Fungicidal composition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition suitable for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens, comprising pentocyclanil as component (A) and epoxiconazole as component (B), or agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and tautomers thereof.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to novel fungicidal compositions, to their use in agriculture or horticulture for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens, especially phytopathogenic fungi, and to methods for controlling diseases on useful plants.

[0002] Although many fungicidal compounds and compositions belonging to a variety of different chemical classes have been developed or are being developed for use as fungicides in crops of useful plants, in many respects, crop tolerance and activity against specific phytopathogenic fungi do not always meet the needs of agricultural practice. Therefore, there is a continuing need to discover new compounds and compositions with excellent biological properties for use in controlling or preventing infection of plants by phytopathogenic fungi. For example, compounds with greater biological activity, favorable activity spectrum, increased safety, improved physicochemical properties, increased biodegradability. Or in addition, compositions with a broader spectrum of activity, improved crop tolerance, improved synergistic interactions or enhanced properties, or compositions that show faster onset or have longer lasting residual activity or can reduce the number of applications and / or reduce the application rate of compounds and compositions required for effective control of plant pathogens, thereby enabling beneficial tolerance management practices, reduced environmental impacts and reduced operator exposure.

[0003] Some of these needs can be addressed using compositions comprising mixtures of different fungicidal compounds having different modes of action (eg, by combining fungicides having different activity spectra).

[0004] Some pyrazolyl-formamide derivatives are known to have biological activity against plant pathogenic fungi from WO 2008 / 148570, WO 2010 / 063700, WO 2010 / 084078 and WO 2008 / 151828. On the other hand, it is well known that various fungicidal compounds of different chemical classes are applied as plant fungicides in various cultivated plant crops. However, crop tolerance and activity against plant pathogenic plant fungi do not always meet the needs of agricultural practice in many cases and aspects. In order to overcome this problem, some binary mixtures of pyrazolyl-formamide and some fungicides are provided, for example, in WO 2012 / 041874, WO 2015 / 049178 and WO2017029177.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a composition suitable for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens, the composition comprising as component (A) fluopicolide or its agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and tautomers, and as component (B) fluopicolide or its agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and tautomers.

[0006] Fluopicolide, also known as 3-(difluoromethyl)-N-methoxy-1-methyl-N-[1-methyl-2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)ethyl]pyrazole-4-carboxamide, is known and can be prepared as described, for example, in WO 2010 / 067300.

[0007] Epoxiconazole is a triazole fungicide belonging to the class of demethylation inhibitors (FRAC classification G1), which is known and can be prepared as described, for example, in EP 0196038. The compound can be depicted by the following structural formula:

[0008] Further according to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling diseases on useful plants or on their propagation material caused by phytopathogens, which method comprises applying to these useful plants, the locus thereof or their propagation material a composition as defined according to the invention.

[0009] Further according to the present invention, there is provided a composition suitable for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens, the composition comprising as component (A) fluopicolide and as component (B) fluopicolide or its agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and tautomers, further comprising an agriculturally acceptable carrier and / or formulation adjuvant and optionally a surfactant.

[0010] Further according to the present invention there is provided the use of a composition comprising component (A) and component (B) as a fungicide. According to this particular aspect of the invention the use may not comprise a method of treating the human or animal body by surgery or therapy.

[0011] Further according to the present invention, there is provided a method for protecting natural substances of plant and / or animal origin and / or their processed forms obtained from the natural life cycle, which method comprises applying a combination of components (A) and (B) defined according to the present invention to the natural substances of plant and / or animal origin or their processed forms.

[0012] It has been found that the combined use of epoxiconazole and fluopicolide can unexpectedly and substantially enhance the effectiveness of the latter against fungi, and vice versa. In addition, the use of the composition of the invention can effectively combat a wider spectrum of such fungi than the individual active ingredients can combat when used alone.

[0013] The benefits provided by certain fungicidal mixture compositions according to the present invention may also include, among other things, favorable levels of biological activity for protecting plants against diseases caused by fungi or superior properties for use as agrochemical active ingredients (e.g., greater biological activity, a favorable spectrum of activity, increased safety, improved physicochemical properties, or increased biodegradability).

[0014] In each case, fluopicolide and epoxiconazole are present in free form, in an oxidized form such as an N-oxide, or in a salt form (e.g., in the form of an agronomically acceptable salt). N-oxides are oxidized forms of tertiary amines or oxidized forms of nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic compounds. For example, they are described in the book "Heterocyclic N-oxides" by A. Albini and S. Pietra, published in 1991 by CRC Press, Boca Raton.

[0015] As used herein, the term "component (A)" is to be understood as pentocyclamide, or an agrochemically acceptable salt, N-oxide, diastereomer, enantiomer or tautomer thereof.

[0016] As used herein, the term "component (B)" is to be understood as epoxiconazole, or an agrochemically acceptable salt, N-oxide, diastereomer, enantiomer or tautomer thereof.

