Over 80 million liters of phytobland petroleum oil is marketed annually as an adjuvant in pesticide sprays. Methyl esterified free fatty acids of seed oil and seed oil free fatty acids were more or as effective as petroleum oil in enhancing foliarly applied herbicides in field and greenhouse experiments conducted in Phase I. In Phase II, laboratory research will continue towards developing superior formulations of these seed oil derivatives. Laboratory and greenhouse research will be conducted to determine both the storage stability of these seed oil derivatives and the mechanism(s) involved in their enhancement of pesticide activity. Research will be conducted in the field and in controlled environmental chambers to determine the influence of environment on the adjuvant efficacy of these seed oil derivatives. Further, field research will be conducted to determine crop tolerance and weed susceptibility to major foliarly applied herbicides applied with these seed oil derivatives, and to determine the efficacy of these seed oil derivatives with fungicides, insecticides, and plant growth regulators.Applications:The development of methyl esterified free fatty acids of seed oil and seed oil free fatty acids which are more effective than petroleum oil as adjuvants for pesticide sprays will result in improved pest control, increased demand for agricultural products, and possibly in lower pesticide dosages. Lower pesticide dosages required for pest control would reduce the chance of finding pesticides in crop residue, soil and/or the ground water.
