Environmentally safe fungicide and bactericide formulations

Abstract

Environmentally safe fungicide and bactericide formulations are provided by incorporating one or more preservatives in a mildly acidic aqueous solution. The preservatives include organic acids and the salts and esters thereof but exclude preservatives which can generate sulfur or chlorine-containing compounds.

1 - 40 . (canceled)  
     
     
         41 . Aqueous solutions for treating live plants, crops, trees, pre-harvest fruits, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots and flowers having a pH of between 4.0 and 6.5 and consisting essentially of fungicidally and/or bactericidally effective concentrations of one or more preservative compounds selected from the group consisting of sorbic, benzoic and lactic acid; the sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium salts of benzoic, sorbic, hydroxymethyl glycinic, lactic and propionic acid; and methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl paraben, at least one surfactant, and optionally an acidulant.  
     
     
         42 . The solutions of  claim 41  wherein the concentration of preservative is from 0.001 to 0.2% by weight.  
     
     
         43 . The solutions of claim  1  wherein the concentration of preservative is from 0.005 to 0.1% by weight.  
     
     
         44 . The solutions of  claim 41  containing an acidulant.  
     
     
         45 . The solutions of  claim 44  in which the acidulant is one or more of citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, bisulfate, or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salts thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The solutions of  claim 41  containing 0.001% and 0.2% by weight of one or more surfactants.  
     
     
         47 . The solutions of  claim 46  in which the concentration of said one or more surfactants is from 0.01% to 0.1% by weight.  
     
     
         48 . A method of treating live plant life comprising plants, crops, trees, pre-harvest fruits, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots and flowers to kill fungal or bacterial pathogens by contacting said plant life with a mildly acidic aqueous solutions of pH between 4.0 and 6.5, and consisting essentially of one or more fungicidally and or bactericidally effective concentrations of one or more preservative compounds selected from the group consisting of sorbic, benzoic and lactic acid; the sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium salts of benzoic, sorbic, hydroxymethyl glycinic, lactic and propionic acid; and methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl paraben, at least one surfactant, and optionally an acidulant.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  in which the solution has a pH between 4.0 and 4.6.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the concentration of preservative is from 0.001 to 0.2% by weight.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the concentration of preservative is from 0.005 to 0.1% by weight.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48  in which the solution contains an acidulant.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  in which the acidulant is citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, adipic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, phosphoric acid, bisulfate, or the sodium, potassium or ammonium salts thereof.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48  in which the concentration of said surfactant is from 0.001% to 0.2% by weight.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said fungal or bacterial pathogens cause plant disease in the form of powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, blight, canker, leaf curl, leaf spot, rot, rust, scab, smut and bacteria on living plants.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said solution is applied as a spray.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said plant life is treated with said aqueous solution after said plant life is contacted with said fungal or bacterial pathogens.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said plant life is treated with said aqueous solution prior to when said plant life is contacted with said fungal or bacterial pathogens.  
     
     
         59 . A method of treating live plant life comprising plants, crops, trees, pre-harvest fruits, vegetables, leaves, stems, roots and flowers to kill fungal or bacterial pathogens by contacting said plant life with a mildly acidic aqueous solutions of pH between 2.5 and 6.5, and consisting essentially of one or more fungicidally and or bactericidally effective concentrations of one or more preservative compounds selected from the group consisting of sorbic and benzoic acid; the sodium, potassium, calcium and ammonium salts of benzoic, sorbic, hydroxymethyl glycinic, and propionic acid; and methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl paraben, at least one surfactant, and optionally an acidulant.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said fungal or bacterial pathogens cause plant disease in the form of powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, blight, canker, leaf curl, leaf spot, rot, rust, scab, smut and bacteria on living plants.