an alkyl or acyl saturated chain having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms. The apfifilic compound or mixture of said compounds having said two hydrophobic portions with about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms constitutes about 40 to 100 weight percent of all the amphiphilic compounds having two hydrophobic portions present in the liposome-forming material. . Preferably, the liposome-forming matepal has a hydrophilic main group comprising a cationic group. Most preferably, the cationic group is an amine or ammonium group. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second excipient substance comprises a liposome-forming compound having a hydrophobic moiety comprising two independently saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups R 1 and R 2 each independently having from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms. A number of subclasses of said liposome-forming compounds are known. A subclass has the formula: N + (CH2R1) (CH2R2) (R3) (R4) Z- I wherein R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, C1- alkyl or C1-4 hydroxyalkyl and Z is a suitable agriculturally acceptable anion. A second subclass has the formula: N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH (OCH2R1) CH2 (OCH2R2) ri I wherein R5, R6 and R7 are independently hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 hydroxylalkyl and Z is a suitable anion.

A third subclass has the formula N + (R5) (Rs) (R7) CH2CH (0C0R1) CH2 (0C0R2) Z-lll where R5, R6, R7 and Z are as defined arpba A fourth subclass has the formula N + (Rd ) (R6) (R7) CH2OPO (0 *) OCH2CH (OCOR1) CH2 (OCOR2) IV wherein R5, R6, R7 and Z are as defined arpba The compounds of the formulas i-IV will have the indicated formulas at a pH of 4 and may have the same formulas at other pH's as well. However, it should be understood that the compositions of the present invention are not limited to being used at a pH of 4. It is preferred that about 40-100 percent of the groups R1 and R2 in the second excipient substance are saturated straight-chain alkyl groups having from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms Examples of suitable agriculturally acceptable Z-anions include hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate and acetate In all subclasses above of liposome-forming substances, the hydrophilic portion comprises a cationic group, specifically an amine 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) When the amine group is quaternary, it behaves as a cationic group independently of the pH When the amine group is secondary or tertiary, it behaves as a cathiopic group when it is protonated, that is, in an acid medium, for example at a pH of 4.

Other subclasses of liposome-forming substances having two hydrophobic chains each comprising a C7.2 hydrocarbyl group may also be used as the second excipient substance in the compositions of the present invention. Although substances having a cationic group ep the hydrophilic portion are preferred, nonionic or anionic substances may be used if desired. In another embodiment, the second excipient substance is a phospholipid selected from the group consisting of dialkyl-phosphatidyl collnanes of Cβ-22 dialkanoylphosphatidylethanolamines of Cβ-22- In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first excipient substance is a dipalmitoyl or distearoyl ester of phosphatidylcholine or a mixture of the same. In a further embodiment of the invention, the second excipient substance is an alkyl ether surfactant or mixture of said surfactants having the formula: R12-0- (CH2CH20) n (CH (CH3) CH20) m-R13 VI in where R12 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, n is an average number of about 10 to about 100, m is an average number of 0 to about 5 and R13 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl Four. Preferably, R 2 is a saturated straight-chain alkyl group, R 13 is hydrogen, m is 0 and n is from about 10 to about 40, most preferably from about 20 to about 40. More preferably, the ether surfactant The alkyl is a polyoxyethylene cetyl or stearyl ether or mixture thereof having 20-40 moles of ethylene oxide (EO). The aqueous compositions of the present invention may comprise supramolecular aggregates formed from the first and / or second excipients. In a preferred embodiment, the second excipient substance is a vesicle-forming amphiphilic substance, such as a vesicle-forming lipid, and when the substance is dispersed in water, the majority (more than 50% by weight, preferably more than 75%) by weight of the second excipient substance is present as vesicles or liposomes. In another preferred embodiment, the second excipient substance is present as double layers or multilamellar structures that are not organized as vesicles or liposomes. The compositions of the present invention may also include, without limitation, colloidal systems such as emulsions (water / oil, oil / water or multiples, e.g., water / oil / water), foams, microemulsions and suspensions or dispersions of micromaterials. in particles, nanomatepales in particles or microcapsules. The compositions of the invention may include more than one type of aggregate or colloidal system; examples include liposomes or vesicles dispersed in a microemulsion, and compositions having characteristics of both emulsions and suspensions, e.g., suspo-emulsions. The present invention also encompasses any formulation, which may or may not contain a significant antity of water, which, when diluted in an aqueous medium, forms said colloidal systems and / or systems comprising vesicles, liposomes, double layers or multilamellar structures, as long as the other requirements stipulated in this are met. The weight ratio of each of the first and second excipients to the exogenous chemical is preferably between about 1: 3 and about 1: 100. The high level of biological effectiveness, specifically herbicidal effectiveness of a glyphosate composition, exhibited at such low ratios of said excipient substances to exogenous chemical has been surprising. Higher ratios may also be effective, but may not be economical in most situations and may increase the risk of producing an antagonistic effect on the effectiveness of the exogenous chemical. 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 substances. In any of the above particular embodiments, the exogenous chemical and / or first excipient substance can be encapsulated within or associated with aggregates (e.g., liposomes) formed by the second excipient substance, but does 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 yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the second excipient substance forms liposomes, the exogenous chemical and / or the first excipient substance is not encapsulated or associated with the liposomes in absolute. Although the present invention does not exclude the possibility of encapsulating or associating the exogenous chemical, a dilute liposomal spray composition encapsulates less than 5% by weight of the exogenous chemical that is present in the total composition. Another dilute liposomal sprayable modality of the present invention does not have a substantial amount (i.e., less than 1% by weight) of the exogenous chemical encapsulated in the liposomes. When a drop of said iiposomal composition is dried on the foliage of a plant, the proportion of the exogenous chemical that is encapsulated in the liposomes can change. The compositions and methods of the present invention have a number of advantages. They provide increased biological activity of the exogenous chemicals in or on plants compared to the prior art formulations, either in terms of a greater final biological effect, or obtaining an equivalent biological effect using a reduced application amount of the exogenous chemical. Certain herbicidal formulations of the present invention can avoid the 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 which in some situations prevent the global 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 glyphosate-containing formulations of the present invention can provide adequate herbicidal activity against broadleaf weeds without losing herbicide effectiveness in narrowleaf weeds. Others can increase the Herbicide effectiveness on narrow leaf weeds to a greater degree than on broadleaf weeds. Others may also have increased effectiveness that is specific to a limited range of species or even a single species. Another advantage of the present invention is that it employs relatively small amounts of the first and second excipients in relation to the amount of exogenous chemical employed. This makes the compositions and methods of the present invention relatively inexpensive, and also tends to reduce problems of instability in specific compositions wherein one or both excipient substances are physically incompatible with the exogenous chemical (e.g., ether surfactants). alkyl in solutions of high ionic strength, such as concentrated solutions of salt of glyphosate). Even at the low concentrations of excipients used in the present invention, there may be limits on the maximum concentration of exogenous chemical that is used without causing compatibility problems (e.g., separation of the composition into discrete layers). In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the stability of the composition at high exogenous chemical loads is maintained by adding other ingredients such as, for example, colloidal particle materials. Some compositions of the present invention exhibit increased biological activity and have a higher exogenous chemical load than possible in the prior art compositions.

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. Likewise, the present invention allows the use of smaller amounts of herbicides or other pesticides, still obtaining the necessary degree of control of weeds or other unwanted organisms.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE MODALITIES Examples of exogenous chemical substances that may be included in the compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, chemical pesticides (such as herbicides, alglycides, fungicides, bactericides, viricides, insecticides, aphids, miticides, molluscicides and the like), regulators of plant growth, fertilizers and nutrients, gemetocides, defoliators, desiccants, mixtures thereof and the like. In a fashion of the invention, the exogenous chemical is polar. A preferred group of exogenous chemicals are those that are normally applied after emergence to the foliage of plants, that is, exogenous chemicals applied to the foliage. Some exogenous chemicals useful in the present invention are water-soluble, for example salts that comprise biologically active ions, and which also comprise counterions, which may be biologically inert or relatively inactive. A particularly preferred group of these exogenous water-soluble chemicals or their ions or biologically active portions are systemic in plants, that is, they are 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 herbicides, plant growth regulators and nematicides, particularly those having a molecular weight, excluding the counterions, of less than about 300. Especially preferred among these are exogenous chemical compounds having one or more functional groups selected from amine, carboxylate, phosphonate and phosphinate groups. Among said compounds, a group that is still more preferred are the exogenous chemical compounds or herbicidal growth regulators of plants having at least one of each of amine, carboxylate and either phosphonate or phosphinate functional groups. The N-phosphonomethylglycine salts are examples of this group of exoge- nous chemicals. Additional examples include glufosinate salts, for example the ammonium salt (DL-homoalanin-4-yl (metll) ammonium phosphinate). Another preferred group of exogenous chemicals that can be applied by the method of the invention are nematicides such as those disclosed in the U.S. patent. No. 5,389,680, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The nematicides of this group that are preferred are the salts of 3,4,4-trifluoro-3-butenoic acid or of N- (3,4,4-trifluoro-1-oxo-3-butenyl) glycine.

Exogenous chemicals that can be usefully applied by the method of the present invention are usually, but not exclusively, those which are expected to have a beneficial effect on the total growth or production of desired plants such as crops, or a harmful or lethal effect 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 the foliage of an unwanted vegetation. Herbicides that can be applied by the method of the present invention include but are not limited to any of those listed in standard reference works such as the "Herbic.de Handbook", Weed Science Societv of America. 1994, 7th 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, dinitroanillines such as pendlmetalin, diphenyl ethers such as acifluorfen, fomesafen and oxyfluorfen, fatty acids such as C9.10 fatty acids, fosamine, flupoxam, glufosinate, glyphosate, hydroxybenzonitriles such as bromoxynil, imidazollnones such as imazaquin e mazetapyr, isoxaben, norflurazon, phenoxies such as 2,4-D, phenoxypropionates such as diclofop, fluazifop and quizalofop, plcloram, propanll, substituted ureas such as flumeturon and soproturon, sulfonylureas such as chlorimuron, Clorsulfuron, halogensulfuron, metsulfuron, primisulfuron, sulfometuron and sulfosulfuron, thiocarbamates such as tpalate, tpazines such as atrazine and metribuzin, and triclopyr. The 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 may not necessarily have a potency equal to that of the herbicide of origin. These compounds can become the herbicide of origin before or after they enter the treated plant. Likewise, mixtures or co-regulations of a herbicide with other ingredients, or of more than one herbicide, can be used. A particularly preferred herbicide is N-phosphonomethylglycine (glyphosate), a salt, adduct or ester thereof, or a compound that is converted into glyphosate in the tissues of the plant or that otherwise provides a glyphosate ion. The glyphosate salts that may be used in accordance with this invention include but are not limited to alkali metal salts, for example sodium and potassium, ammonium salt; alkylamine salts, for example dimethylamine and isopropylamine; alkanolamine salts, for example ethanolamine; alkylsulfonium salts, for example trimethylisulfonium; sulfoxonium salts, and mixtures thereof. The herbicidal compositions sold by Monsanto Company as ROUNDUP® and ACCORD® contain the monolsopropylamine salt (IPA) of N-phosphonomethylglycine. The compositions herbicides 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-phospho-pheromigine. The herbicidal composition sold by Zeneca as TOUCHDOWN® contains the trimethylsulfonium salt of N-phosphonomethylglycine. The herbicidal properties of N-phosphonomethylglycine and its derivatives were first discovered by Franz, and then deciphered and patented in the US patent. 3,799,758, issued March 26, 1974. A number of herbicidal salts of N-phosphonomethylglycine were patented by Franz in the US patent. 4, 405,531, issued September 20, 1983. The descriptions of both of these patents are incorporated herein by reference. Since the most important commercially available herbicide derivatives of N-phosphonomethylglycine are certain salts thereof, the glyphosate compositions useful in the present invention will be described in more detail with respect to said salts. These salts are well known and include the ammonium, IPA, alkali metal salts (such as the mono-, di- and trisodium salts and the mono-, di- and tripotassium salts) and trimethylsulfonium salts. The salts of N-phosphonomethylglycine are commercially significant in part because they are soluble in water. The salts listed above are highly water soluble, thus allowing highly concentrated solutions that can be diluted at the place of use. According to the method of this invention, as regards the herbicide of glosfosate, a solution is applied to the foliage of the plants aqueous containing a herbicidally effective amount of glyphosate and other components according to the invention. Said aqueous solution can be obtained by diluting a solution of concentrated glyphosate salt with water, or dissolving or dispersing in water a dry glyphosate formulation (eg, granulated, powder, tablet or tablet). The exogenous chemicals must be applied to the plants in an amount sufficient to give the desired biological effect. These application rates are usually expressed as exogenous chemical amount 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 investigate, develop, market and use a specific class of exogenous chemicals. For example, in the case of a herbicide, the amount applied per unit area to give 85% control of a plant species measured by growth reduction or mortality is commonly used to define a commercially effective amount. Herbicidal effectiveness is one of the biological effects that can be increased by means of this invention. The term "herbicidal effectiveness", as used herein, refers to any observable measure of growth control of the plant, which may include one or more of the actions of (1) eliminating, (2) inhibiting growth , reproduction or proliferation and (3) remove, destroy or otherwise reduce the occurrence and activity of the plants.

