DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to novel composition comprising silica and phenolic compounds for agricultural applications. More particularly, the present invention relates to novel composition comprising silica and phenolic compounds to enhance the yields of agricultural produce and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses in the plants.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION:
Silicon as nutrient has been gaining prominence over the last 3 decades. Silicon supplementation has been shown to provide increased yield, produce quality, crop stresses etc.

From early 1990’sonwards silicates in foliar sprays were in use. In 2003, foliar sprays with (stabilized) silicic acid were introduced, and more recently foliar sprays with silica nanoparticles have also been applied to the plants. Foliar sprays with silicates are effective as pesticides. The limited data on foliar silica sprays show a tendency to decrease biotic stress and to stimulate a limited increase in growth and yield. There is ample literature available on silica based compositions for foliar spray.

US20130130902 discloses dissolved silicate compositions in which the dissolved silicate is stabilized by at least two selected osmolytes and is therefore bioavailable.

EP2309862A2 discloses a foliarly applicable plant nutrient composition which comprises, in aqueous solution, (a) a first component comprising an agriculturally acceptable source of foliarly absorbable silicon; (b) a second component selected from agriculturally acceptable sources of thiosulfate ions, agents effective to inhibit polymerization of silicic acid or silicate ions, and mixtures thereof; and (c) as a third component, an agriculturally acceptable mixture of compounds selected from the group consisting of organic acids, organic compounds having functional groups capable of reversibly binding or complexing with inorganic anions, and mixtures thereof.

US8221791B1 describes silica based antibacterial and antifungal nanoformulation for agricultural purposes having a plurality of copper ions embedded in a silica nanogel, and wherein the plurality of interconnected nanoparticles of the nanogel contain a plurality of Cu ions electrostatically bound to the nanoparticle core, a plurality of Cu ions covalently bound to a hydrated shell surface and nanopores of the nanoparticle, and a plurality of Cu oxide/hydroxide as nanoclusters/nanoparticles bound to the surface of the nanoparticle.

However, the prior art formulations have failed to improve plant metabolic pathway to achieve good antioxidant property as well as antimicrobial property through shikimic pathway, and also to improve resistance from abiotic and biotic stresses.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to improve the plant metabolic pathway to achieve good antioxidant property as well as antimicrobial property through shikimic pathway, and to improve resistance from abiotic and biotic stresses.

The objective of the present invention is to provide stabilized compositions comprising silica along with phenolic compounds to increase growth and yield with decreased biotic and abiotic stresses in the plants.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In line with the above objective, the present invention provides a novel composition of Silica and Phenolic compounds to enhance growth and yields of agricultural produce and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses.

The foliar spray composition with silicon and combination of Phenolic compound as provided in the present invention is entirely new phenomenon to enhance yields and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses.

By applying Phenolic compounds in combination with silica as foliar spray, it helps in metabolism to generate or accelerate antioxidant pathway in plant system. The compositions of Silicon formulated with phenols have shown to provide significant enhancement in yield, yield quality and nutrition profile, decrease abiotic and biotic stress.

The present invention provides compositions comprising essentially Silica and Polyphenols such as Benzoates and/or Gallates.

The compositions of Silicon with Phenolic compounds can be formulated directly or in combination with other materials including but not limited to materials containing proteins and/or amino acids and/or enzymes and/or vitamins and minerals and/or carbohydrates and/or lipids and/or hormones and/or hormone containing substances and/ or hormone mimics and / or hormone precursors and/ or tannins and/or organic acids and/or fertilizers and/or pesticides and/or antioxidant pathway inducers and/or resistance inducers and/or humic substances and/or pyruvates and/or alcohols and formulation additives like stabilizers and/or surfactants and/or stickers and/or spreaders etc.

The compositions of the present invention induce crop resistance against pest, enhance yield, abiotic stress resistance (water, temperature etc.), and produce quality and nutrient profile and shelf life of produce.

The said formulation can be used across all crops for seed, foliar, fertigation or soil application.

The silicon compounds according to the present invention include but not limited to silicic acid and/or silicon polymers and/or salts and/or metallic silicon, and/or silicon particles and/or silicon containing substances etc., present in the composition in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 99.999%.

The Phenolic compounds according to the present invention include but not limited to phenols, polyphenols in forms of acids, Phenolic salts (including but not limited to benzoates and/or salicylates and/or Cinnamic acid and or coumaric acid, etc., and /or Phenolic precursors (including but not limited to phenylalanine and/or capsacin and/or valine etc.) and/or phenol containing substances etc., present in the composition in an amount ranging from 0.001 to 99.999%. The ratio of silicon to Phenolic compound in compositions according to the invention will be 0.001 to 99.999%.

