WO2024256589A1

WO2024256589A1 - Seed coating composition

Info

Publication number: WO2024256589A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/066459
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre HAAG; Julie DE SEQUEIRA; Nikki COCHRANE; Barbara VASCONCELOS DE FARIAS; Ronald L REICHERT; Ivan GARCIA ROMERO
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2023-06-13
Filing date: 2024-06-13
Publication date: 2024-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-13
Also published as: CN121443145A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition comprising at least one polycaprolactone and at least one dispersant which is useful for coating seeds, and preferably additionally comprising one or both of at least one pigment and/or at least one seed treatment agent; to the use of said aqueous composition for treating seeds; to a kit of parts comprising at least two parts, where the first part comprises at least one polycaprolactone, at least one dispersant and optionally at least one pigment, but no seed treatment agent, and the second part comprises at least one seed treatment agent; to a coated seed obtainable by the treatment of the seed with said aqueous composition or with the first and second parts of said kit of parts; to a coated seed comprising a layer coating a part or the complete surface of the seed, where the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone and one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment; to a method for preparing a coated seed; to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder for seed treatment agents and/or for pigments, and to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder in seed treatment compositions containing one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment.

Description

Seed coating composition

The present invention relates to an aqueous composition comprising at least one polycaprolactone and at least one dispersant which is useful for coating seeds, and preferably additionally comprising one or both of at least one pigment and/or at least one seed treatment agent; to the use of said aqueous composition, preferably comprising one or both of at least one pigment and/or at least one seed treatment agent, for treating seeds; to a kit of parts comprising at least two parts, where the first part comprises at least one polycaprolactone, at least one dispersant and optionally at least one pigment, but no seed treatment agent, and the second part comprises at least one seed treatment agent; to a coated seed obtainable by the treatment of the seed with said aqueous composition which preferably comprises one or both of at least one pigment and/or at least one seed treatment agents, or with the first and second parts of the kit of parts; to a coated seed comprising a layer coating a part or the complete surface of the seed, where the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone, and one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment; to a method for preparing a coated seed comprising contacting a part or the complete seed to be coated with said aqueous composition or with the combination of the first and second parts of the kit of parts; to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder for seed treatment agents and/or for pigments, and to the use as a binder in seed treatment compositions containing one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Seeds are often coated, e.g. to prevent ingression of humidity and thus, inter alia, premature germination or deterioration by microorganisms. Seeds may moreover be treated with seed treatment agents, e.g. with fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, plant nutrients, growth stimulating agents or inoculants, and/or may be dyed, especially when treated. Seed treatment is for example carried out to protect the seeds or the plants growing therefrom from attack by fungi, invertrebrate pests and the like, to stimulate emergence and plant growth, etc. Dying is for example carried out for differentiating various types of seeds or seed coatings, for marketing (branding for specific manufacturers) or identification purposes, for checking of seed deposition, as a warning signal, for an easier cleaning up after accidental spillage and also for a repellent effect.

To bind the pigments used for dying the seeds and/or the seed treatment agents to the seed, generally a binder is used. Typical binders used for this purpose are polymers formed from ethylenically unsaturated monomers, such as carboxylated styrene/butadiene polymers; polyamides or acrylic binders. Disadvantageously, such binders are not biodegradable and accumulate in the soil.

There is an urgent need to reduce the introduction of (micro)plastic into the environment, to be more precise of (micro)plastic which is not or not readily biodegradable.

Another problem associated with seeds, in particular with treated seeds, is dust formation. Dust from neonicotinoid-treated seeds, for example, is suspected to have caused at least some of the serious health problems of bee populations observed since several years. Generally, dust from treated seeds represents a health hazard for humans and animals coming into contact therewith, e.g. during or after sowing, or during transport, packaging, processing etc.. But also dust from non-treated seeds, stemming for example from seed husks, may represent a health hazard.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for coating and in particular for treating and/or dying seeds which has a reduced environmental impact. The seeds coated therewith should have moreover a reduced dust formation, thusly reducing the environmental impact also in this respect, and also reducing the health risks for those coming into contact with the coated seeds and dust produced therefrom, e.g. during sowing, or during transport, packaging, processing etc. Dust suppression should however not be to the expense of plantability/sowability, i.e. the seeds should not stick to each other or to the sowing device, and they should show a good flowability.

BE 1009840A5 relates to a seed treatment method, especially for sugar beets, that ensures delay of germination. To this purpose, the seeds are protected with a waterproof and biodegradable substance which has a predetermined biodegradation rate over time. The waterproof layer is destroyed as soon as the temperature reaches 8- 10°C in early spring, allowing the seeds to germinate. As a suitable biodegradable plastic material, polycaprolactones with a molecular weight of from 4000 to 50000 are mentioned. The biodegradable plastic layer is prepared by minuting the material to powder, adding a glue and applying this mixture by hot-melt fluid bed coating to the (treated) seed. On top of this layer, a protective layer containing e.g. resins is applied to prevent the seeds from sticking to each other. This reference neither mentions aqueous polycarprolactone formulations nor dyed seeds nor the use of polycaprolactones as binders in general and especially not as binders for pigments for seed dying and/or for seed reatment agents. EP 0145086 A2 relates to seeds coated with an anhydrous coating, where the coating contains a polyester, such as homo- and copolymers of s-caprolactone, having a low melting temperature.The coating may moreover contain seed treatment agents. The polyester is applied to the seeds in liquid or melted form or in form of a non-aqueous concentrated solution in an organic solvent. Coatings applied according to the method of this document have generally a thickness in the mm range.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors found that polycaprolactones are useful as binders in aqueous compositions, in particular in aqueous compositions for seed treatment/dying, and that seeds coated with such compositions show reduced dust formation without impaired fl owa bi I ity/sowa bi I i ty.

The invention relates thus to an aqueous composition comprising

(a) at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) at least one dispersant; and water.

Water is generally present in an amount to form a continuous phase containing the components (a) and (b) (and other components which may be present in the composition) in dissolved, suspended and/or emulsified form.

The invention relates moreover to the use of said aqueous composition for treating seeds.

The invention relates furthermore to a kit of parts comprising at least two parts, where the first part comprises said aqueous composition, but no seed treatment agent, and the second part comprises at least one seed treatment agent.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a coated seed, obtainable by the treatment of the seed with said aqueous composition or with the combination of the first and second parts of said kit of parts; and to a coated seed comprising a layer coating a part or the complete surface of the seed, where the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone and one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment.

In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for preparing a coated seed, comprising contacting a part or the complete seed to be coated with said aqueous composition or with the combination of the first and second parts of said kit of parts. Finally, the invention relates to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder for pigments and/or for seed treatment agents; or as a binder in seed treatment compositions containing one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment, preferably in aqueous seed treatment compositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Polycaprolactones (PCL), more precisely poly-s-caprolactones, are typically prepared by ring opening polymerization of s-caprolactone, generally started from a compound with active hydrogen atoms, such as monohydric or higher hydric alcohols or amines, and contain repeat units of the formula

The term "polycaprolactone" as used in context of the present invention also encompasses what might be termed as s-caprolactone oligomers, i.e. s-polycaprolactones containing just a few units of the above formula, e.g. just 2 to 10 units of the formula (CH₂)₅-C(=O)O+ in sum.

While principally there is no specific limitation for polycaprolactones to be used in the present invention, polycaprolactones with a rather low melting point or softening point are preferred, Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the at least one polycaprolactone has a melting point of from 0 to 70°C, more preferably from 0 to 60°C, in particular from 0 to 55°C, e.g. from 0 to 52°C.

The melting points correspond to the values indicated by the producers and are generally determined via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Exemplary DSC conditions are heating a 3 mg sample in an aluminum pan to 200°, cooling to -70°C and a second heating run at 5 K/min to 200°C and cooling at 10 K/min.

Preferably, the at least one polycaprolactone has a number-average molecular weight M_n of from 250 to 4000 g/mol, more preferably from 300 to 3500 g/mol, even more preferably from 400 to 3000 g/mol, in particular from 500 to 2500 g/mol, specifically from 600 to 2500 g/mol, as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polyethylene glycol standards. Preferably, the at least one polycaprolactone has a weight-average molecular weight M_w of from 250 to 5000 g/mol, more preferably from 400 to 4500 g/mol, even more preferably from 500 to 4000 g/mol, in particular from 600 to 3500 g/mol, specifically from 700 to 3500 g/mol, as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polyethylene glycol standards.

Preferably, the at least one polycaprolactone has a polydispersity (M_w/M_n) of 1.0 to 2.0, more preferably from 1.05 to 1.8, in particular from 1.1 to 1.5.