The herbicide effectiveness data set forth herein report "inhibition" as a percentage after a standard procedure in the art that reflects a visual determination of mortality and reduction of plant growth as compared to untreated plants, made by specially trained technicians. to make and record such observations. In all cases, a single technician makes all determinations of percent inhibition in any experiment or test. These measurements are based on and are regularly reported by Monsanto Company in the course of its herbicide business. The selection of application quantities that are biologically effective for a specific exogenous chemical is within the skill of the ordinary agricultural scientist. Those skilled in the art will recognize in the same way that the individual conditions of the plant, the climate and growth conditions, as well as the specific exogenous chemical and formulation thereof selected, will affect the effectiveness achieved in carrying out this invention. The amounts of application useful for the exogenous chemicals employed may depend on all the above conditions. With respect to the use of the method of this invention for glyphosate herbicides, too much information is known about the appropriate application amounts. Throughout two decades of glyphosate use and published studies that refer to such use, abundant information has been provided about which weed control practitioner can select application amounts of glyphosate that are herbicidally effective in particular species during particular growth stages and in particular environmental conditions. The herbicidal glyphosate compositions or derivatives thereof are used to control a very wide variety of plants throughout the world. Said 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: Abuiillon, Amaranthus, Artemisia, Asclepias, Oats, Axonopus, Borrena, Brachiaria, Brassica, Bromus, Chenopodium, Cirsium, Commelina, Convolvulus, Cynodon, Cyperus, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Eleusine, Elymus, Equisetum, Erodium, Helianthus, Imperata, Ipomoea, Kochia, Lolium, Mlava, Oryza, Ottochloa, Panicum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phragmit's, Polygonum, Portulaca, Pteridium, Pueraria, Rubus, Salsola, Setaria, Sida, Sinapis, Sorghum, Triiicum, Typha, Ulex, Xanthium and Zea. Particularly important species for which the glyphosate compositions are used, are exemplified without limitation by means of the following: Annual broadleaf: Alcotán (Abutilón theophrasti) amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) Button (Borreria spp.) Oilseed rape, canola, Indian mustard, etc. (Brassica spp.) cornelina (Commelina spp.) filamentous plant (Erodium spp.) sunflower (Helianthus spp.) marigold (Ipomoea spp.) cochla (Kochia scoparia) mallow (Malva spp.) wild buckwheat, water pepper, etc. (Poligonum spp.) Purslane (Portulaca spp.) Russian thistle (Salsola spp.) Dibetu (Sida spp.) Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) ajonjera (Xanthium spp.) Annual stenofoliads: wild oats (A vena fatua) carpet pasture (Axonopus spp.) Pubescent bromeliad (Bromus tectorum) crabgrass (Digitaria spp.) Farm pasture (Echinochloa crus-galli) goose pasture (Eleusine indica) annual rye (Lolium) multiforum) rice (Oryza sativa) otocloa (Otiochloa nodosa) bay grass (Paspalum notatum) birdseed (Phalaris spp.) foxtail (Setaria spp.) wheat (Triticum aestlvum) corn (Zea mays) Perennial broadleaf: Sticky sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) Asclepiadera (Asclepias spp.) Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense) field morningjar (Convolvulus arvensis) kudzú (Pueraria spp.) Perennial stenofoliads: Brachiaria (Brachiaria spp.) Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) yellow sedge (Cyperus esculentus) purple sedge (C. rotundus) grass (Elymus repens) lalanga (Imperata cylindrica) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Guinea grass (Panicum) maximum) dilated grass (Pasapalum dilatatum) cane (Phragmites spp.) Sorghum of Aleppo (Sorghum halepense) bulrush (Typha spp.) Other perennial: horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) blackberry (Rubus spp.) Gorse (Ulex europaeus) In this way, the method of the present invention, as regards glyphosate herbicide, can be useful in any of the above species.

The effectiveness in greenhouse tests, usually in exogenous chemical quantities lower than those normally effective in the field, is a proven indicator of the consistency of yield in the field in normal use quantities. However, even the most promising composition fails sometimes to exhibit increased yield in individual greenhouse tests. As illustrated in the examples herein, an increment pattern emerges over a series of greenhouse tests; When this pattern is identified, it is strong evidence of a biological increase that will be useful in the field. The compounds useful as the first excipient substance are amides or esters of the formula VII above.

R14 in the formula VII is preferably aliphatic and has from about 7 to about 21 carbon atoms, most preferably from about 13 to about 21 carbon atoms. It is especially preferred that R14 is a saturated straight-chain alkyl group. R15 is preferably an aliphatic group having 1-6 carbon atoms, most preferably alkyl or alkenyl having 2-4 carbon atoms. A compound of the formula VII especially preferred for use as the first 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 being present of the formula VII predominantly in the oil phase. Said emulsions may be water in oil, oil in water or multiple emulsions of water in oil in water in water (W / O / W). The compositions of the present invention comprise a second excipient substance that is one or more amphiphilic materials, of which two classes are preferred. The first class of said second excipients can be defined as amphiphilic liposome-forming substances. These include various lipids of synthetic, animal or plant origin, including phospholipids, ceramides, sphingolipids, dialkyl surfactants and polymeric surfactants. A variety of these materials are known for those skilled in the art and commercially available. Lecithins are particularly rich in phosphods and can be derived from a number of animal and plant sources. The soybean lecithin is a particular example of a relatively inexpensive and commercially available matepal which includes such substances. have decontaminated many other substances that can be used to form somes, the present invention includes compositions comprising any of said posomes forming substances, as long as the other requirements established arpba are met, and the use of said compositions to increase the biological effectiveness of exogenous chemicals applied to foliage of plants For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,580,859, incorporated herein by reference, discloses some-forming substances having a cationic group, including N- (2,3-d) chloride. ? - (9- (Z) -octadecen? Lox?)) - prop-1-? LN, N, N-tpmet? Lamo n? o (DOTMA) and 1, 2-b? s (oleo? lox?) - 3- (tpmet? lamon? o) propane (DOTAP) The some-forming substances that are not cationic in themselves, but that do they contain a cationic group as part of the hydrophilic portion, include for example dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). some-forming substances that do not contain a cationic group include dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG). Any of these some-forming substances can be used, with or without the addition of cholesterol These substances contain portions that are hydrophilic and hydrophobic within the same molecule. They have the ability to self-assemble in aqueous solution or dispersion to form structures that are more complex than simple micelles. The nature of the aggregate that will be formed can be related to the critical packing parameter P by the following equation: P = V / IA where V is the volume of the hldrophobic residue of the molecule, / is the effective length of the hydrophobic residue and A is the area occupied by the upper hydrophilic group on the surface of the aggregate. The most likely self-assembled structures are spherical micelles when P is less than 1/3, barlet micelles when P is between 1/3 and 1, lamellar when P is between 1 and! -, and inverse structures when P is greater than 1. The materials that are preferred in the present invention have P greater than 1/3. Cationic some-forming substances having a hydrophobic portion comprising two hydrocarbyl chains are accompanied by a counterion (anion), identified as Z in formulas I, II and III arpba. Any suitable anion can be used, including agriculturally acceptable anions such as hydroxide, chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, phosphate and acetate. In a specific embodiment in which the exogenous chemical has a biologically active anion, that anion can serve as the counter ion for the some forming substance. For example, you can use glyphosate in your acid form together with the hydroxide of a some forming substance such as a compound of formula I. Compounds of formula I known in the art as some promoters include disteapldimethylammonium chloride and bromide (also known in the art as DODAC and DODAB, respectively). Compounds of formula II known in the art as some formers include DOTMA, mentioned above, and dimyristoxypropyl dimethylhydroxyethylammonium bromide (DMRIE). Compounds of formula III known in the art as some formers include dioleoyloxy? -3- (dimethylammonium) propane (DODAP) and DOTAP mentioned both. Compounds of formula IV known in the art as some formers include DOPC and DOPE, both mentioned above. In many some forming substances known in the art, the hydrodhobic hydrocarbyl chains are unsaturated, having one or more double bonds. Used particularly in a common form in the pharmaceutical technique are the dioleyl or dioleoyl compounds. A potential problem with these is that in an oxidizing environment they can be oxidized at the site of the double bond. This can be inhibited by including in the formulation an antioxidant such as ascorbic acid. Alternatively, the problem can be avoided by the use of liposome-forming substances in which a high proportion of the hydrophobic hydrocarbyl chains are completely saturated. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, R1 and R2 in the formulas I-IV are saturated straight-chain alkyl groups independently. Particularly preferred compositions use liposome-forming substances in which R1 and R2 are both palmityl (cetyl) or plamitoyl groups or, alternatively, are both stearyl or stearoyl groups. Phospholipids, thanks to their low cost and favorable environmental properties, are particularly preferred among the liposome-forming substances of the method and compositions of the invention. Vegetable lecithins, such as soy lecithin, have been used successfully in accordance with the invention. The phospholipid content of the lecithin product can vary from about 10% to almost 100%. Although acceptable results have been obtained with crude lecitin (10-20% phospholipids), it is generally preferred to use the lecithin which is at least partially deoiled, so that the content of phospholipids is in the region of about 45% or more. Higher grades such as 95% provide excellent results, but the much higher cost will not be justified for most applications. The phospholipid component of lecithin, or any phospholipid composition used in the present invention, may comprise one or more phosphatides of natural or synthetic origin. Each of these phosphatides is generally a phosphoric ester which in the hydrolysis produces phosphoric acid, fatty acid (s), polyhydric alcohol and, typically, a nitrogenous base. A phosphatide component may be present in a partially hydrolyzed form, e.g., as phosphatidic acid. Suitable phosphatides include, without limitation, phosphatidylcholine, hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylnositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamm, N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine and mixtures of any of these. In plant lecithins, a high proportion of the hydrophobic hydrocarbyl chains of the phospholipid compounds are typically unsaturated. A preferred embodiment of compositions according to the present invention comprises both saturated phospholipid and unsaturated phospholipid, the weight ratio of saturated phospholipid to unsaturated phospholipid being greater than about 1: 2. In several particularly preferred embodiments, (1) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are saturated C? 2.22 dialkanoylphospholipid, (2) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are dialkanoylphospholipid from saturated C-ie-.s. , (3) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are distearoylphospholipid, (4) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are dipalmitoylphospholipid or (5) at least 50% by weight of the phospholipids are distearoylphosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or a mixture thereof. Higher proportions of saturated alkanoyl phospholipids are generally found in lecithins of animal origin, such as for example egg yolk lecithin, than in lecithins of vegetable origin. It is known that phospholipids are chemically stable, at least in acid media, where they tend to degrade to their smooth counterparts. Thus, when phospholipids are used in place of more stable liposome forming substances, it is usually preferable to adjust the pH of the composition upwards. In the case of glyphosate compositions, the pH of a composition based on a mono-salt such as the salt of monoisopropylammonium (IPA) is typically about 5 or less When phospholipids are used as the first excipient substance ep a glosphosate composition of the invention it will be preferable to therefore raise the pH of the composition for example to about 7. Suitable base for this purpose, it will be much more convenient to use the same base in the glyphosate salt for example isopropylamine in the case of the IPA salt of the glyphosa A second class of amphiphilic substance useful as the second excipient substance in accordance with the present invention is a long-chain alkyl ether surfactant having the formula VI above R 2 can be branched or unbranched, saturated or unsaturated R 12 is preferably straight chain saturated C 6 alkyl or straight chain saturated alkyl (stearate) In preferred alkyl ethers m is 0, n is an average number of about 20 to about 40 and R12 is preferably hydrogen Among the alkyl ether surfactants that are especially preferred are those identified in the International Directory of Cosmetic Ingredients such as ceteth-20, ceteareth-20, ceteareth-27, steareth-20 and steareth-30 The concentrated aqueous compositions they are in some limited circumstances in the degree to which an exogenous chemical such as glyphosa can be loaded. At a certain point, as the exogenous chemical load increases, the composition will not remain adequately stable. This is particularly true, for example when the exogenous chemical is glyphosate. Y The second excipient substance is an alkyl ether surfactant of the formula VI. It has surprisingly been found that the addition of a small amount of colloidal particle material to said compositions greatly increases the loading capacity while retaining the desired stability. The silicon, aluminum and titanium oxides are preferred colloidal particle materials. The particle size is preferably such that the specific surface area is in the range of about 50 to about 400 m2 / g. When the exogenous chemical is glyphosate, the use of colloidal particulate material enables fillers of at least 30% by weight for compositions containing sufficient alkyl ether and fatty acid to show improved herbicidal effectiveness, or at least 40% for compositions containing alkyl ether but not fatty acid ester, and showing herbicidal effectiveness at least equal to current commercial products loaded at about 30%. The present inventors have discovered that an especially useful improvement in storage stability can be obtained by using colloidal particle materials having a specific surface area of between about 180 and about 400 m2 / g. Other means for improving the stability of highly charged compositions may also be possible and are within the scope of the present invention. The compositions according to the present invention are typically prepared by combining water, the exogenous chemical (unless it is a formulation that will not contain an exogenous chemical) and the first and second excipients. When the second excipient substance is an aggregate forming material that requires high shear to disperse in water, it is currently preferred to sonicate or microfluidize the second excipient substance in water. This can be done before or after the first excipient substance and / or the exogenous chemical is added. Sonification or microfluidization will generally produce liposomes or other aggregate structures that are not simple micelles. The precise nature, including the average size, of liposomes or other aggregates depends among other things on energy consumption during sonification or microfluidization. Higher energy consumption generally results in smaller liposomes. Although it is possible to loosely or loosely bind or bind the exogenous chemical in or on the liposomes with other supramolecular aggregates, the exogenous chemical need not be trapped or bound in this manner, and in fact the present invention is effective when the Exogenous chemical is not trapped or bound in aggregates at all. In a particular embodiment of the invention, liposomes or other aggregates have an average diameter of at least 20 nm, most preferably at least 30 nm. It has been determined by light scattering that certain liposomal compositions of the invention have average liposome diameters ranging from 54 to 468 nm, calculated using linear adaptation and from 38 to 390 nm, calculated using quadratic adaptation.

