ACTIVE AGENTS TO PLANTS AND PESTS

PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/727,767, filed on September 6, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/727,782, filed on September 6, 2018, and both the applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

SUMMARY

[0002] Embodiments of the invention are directed to compositions comprising an effective amount of an active agent and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof.

[0003] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant growth by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves plant growth and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0004] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to pests by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves resistance to pests and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0005] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and/or salinity by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves plant tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and/or salinity and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0006] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant growth by increased nitrogen fixation by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that increases nitrogen fixation and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0007] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to an herbicide by contacting a surface the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves plant resistance to an herbicide and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0008] Embodiments of the invention are directed to compositions comprising an effective amount of an active agent that kills pests (i.e., a pesticide) and a pest extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of killing a pest comprising administering a composition comprising an effective amount of an active agent that kills pests (i.e., a pesticide) and a pest extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Various aspects now will be described more fully hereinafter. Such aspects may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey its scope to those skilled in the art.

[0011] Where a range of values is provided, it is intended that each intervening value between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range is encompassed within the disclosure. For example, if a range of 1 mih to 8 mih is stated, it is intended that 2 mih, 3 mih, 4 mih, 5 mih, 6 mih, and 7 mih are also explicitly disclosed, as well as the range of values greater than or equal to 1 mih and the range of values less than or equal to 8 mih.

[0012] All percentages, parts and ratios are based upon the total weight of the topical compositions and all measurements made are at about 25 °C, unless otherwise specified. [0013] The singular forms“a,”“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to a“polymer” includes a single polymer as well as two or more of the same or different polymers; reference to an “excipient” includes a single excipient as well as two or more of the same or different excipients, and the like.

[0014] The word“about” when immediately preceding a numerical value means a range of plus or minus 10% of that value, e.g.,“about 50” means 45 to 55,“about 25,000” means 22,500 to 27,500, etc., unless the context of the disclosure indicates otherwise, or is inconsistent with such an interpretation. For example, in a list of numerical values such as “about 49, about 50, about 55,“about 50” means a range extending to less than half the interval(s) between the preceding and subsequent values, e.g., more than 49.5 to less than 52.5. Furthermore, the phrases“less than about” a value or“greater than about” a value should be understood in view of the definition of the term“about” provided herein.

[0015] The transitional term “comprising,” which is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or“characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. By contrast, the transitional phrase “consisting of’ excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim. The transitional phrase“consisting essentially of’ limits the scope of a claim to the specified materials or steps “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention. In embodiments or claims where the term comprising is used as the transition phrase, such embodiments can also be envisioned with replacement of the term “comprising” with the terms “consisting of’ or “consisting essentially of.” The compositions and methods of the present disclosure can comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of, the components disclosed.

[0016] The term“plant decoy molecule” as used herein is interchangeable with plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof as described herein.

[0017] The term“pest decoy molecule” as used herein is interchangeable with pest extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein.

Plant Decoy Molecules [0018] Disclosed herein are compositions and methods to deliver an effective amount of an active agent to plants. The active agents include, but are not limited to, plant nutrients, minerals, pesticides, microbes, and agents that alter or modify the plant physiology or plant characteristics, such as altered tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity, altered carbon/nitrogen sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, and others. The active agents are mixed with plant decoy molecules and applied on the plant surface, and the plant decoy molecules will facilitate penetration of the active agents into the plant cell and/or tissue more readily and will be taken up by the plants.

[0019] Embodiments are directed to compositions comprising plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof (“plant decoy molecules”). Without wishing to be bound by theory, plant decoy molecules may cause rearrangement of a plant’s cell wall or cell membrane by temporarily disrupting cell-cell (i.e. intercellular) and cell-scaffold attachment, and allowing an active agent to pass through cell layers and into the tissue, and circulated throughout the plant. Thus, some embodiments are directed to compositions containing plant decoy molecules and an effective amount of one or more active agents.

[0020] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be derived from plant cellulose, plant hemicellulose, plant glucan, plant xyloglucan, plant xylan, plant pectin, plant extensin, plant lignin, sodium hyaluronate, and the like, fragments thereof and combinations thereof.

[0021] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be plant cellulose and its fragments. Cellulose is a polysaccharide having a chemical formula of (CeHioOsfy, where n is the degree of polymerization and may represent the number of glucose groups and may be derived from the cell wall of green plants and algae. Cellulose can be derived from D- glucose units which condense through b( 1 4)-glycosidic bonds. Cellulose can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0022] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be hemicellulose and its fragments. Hemicellulose can by any several heteropolymers. In some embodiments, hemicellulose may include xylan, glucuronoxylan, arabinoxylan, glucomannan, and xyloglucan. Hemicellulose may have about 500 to about 3,000 sugar units. Hemicellulose can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources. [0023] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be glucan and its fragments. Glucan can be a polycassharide of D-glucose monomers linked by glycosidic bonds. In some embodiments, glucan may comprise dextran, floridean starch, glycogen, pullulan, starch, cellulose, chrysolaminarin, curdlan, laminarin, lentinan, lichenin, oat beta- glucan, pleuran, zymosan, or combinations thereof. Glucan can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0024] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be xyloglucan and its fragments. Xyloglucan is a hemicellulose that may be derived in the cell wall of vascular plants. In some embodiments, xyloglucan may bind to the surface of cellulose microfibrils and may link the cellulose microfibrils together. Xyloglucan may have a backbone of b1 4 linked glucose residues which can be substituted with 1-6 linked xylose sidechains. The xylose residues may be capped with a galactose residue and may be followed by a fucose residue. Xyloglucan can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0025] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be xylan and its fragments. Xylan is a hemicellulose that may be derived from plant cell walls or algae. Xylan can be polysaccharides made from units of xylose. In some embodiments, xylooligosaccharides can be produced from xylan and may be considered as“functional food” or dietary fibers due to their prebiotic properties. Xylan may be converted in xylooligosaccharides by chemical hydrolysis using acids or by enzymatic hydrolysis using endo-xylanases. Xylan can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0026] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be pectin and its fragments. Pectin, also known as pectic polysaccharides, can be a heteropolysaccharide derived from plant cell walls. Pectin is a component of the middle lamella and can bind cells together. Pectin may be deposited by exocytosis into the cell wall by vesicles produced in the golgi. Pectin allows primary cell wall extension and plant growth. During plant or fruit ripening, pectin is broken down by pectinase and pectinesterase, in which process the fruit becomes softer as the middle lamellae break down and cells become separated from each other. A similar process of cell separation caused by the breakdown of pectin occurs in the abscission zone of the petioles of deciduous plants. In some embodiments, pectins can be rich in galacturonic acid. In some embodiments, pectins may comprise homogalacturonans, xylogalacturonan, apiogalacturonan, or rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-II). In some embodiments, plants may contain pectins with acetylated galacturonic acid in addition to methyl esters. In further embodiments, plants may contain pectins that are amidated. Pectins can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources. Plant derived pectins may include pears, apples, guavas, quince, plums, gooseberries, oranges, cherries, grapes, or strawberries.

[0027] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be extensin and its fragments. Extensin can be derived from the plant cell wall and are hydroxyprobne-rich glycoproteins. Extensins are thought to act as self-assembling amphiphiles essential for cell- wall assembly and growth by cell extension and expansion. Extensin can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0028] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be lignin and its fragments. Lignins can be cross-linked phenolic polymers that are found in plants and algae. In some embodiments, lignins may comprise lignols including 4-hydroxy-3- methoxyphenylpropane, 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenylpropane, and 4- hydroxyphenylpropane. In some embodiments, lignin precursors may include-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, and sinapyl alcohol and may be incorporated into lignin in the form of the phenylpropanoids p-hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G), and syringyl (S). In some embodiments, lignins are covalently linked to hemicellulose and cross-link different plant polysaccharides which confers mechanical strength to the cell wall. Lignins can be derived from a number of sources including, but not limited to, plant and commercially available sources.

