ISHS Acta Horticulturae 527: International Symposium on Growth and Development of Fruit Crops
MODE OF ACTION OF ORGANOSILICONE ADJUVANTS |
| Authors: | Frank C. Roggenbuck, D. Penner |
| Keywords: | Surfactant, heptamethyltrisiloxanes, superspreader |
| Abstract:
Organosilicone adjuvants have recently gained considerable popularity. There are more than 20 products on the market that are either pure or contain a percentage of organosilicone, primarily heptamethyltrisiloxanes. Organosilicone-based defoamers achieve their efficacy by lowering solution surface tension. The organosilicone adjuvants used in spray solution to increase pesticide or micronutrient efficacy achieve their efficacy by the following modes of action. (1) By lowering surface tension and increasing droplet spread that can facilitate a uniform, thorough distribution of the spray solution over the foliage; this is especially effective for contact pesticides. (2) These adjuvants may also enhance spread of the spray solution on the surface of the plant to the site of action such as the apical meristem or to a preferred site of absorption such as the shoot base for certain grass species. (3) By altering solubility relationships, the organosilicones can greatly increase and accelerate foliar absorption of pesticide through the plant cuticle. The efficacy is pesticide and plant species specific (4) by providing rainfastness thus decreasing the rain-free period required after spray application. The contribution of stomatal infiltration to the efficacy of organosilicone adjuvant efficacy as an activator adjuvant is negligible. | |
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