Preferably, the polycaprolactones as used in the present invention are started from an alcohol, which alcohol can be monohydric (just one hydroxyl group), dihydric (being thus a diol), trihydric (being thus a triol) or polyhydric (having 4 or more hydroxyl groups). The alcohol can be aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or a mixed form. Aliphatic alcohols are alcohols formally derived from an alkane, alkene or alkyne in which 1, 2, 3 or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a hydroxyl group. If two or more OH groups are present, these are not geminally bound. Preferably, the aliphatic alcohols are formally derived from an alkane. Cycloaliphatic alcohols are alcohols formally derived from a cycloalkane, cycloalkene or cycloalkyne in which 1, 2, 3 or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a hydroxyl group. If two or more OH groups are present, these are not geminally bound. Preferably, the cycloaliphatic alcohols are formally derived from a cycloalkane. Aromatic alcohols are alcohols formally derived from an aromatic ring in which 1, 2, 3 or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by a hydroxyl group. Examples for mixed forms are araliphatic alcohols, such as benzyl alcohol or 2-phenylethanol, and cycloalkylalkanols, such as cyclohexylmethanol.

Among the above alcohols, preference is given to aliphatic alcohols.

Monohydric aliphatic alcohols are preferably alkanols. Examples for monohydric aliphatic alcohols (to be more precise for alkanols) are methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, 2-ethylhexanol and the like.

Dihydric aliphatic alcohols are preferably alkanediols. Examples for dihydric aliphatic alcohols (also termed aliphatic diols) (to be more precise examples for alkanediols) are ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, polytetrahydrofuran, neopentylglycol (2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol) and the like. Trihydric aliphatic alcohols are preferably alkanetriols. Examples for trihydric aliphatic alcohols (also termed aliphatic triols) (to be more precise examples for alkanetriols) are glycerol, trimethylolpropane (CH₃CH2C(CH₂OH)3) and the like.

Examples for polyhydric aliphatic alcohols having 4 or more hydroxyl groups are pentaerythritol, erythritol and sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol, and the like.

Preferably, the polycaprolactones are started from a dihydric or trihydric alcohol (diol or triol), and thus the polycaprolactones preferably comprise a polycaprolactone diol or triol (in condensed form, of course).

Polycaprolactones started from a dihydric alcohol can be illustrated schematically by following formula:

where R stands for the remainder of the starting diol and each n is independently the number of repeat units.

Polycaprolactones started from a trihydric alcohol can be illustrated schematically by following formula:

where R stands for the remainder of the starting triol and each n is independently the number of repeat units.

More preferably, the polycaprolactones are started from a dihydric or trihydric aliphatic alcohol (diol or triol), and thus the polycaprolactones preferably comprise a polycaprolactone aliphatic diol or triol. In this case, R in the above formulae stands for an aliphatic residue. Even more preferably, the polycaprolactones are started from an alkane diol or alkane triol. The alkane diols and triols preferably have 2 to 8 carbon atoms. Suitable aliphatic diols and triols, especially alkane diols and triols, have been listed above. Among the above-listed aliphatic diols, preference is given to diethylene glycol and neopentylglycol. Among the above-listed aliphatic triols, preference is given to trimethylolpropane. The polycaprolactones preferably have a hydroxyl value of from 40 to 500 mg KOH/g, more preferably from 50 to 400 mg KOH/g or from 50 to 350 mg KOH/g, as determined by ASTM E-222. Hydroxyl value refers to the mass of potassium hydroxide (KOH) in milligrams that is required to neutralize the acetic acid taken up on acetylation of one gram of a chemical substance that contains free hydroxyl groups that is a measure of the content of free hydroxyl groups in a chemical substance.

Suitable polycaprolactones are commercially available, e.g. under the Capromer™ brands of BASF (e.g. Capromer™ PT1-05, Capromer™ PD4-05, Capromer™ PD1-10, Capromer™ PD1-10A, Capromer™ PD1-20 or Capromer™ PD1-20A) or the CAPA™ brands from Ingevity, or can be prepared by standard methods known in the art.

Polycaprolactones are biodegradable. Biodegradable materials are broken down by microorganisms, generally in the presence of oxygen (aerobic decomposition), to carbon dioxide, water, biomass and minerals. Biodegradability in terms of the present invention is as determined with one of the methods defined by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in the "Background Document to RAC and SEAC Opinions on Intentionally Added Microplastics" of 11 June 2020, section 2.2.1.6, table 22.

Dispersants are surface-active compounds and can be anionic, cationic, nonionic or amphoteric surfactants, block polymers, polyelectrolytes, and mixtures thereof.

Suitable anionic dispersants are for example alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium salts of sulfonates, sulfates, phosphates, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof. Examples of sulfonates are alkylarylsulfonates, diphenylsulfonates, alpha-olefin sulfonates, lignin sulfonates, sulfonates of fatty acids and oils, sulfonates of ethoxylated alkylphenols, sulfonates of alkoxylated arylphenols, sulfonates of condensed naphthalenes, sulfonates of dodecyl- and tridecylbenzenes, sulfonates of naphthalenes and alkyhnaphthalenes, sulfosuccinates or sulfosuccinamates. Examples of sulfates are sulfates of fatty acids and oils, of ethoxylated alkylphenols, of alcohols, of ethoxylated alcohols, or of fatty acid esters. Examples of phosphates are phosphate esters. Examples of carboxylates are alkyl carboxylates, and carboxylated alcohol or alkylphenol ethoxylates.

Suitable nonionic dispersants are for example alkoxylate surfactants, N-substituted fatty acid amides, amine oxides, esters, sugar-based surfactants, polymeric surfactants, and mixtures thereof. Examples of alkoxylate surfactants are compounds such as alcohols, alkylphenols, amines, amides, arylphenols, fatty acids or fatty acid esters which have been alkoxylated with 1 to 50 equivalents of alkylene oxide(s). Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide may be employed for the alkoxylation, ethylene oxide being preferably used. Examples of N-substituted fatty acid amides are fatty acid glucamides or fatty acid alkanolamides. Examples of esters are fatty acid esters, glycerol esters or monoglycerides. Examples of sugar-based surfactants are sorbitans, ethoxylated sorbitans, sucrose and glucose esters or alkylpolyglucosides. Examples of polymeric surfactants are homo- or copolymers of vinylpyrrolidone, vinylalcohols, or vinylacetate.

Suitable cationic dispersants are for example quaternary surfactants, for example quaternary ammonium compounds with one or two hydrophobic groups, or salts of long- chain primary amines.

Suitable amphoteric dispersants are for example alkylbetains and imidazolines.

Suitable block polymers are for example block polymers of the A-B or A-B-A type comprising blocks of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, or of the A-B-C type comprising alkanol, polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide.

Polyelectrolytes are water-soluble polymeric compounds carrying functional groups which can dissociate or undergo addition reactions (mostly protonation) to give anionic or cationic groups. Polymers carrying anionic groups are typically derived from polyacids, and polymers carrying cationic groups are typically derived from polybases. Strong polyelectrolytes carry a permanent charge that is independent of the pH of the solution, whereas in weak polyelectrolytes, the degree of dissociation depends on the pH of the solution. Suitable polyelectrolytes are for example polyacids (anionic copolymer electrolyte) or polybases (cationic copolymer electrolyte). Examples of polyacids are polycarboxylic acids, such as polyacrylic acid, acrylic acid copolymers, maleic acid or maleic acid anhydride homo- or copolymers, or polyacid comb polymers; acrylamide copolymers, lignosulfonates, polyvinylsulfuric acids, polystyrene sulfonic acids, polyphosphoric acids etc. and alkali metal or ammonium salts thereof. Examples of polybases are polyvinylamines or polyethyleneimines.

In a particular embodiment, an anionic copolymer electrolyte or a non-ionic polyalkyleneglycol ester is used as dispersant. Non-ionic polyalkyleneglycol esters are formally obtained by alkoxylating acids or acid esters, e.g. fatty acids or fatty acid esters, with one or more alkylene oxides, e.g. with 1 to 50 equivalents of alkylene oxide(s). Ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide are generally employed for the alkoxylation, ethylene oxide being preferably used. Among the anionic copolymer electrolytes, preference is given to polycarboxylic acids, such as polyacrylic acid, acrylic acid copolymers, maleic acid or, in particular, maleic acid anhydride homo- or copolymers.

In the aqueous composition, the total amount of the at least one polycaprolactone is preferably in the range of 2 to 30% by weight, more preferably from 3 to 20% by weight, in particular from 3 to 15% by weight, e.g. from 5 to 15% by weight or from 5 to 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

In the aqueous composition, the total amount of the at least one dispersant is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight, in particular from 0.1 to 3% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous composition additionally comprises one or both of components (c.1) and/or (c.2):

(c.1) at least one pigment;

(c.2) at least one seed treatment agent.

In a particular embodiment, the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment (c.1).