[0017] In general, the weight ratio of component (A) to component (B) is from 1000:1 to 1:1000, especially from 50:1 to 1:50, more especially in a ratio of from 40:1 to 1:40, even more especially in a ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20, even more especially still from 10:1 to 1:10, and very especially from 5:1 and 1:5. Particular preference is given to a ratio of from 2:1 to 1:2, and a ratio of from 4:1 to 2:1 is particularly preferred. Preferred specific individual ratios include the following ratios: 1:1, 5:1, 5:2, 5:3, 5:4, 4:1, 4:2, 4:3, 3:1, 3:2, 2:1, 1:5, 2:5, 3:5, 4:5, 1:4, 2:4, 3:4, 1:3, 2:3, 1:2, 1:600, 1:300, 1:150, 1:100, 1:50, 1:40, 1:35, 1:20, 2:35, 4:35, 1:10, 1:75, 2:75, 4:75, 1:6000, 1:3000, 1:1500, 1:350, 2:350, 4:350, 1:750, 2:750, and 4:750.

[0018] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 100:1 to 1:100.

[0019] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 50:1 to 1:50.

[0020] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 25:1 to 1:25.

[0021] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 10:1 to 1:10.

[0022] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 9:1 to 1:9.

[0023] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentoquinol to epoxiconazole is 5:1 to 1:5.

[0024] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 4:1 to 1:4.

[0025] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 3:1 to 1:3.

[0026] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 1.5:1.

[0027] In one embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is 1:1.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, in the composition according to the present invention, the weight ratio of pentocyclanil to epoxiconazole is the following weight ratios: 9:1, 5:1, 3:1, 1.5:1, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5 and 9:1.

[0029] In particular, the combination of pentoquinol and epoxiconazole according to the invention can be used to control diseases caused by Fusarium species and more particularly Fusarium graminearum and Fusariumasiasticum.

[0030] Further according to the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling Fusarium species, and more particularly Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium asiatica, on useful plants, which method comprises applying to these useful plants, the locus thereof or their propagation material an effective amount of a composition comprising pentoquinol and epoxiconazole.

[0031] It has been found that, surprisingly, certain weight ratios of component (A) to component (B) can produce synergistic activity. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention is such a composition, wherein component (A) and component (B) are present in the composition in an amount that produces a synergistic effect. In a preferred embodiment, a composition is provided, wherein component (A) and component (B) are present in a synergistically effective amount.

[0032] This synergistic activity is evident from the fact that the fungicidal activity of the composition comprising component (A) and component (B) is greater than the sum of the fungicidal activities of component (A) and component (B). This synergistic activity extends the scope of action of component (A) and component (B) in two ways. First, the application rate of component (A) and component (B) is reduced, but the action remains equally good, which means that even if the two individual components have become completely ineffective in such a low application rate range, the active ingredient mixture still achieves a high degree of plant pathogen control.

[0033] A synergistic effect exists whenever the effect of the active ingredient combination is greater than the sum of the effects of the individual components. For a given active ingredient combination, the expected E obeys the so-called COLBY formula and can be calculated as follows (COLBY, SR "Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combination". Weeds, Vol. 15, pp. 20-22; 1967):

[0034] ppm = milligrams of active ingredient (=ai) per liter of spray mixture

[0035] X = % effect based on active ingredient (A) using p ppm of active ingredient

[0036] Y = % effect based on active ingredient (B) using q ppm of active ingredient.

[0037] According to COLBY, using p+q ppm of active ingredient, the expected (additive) effect of active ingredient (A) + (B) is

[0038] If the effect actually observed (O) is greater than the expected effect (E), then the effect of the combination is superadditive, i.e. there is a synergistic effect. In mathematical terms, synergy corresponds to a positive value of the difference (OE). In the case of purely complementary additions of actives (expected activity), the difference (OE) is zero. Negative values ​​of the difference (OE) indicate a loss of activity compared to the expected activity.

[0039] Another method for evaluating synergistic effects can be evaluated by the co-toxicity coefficient (CTC) according to the Sun-YP method (Yun-Pei, Sun. "Toxicity Index-An Improved Method of Comparing the Relative Toxicity of Insecticides." Journal of Economic Entomology 1 (1950): 45-53.) A CTC value of less than 80 indicates an antagonistic effect, a CTC value of 80-120 indicates an additive effect, and a CTC value of greater than or equal to 120 indicates a synergistic effect.

[0040] CTC=(ATI / TTI)*100

[0041] Component A represents the standard active ingredient (component A in the present case is pentocyclanil) and component B represents the component to be mixed with the standard active ingredient (component B in the present case is epoxiconazole).

[0042] ATI (measured toxicity index of mixture) = (EC 50 EC of the mixture 50 )*100

[0043] TTI (Theoretical Toxicity Index of Mixture) = (TI A *P A +TI B *P B )*100

[0044] TI A (Toxicity Index of Component A) = EC of Component A 50 / EC of Component A 50

[0045] P A : The percentage of component A in the mixture

[0046] TI B (Toxicity Index of Component B) = EC of Component A 50 / EC of Component B 50

[0047] P B : The percentage of component B in the mixture

[0048] Another way to assess synergistic effects is through the Wadley method, which is based on EC50 values ​​(effective concentration required to obtain 50% effect), typically derived from linear or nonlinear regression of dose-response experiments, thus avoiding errors due to the nonlinear nature of dose-response curves.

