Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises (a) an exogenous chemical; (b) a first excipient substance which is a compound or mixture of compounds having the formula R14—CO—A—R15 wherein R14 is a hydrocarbyl group having about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R15 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in R14 and R15 is about 11 to about 27, and A is O or NH; and (c) a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic substance having a critical packing parameter greater than ⅓.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed for application to a plant that comprises glyphosate, an aqueous diluent, and an excipient substance that is amphiphilic. The weight/weight ratio of the excipient substance to the exogenous chemical is between about 1:3 and about 1:100. The aqueous composition forms anisotropic aggregates on a wax layer, and the presence of the anisotropic aggregates can be detected by a test described herein. Compositions of the present invention, when applied to plants, provide enhanced biological activity per unit amount of glyphosate, as compared to otherwise similar compositions containing surfactants that do not form anisotropic aggregates. Without being bound by theory, it is presently believed that this enhanced biological activity results from the formation or enlargement of hydrophilic channels through the epicuticular wax of the plant.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed for application to a plant that comprises an exogenous chemical (for example, a postemergent herbicide), an aqueous diluent, and a first excipient substance that is amphiphilic. The weight/weight ratio of the first excipient substance to the exogenous chemical is between about 1:3 and about 1:100. The aqueous composition forms anisotropic aggregates on a wax layer, and the presence of the anisotropic aggregates can be detected by a test described herein. Compositions of the present invention, when applied to plants, provide enhanced biological activity per unit amount of exogenous chemical, as compared to otherwise similar compositions containing surfactants that do not form anisotropic aggregates. Without being bound by theory, it is presently believed that this enhanced biological activity results from the formation or enlargement of hydrophilic channels through the epicuticular wax of the plant.

Abstract: A plant treatment composition for application of an anionic exogenous chemical substance such as glyphosate to foliage of a plant is provided.

Abstract: A composition for application to foliage of a plant to elicit a biological effect is provided.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises (a) an exogenous chemical and (b) an alkylether surfactant or mixture of such surfactants having the formula R12—O—(CH2CH2O)n(CH(CH3)CH2O)m—R13 wherein R12 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms, n is an average number of about 10 to about 100, m is an average number of 0 to about 5 and R13 is hydrogen or C1-4 alkyl. The alkylether surfactant or mixture thereof is present in an amount such that the weight/weight ratio of said alkylether surfactant or mixture of such surfactants to the exogenous chemical is about 1:3 to about 1:100.

Abstract: A plant treatment composition for application of an anionic exogenous chemical substance such as glyphosate herbicide to foliage of a plant is provided. The composition is a colloidal dispersion having supramolecular aggregates dispersed in an aqueous application medium. The supramolecular aggregates comprise one or more amphiphilic salt(s) having anions of the exogenous chemical substance and cations derived by protonation of one or more polyamine(s) or polyamine derivative(s) each having (a) at least two nitrogen-containing groups, of which a number n not less than 1 are amino groups that can be protonated to form cationic primary, secondary or tertiary ammonium groups, and (b) at least one hydrocarbyl or acyl group having about 6 to about 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises an exogenous chemical and a first excipient substance. The first excipient substance is an amphiphilic quaternary ammonium compound or mixture of such compounds, having the formulaR.sup.8 --W.sub.a --X--Y.sub.b --(CH.sub.2).sub.n --N.sup.+ (R.sup.9)(R.sup.10)(R.sup.11) T.sup.-wherein R.sup.8 represents the hydrophobic moiety and is a hydrocarbyl or haloalkyl group having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, W and Y are independently O or NH, a and b are independently 0 or 1 but at least one of a and b is 1, X is CO, SO or SO.sub.2, n is 2 to 4, R.sup.9, R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 are independently C.sub.1-4 alkyl, and T is a suitable anion.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed for application to a plant that comprises an exogenous chemical (for example, a postemergent herbicide), an aqueous diluent, and a first excipient substance that is amphiphilic. The weight/weight ratio of the first excipient substance to the exogenous chemical is between about 1:3 and about 1:100. The aqueous composition forms anisotropic aggregates on a wax layer, and the presence of the anisotropic aggregates can be detected by a test described herein. Compositions of the present invention, when applied to plants, provide enhanced biological activity per unit amount of exogenous chemical, as compared to otherwise similar compositions containing surfactants that do not form anisotropic aggregates. Without being bound by theory, it is presently believed that this enhanced biological activity results from the formation or enlargement of hydrophilic channels through the epicuticular wax of the plant.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are disclosed wherein exogenous chemicals are applied to plants to generate a desired biological response. One embodiment of the present invention is a plant treatment composition that comprises (a) an exogenous chemical; (b) a first excipient substance which is a compound or mixture of compounds having the formulaR.sup.14 --CO--A--R.sup.15wherein R.sup.14 is a hydrocarbyl group having about 5 to about 21 carbon atoms, R.sup.15 is a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to about 14 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.14 and R.sup.15 is about 11 to about 27, and A is O or NH; and (c) a second excipient substance which is an amphiphilic substance having a critical packing parameter greater than 1/3.