Suitable pigments are all those customarily used for seed dying. Pigments are colorants of no or low water-solubility, and can be inorganic or organic. Non-exhaustive examples for inorganic pigments are titanium dioxide, carbon black, bismuth pigments, silicates (e.g. mica, talc), metal oxides and hydroxides, such as iron oxide pigments, chromium oxide and mixed phase oxide pigments, e.g. Rinman's green; iron cyan blue, ultramarine, cadmium pigments, and chromate pigments, such as chrome yellow, chrome green, and molybdates. Non-exhaustive examples for organic pigments are pigments of the azo type (generally monoazo or diazo pigments), polycyclic pigments, such as phthaloycya- nins (especially Cu phthalocycanins), quinacridones, diketopyrrolopyrrole pigments, dioxazines, perylenes, isoindolines or inthanthrones; and alizarin pigments. More specific examples for organic pigments are the various Pigment Yellow, Pigment Orange, Pigment Red, Pigment Violet, Pigment Blue, Pigment Green products. Mixtures of different pigments, e.g. mixtures of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or more different pigments, can be used in the aqueous composition as component (c.1).

The pigments are commercially available or can be prepared by methods known in the art.

The nature of the pigment is not critical (as far as it is suitable in seed treatment), since polycaprolactone works well as a binder for all kind of types of both inorganic and organic pigments.

Some of the above-mentioned pigments, especially the inorganic ones, e.g. the silicate types (e.g. mica, talc) or carbon black, may also serve as a filler. If the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment, the total amount of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is preferably in the range of 10 to 82% by weight, e.g. from 30 to 75% by weight or from 35 to 70% by weight; based on the total weight of the composition. These percentages apply especially if no seed treatment agent (c.2) is present.

The overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is preferably of from 1:1 to 1:20, more preferably from 1:2 to 1:15, in particular from 1:2 to 1:12, specifically from 1:3 to 1:11, more specifically from 1:3 to 1:10 or from 1:4 to 1:10 or from 1:3 to 1:8 or from 1:4 to 1:8 or from 1:5 to 1:8.

In a preferred embodiment, the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment, and the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:10, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8.

In a particular embodiment, the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:10, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8, and the polycaprolactone has a M_n of 500 to 2500.

In a specific embodiment, the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:10, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8, and the polycaprolactone has a M_n of 500 to 2500 and a melting point of 0 to 60°C, preferably from 0 to 50°C.

The aqueous composition may comprise at least one further additive. Typically, such additional additives are anti-freezing agents, antifoaming agents, rheology modifiers, fillers, preservatives and mixtures thereof.

Examples for anti-freezing agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerin, urea and glycerin. Examples for antifoaming agents are siloxanes, silicones, long chain alcohols, polyethylene glycol, glycerin and salts of fatty acids.

Examples for rheology modifiers (thickeners) are polysaccharides (e.g. xanthan gum, agar, carrageenan, carboxymethylcellulose, gum arabic and the like), inorganic clays (organically modified or unmodified; e.g. bentonite), polycarboxylates and silicates. The rheology modifier is preferably a polysaccharide, in particular xanthan gum.

Suitable fillers or carriers are expediently solid. Examples for solid carriers or fillers are mineral earths, e.g. silicates, silica gels, talc, kaolins, lime-stone, lime, chalk, clays, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, bentonite, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide; polysaccharide powders, e.g. cellulose, starch; fertilizers, e.g. ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas; products of vegetable origin, e.g. cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal or nutshell meal; and mixtures thereof. As mentioned above, some filler also have pigment properties, e.g. certain silicates, such as mica.

Examples for preservatives are 2-phenoxyethanol, phenoxyisopropanol, 4,4'-dichloro 2'- hydroxydiphenylether (diclosan), triclosan, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol), glutaraldehyde, 2,4-dichlorobenzylalcohol, 1,3,5-tris-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5-hexahydrotri- azine, formic acid and salts thereof, benzoic acid and salts thereof, sorbic acid and salts thereof, lactic acid and salts thereof, isothiazolinones, such as 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)- one (BIT), 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (MIT), 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (OIT), 5- chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one (CMIT), and 2-butyl-benzo[d]isothiazol-3-one (BBIT); and mixtures thereof.

In case that the aqueous composition comprises at least one pigment and no seed treatment agent, the aqueous composition preferably comprises:

(a) from 2 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) from 0.01 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 10 to 80% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(d) from 0 to 15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

(e) from 0 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive (if the further additive comprises a filler with pigment properties, the amount of the latter is counted as belonging to the 10-80% of (c.1), and (e) comprises in this case 0-30% by weight of at least one further additive); and

(f) water ad 100% by weight.

Preferably, in the above composition, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:8, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8.

In particular, in the above composition, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:8, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8, and the polycaprolactone has a M_n of 500 to 2500.

Specifically, in the above composition, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment (including multifunctional pigments, i.e. pigments which also serve as fillers etc.) is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:8, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8, and the polycaprolactone has a M_n of 500 to 2500 and a melting point of 0 to 60°C, preferably from 0 to 50°C.

More preferably, the aqueous composition comprises

(a) from 3 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) from 0.1 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 10 to 70% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(d) from 0 to 10% by weight (e.g. 0.01 to 10% by weight), relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

(e) from 0.1 to 40% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive (if the further additive comprises a filler with pigment properties, the amount of the latter is counted as belonging to the 10-70% of (c.1), and (e) comprises in this case 0-20% by weight of at least one further additive); and

(f) water ad 100% by weight.

Preferably, in the above composition, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:8, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8. In particular, in the above composition, the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, more preferably from 1:3 to 1:10 and in particular from 1:4 to 1:8, e.g. from 1:5 to 1:8, and the polycaprolactone has a M_n of 500 to 2500.

In particular, the aqueous composition comprises

(a) from 3 to 15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) from 0.1 to 3% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 10 to 60% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(d) from 0 to 1% by weight (e.g. 0.01 to 1% by weight), relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

(e) from 0.1 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive (if the further additive comprises a filler with pigment properties, the amount of the latter is counted as belonging to the 10-60% of (c.1), and (e) comprises in this case 0.1-15% by weight of at least one further additive); and

(f) water ad 100% by weight.

The above-described aqueous composition may be prepared by mixing the single components with each other or by providing premixes of a part of the components and mixing either with the remaining individual components or with the remaining individual components in form one or more premixes. If desired or necessary, the obtained composition may be diluted with water to the desired concentration.

In another particular embodiment, the composition further comprises at least one seed treatment agent (c.2) (alternatively or additionally to pigment (c.1)).

Seed treatment agents in terms of the present invention are chemical or biological agents which provide seeds or the plants growing therefrom with protection against noxious influence and/or improve their immunity and/or promote germination and/or plant growth. The action of the seed treatment agent is not just a physical one (e.g. coatings just forming a physical barrier between the seed and its environment are not considered as seed treatment agents in the terms of the present invention).

The seed treatment agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of plant protection agents, plant nutrients, growth stimulating agents, inoculants and mixtures thereof.

Plant protection agents are for example fungicides, pesticides, i.e. agents for combatting invertebrate pests, such as insecticides, acaricides, nematicides or molluscicides; bactericides, herbicides and (bird) repellants.

Plant nutrients are for example fertilizers (macronutrients; N, P, K fertilizers) or micronutrients.

While plant protection agents and plant nutrients directly or indirectly stimulate the growth of plants, growth stimulating agents in the present context refer to compounds which have an action which is different from or goes beyond a fungicidal, pesticidal (e.g. insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal or molluscicidal), bactericidal, herbicidal or fertilizer effect. Examples are plant growth regulators, such as gibberellin antagonists, e.g. pro- hexadion calcium or trinexapac ethyl; gibberellic acid, auxins or cytokinin. Inoculants are nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (Rhizobium bacteria) and are designed to improve root nodulation and help legume roots fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into a usable form for the plant.

Preferably, the at least one active agent suitable for seed treatment is selected from the group consisting of agents which are solid at 25°C.

Preferably, the at least one active agent suitable for seed treatment is selected from the group consisting of fungicides, agents for combatting invertebrate pests, such as insecticides, acaricides, nematicides or molluscicides; herbicides, and mixtures thereof.