[0029] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may be hyaluronic acid and its salts, such as sodium hyaluronate, and fragments thereof.

[0030] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule or the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof present in the composition may have specified average molecular weight. In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may have an average molecular weight of about 2,000 Da to about 100,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 60,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 50,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 30,000 Da, about 2,000 to about 20,000 Da, about 2,000 to about 15,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 10,000 Da, about 5,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, less than about 60,000 Da, less than about 50,000 Da, less than about 40,000 Da, less than about 30,000 Da, less than about 20,000 Da, less than about 15,000 Da, less than about 10,000 Da, less than about 5,000 Da, about 60,000 Da, about 50,000 Da, about 40,000 Da, about 30,000 Da, about 20,000 Da, about 15,000 Da, about 12,500 Da, about 10,000 Da, about 8,500 Da, about 7,500 Da, about 5,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 5,000 Da, about 5,000 Da to about 10,000 Da, about 10,000 Da to about 20,000 Da, about 20,000 Da to about 30,000 Da, about 30,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 20,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 40,000 Da to about 60,000 Da, or about 60,000 Da to about 100,000 Da or any range or individual number falling within these example ranges and numbers.

[0031] In embodiments, the compositions may include substantially no plant decoy molecule having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about

70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about

45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In other embodiments, the composition may contain no detectable plant decoy molecule having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In further embodiments, the composition may contain less than 0.05% of plant decoy molecule (that is, less than 0.05 wt. % of the total plant decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about

70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about

45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In further embodiments, the composition may contain less than 0.1% of plant decoy molecule (that is, less than 0.1 wt. % of the total plant decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In some embodiments, the composition may contain less than 1% plant decoy molecule (that is, less than 1 wt. % of the total plant decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da.

[0032] In embodiments, the plant decoy molecules or plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof is present in the composition in an amount selected from 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 9 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 8 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 7 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 6 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, about 0.25 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 2.0 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. %, about 0.75 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. %, about 1.0 wt % to about 3 wt %, about 1.0 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %, about 1 wt. %, about 2 wt. %, about 5 wt. %, about 10 wt. %, or any range or individual concentration falling within these example ranges. The weight percentages disclosed herein may be weight-to-weight or weight -to-volume percentages with respect to the total amount of the composition.

[0033] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecule is not hyaluronic acid or its salts. In some embodiments, the compositions do not contain hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate.

Pest Decoy Molecules

[0034] Various embodiments are directed to compositions and methods for treating pests such as arthropods, insects, arachnids, fungi, and the like. Such compositions may include pest extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof (“pest decoy molecules”) derived from pests, such as arthropods, insects, arachnids, fungi, and the like. In some embodiments, the compositions may comprise an pest decoy molecule alone, and in other embodiments, such compositions may comprise a combination of a pest decoy molecule and an active agent that is harmful to the pest. Methods of embodiments include administering such compositions to a pest or a population of pests to eliminate, e.g. death of the pest or population of pests, or reduction in the ability of the pest to bite or sting a host, thereby reducing the likelihood of transmission of pathogens such as disease causing bacteria, virus, protozoa, and the like a host, such as a mammal, human, livestock, plant, agricultural fungi, and the like and combinations thereof.

[0035] In embodiments, the pest decoy molecule may be an extracellular matrix component derived from arthropods, insects, arachnids, fungi, and the like, and fragments thereof and combinations thereof. Arthropods, insects, arachnids, fungi, and the like contain a number of extracellular matrix components and any such extracellular matrix components or fragments thereof can be used as pest decoy molecules. For example, in some embodiments, the pest extracellular matrix component or fragments thereof may be derived from chitan, resilin, various integrins, actin, laminin, catenins, and the like, fragments thereof and combinations thereof.

[0036] Each such pest extracellular matrix component may have a detrimental impact on tissues associated with the pathogen making them more susceptible to drugs, insecticides, fungicides, and the like, or weakening effect on tissues necessary for biting or stinging. For example, in some embodiments, pest decoy molecules derived from chitan, catenins, or resilin may weaken arthropod and insect exoskeletons and make the pest more susceptible to drugs and insecticides that must pass through the exoskeleton. In other embodiments, pest decoy molecules derived from chitan or catenins may weaken eggs or larvae of insect pest making them less likely to survive to adulthood. In still other embodiments, pest decoy molecules derived from integrins or laminin may cause delamination of wing tissues weaken the insect wings and rendering it unable to fly to escape predators or bite or sting a host. In further embodiments, pest decoy molecules derived from actin may cause growth reduction or loss of hairs or bristles on outer surfaces of the pest body rendering the pathogen unable to identify a host and less likely to bite or sting.

[0037] The pest decoy molecules of various embodiments can be derived from any number of common pests known to bite or sting mammals, humans, livestock, cows, horses, pigs, plants, agricultural fungi, and the like and combinations thereof. For example, pest decoy molecules may be derived from one or more extracellular matrix component of insects, arthropods, and arachnids such as aphids and other Hemipteran pests, thrips, Lepidopteran, Dipteran, and Coleopteran larvae, spider mites, locusts and crickets, ants, cockroaches, flies, wasps, termites, woodworm, wood ants, bookworms, silverfish, carpet beetles, clothes moths, ectoparasites, chiggers, Sarcoptes scabiei, ticks, mites, lice, fleas, bed bugs, mosquitoes, tsetse flies, kissing bugs, nematodes such as root-knot nematode, soybean cyst nematode, potato cyst nematode, gastropod molluscs such as, slugs, land snail pests, and the like. Pest decoy molecules may also be derived from one or more extracellular matrix component of insects, arthropods, arachnids, fungi that infest plants such as aphid, armyworm, asparagus beetle, bean beetle, blister beetle, cabbage looper, cabbage worm, worn earworm, cucumber Beetle, cutworm, earwig, european com borer, flea beetle, grasshopper, leafhopper, leafminer, potato beetle, psyllid, root maggot, sowbug, pillbug, spider mite, squash bug, stink bug, thrips, tomato homworm, whitefly, wireworm fungi such as, ascomycetes, Fusarium spp. (Fusarium wilt disease), Thielaviopsis spp. (canker rot, black root rot, Thielaviopsis root rot) Verticillium spp. Magnaporthe grisea (rice blast), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (cottony rot), Basidiomycetes such as Ustilago spp. (smuts), Rhizoctonia spp., Phakospora pachyrhizi (soybean rust), Puccinia spp. (severe rusts of cereals and grasses), Armillaria spp. (honey fungus species, virulent pathogens of trees), oomycetes such as Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., phytomyxea such as Plasmodiophora spp. and Spongospora spp. , nematodes such as Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis, protozoa such as Phytomonas spp., algae such as Cephaleuros, other plant pests such as Helix aspersa, Cernuella virgata, Theba pisana and Cochlicella spp, Achatina fulica, Succinea costaricana, Ovachlamys fulgens, Amphibulima patula dominicensis , Zachrysia provisoria, Bradybaena similaris, and the like and combinations thereof.

[0038] In various embodiments, the pest decoy molecule may have an average molecular weight of about 2,000 Da to about 100,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 60,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 50,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 30,000 Da, about 2,000 to about 20,000 Da, about 2,000 to about 15,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 10,000 Da, about 5,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, less than about 60,000 Da, less than about 50,000 Da, less than about 40,000 Da, less than about 30,000 Da, less than about 20,000 Da, less than about 15,000 Da, less than about 10,000 Da, less than about 5,000 Da, about 60,000 Da, about 50,000 Da, about 40,000 Da, about 30,000 Da, about 20,000 Da, about 15,000 Da, about 12,500 Da, about 10,000 Da, about 8,500 Da, about 7,500 Da, about 5,000 Da, about 2,000 Da to about 5,000 Da, about 5,000 Da to about 10,000 Da, about 10,000 Da to about 20,000 Da, about 20,000 Da to about 30,000 Da, about 30,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 20,000 Da to about 40,000 Da, about 40,000 Da to about 60,000 Da, or about 60,000 Da to about 100,000 Da or any range or individual number falling within these example ranges and numbers.

