Nematode Repellent Composition

Abstract

In one aspect, this invention relates to a nematode repellent composition comprising an effective nematode repellent amount of a fatty acid and an anthranilate ester. In another aspect, this invention relates to a method of repelling nematodes employing such composition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising an effective nematode repellant amount of a composition comprising: (a) an anthranilate ester; and (b) at least one of a fatty acid ester and a fatty acid wherein the weight ratio of component (b) to anthranilate ester is in a range of from about 1:10 to about 20:1 wherein said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids containing from 8 to 24 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said anthranilate ester is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl anthranilate, methyl anthranilate, ethyl anthranilate, phenylethyl anthranilate and menthyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said anthranilate ester is methyl anthranilate or dimethyl anthranilate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising oleic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a fatty acid salt. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 5  wherein the salt is a sodium or potassium salt. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising a fatty alkyl ester of a C 1 -C 5  alcohol. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 7  wherein the fatty alkyl ester is an ethyl ester. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of fatty acid to anthranilate ester is from 1:5 to 10:1. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the weight ratio of component (b) to anthranilate ester is from 1:1 to 5:1. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein the composition further comprises a solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  wherein the anthranilate ester and component (b) comprise between 0.1% and 60% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the anthranilate ester and component (b) comprise between 0.4% and 40% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the solvent is selected from a C 1 -C 4  alcohol, an ester, a ketone, a petroleum distillate or a glycol. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1  further comprising an antioxidant preservative agent. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises one or more nematicidal agents selected from the group consisting of chemical nematicides, biological nematicides and nematicidal agents of natural origin. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1  wherein said fatty acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of: oleic acid, ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid palmitic acid and stearic acid.