Examples for suitable fungicides comprise:

B.1) inhibitors of complex III at Qo site such as azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, fenoxy-,strobin / flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastro-,bin, kresoxim-methyl, meto-,minostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxy-,strobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, 2-[2- (2,5-dimethyl-phenoxymethyl)-phenyl]-3-methoxy-acrylic acid methyl ester, 2 (2-(3-(2,6- di-,chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-allylidene-,aminooxy-,methyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N methyl-acetamide (SYP-1620), pyribencarb, triclopy-ricarb/chlorodin-,carb, famoxadone and fenamidone;

B.2) inhibitors of complex II such as bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fluopyram, flutolanil, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane, thifluz-,am- ide, N-(4'-trifluoromethyl-,thiobiphenyl-2-yl)-3 difluoromethyl-1-methyl-1H pyr-,azole- 4-carboxamide, N-(2-(1,3,3-trimethyl-butyl)-phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-5 fluoro-1H-pyrazole-4 carboxamide, N-[9-(dichloromethylene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4-me-thanonaphthalen-5- yl]-3-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 3 (difluoromethyl)-l-me- thyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 3 (trifluoromethyl)-l-methyl- N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 1,3-dimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylin- dan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 3-(trifluorometh-<yl)-1,5-dimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethyl- indan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide, 3-(difluoro-,methyl)-1,5-dimethyl-N-(1,1,3-trime- thylindan-4-yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide and 1,3,5-tri-<methyl-N-(1,1,3-trimethylindan-4- yl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide;

B.3) other respiration inhibitors such as ferimzone and fentin salts se-lected from fen- tin-acetate, fentin chloride and fentin hydroxide;

B.4) sterol biosynthesis inhibitors (SBI fungicides) such as

C14 demethylase inhibitors (DMI fungicides) selected from bromucon-azole, cy- proconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, fenbucona- zole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, ip-conazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, pro- piconazole, prothio-,conazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triticonazole, pefurazoate, prochloraz and triflumizol; and the delta14-reductase inhibitor tridemorph;

B.5) nucleic acid synthesis inhibitors such as benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, kiralaxyl, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam), ofurace, oxadixyl and hymexazole;

B.6) inhibitors of cell division and cytoskeleton such as benomyl, car-bendazim, thiabendazole, thiophanate-methyl and pencycuron;

B.7) inhibitors of amino acid and protein synthesis such as the protein synthesis inhibitors kasugamycin, kasugamycin hydrochloride-hydrate, polyoxine and validamycin A;

B.8) signal transduction inhibitors such as the MAP / histidine kinase inhibitors iprodi- one, fenpiclonil and fludioxonil;

B.9) lipid and membrane synthesis inhibitors such as phospholipid biosynthesis inhibitors selected from edifenphos, iproben-fos and isoprothiolane; lipid peroxidation agents selected from quintozene and etridiazole; and compounds affecting cell membrane permeability and fatty acids se-lected from propamocarb and propamo-,carb-hydrochloride;

B.10) inhibitors with Multi Site Action such as inorganic active substances selected from Bordeaux mixture, copper acetate, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, copper sulfate pentahydrate, basic copper sulfate, oxine-copper, copper-7-oxyquinolate, copper-ammonium-complex, copper carbonate, copper chloride and sulfur; thio- and dithiocarbamates such as ferbam, mancozeb, maneb, metam, metiram, propineb, thiram, zineb and ziram; organochlorine compounds such as chlorothalonil, captan, folpet, and phthalide; and guanidines and others such as guazatine, guazatine-acetate, iminoctadine, iminoctadine-triacetate and iminoctadine-tris(albesilate);

B.11) cell wall synthesis inhibitors such as validamycin, polyoxin B, py-roquilon, tricycla- zole, carpropamid, fenoxanil and diclocymet;

B.12) plant defence inducers such as acibenzolar-S-methyl, probena-zole, isotianil, tiadi- nil, fosetyl and fosetyl-aluminum; and

B.13) fungicides with an unknown mode of action such as cymoxanil, tebufloquin and 4,4-difluoro-3,3-dimethyl-1-(3-quinolyl)isoquinoline.

Examples for suitable pesticides comprise:

M.1 Acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors from the class of

M.1A carbamates, for example aldicarb, alanycarb, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, butocar- boxim, butoxycarboxi m, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, ethiofencarb, fenobucarb, formetanate, furathiocarb, isoprocarb, methiocarb, methomyl, metolcarb, oxamyl, pirimi- carb, propoxur, thiodicarb, thiofanox, trimethacarb, XMC, xylylcarb and triazamate; or from the class of M.1B organophosphates, for example acephate, azamethiphos, azinphos-ethyl, az- inphosmethyl, cadusafos, chlorethoxyfos, chlorfenvinphos, chlormephos, chlorpyrifos, chlorpyrifos-methyl, coumaphos, cyanophos, demeton-S-methyl, diazinon, dichlorvos/ DDVP, dicrotophos, dimethoate, dimethylvinphos, disulfoton, EPN, ethion, ethoprophos, famphur, fenamiphos, fenitrothion, fenthion, fosthiazate, heptenophos, imicyafos, isofenphos, isopropyl O- (methoxyaminothio-phosphoryl) salicylate, isoxathion, malathion, mecarbam, methamidophos, methidathion, mevinphos, monocrotophos, naled, omethoate, oxydemeton-methyl, parathion, parathion-methyl, phenthoate, phorate, phosalone, phosmet, phosphamidon, phoxim, pirimiphos- methyl, profenofos, prope- tamphos, prothiofos, pyraclofos, pyridaphenthion, quinalphos, sulfotep, tebupirimfos, temephos, terbufos, tetrachlorvinphos, thiometon, triazophos, trichlorfon and vamidothion;

M.2. GABA-gated chloride channel antagonists such as:

M.2A cyclodiene organochlorine compounds, as for example endosulfan or chlordane; or

M.2B fiproles (phenylpyrazoles), as for example ethiprole, fipronil, flufiprole, pyrafluprole and pyriprole;

M.3 Sodium channel modulators from the class of

M.3A pyrethroids, for example acrinathrin, allethrin, d-cis-trans allethrin, d-trans allethrin, bifenthrin, bioallethrin, bioallethrin S-cylclopentenyl, bioresmethrin, cycloprothrin, cyfluthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, cyper- methrin, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cypermethrin, theta-cypermethrin, zeta-cyperme- thrin, cyphenothrin, deltamethrin, empenthrin, esfenvalerate, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, flucythrinate, flumethrin, tau-fluvalinate, halfenprox, heptafluthrin, imipro- thrin, meperfluthrin,metofluthrin, momfluorothrin, permethrin, phenothrin, prallethrin, profluthrin, pyrethrin (pyrethrum), resmethrin, silafluofen, tefluthrin, tetramethylfluthrin, tetramethrin, tralomethrin and transfluthrin; or

M.3B sodium channel modulators such as DDT or methoxychlor;

M.4 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists (nAChR) from the class of

M.4A neonicotinoids, for example acetamiprid, chlothianidin, cycloxaprid, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam; or the compounds M.4A.2: (2E-)-1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-N'-nitro-2-pentylidenehydrazinecar- boximidamide; or

M4.A.3: 1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-5-propoxy-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahy- droimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; or from the class M.4B nicotine;

M.5 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor allosteric activators from the class of spinosyns, for example spinosad or spinetoram;

M.6 Chloride channel activators from the class of avermectins and milbemycins, for example abamectin, emamectin benzoate, ivermectin, lepimectin or milbemectin; M.7 Juvenile hormone mimics, such as

M.7A juvenile hormone analogues as hydroprene, kinoprene and methoprene; or others as M.7B fenoxycarb or M.7C pyriproxyfen;

M.8 miscellaneous non-specific (multi-site) inhibitors, for example

M.8A alkyl halides as methyl bromide and other alkyl halides, or

M.8B chloropicrin, or M.8C sulfuryl fluoride, or M.8D borax, or M.8E tartar emetic;

M.9 Selective homopteran feeding blockers, for example

M.9B pymetrozine, or M.9C flonicamid;

M.10 Mite growth inhibitors, for example

M.10A clofentezine, hexythiazox and diflovidazin, or M.10B etoxazole;

M.11 Microbial disruptors of insect midgut membranes, for example bacillus thuringiensis or bacillus sphaericus and the insecticdal proteins they produce such as bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, bacillus sphaericus, bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis, or the Bt crop proteins: CrylAb, CrylAc, CrylFa, Cry2Ab, mCrySA, CrySAb, CrySBb and Cry34/35Ab1;

M.12 Inhibitors of mitochondrial ATP synthase, for example

M.12A diafenthiuron, or

M.12B organotin miticides such as azocyclotin, cyhexatin or fenbutatin oxide, or M.12C propargite, or M.12D tetradifon;

M.13 Uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation via disruption of the proton gradient, for example chlorfenapyr, DNOC or sulfluramid;

M.14 Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) channel blockers, for example nereistoxin analogues as bensultap, cartap hydrochloride, thiocyclam or thiosultap sodium;

M.15 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 0, such as benzoylureas as for example bistrifluron, chlorfluazuron, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, noviflumuron, teflubenzuron or triflumuron;

M.16 Inhibitors of the chitin biosynthesis type 1, as for example buprofezin;

M.17 Moulting disruptors, Dipteran, as for example cyromazine;

M.18 Ecdyson receptor agonists such as diacylhydrazines, for example methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide, halofenozide, fufenozide or chromafenozide;

M.19 Octopamin receptor agonists, as for example amitraz;

M.20 Mitochondrial complex III electron transport inhibitors, for example M.20A hydramethylnon, or M.20B acequinocyl, or M.20C fluacrypyrim; M.21 Mitochondrial complex I electron transport inhibitors, for example M.21A METI acaricides and insecticides such as fenazaquin, fenpyroximate, pyrimidifen, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad or tolfenpyrad, or M.21B rotenone;