[0039] In embodiments, the compositions may include substantially no pest decoy molecule having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In other embodiments, the composition may contain no detectable pest decoy molecule having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In further embodiments, the composition may contain less than 0.05% of pest decoy molecule (that is, less than 0.05 wt. % of the total pest decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In further embodiments, the composition may contain less than 0.1% of pest decoy molecule (that is, less than 0.1 wt. % of the total pest decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da. In some embodiments, the composition may contain less than 1% pest decoy molecule (that is, less than 1 wt. % of the total pest decoy molecules present in the composition) having a molecular weight above about 150,000 Da, above about 125,000 Da, above about 100,000 Da, above about 90,000 Da, above about 80,000 Da, above about 70,000 Da, above 60,000 Da, above about 55,000 Da, above about 50,000 Da, above about 45,000 Da, above about 40,000 Da or above about 35,000 Da.

[0040] In embodiments, the compositions may containing pest decoy molecules in an amount of about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 9 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 8 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 7 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 6 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 1.0 wt. %, about 0.25 wt % to about 1.5 wt %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 2.0 wt. %, about 0.25 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. % to about 3.0 wt. %, about 0.75 wt. % to about 7.5 wt. %, about 1.0 wt % to about 3 wt %, about 1.0 wt. % to about 5.0 wt. %, about 1 wt. %, about 2 wt. %, about 5 wt. %, about 10 wt. %, or any range or individual concentration falling within these example ranges. The weight percentages disclosed herein may be weight-to-weight or weight -to-volume percentages with respect to the total amount of the composition. Active Agents

[0041] In some embodiments, the active agents disclosed herein may be present in compositions that comprise plant decoy molecules or pest decoy molecules or both. In some embodiments, the active agent is selected from the group consisting of a plant nutrient, a microbe, yeast extract, a carbohydrate, an enzyme, an amino acid, a plant hormone, a vitamin, an organic compound, a fungicide, a bactericide, a pesticide, a herbicide, an insecticide, a pathogenic resistant vector, a bacterial vector, a viral vector, a peptide, an antigen, a nucleic acid, CRISPR/Cas9 system, an epigenetic modifier, and combinations thereof.

[0042] In some embodiments, the active agent is a plant nutrient is selected from a nitrogen compound, a phosphorous compound, a potassium compound, a calcium compound, a sulfur compound, a magnesium compound, a boron compound, a copper compound, an iron compound, a chloride compound, a manganese compound, a molybdenum compound, a zinc compound, and a combination thereof. Other non-limiting examples of plant nutrients include boron, boric acid, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, calcium borate, magnesium borate, sodium borosilicate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, disodium tetraborate, lime, gypsum, superphosphate, iron sulfate, iron chelate, ferritin, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, zinc chelate, potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, monoammonium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, monopotassium phosphate, calcium carbonate, ammonium nitrate sulfate, ammonium thiosulfate, aqua ammonia, calcium cyanamid, crotonylidene diurea, diacyandiamide, isobutylidene diurea, sodium nitrate, potassium carbonate, potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium metaphosphate, potassium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcitic limestone, dolomitic limestone, magnesium ammonium phosphate, magnesium oxide, copper chelates, cupric ammonium phosphate, copper sulfate, copper frits, copper polyflavonoid, malachite, azurite, cuprous oxide, cupric oxide, cupric acetate, boron frit, ferric sulfate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous ammonium sulfate, ferrous ammonium phosphate, ferrous oxalate, ferrous carbonate, iron chelate, iron lignosulfonate, iron polyflavonoid, iron frits, iron methoxyphenylpropane, ferrous oxide, ferric oxide, iron ammonium polyphosphate, manganese oxide, manganese methoxyphenyl propane, manganese frits, manganese chloride, manganese carbonate, manganese sulfate, manganese chelate, manganese ammonium phosphate, manganese polyflavonoid, ammonium molybdate, sodium molybdate, molybdenum frit, molybdenum trioxide, molybdenum sulfide, zinc frit, zinc carbonate, zinc phosphate, zinc ammonium phosphate, zinc sulfide, zinc lignosulfonate, zinc polyflavonoid and combinations thereof.

[0043] In some embodiments, the active agent is a microbe selected from microorganisms of the genera Bacillus, for example B. thurigensis Clostridium, such as Clostridium pasteurianum Rhodopseudomonas, such as Rhodopseudomonas capsula Rhizobium species that fix atmospheric nitrogen; phosphorous stabilizing Bacillus, such as Bacillus megaterium cytokinin producing microorganisms such as Azotobacter vinelandii; Pseudomonas, such as Pseudomonas fluorescens Athrobacter, such as Anthrobacter globii Flavobacterium such as Flavobacteriium sp., and Saccharomyces, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and the like. Specific examples of microbes include Ensifer meliloti, Rhizobium trifolii, Azorhizobium caulinodans, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma longibrachiatum, Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Azospirillum sp., Acetobacter sp., Paenibacillus brasiliensis, Rhizobium melilot, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Paenibacillus azotofixans, and Paenibacillus polymyxa. The number of microbes that may be present in the composition can range from about l0 ⁵ to l0 ¹⁰ organisms per gram of the composition.

[0044] In some embodiments, the active agent is a yeast extract. Non-limiting examples of yeast extracts include extracts of yeasts, such as saccharmyces cerevisiae, or S. fermentati. Extracts of any yeast known in the art can be used in the composition.

[0045] In some embodiments, the active agent is a carbohydrate. Non-limiting examples of carbohydrates that may be present in the composition include mono saccharides, such as glucose galactose, and fructose, xylose, arabinose, fucose, dextrose, chitosan, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, poly-D-glucosamine, and combination thereof.

[0046] In some embodiments, the active agent is an enzyme. Non-limiting examples of enzymes include endoglucanase, endo-l,4-beta-glucanase, carboxymethyl cellulose, endo-l,4-beta-D-glucanase, beta-I,4-glucanase, beta-l,4-endoglucan hydrolase, celludextrinase, avicelase, polygalacturonases, pectinase, endo-l,4-beta-xylanese, esterase, lipase, and combination thereof.

[0047] In some embodiments, the active agent is an amino acid selected from arginine, histidine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, glycine, proline, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, selenocysteine, and combination thereof.

[0048] In some embodiments, the active agent is a plant hormone selected from the group consisting of alcohols, decanol, auxins, indoleacetic acid, cytokinins, benzyladenine, fatty acids, caprylic acid, gibberellins, gibberellic acid, jasmonates, jasmonic acid or esters thereof, sesquiterpenes, abscisic acid, and salicylic acid or esters thereof.

[0049] In some embodiments, the active agent is a vitamin selected from vitamins B-l (thiamin mononitrate), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (nicotinic acid), B-5 (pantothemic acid), B-6 (pyridoxine), B-7 (biotin), B-9 (peteroyl-glutamic acid), and B-l 2 (cyanocobamin), and combination thereof.

[0050] In some embodiments, the active agent is an organic compound selected from humic acid, fulvic acid, and plant extracts, such as seaweed extracts, kelp extracts, and/or the extracts of other plant materials, and combination thereof.