The present inventors have found that for the compositions of the present invention containing a fatty acid ester such as butyl stearate as the first excipient substance and lecithin as the second excipient substance, it is preferable to first hydrate the lecithin and then m.croflu. d-zar the lecltin in water together with the fatty acid ester. The concentrations of the different components will vary, in part depending on whether a concentrate is being prepared that will be diluted further before being sprayed on a plant, or if a solution or dispersion is prepared that can be sprayed without further dilution. In a formulation of aqueous glyphosate that includes Ci6.18 alkyl ether surfactant and butyl stearate the appropriate concentrations can be giifosate 0.1-400 g a.e./l, alkyl ether surfactant 0.001 - 10% by weight and butyl stearate 0.001 - 10% by weight. To achieve the highest concentrations in these scales, it is commonly beneficial to add other ingredients to provide stability under acceptable storage, for example silica in colloidal particles or aluminum oxide at 0.5-2.5% by weight. In an aqueous glyphosate formulation that includes an alkyl ether surfactant of Ciß-iß but not of butyl stearate, the concentration of glyphosate can be suitably increased to 500 g ae / l or more, in the presence of a colloidal particle material at 0.5 - 2.5% by weight. In solid glyphosate formulations, higher ingredient concentrations are possible thanks to the removal of most water.

The weight / weight ratios of ingredients may be more important than the absolute concentrations. For example, in a glyphosate formulation containing lecithin and fatty acid ester, the ratio of lecithin to a.e. of glyphosate is on the scale from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100. It is generally preferred to use a ratio of lecithin to a.e. of giifosato near as high as can be incorporated in the formulation while maintaining stability, in the presence of an amount of ester sufficient fatty acid to give the desired herbicidal effectiveness of the increase. For example, a relationship iecitina / a.e. glyphosate in the range of about 1: 3 to about 1: 10 will generally be useful, although lower ratios, from about 1: 10 to about 1: 100 can have benefits on particular weed species in particular situations. The ratio of fatty acid ester to a.e. The glyphosate is preferably on a scale from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100, most preferably at the bottom of this scale, for example from about 1: 10 to about 1: 100. When the second excipient substance is an alkyl ether surfactant of formula VI, a weight / weight ratio of alkyl ether surfactant to a.e. of glyphosate is again on the scale from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100, preferably about 1: 3 to about 1: 10. The ratio of fatty acid ester to second excipient substance is preferably ep the scale of about 1: 20 to about . 1, most preferably in the range of about 1.15 to about 1: 1, for example, about 1: 10. 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 optimal and preferred ingredients and concentrations of ingredients for any particular use or situation can be determined by routine experimentation. Although the combination of components may make a mix tank, it is preferred in the present invention that the combination be made prior to application to the plant, to simplify the tasks required of the person applying the material to plants. However, the present inventors have found that in some cases the biological effectiveness of a composition containing llposomas prepared from a starting material such as a composition of diluted spray is higher than that of a composition having the same ingredients at the same concentrations but diluted from a previously prepared concentrated formulation. Although various compositions of the present invention are described herein as comprising certain listed materials, in some preferred embodiments of the invention the compositions consist essentially of the indicated materials. Optionally, other agriculturally acceptable materials may be included in the compositions. For example, more than one exogenous chemical may be included. Similarly, several adjuvants can be included agriculturally acceptable, whether or not its purpose is to contribute directly to the effect of the exogenous chemical in a plant. For example, when the exogenous chemical is a herbicide, liquid nitrogen or ammonium sulfate fertilizer may be included in the composition. As another example, stabilizers can be added to the composition. In some cases it may be desirable to include microencapsulated acid in the composition, to lower the pH of a spray solution in contact with a sheet. One or more surfactants may also be included. Surfactants mentioned here by trade name, and other surfactants that can be useful in the method of the invention are listed in standard reference works such as McCutcheon's Emulsifiers and Detergents, 1997 edition, Handbook of Industrial Surfactants, 2nd. edition, 1997, published by Gower and International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, 6th. Edition, 1995. The compositions of the present invention can be applied to plants by spraying, using any conventional means for spraying liquids, such as spray nozzles, sprays or the like. The compositions of the present invention can be used in precision farming techniques, in which an apparatus is used to vary the amount of exogenous chemical applied to different parts of a field, depending on variables such as the particular plant species, composition for land and similar. In one embodiment of said techniques, a global positioning system operated with the sprinkler apparatus can be used to apply the desired amount of the composition to different parts of a field. At the of its application to the plants, the composition is preferably sufficiently diluted to be easily sprayed using normal agricultural spraying equipment. Preferred application amounts for the present invention vary depending on a number of factors, including the type and concentration of active ingredient and the species of plant involved. The amounts useful for applying an aqueous composition to a foliage field can vary from about 25 to about 1,000 liters per hectare (I / ha) by spray application. The preferred application rates for aqueous solutions are on the scale of about 50 to about 300 l / ha. Many exogenous chemicals (including glyphosate herbicide) must be picked up by the living tissues of the plant and translocated within the plant to produce the desired biological effect (eg, herbicide). In this way, it is important that a composition The herbicide is not applied in such a way as to injure and excessively interrupt the normal functioning of the local tissue of the plant so rapidly that the translocation is reduced. However, a limited degree of local injury may be insignificant, or even beneficial, in its impact on the biological effectiveness of certain exogenous chemicals. A large number of compositions of the invention are illustrated in the following examples. Many concentrated compositions of Glyphosate have provided sufficient herbicide effectiveness in greenhouse tests to ensure field tests on a wide variety of weed species under a variety of application conditions. The water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsion compositions tested in the field have included The above compositions were prepared by the process (vi) as the dept.p. examples The aqueous compositions tested in the field having a fatty acid ester such as the substance substance and containing a nonionic surfactant have included The above compositions were prepared by process (vii) as described in the examples. Aqueous compositions tested in the field containing colloidal particle materials have included: The above compositions were prepared by process (ix) as described in the examples. Aqueous compositions tested in the field having a fatty acid ester as the first excipient substance and soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti) as the second excipient substance have included: The above compositions were prepared by process (x) as described in the examples. The dry compositions tested in the field have included: The above compositions were prepared by the procedure described for dry granular compositions in Example 64.