In another aspect, the compositions of the present invention optionally comprise Minerals such as Calcium, Potassium, Copper, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Molybdenum, cobalt, Nickel, Iodine etc.

In yet another aspect, the compositions of the present invention includes Amino Acids such as Taurine, Cysteine, Methionine, Alanine etc.; Carbohydrates such as Trehalose, Oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, chitin, Chitosan, etc., and hormones like Salicylic acid , Jasmonic acid etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION:
The invention will now be described in detail in connection with certain preferred and optional embodiments, so that various aspects thereof may be fully understood and appreciated.

The present invention provides a novel composition of Silica and Phenolic compounds to enhance yields of agricultural produce and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses in plants.

The use of foliar sprays with silicon in combination with Phenolic compounds as provided in the present invention is entirely new phenomenon to enhance yields of agricultural produce and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses.

The novel combination of Silica and Phenolic compounds according to the present invention enhances the resistance as well as antioxidant property in the plants thereby facilitates more yields in agriculture.

The present invention provides compositions comprising essentially Silica and Polyphenols such as Benzoates and/or Gallates.

The compounds of Silica that can be used in the present invention can be selected from the group consisting of Silicic acid, silicon dioxide, potassium silicate, Magnesium silicate, Manganese silicate and or other metallic silicates.

In a preferred embodiment the composition comprises Silica compounds together with Phenolic compound with ratio of silica ranging from 0.01 to 99.99%.

In another embodiment, the invention provides compositions comprising metal silicates and Phenolic compounds in the form of solutions and or powders and or granules. These formulations can be prepared with different concentrations to give specific characteristics of Antioxidant and antimicrobial property along with Abiotic and biotic stress controlling capacity.

In another preferred embodiment, the compositions of the present invention optionally comprise a surfactant selected from anionic and Non-ionic and Cationic surfactants such as CMC, lignosulphonates, etc. to ensure uniform and wide spreading of the composition on the plant when applied to give complete application of foliage by maintaining surface tension of leaf and molecule contact to the plant.

Silicon with Phenolic compounds may be formulated optionally in combination with proteins (including but not limited to hydrolysate proteins, protein isolates) and/or amino acids (including but not limited to Taurine, Cystine Methionine, Alanine, phenylalanine, valine, proline etc.) and or enzymes (including but not limited to phenyl alanine, amino lyase) and or coenzymes (including but not limited to NADH, NADPH and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Certain coenzymes, such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), thiamine pyrophosphate(TPP), and tetrahydrofolate (THF), derived from vitamins), wherein, the optional ingredients can be used in an amount of 0.01 % to 50 % ; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds may be formulated in combination with Vitamins including but not only limited to Alpha tocopherol and /or vitamin-D and/or vitamin –K and/or Ascorbic acid and the like in an amount of 0.001 % to 10 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds may be formulated in combination with minerals including but not limited to Calcium, Potassium. Phosphate, Copper, Zinc, Iron, Manganese Magnesium, Molybdenum, cobalt, Nickel, Iodine etc. in an amount of 0.01 % to 80 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with carbohydrates including but not limited to Sugars (like Trehalose) and / or sugar alcohols (including but not limited to mannitol etc.,) and/or Oligosaccharides (raffinose and/or fructose etc), and/or polysaccharides (including but not limited to lamilarine fucoidien and/or chitin and/or Chitosan and/or Alginic acid etc.) and/or carbohydrate containing substances etc., in an amount of 0.01 % to 50 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with alcohols (including but not limited to Monohydric alcohols (including but not limited to ethanol and/or methanol and/or propanol and/or ethyl alcohol etc.) and/or polyhydric alcohols (including but not limited to ethylene glycol and/or propylene glycol and/or mannitol and/or sorbitol etc.) and/or Alicyclic alcohols(including but not limited to Inositol and/or Menthol etc.) in an amount of 0.01 to 30 %; and /or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with pyruvates (including but not limited to pyruvic acid and/or phosphophenol pyruvates etc.) in an amount of 0.001 to 20 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination containing lipids (including but not limited to monoglycerides and/or diglycerides and/or triglycerides and/or phospholipids) in an amount of 0.01 % to 25 % and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with natural and/or synthetic hormones (including but not limited to auxins and/ or gibberellins and/or cytokinines and/or Jasmonates, and/or Salicylates and/or lenolinic acid, and/or Naphthalene acetic acid, Indole acetic acid, Indole butyric acid etc.) and/or hormone precursors (including but not limited to lenolinic acid etc.,) and/or hormone elicitors etc., in an amount of 0.001 % to 10 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with hormone mimic substances (including but not limited to bile and/or bile salts etc., in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with tannins in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds in combination with organic acids (including but not limited to citric acid and/or Malic acid and/or tartaric acid, etc., ) in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds directly or in combination with other materials including but not limited to materials containing fertilizers (including but not limited to N,P, K and other secondary nutrients calcium and/or Magnesium etc.,) and/or pesticides and/or antioxidant pathway inducers (coumaric acid and/or cinnamic acid and/or salicylic acid etc.) in an amount of 0.01 to 50 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds directly or in combination with other materials including but not limited to materials containing humic substances(humic acid and/or fulvic acid and/or humin) in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %; and/or