[0051] In some embodiments, the active agent is an insecticide selected from organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, neonicotinoids, phenylpyrazoles, and pyrethroids, for example tefluthrin, terbufos, cypermethrin, thiodicarb, lindane, furathiocarb, acephate, butocarboxim, carbofuran, NTN, endosulfan, diethion, aldoxycarb, methiocarb, oftanol, (isofenphos), chlorpyrifos, bendiocarb, benfuracarb, oxamyl, parathion, capfos, dimethoate, fonofos, chlorfenvinphos, cartap, fenthion, fenitrothion, HCH, deltamethrin, malathion, disulfoton, and combinations thereof. Examples of pyrethroid type insecticides include Fenvalerate (alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbuta noate) and Baythroid (cyano-4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzyl-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2- dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate). Organic phosphorus type insecticides include DDVP (2,2-dichlorovinyldimethyl phosphate), Sumithion (MEP) (dimethyl 4-nitro-m-tolyl phosphorothioate), Malathion (S-l,2-bis(ethoxycarbonyl)ethyldimethyl phosphorodethioate), Dimethoate (dimethyl S— (N-methylcarbamoyl methyl) phosphorodithioate), Elsan (S- [alpha-(ethoxycarbonyl)benzyl]dimethyl phosphorodithioate), and Baycid (dimethyl 4- methylthio-m-tolyl phosphorothioate). Carbamate type insecticides include Bassa (O-sec- butylphenyl methylcarbamate), MTMC (m-tolylmethylcarbamate), Meopal (3,4- dimethylphenyl-N-methylcarbamate), NAC (1 -naphthyl methylcarbamate), Methomyl (S- methyl-N-(methylcarbamoyloxy)thioacetimidate), and Cartap (SS'-2-dimethylamino trimethylene bis-(thiocarbamate)).

[0052] In some embodiments, the active agent is an acaricide, such as Sumiito (2- tert-butyl-5-(4-tert-butylbenzylthio)-4-chloropyridazine-3-( 2H)-one), Acricid (2,4-dinitro-6- sec.-butylphenyldimethylacrylate), Chloromite (isopropyl 4,4-dichlorobenzylate), Akar (ethyl 4,4'-dichlorobenzilate), Kelthane (2,2,2trichloro-l,l-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethanol), Citrazon (benzoic 3-chloro-N-ethoxy-2,6-dimethoxybenzimidic anhydride), Omite (2-(p-tert- butylphenoxy)cyclohexyl propyn-2-yl sulfite), Osadan (bis[tris(2-methyl-2- phenylpropyl)tin] oxide), Hexythiazox (trans-5-(4-chlorophenyl)- N-cyclohexyl-4-methyl-2- oxothiazolidine-3-carbox amide), and Amitraz (N,N-bis(2,4-xylyliminomethyl)methylamine).

[0053] In some embodiments, the active agent is a fungicide selected from Benomyl (also known as Benlate), Bitertanol, Captan, Carbendazim, Carboxin (also known as Carbathiin), Capropamid, Cymoxanil, Cyprodinil, Difenoconazole, Ethirimol, Fenpiclonil, Fenpropimorph, Fludioxonil, Fluquinconazole, Flutolanil, Flutriafol, Fosetyl-aluminum, Fuberidazole, Guazatine, Hymexanol, Kasugamycin, Imazabl, Imibenconazole, Iminoctadine-triacetate, Ipconazole, Iprodione, Mancozeb, Maneb, Mepronil, Metalaxyl, Metalaxyl-M (Mefenoxam), Metconazole, Metiram, MON 65500 (Silthiopham), Myclobutanil, Nuarimol, Oxadixyl, Oxine-copper, Oxobnic acid, Perfurazoate, Pencycuron, Prochloraz, Propamocarb hydrochloride, Pyroquilon, Quintozene (also known as PCNB), Tebuconazole, Tecnazene, Tetraconazole, Thiabendazole, Thifluzamide, Thiophenate- methyl, Thiram, Tolclofos-methyl, Triadimenol, Triazoxide, Triflumizole, Triticonazole, and combinations thereof.

[0054] Other non-limiting examples of bactericide and fungicide include Dithane (zinc ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate)), Maneb (manganese ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate)), Thiram (bis(dimethylthiocarbamoyl)disulfide) Manzeb (complex of zinc and manganese ethylenebis(dithiocarbamate), Bisdithane (bisdimethyl dithiocarbamoyl zinc ethylene bisdithiacarbamate), Propineb (polymeric zinc propylenebis(dithiocarbamate), benzimidazole-based bactericides, including Benomyl (methyl l-(butylcarbamoyl)-2- benzimidazole carbamate) and Thiophanate-methyl (dimethyl(4,4'-o-phenylenebis(3- thioallophanate)), and Vinclozobn (3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-5-methyl-5-vinyl-l,3-oxazolidine- 2,4-dione), Iprodione (3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-N-isopropyl-2,4-dioxoimidazobdine-l- carboxamide), Procymidone (N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-l,2-dimethylcyclopropane-l,2- dicarboximide), Anilazine (2,4-dichloro-6-(o-chloroanilino)-l,3,5-triazine), Triflumizole ((E)-4-chloro-. alpha., .alpha., .alpha. -trifluoro-N-(l-imidazol-l -yl-2-propoxyethybdene)- toluidine), Metalaxyl (methyl-N-(2-methoxyacetyl)-N-(2,6-xylyl)-DIL-alaninate), Bitertanol (all-rac-l-(biphenyl-4-yloxy)-3,3-dimethyl-l-(l,2,4-triazol- l-yl)butan-2-o 1), Pyrifenox (2',4'-dichloro-2-(3-pyridyl)acetophenone-(EZ)— O-methyloxime), Fenarimol (2,4'-dichloro- . alpha. -(pyrimidin-5yl)benzhydrylalcohol), Triforine (l,4-bis-(2,2,2-trichloro-l- formamidoethyl)-piperazine), Guazatine iminoctadine (1,1- iminiodi(octamethylene)diguanidinium triacetate), Oxine-copper, antibiotic bactericides (streptomycin type, tetracycline type, polyoxins type, blasticidin S type, kasugamycin type, and validamycin type), Triadimefon (l-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-l-(l,2,4-triazol-l- yl)-2-butanone), Isoprothiolane (diisopropyl-l,3-dithiolan-2-ylidenemalanate), Daconil (tetrachloroisophthalonitrile), Pansoil (5-ethoxy-3-trichloromethyl-l ,2,4-thiadiazole), Fthalide (4,5,6,7-tetrachlorophmalide), Kitazin-P (0,0-diisopropyl-phosphorothioate), Hinosan (ethyl S,S-diphenylphosphorodithioate), Probenazole (3-allyloxy-l,2-benzisothiazol l,l-dioxide), Captan (N-(trichloromethylthio)-4-cyclohexene-l,2-dicarboximide), Fosetyl (aluminum tris(ethylphosphonate)), and quaternary ammonium compounds.

[0055] In some embodiments, the active agent is a herbicide, such as phenoxy compounds, benzoic acid derivatives, picolinic acid derivatives, glyphosate, sulfosate, sulfonyl ureas, imidazolinones, sulfonanalides, aryloxyphenoxypropionates, cyclohexanediones, bipyridyliums, diphenyl ethers (nitrophenyl ethers), triazines, uracils, phenylureas, hydrogen peroxide, and nitriles. Examples of acid amide-based herbicides include Siam (3',4'-dichloropropionanilide, DCPA) and Alachlor (2-chloro-2',6'-diethyl-N- (methoxymethyl)-acetanilide). Examples of urea-based herbicides include DCMU (3-(3,4- dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dimethylurea) and Rinuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l-methoxy-l- methylurea). Examples of sulfonyl urea-based herbicides include thifensulfuronmethyl(methyl-3-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-l,3,5-tria zin-2-ylcarbamoylsulfamoyl)- 2-tanoate) and Flazesulfuron (l-(4,6-dimethoxy pyrimidin-2-yl)-3-(3-trifluoromethyl-2- pyridylsulfonyl)urea). Examples of dipyridyl-based herbicides include Paraquat dichloride (l,r-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium dichloride) and Diquat dibromide (6,7-dihydrodipyride[l,2- a:2',l'c]-pyrazinediium dibromide). Example of diazine-based herbicides include Bromacil (5-bromo-3-sec-butyl-6-methyluracil). Examples of S-triazine-based herbicides include Gesatop (2-chloro-4,6-bis(ethylamino)-l,3,5-triazine) and Simetryn (2,4-bis(ethylamino)-6- methylthio-l,3,5-triazine). An example of nitrile-based herbicides include DBN (2,6- dichlorobenzonitrile). Examples of dinitroaniline-based herbicides include Trifluralin (alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine). Examples of carbamate- based herbicides include Thiobencarb (Saturn) (S-p-chlorobenzyl diethylthiocarbamate) and MCC (methyl-3, 4-dichlorocarbenzylate. NIP (2,4-dichlorophenyl-p-nitro-phenyl ether) is an example of diphenyl ether-based herbicides. PCP (sodium pentachlorophenoxide) is an example of a phenol-based herbicide. MDBA (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid dimethylamine salt) is an example of a benzoic acid-based herbicide. Examples of phenoxy- based herbicides include 2,4-D sodium salt (sodium 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate), 2,4 D Esters, and Mapica ([4-chloro-o-toluoyl)oxy]aceto-o-chloroanilide. Examples of organic phosphorus-based herbicides include Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycinate, Bialaphos (sodium salt of L-2-amino-4-[(hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-butylyl-alanyl-N-a lanine), and Glufosinate (ammonium DL-homoalanin-4-yl(methyl)phosphinate). TCA sodium salt (sodium trichloronate) is an example of an aliphatic group-based herbicides.

