Multifunctional compositions having combined insecticidal, mitacidal and fungicidal activity

Abstract

Particular aspects provide novel insecticide/miticide/fungicide compositions, and methods for using same for safe, environmentally friendly control of insects, mites and fungal pests in, e.g., gardening and commercial growing. Preferably, the compositions comprise organic or pure ingredients. Particular embodiments comprise: a fatty acid soap base (e.g., saponified soap with retained glycerin; or fatty acid salts with glycerin); at least one essential oil; an optional food oil; and a bicarbonate reagent, along with water. Additional embodiments comprise: a soap base, and/or glycerin or other suitable base; at least one organic or pure plant essential oil; an organic or pure food oil; and a bicarbonate reagent, along with water as diluent and carrier, and methods for using same. Further aspects provide a method for controlling mite and fungal pests with a single composition comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: a non-petroleum-based food oil; and a bicarbonate agent.

1 . A method for controlling insect, mite and fungal pests with a single composition, comprising contacting at least one pest, or a surface or plant or portion thereof susceptible to the at least one pest, with a pesticidally effective amount of a composition comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a fatty acid soap base; and    an essential oil, wherein controlling insect, mite and fungal pests with a single composition is afforded.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one saponified oil with retained glycerin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one fatty acid salt, along with glycerin.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soap base is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 20% by volume, or at about 10% to about 15% by volume.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a bicarbonate agent.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the saponified oil is a saponified plant oil.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pest is at lease one selected from the group consisting of mites and fungus; and wherein a pesticidally effective amount refers to at least one of a miticidally, and fungicidally effective amount.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, in the composition, the fatty acid soap base is present at about 1% to about 15% by weight, wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, wherein a food oil is present at about 1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the essential oil and the food oil are different oils, each present in the composition at about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, or at about 1% to about 10% by weight.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the essential oil comprises at least one of peppermint and rosemary, wherein the food oil comprises at least one of cottonseed, soybean, and canola, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate at about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the soap base and the essential oil are all organic.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contacting comprises contacting on a plurality of occasions.  
     
     
         17 . A composition for controlling insect, mite and fungal pests, comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a fatty acid soap base; and    an essential oil.    
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one saponified oil with retained glycerin.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one fatty acid salt, along with glycerin.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the fatty acid soap base is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 20%, or at about 10% to about 15% by volume.  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising a bicarbonate agent.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the saponified oil is a saponified plant oil.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein, in the composition, the soap base is present at about 1% to about 15% by weight, wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, wherein a food oil is present at about 1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , wherein the essential oil and the food oil are different oils, each present in the composition at about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, or at about 1% to about 10% by weight.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the essential oil comprises at least one of peppermint and rosemary, wherein the food oil comprises at least one of cottonseed, soybean and canola, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate at about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the soap base, the essential oil and the food oil are all organic.  
     
     
         31 . A method for controlling insect, mite and fungal pests with a single composition, comprising contacting at least one pest, or a surface or plant or portion thereof susceptible to the at least one pest, with a pesticidally effective amount of a composition comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a fatty acid soap base;    an essential oil; and    a bicarbonate reagent, wherein controlling insect, mite and fungal pests with a single composition is afforded.    
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one saponified oil with retained glycerin.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one fatty acid salt, along with glycerin.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the fatty acid salts comprise oleic acid.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the soap base is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 20% by volume, or at about 10% to about 15% by volume.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bicarbonate reagent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein, in the composition, the soap base is present at about 1% to about 15% by weight, wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, wherein a food oil is present at about 1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the essential oil and the food oil are different oils, each present in the composition at about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, or at about 1% to about 10% by weight.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the essential oil comprises at least one of peppermint and rosemary, wherein the food oil comprises at least one of cottonseed, soybean and canola, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate at about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the soap base and the essential oil are all organic.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein contacting comprises contacting on a plurality of occasions.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the composition further comprises an amount of Vitamin E sufficient to act as a stabilizer.  
     
     
         46 . A composition for controlling insect, mite and fungal pests, comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a fatty acid soap base;    an essential oil; and    a bicarbonate reagent.    
     
     
         47 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one saponified oil with retained glycerin.  
     
     
         48 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the fatty acid soap base comprises at least one fatty acid salt, along with glycerin.  
     
     
         49 . The composition of  claim 48 , wherein the fatty acid salts, comprise oleic acid.  
     
     
         50 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the fatty acid soap base is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 20% by volume, or at about 5% to about 15% by volume.  
     
     
         51 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         52 . The composition of  claim 46 , further comprising about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         53 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         54 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein, in the composition, the soap base is present at about 1% to about 15% by weight, wherein the essential oil is present at about 0.01% to about 5% by weight, wherein a food oil is present at about 1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         55 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the essential oil and the food oil are different oils, each present in the composition at about 1% to about 10% by weight.  
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 55 , wherein the essential oil comprises at least one of peppermint and rosemary, wherein the food oil comprises at least one of cottonseed, soybean and canola, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate at about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and ammonium bicarbonate.  
     
     
         58 . The composition of  claim 46 , wherein the soap base and the essential oil are all organic.  
     
     
         59 . The composition of  claim 46 , further comprising an amount of Vitamin E sufficient to act as a stabilizer.  
     
     
         60 . A method for controlling mite and fungal pests with a single composition, comprising contacting at least one pest, or a surface or plant or portion thereof susceptible to the at least one pest, with a pesticidally effective amount of a composition comprising, along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a non-petroleum-based food oil; and    a bicarbonate agent, wherein controlling mite and fungal pests with a single composition is afforded.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the non-petroleum-based food oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the composition further comprises about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein, in the composition, the non-petroleum-based food oil is present at about 0.01% to about 20% by weight, or at about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 5.0% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein, the non-petroleum based food oil is at least one selected from the group consisting of soybean, cottonseed and canola.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the non-petroleum based food oil is organic.  
     
     
         67 . A composition for controlling mite and fungal pests, comprising along with an aqueous carrier or diluent: 
 a non-petroleum-based food oil; and    a bicarbonate agent.    
     
     
         68 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the non-petroleum-based food oil is present at about 0.01% to about 40% by volume, at about 5% to about 10% by volume, or at about 1% to about 10% by volume.  
     
     
         69 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the composition further comprises about 0.01% to about 5% by volume, or about 2.0% by volume of exogenous glycerin.  
     
     
         70 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises potassium bicarbonate present at about 0.02% to about 3% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2.0% by weight.  
     
     
         71 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein, in the composition, the non-petroleum-based food oil is present at about 0.01% to about 20% by weight, or at about 0.1% to about 10% by weight, and wherein the bicarbonate agent comprises a bicarbonate salt present at about 0.02% to about 5.0% by weight, or at about 0.02% to about 2% by weight.  
     
     
         72 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein, the non-petroleum based food oil is at least one selected from the group consisting of soybean, cottonseed and canola.  
     
     
         73 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein the non-petroleum based food oil is organic