[0049] In the Wadley method, for a given combination of two active ingredients, E (expected EC50) can be expressed as:

[0050]

[0051] Where a and b are the weight ratios of compounds A and B in the mixture (EC50 values), and EC50(Ao) and EC50(Bo) are experimentally observed (o) EC50 values ​​obtained using dose-response curves of individual compounds. The synergy ratio (R) was calculated as the ratio between the expected value and the observed value, EC50 A+B(e) / EC50 A+B(o).

[0052] If A+B (observed) > A+B (expected), synergy (R>1) is exhibited. If R=1, the effect is additive, and if R<1, antagonism is exhibited.

[0053] However, in addition to the actual synergistic effect with respect to the fungicidal activity, the compositions according to the invention may also have further unexpected advantageous properties. Examples of such advantageous properties that may be mentioned are: more favorable degradability; improved toxicological and / or ecotoxicological behavior; or improved characteristics of useful plants, including: emergence, crop yield, more developed root system, increased tillering, increased plant height, larger leaves, less basal leaf death, stronger tillering, greener leaf color, less fertilizer required, less seed required, more productive tillering, earlier flowering, earlier grain maturity, less plant lodging (lodging), enhanced shoot growth, improved plant vigor and early germination.

[0054] Some compositions according to the invention have systemic action and can be used as fungicides as foliar, soil and seed treatments.

[0055] With the compositions according to the invention it is possible to inhibit or destroy phytopathogenic microorganisms which are present on plants or plant parts (fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of various useful plants, while also protecting later growing plant parts from attack by phytopathogenic microorganisms.

[0056] The compositions according to the invention can be applied to phytopathogenic microorganisms, to useful plants threatened by attack by microorganisms, to the locus thereof, to their propagation material, to stored goods or to technological material.

[0057] The compositions according to the invention can be applied before or after the useful plants, their propagation material, stored goods or technical material have been infected with the microorganisms.

[0058] Another aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens on useful plants or on their propagation materials, which method comprises applying a composition according to the present invention to these useful plants, their places or their propagation materials. Preferably, a method comprises applying a composition according to the present invention to useful plants or their places, more preferably to useful plants. Further preferably, a method comprises applying a composition according to the present invention to the propagation material of useful plants.

[0059] Throughout this document, the expression "composition" means different mixtures or combinations of components (A) and (B), for example in a single "ready-to-use" form, in a combined spray mixture (consisting of separate formulations of the single active ingredient components) (such as a "tank mix"), and in the combined use of the single active ingredients (when applied in a sequential manner, i.e. one after a reasonably short period of time, such as a few hours or days, of the other). For the implementation of the present invention, the order in which components (A) and (B) are applied is not important.

[0060] These active ingredient combinations are effective against harmful microorganisms (eg microorganisms) which cause phytopathogenic diseases, in particular against phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria.

[0061] The compositions effectively control a broad spectrum of plant diseases, such as foliar pathogens of ornamental, turf, vegetable, field, cereal, and fruit crops.

[0062] These pathogens can include: oomycetes, including phytophthora diseases, such as those caused by Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora sojae, Phytophthora fragariae, Phytophthora nicotianae, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, and Phytophthora erythroseptica; pythial diseases, such as those caused by Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium graminicola, Pythium malariae, and Pythium erythroseptica; those caused by Peronosporales, such as Peronospora destructor, Peronospora parasitica, Plasmopara viticola, Plasmopara halstedii, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Albugo candida, Sclerophthoramacrospora, and Bremia lactucae; and others, such as Aphanomyces spiralis, Labyrinthula zosterae, Peronosclerospora sorghi, and Sclerospora graminicola;