[0056] In some embodiments, the active agent is a pathogenic resistant vector that encode gene products that have properties of promoting resistance to fungi, nematodes, and viral infection. In some embodiments, the pathogenic resistant vectors can prevent infectious disease from occurring in the plant caused by microbes including fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes, or parasites.

[0057] In some embodiments, the active agent is a nucleic acid and may comprise a nucleic acid sequence, which when introduced into the plant cell or pest cell, is capable of increasing or decreasing the level or expression of a protein, transcript, or combination thereof. Nucleic acids can include RNA, cDNA, DNA, genomic DNA, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, nucleic acid may be anti-sense RNA. Anti-sense RNA delivery can provide transient therapy against fungal, viral, and bacterial infection in plants. In particular, plant parts expressing nucleic acid molecule can modulate the expression of proteins and reduce the ability of pests and virus to survive, grow and reproduce, or limit their growth. In some embodiments, the introduction of nucleic acid sequences can confer resistance to herbicides in plants. The introduction of nucleic acid sequences can lead to modifications, including, but not limited to, increased sugar content, increased fungal resistance, increased viral resistance, reduced ethylene biosynthesis, increased fertilizer use/uptake efficiency, tolerance to abiotic stress, altered biomass, and yield. In some embodiments, plants expressing such nucleic acid sequences are not“genetically modified” plants since the exogenous nucleic acid sequence is expressed locally and not propagated to the next generation.

[0058] In some embodiments, anti-sense RNA delivery can provide a strategy to inhibit the growth of pests. In particular, pest parts expressing nucleic acid molecule can modulate the expression of proteins and reduce the ability of pests and virus to survive, grow and reproduce, or limit their growth. In some embodiments, the introduction of nucleic acid sequences can confer sensitivity to insecticides in pests. The introduction of nucleic acid sequences can lead to modifications, including, but not limited to, increased sensitivity to fungicides, increased sensitivity to insecticides, and the like.

[0059] In some embodiments, the active agent may be epigenetic modifiers that may confer a new epigenetic modification to a plant or a pest. In some embodiments, the epigenetic modifier may remove an epigenetic modification from the plant or a pest. In some embodiments, the epigenetic modifier may alter DNA methyltransferase levels, DNA methylation pathways, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the epigenetic modifier may alter histones, acetylation sites, ubiquitylation sites, phosphorylation sites, sumoylation sites, ribosylation sites, citrullination sites, or combinations thereof. The epigenetic modification in plant may turn on or turn off the genes in plants and alter the plant characteristics or traits, such as increased yield, altered biomass, altered tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity. In some embodiments, the epigenetic modification in pest, pest eggs, or pest larvae may turn on or turn of the genes and alter characteristics or traits of the pest, alter tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat, salinity, humidity, and the like or various combinations thereof.

[0060] In some embodiments, the plant decoy molecules may be used to introduce CRISPR/Cas system into plants, and pest decoy molecules may be used to introduce CRISPR/Cas system into pests. It is well known in the art that Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas) system can be used for plant genome engineering. The CRISPR/Cas system provides a relatively simple, effective tool for generating modifications in genomic DNA at selected sites. CRISPR/Cas systems can be used to create targeted double-strand breaks or single-strand breaks, and can be used for, without limitation, targeted mutagenesis, gene targeting, gene replacement, targeted deletions, targeted inversions, targeted translocations, targeted insertions, and multiplexed genome modification. This technology can be used to accelerate the rate of functional genetic studies in plants, and to engineer plants with improved characteristics, including enhanced nutritional quality, increased resistance to disease and stress, resistance to herbicides, and heightened production of commercially valuable compounds. Further, this method can be used to introduce genetic molecules in pests that confer sensitivity to insecticides and fungicides.

[0061] In some embodiments, an effective amount of an active agent is present in the composition from about 0.1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 20 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 15 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 10 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 8 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 5 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 4 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %, or about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. Specific examples include about 0.1 wt. %, about 0.5 wt. %, about 1 wt. %, about 2 wt. %, about 5 wt. %, about 10 wt. %, about 25 wt. %, and any individual amount or any ranges between any two of these values. In embodiments, the weight percentages disclosed herein may be weight-to-weight or weight -to-volume percentages with respect to the total amount of the composition.

[0062] In some embodiments, an effective amount of an active agent is present in the composition from about 1 microgram to about 100 milligrams per mL of the composition, about 1 microgram to about 10 milligrams per mL of the composition, about 1 microgram to about 5 milligrams per mL of the composition, about 1 microgram to about 1 milligram per mL of the composition, or about 1 microgram to about 100 micrograms per mL of the composition.

[0063] The compositions of embodiments may be formulated, but are not limited to a liquid, foams, spray, suspension, dispersion, powder, aerosol, and the like. The compositions can also be in solid form or in the form of aqueous solutions. Solid forms include powders and larger particulate forms, e.g., from 20 to 200 mesh. Solid form particles can be encapsulated in water soluble coatings (e.g., dyed or undyed gelatin spheres or capsules), extended release coatings, or by micro-encapsulation. Solid form can be a free- flowing powder containing one or more of gelatin, polyvinyl alcohol, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate phthalate, or styrene maleic anhydride.

[0064] The compositions described above may additionally include auxiliary components such as extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners, and adjuvants. In some embodiments, the compositions may further include crop protection agents, pesticidal agents, activity enhancing adjuvants such as penetrants like vegetable oils, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, mineral oils, liquid paraffins, alkyl esters of vegetable fatty acids, rapeseed oil or soybean oil methyl esters, alkanol alkoxylates, and the like and combinations thereof, spreaders such as alkylsiloxanes and/or salts, such as organic or inorganic ammonium or phosphonium salts, ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, and the like, retention promoters such as dioctyl sulphosuccinate or hydroxypropylguar polymers, and the like, humectants such as glycerol, fertilizers such as ammonium, potassium or phosphorous fertilizers, and the like and various combinations of these components and compounds.

[0065] Examples of typical compositions may include water-soluble liquids (SL), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions in water (EW), suspension concentrates (SC, SE, FS, OD), water-dispersible granules (WG), granules (GR) and capsule concentrates (CS), and the like. Such compositions are described, for example, by Crop Life International and in Pesticide Specifications, Manual on Development and Use of FAO and WHO Specifications for Pesticides, FAO Plant Production and Protection Papers— 173, prepared by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Specifications, 2004, ISBN: 9251048576.