EXAMPLES In the following examples illustrating the invention, greenhouse tests were conducted to evaluate the relative herbicidal effectiveness of the glyphosate compositions. Compositions included for comparison purposes included the following: Formulation B: which consists of 41% by weight of IPA salt of glyphosate in aqueous solution. This formulation is sold in the USA by Monsanto Company under the trademark ACCORD®. Formulation C. which consists of 41% by weight of glyphosate IPA salt in aqueous solution with a co-formulant (15% by weight) of a surfactant (MON 0818 from Monsanto Company) based on polyoxyethylene (15) seboamine. This formulation is sold in Canada by Monsanto Company under the trademark ROUNDUP®. Formulation J: which consists of 41% by weight of IPA salt of glyphosate in aqueous solution. This formulation is sold in the USA by Monsanto Company under the trademark ROUNDUP® ULTRA. Formulation K: which consists of 75% by weight of ammonium salt of glyphosate together with a surfactant, such as a granulated formulation dry soluble in water. This formulation is sold in Australia by Monsanto Company under the trademark ROUNDUP®DRY. Formulations B, C and J contain 356 grams of glyphosate acid equivalent per liter (g a.e./l). Formulation K contains 680 grams of glyphosate acid equivalent per kilogram (g a.e./kg). Proprietary excipients were used in the compositions of the examples. They can be identified as follows: Fluorad FC-135, although defined only generically as above in the 3M product literature and in normal directories, has been specifically defined as C8F17S02NH (CH2) 3N * (CH3) 3 I "in a document by J Linert &JN Chasman of 3M, entitled "The effects of fluorochemical surfactants on recoatability" in the December 20, 1993 issue of the American Paint &Coatmgs Journal, and reprinted as a commercial brochure by 3M.It is believed that Fluorad FC-754 has the structure C8F17S? 2NH (CH2) 3N * (CH3) 3 Cies say, identical to Fluorad FC-135 but with a chloride anion replacing iodide The ethoxylated fatty alcohol surfactants are called in the examples by their generic names as given in the International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary, ßta 1995 edition (Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrapce Association, Washington, DC) They were obtained interchangeably from several manufacturers, for example Laureth-23 Bpj 35 (ICI), Trycol 5964 (Henkel) Ceteth-10 Bnj 56 (ICI) Ceteth-20 Bpj 58 (ICI) Steareth-10 Bpj 76 (IC!) Steareth-20 Bnj 78 (ICI), Emthox 5888-A (Henkel), STA-20 (Heterene) Steareth-30 STA-30 (Heterene) Steareth-100 Bpj 700 (ICI) Ceteareth-15 CS-15 (Heterene) Ceteareth-20 CS-20 (Heterene) Ceteareth-27 Plurafac A-38 (BASF) Ceteareth- 55 Plurafac A-39 (BASF) Oleth-2 Br? J 92 (ICI) Olßth-10 Bpj 97 (ICI) Oleth-20 Bpj 98 (ICI), Trycol 5971 (Henkel) When a proprietary excipient is a surfactant provided as a solution in water or another solvent, the amount that will be used is calculated on a real surfactant base, not a base "as it is". For example, Fluorad FC-135 is provided as a 50% real surfactant, together with 33% isopropanol and 17% water, in this way to provide a composition containing 0 1% w / w of Fluorad FC-135 as reported herein, 0 2 g of the The product as supplied was included in 100 g of the composition. However, the amount of lecithin is as reported ep the present on an "as is" basis, regardless of the content of phospholipids in the lecithin sample used. the examples contained an exogenous chemical, such as IPA salt of glyphosate, in addition to the listed excipient ingredients. The amount of exogenous chemical was selected to provide the desired amount in grams per hectare (g / ha) when applied. in a spray volume of 93 I / ha. Vain amounts of exogenous chemical were applied for each composition. In this way, except where otherwise indicated, when the spray compositions were tested, the exogenous chemical concentration was in direct proportion to the amount of exogenous chemical, but the concentration of excipient ingredients remained constant throughout different amounts of exogenous chemical. Concentrated compositions were tested by dilution dissolving or dispersing in water to form compositions of Aspersion In these spray compositions prepared from concentrates the concentration of excipient ingredients ranged with that of exogenous chemical - Except where otherwise indicated, for the spray compositions of the examples the preparation method was one of the following procedures (i) a (m) (i) For compositions that do not contain lecithin or phospholipids, the aqueous compositions were prepared by simply mixing the ingredients under mild agitation (n) A weighted amount of lecithin in powder form was dissolved in 04 ml of chloroform in a bottle of 100 ml The resulting solution was air-dried to leave a thin film of lecithin, to which 30 ml of deionized water was added The bottle and its contents were then sonified in a Fisher Sonic Desmembrator, model 550, equipped with a 24 cm probe tip, set at an output level of 8 and continuously operated for 3 minutes The resulting aqueous dispersion of lecithin was then allowed to cool to room temperature, and a lecithin supply material was formed which was then mixed in the necessary quantities with other ingredients under mild agitation. In some cases, as indicated in the examples , certain ingredients were added to the lecitme in water before sonification, so the lecithin and these ingredients were sonied together Without being limited by theory, it is believed that by sounding an ingredient of the formulation together with lecithin, at least a part of that ingredient is encapsulated within, or otherwise attached to, trapped by, vesicles or other aggregates formed by the phospholipids present in the lecithin (ni) The procedure of method (n) was followed, except that, before sonification, the step of forming a lecithin solution was omitted. chloroform Instead, lecithin was placed in powder form in a beaker, water was added and the beaker and its contents were then added. For the concentrated compositions of the lecithin-containing examples, the preparation procedure was one of the following procedures (iv) or (v), or in some cases procedure (x) below (iv) A weighted amount of powdered lecithin of the indicated type was placed in a beaker and deionized water was added no more than amount required for the final composition desired The glass and its contents were then placed in a Fisher Sonic Dismembrator, model 550, equipped with a probe tip of 2 4 cm, set at an output level of 8 and operated continuously for 5 minutes The resulting lecithin dispersion formed the basis to which other ingredients were added with slight agitation to make the Aqueous concentrated formulation The order of addition of these ingredients was diluted and found that it sometimes affected the Physical stability of the concentrated formulation When a fluorine-organic surfactant such as Fluorad FC-135 or FC-754 was to be included, it was generally added first, followed by other surfactants if required and then by the exogenous chemical When the exogenous chemical used it was salt of 1PA of glyphosate, this was added in the form of a 62% solution (45% ae) by weight, at a pH of 44 to 46. A final adjustment with water took place when necessary as the last step. In some cases certain ingredients of the concentrated formulation were added before, instead of after sonification, to be sonified with the lecithin. (v) A powdered lecithin-weighted amount of the indicated type was placed in a beaker and deionized water was added in an amount sufficient to provide, after somfication as detailed below, a lecithin supply material at a convenient concentration , normally on the scale dß 10% to 20% w / w and typically 15% w / w The beaker and its contents were placed in a Fisher Sonic Dismembrator, model 550, equipped with a 2.4 cm probe tip with pepodo of pulses set to 15 seconds with intervals of 1 minute between pulses to allow cooling. The power output was established at level 8 After a total of 3 minutes of sonification (periods of 12 pulses) the resulting lecithin supply material was finally adjusted to the desired concentration when necessary with deionized water to prepare a concentrated aqueous formulation , the following ingredients were mixed in the appropriate proportions with slight agitation, usually in the established order, although this was sometimes voided and it was found that in some cases it affected the physical stability of the concentrated formulation: (a) exogenous chemical, for example IPA salt of glossophia as a 62% solution p / pa pH 44-46, (b) leatipa supply material, (c) other ingredients when necessary, and (d) water Many of the examples exhibit concentrated aqueous compositions of the invention Except where otherwise indicated, these compositions Aqueous concentrates were prepared by the following general procedures (vi) to (ix) (vi) Multiple emulsions of water in oil in water in water (W / O / W) were prepared as follows. A water-in-oil emulsion was prepared. to do this, the required amounts of the selected oil and a first emulsifier (called in the examples "emulsificapte # 1") were thoroughly mixed. If it was desired to prepare the formulation with glyphosate in the internal aqueous phase, a measured quantity of concentrated aqueous solution (62% w / w) of IPA salt of glyphosate was added to the mixture of oil and first emulsifier with stirring to ensure homogeneity. The amount of water replenished in the internal aqueous phase was then added to complete the water-in-oil emulsion, which was finally subjected to high shear mixing, typically using a Silverson L4RT-A mixer equipped with a fine emulsifier screen operated for 3 minutes at 10,000 rpm. The required amount of a second emulsifier (called in the examples "Emulsifier # 2") was then added to the water-in-oil emulsion with stirring to ensure homogeneity. If it was desired to prepare the formulation with glyphosate in the external aqueous phase, a measured quantity of concentrated aqueous solution (62%) was added. p / p) of IPA salt of glyphosate to the emulsion mixture of water in oil and the second emulsifier with additional agitation To complete the multiple emulsion composition of water in oil in water, the amount of water required in the external aqueous phase was added. The composition was finally subjected to high shear mixing, typically using a Silverson L4RT-A mixer equipped with a medium emulsion sieve operated for 3 minutes at 7,000 rpm (vile) Oil-in-water emulsions were prepared as follows The required amount of the selected oil and surfactant (sometimes called the examples "emulsifier # 2"corresponding to the second emulsifier in the process (vi)) were mixed thoroughly. If the selected surfactant did not flow freely at room temperature, heat was applied to bring the surfactant to a flowable condition before mixing with the oil. Measured amount of concentrated aqueous solution (62% w / w) of IPA salt of glyphosate to the surfactant-oil mixture with stirring The amount of water added was added to bring the concentration of glossophosate and other ingredients to the desired level. The composition was finally subjected to high shear mixing, typically using a Silverson mixer L4RT-A equipped with a medium emulsion sieve operated for 3 minutes at 7,000 rpm (vm). Aqueous concentrates containing surfactant were prepared and had no oil component as follows. A concentrated aqueous solution (62% w / w) of sodium salt was added. IPA of glyphosate in the desired amount to a weighted amount of the surfactant (s) Selected (s) If the selected surfactant did not flow freely at room temperature, heat was applied to bring the surfactant to a flowable condition before adding the glyphosate solution. The required amount of water was added to bring the glyphosate concentration and other ingredients to the desired level The composition was finally subjected to high shear mixing, typically using a Silverson L4RT-A mixer equipped with a medium emulsion sieve operated for 3 minutes at 7,000 rpm (ix) For compositions containing a particulate material When the colloidal sample was colloidal, the required amount by weight of the selected colloidal particle material was suspended in a concentrated aqueous solution (62% w / w) of IPA salt of glyphosate and stirred with cooling to ensure homogeneity. To the resulting suspension was added the required amount. by weight of the selected surfactant (s) If the surfactant When the freezer did not flow freely at room temperature, heat was applied to bring the surfactant to a flowable condition before adding it to the suspension In those cases where an oil, such as butyl stearate, would also be included in the composition, the oil was thoroughly mixed with the surfactant and the surfactant-oil mixture added to the suspension. To complete the aqueous concentrate, the required amount of water was added to bring the concentration of glyphosate and other ingredients to the desired level. The concentrate was finally subjected to high shear mixing, typically using a Silverson L4RT-A mixer equipped with a medium emulsion sieve operated for 3 minutes at 7,000 rpm (x) The procedure for preparing aqueous concentrated formulations containing lecithin and butyl stearate was different from that followed for other concentrates containing lecithin Chemical first was added exogenous, for example salt of IPA of glyphosate, with mild agitation, to deionized water in a formulation bottle The selected surfactant (which was not lecithin) was then added, continuing at the same time with stirring, to form a preliminary mixture of exogenous chemical / surfactant When the surfactant did not flow freely at room temperature, the order of addition was not as above. On the contrary, the surfactant that did not flow freely was first added to water together with any other surfactant (other than leatma) required in the composition, and was then heated to 55 ° C. in an agitation bath for 2 hours. The resulting mixture was allowed to cool, then exogenous chemical was added with slight agitation to form the preliminary mixture of exogenous chemical / surfactant A weighted amount of the selected lecithin was added to the preliminary mixture of exogenous chemical / surfactant, with agitation to break lumps The mixture was left for about 1 hour to allow the lecithin to be hydrated, then butyl stearate was added with further stirring until phase separation no longer occurred. The mixture was then transferred to a microfluidizer (Microfluidics International Corporation, model M- 110F) and it was microfluidized for 3 to 5 cycles at 69 MPa. In each cycle the formulation bottle was rinsed with microfluidized mixture. In the last cycle, the finished composition was collected in a dry and clean beaker. The following procedure was used to test compositions of the examples to determine the herbicidal effectiveness, except when indicated otherwise Seeds of the indicated plant species were planted in 85 mm square pots in a soil mixture that was previously steamed and pre-fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer 13-13- 10 14 NPK at a quantity of 3 6 kg / m3 The pots were placed in a greenhouse with sub-irrigation Approximately one week after the emergence, seedlings were thinned as needed including the removal of any unhealthy or abnormal plants, to create a uniform series of test pots 15 The plants were maintained for the duration of the test in the greenhouse where They received a minimum of 14 hours of light a day. If natural light was insufficient to achieve the daily cure, artificial light with an intensity of approximately 475 microeinsteins was used to establish the difference. The exposure temperatures were not controlled in a controlled manner. accurate but averaged approximately 27 ° C during the day and approximately 18 ° C during the night The plants were sub-irrigated throughout the test to ensure adequate levels of soil moisture The pots were assigned to different treatments ep a completely randomized experimental design with 3 replications A set of pots were left untreated as a reference against which they could be evaluated after the effects of the treatments The application of the compositions of gllfosato was made by spraying with a lane sprinkler equipped with a 9501 E nozzle calibrated to provide a spray volume of 93 liters per hectare (l / ha) at a pressure of 166 kilopascals (kPa) After treatment, the pots were returned to the greenhouse until ready for the evaluation S? they made the treatments using diluted aqueous compositions. These can be prepared as spray compositions directly from their ingredients, or by diluting preformulated concentrated compositions with water. To evaluate the herbicidal effectiveness, all the plants in the test were examined by a single expert technician. , who recorded the inhibition percentage, a visual measurement of the effectiveness of each treatment by comparison with untreated plants An inhibition of 0% indicates no effect, and a 100% inhibition indicates that all plants are completely dead An inhibition of 85% or more is considered acceptable in many cases for normal herbicidal use, however, in trials such as those in the examples, it is normal to apply compositions in amounts that give less than 85% inhibition, as this makes it easier discriminate between compositions that have different levels of effectiveness idad EXAMPLE 1 Formulations for inverted emulsion (ague in oil) containing IPA salt of glyphosate were prepared as follows In 235 g of a selected oil, 15 g of soy lecithin (20% of phospholipids, Avanti) were dissolved to provide an amount of supply of oil To a heavy amount of the supply oil in a Wappg mixer, a small amount of concentrated aqueous solution (62% w / w) of IPA salt of glyphosate under high shear stress was quickly added to make a water-in-oil emulsion ready to sprinkle The precise amount of supply oil and salt of glossophosate went depending on the amount of application desired. For an amount of glosfosate 100 gae / ha in a spray volume of 93 l ha, 0 12 g of glyphosate was added to 499 g of supplying oil For larger quantities, the amount of salt solution of glyphosate was increased pro rata and the total weight of the prepared emulsion was kept constant. before 50 g Table 1a shows the composition of the used supply oils Square the Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH and 17 days after planting ECHCF. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after the application. Formulation C was applied in 93 l / ha of aqueous spray solution as a comparative treatment. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 1 b.