[0063] Ascomycetes, including stripe, spot, blast or blight and / or rot diseases, such as those caused by the order Stemphylales such as Stemphylium solani, Stagonospora tainanensis, Olea europaea, Setosphaeria turcica, Pyrenochaeta lycoperisici, Phoma destructiva, Phaeosphaeria herpotrichoides, Phaeocryptocus gaeumannii, Ophiosphaerella graminicola, Ophiobolus graminis, Leptosphaeria maculans, Hendersonia creberrima, Helminthosporium triticirepentis), Setosphaeria turcica, Drechslera glycines, Didymella bryoniae, Cycloconium oleagineum, Corynespora cassiicola, Corynespora graminicola, Bipolaris cactivora, Black spot of pitaya, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Alternaria brassicicola, Alternaria solanum and Alternaria tomatophila; Capnodiales such as Septoria tritici, Septoria glume, Septoria septoriaglycines, Cercospora arachis arachidicola), soybean gray spot, corn gray spot, Cercosporella capsellae, wheat leaf white mold, Cercosporella herpotrichoides, peach scab, Cladosporium carpophilum, Cladosporium effusum, Passalorafulva), Cladosporium oxysporum, Dothistromaseptosporum, Isariopsis clavispora, Black leaf spot of banana, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycovellosiella koepkeii, Phaeoisariopsis bataticola, Pseudocercospora vitis, Triticum basalis, Leaf spot of beet, Ramularia collo-cygni; Mesomericiales such as total rot of wheat, Magnaporthe grisea, Pyricularia oryzae; Mesomericiales such as eastern wilt of hazelnut, Apiognomonia errabunda, Cytospora platani), northern stem canker of soybean, Discula destructiva, Gnomonia fructicola, bitter rot of grapes, Melanconium juglandinum, Phomopsis viticola, Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum, Tubakia dryina, Dicarpella spp., Valsa ceratosperma; and others, such as Actinothyrium graminis, Diplosporus spp., Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Papaya serrata, Blumeriella jaapii, Candida species, Capnodium ramosum), Cephaloascus spp., Cephalosporium gramineum, Ceratocystis paradoxa, Chaetomium spp., Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus, Coccidioides spp., Cylindrosporium padi, Diplocarpon malae, Drepanopezizacampestris), Elsinoe ampelina, Echinococcus nigromaculata, Epidermophyton species, grape blight, Geotrichum candidum, Gibellina cerealis, Gloeocercospora sorghi, Gloeodes pomigena, Gloeosporium perennans; Gloeotinia temulenta, Griphospaeria corticola, Kabatiella lini, Leptographium microsporum, Leptosphaerulinia crassiasca, Lophodermium seditiosum, Marssonina graminicola, Microdochium nivale, Monilinia truncatula fructicola), Monographella albescens, Monosporascus cannonballus, Naemacyclus spp., Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Penicillium expansum, Pestalotia rhododendri, Petriellidium spp., Pezicula spp., Phialophora gregata, Phyllacoromigena, Phymatotrichum omnivora, Physalospora abdita, Plectosporium tabacinum), Polyscytalumpus tulans, Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Ramulisporasorghi), Rhabdocline pseudotsugae, Rhynchosporium secalis, Sacrocladium oryzae, Scedosporium spp., Schizothyrium pomi, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia minor; Sclerotium spp., Typhula ishikariensis, Seimatosporium mariae, Lepteutypa cupressi, Septocyta ruborum, Sphaceloma perseae, Sporonemaphacidioides, Stigmina palmivora, Tapesia yallundae, Taphrina bullata, Thielviopsis basicola, Trichoseptoria fructigena, Zygophialajamaicensis; powdery mildews, for example, from the orders Erysiphales, such as Blumeria graminis, Erysiphe polygoni, Uncinula necator, Sphaerotheca fuligena, Podosphaera leucotricha, Podospaera macularis, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, Leveillula taurica, Microsphaera diffusa, diffusa, Oidiopsis gossypii, Phyllactinia guttata, and Oidiummildew, for example, those caused by Botryosphaeriales such as Dothiorella aromatica, Diplodia seriata, Guignardia bidwellii, Botrytis cinerea, Botryotinia allii, Botryotinia fabae, Fusicoccum amygdali, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Macrophoma theicola, Phaseolus phaseolus, Phyllosticta cucurbitacearum; anthracnose, for example, those caused by Glommerelales such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum lagenarium), Colletotrichum gossypii, Glomerella cingulata, and Colletotrichum graminicola; and wilts or blights, such as those caused by the Hypocreales, such as Acremonium serrata, Claviceps purpurogenum, Fusarium asiaticum, Fusarium flavum, Fusarium graminicola, Fusarium virguliforme, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense, Gerlachianivale, Gibberella fujikura, Gibberella zeae, Glucobra species, Myrocyproteroneum verrucosum, Nectriaramulariae, Trichoderma viride, Trichothecenes roseus, and Verticillium theobromae;

[0064] Basidiomycetes, including smuts such as those caused by the Ustilaginales, such as Ustilaginoidea virens, Ustilago nuda, Ustilago tritici, Ustilago zeae, rusts such as those caused by stem rust fungi, such as Cerotelium fici, Chrysomyxa arctostaphyli, Coleosporium ipomoeae, Hemileia vastatrix, Puccinia arachidis, Puccinia cacabata, Puccinia graminis, Puccinia recondita, Puccinia sorghi, Puccinia hordei, Puccinia striiformis f.sp.Hordei), Puccinia striiformisf.sp.Secalis), Pucciniastrum coryli; or Pucciniales such as Cronartium ribicola, Gymnosporangium juniperi-viginianae, Melampsora medusae, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phragmidium mucronatum, Physopella ampelosidis, Tranzschelia discolor, and Uromyces viciae-fabae; and other rots and diseases such as those caused by Cryptococcus species, Exobasidium vexans, Marasmiellus inoderma, Agaricus species, Sphacelotheca reiliana), Typhula ishikariensis, Urocystis agropyri, Itersonilia perplexans, Corticium invisum, Laetisaria fuciformis, Waitea circinata, Rhizoctonia solani, Thanetephorus cucurmeris, Entyloma dahliae, Entylomella microspora, Neovossia moliniae, and Tilletia caries;

[0065] Cladomycetes, such as Physoderma maydis;

[0066] Mucorales, such as Choanephora cucurbitarum; Mucor spp.; Rhizopus arrhizus;

[0067] along with diseases caused by other species and genera closely related to those listed above.