[0066] Any solvent can be used in various embodiments of the invention. For example, suitable solvents include aromatic hydrocarbons, such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as chlorobenzene, chloroethylene or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, paraffins, petroleum fractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol or glycol, their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents, such as dimethyl sulphoxide, and water. If water is used as solvent, organic solvents can be used as auxiliary solvents. Liquid solvents such as aromatics, xylene, toluene, or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics and chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes, or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example petroleum fractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and also their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide, and the like. In some embodiments, auxiliary solvents may be acetone and N,N'-dimethylformamide.

[0067] In further embodiments, the compositions of the invention may further include auxiliaries, such as extenders, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, biocides, thickeners, adjuvants, and the like. An adjuvant in this context is a component which enhances the biological effect of the composition, without the component itself having a biological effect. Examples of adjuvants are agents which promote the retention, spreading, attachment to the leaf surface, or penetration. Other suitable auxiliaries include substances that provide particular properties such as certain physical, technical and/or biological properties to the composition, for example, crop protection agents, such as spray liquors or seed dressings.

[0068] Extenders include, for example, water, polar and nonpolar organic chemical liquids, aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons, such as, paraffins, alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, chlorobenzenes, the alcohols and polyols, which may or may not be substituted, etherified, and/or esterified, ketones, such as acetone, cyclohexanone, esters such as fats and oils, (poly)ethers, unsubstituted and substituted amines, amides, lactams such as N-alkylpyrrolidones, lactones, sulphones and sulphoxides, such as dimethyl sulphoxide, and the like and combinations thereof. [0069] Liquefied gaseous extenders or solvents may also be used. Particularly suitable are those extenders or carriers which at standard temperature and under standard pressure are gaseous, examples being aerosol propellants, such as halogenated hydrocarbons, and also butane, propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

[0070] Suitable carriers include, for example, ammonium salts and ground natural minerals such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and ground synthetic minerals, such as finely divided silica, alumina and natural or synthetic silicates, resins, waxes and/or solid fertilizers. Mixtures of such carriers may likewise be used. Carriers suitable for granules include, for example, crushed and fractionated natural minerals such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite, dolomite, and also synthetic granules of inorganic and organic meals, and also granules of organic material such as sawdust, paper, coconut shells, maize cobs and tobacco stalks.

[0071] Examples of emulsifiers and/or foam-formers, dispersants, and wetting agents include, for example, salts of polyacrylic acid, salts of lignosulphonic acid, salts of phenolsulphonic acid or naphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, with substituted phenols such as alkylphenols or arylphenols, salts of sulphosuccinic esters, taurine derivatives such as alkyltaurates, phosphoric esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acid esters of polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containing sulphates, sulphonates and phosphates, examples being alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates, protein hydrolysates, lignin-sulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose. The presence of a surface-active substance is advantageous if one of the active compounds and/or one of the inert carriers is not soluble in water and if application takes place in water. Preferred emulsifiers are alkylaryl polyglycol ethers.

[0072] Stabilizers, such as low-temperature stabilizers, preservatives, antioxidants, light stabilizers or other agents which improve chemical and/or physical stability may also be present. Additionally present may be foam-formers or defoamers.

[0073] Further auxiliaries that may be present in the compositions and in the application forms derived from them include colorants such as inorganic pigments, examples being iron oxide, titanium oxide, Prussian Blue, and organic dyes, such as alizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyanine dyes, and nutrients and trace nutrients, such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc. Examples further additives include fragrances, protective colloids, binders, adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic substances, penetrants, retention promoters, stabilizers, sequestrants, complexing agents, humectants and spreaders. Generally speaking, the active agents may be combined with any solid or liquid additive commonly used for formulation purposes.

[0074] The compositions may also include stickers such as carboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in powder, granule or latex form, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, natural phospholipids, such as cephalins and lecithins, and synthetic phospholipids, and the like and combinations thereof.

[0075] Suitable retention promoters include all those substances which reduce the dynamic surface tension such as, for example, dioctyl sulphosuccinate, or increase the viscoelasticity, such as hydroxypropylguar polymers.

[0076] Suitable penetrants include substances that are used to enhance the penetration of active agrochemical compounds into plants. Penetrants may be an application liquor and/or from the spray coating, they are able to penetrate the cuticle of the plant and thereby increase the mobility of the active compounds in the cuticle. Examples include alcohol alkoxylates such as coconut fatty ethoxylate or isotridecyl ethoxylate, fatty acid esters such as rapeseed or soybean oil methyl esters, fatty amine alkoxylates such as tallowamine ethoxylate, or ammonium and/or phosphonium salts such as ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate and the like and combinations thereof.

[0077] The compositions various embodiments can be produced in any known manner, for example, by mixing the active agents with auxiliaries such as, for example, extenders, solvents, solid carriers, auxiliaries, surfactants, and the like as described in depth above.

[0078] The compositions of the invention may be formulated for various application forms such as crop protection agents and/or pesticidal agents, such as drench, drip, spray liquors, and the like.

[0079] In some embodiments, the composition is part of a kit. In some embodiments, the kit comprises a master container, a plurality of containers comprising plant decoy molecules or pest decoy molecules, a plurality of containers comprising active agents, and instructions.

METHODS OF USING COMPOSITIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN

[0080] Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods to produce altered or desired traits or physiological characteristics in plants, such as increased yield, altered biomass, altered seed yield, reduced sensitivity to light, greater early season growth, greater height, greater stem diameter, increased resistance to lodging, increased intemode length, increased secondary rooting, greater cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, reduced stomatal conductance, altered carbon/nitrogen sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, greater late season growth and vigor, increased number of mainstem nodes, greater canopy coverage, altered tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity, increased resistance to pests, increased seed protein content, increased seed oil content, and increased tolerance to nutrient deficiency.

[0081] Various embodiments are directed to methods for treating a plant by contacting the plant with an extracellular matrix component derived from plants, fragments of extracellular matrix components derived from plants, and combinations thereof (“plant decoy molecules,” as discussed in detail above. In some embodiments, the active agent and the plant decoy molecules are contacted concurrently. In some embodiments, the active agent and the plant decoy molecules are contacted sequentially. Thus, certain embodiments include contacting a plant with a composition containing a plant decoy molecule and one or more active agents.

[0082] The step of contacting can be carried out in various ways. For example, contacting can be carried out by contacting with a composition of the invention on a surface of the plant, such as stem surfaces, leaf surfaces, root surfaces, fruit surfaces, flower surfaces, vegetable surfaces, nut surfaces, seed surfaces, and the like and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, contacting can be carried out by applying the compositions of the invention to soil in which plants are being grown or water contacting the roots of a plant being grown hydroponically. In still other embodiments, contacting can be carried out by contacting seeds prior to planting or sprouts that were recently releases from the seeds, and in further embodiments, contacting can be carried out by applying the compositions of the invention to fruits or vegetables after harvesting. In yet other embodiments, contacting a plant with a composition of the invention can occur at more than one of these times in the growth cycle. For example, embodiments include any combination of contacting a mature plant with a composition of the invention on a surface such as stem surfaces, leaf surfaces, root surfaces, fruit surfaces, flower surfaces, vegetable surfaces, seed surfaces, and the like, contacting soil or water in which plants are grown or will be grown, contacting seeds before planting, and contacting fruits and vegetables after harvest.

[0083] Certain embodiments include contacting soil or water in which plants are grown with a composition containing a plant decoy molecule and one or more active agent for improving plant growth, flower production, fruit production, vegetable production, nut production, and the like and combinations thereof. In particular embodiments, the active agent may be a plant hormone, a peptide, an organic compound, plant nutrient, and the like known to stimulate plant growth, flower production, fruit production, vegetable production, nut production, and the like. In such embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may stimulate absorption of active agent through roots of the plant. Once within the plant, the active agent may be transported directly to the part of the plant where it will be active based on the plant’s biological activity. For example, during fruit production, plants preferentially transport nutrients and water to the growing fruit. Active agents entering the plant from soil, water, or other growth medium through the roots will therefore be preferentially transported to the fruit. Thus, an active agent that acts on or protects fruit can be delivered through the soil during plant fruit production.