Table 1b The water-in-oil emulsions of this example did not show a high degree of herbicidal effectiveness.

EXAMPLE 2 Aqueous spray compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 2a were prepared. The procedure (iii) was followed for all compositions, using soy lecithin (20% phospholipids, Avanti).

Table 2a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 18 days after planting ABUTH and 21 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application. In addition to compositions 2-01 to 2-17, spray compositions were prepared by tank mixing formulations B and C with Fluorad FC-135 at various concentrations. Formulations B and C, alone and mixed in tank with 0.5% Silwet L-77, were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 2b.

Table 2b In this test, the addition of 0.1% of methyl caprate to 0.25% of lecithin, with methyl caprate being sonified together with lecithin, increased the yield in ECHCF but not in ABUTH (compare compositions 2-16 to 2-04) .

EXAMPLE 3 In this example, compositions 2-01 to 2-17 of Example 2 were tested, and tank mixtures of Formulations B and C with Fluorad FC-135. Spiny dibetu plants (Spiny Aids, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. The spraying applications were made 22 days after planting SIDSP and the evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after the application. Formulations B and C, alone and mixed in tank with 0.5% Silwet L-77, were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 3. Table 3 The herbicidal effectiveness of Formulation C was very high in SIDSP in this trial and consequently increases are difficult to discern. However, 0.1% methyl caprate (composition 2-16) increased the effectiveness of a composition containing 0.25% lecithin (2-04).

EXAMPLE 4 Aqueous spray compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 4a were prepared. The procedure (iii) was followed for all compositions, using soy lecithipa (20% phospholipids, Avanti).

Table 4a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and 21 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application. In addition to compositions 4-01 to 4-19, spray compositions were prepared by tank mixing formulations B and C with Fluorad FC-135 at two concentrations. Formulations B and C, alone and mixed in tank with 0.5% of Silwet 800, were applied as comparative treatments The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 4b Table 4b In this test, the addition of methyl caprate to lecithin-containing compositions with or without Fluorad FC-135 (4-13 to 4-15) improved herbicidal effectiveness in ABUTH but had very little effect in ECHCF EXAMPLE 5 Aqueous spray compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 5a were prepared. The procedure (ni) was followed for all compositions, using soy lecithin (20% phospholipid, Avanti) Table 5a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. The applications of spray compositions were made 19 days later. of planting ABUTH and 22 days after planting ECHCF The date of planting SIDP was not recorded The evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application In addition to compositions 5-01 to 5-19, spray compositions were prepared tank-mix formulations B and C with Fluorad FC-135 at various concentrations. Formulations B and C alone were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 5b Table 5b Inclusion of methyl caprate in a composition containing lecithin and Fluorad FC-135 improved efficacy in ECHCF and SIDSP (compare compositions 5-16 and 5-13) EXAMPLE 6 Aqueous spray compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 6a were prepared. All the concentrated compositions are water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions and were prepared by procedure (iv), using Span 80 or Bpj 92 (oleth-2) as the emulsifier # 1 and a mixture of Span 80 / Tween 80 as the emulsifier # 2 Table 6a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH and 17 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application Formulations C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 6b.

Table 6b A significantly higher herbicide effectiveness was obtained with the compositions using butyl stearate as the oil (6-02, 6-05, 6-08) than with their counterparts using Orchex 796 (6-01, 6-04, 6-07) .

EXAMPLE 7 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 7a were prepared. All the concentrated compositions are water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions and were prepared by procedure (vi), using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 and a mixture of Span 80 / Tween 80 as the emulsifier # 2 Table 7a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrastl, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 13 days after planting ABUTH and 16 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application. Formulations C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 7b. Table 7b Many compositions that had butyl stearate as the oil showed greater herbicidal effectiveness than their counterparts having Orchex 796 as the oil.

EXAMPLE 8 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 8a The procedure (iv) was followed for all compositions, using soy lecithin (20% phospholipids, Avanti) Table 8a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and 13 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 20 days after application. The compositions containing PVA were very viscous to be sprayed and their herbicidal effectiveness was not proven. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 8b. Table 8b Concentrated compositions containing lecithipa and methyl caprate did not exhibit a herbicidal effectiveness equal to that of the normal commercials in this test.

EXAMPLE 9 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 9a were prepared. All the concentrated compositions are water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions and were prepared by the process (vi), using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 and a mixture of Span 80 / Tween 80 as the emulsifier # 2.

Table 9a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH and 17 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 9b.

Table 9b Butyl stearate provided herbicidal effectiveness equal to or superior to that of methyl oleate when used as the oil in the compositions of this example.

EXAMPLE 10 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 10a. All concentrated compositions are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the process (vi), using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 and a mixture of Span 80 / Tween 80 as the emulsifier # 2 Table 10a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and 16 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 10b.

Table 10b Several compositions containing butyl lecithin and stearate exceeded in commercial standard C and J formulations in ECHCF, but not in performance at ABUTH, ep this test.

EXAMPLE 11 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 11a were prepared. These compositions are multiple water-in-oil emulsions in water and were prepared by the procedure (vi) described above, except that the stirring method was waived as indicated below Table 11a (*) Agitation method A Ultrasonic probe B Silverson thick C Silverson fine D Ultrasonic probe, manual agitation Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by normal procedures given above The applications of compositions of sprinkling were done 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The test was carried out in duplicate. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in tables 11 b and 11 c. Table 11 b Table 11c The multiple emulsion compositions of this example did not exceed normal commercial yields.

EXAMPLE 12 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 12a All the concentrated compositions are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the procedure (vi), using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 and Tween 20 as the emuisifier # 2 The compositions 12-04, 12-07 , 12-09 and 12-11 were made using butyl stearate from four different suppliers Table 12a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH and 15 days after sprinkling were done 15 days after planting ABUTH and 15 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after application Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 12b.

Table 12b The compositions of this example where the oil was not a fatty acid ester (12-05, 12-06, 12-15, 12-16, 12-18, 12-19) were less herbicidally effective than those containing a fatty acid ester EXAMPLE 13 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 13a. All concentrated compositions are multiple emulsions of water in ep water oil and were prepared by procedure (vi), using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 Table 13a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and 15 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 13b.

Table 13b Among the most effective compositions of this test were 13-08, 13-16, 13-17 and 13-18 The choice of emulsifier # 2 had a significant effect on performance EXAMPLE 14 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosa and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 14a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 14-01 to 14-17 are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by procedure (vi) , using Tween 20 as the emulsifier # 2 The concentrated composition 14-18 is a multiple emulsion of water in oil in water and was prepared by the procedure (vn) Table 14a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and 22 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 14b. Table 14b Most of the compositions of this example exceeded ep yield to commercial standard C and J formulations at ABUTH Composition 14-13, using Surfynol 104 as emulsifier # 1, was especially effective EXAMPLE 15 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 15a. All concentrated compositions are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the process (vi) Table 15a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and 22 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 15b.

Table 15b Several compositions of this example outperformed commercial standard C and J formulations at ABUTH.

EXAMPLE 16 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 16a were prepared. All the concentrated compositions are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the process (vi).

Table 16a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and 18 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 16b.

Table 16b None of the multiple emulsion compositions of this example outperformed both commercial compositions in this study.

EXAMPLE 17 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 17a were prepared. All the concentrated compositions are multiple water-in-oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vi), using Span 80 as the # 1 emulsifier. Different mixing devices were used to make the water-in-oil emulsion and the finished multiple emulsion as indicated in the column entitled "Procedure".

Table 17a Preparation of A / C Preparation of A / A A A Ultrasonic probe Ultrasonic probe B Turrax medium speed Turrax low speed C Silverson coarse Silverson coarse D Silverson fine Silverson fine E Silverson fine S-Iverson g / ueso Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 20 days after planting ABUTH and 22 days after plantar ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 17b Table 17b The choice of the mixing device in the preparation of the multiple emulsion compositions 17-01 to 17-05 seemed to have some effect on the herbicidal effectiveness in this study.

EXAMPLE 18 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 18a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 18-01 to 18-15 are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by procedure (vi) The concentrated compositions 18-16 to 18-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the (vil) procedure Table 18a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and 18 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 18b.

Table 18b The simple emulsion compositions of this example containing butyl stearate (18-16 and 18-17) exhibited a herbicidal effectiveness at least equal to the multiple emulsion compositions having the same emulsifier # 2.

EXAMPLE 19 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 19a. These compositions are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the process (vi) described arpba Table 19a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 35 days after planting ABUTH and 33 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 9b.

Table 19b There was considerable variation in the herbicidal effectiveness of the multiple water-in-oil-in-water emulsions of this example, especially in ECHCF. Among the most effective were 19-08, 19-10, 19-12, 19-14 and 19-16. All of these contained a C16-18 alkyl ether surfactant, ceteareth-55. When Tergitol 15-S-30, a secondary alkyl ether surfactant of C12-15, replaced ceteareth-55, as in 19-09, 19-11, 19-13, 19-15 and 19-17, the herbicidal effectiveness , at least in ECHCF, was in many cases markedly reduced.

EXAMPLE 20 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 20a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 20-01 and 20-02 are multiple water-in-oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by process (vi), using Span 80 as the # 1 emulsifier. The concentrated compositions 20-03 to 20-12 and 20-14 to 20-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated composition 20-13 is a concentrate in aqueous solution and was prepared by the process (viii), the component indicated below being "emulsifier # 2" the surfactant component.

Table 20a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. The applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and 19 days after plantar ECHCF, and the evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after the application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 20b Table 20b A very high herbicidal activity was evident in compositions 20-13 to 20-17, which have a very high ratio of surfactant to a.e. of glyphosate of 1: 1. The activity was too high to clearly distinguish between these compositions, but 20-16 and 20-17, which contained steareth-20 and oleth-20 respectively, exhibited greater effectiveness in ABUTH at the amount of glyphosate lower than 20-14 and 20-15, which contained Neodol 25-20 and Neodol 25-12 respectively.

EXAMPLE 21 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 21a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 21-01 and 21-02 are multiple water-in-oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by procedure (vi), using Span 80 as the # 1 emulsifier. The concentrated compositions 21-03 to 21-12 and 21-14 to 21-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated composition 21-13 is a concentrate in aqueous solution and was prepared by the process (viii), the component indicated below being "emulsifier # 2" the surfactant component.

Table 21a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and 19 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in table 21 b.

Table 21b Compositions 21-16 and 21-17, which contained steareth-20 and oleth-20 respectively, exhibited high herbicidal activity in ABUTH. At the very high surfactant ratio aa of glyphosate (11) of these compositions, no apparent difference was evident. some between these compositions and an otherwise similar composition (21-15) containing Neodol 25-20 instead of steareth-20 or oleth-20 EXAMPLE 22 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 22a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 22-01 and 22-02 are multiple emulsions of water in oil in water and were prepared by the procedure (vi) , using Span 80 as the emulsifier # 1 The concentrated compositions 22-03 to 22-16 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vn) Table 22a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and 19 days after planting ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 22b.

Table 22b None of the emulsion compositions of this example gave greater herbicidal effectiveness than that obtained with normal commercial ones.

EXAMPLE 23 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 23a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 23-01 and 23-02 are multiple water-in-oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by process (vi), using Span 80 as the # 1 emulsifier. The concentrated compositions 23-03 to 23-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii).

Table 23a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. The applications of spray compositions were made 20 days after planting ABUTH and 22 days after ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 15 days after application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 23b Table 23b The total level of herbicidal effectiveness in this study was extremely high, making it difficult to determine if any of the emulsion compositions showed an increase over normal commercial ones.

EXAMPLE 24 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 24a. All the concentrated compositions are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii).

Table 24a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 24b.