Silicon with Phenolic compounds directly or in combination with other materials including but not limited to materials containing resistance inducers etc. and/or also formulation additives like stabilizers and/or surfactants (including ionic and/or non-ionic and/or cationic surfactants and/or lignosulfonates,) and/or stickers (gum acasia and/or organic and/or inorganic binders) and/or spreaders etc.

Silicon with Phenolic compounds directly or in combination with other materials including but not limited to materials containing proteins and/or amino acids and/or enzymes and/or enzyme precursors and/or vitamins and minerals and/or carbohydrates and/or lipids and/or hormones and/or hormone containing substances and/ or hormone mimics and / or hormone precursors and/ or tannins and/or organic acids and/or fertilizers and/or pesticides and/or antioxidant pathway inducers and/or resistance inducers and/or humic substances etc. and / or Pyruvates and also formulation additives like stabilizers and/or surfactants and/or stickers and/or spreaders etc. are formulated to induce crop resistance against pest, enhance yield of agricultural produce, reduce abiotic stress resistance (water, temperature etc.), and enhance the quality, nutrient profile and shelf life of produce.

The use of above stated combinations will induce crop resistance against pest, enhance yield of agricultural produce, reduce abiotic stress resistance (water, temperature etc.), decrease biotic stress resistance (bacterial plant pathogens: Burkholderia, Proteobacteria, Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp,, fungal pathogens include Rice blast, caused by a necrotrophic fungus, Ascomycetes: Fusarium spp. (Fusarium wilt disease), Thielaviopsis spp. (canker rot, black root rot, Thielaviopsis root rot), Verticillium spp., Magnaporthegrisea (rice blast), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (cottony rot) Basidiomycetes: Ustilago spp. (smuts), Rhizoctonia spp., Phakosporapachyrhizi (soybean rust) Puccinia spp. (severe rusts of cereals and grasses), Armillaria spp. (honey fungus species, virulent pathogens of trees) and also against significant oomycete plant pathogens such as Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., including the potato blight and viral diseases caused by-Tobacco mosaic virus and nematodes, to enhance quality, nutrient profile and shelf life of the produce.

The said formulation can used across all crops for seed, foliar, fertigation or soil application.

Besides the major role of silica and phenols combination in protection against biotic (microbes or herbivores) and abiotic (UV radiation, pollutants) stress factors, they are also involved in the attraction of pollinators.

Methods to enhance the yield of agricultural produce, reducethe abiotic stress resistance, decrease the biotic stress resistance comprises applying the composition of silicon and phenolic compounds of the present invention to the seeds or foliar of the crops or to the soil or fertigation. Particularly, the method includes spraying the seeds or foliar of the crops or the soil or fertigation with the composition of the present invention.

The following examples, which fully illustrate the practice of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, are intended to be for illustrative purpose only, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention.

Examples:
Example 1: FOLIAR VARIANTS WITH COMBINATION OF SILICA AND PHENOL COMPOUNDS
Table 1:
FOLIAR VARIANTS WITH COMBINATION OF SILICA AND PHENOL COMPOUNDS
S.No Name of The Variant BA SA Silica Chitosan Alkyl Gallate
1 Plain silica - - 2 % -
2 Silica + Benzoic Acid + Salicylic Acid 500 PPM 200 PPM 2 % -
3 Silica + Benzoic Acid + Chitosan 500 PPM - 2 % 25 PPM
4 Amino Acids+ KOH AMINO ACIDS NEUTRALIZED TO PH 7 WITH KOH
5 Silica + Benzoic Acid + Salicylic Acid + Chitosan 500 PPM 200 PPM 2 % 200PPM
6 Silica + Alkyl Gallate + Benzoic Acid 500 PPM - 2 % 200 PPM
7 Silica + Alkyl Gallate + Benzoic Acid+ Salicylic Acid 500 PPM 200 PPM 2 % - 200PPM

