Compositions for control of hemipteran insect stylet sheath structure formation

Abstract

Compositions having at least one compound which inhibits the formation of Hemipteran stylet sheaths and/or degrades hemipteran style sheaths that have already been formed, and thus deters or blocks hemipteran insects from feeding on plants, especially agriculturally important plants and methods of use of such compositions are described. Such compositions can be applied onto plants by spraying, dripping, or other methods and/or can be applied to the soil for uptake by the roots. These compositions and methods prevent and/or reduce the transmission of vascular associated diseases (caused by hemipteran vector-borne pathogens) to plants.

1 . A composition for preventing or reducing hemipteran insect feeding on a plant comprising an agriculturally acceptable carrier, a surfactant, and at least one compound effective in preventing or reducing hemipteran insect feeding in an amount effective in preventing formation of said hemipteran insect's stylet sheath or in degrading said hemipteran insect's stylet sheath, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of (i) at least one carbohydrate-degrading enzyme that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath, (ii) at least one protease that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath, (iii) at least one small molecule that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath, and (iv) a combination thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Tween-80, Triton X-100, an alchohol alkoxylate, an alkylaryl ethoxylate, a fatty amine ethoxylate, an organo-silicone, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said protease is selected from the group consisting of cellulase, protease from  Aspergillus oryzae,  carboxypeptidase, chymopapin, papain, bromelain, ficin, proteinase K, calpain, caspase, cathepsin, actinidin, tobacco etch virus protease, γ-glutamyl hydrolase, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said carbohydrate-degrading enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amyloglucosidase, α-amylase, laminarinase, licheninase, cellulase, hemicellulase, glucuronyl hydrolase, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, β-1,4-endoglucanase, endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanases, endodextranase, xylanase, mannan-degrading hydrolase, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said small molecule is selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropionitrile fumarate salt, dithiothreitol solution, nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, kojic acid, ammonium tetrathiomolybdate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), D-penicillamine, 2,3,2-tetramine, 2,2,2-tetramine, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetic acid (TETA), N,N′,N″-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3,5-cis,cis,-triaminocyclohexane (tachpyr), naringin, didymin, eriodictyol, eriocitrin, hesperetin, naringenin, 7-hydroxy-coumarin, limonin, limonin glucoside, nomilin, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said small molecule is a copper chelating agent or a laccase inhibitor. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  adjuvant further comprising at least one buffer, at least one penetrating agent, at least one oil, at least one humectant, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein said penetrating agent is selected from the group consisting of cutinase, wax esterase, exoenzyme, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said surfactant is an organo-silicone and said protease is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae.    
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one compound is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae  and bromelain. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said at least one compound is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae  and chymopapain. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for reducing or preventing transmission of a vascular associated disease from a hemipteran insect that is a carrier of said vascular associated disease to a plant, said kit comprising a first container which has at least one compound effective in reducing or preventing said hemipteran insect from feeding on said plant; a second container which has an agriculturally acceptable carrier; a third container which has a surfactant; and instructions on the use of said compound effective in reducing or preventing said hemipteran insect from feeding on said plant; wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of (i) at least one carbohydrate-degrading enzyme that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath formation, (ii) at least one protease that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath formation, (iii) at least one small molecule that prevents stylet sheath formation and/or degrades stylet sheath formation, and (iv) a combination thereof; and wherein said reduction or prevention of feeding of said hemipteran insect on said plant results in said reducing or prevention of transmission of said vascular associated disease. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of Tween-80, Triton X-100, an alchohol alkoxylate, an alkylaryl ethoxylate, a fatty amine ethoxylate, an organo-silicone, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said protease is selected from the group consisting of cellulase, protease from  Aspergillus oryzae,  carboxypeptidase, chymopapin, papain, bromelain, ficin, proteinase K, calpain, caspase, cathepsin, actinidin, tobacco etch virus protease, γ-glutamyl hydrolase, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said carbohydrate-degrading enzyme is selected from the group consisting of amyloglucosidase, α-amylase, laminarinase, licheninase, cellulase, hemicellulase, glucuronyl hydrolase, lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase, β-1,4-endoglucanase, endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanases, endodextranase, xylanase, mannan-degrading hydrolase, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said small molecule is selected from the group consisting of 3-aminopropionitrile fumarate salt, dithiothreitol solution, nitrilotriacetic acid trisodium salt, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, kojic acid, ammonium tetrathiomolybdate, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), D-penicillamine, 2,3,2-tetramine, 2,2,2-tetramine, 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-1,4,8,11-tetraacetic acid (TETA), N,N′,N″-tris(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,3,5-cis,cis,-triaminocyclohexane (tachpyr), naringin, didymin, eriodictyol, eriocitrin, hesperetin, naringenin, 7-hydroxy-coumarin, limonin, limonin glucoside, nomilin, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said small molecule is a copper chelating agent or a laccase inhibitor. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said kit further comprises a fifth containing which has an adjuvant, and wherein said adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of at least one buffer, at least one penetrating agent, at least one oil, at least one humectant, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 18  wherein said adjuvant is a penetrating agent and said penetrating agent is selected from the group consisting of cutinase, wax esterase, exoenzyme, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said surfactant is an organo-silicone and said at least one compound is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae.    
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said at least one compound is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae  and bromelain. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 12  wherein said at least one compound is protease from  Aspergillus oryzae  and chymopapain.