M.22 Voltage-dependent sodium channel blockers, for example

M.22A indoxacarb, or M.22B metaflumizone, or M.22B.1: 2-[2-(4-Cyanophenyl)-1-[3-(tri- fluoromethyl)phenyl]ethylidene]-N-[4-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-hydrazinecarboxamide or M.22B.2: N-(3-Chloro-2-methylphenyl)-2-[(4-chlorophenyl)[4-[methyl(methyl- sulfonyl)amino] phenyl] methylene]-hydrazinecarboxamide;

M.23 Inhibitors of the of acetyl CoA carboxylase, such as Tetronic and Tetramic acid derivatives, for example spirodiclofen, spiromesifen or spirotetramat;

M.24 Mitochondrial complex IV electron transport inhibitors, for example

M.24A phosphine such as aluminium phosphide, calcium phosphide, phosphine or zinc phosphide, or M.24B cyanide;

M.25 Mitochondrial complex II electron transport inhibitors, such as beta-ketonitrile derivatives, for example cyenopyrafen or cyflumetofen;

M.28 Ryanodine receptor-modulators from the class of diamides, as for example fluben- diamide, chlorantraniliprole (rynaxypyr®), cyantraniliprole (cyazypyr®), tetraniliprole or the phthalamide compounds

M.28.1: (R)-3-Chlor-N1-{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2 - tetrafluor-1-(trifluormethyl)ethyl] phenyl}-

N2-(1-methyl-2-methylsulfonylethyl)phthalamid and

M.28.2: (S)-3-Chlor-N1-{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2 — tetrafluor-1-(trifluormethyl)ethyl]phenyl}-

N2-(1-methyl-2-methylsulfonylethyl)phthalamid, or the compound

M.28.3: 3-bromo-N-{2-bromo-4-chloro-6-[(1-cyclopropylethyl)carbamoyl]phenyl}-1-(3- chlorpyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (proposed ISO name: cyclaniliprole), or the compound

M.28.4: methyl-2-[3,5-dibromo-2-({[3-bromo-1-(3-chlorpyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-5- yl]carbonyl}amino)benzoyl]-1,2-dimethylhydrazinecarboxylate; or a compound selected from M.28.5a) to M.28.5d) and M.28.5h) to M.28.5I):

M.28.5a) N-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3- chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;

M.28.5b) N-[4-chloro-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-6-methyl-phenyl]- 2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;

M.28.5c) N-[4-chloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-6-methyl- phenyl]-2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;

M.28.5d) N-[4,6-dichloro-2-[(di-2-propyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]- 2-(3-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;

M.28.5h) N-[4,6-dibromo-2-[(diethyl-lambda-4-sulfanylidene)carbamoyl]-phenyl]-2-(3- chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole-3-carboxamide;

M.28.5i) N-[2-(5-Amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-chloro-6-methylphenyl]-3-bromo-1-(3- chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;

M.28.5J) 3-Chloro-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-N-[2,4-dichloro-6-[[(1-cyano-1-meth- ylethyl)amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;

M.28.5k) 3-Bromo-N-[2,4-dichloro-6-(methylcarbamoyl)phenyl]-1-(3,5-dichloro-2- pyridyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide;

M.28.5I) N-[4-Chloro-2-[[(1,1-dimethylethyl)amino]carbonyl]-6-methylphenyl]-1-(3- chloro-2-pyridinyl)-3-(fluoromethoxy)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide; or a compound selected from

M.28.6: cyhalodiamide; or

M.29. insecticidal active compounds of unknown or uncertain mode of action, as for example afidopyropen, afoxolaner, azadirachtin, amidoflumet, benzoximate, bifenazate, broflanilide, bromopropylate, chinomethionat, cryolite, dicloromezotiaz, dicofol, flufen- erim, flometoquin, fluensulfone, fluhexafon, fluopyram, flu pyradifu rone, fluralaner, me- toxadiazone, piperonyl butoxide, pyflubumide, pyridalyl, pyrifluquinazon, sulfoxaflor, ti- oxazafen, triflumezopyrim, or the compounds

M.29.3: 11-(4-chloro-2,6-dimethylphenyl)-12-hydroxy-1,4-dioxa-9-azadispiro[4.2.4.2]- tetradec-11-en-10-one, or the compound

M.29.4: 3-(4'-fluoro-2,4-dimethylbiphenyl-3-yl)-4-hydroxy-8-oxa-1-azaspiro[4.5]dec-3- en-2-one, or the compound

M.29.5: 1-[2-fluoro-4-methyl-5-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfinyl] phenyl]-3-(trifluoromethyl)- 1H-1,2,4-triazole-5-amine, or actives on basis of bacillus firmus (Votivo, 1-1582); or a compound selected from the group of M.29.6, wherein the compound is selected from M.29.6a) to M.29.6k):

M.29.6a) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetam- ide;

M.29.6b) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-5-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-tri- fluoro-acetamide;

M. 29.6c) (E/Z)-2,2,2-trifluoro-N-[1-[(6-fluoro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]acetam- ide;

M. 29.6d) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-bromo-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acet- amide;

M. 29.6e) (E/Z)-N-[1-[1-(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-acetam- ide;

M. 29.6f) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2-difluoro-acetamide; M. 29.6g) (E/Z)-2-chloro-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2-difluoro- acetamide;

M. 29.6h) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(2-chloropyrimidin-5-yl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-ac- etamide;

M. 29.6i) (E/Z)-N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2, 2,3,3, 3-pentafluoro- propanamide.);

M. 29.6j) N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-thioacetamide or of the compound

M. 29.6k) N-[1-[(6-chloro-3-pyridyl)methyl]-2-pyridylidene]-2,2,2-trifluoro-N'-isopropyl- acetamidine or

M. 29.8: fluazaindolizine; or M. 29.9. a): 4-[5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4H-isoxazol-3-yl]-2-methyl-N- (1-oxothietan-3-yl)benzamide; or M.29.9.b): fluxametamide; or

M. 29.10: 5-[3-[2,6-dichloro-4-(3,3-dichloroallyloxy)phenoxy]propoxy]-1H-pyrazole; or a compound selected from the group of M.UN.11, wherein the compound is selected from M. UN.11b) to M.UN.Hp):

M. 29.11. b) 3-(benzoylmethylamino)-N-[2-bromo-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoro- methyl)propyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-fluoro-benzamide;

M. 29.11.c) 3-(benzoylmethylamino)-2-fluoro-N-[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluo- romethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-benzamide;

M. 29.11.d) N-[3-[[[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluorome- thyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11.e) N-[3-[[[2-bromo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoro- methyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]-2-fluorophenyl]-4-fluoro-N-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11.f) 4-fluoro-N-[2-fluoro-3-[[[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluorome- thyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11.g) 3-fluoro-N-[2-fluoro-3-[[[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluorome- thyl)ethyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]-N-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11. h) 2-chloro-N-[3-[[[2-iodo-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]-6-(tri- fluoromethyl)phenyl]amino]carbonyl]phenyl]- 3-pyridinecarboxamide;

M. 29.11.i) 4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dibromo-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluorome- thyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11J) 4-cyano-3-[(4-cyano-2-methyl-benzoyl)amino]-N-[2,6-dichloro-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3- hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)propyl]phenyl]-2-fluoro-benzamide;

M. 29.11. k) N-[5-[[2-chloro-6-cyano-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)pro- pyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11.1) N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-hydroxy-1-(trifluorome- thyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11. m) N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)pro- pyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11. n) 4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-4-[1,2,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-1-(trifluoro- methyl)propyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11.0) 4-cyano-N-[2-cyano-5-[[2,6-dichloro-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluorome- thyl)ethyl]phenyl]carbamoyl]phenyl]-2-methyl-benzamide;

M. 29.11. p) N-[5-[[2-bromo-6-chloro-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phe- nyl]carbamoyl]-2-cyano-phenyl]-4-cyano-2-methyl-benzamide; or a compound selected from the group of M. 29.12, wherein the compound is selected from M. 29.12a) to M. 29.12m):

M. 29.12. a) 2-(1,3-Dioxan-2-yl)-6-[2-(3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-pyridine;

M. 29.12. b) 2-[6-[2-(5-Fluoro-3-pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyrimidine;

M. 29.12. c) 2-[6-[2-(3-Pyridinyl)-5-thiazolyl]-2-pyridinyl]-pyrimidine; M. 29.12. d) N-Methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-carboxamide

M. 29.12. e) N-Methylsulfonyl-6-[2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]pyridine-2-carboxamide

M. 29.12.f) N-Ethyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide

M. 29.12. g) N-Methyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propanamide M. 29.12. h) N,2-Dimethyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-propana- mide

M. 29.12. i) N-Ethyl-2-methyl-N-[4-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-3-methylthio-pro- panamide

M. 29.12.J) N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-ethyl-2-methyl-3-methylthio-pro- panamide

M. 29.12. k) N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N,2-dimethyl-3-methylthio-propana- mide

M. 29.12.1) N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-methyl-3-methylthio-propanamide M. 29.12. m) N-[4-Chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)thiazol-5-yl]-N-ethyl-3-methylthio-propanamide; or the compounds