Table 24b At a weight / weight ratio of surfactant to a.e. of glyphosate of approximately 1: 1.5, the compositions containing steareth-20 or oleth-20 (24-04 and 24-05 respectively) exhibited herbicidal effectiveness in ABUTH similar to that containing Neodol 25-20 (24-03).

EXAMPLE 25 Spray compositions containing glyphosate were prepared by tank mixing formulations B and C with butyl stearate as shown in Table 25. Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and were treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application.

The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 25.

Table 25 Surprisingly, the addition of extremely low concentrations of butyl stearate to formulation B greatly increased the herbicidal effectiveness in this study.

EXAMPLE 26 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 26a were prepared. The procedure (v) was followed for all compositions using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avapti).

Table 26a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given amoeba. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application. Formulation J was applied as a comparative treatment. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 26b.

Table 26b Acting very well in this test, particularly in ECHCF, were a number of concentrated compositions containing lecithin and butyl stearate.

EXAMPLE 27 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 27a. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vn) Table 27a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the nopnal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after the application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 27b.

Table 27b In this test, at a weight / weight ratio of surfactant to a.e. of glyphosate of approximately 1: 1.5, the compositions containing steareth-20 or oleth-20 (27-04 and 27-05 respectively) exhibited greater herbicidal effectiveness in both ABUTH and ECHCF than that contained in Neodol 25-20 (27 -03).

EXAMPLE 28 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt or glyphosate ammonium and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 28a were prepared. Concentrated composition 28-01 is a water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsion and was prepared by procedure (vi), using Span 80 as emulsifier # 1. The concentrated compositions 28-02 to 28-11 and 28-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated compositions 28-12 to 28-16 are concentrated in aqueous solution and prepared by the process (viii), the component indicated below being "emulsifier # 2" the surfactant component. Table 28a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 28b.

Table 28b Compositions containing steareth-20 or oleth-20 (28-05, 28-06, 28-10, 28-11, 28-15, 28-16) generally exhibited a higher herbicidal effectiveness than their counterparts containing Neodol 25- 20 (28-04, 28- 09, 28-14), at least in ABUTH. The presence of a small amount of butyl stearate tended to increase the effectiveness in ABUTH (compare 28-05 and 28-06 with 28-15 and 28-16).

EXAMPLE 29 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 29a were prepared. Concentrated composition 29-01 is a multiple emulsion of water in oil in water and was prepared by procedure (vi), using Span 80 as emulsifier # 1. Concentrated compositions 29-02 to 29-15 08 and 29-14, 29-16 and 29-1 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii) Concentrated compositions 29-09 to 29-13 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (viii). twenty Table 29a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 29b.

Table 29b The highest herbicidal effectiveness in this test was exhibited by the compositions containing an alkyl ether surfactant of C16.18 (oleth-20, ceteareth-27 or ceteareth-55) EXAMPLE 30 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 30a were prepared. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vii) Frame 30a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 23 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 30b.

Table 30b The overall activity in this test was very high, and the differences between the compositions in herbicidal effectiveness are difficult to discern clearly.

EXAMPLE 31 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 31a were prepared. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vii).

Table 31a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 20 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 31 b.

Table 31b Composition 31-04 containing 1% butyl stearate and 10% oleth-20 (weight / weight ratio of surfactant to glyphosate of about 1.1, 5) exhibited a marginally greater herbicidal effectiveness than composition 31- 03 containing 1% butyl stearate and 10% Neodol 25-20. However, at this very high level of surfactant to glyphosate, both performed extremely well. Surprisingly, when concentrations of butyl stearate and oleth-20 were decreased significantly, this high level of performance was maintained to a remarkable degree even when the butyl stearate was reduced to 0 25% and the oleth-20 to 2 5% (surfactant agent ratio of glyphosate of about 1 6), as well as in composition 31-06, the herbicide effectiveness was still similar to that obtained with formulations C and J commercial standards EXAMPLE 32 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 32a. Concentrated compositions 32-01 to 32-08 and 32-11 to 32-16 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vn) The concentrated compositions 32-09 and 32-10 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (vm) Table 32a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 12 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the Evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 16 days after application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 32b.

Table 32b An extremely high herbicidal effectiveness was again observed with a composition (32-15) containing 15% a.e. of glyphosate and only 2.5% of oleth-20 together with 0.25% of butyl stearate. A comparison of the compositions of 15% a.e. of glyphosate containing 5% alkyl ether surfactant and 0.25% butyl stearate provided the following classification of alkyl ethers in descending order of effectiveness; oleth -20 (32-14) > ceteth-20 (32-05) > Neodol 25-20 (32-03) = laureth-23 (32-04).

EXAMPLE 33 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 33a. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vii).

Table 33a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 16 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 33b.

Table 33b All compositions containing butyl stearate and oleth-20 or steareth-20 showed a very high level of performance compared to formulations C and J commercial standards.

EXAMPLE 34 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosa and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 34a were prepared. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vli).

Table 34a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application. Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 34b.

Table 34b All compositions containing butyl stearate and oleth-20 or steareth-20 showed a very high level of performance compared to formulations C and J commercial standards EXAMPLE 35 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 35a. Concentrated composition 35-03 is a concentrate in aqueous solution and was prepared by the procedure (vm) Concentrated compositions 35-01, 35-02 and 35-02 to 35-09 are concentrated in aqueous solution containing colloidal particle materials and were prepared by the procedure (ix) Table 35a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. The applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the Evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after application Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 35b.

Table 35b The addition of butyl stearate did not increase the herbicidal effectiveness of the compositions of this example (compare 35-06 with 5-04 and 35-09 with 35-07).

EXAMPLE 36 Aqueous spray compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 36a. Process (iii) was followed for spray compositions 36-01 to 36-22 and 36-26 to 36-72, using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti). The procedure (i) was followed for the spray compositions 36-20 20 to 36-25.

Table 36a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 15 days after application Formulations C and J were applied as comparative treatments The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 36b Table 36b Compositions that outperformed the commercial standard C and J formulations in both ABUTH and ECHCF in this test method included 36-26, 36-27, 36-30, 36-34, 36-35, 36-51 and 36-57, all containing lecithin, butyl stearate and MON 0818.

EXAMPLE 37 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 37a All contain matepales in colloidal particles and were prepared by the procedure (ix) All the compositions of this example showed stability under acceptable storage The compositions containing oleth-20 were not acceptable in stability under storage in the absence of the colloidal particulate material Table 37a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. sprinkling were done 14 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 20 days after application. Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, were show in table 37b Table 37b Significantly high herbicidal effectiveness benefits were obtained in this test with the compositions containing oleth-20 at a weight / weight ratio aa of glyphosate of about 14, and stabilized with colloidal particle materials. In some cases the colloidal particulate material only contributed a large part of the increase in efficacy Composition 37-19 containing butyl stearate was among the most effective compositions of the test The results with composition 37-09 are out of line with other data and a problem of application is suspected EXAMPLE 38 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 38a were prepared. All were prepared by procedure (x), using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti) Table 38a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 38b.

Table 38b The data for the amount of glosfosate of 450 g a.e./ha in this study are not reliable. An application error is suspected. The high levels of Ethomeen T / 25 included in the compositions of this example tend to obscure the effects of lecithin and butyl stearate, but composition 38-05, for example, showed surprising effectiveness.

EXAMPLE 39 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 39a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 39-01 to 39-04, 39-06, 39-08, 39-09, 39-11, 39-12, 39-14 and 39-16 are oil-in-water and were prepared by the procedure ( vii). The concentrated compositions 39-05, 39-07, 39-10, 39-13, 39-15 and 39-17 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii).

Picture 39a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 39b.

Table 39b In combination with butyl stearate, steareth-20 (composition 39-04) gave a greater herbicidal effectiveness than steareth-10 (39-03) in ABUTH. Similarly, oleth-20 (39-09) was more effective than oleth-10 (39-08) and ceteth-20 (39-12) than ceteth-10 (39-11). In the absence of butyl stearate, ceteareth-55 (39-17) was noticeably weaker in ECHCF than ceteareth-27 (39-15) but the inclusion of butyl stearate (39-16) tended to correct this weakness. Note that although the compositions 39-14 and 39-15 contained a double the concentration of excipients that the others Test compositions, the glyphosate concentration was also twice as high, and in this way the spray concentrations were the same.

EXAMPLE 40 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 40a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 40-01 to 40-05, 40-07, 40-08, 40-10 and 40-12 to 40-16 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated compositions 40-06, 40-09 and 40-11 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii).

Table 40a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 40b.

Table 40b Composition 40-04 containing steareth-20 exceeded in performance its counterpart 40-03 containing steareth-10, although both gave greater herbicide effectiveness, especially in ECHCF, than 40-02 contained laureth-23 or 40-01 that contained Neodol 1-12 EXAMPLE 41 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosa and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 41a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 41-01 to 41-07 and 41-09 to 41-15 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vn) The concentrated compositions 41-08 and 41-16 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (vin) Table 41a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 41 b.

Table 41b Composition 41-08, which contained as sole excipient oleth-20 at a weight / weight ratio at a.e. of glyphosate, exhibited high herbicide effectiveness, at least equal to those of formulations C and J commercial standards in ABUTH, but a little weaker in ECHCF. In comparison, composition 41-16, in which the only excipient substance was Neodol 1-9 at the same ratio to glyphosate, had much weaker activity. 5 The addition of a small amount of fatty acid ester increased the effectiveness in many cases, especially in ECHCF. In this study, the most effective composition was 41-01, which contained oleth-20 and methyl stearate. When added to Neodol 1-9, butyl stearate was more effective than methyl stearate, methyl oleate or butyl oleate. Orchex 10 796 mineral oil did not effectively replace butyl state, neither with oleth -20 nor with Neodol 1-9.

EXAMPLE 42 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 42a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 42-01, 42-03, 42-05 to 42-08, 42-10 and 42-14 to 42-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by process (vn). The concentrated compositions 42-02, 42-04, 42-09 and 42-11 to 42-13 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii). Some composicons contained a coupling agent as indicated in Table 42a; the coupling agent was added with the surfactant.

Table 42a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. The applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 42b Table 42b The superiority of the herbicidal effectiveness provided by the alkyl ethers (oleth-20, ceteareth-27, steareth-20) over that provided by the shorter chain alkyl ethers (Neodol 1-9, laureth-23) was very pronounced in this proof.

EXAMPLE 43 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 43a. Concentrated compositions 43-01 to 43-07 and 43-09 to 43-15 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vn) The concentrated compositions 43-08 and 43-16 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (vm) Table 43a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by standard procedures given arpba. sprinkling were done 19 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 43b.

Table 43b Steareth-20 and ceteareth-27, as the only excipients (compositions 43-08 and 43-16 respectively) provided excellent herbicide effectiveness, but additional increases, especially in ECHCF, were obtained by including a small amount of fatty acid ester in the composition EXAMPLE 44 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 44a were prepared. The (vile) procedure for the concentrated composition 44-08 and the procedure (x) for the concentrated compositions 44-01 to 44-07 and 44-09 were followed, using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti).

Table 44a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B and C were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 44b.

Table 44b The overall herbicidal effectiveness was very high under the conditions of this study, but a tendency can be discerned in compositions 44-01 to 44-04 to improve the yield because the concentration of butyl stearate was increased from zero to 2%.

EXAMPLE 45 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 45a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 45-08 to 45-14 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the (vil) method. The concentrated compositions 45-15 to 45-17 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii). The concentrated compositions 45-01 to 45-07 contain materials in colloidal particles and were prepared by the process (ix). Compositions 45-08 to 45-17 (all containing 163 g a.e./l glyphosate) showed stability under acceptable storage. However, at a glyphosate loading 400 g ae / l (as compositions 45-01 to 45-07) the compositions stable under storage containing 0.5-1% butyl stearate and 5-10% ether surfactant Alkyl could not be made, except with the addition of colloidal particle material as shown below.

Table 45a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. Applications of spray compositions were made 18 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the Evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 45b.

Table 45b A surprising herbicidal effectiveness was provided by the compositions containing C-ie-iß alkyl ether surfactants (ceteareth-27, steareth-20, steareth-30, oleth-20, ceteth-20). The highly charged glyphosate compositions (400 g ae / l) containing an alkyl ether surfactant of Ciß-iß, butyl stearate and a colloidal particulate material (Aerosil 90) to stabilize the compositions performed impressively in this test .

