MSU Technology Licensed to Adjuvants Plus Inc. **Discovered by Dr. Donald Penner (MSU Retired)**

Riboflavin Degradation of Volatile Phytotoxicants

Dicamba and 2,4-D are growth-regulator herbicides that provide excellent broadleaf weed control.  Recently released trait genes allow for wide scale use of these herbicides over broad-leaf crops.  Unfortunately, both dicamba and 2,4-D are known to drift and under the wrong conditions, may lead to a cloud of herbicide particles and vapors that may migrate off the application site.  This herbicide vapor cloud may then contact sensitive plants in an adjoining area leading to damage of the sensitive plants.

Description of Technology

This world-wide licensed technology to Adjuvants Plus Inc. is formulated into an additive used to reduce the amount of dicamba, 2,4-D, or other volatile herbicides that enter the vapor phase, without reducing the herbicidal activity of the volatile herbicide that enters inside the plant.  The additive which contains riboflavin (Vitamin B2), degrades any herbicide that remains on the surface of the plant through a sunlight catalyzed reaction. The degradation in sunlight is rapid and occurs within hours of the application.  Vapor drift may occur many days after application, usually in the morning.  Neighboring fields of sensitive crops may also be protected by spraying these fields with the additive as protection against herbicide vapor drift.  The riboflavin enhanced drift control additive will be low-cost and widely available.

Benefits

• Insurance: Formulation protects against herbicide vapor and particle drift and reduces the risk of dicamba or    2,4-D drift onto neighboring fields.
• Dicamba, 2,4-D etc. become of lower-risk and still help control of glyphosate resistant weeds in a trait stack with glyphosate resistance.
• Low cost: the additive will be widely available and cost-effective.

Applications

• Tank mix with volatile herbicide by consumer.
• All-in-one premix for use with volatile herbicides.
• Stand-alone pre-treatment for neighboring fields.

Patent Status

• US provisional application filed April 3, 2020. PCT filed.