Example 2: C-PLEX VARIANTS FOR IMPROVED VERSION PRODUCT EFFICACY TRIALS
Table2:

C-PLEX VARIANTS FOR IMPROVED VERSION PRODUCT EFFICACY TRIALS
S.No Name of The Variant BA SA RBE Chitosan GB FA Proline JA AA KOH
1 C PLEX - - - - - - - -
2 C-PLEX ( Improved Silica With Phenol) RICE HUSK - STEAM EXPLOSION -ETHANOL EXTRACT -KOH EXTRACT

Silica and phenolic compounds extracted from rice husk
3 C-PLEX + Benzoic Acid + Salicylic Acid 500 PPM 200 PPM - - - -
- - - -
4 C -PLEX + Rice Bran Extract - - 600 PPM - - -
- - - -
5 C -PLEX + Benzoic Acid + chitosan 500 PPM - - 25 PPM - -
- - - -
6 C-PLEX + glycine betaine - - - - 0.25 Mm -
- - - -
7 C-PLEX + (Glycine Betaine with KOH + Fulvic Acid) - - - - 0.25 Mm 3%
- - - 1%
8 C -PLEX + Rice Bran Extract+ benzoic acid + salicylic acid + Potassium Peroxy Mono Sulfate 500 PPM 200 PPM 600 PPM - - - - - 1%
9 C-PLEX + Glycine Betaine + Proline +KOH - - - - 0.25 mM -
- 200 PPM - 1%
10 C-PLEX + Glycine Betaine + Proline - - - - 0.25 mM -
- 200 PPM - -
11 C- PLEX + Benzoic Acid + Salicylic Acid + Jasmonic Acid+ KOH 500 PPM 200 PPM - - - -
- - 0.1 Mm 1%
12 C-PLEX + (Amino Acids+ KOH )
10% PH-7
13 Amino Acids+ KOH AMINO ACIDS NEUTRALIZED TO PH 7 WITH KOH
14 C-PLEX with stevia extract 10 % OF STEVIA EXTRACT IN HOT WATER IN C-PLEX

C-PLEX-soluble organic silica with phenol compounds
BA-Benzoic Acid
SA-Salicylic Acid
RBE- Rice Bran Extract
GB-Gibberellic Acid
FA-Fulvic Acid; JA-Jasmonic Acid; AA-Acetic Acid

Example 3: First and second harvesting of Chilli at NIC Wargal
Table 3:
Treatment number Description/ Composition Total avg both harvests % of yield increment on control
T1 C-PLEX (Organic extracted Soluble silica with phenol compounds) 2337 39
T2 C-PLEX with Tagatose 2520 50
T 3 C-PLEX with Laminarin 2790 66
T 4 CONTROL 1683 0
Results: Clear Indication of Yield enhancement

Example 4: Cabbage Harvesting
Table 4:
Treatment number Description/ Composition Avg % of yield increment on control
T 1 NITROPLEX WITH 100 PPM 5-ALA 14
T 2 NITROPLEX WITH 100 PPM 5-ALA AND 200 PPM METHIONINE 16
T 3 NITROPLEX WITH N-ACETYLCYSTEIN 13
T 4 NITROPLEX WITH N-ACETYLCYSTEIN AND 100 PPM 5-ALA 8
T 5 CONTROL 6

NITROPLEX = (10% AMINOACID SOLUTION+KOH=PH-7 IN C- PLEX)

Example5: Tomato harvesting
Table 5:

Tomato foliar first harvesting Total avg of 5 harvest % of yield Increment over control
T1 PLAIN C-PLEX (soluble silica with phenol compounds ) 45870 22
T2 NITROPLEX = (10% AMINOACID SOLUTION+KOH=PH-7 IN C PLEX) 44512 19
T3 NITROPLEX WITH 1 % POTASSIUM FORMATE ( 3ML FORMIC ACID+3.5G KOH/100 ML) 50354 34
T5 NITROPLEX WITH 100 PPM 5-ALA 45542 21
T6 NITROPLEX WITH 100 PPM 5-ALA AND 200 PPM METHIONINE 49292 31
T7 Control 37555

Results:
Based on above experiment, significant yield along with biotic and Abiotic stress tolerance was observed. Combination of Silica with phenolic compounds and different combination of Amino acids results in enhanced crop yields, quality and nutrition profile.
,CLAIMS:1. Composition of Silica and Phenolic compounds to enhance yields of agricultural produce and decrease Biotic and Abiotic stresses in plants, wherein ratio of silica ranges from 0.01 to 99.99%.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the silica is selected from the group consisting of Silicic acid, silicon dioxide, potassium silicate, Magnesium silicate, Manganese silicate and/ or other metallic silicates.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the phenolic compounds is selected from Polyphenols such as Benzoates and/or Gallates.