EXAMPLE 46 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 46a were prepared. Process (v) for compositions 46-01 to 46-12, 46-15 and 46-16 was followed, and the procedure (x) for compositions 46-13 and 4614, using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti) The order of addition of the ingredients was washed as indicated below Table 46a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 21 days after application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 46b.

Table 46b Most of the concentrated compositions of this example showed an effectiveness of incemented glyphosate compared to formulation B, but did not match the efficacy of the commercial standard J formulation in this test.

EXAMPLE 47 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 47a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 47-01 to 47-09, 47-11 to 47-14, 47-16 and 47-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated compositions 47-10 and 47-15 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii).

Table 47a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 20 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 16 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 47b.

Table 47b A broad or consistent increase in the herbicidal effectiveness of the glyphosate compositions containing oleth-20 was not obtained by adding a small amount of any of a variety of fatty acid esters in this study (compare 47-10 with 47-01 a 47-09).

EXAMPLE 48 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 48a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 48-01 to 48-09, 48-11 to 48-14, 48-25 and 48-17 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii) The concentrated compositions 48-10 and 48-15 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the process (viii).

Table 48a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrastl, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 48b.

Table 48b In this study, isopropyium mlristate (composition 48-01) was the most effective of the fatty acid esters tested as additives for oleth-20 (48-10) in the glyphosate compositions.

EXAMPLE 49 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 49a. Concentrated compositions 49-01 to 49-09 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by process (vii). The concentrated compositions 49-14 to 49-17 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (vm) Table 49a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 24 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 16 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 49b.

Table 49b Herbicidal effectiveness exceeding that of commercial standard composition J, at least ep ABUTH, was recorded with several compositions, including 49-02 (steareth-20 plus butyl stearate), 49-03 (ceteareth-20 plus butyl stearate), 49-04 (ceteareth-15 plus butyl stearate), 49-10 (steareth-20 plus methyl palmitate), 49-11 (ceteareth-20 plus methyl palmitate) and 49-12 (ceteareth-15 plus methyl palmitate) The compositions lacking fatty acid ester performed slightly less well in everything than those containing butyl stearate or methyl palmitate.

EXAMPLE 50 Spray compositions containing sodium gylphosate or IPA salts and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 50a were prepared. The compositions were prepared by simply mixing the ingredients. Soy lecithin (45% phospholipid, Avanti) was first prepared, when included, with sonification in water to make an aqueous composition. Four different concentrations of glyphosate were prepared (not shown in Table 50a), calculated to provide, when applied in a spray volume of 93 l / ha, the amounts of glyphosate shown in Table 50b.

Picture 50a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 14 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 14 days after the application. Formulations B and C were applied as comparative treatments, representing IPA salt of glyphosate technique and a commercial salt formulation of commercial IPA, respectively. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 50b.

Table 50b The results of this test using glyphosate as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows. Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (50-05) did not increase the effectiveness too much. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (50-02) gave a surprisingly strong increase in effectiveness, suggesting a synergistic interaction between these two excipient substances. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (50-09) gave an extremely high effectiveness, superior to that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (50-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (50-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 51 Spray compositions containing paraquat dihydrochloride and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 51-01 to 51-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of active ingredient concentrations that was suitable for the active ingredient applied was selected. Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the nopnal procedures given above. The Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 8 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. Evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 12 days after application. Standard formulations included technical paraquat dihydrochloride and Gramoxone, a commercial paraquat formulation from Zeneca. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 51.

Table 51 The results of this test using paraquat as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (51-05) did not increase the effectiveness too much. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (51-02) gave a surprisingly strong increase in effectiveness, suggesting a synergistic interaction between these two excipient substances. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (51-09) gave an extremely high effectiveness, superior to that obtained with the formulation normal commercial The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (51-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (51-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 52 Spray compositions containing acifluorfen sodium salt and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 52-01 to 52-12 were exactly equal to the compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient that was suitable for the active ingredient was selected. applied. Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH, 9 days after planting ECHCF and 22 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 10 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical sodium acifluorfen and Blazer, a commercial formulation of acifluorfen from Rohm & Haas. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 52.

Table 52 The results of this test using acifluorfen as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate at 0.05% alone (52-05) and in combination with lecltin (52-02) increased effectiveness, particularly in ECHCF. Oieth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (52-09) gave an effectiveness superior to that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (52-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (52-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 53 Spray compositions containing asulam and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 53-01 to 53-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient that was adequate for the active ingredient applied. Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 11 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 14 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical asulam and Asulox, a commercial formulation of Rh? Ne-Poulenc asulam. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in table 53.

Table 53 The results of this test using asulam as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate at 0.05% (53-05) increased effectiveness, particularly in ECHCF. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (53-02) gave a greater increase in effectiveness than the excipient substance alone. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (53-09) gave, at low amounts of exogenous chemical, an effectiveness in ECHCF higher than that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (53-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (53-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 54 Spray compositions containing dicamba sodium salt and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 54-01 to 54-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient was selected that was suitable for the active ingredient applied . Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 8 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 17 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical sodium dicamba and Banvel, a commercial formulation of Sandoz dicamba. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 54.

Table 54 The results of this test using dicamba as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (54-05) provided a slight increase in effectiveness. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (54-02) gave a greater increase in SIDSP effectiveness than either of these two excipient substances alone. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (54-09) gave an effectiveness in SIDSP higher than that obtained with the normal commercial formulation.

The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (54-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (85-08) did not provide a significant additional increase.

EXAMPLE 55 Spray compositions containing metsulfuron-methium and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 55-01 to 55-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient that was suitable for the active ingredient applied was selected. . Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 8 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 14 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical metsulfuron-methyl and Ally, a commercial formulation of Du Pont's metsulfuron. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 55.

Table 55 The results of this test using metsulfuron as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (55-05) increased the effectiveness to a level higher than that obtained with the commercial standard formulation. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (55-02) gave a greater increase in effectiveness than that obtained with each of these two excipient substances alone. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (55-09) gave a high effectiveness, higher than that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (55-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (55-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 56 Spray compositions containing imazethapyr and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 56-01 to 56-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient that was suitable for the active ingredient applied was selected. . Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 14 days after planting ECHCF and 21 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 14 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical imazetapir and Pursuit, a commercial formulation of imazethapyr from American Cyanamid. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 56.

Table 56 The results of this test using imazetapir as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (56-05) significantly increased the effectiveness in ECHCF and slightly in SIDSP. The combination of lecithin and butyl stearate (56-02) gave an increase in ECHCF effectiveness greater than that obtained with each of these two excipient substances alone. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (56-09) gave an extremely high effectiveness, much higher than that obtained with the normal commercial formulation, especially in ECHCF. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (56-07) further increased the yield of low amounts of exogenous chemical in ABUTH, more effectively than the addition of 0.01% methyl oleate (56-08).

EXAMPLE 57 Spray compositions containing fluazifop-p-butyl salt and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 57-01 to 57-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient was selected that was suitable for the active ingredient applied . Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and broadleaved grass (Brachiaria platyphylla, BRAPP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 15 days after planting ABUTH, 15 days after planting ECHCF and 16 days after planting BRAPP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 10 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical fluazifop-p-butyl and Fusilade 5, a commercial formulation of fluazifop-p-butyl from Zeneca. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 57.

Table 57 The results d? this test using fluazifop-p-butyl as the exogenous chemical is summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (57-05) and in combination with lecitin (57-02) increased the effectiveness, especially in ECHCF. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (57-09) gave an extremely high ECHCF effectiveness, much higher than that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (57-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (57-08) did not provide a significant additional increase.

EXAMPLE 58 Spray compositions containing alachlor and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 58-01 to 58-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that it was used a different active ingredient and a scale of active ingredient concentrations that was suitable for the active ingredient applied was selected. Alcotán plants were cultivated (Abutilón theophrasti, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) and were treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 8 days after planting ECHCF and 14 days after planting SIDSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 9 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical alachlor and Lasso, a commercial formulation of alachlor from the Monsanto Company. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 58.

Table 58 None of the tested compositions increased the post-emergence herbicidal effectiveness applied to the alachlor foliage in this test. The aladro is not known as a foliar applied herbicide.

EXAMPLE 59 Spray compositions containing glufosinate ammonium salt and excipient ingredients were prepared. Compositions 59-01 to 59-12 were exactly the same as compositions 50-01 to 50-12 respectively, except that a different active ingredient was used and a scale of concentrations of active ingredient that was suitable for the active ingredient applied was selected. . Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophras, ABUTH), Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and spiny dibetu (Sida spinosa, SIDSP) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 14 days after planting ABUTH, 10 days after planting ECHCF and 17 days after planting SI DSP. The evaluation of the herbicide inhibition was made 11 days after the application. Standard formulations included technical glufosipate ammonium salt and Liberty, a commercial formulation of glufosinate from AgrEvo. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in table 59.

Table 59 The results of this test using glufosinate as the exogenous chemical are summarized as follows: Butyl stearate alone at 0.05% (59-05) increased the effectiveness in ECHCF. The combination of lecithin and stearate and butyl (59-02) gave a greater increase in effectiveness than each of these two excipient substances alone. Oleth-20 at the low concentration of 0.05% (59-09) gave an extremely high effectiveness, superior in SIDSP to that obtained with the normal commercial formulation. The addition of 0.005% butyl stearate (59-07) or 0.01% methyl oleate (59-08) did not provide an additional increase.

EXAMPLE 60 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared which contained IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 60a. Concentrated compositions 60-01 to 60-12 and 60-14 to 60-16 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vil) The concentrated composition 60-13 is a concentrate in aqueous solution and was prepared by the procedure (vm) Table 60a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal methods given. sprinkling were done 20 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 16 days after application.

Formulations B, C and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 60b.

Table 60b Extremely high herbicidal effectiveness was provided by ceteareth-27 (composition 60-13); this was further increased by the addition of a small amount of butyl stearate (60-10, 60-11) or methyl stearate (60-14). Compositions that performed better than standard C and J commercial formulations, at least on ABUTH, included those that contained steareth-30, steareth-20 or ceteareth-27; In this test, oleth-20 was not as effective as these saturated alkyl ethers.

EXAMPLE 61 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 61a were prepared. The concentrated composition 61-17 is an oil in water emulsion and was prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated compositions 61-01 to 61-16 and 61-18 were prepared by the procedure (x) using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti).

Table 61a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 23 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 61 b.

Table 61b A surprising herbicidal effectiveness was provided with composition 61-18 which contained lecithin, ceteareth-27 and butyl stearate. The addition of 3% Ethomeen T / 25 (61-16) increased the effectiveness more. A slightly reduced effect was observed at the lowest amount of glyphosate in ABUTH when the concentration of butyl stearate was cut in half (61-15).

EXAMPLE 62 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 62a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 62-01 to 62-04, 62-06, 62-08, 62-20 10 and 61-18 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vii). The concentrated compositions 62-05, 62-07 and 62-09 are concentrated in aqueous solution and were prepared by the procedure (vii) Concentrated compositions 62-11 to 62-17 contain colloidal particulate materials and were prepared by the method (ix) All compositions of this example showed stability under acceptable storage. The compositions shown as containing colloidal particle material were not stable under storage unless the colloidal particulate material was included as shown. Table 62a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. Applications of spray compositions were made 22 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after d? the application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 62b.

Table 62b Compositions that exhibited a greater herbicidal effectiveness than that provided by the commercial standard J formulation included 62-01 (steareth-20 plus butyl stearate), 62-09 (ceteareth-15) and 62-10 (steareth-20 plus stearate-20 stearate). butyl) EXAMPLE 63 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosa and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 63a. All are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the procedure (vii).

