Process for the preparation of coated seeds

Claim 2

Process for the preparation of coated seeds, comprising: (a) treating the seeds with an aqueous phase which is selected from aqueous solutions containing an agent which is capable of limiting the swelling of the seeds and aqueous phases containing an agent which is capable of forming a water impermeable film on the surface of the seeds; (b) coating the treated seeds with a coating agent containing a peroxide compound and a hydrophilic polymer; and (c) drying the coated seeds.

Claim 3

Process according to claim 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers which possess a main chain containing carbon atoms which are directly or indirectly substituted by hydroxyl groups, --OH, carboxyl groups, --COO--, or carbamyl groups, --CON<.

Claim 4

Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peroxide compound is calcium peroxide or magnesium peroxide.

Claim 5

Process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers possessing a main chain which essentially consists of carbon atoms, the carbon atoms being directly or indirectly substituted by carboxyl groups, --COO--, or carbamyl groups, --CON<.

Claim 6

Process according to claim 4, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of the hydrolysed products resulting from the grafting of acrylonitrile onto starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, partially hydrolysed polyvinyl esters and poly-alpha-hydroxyacrylic acid and its derivatives.

Claim 7

Process according to claim 5, wherein the coating agent contains from 1 to 90% by weight of calcium peroxide, from 1 to 98% by weight of fillers, from 0 to 10% by weight of various additives and from 0.1 to 30% of at least one hydrophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl acetates, polyvinylpyrrolidone, alkylhydroxyalkylcelluloses, polymers consisting of the hydrolysed product resulting from the grafting of acrylonitrile onto starch, and mixtures of the polyactone derived from polyalpha-hydroxyacrylic acid with basic compounds.

Claim 8

Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of treating the seeds comprises moistening the seeds with said aqueous phase which is said solution which contains an agent for limiting the swelling of the seeds and the moistened seeds are brought directly into contact with the coating agent in the form of a powder, for coating the treated seeds.

Claim 9

Process according to claim 7, wherein said agent for limiting the swelling of the seeds is selected from the group consisting of partially hydrolysed polyvinyl esters, aldoses and basic compounds.

Claim 10

Process according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the step of treating the seeds comprises treating the seeds with said aqueous phase which contains an agent which is capable of forming a water impermeable film on the surface of the seeds, said agent which is capable of forming a water impermeable film on the surface of the seeds being a hydrophilic polymer, so as to cover the surface of the seeds with a water-impermeable film before coating the seeds with the coating agent.

Claim 11

Process according to claim 9, wherein the essential constituent of the film is a poly-alpha-hydroxyacrylic said derivative.

Claim 12

Process according to claim 9, wherein the essential constituent of the film is a polyvinyl ester having a hydrolysis level of 40-95%.

Claim 13

Process according to claim 9, wherein the seeds are dried after the treatment with the aqueous phase and before in step (a) but before the coating of step (b).

Claim 14

Process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers possessing a main chain which consists essentially of carbon atoms and oxygen atoms, the carbon atoms being directly or indirectly substituted by carboxyl groups, --COO--, or carbamyl groups, --CON<.

Claim 15

Process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polymer substituted by hydroxyl groups.

Claim 16

Process according to claim 14, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose and carboxymethylcellulose.

Claim 17

Process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a composition containing a mixture of totally or partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl esters with carboxylated polymers.

Claim 18

Process according to claim 5, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl ester.

Claim 19

Process according to claim 17, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polyvinyl acetate in which 40 to 90% of the ester groups are hydrolyzed.

Claim 20

Process according to claim 5, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone.

Claim 21

Process according to claim 8, wherein the agent capable of limiting the swelling of the seeds is a totally or partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl ester.

Claim 22

Process according to claim 9, wherein the hydrophilic polymer contained in the aqueous phase is a polymer of totally or partially hydrolyzed vinyl esters.