[0084] In some embodiments, the methods of the invention include contacting mature plants, for example, stem surfaces, leaf surfaces, root surfaces, fruit surfaces, flower surfaces, vegetable surfaces, nut surfaces, seed surfaces, and the like and combinations thereof with the compositions of the invention. The compositions of such embodiments may include an active agent that, for example, improves plant respiration, improves tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity, improves plant resistance to herbicide, improves the plants resistance to pests, and the like and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the active agent may cause portions of the plant contacted by active agent to express aquaporins, late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, heat shock proteins (HSPs), detoxification enzymes, osmolyte biosynthesis proteins, and other proteins known to improve water retention, drought tolerance, cold tolerance, freezing, heat tolerance, and salinity tolerance or protein kinases, transcription factors, and the like that stimulate production of proteins or biochemical pathways associated with water retention, drought tolerance, cold tolerance, freezing, heat tolerance, and salinity tolerance.

[0085] In some embodiments, the methods may comprise contacting a plant surface with an effective amount of an active agent that may cause pest resistance in plants. Such pest resistance active agents include but not limited to, a nucleic acid, a peptide, or a protein which may cause production of alpha-amylase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, potato inhibitors 1 and 11 family proteins, Bowman-Birk inhibitors, lectins, and other proteins known to improve pest resistance, or protein kinases, transcription factors, and the like that stimulate production of proteins or biochemical pathways associated with pest resistance. .

[0086] In some embodiments, compositions containing a plant decoy molecule and effective amount of a pest resistance active agent may be applied to a mature plant in sufficient quantity to cause, for example, more than 10% of the cells of a leaf to express a protein that improves pest resistance or a pest decoy molecule. In some embodiments, such compositions may be applied in sufficient quantity to cause, for example, more than about 20%, more than about 25%, more than about 30%, more than about 35%, more than about 40%, more than out 50%, more than about 75% or more than about 95% to 100% of the cells of a leaf contacted with the active agent to express a protein that improves pest resistance or a pest decoy molecule. While not all cells may express a protein that improves pest resistance, sufficient cells may produce the pest resistance protein or pest decoy molecule to allow the plant to survive attacks by the target pests. In some embodiments, sufficient cells may produce the pest resistance gene to reduce the population of the pests. Therefore, not every plant in a field or population of plants need express the protein that improves pest resistance to provide a meaning impact on plant survival.

[0087] In certain embodiments, compositions containing an effective amount of an active agent and a plant decoy molecule may be applied to a seed. In such embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may disrupt the seed coat sufficiently to allow the active agent to enter the seed and introduce nucleic acids, epigenetic modifiers, CAS/CRISPR vectors, and the like and combinations thereof into the zygote or embryonic plant. Because seeds contain a small number of cells, there is a high likelihood that genetic modifiers and transgenes may be introduced into all cells in the seed, allowing the plant to express the genetic modifiers or transgenes in every cell of the adult plant.

[0088] In some embodiments, compositions containing an effective amount of an active agent and a plant decoy molecule may be applied to harvested fruits and vegetables. In such embodiments, the plant decoy molecule may disrupt the cuticle and epidermis of the fruit or vegetable sufficiently to allow the active agent to enter the cells of the fruit or vegetable introducing nucleic acids, epigenetic modifiers, CAS/CRISPR vectors, and the like and combinations thereof into fruit or vegetable. In certain embodiments, the genetic modifiers or transgenes may cause any foreign DNA, for example, genetic modifications and previously introduced transgenes, to be excised from the plant thereby removing any genetic modifications.

[0089] The compositions and methods described herein can be used to modify the growth of plants, particularly to modify the growth of plants in a manner in which one or more negative or otherwise deleterious effects that are known to occur when plants are subjected to drought stress is/are affected (e.g., minimized or reduced). Such negative or otherwise deleterious effects include, but are not limited to, wilting, yellowing, lodging, a change in turgidity, a change in biomass (e.g., a reduced biomass), a change in agronomic yield (e.g., a reduced agronomic yield), a change in photosynthesis, a change in growth rate (e.g., a reduced growth rate), a change in root weight or length (e.g., a reduced root weight or length), a change in shoot weight or length (e.g., a reduced shoot weight or length), a change in leaf weight or length (e.g., a reduced leaf weight or length), a change in flower or petal production (e.g., a reduced flower or petal production), a change in seed production (e.g., a reduced seed production), a change in bulb production (e.g., a reduced bulb production), a change in fruit production (e.g., a reduced fruit production), a change in salinity tolerance (e.g., a reduced salinity tolerance), and/or a change in water consumed or applied, all when compared to a control plant. For example, the compositions and methods described herein can be used to increase drought tolerance when compared to a control plant, reduce or delay wilting compared to a control plant, reduce or delay yellowing compared to a control plant, reduce or delay lodging compared to a control plant, increase, prolong or maintain turgidity compared to a control plant, increase biomass compared to a control plant, increase agronomic yield compared to a control plant, decrease or increase photosynthesis compared to a control plant, increase or decrease plant or leaf green color compared to a control plant, increase, maintain or decrease chlorophyll content compared to a control plant, reduce or delay a loss in chlorophyll content compared to a control plant, increase or decrease growth rate compared to a control plant, increase or decrease root weight compared to a control plant, increase or decrease root length compared to a control plant, increase or decrease shoot weight compared to a control plant, increase or decrease shoot length compared to a control plant, increase or decrease leaf weight compared to a control plant, increase or decrease leaf length compared to a control plant, increase flower or petal production compared to a control plant, reduce or delay a loss of one or more flowers or petals compared to a control plant, increase or decrease seed production compared to a control seed from a control plant, increase or decrease bulb production compared to a control bulb from a control plant, increase or decrease fruit production compared to a control plant, increase salinity tolerance compared to a control plant, decrease water consumed compared to a control plant, decrease water applied compared to a control plant, increase the growth of the plant in arid conditions when compared to control plant, or increase the growth of the plant in nutrient deficient environment when compared to a control plant.

[0090] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant growth by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves plant growth and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0091] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to pests by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves resistance to pests and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0092] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves plant tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and/or salinity and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0093] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant growth by increased nitrogen fixation by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that increases nitrogen fixation and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0094] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to herbicide by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves resistance to herbicides and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0095] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant yield by contacting a plant surface with an effective amount of an active agent and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition. [0096] In various embodiments, yield of produce can be unpredictably increased, for example by at least about 2%, at least about 4%, at least about 6%, at least about 8%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 25% or at least about 50%, over plants not receiving the composition.

[0097] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases by contacting a surface of the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves resistance to bacterial and fungal diseases and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0098] Examples of bacterial and fungal diseases of plants include, without limitation, anthracnose, armillaria, ascochyta, aspergillus, bacterial blight, bacterial canker, bacterial speck, bacterial spot, bacterial wilt, bitter rot, black leaf, blackleg, black rot, black spot, blast, blight, blue mold, botrytis, brown rot, brown spot, cercospora, charcoal rot, cladosporium, clubroot, covered smut, crater rot, crown rot, damping off, dollar spot, downy mildew, early blight, ergot, erwinia, false loose smut, fire blight, foot rot, fruit blotch, fusarium, gray leaf spot, gray mold, heart rot, late blight, leaf blight, leaf blotch, leaf curl, leaf mold, leaf rust, leaf spot, mildew, necrosis, peronospora, phoma, pink mold, powdery mildew, rhizopus, root canker, root rot, rust, scab, smut, southern blight, stem canker, stem rot, verticillium, white mold, wildfire and yellows.

[0099] Embodiments of the invention are directed to method of improving plant resistance to drought or lack of water by contacting a surface the plant with an effective amount of an active agent that improves resistance to drought and a plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof as described herein. In certain embodiments, the active agent and the plant extracellular matrix component, fragments thereof and combinations thereof may be present in the same composition.