Table 63a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 21 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 20 days after application Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 63b Table 63b Compositions that have a weight / weight ratio of 1 3 or less of glyphosate surfactant, but which exceeded the commercial standard formulation J at least on ABUTH in this test, included those containing only 1% surfactant. alkyl ether (ratio of about 1 15) together with 0 25% butyl stearate, wherein the alkyl ether surfactant was steareth-20 (63-12), oleth-20 (63-15) or ceteareth-27 (63-18) EXAMPLE 64 S? prepared dry granular concentrate compositions containing glyphosate ammonium salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 64a. The preparation procedure was as follows. Ammonium gylphosate powder was added to a mixer. The excipient ingredients were added slowly, together with sufficient water. As to moisten the powder and form a firm mass The mixer was operated for a sufficient time to completely mix all the ingredients The mass was then transferred to an extrusion apparatus and extruded to form granules, which were finally dried in a dryer fluid bed Table 64a Alcotán plants (Abutilón thßophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by the normal procedures given arpba. The applications of spray compositions were made 21 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and the Evaluation of ST herbicide inhibition made 20 days after application Formulations J and K were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 64b.

Table 64b Several dry granular compositions of this example exceeded in performance the commercial standard K composition, at least in ABUTH. These included 64-01 to 64-04 and 64-10 to 64-16, all containing alkyl ether surfactant steareth-20, oleth-20 or ceteth-20).

EXAMPLE 65 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 65a were prepared. All were prepared by the procedure (x) using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti), except that the compositions 65-09 and 65-10 were processed by ultrasonification instead of by using of a microfluidizer as indicated in the column of Table 65a entitled "Procedure".

Table 65a (*) Procedure: A: Ultrasonification B: Microfluidization, 3 cycles Plants d? alcotán (Abutilón theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) and were treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 19 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 15 days after application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, ST show in Table 65b.

Table 65b Many compositions of this test containing lecithipal and butyl stearate outperformed the commercial standard J formulation in this test.

EXAMPLE 66 Dry concentrated aqueous and granular compositions were prepared as shown in Table 66a. Dry granulated concentrate compositions 66-01 to 66-11 contain ammonium salt of glyphosate and were prepared by the procedure described in Example 64. The concentrated aqueous compositions 66- 12 to 66-16 contain IPA salt of glyphosate and ST prepared by procedure (v), using soy lecithin (45% phospholipids, Avanti) Table 66a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echmochloa crus galh ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given both. Applications of spray compositions were made 20 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF and evaluation of the Herbicide inhibition was done 16 days after application The formulations J and K were applied as comparative treatments The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 66b Table 66b All the compositions of the invention in this study showed greater herbicidal effectiveness in both ABUTH and ECHCF, in some cases by a very substantial margin, than the commercial standard K formulation.

EXAMPLE 67 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing glyphosate IPA salt and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 67a were prepared. The concentrated compositions 67-01 to 67-07, 67-17 and 67-18 were prepared by process (v). The concentrated compositions 67-08 to 67-15 were prepared by the procedure (x). The concentrated composition 67-16 was prepared by the process (viii).

Table 67a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 18 days after application.

Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 67b.

Table 67b Compositions 67-08 to 67-15, which contained lecithin, butyl stearate, Ethomen T / 25 and an alkyl ether surfactant of C? 6? S (ceteareth-20 or ceteareth-27) exhibited a very high degree of herbicide effectiveness. Not only was the performance, at least 67-08 to 67-13, in ABUTH substantially better than the d? formulation J, but also these compositions performed considerably better than formulation J in ECHCF.

EXAMPLE 68 Concentrated aqueous compositions were prepared containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 68a. All contain materials in colloidal particles and were prepared by the procedure (ix). All the compositions of this example showed stability under acceptable storage. The compositions shown as containing colloidal particle material were not stable under storage unless the colloidal particulate material was included as shown.

Table 68a Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. Applications of spray compositions were made 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 19 days after application. Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments. The results, averaged for all replicates d? each treatment, are shown in Table 68b.

Table 68b The percent inhibition data for the glyphosate amount of 400 g a.e./ha in this test are unreliable and should be ignored. Neither oleth-20 (composition 68-05) nor steareth-20 (68-10) provided herbicidal effectiveness equal to that of formulation J in this study, and no large or consistent additional increase was obtained by adding butyl stearate.

EXAMPLE 69 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 69a were prepared. Concentrated compositions 69-01 to 69-03 are oil-in-water emulsions and were prepared by the process (vn). -04 to 69-18 contain all materials in colloidal particles and were prepared by the method (ix) Different mixing methods were employed ep in the final stage of preparation of these compositions, as indicated in the column of Table 69a entitled 'Procedure' The compositions of this example all showed stability under acceptable storage. The compositions shown as containing colloidal particle material were not stable under storage unless the colloidal particulate material was included as shown.

Table 69a (*) Procedure A Silverson mixer, medium sieve, 3 minutes at 7000 rpm B Silverson mixer, coarse sieve, 3 minutes at 7000 rpm C Fann mixer, 50% emission, 5 minutes D Turrax mixer, 3 minutes at 8000 rpm E Stirrer top head, low speed F Top head agitator, high speed G Manual agitation, 3 minutes Alcotan plants (Abutilon theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were grown and treated by the normal procedures given above. sprinkling were done 17 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was done 19 days after application Formulations B and J were applied as comparative treatments Results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown ep the picture 69b Table 69b The results obtained with composition 69-06 are out of line with other data in this example and an error in the formulation or application is suspected. Some differences in herbicidal effectiveness were evident when a composition containing 360 g a.e / I of glyphosate, 1% butyl stearate, 10% oleth-20 and 1.25% Aerosil 380 was processed in different ways (69-11 to 69-17). However, since compositions 69-07 and 69-11 were processed identically but differed in effectiveness, firm conclusions can not be drawn from this test.

EXAMPLE 70 Concentrated aqueous compositions containing IPA salt of glyphosate and excipient ingredients as shown in Table 70a were prepared. All contain materials in colloidal particles and were prepared by the procedure (ix). The compositions of this example showed all stability under acceptable storage. The compositions shown as containing colloidal particle material were not stable under storage unless the colloidal particulate material was included as shown.

Table 70a Alcotán plants (Abutilón theophrasti, ABUTH) and Japanese millet (Echinochloa crus-galli, ECHCF) were cultivated and treated by the nopnales procedures given both. The treatments were applied in four different hours of the day. Applications of spray compositions were made 16 days after planting ABUTH and ECHCF, and evaluation of herbicide inhibition was made 22 days after application. Formulation J was applied as a comparative treatment. The results, averaged for all replicates of each treatment, are shown in Table 70b.

Table 70b fifteen twenty Composition 70-03 illustrates the consistency of high level performance obtainable with, in this case, steareth-20 at a weight / weight ratio a a.e. of glyphosate of approximately 1: 3 together with a small amount of butyl stearate and Aerosil 380. An average percentage of inhibition of ABUTH through all four amounts of glyphosate shows the following comparison of 70-03 with formulation J, applied to four different hours of the day: The above description of 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 will be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (18)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A composition for the treatment of plants comprising:

(a) an exogenous chemical, (b) a first excipient substance which is a propyl, isopropyl or butyl ester of a C 12 -α fatty acid; and (c) a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic substance having a critical packing parameter of more than 1/3; further characterized in that the weight / weight ratio of the first substance excipient to the exogenous chemical is from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100.

2. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the weight / weight ratio of the second substance excipient to the exogenous chemical is between about 1: 3 and about 1: 100;

3. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized in that the C12-18 alkyl chain of the fatty acid forming part of the first excipient is saturated in about 40 to 100 weight percent of all compounds having the formula (b) mentioned present in the composition.

4. The composition according to claim 1, further characterized, the first excipient substance is butyl stearate and the second excipient substance forms liposomes in aqueous dispersion.

5 - . 5 - The composition according to claim 12, further characterized in that the exogenous chemical is a herbicide selected from the group consisting of acetanilides, bipindyls, cyclohexenones, dimtroanilms, diphenylic ethers, fatty acids, hydroxybenzonites, imidazolinones, phenoxies, phenoxypropionates, substituted ureas , sulfonylureas, thiocarbamates and tpazines, more specifically from the group consisting of acetochlor, alachlor, metolachlor, aminotpazo !, asulam, bentazon, bialaphos, dicuat, paraquat, bromacil, cletodim, sethoxydim, dicamba, diflufenican, pendimetahn, acifluorfen, C9-10, fomesafen, oxyfluorfen, fosamma, flupoxam, glufosmate, glyphosate, bromoxynil, imazaquin, imazetapyr, isoxaben, norflurazon, 2,4-D, didofop, fluazifop, quizalofop, picloram, propanil, fluometuron, isoproturon, clonmuron, chlorsulfuron, halogensulfuron, metsulfuron, ppmisulfuron, sulfometuron, sulfosulfuron, tnalate, atrazine, metpbuzin, tpclopir and derivatives herbicides thereof 6 - The composition according to any of claims 1 to 5, further characterized in that the second excipient substance comprises an amphiphilic compound or mixture of said compounds having two hydrophobic portions, each of which is a group alkyl or saturated acyl having from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein said amphiphilic compound or mixture of said compounds having two hydrophobic portions constitutes from about 40 to 100 weight percent of all compounds

amphiphiles having two hydrophobic portions present in said liposome-forming material.

7. The composition according to claim 6, further characterized in that the second excipient substance comprises a liposome-forming compound having a hydrophobic moiety comprising two independently saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl groups R1 and R2 each having independently about 7 at about 21 carbon atoms, said liposome-forming compound has a formula selected from the group consisting of: (a) N + (CH2R1) (CH2R2) (R3) (R4) r wherein R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen, alkyl CM or C 1-4 hydroxyalkyl and Z is a suitable anion; (b) N + (R) (R6) (R7) CH2CH (OCH2R1) CH2 (OCH2R2) Z- wherein R5, R6 and R7 are independently hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl or C1-4 hydroxyalkyl and Z is an anion suitable; (c) N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH (OCOR1) CH2 (OCOR2) Z- wherein R5, R6, R7 and Z are as defined above; and (d) N + (R5) (R6) (R7) CH2CH2OPO (0-)

OCH2CH (OCOR1) CH2 (OCOR2) wherein R5, R6 and R7 are as defined above.

8. The composition according to claim 7, further characterized in that the second excipient substance is a phospholipid selected from the group consisting of C-22 dialkanoylphosphatidylcholines and CS-22 alkanoiifosphatidylethanolamines

9. The composition according to claim 6, characterized in addition because the second excipient substance is an alkyl ether surfactant or mixture of said surfactants which

they have the formula: R12-0- (CH2CH20) n (CH (CH3) CH20). "- R13 wherein R12 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having about 16 to about 22 d atoms? carbon, n is an average number of about 10 to about 100, m is an average number of 0 to about 5, and R 13 is hydrogen or C 1-4 alkyl.

10. The composition according to any of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that the composition is a concentrated stable composition on the counter comprising the exogenous chemical in an amount of about 15 to about 90 weight percent.

11. The composition according to claim 10, further characterized in that the composition is a solid composition comprising the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 30 to about 90 weight percent.

12. The composition according to claim 10, further comprising a liquid diluent, and wherein the composition comprises the exogenous chemical substance in an amount of about 15 to about 60 weight percent.

13. The composition according to claim 12, further characterized in that the exogenous chemical substance is water-soluble and is present in an aqueous phase of the composition in an amount of about 15 to about 45 percent by weight of the composition.

14. - The composition according to claim 13, further comprising a solid inorganic colloidal particle material.

15. The composition according to claim 14, further characterized in that the colloidal material comprises particles having an average surface area of about 50 to about 400 m2 / g.

16. The composition according to claim 13 or 14, further characterized in that the colloidal material comprises particles having an average surface area of about 180 to about 400 m2 / g.

17. The composition according to any of claims 14 to 16, further characterized in that the colloidal material comprises particles of an inorganic oxide selected from the oxides of silicon, aluminum and titanium.

18. A method of treating plants, comprising contacting the foliage of the plant with a biologically effective amount of a composition according to any of claims 1 to 17. 19.- A method of treating plants, which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the foliage of the plant with a biologically effective amount of an exogenous chemical and (b) contacting the same foliage with an aqueous composition comprising: (i) a first excipient substance that is a propyl, isopropyl or butyl ester of a C12-18 fatty acid and (ii) a second excipient substance that is an amphiphilic substance that

has a critical packing parameter of more than 1/3; further characterized in that the weight / weight ratio of the first substance excipient to the exogenous chemical is from about 1: 3 to about 1: 100 and wherein step (b) occurs simultaneously with, or within about 96 hours before or after passage (to).