ENTOSTAT SPRAYABLE - A NOVEL FORMULATION

摘要

Key challenges facing the agrochemical industry in the coming years include, reducing pesticide application and increasing the targeted delivery of plant protection products. A current move in the industry towards reformulations is proving to be a cost effective method of achieving these goals. Entostat is a patented formulation delivery platform based on electrostatically charged wax particles. The use of electrostatics allows for improved placement of active ingredients and greater uptake by the target organism. The Entostat delivery platform has been used to successfully deliver fungi, bacteria, viruses, pheromones and conventional chemistry in dry powder formulations. Recent advances in formulation development mean that Exosect are now in a position to share results of how this technology can be used in a liquid sprayable formulation, henceforth called Entostat suspension concentrate (SC).In an initial study, Entostat SC was run through two sprayer nozzles, filters and at 5 bar pressure using a customised spray rig to determine its compatibility with conventional spray equipment. Flow rate (ml/min) spray angle (°) and percentage residueon filters (%) were measured at various time points. In a further study, Entostat SC was formulated with deltamethrin to create a contact insecticide Entostat formulation, hereafter referred to as Entostat SC Delta. Entostat SC Delta was applied to Chinese cabbage using conventional spray equipment. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the Entostat SC Delta formulation adhered better to the leaf surface than a conventional emulsifiable concentrate (EC) market standard (Decis Protech), andwhether this effect was influenced by rainfall. Plants were left dry (un-weathered) or exposed to simulated rainfall (weathered) 24 h prior to leaf collection. Leaves were exposed to up to 5 rainfall events of 2000L/Ha per even. Leaves were collected and extracted at 0,1, 3, 8, 15 and 22 Days After Treatment (DAT) for analysis by gas chromatography (GC) to quantify deltamethrin residues. In the final set of trials, the efficacy of the treatments under unweathered conditions were evaluated in bioassay studies using third instar Plutella xylostella larvae. Insect mortality was recorded at 0 and 14 DAT in trial 1, and 0 and 46 DAT in trial 2.Our results demonstrate that Entostat SC can be sprayed through conventional application equipment. Post application, deltamethrin retention on leaf was significantly higher for Entostat SC Delta than the industry standard at all DAT (p > 0.001). Entostat SC Delta and Decis Protech residues decreased over time in both weathered and un-weathered conditions, yet the amount of deltamethrin recovered from Entostat SC Delta treated leaves at the final sampling (22 DAT Entostat SC Delta = 428 ± 33 ug/m2) washigher than levels recovered from leaves treated with the commercial standard immediately after application (0 DAT Decis Protech = 429 ± 33 ug/m2). As a foliar chemical insecticide, Entostat SC Delta displays greater efficacy than a current industry standard. Given the greater adhesion and bioefficiency of Entostat SC Delta, this formulation could either be used to reduce the number of active ingredients required per application, or provide longer control in the field, both would allow growers to deliver on sustainability pest management goals.