[0100] As used herein, the term“drought stress” or“drought” refers to a sub- optimal environmental condition associated with limited availability of water to a plant. The plants with improved drought resistance will show less and/or reduced signs of having been subjected to drought, such as wilting, as compared to the control plants. When a plant has “improved drought resistance”, it is capable of sustaining normal growth and/or normal development when being subjected to drought or drought stress would otherwise would have resulted in reduced growth and/or reduced development of normal plants. In various embodiments, the plant is capable of sustaining normal growth and/or normal development when the amount of water available is reduced by at least about 2%, at least about 4%, at least about 6%, at least about 8%, at least about 10%, at least about 15%, at least about 25%, at least about 35%, at least about 45%, at least about 50% , at least about 70%, or at least about 80%,.

[0101] The compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used on any plants, including monocots, dicots, gymnosperms, ferns, conifers, grasses, crop plants, vegetable plants, fruit tree plants, and berry bushes, vines, ornamentals, annuals, perennials, and others.

[0102] In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used on any commodity plant, such as sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, potato, sugar beet, cassava, soybean, tomato, barley, watermelon, banana, onion, apple, cabbage, brassica, orange, grape, cucumber, rapeseed, sorghum, cotton, lettuce, chicory, groundnut, triticale, pea, mushroom, strawberry, pear, bean, cauliflower, broccoli, carrot, turnip, oat, peach, okra, pumpkin, squash, chick pea, lemon, coconut, millet, grapefruit, eggplant, mango, guava, lentil, papaya, cashew, lupin, rubber, coffee, taro, and the like. Such methods may produce altered or desired traits or physiological characteristics in plants, such as increased yield, altered biomass, altered seed yield, reduced sensitivity to light, greater early season growth, greater height, greater stem diameter, increased resistance to lodging, increased intemode length, increased secondary rooting, greater cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, reduced stomatal conductance, altered carbon/nitrogen sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, greater late season growth and vigor, increased number of mainstem nodes, greater canopy coverage, altered tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity, increased resistance to pests, and increased tolerance to nutrient deficiency.

[0103] In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein may be used to grow or cultivate a plant, such as Cannabis plant. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to increase the yield of Cannabis plant. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to increase a desired trait in a plant, such as increased content of cannabinoids in a Cannabis plant. For example, methods disclosed herein can be used to increase the content or yield of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid), CBD (cannabidiol), CBDA (cannabidiolic acid), CBN (cannabinol), CBG (cannabigerol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBL (cannabicyclol), CBV (cannabivarin), THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), CBDV (cannabidivarin), CBCV (cannabichromevarin), CBGV (cannabigerovarin), CBGM (cannabigerol monomethyl ether), CBE (cannabielsoin), CBT (cannabicitran), and the like in a Cannabis plant. By the methods disclosed herein, one can modulate the content/yield of THC and/or CBD produced in a plant. For example, the methods disclosed herein can be used to produce a plant having low THC or high CBD content. In some embodiments, the ratio of THC to CBD content in the plant may be about 20;l, about 19: 1, about 15: 1, about 10: 1, about 9: 1, about 8: 1, about 7: 1, about 6: 1, about 5: 1, about 4: 1, about 3: 1, about 2: 1, or about 1: 1. In other embodiments, the ratio of CBD to THC content in the plant may be about 20;l, about 19: 1, about 15: 1, about 10: 1, about 9: 1, about 8: 1, about 7: 1, about 6: 1, about 5: 1, about 4: 1, about 3: 1, about 2: 1, or about 1: 1.

[0104] In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein may be used to grow or cultivate tobacco plant. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to increase the yield of tobacco plant. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to increase a desired trait in a tobacco plant, such as increased or decreased content of nicotine and nitrosamines. Other desired traits can also be modulated, such as increased yield, altered biomass, reduced sensitivity to light, greater early season growth, greater height, greater stem diameter, increased resistance to lodging, greater cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, altered carbon/nitrogen sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, increased low phosphorus tolerance, increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress, greater late season growth and vigor, altered tolerance to drought, cold, freezing, heat and salinity, increased resistance to pests, and increased tolerance to nutrient deficiency.

[0105] The compositions of the present invention can be applied in any way to enhance plant growth and plant productivity. Application is contemplated be directed towards any part of the plant surface, including the foliage, leaves, stem, base of the stems, branches, stem nodes, roots, or soil surrounding the roots. Compositions can be applied undiluted or diluted, directly to the foliage of a plant, to seeds, such as in seed dipping, seedling root dip or soaking the soil, such as a soil drench, or to other medium in which plants are growing or are to be planted. The compositions can be sprayed on, dusted on, applied in irrigation water, applied directly to the soil at the base of a plant, applied directly to a plant, applied to a seed of a plant, applied to a root of a plant, and the like. As a foliar spray, the compositions can be applied to plant foliage by methods commonly employed, such as conventional high- gallonage hydraulic sprays, low-gallonage sprays, air-blast, aerial sprays and dusts. The compositions of the invention may also be injected into plants or sprayed onto vegetation using electrodynamic spraying techniques or other low volume methods, or applied by land or aerial irrigation systems. The dilution and rate of application will be adjusted depending upon the type of equipment employed, the method and frequency of application desired, the crop, the climate, and the weeds to be controlled.

[0106] In some embodiments, the methods comprise contacting a plant surface with compositions of pest decoy molecules. Pest decoy molecules may cause the pests to become more susceptible to pesticides or kill pests directly by interrupting extracellular matrix components causing necessary tissues to break down, killing the pest or rendering it unable to feed on the plant.

[0107] Further embodiments of the invention are directed to methods for reducing or eliminating/killing pests. Such methods may generally include the step of administering a composition comprising a pest decoy molecule to a pest or population of pests. In some embodiments, the composition further comprises an effective amount of an active agent that kills pests, as disclosed herein. The compositions of the invention can be administered in undiluted or diluted form. For example, embodiments include spraying the compositions of the invention to a crop fields containing plants that may be affected by a pest targeted by the formulation. For example, the compositions can be applied directly to the foliage of plants, seeds, seed dipping, seedling root dip, soaking the soil, soil drench, or to other medium in which plants are growing or are to be planted. The compositions and formulations can be sprayed on, dusted on, applied in irrigation water, applied directly to the soil at the base of a plant, applied directly to a plant, applied to a seed of a plant, applied to a root of a plant, and the like. As a foliar spray, the compositions can be applied to plant foliage by methods commonly employed, such as conventional high-gallonage hydraulic sprays, low-gallonage sprays, air-blast, aerial sprays and dusts. The compositions of the invention may also be injected into plants or sprayed onto vegetation using electrodynamic spraying techniques or other low volume methods, or applied by land or aerial irrigation systems. The dilution and rate of application will be adjusted depending upon the type of equipment employed, the method and frequency of application desired, the crop, the climate, and the weeds to be controlled.

[0108] In some embodiments, administering may include the step of spraying or otherwise applying a composition as described above to an area known to contain the pest. Embodiments further include applying the compositions to plants individually using a sprayer, topically, using a device such as a“fly trap” or“bug zapper,” and the like. In some embodiments, such methods may include spraying or applying the compositions of the invention to feed lots or other livestock fields or pens to reduce and control the population of insects such as, for example, flies and mosquitos. In further embodiments, the compositions and formulations of the invention may be sprayed into populated areas to reduce insect populations to reduce the likelihood of insect home disease epidemics. In still other embodiments, the compositions of the invention may be used to treat standing water or sewage in populated areas. In such embodiments, treating may include introducing a liquid composition or formulation of the invention into storm drains, open sewer lines, or ponds in populated areas.

[0109] In some embodiments, the active agent and the pest decoy molecule may be administered concurrently, and in other embodiments, the active agent and the pest decoy molecule can be administered separately or sequentially. Thus, certain embodiments include contacting a pest with a composition containing a plant decoy molecule and an effective amount of one or more active agents.