Abstract: A method of improving germination rate in pesticide-treated plant seeds involves forming a pesticide-free polymer coating on a plant seed before treating the seed with a pesticide, where the type of polymer and the coating thickness are designed to block phytotoxic contact of the pesticide with the seed while allowing sufficient transfer of oxygen to maintain the seed's viability and sufficient transfer of moisture under environmental conditions normally encountered by the seed after planting to enable its germination; and then treating the coated plant seed with a pesticide. Seeds that have been treated by this method, and plants that are grown from the treated seeds are also described.

Abstract: Process for making wireless twist ties including extruding and quenching molten polymeric materials to form ribbon or perforated sheets. Wireless twist ties include polymeric material, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinylchloride, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer and polystyrene and particulate rubber impact modifier. Wireless twist ties, when elongated, exhibit deformation before failure of at least 50%.

Abstract: Essentially organic, non-metallic ribbon useful as a twist tie comprising polymeric material exhibiting glass/rubber transitional behavior. Polymeric ribbons deformed under tensile stress at 25.degree. exhibit yield stress between about 500 and 9,000 psi. Discrete lengths of ribbon are capable of being disengagedly formed into fastly held twist ties by rotationally deforming terminal ends of said lengths about each other. Ribbons can comprise polymers, such as polyalkylene terephthalates, polyvinylchlorides, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers and polystyrenes. Optional polymeric materials include elastomeric impact modifiers and plasticizers. Process for the production of such ribbon. Methods for using such ribbon.