[0068] In addition to their fungicidal activity, these compositions may also have activity against bacteria such as Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia caratovora, Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas syringae, Strptomyces scabies and other related species, as well as certain protozoa.

[0069] The compositions according to the invention are particularly effective against phytopathogenic fungi belonging to the following classes: Ascomycetes (e.g. Venturia, Psora, Erysiphe, Corythuja, Mycosphaeria, Uncinaria); Basidiomycetes (e.g. Hemileia, Rhizoctonia, Puccinia, Puccinia, Ustilago, Tilletia); Deuteromycetes (also known as the Deuteromycetes, e.g. Botrytis, Helminthosporium, Rhizoctonia, Fusarium, Septoria, Cercospora, Alternaria, Pyrospora and Pseudocercospora); Oomycetes (e.g. Phytophthora, Peronospora, Pseudocercospora, Albugo, Discoideum, Pythium, Pseudocercoideum, Monoparana).

[0070] Crops of useful plants in which the compositions according to the invention can be used include perennial and annual crops, such as berry plants, for example blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries; cereals, for example barley, maize (corn), millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, triticale and wheat; fiber plants, for example cotton, flax, hemp, jute and sisal; field crops, for example sugar and fodder beets, coffee beans, hops, mustard, rapeseed (canola), poppy, sugar cane, sunflower, tea and tobacco; fruit trees, for example apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, cherries, citrus, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums; grasses, for example Bermuda grass, bluegrass, bentgrass, centipede grass, fescue, ryegrass, St. Augustine grass and zoysia grass; herbs such as basil, borage, chives, cilantro, lavender, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and thyme; legumes such as beans, lentils, peas, and soybeans; nuts such as almonds, cashews, groundnuts, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts; palm plants such as oil palms; ornamental plants such as flowers, shrubs, and trees; other trees such as cocoa, coconut, olive, and rubber trees; vegetables such as asparagus, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce, zucchini, melon, okra, onions, peppers, potatoes, squash, rhubarb, spinach, and tomatoes; and vines such as grapes.

[0071] Crops are to be understood as those which occur naturally, are obtained by conventional breeding methods or are obtained by genetic engineering. They include crops with so-called output traits, such as improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavor.

[0072] Crops are to be understood as also including those crops which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides like bromoxynil or to classes of herbicides such as ALS-, EPSPS-, GS-, HPPD- and PPO-inhibitors. Examples of crops which have been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones (e.g. imazamox) by conventional breeding methods are Summer canola. Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by genetic engineering methods include, for example, glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties marketed under the trade names Roundup and and It is commercially available.

[0073] Crops should also be understood as those crops that are naturally or have been endowed with resistance to harmful insects. This includes plants that have been transformed using recombinant DNA technology so as to, for example, synthesize one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known from, for example, toxin-producing bacteria. Examples of toxins that can be expressed include d-endotoxins, vegetative insecticidal proteins (Vips), insecticidal proteins of nematode parasitic bacteria, and toxins produced by scorpions, arachnids, wasps and fungi.

[0074] Examples of crops that have been modified to express Bacillus thuringiensis toxins are Bt maize (Syngenta Seeds). Examples of crops containing more than one gene encoding insecticidal resistance and thereby expressing more than one toxin are (Syngenta Seeds). Crops or their seed material may also be resistant to multiple types of pests (so-called stacked transgenic events when produced by genetic modification). For example, a plant may have the ability to express an insecticidal protein while being tolerant to a herbicide, e.g. (Dow AgroSciences, Pioneer Hi-Bred International).

[0075] According to the invention, "useful plants" typically include the following plant species: grapevines; cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye or oats; beets, such as sugar beets or fodder beets; fruits, such as pome, stone or soft fruit, for example apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries; leguminous plants, such as beans, lentils, peas or soybeans; oil crops, such as rapeseed, mustard, poppy, olives, sunflowers, coconuts, castor oil plants, cocoa beans or peanuts; cucumber plants, such as apples, gourds, cucumbers or melons; fiber plants such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, melons or peppers; lauraceae such as avocado, cinnamon or camphor; maize; tobacco; nuts; coffee; sugar cane; tea; vines; hops; durian; bananas; natural rubber plants; turf or ornamental plants such as flowers, shrubs, broadleaf trees or evergreens such as pines and cypresses. This list does not represent a limitation.

[0076] The term "useful plants" is to be understood as also including useful plants which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides such as bromoxynil or herbicides such as, for example, HPPD inhibitors, ALS inhibitors (for example primisulfuron, prosulfuron and trifloxysulfuron), EPSPS (5-enol-pyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate-synthase) inhibitors, GS (glutamine synthetase) inhibitors) as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering. Examples of crops which have been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones (for example imazamox) by conventional methods of breeding (mutagenesis) are Summer rapeseed (Canola). Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or herbicides by genetic engineering methods include glyphosate-resistant and glufosinate-resistant maize varieties sold under the trade name Roundup®. and Commercially available.

[0077] The term "useful plants" is to be understood as also including useful plants which have been transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques in such a way that they are able to synthesize one or more selectively acting toxins, such as are known, for example, from toxigenic bacteria, in particular from the genus Bacillus.

