Herbicidal compositions containing plant essential oils and mixtures or blends thereof

Abstract

Herbicidal compositions containing plant essential oils and mixtures or blends thereof. In addition, the present invention is directed to a method for controlling weeds and grasses by applying a herbicidally-effective amount of the above herbicidal compositions to a locus where weed and grass control is desired.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A herbicidal composition comprising, in admixture with an acceptable carrier if appropriate, a plant essential oil compound.  
     
     
         2 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant essential oil compound comprises a monocyclic, carbocyclic ring structure having six-members and substituted by at least one oxygenated or hydroxyl functional moiety.  
     
     
         3 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C16 (pure), amyl cinnamic aldehyde, amyl salicylate, anisic aldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, α-terpineol, carvacrol, carveol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, p-cymene, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, eucalyptol (cineole) eugenol, iso-eugenol, galaxolide, geraniol, guaiacol, ionone, d-limonene, mentha piperita, menthol, methyl anthranilate, methyl ionone, methyl salicylate, α-phellandrene, pennyroyal oil, perillaldehyde, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, piperonal, piperonyl acetate, piperonyl alcohol, D-pulegone, terpinen-4-ol, terpinyl acetate, 4-tert butylcyclohexyl acetate, thyme oil (white or red), thymol, metabolites of trans-anethole, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin.  
     
     
         4 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a surface-active agent.  
     
     
         5 . A method for controlling weeds and grasses, which comprises applying to the locus where control is desired a herbicidally-effective amount of the composition of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         6 . A herbicidal composition comprising, in admixture with an acceptable carrier if appropriate, a mixture of two or more plant essential oil compounds.  
     
     
         7 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 6 , wherein the plant essential oil compound comprises a monocyclic, carbocyclic ring structure having six-members and substituted by at least one oxygenated or hydroxyl functional moiety.  
     
     
         8 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 6 , wherein the plant essential oil compounds are selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C16 (pure), amyl cinnamic aldehyde, amyl salicylate, anisic aldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, α-terpineol, carvacrol, carveol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, p-cymene, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, eucalyptol (cineole) eugenol, iso-eugenol, galaxolide, geraniol, guaiacol, ionone, d-limonene, mentha piperita, menthol, methyl anthranilate, methyl ionone, methyl salicylate, α-phellandrene, pennyroyal oil, perillaldehyde, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, piperonal, piperonyl acetate, piperonyl alcohol, D-pulegone, terpinen-4-ol, terpinyl acetate, 4-tert butylcyclohexyl acetate, thyme oil, thymol, metabolites of trans-anethole, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin.  
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling weeds and grasses, which comprises applying to the locus where control is desired a herbicidally-effective amount of the composition of  claim 6 .  
     
     
         10 . A herbicidal composition comprising, in admixture with an acceptable carrier if appropriate, a mixture of one or more plant essential oil compounds in combination with a conventional pesticide, including herbicides.  
     
     
         11 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the plant essential oil compound comprises a monocyclic, carbocyclic ring structure having six-members and substituted by at least one oxygenated or hydroxyl functional moiety.  
     
     
         12 . The herbicidal composition of  claim 10 , wherein the plant essential oil compounds are selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C16 (pure), amyl cinnamic aldehyde, amyl salicylate, anisic aldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, α-terpineol, carvacrol, carveol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, p-cymene, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, eucalyptol (cineole) eugenol, iso-eugenol, galaxolide, geraniol, guaiacol, ionone, d-limonene, mentha piperita, menthol, methyl anthranilate, methyl ionone, methyl salicylate, α-phellandrene, pennyroyal oil, perillaldehyde, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, piperonal, piperonyl acetate, piperonyl alcohol, D-pulegone, terpinen4-ol, terpinyl acetate, 4-tert butylcyclohexyl acetate, thyme oil, thymol, metabolites of trans-anethole, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin.  
     
     
         13 . The conventional pesticide of  claim 10 , wherein the herbicide is glyphosate or 2,4-D.  
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling weeds and grasses, which comprises applying to the locus where control is desired a herbicidally-effective amount of the composition of claim  10 .