M. 29.14a) 1-[(6-Chloro-3-pyridinyl)methyl]-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydro-5-methoxy-7-methyl- 8-nitro-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine; or

M. 29.14b) 1-[(6-Chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl]-7-methyl-8-nitro-1,2,3,5,6,7-hexahydroimid- azo[1,2-a]pyridin-5-ol; or the compounds

M.29.16a) 1-isopropyl-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; or

M.29.16b) 1-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carbox- amide; M.29.16c) N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoro-1-methyl-ethyl)pyra- zole-4-carboxamide; M.29.16d) 1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopropyl)ethyl]-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyr- idazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.16e) N-ethyl-1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl)-5- methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.16f) 1-(1,2-dimethylpropyl)-N,5- dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.16g) 1-[1-(1-cyanocyclopro- pyl)ethyl]-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.16h) N-methyl- 1-(2-fluoro-1-methyl-propyl]-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-carboxamide;

M.29.16i) 1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-N-ethyl-5-methyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyrazole-4-car- boxamide; or M.29.16J) 1-(4,4-difluorocyclohexyl)-N,5-dimethyl-N-pyridazin-4-yl-pyra- zole-4-carboxamide, or

M.29.17 a compound selected from the compounds M.29.17a) to M.29.17J): M.29.17a) N- (1-methylethyl)-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-indazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.17b) N-cyclopropyl-2- (3-pyridinyl)-2H-indazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.17c) N-cyclohexyl-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-in- dazole-4-carboxamide; M.29.17d) 2-(3-pyridinyl)-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-2H-indazole-4- carboxamide; M.29.17e) 2-(3-pyridinyl)-N-[(tetrahydro-2-furanyl)methyl]-2H-indazole-5- carboxamide; M.29.17f) methyl 2-[[2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-indazol-5-yl]carbonyl]hydra- zinecarboxylate; M.29.17g) N-[(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methyl]-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-inda- zole-5-carboxamide; M.29.17h) N-(2,2-difluoropropyl)-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-indazole-5- carboxamide; M.29.17i) 2-(3-pyridinyl )-N-(2-pyrimidinylmethyl )-2H-indazole-5-carbox- amide; M.29.17J) N-[(5-methyl-2-pyrazinyl)methyl]-2-(3-pyridinyl)-2H-indazole-5-car- boxamide, or

M.29.18 a compound selected from the compounds M.29.18a) to M.29.18d): M.29.18a) N-[3-chloro-1-(3-pyridyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-N-ethyl-3-(3,3,3-trifluoropropylsulfanyl)propana- mide; M.29.18b) N-[3-chloro-1-(3-pyridyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-N-ethyl-3-(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl- sulfinyl)propanamide; M.29.18c) N-[3-chloro-1-(3-pyridyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-3-[(2,2-difluoro- cyclopropyl)methylsulfanyl]-N-ethyl-propanamide; M.29.18d) N-[3-chloro-1-(3- pyridyl)pyrazol-4-yl]-3-[(2,2-difluorocyclopropyl)methylsulfinyl]-N-ethyl-propanamide; or the compound

M.29.19 sarolaner, or the compound

M.29.20 lotilaner.

Among the above fungicides and pesticides, preference is given to those which are solid at 25°C.

The choice of the seed treatment agent is not limited, since the present polycaprolactones are suitable as binders for very different types of active agents. The compositions of the present examples (see experimental part below) comprise for example the inhibitor of complex III at Qo site (B.1) azoxystrobin, the nucleic acid synthesis inhibitor (B.5) metalaxyl M, the signal transduction inhibitor (B.8) fludioxonil, and the neonicotinoid (MAA) thiamethoxam, which vary in their structure.

The seed treatment agents are preferably comprised in a total amount of 1 to 50% by weight, more preferably 5 to 30% by weight and in particular 10 to 20% by weight, relative to the total weight of the aqueous composition.

Like above, the aqueous composition comprising additionally a seed treatment agent may additionally comprise at least one further additive. Typically, such additional additives are anti-freezing agents, antifoaming agents, rheology modifiers, fillers, preservatives and mixtures thereof. Suitable and preferred additives correspond to those mentioned above.

In another particular embodiment, the aqueous composition comprises both at least one pigment and at least one seed treatment agent. Suitable and preferred pigments and seed treatment agents are listed above.

In this case, the aqueous composition comprises preferably:

(a) from 0.1 to 10% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone; (b) from 0.001 to 3% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 0.5 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(c.2) from 1 to 50% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one seed treatment agent;

(d) from 0 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

(e) from 0 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive; and

(f) from 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, and ad 100% by weight of water.

More preferably, the aqueous composition comprises

(a) from 0.1 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) from 0.01 to 2% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 1 to 15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(c.2) from 5 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one seed treatment agent; d) from 0 to 5% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier; (e) from 0 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive; and

In particular, the aqueous composition comprises

(b) from 0.01 to 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.2) from 10 to 20 by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one active agent suitable for seed treatment;

(d) from 0 to 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

Examples for further additives have already been described above.

The composition can be prepared by mixing the single components thereof with each other or by mixing premixes containing a part of the components with single components and/or with premixes containing the other components with each other. For instance, the above-described pigment composition (containing no seed treatment agent) may be prepared and mixed with an agrochemical formulation comprising the at least one active agent suitable for seed treatment and if desired adding further components and/or diluting with water to the desired concentration. The agrochemical formulations comprising the at least one active agent suitable for seed treatment may be the commercial formulation of the respective active agent.

The invention relates moreover to a kit of parts comprising at least two parts, where the first part comprises the aqueous composition as described above, however without seed treatment agent, and the second part comprises at least one seed treatment agent. The first part does not comprise any seed treatment agent. The second part does not comprise any pigments and polycaprolactone.

While in the above-described compositions the components are present as a physical mixture, in a kit of parts they are formulated separately, but provided in such a form that they nevertheless form a functional unity. They form thus a true combination through a purpose-directed application. The functional unity is expressed for example in the fact that the parts contain the polycaprolactone, the pigments (optionally), the dispersant and the seed treatment agent in such amounts that when mixed, they result in the desired weight ratio. Another way to express functional unity may be a use instruction explaining the combined use of the two or more parts of the kit. Yet another way to express functional unity may be a physical connection. For instance, the different parts of the kit may be bound to each other via an adhesive tape or strap or any other type of tie, or may be assembled in a common container, such as a box, package, basket etc. or packed together in a plastic foil.

The invention relates also to the use of the aqueous composition of the invention for treating seeds, and to a method for treating seeds comprising applying said composition to the seeds.

The invention relates moreover to a coated seed, obtainable by the treatment of the seed with an aqueous composition of the invention.

The invention relates further to a coated seed, comprising a layer coating a part or the complete surface of the seed, where the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone, and one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and/or at least one pigment. Preferably, the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone, at least seed treatment agent and optionally at least one pigment.

Preferably, the thickness of said layer comprising the at least one polycaprolactone and one or both of the at least one seed treatment agent and/or the at least one pigment is such that it does not modify the shape or size of the seed perceptibly, i.e. the poly- caprolactone-comprising layer is a thin film.

Preferably, the coated seed comprises at most 0.1% by weight, e.g. from 0.008 to 0.1% by weight, more preferably at most 0.07% by weight, e.g. from 0.01 to 0.07% by weight, even more preferably at most 0.05% by weight, e.g. from 0.01 to 0.05% by weight, particularly preferably at most 0.04% by weight, e.g. from 0.01 to 0.04% by weight, of polycaprolactone, relative to the weight of uncoated seed.

The seed can be of any kind of agronomic importance which is typically dyed and/or subjected to seed treatment. Non exhaustive examples are cereal seeds, such as wheat, rye, triticale, oats, barley, sorghum/millet, spelt or rice seeds; corn (maize) seeds, rape- seed/canola seeds, soybean seeds, sunflower seeds, grass seeds, lawn seeds, turf seeds, forage plant (i.e. for grazing pasture, hay production, silage and green-chop) seeds, mustard seeds, alfalfa seeds, clover seeds, pea seeds, cowpea seeds, bean seeds, mungbean seeds, lentil seeds, lupin seeds, pumpkin/squash seeds, zucchini seeds, eggplant seeds, cucumber seeds, melon seeds, e.g. of watermelon or honeydew melon, onion seeds, garlic seeds, carrot seeds, tomato seeds, pepper seeds, sugar beet seeds, fodder beet seeds, lettuce seeds, spinach seeds, leek seeds, potato tubers, cotton seeds, Brassica species seeds, tobacco seeds. Preferably, the seeds are cereal seeds, such as wheat, rye, triticale, oats, barley, sor- ghum/millet, spelt or rice seeds; corn (maize) seeds, rapeseed/canola seeds, soybean seeds or sunflower seeds.

The seeds can also be seeds which have genetically modified traits.