[0078] Toxins that can be expressed by such transgenic plants include, for example, insecticidal proteins, such as those from Bacillus cereus or Bacillus popliae; or insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as delta-endotoxins, for example CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1), or Cry9c, or vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), such as VIP1, VIP2, VIP3, or VIP3A; or insecticidal proteins of nematode-parasitic bacteria, for example Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp., such as Photorhabdus luminescens, Xenorhabdus nematophila, or Xenorhabdus spp. nematophilus); toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, spider toxins, bee toxins and other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such as streptomycin, plant lectins, such as pea lectin, barley lectin or snowdrop lectin; agglutinin; protease inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, potato glycoproteins, cystatins, papain inhibitors; ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffa seed toxin, saponin or bryophyllin; steroid metabolizing enzymes, such as 3-hydroxysteroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-UDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidase, ecdysone inhibitors, HMG-COA-reductase, ion channel blockers, such as sodium channel or calcium channel blockers, juvenile hormone esterase, diuretic hormone receptor, stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinase and glucanase.

[0079] In the context of the present invention, delta-endotoxins (e.g., CryIA(b), CryIA(c), CryIF, CryIF(a2), CryIIA(b), CryIIIA, CryIIIB(b1) or Cry9c) or vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIPs) (e.g., VIP1, VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A) are understood to include obviously also mixed toxins, truncated toxins and modified toxins. Mixed toxins are recombinantly produced by new combinations of different domains of those proteins (see, e.g., WO 02 / 15701). An example of a truncated toxin is truncated CryIA(b), which is expressed in Bt11 maize from Syngenta Seed SAS as described below. In the case of modified toxins, one or more amino acids of the naturally occurring toxin are replaced. In such amino acid substitutions, preferably a non-naturally occurring protease recognition sequence is inserted into the toxin, like for example in the case of CryIIIA055, a cathepsin-D-recognition sequence is inserted into the CryIIIA toxin (see WO 03 / 018810).

[0080] Examples of such toxins or transgenic plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed in, for example, EP-A-0 374 753, WO 93 / 07278, WO 95 / 34656, EP-A-0 427 529, EP-A-451 878 and WO 03 / 052073.

[0081] Methods for preparing such transgenic plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in the publications mentioned above. CryI-type deoxyribonucleic acids and their preparation are known, for example, from WO 95 / 34656, EP-A-0 367474, EP-A-0 401 979 and WO 90 / 13651.

[0082] The toxins included in the transgenic plants render the plants tolerant to harmful insects. Such insects can be found in any insect taxonomic group, but are particularly common among beetles (Coleoptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera).

[0083] Transgenic plants comprising one or more genes encoding insecticidal resistance and expressing one or more toxins are known and some of them are commercially available. Examples of such plants are: (maize variety expressing CryIA(b) toxin); YieldGard (maize variety expressing CryIIIB(b1) toxin); YieldGard (maize varieties expressing CryIA(b) and CryIIIB(b1) toxins); (maize varieties expressing Cry9(c) toxin); (maize variety expressing the CryIF(a2) toxin and the enzyme phosphinothricin N-acetyltransferase (PAT) that confers tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium); NuCOTN (cotton variety expressing CryIA(c) toxin); Bollgard (cotton variety, expressing CryIA(c) toxin); (cotton varieties expressing CryIA (c) and CryIIA (b) toxins); (cotton varieties expressing VIP toxin); (potato variety, expressing CryIIIA toxin); and

[0084] Other examples of such genetically modified crops are:

[0085] 1. Bt11 maize, from Syngenta Seeds, Chemin de l'Hobit 27, F-31790 St. Sauveur, France, registration number C / FR / 96 / 05 / 10. Genetically modified maize (Zeamays) has been rendered resistant to attack by European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis and Sesamia nonagrioides) by transgenic expression of a truncated CryIA(b) toxin. Bt11 maize also transgenic expresses the PAT enzyme to gain tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium.

[0086] 2. Bt176 maize, from Syngenta Seeds, 27 Hobbit Road, F-31 790 Saint-Sauveur, France, registration number C / FR / 96 / 05 / 10. Genetically modified maize, has been rendered resistant to attack by European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis and Sesamia inermis) by transgenic expression of CryIA(b) toxin. Bt176 maize also transgenic expression of PAT enzyme to obtain tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium.

[0087] 3. MIR604 corn, from Syngenta Seeds, 27 Hobbit Road, F-31 790 Saint-Sauveur, France, registration number C / FR / 96 / 05 / 10. Maize has been rendered insect-resistant by transgenic expression of a modified CryIIIA toxin. This toxin is Cry3A055 modified by insertion of a cathepsin-D-protease recognition sequence. The preparation of such transgenic maize plants is described in WO 03 / 018810.

[0088] 4. MON 863 maize, from Monsanto Europe SA, 270-272 Avenue de Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C / DE / 02 / 9. MON 863 expresses the CryIIIB(b1) toxin and is resistant to certain coleopteran insects.

