A preservative or sterilant of the type used in the food and/or brewing industry is used to kill pests on crop and ornamental plants comprising applying to them a preservative or sterilant of the type used. Novel compositions contain such a preservative or sterilant together with a coating agent, e.g. di-1-p-menthene, and possibly also a surface-active agent.

Sprayable, starch-based formulations for autoencapsulating biological control agents, such as pathogenic bacteria and viruses, incorporate a sugary material to promote adherence of the encapsulated agent to treated foliage. The autoencapsulated pathogens are characterized by high survivability and are useful in controlling insects and other pest species.

A solid free flowing bird aversion compound comprising a bird aversion agent in an amount of from 10 to 80%, preferably from 30-75%, by weight of a total weight of the compound; and an inorganic or organic carrier in an amount of from 20 to 90%, preferably from 25-70%, by weight of a total weight of the compound. A bird aversion solution which is lighter than water comprising a bird aversion agent in an amount of from 5 to 50% by weight of a total weight of the solution; a terpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated derivative thereof in an amount of from 10 to 50% by weight of a total weight of the solution; and alkylesters selected from the group consisting of saturated fatty acids having from 4-20 carbon atoms and unsaturated fatty acids having from 10-18 carbon atoms esterified with an alcohol having from 1-8 carbon atoms in an amount of from 10 to 50% by weight of a total weight of the solution. A bird aversion emulsion, consisting essentially of a bird aversion agent in an amount of from 5 to 30% by weight of a total weight of the emulsion; a terpene hydrocarbon and oxygenated derivative thereof in an amount of from 5 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the emulsion; gums selected from the group consisting of storage polysaccharides, pectins, gelatins, xanthans, cellulose derivatives and alginate in an amount of from 0.5 to 10% by weight of a total weight of the emulsion; and water in an amount of from 70 to 80% by weight of a total weight of the emulsion. In all the embodiments of the present invention, the bird aversion agent is selected from the group consisting of methyl anthranilate, ortho-amino acetophenone, 2-amino-4,5-dimethyl acetophenone, veratroyl amine, dimethyl anthranilate, cinnamic aldehyde or esters, and combinations thereof.

The present invention relates to the use of crosslinkable silicone materials to coat botanic seeds, seedlings, meristematic tissue and plant embryos for their protection and to promote germination. The crosslinkable silicone materials are coated onto the seeds, seedlings, meristematic tissues or plant embryos and crosslinked to cure them. The silicone coatings of the present invention on the surface of the seeds, seedlings, meristematic tissues or plant embryos provide antifungal protection and can be used to carry entrapped plant adjuvants to the site of germination. The crosslinked silicone coatings are permeable to water vapor and oxygen and allow sunlight to pass through to the germinating seed.

A seed coating for enhancing the level of selenium in crops and therefore ensuring that sufficient levels of selenium are present in the resulting animal feed or foodstuff is described. The invention provides both a seed coating and method of coating a seed which provides a sufficient amount of selenium to the seed for uptake by the plants to produce selenium sufficient crops. The seed coating and method ensures that the selenium remains adhered to the seed in uniform, consistent amounts and which further imparts abrasion-resistance to the seed in order to reduce the toxicity risk of handling selenium-coated seeds. A suitable polymer material is also selected from the large number of polymers available in the art. A suitable polymer will mix well with the selenium material and will preferable form a dust-free film upon drying.