The coated seed is obtainable by the treatment of the seed with the aqueous composition of the invention. Details with respect to the treatment are given in context with the method of the invention for preparing a coated seed described in the following. Since the aqueous composition of the invention contains a dispersant, this may also be comprised in the coated seed.

The invention relates moreover to a method for preparing a coated seed as defined above, comprising contacting a part or the complete seed to be coated with the aqueous composition of the invention.

The seed may be treated with said composition by applying it to the seed. Treatment may be carried out by suitable seed treatment techniques known in the art, such as seed dressing, seed coating, seed encrusting, seed pelleting or seed soaking, where the seeds are dipped into or soaked in or rolled in or shaken with said compositions or the compositions are sprayed, scattered, brushed or coated on the seeds. Preferably, the seed treatment technique is neither seed encrusting nor seed pelleting. Preferably, the seed treatment technique is selected from those which result in the formation of thin films, such as seed dressing and seed coating.

Before treating the seeds with said compositions, the latter may be diluted if desired.

Apparatuses for carrying out the method of the invention are well known in the art. If the compositions do not contain any hazardous material, a simple cement mixer, a seed treater, such as a Hege® seed treatment apparatus, a downstream continuous flow seed treatment equipment or on-farm seed treatment equipment can for example be used, while specialist machinery is required for hazardous coating materials.

If the aqueous composition of the invention contains one or more pigments, the resulting seed contains the pigments and the polycaprolactone in one layer. If the aqueous composition of the invention contains one or more seed treatment agents, the resulting seed contains the seed treatment agents and the polycaprolactone in one layer. If the aqueous composition of the invention contains one or more pigments and one or more seed treatment agents, the resulting seed contains the pigments, the one or more seed treatment agents and the polycaprolactone in one layer. If desired, seed treatment agents other than those present in the aqueous composition can be applied before or after treatment of the seed with the aqueous composition of the invention. This can for example be indicated if certain seed treatment agents cannot be reasonably applied from an aqueous medium or if certain seed treatment agents show incompatibilities with those used in the aqueous composition. Application of the seed treatment agents to be applied separately from the aqueous composition of the invention can be carried out by suitable seed treatment techniques known in the art. In addition to the above examples for seed treatment techniques, methods for treating seeds with agents in solid or air-dispersed form can be applied, such as dusting, rolling, fumigating, chemigating, fogging and the like. If more than one seed treatment active agent is to be applied, these can be applied in admixture or separately, where in case of separate application, these can be applied simultaneously or subsequently.

If the aqueous composition contains one or more pigments and/or one or more seed treatment agents, the seed treated with the method of the invention contains the seed treatment agents and/or the pigments in amounts as they are usual for the respective seed, seed treatment agent and pigment, and as they result from the specific treatment technique, seed dressing and coating generally resulting in thin coating layers and thus often also lower amounts of seed treatment agents and pigments, whereas seed pelleting and seed encrusting lead to thick coatings which may also contain higher amounts of active agents and/or pigments. Given that the preferred treatment techniques are those which result in the formation of thin films, such as seed dressing and coating, the resulting coatings are thin films which do not modify the shape or size of the seed perceptibly.

The invention relates also to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder for pigments and/or for seed treatment agents, and to the use of a polycaprolactone as a binder in seed treatment compositions containing one or both of at least one seed treatment agent and at least one pigment, preferably in aqueous seed treatment compositions.

Since polycaprolactones are biodegradable, seeds coated with a layer containing polycaprolactones have a reduced environmental impact. Moreover, the seeds coated therewith have a reduced dust formation, thusly also reducing the environmental impact in this respect and also reducing the health risks for humans and animals coming into contact with the coated seeds and dust produced therefrom, e.g. during sowing, or during transport, packaging, processing etc. Advantageously, the treated seeds are not sticky, and thus dust suppression is not to the expense of the flowability of the treated seeds, and the treated seeds show good sowabi lity/plantabi lity. The invention is now illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLES

Materials used

Capromer® PT1-05 polycaprolactone; started from trimethylolpropane, M_n 650 g/mol*, M_w 780 g/mol*, OH value 300-320 mg KOH/g, m.p. 0- 10°C; from BASF

Capromer® PD4-05 polycaprolactone; started from diethylene glycol, M_n 690 g/mol*, M_w 840 g/mol*, OH value 200-208 mg KOH/g, m.p. 18-23°C; from BASF

Capromer® PD1-10A polycaprolactone; started from neopentylglycol, M_n 1280 g/mol*, M_w 1600 g/mol*, OH value 108-116 mg KOH/g, m.p. 30-45°C; from BASF

Capromer® PD1-20 polycaprolactone; started from neopentylglycol, M_n 2430 g/mol*, M_w 2990 g/mol*, OH value 52-60 mg KOH/g, m.p. 40- 50°C; from BASF

* M_n and M_w determined via GPC using polyethylene glycol standards

A. Aqueous composition A

Example A.1: Composition A.1 containing Capromer® PT1-05

An aqueous formulation of the composition described in the below table was prepared by mixing the components with each other:

¹ relative to the total weight of the composition

² mixture of organic pigments (Pigment Blue 15:3; Pigment Violet 23) and an inorganic pigment (Pigment White 6)

³ filler is a pearlescent inorganic pigment (titanium dioxide coated mica)

⁴ polycarboxylate; anionic copolymer electrolyte dispersant

Example A.2: Composition A.2 containing Capromer® PD4-05

Composition A.2 was prepared in analogy to example A.1, using however Capromer® PD4-05 instead of Capromer® PT1-05.

Example A.3: Composition A.3 containing Capromer® PD1-10A

Composition A.3 was prepared in analogy to example A.1, using however Capromer® PD1-10A instead of Capromer® PT1-05.

Example A.4: Composition A.4 containing Capromer® PD1-20

Composition A.4 was prepared in analogy to example A.1, using however Capromer® PD1-20 instead of Capromer® PT1-05.

Example A.5: Composition A.5 containing Capromer® PT1-05

An aqueous formulation of the composition was prepared in analogy to example A.1, using however a biodegradable dispersant containing a blend of polyglycol esters instead of the anionic copolymer electrolyte dispersant. .

All obtained compositions are stable, flowable suspensions with a viscosity ranging from 1000 to 2500 cP. Viscosity was determined with a Brookfield viscometer at a rate of 20 rpm using RV spindle #3 at 20°C.

B. Aqueous seed treatment composition B

Example B.IAqueous seed treatment composition B.1 containing composition A.1.1*

An aqueous seed treatment formulation of following composition was prepared by mixing the components with each other:

relative to the total weight of the composition

Composition A.1.1 is a composition A.1 containing 8% by weight of Capromer®

PT1-05

Example B.2 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.2 containing composition

A.2.1

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.2 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.2.1 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.2.1 is a composition A.2 containing 8% by weight of Capromer® PD4-05.

Example B.3 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.3 containing composition

A.3.1

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.3 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.3.1 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.3.1 is a composition A.3 containing 8% by weight of Capromer® PD1-10A

Example B.4 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.4 containing composition

A.4.1

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.4was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.4.1 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.4.1 is a composition A.4 containing 8% by weight of Capromer® PD1-20.

Example B.5 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.5 containing composition

A.5.1 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.5 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.5.1 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.5.1 is a composition A.5 containing 8% by weight of Capromer® PT1-05.

Example B.6 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.6 containing composition A.1.2

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.6 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.1.2 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.1.2 is a composition A.1 containing 5.5% by weight of Capromer® PT1-05; the difference being compensated by water and thickener.

Example B.7 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.7 containing composition

A.2.2

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.7 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.2.2 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.2.2 is a composition A.2 containing 5.5% by weight of Capromer® PD4-05; the difference being compensated by water and thickener.

Example B.8 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.8 containing composition

A.3.2

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.8 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.3.2 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.3.2 is a composition A.3 containing 5.5% by weight of Capromer® PD1-10A; the difference being compensated by water and thickener.

Example B.9 Aqueous seed treatment composition B.9 containing composition

A.4.2

Aqueous seed treatment composition B.9 was prepared in analogy to example B.1, using however Composition A.4.2 instead of Composition A.1.1. Composition A.4.2 is a composition A.4 containing 5.5% by weight of Capromer® PD1-20; the difference being compensated by water and thickener.

C. Application examples Sunflower seeds were treated with the seed treatment compositions B.1 to B.9 by mixing the seeds and compositions B.1 to B.9 in an amount of 41.87 g of the respective composition per 1500 g of seeds in a Hege laboratory seed treater.

Dust-off, flowability and plantability of a part of the treated seeds was then measured.

C.1 Heubach test for determining free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds

Principle:

In the Heubach test, treated seeds are mechanically stressed inside a rotating drum and the amount of dust formed is measured. A vacuum pump creates an air flow through the rotating drum, the connected glass cylinder and the attached filter unit. By the air flow, abraded dust particles are transported out of the rotating drum through the glass cylinder and subsequently through the filter unit. Coarse non-floating particles are separated and collected in the glass cylinder while floating dust particles are deposited onto a filter. The amount of floating dust collected on the filter is determined gravimetrically.