[0089] 5. IPC 531 Cotton, from Monsanto Europe NV, 270-272 Avenue Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C / ES / 96 / 02.

[0090] 6.1507 Maize, from Pioneer Overseas Corporation, Avenue Tedesco, 7B-1160 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C / NL / 00 / 10. Genetically modified maize, expressing the protein Cry1F to confer resistance to certain lepidopteran insects, and expressing the PAT protein to confer tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate ammonium.

[0091] 7. NK603×MON 810 maize, from Monsanto Europe 270-272 Boulevard Tervuren, B-1150 Brussels, Belgium, registration number C / GB / 02 / M3 / 03. It is a conventionally bred hybrid maize variety made by crossing the genetically modified varieties NK603 and MON 810. NK603×MON 810 maize transgenic expresses the protein CP4 EPSPS obtained from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, which confers resistance to herbicides (containing glyphosate); and CryIA(b) toxin obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, which confers tolerance to certain Lepidoptera, including the European corn borer.

[0092] Transgenic crops of insect-resistant plants are also described in the BATS (Zentrum für Biosicherheit und Nachhaltigkeit, Zentrum BATS, Clarastrasse 13, 4058 Basel, Switzerland) report 2003 ( http: / / bats.ch ).

[0093] The term "useful plants" is to be understood as also including useful plants which have been transformed by the use of recombinant DNA techniques so that they can synthesize selectively acting antipathogenic substances, such as, for example, so-called "pathogenesis-related proteins" (PRPs, see, for example, EP-A-0 392 225). Examples of such antipathogenic substances and transgenic plants which can synthesize such antipathogenic substances are known, for example, from EP-A-0 392 225, WO 95 / 33818 and EP-A-0 353 191. Methods for producing such transgenic plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, for example, in the publications mentioned above.

[0094] Antipathogenic substances that can be expressed by such transgenic plants include, for example, ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium channels and calcium channels, for example viral KP1, KP4 or KP6 toxins; stilbene synthases; bibenzyl synthases; chitinases; glucanases; so-called "pathogenesis-related proteins" (PRPs; see, for example, EP-A-0 392 225); antipathogenic substances produced by microorganisms, such as peptide antibiotics or heterocyclic antibiotics (see, for example, WO 95 / 33818) or proteins or polypeptide factors that are involved in plant defense against pathogens (so-called "plant disease resistance genes", as described in WO 03 / 000906).

[0095] Useful plants of high interest for the present invention are cereals; soybeans; rice; rapeseed; pome fruits; stone fruits; peanuts; coffee; tea; strawberries; turf; vines and vegetables, such as tomatoes, potatoes, melons and lettuce.

[0096] The term "location" of useful plants as used herein is intended to include places where useful plants grow, where plant propagation material of useful plants is sown or where plant propagation material of useful plants will be placed in the soil. Examples of such locations are fields where crop plants grow.

[0097] The term "plant propagation material" should be understood to mean the reproductive parts of the plant, such as seeds, which can be used for the propagation of the plant, and vegetative materials, such as cuttings or tubers (such as potatoes). For example, seeds (in the strict sense), roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants can be mentioned. Germinated plants and young plants that will be transplanted after germination from the soil or after emergence can also be mentioned. These young plants can be protected before transplanting by being treated completely or partially via dipping. Preferably, "plant propagation material" should be understood to mean seeds.

[0098] A further aspect of the present invention is a method for protecting natural substances of plant and / or animal origin taken from the natural life cycle and / or their processed forms from fungal attack, which method comprises applying a combination of components (A) and (B) to the natural substances of plant and / or animal origin or their processed forms.

[0099] According to the present invention, the term "natural material of plant origin taken from the natural life cycle" refers to a plant or part thereof that is harvested from the natural life cycle and is in a freshly harvested form. Examples of such natural materials of plant origin are stems, leaves, tubers, seeds, fruits or grains. According to the present invention, the term "processed form of natural materials of plant origin" is understood to refer to the form of natural materials of plant origin that is the result of improved processing. Such improved processing can be used to convert natural materials of plant origin into a more storable form (storage goods) of such materials. Examples of such improved processing are pre-drying, wetting, crushing, pulverizing, grinding, compressing or roasting. Also falling under the definition of processed forms of natural materials of plant origin is wood, whether in the form of logs, such as building timber, transmission towers and fences, or in the form of manufactured products, such as furniture or objects made from wood.

[0100] According to the present invention, the term "natural substances of animal origin taken from the natural life cycle and / or processed forms thereof" is understood to mean materials of animal origin such as skins, hides, leathers, furs, hair and the like, and not materials present on the body surface of living animals. Therefore, the present invention does not extend to methods for treating living animals.

[0101] The combination according to the invention makes it possible to prevent adverse effects such as spoilage, discoloration or mold.

[0102] A preferred embodiment is a method for protecting natural substances of plant origin and / or processed forms thereof from fungal attack, which comprises applying a synergistically effective amount of a combination of components (A) and (B) to the natural substances of plant origin and / or animal origin or processed forms thereof.