4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the silica with phenolic compounds may comprise materials including but not limited to materials containing proteins and/or amino acids and/or enzymes and/or enzyme precursors and/or vitamins and minerals and/or carbohydrates and/or lipids and/or hormones and/or hormone containing substances and/ or hormone mimics and / or hormone precursors and/ or tannins and/or minerals and/or organic acids and/or fertilizers and/or pesticides and/or antioxidant pathway inducers and/or resistance inducers and/or humic substances etc. and / or Pyruvates and also formulation additives like stabilizers and/or surfactants and/or stickers and/or spreaders.

5. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the said composition comprises;
a) proteins selected from hydrolysate proteins, protein isolates and the like;
b) amino acids selected from Taurine, Cystine, Methionine, Alanine, phenylalanine, valine, proline and the like;
c) enzymes selected from phenyl alanine, amino lyase and the like;
d) coenzymes selected from NADH, NADPH, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), thiamine pyrophosphate(TPP), and tetrahydrofolate (THF);
in an amount of 0.01 % to 50 %.

6. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the said composition comprises;
a) vitamins selected from Alpha tocopherol and /or vitamin-D and/or vitamin –K and/or Ascorbic acid and the like is in an amount of 0.001 % to 10 %;
b) minerals selected from Calcium, Potassium. Phosphate, Copper, Zinc, Iron, Manganese Magnesium, Molybdenum, cobalt, Nickel, Iodine and the like is in an amount of 0.01 % to 80 %;
c) carbohydrates selected from Sugars and / or sugar alcohols and/or Oligosaccharides and/or polysaccharides and/or carbohydrate containing substances in an amount of 0.01 % to 50 %;
d) lipids selected from monoglycerides and/or diglycerides and/or triglycerides and/or phospholipids in an amount of 0.01 % to 25 %.

7. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the said composition comprises;
a) hormones selected from natural and synthetic hormones such as auxins and/ or gibberellins and/or cytokinines and/or Jasmonates, and/or Salicylates and/or lenolinic acid, and/or Naphthalene acetic acid, Indole acetic acid, Indole butyric acid and the like; and /or hormone precursors such as lenolinic acid and the like; and/or hormone elicitors in an amount of 0.001 % to 10 %;
b) hormone mimic substances such as bile and/or bile salts and the like in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %.

8. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the said composition comprises;
a) alcohols selected from Monohydric alcohols and/or polyhydric alcohols and/or Alicyclic alcohols in an amount of 0.01 to 30 %;
b) tannins in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %;
c) organic acids such as citric acid Malic acid, tartaric acid and the like in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %;
d) pyruvates such as pyruvic acid and/or phosphophenol pyruvates and the like in an amount of 0.001 to 20 %.

9. The composition according to claim 4, wherein the said composition comprises;
a) fertilizers such as N,P, K and secondary nutrients such as calcium and/or Magnesium and the like; and/or pesticides and/or antioxidant pathway inducers such as coumaric acid and/or cinnamic acid and/or salicylic acid and the like in the said composition is in an amount of 0.01 to 50 %;
b) humic substances such as humic acid and/or fulvic acid and/or humin and the like is in an amount of 0.01 to 80 %;
c) resistance inducers and/or formulation additives like stabilizers and/or surfactants which include but not limited to ionic and/or non-ionic and/or cationic surfactants and/or lignosulfonates; and/or stickers such as gum acasia and/or organic and/or inorganic binders and/or spreaders.

10. A method of enhancing the yield of agricultural produce, reducing the abiotic stress resistance, decreasing the biotic stress resistance comprising applying the composition of silicon and phenolic compounds according to claims 1 to 9 to the seeds or foliar of the crops or to the soil or fertigation.

11. The Composition of Silica and Phenolic compounds according to the claims 1 to 9 for use in all crops for seed, foliar, fertigation or soil application in inducing crop resistance against pest, enhance yield of agricultural produce, reduce abiotic stress resistance, decrease biotic stress resistance, enhance quality, nutrient profile and shelf life of the produce and in the attraction of pollinators.

12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the said composition is formulated in the form of solutions and or powders and or granules.