Coated seeds and process for preparing them

Claim 2

Coated seeds comprising seeds coated with an anhydrous coating composition comprising: a effective amounts of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone; and one or more additives selected from the group consisting of plant protection products, beneficial bacteria, and fillers.

Claim 3

Coated seeds according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 200% by weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 70% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 4

Coated seeds according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains at least 80% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 5

Coated seeds according to claim 3, wherein the anhydrous coating composition is a single layer and consists essentially of at least 80% by weight of the polyester and up to 20% by weight of the one or more additive, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds.

Claim 6

Coated seeds according to claim 1, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.5 to 100 times the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 25% by weight of the polyester, from 30 to 99.8% by weight of the filler and from 0.1 to 69% by weight of the plant protection products.

Claim 7

Coated seeds according to claim 1, wherein the coating composition includes a plant protection product which is a fungicide.

Claim 8

Coated seeds according to claim 1, wherein the coating composition includes beneficial bacteria which are capable of beneficially affecting the germination, formation or growth of the plants.

Claim 9

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition consisting of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, the process comprising: applying a solution of the polyester in an organic solvent to the seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and removing the organic solvent to dry the coating.

Claim 10

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition consisting of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, the process comprising: applying a solution of the polyester in an organic solvent to the seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and removing the organic solvent to dry the coating.

Claim 11

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of water wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition consisting of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, the process comprising: applying the polyester in the liquid phase to the seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and cooling the coating to solidify the coating.

Claim 12

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of water wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition consisting of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, the process comprising: applying the polyester in the liquid phase to the seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and cooling the coating to solidify the coating.

Claim 13

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition comprising effective amounts of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, and one or more additive selected from the group consisting of plant protection products, beneficial bacteria, and fillers, the process comprising: applying a solution containing at least the polyester in an organic solvent to seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and removing the solvent to dry the coating.

Claim 14

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition comprising effective amounts of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, and one or more additive selected from the group consisting of plant protection products, beneficial bacteria, and fillers, the process comprising: applying a solution containing at least the polyester in an organic solvent to seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and removing the solvent to dry the coating.

Claim 15

The process of claim 10, wherein the one or more additive and the polyester are applied in successive steps.

Claim 16

The process of claim 10, wherein the one or more additive and the polyester are applied simultaneously.

Claim 17

The process of claim 10, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 200% by weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 70% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 18

The process of claim 10, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains at least 80% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 19

The process according to claim 14, wherein the anhydrous coating composition is a single layer and consists essentially of at least 80% by weight of the polyester and up to 20% by weight of the one or more additive, and wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds.

Claim 20

The process of claim 14, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.5 to 100 times the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 25% by weight of the polyester, from 30 to 99.8 % by weight of the filler and from 0.1 to 69% by weight of the plant protection products.

Claim 21

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition comprising effective amounts of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, and one or more additive selected from the group consisting of plant protection products, beneficial bacteria, and fillers, the process comprising: applying at least the polyester in the liquid phase to seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and cooling the coating to solidify the coating.

Claim 22

A process for preparing coated seeds in the absence of moisture wherein seeds are coated with an anhydrous coating composition comprising effective amounts of a polyester having a melting temperature of 80° C. or less, which polyester is a polymer of ε-caprolactone, and one or more additive selected from the group consisting of plant protection products, beneficial bacteria, and fillers, the process comprising: applying at least the polyester in the liquid phase to seeds to form a coating on the seeds; and cooling the coating to solidify the coating.

Claim 23

The process of claim 17, wherein the one or more additive and the polyester are applied in successive steps.

Claim 24

The process of claim 17, wherein the one or more additive and the polyester are applied simultaneously.

Claim 25

The process of claim 17, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 200% by weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 70% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 26

The process of claim 17, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains at least 80% by weight of the polyester.

Claim 27

The process according to claim 21, wherein the anhydrous coating composition is a single layer and consists essentially of at least 80% by weight of the polyester and up to 20% by weight of the one or more additive, and wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.01 to 100% of the weight of the uncoated seeds.

Claim 28

The process of claim 17, wherein the weight of the coating composition ranges from 0.5 to 100 times the weight of the uncoated seeds and the coating composition contains from 0.1 to 25% by weight of the polyester, from 30 to 99.8% by weight of the filler and from 0.1 to 69% by weight of the plant protection products.