The Heubach test was performed following industry standards - the ESA reference method "Assessment of free floating dust and abrasion particles of treated seeds as a parameter of the quality of treated seeds". In this test, 100 g of seeds are placed in the metal drum of the Heubach Dustmeter device (from Heubach GmbH, Germany), which is then closed and connected to a glass cylinder. A glass fiber filter is placed in the filter unit, which is weighed before and after the test is performed. The filter unit is connected to the glass cylinder and a vacuum tube. The run is performed for 120 s, at a rotation speed of 30 rpm and a flow rate of 20 L/min. The test is done two times. The average dust value is reported as the amount of dust released per 75,000 seeds.

Sunflower seeds treated with compositions B.1 or B.3 were subjected to the above-described Heubach dust test. For comparative purposes, sunflower seeds treated with an analogous seed treatment composition, containing however (the same amount of) an acrylic binder instead of the Capromer® binder, were also tested. The results are compiled in the following table:

As the results show, seeds treated with the seed treatment compositions of the invention show effective dust suppression which is even slightly superior to seeds treated with a seed treatment composition containing a conventional binder.

C.2 Flowability

The flowability of seeds is measured as an indicator for the (non-)tackiness of the seeds and their ability to be conveyed easily through funnels, chutes and the like.

Apparatus

Niklas Seed flowability test stand from Willy Niklas GmbH, Germany containing a funnel with a diameter of the lower funnel orifice of 50 mm, a pneumatically driven slide below the funnel (with controlled opening time), and compressed air connection (ca 5 bar) Balance

Flowability of freshly treated seeds

The treated seed is tested immediately after treatment application to serve as an indicator of how well the freshly treated seed will flow through, for example, seed transition chutes going to the bagging bins and the let-down ladders in the bagging bins. This is for example important for seed plants constructed with a "tower" design. In addition to the amount of seed that flows out of the funnel in the prescribed amount of time the number of times the flow stopped due to blocking of the seed in the funnel is also recorded. The stoppage of flow is an indicator of the tackiness of the treated seed and may indicate if it could potentially adhere to belt conveyers or block in a bin or seed box.

1.5 kilograms of seed are treated and tested to provide a long enough flow time for consistency of the test. After application, the total of 1.5 kilograms of seed are placed in the funnel and the slide gate is opened for the prescribed time (2.5 s). After the gate closes, the amount of seed that flowed out is recorded, and the process is repeated until 3 successful flow runs are completed.

Sunflower seeds treated with compositions B.1, B.2, B.3, B.4, B.6, B.7 or B.9 were subjected to the flowability test. For comparative purposes, sunflower seeds treated with an analogous seed treatment composition, containing however (the same amount of) an acrylic binder instead of the Capromer® binder, were also tested. Comparative 1 contains the same amount of binder as B.1, B.2, B.3 or B.4, and Comparative 2 contains the same amount of binder as B.6, B.7 and B.9. The results are compiled in the following table:

As the results show, seeds treated with the seed treatment compositions of the invention show an improved flowability (and thus reduced tackiness) as compared to seeds treated with a seed treatment composition containing the same amount of a conventional binder. This is an indicator of a better plantability of seeds treated with the seed treatment compositions of the invention as compared to seeds treated with a seed treatment composition containing a conventional binder.

C.3 Plantability

For even better simulating seed plantability under real life condition, a Big John planter stand (from Big John Manufacturing, Inc.) was used. This planter stand can emulate vacuum planters, especially from John Deere.

Apparatus/material

Big John plantability stand

Planter gear and a sunflower planting disks

1.5 kilograms of treated seed per run

Measurement

The seed hopper is filled with seed. The vacuum is turned on and set to 8.5 inch and the speed is set to 5 mph. % Well-placed seed refers to the percentage of seeds correctly placed. These are calculated on per 1000 seeds and the measurement is repeated three times.

Sunflower seeds treated with composition B.2 were subjected to the above-described plantability test. For comparative purposes, sunflower seeds treated with an analogous seed treatment composition, containing however (the same amount of) an acrylic binder instead of the Capromer® binder, were also tested. The results are compiled in the following table.

As the results show, seeds treated with the seed treatment composition of the invention show a comparative plantability (and thus reduced tackiness) as compared to seeds treated with a seed treatment composition containing the same amount of a conventional binder.

Claims

1. An aqueous composition comprising

(a) at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) at least one dispersant; and water in an amount to form a continuous phase containing the components (a) and (b).

2. The aqueous composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or both of components (c.1) and/or (c.2):

(c.1) at least one pigment;

(c.2) at least one seed treatment agent.

3. The aqueous composition according to any of claims 1 and 2, where the at least one polycaprolactone has a melting point from 0 to 70°C, preferably from 0 to 60°C, more preferably from 0 to 50°C.

4. The aqueous composition according to any of the preceding claims, where the at least one polycaprolactone has a number-average molecular weight M_n from 200 to 4000 g/mol, preferably from 300 to 3500 g/mol, more preferably from 400 to 3000 g/mol, in particular from 500 to 2500 g/mol, specifically from 600 to 2500 g/mol, as determined by gel permeation chromatography using polyethylene glycol standards.

5. The aqueous composition according to any of the preceding claims, where the at least one polycaprolactone comprises a polycaprolactone diol or triol.

6. The aqueous composition according to any of the preceding claims, where the dispersant is selected from anionic copolymer electrolytes and non-ionic polyalkyleneglycol esters.

7. The aqueous composition according to any of claims 2 to 6, comprising at least one pigment.

8. The aqueous composition according to claim 7, where the total amount of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is in the range of 10 to 82% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

9. The aqueous composition according to any of claims 7 or 8, where the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is of from 1:1 to 1:20, preferably from 1:2 to 1:15.

10. The aqueous composition according to claim 9, where the overall weight ratio of the at least one polycaprolactone and the at least one pigment is of from 1:2 to 1:12, preferably from 1:3 to 1:11, in particular from 1:4 to 1:10, specifically from 1:4 to 1:8.

11. The aqueous composition according to any of the preceding claims, additionally comprising at least one further additive selected from the group consisting of antifreezing agents, antifoaming agents, rheology modifiers, fillers, preservatives and mixtures thereof.

12. The aqueous composition according to any of claims 7 to 11, comprising

(a) from 2 to 30% by weight, preferably from 3 to 20% by weight and in particular from 3 to 15% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one polycaprolactone;

(b) from 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 5% by weight and in particular from 0.1 to 3% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one dispersant;

(c.1) from 10 to 80% by weight, preferably from 10 to 70% by weight and in particular from 10 to 60% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one pigment;

(d) from 0 to 15% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 10% by weight and in particular from 0.01 to 1% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one rheology modifier;

(e) from 0 to 50% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight and in particular from 0.1 to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of the composition, of at least one further additive; and

(f) water ad 100% by weight.

13. The aqueous composition according to any of claims 2 to 11, comprising at least one seed treatment agent, where the at least one seed treatment agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of plant protection agents, plant nutrients, growth stimulating agents, inoculants and mixtures thereof and more preferably from the group consisting of fungicides, agents for combatting invertebrate pests, such as insecticides, acaricides, nematicides or molluscicides; bactericides, herbicides, repellents and mixtures thereof; and/or where the at least one seed treatment agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of agents which are solid at 25°C.

14. The use of the aqueous composition as defined in any of the preceding claims for treating seeds.

15. A kit of parts comprising at least two parts, where the first part comprises the aqueous composition as defined in any of claims 1 to 12, but no seed treatment agent, and the second part comprises at least one seed treatment agent as defined in claim 13.

16. A coated seed, obtainable by the treatment of the seed with an aqueous composition as defined in any of claims 1 to 13 or with the combination of the first and second parts of the kit according to claim 15.

17. A coated seed, comprising a layer coating a part or the complete surface of the seed, where the layer comprises at least one polycaprolactone as defined in any of claims 1 and 3 to 5, and one or both of at least one seed treatment agent as defined in claim 13 and/or at least one pigment.

18. The coated seed according to claim 17, comprising at least one polycaprolactone as defined in any of claims 1 and 3 to 5, at least one seed treatment agent as defined in claim 13 and optionally at least one pigment.

19. The coated seed according to any of claims 17 or 18, where the coated seed comprises at most 0.1% by weight, preferably at most 0.05% by weight, more preferably at most 0.04% by weight of polycaprolactone, relative to the weight of uncoated seed.

20. A method for preparing a coated seed as defined in any of claims 16 to 19, comprising contacting a part or the complete seed to be coated with an aqueous composition as defined in any of claims 1 to 13 or with the combination of the first and second parts of the kit according to claim 15.

21. The use of a polycaprolactone as defined in any of claims 1 and 3 to 5 as a binder for pigments and/or for seed treatment agents, or as a binder in seed treatment compositions containing one or both of at least one seed treatment agent as defined in claim 13 and/or at least one pigment; where the seed treatment compositions are preferably aqueous seed treatment compositions.