[0103] Another preferred embodiment is a method for protecting fruits (preferably pome fruits, stone fruits, berries and citrus fruits) taken from the natural life cycle and / or their processed forms, which method comprises applying a synergistically effective amount of the combination of components (A) and (B) to the fruits and / or their processed forms.

[0104] These combinations of the present invention can also be used in the field of protecting industrial materials from fungal attack. According to the present invention, the term "industrial material" means the non-living material prepared for industrial use. For example, the industrial material intended to protect it from fungal attack can be glue, size, paper, board, textile, blanket, leather, wood, building, paint, plastic article, cooling lubricant, aqueous hydraulic fluid and other materials that can be infected or decomposed by microorganisms. The cooling and heating system, ventilation and air conditioning system and the part of production equipment (such as cooling water circuit) that can be damaged by the propagation of microorganisms can also be mentioned among the materials to be protected. Combinations according to the present invention can prevent adverse effects, such as corruption, fading or mildew.

[0105] The combinations according to the invention can also be used in the field of protecting technical materials from fungal attack. According to the invention, the term "technical materials" includes paper; carpets; buildings; cooling and heating systems; ventilation and air conditioning systems, etc. The combinations according to the invention can prevent adverse effects such as spoilage, discoloration or mold.

[0106] The combinations according to the invention are particularly effective against powdery mildew; rusts; leaf spot species; early blight and molds; in particular against Septoria, Puccinia, Powdery Mildew, Pyrococcus and Tapesia in cereals; Puccinia in soybeans; Puccinia in coffee; Puccinia in roses; Alternaria in potatoes, tomatoes and melons; Sclerotinia in turf, vegetables, sunflowers and rapeseed; black rot, red fire, powdery mildew, gray mold and vine blight in vines; Botrytis cinerea in fruit; Monilinia spp. in fruit and Penicillium spp. in fruit.

[0107] Furthermore, the combinations according to the invention are particularly effective against seed-borne and soil-borne diseases, such as Alternaria species, Ascochyta species, Botrytis cinerea, Cercospora species, Claviceps purpurogenum, Corythuja graminearum, Colletotrichum species, Epicoccum species, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium gloeosporium, graminis, Helminthosporium spp., Pyrenophora graminea, Pyrithosporium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizoctonia cerealis, Sclerotinia spp., Septoria spp., Ustilago spp., Tilletia spp., Typhula incarnata, Ustilago spp., Ustilago spp. or Verticillium spp.; in particular against pathogens of cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye or oats; maize; rice; cotton; soybeans; turf; sugar beet; rapeseed; potato; pulse crops (pulsecrop), such as peas, lentils or chickpeas; and sunflower.

[0108] Furthermore, the combinations according to the invention are particularly effective against post-harvest diseases such as Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum musae, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitecum, Geotrichum candidum, Psoralea corylifolia, Penicillium sclerotiorum, Penicillium sclerotiorum, Mucor piriformis, Penicilium italicum, Penicilium solitum, Penicillium digitatum or Penicillium expansum; in particular against pathogens of fruits such as pome fruits (e.g. apples and pears), stone fruits (e.g. peaches and plums), citrus, melon, papaya, kiwi, mango, berries (e.g. strawberries), avocados, pomegranates and bananas, and nuts.

[0109] The amount of the combination of the invention to be applied will depend on various factors, such as the compound used; the object of treatment, such as, for example, plants, soil or seeds; the type of treatment, such as, for example, spraying, dusting or seed dressing; the purpose of the treatment, such as, for example, prevention or treatment; the type of fungus to be controlled or the time of application.

[0110] The mixture comprising component (A) and component (B) can be applied, for example, in a single "ready-to-use" form, as a combined spray mixture (composed of separate formulations of the single active ingredient components) (such as a "tank mix"), and when applied in a sequential manner (i.e., one after a reasonably short period of time, such as a few hours or days, of the other) in combination with the single active ingredients. For the practice of the present invention, the order in which components (A) and (B) are applied is not important.

[0111] Some of the combinations according to the invention have systemic action and can be used as fungicides in foliar, soil and seed treatments.

[0112] With the combinations according to the invention it is possible to inhibit or destroy phytopathogenic microorganisms which are present on plants or plant parts (fruits, flowers, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of various useful plants, while also protecting later growing plant parts from attack by phytopathogenic microorganisms.

[0113] The combinations according to the invention are particularly interesting for controlling fungi in various useful plants or their seeds, in particular in field crops such as potatoes, tobacco and sugar beet, as well as wheat, rye, barley, oats, rice, maize, lawns, cotton, soybeans, rapeseed, legumes, sunflowers, coffee, sugar cane, fruits in horticulture and viticulture and ornamental plants, fungi in vegetables (e.g. cucumbers, beans and melons).

[0114] The combination according to the invention is applied by treating fungi, useful plants threatened by fungal attack, their loci, their propagation materials, natural substances of plant and / or animal origin taken from the natural life cycle and / or processed forms thereof, or industrial materials, preferably with a combination of components (A) and (B) in synergistically effective amounts.

[0115] The combinations according to the invention can be applied before or after the useful plants, their propagation material, natural substances of plant and / or animal origin taken from the natural life cycle and / or processed forms thereof, or industrial materials have been infected with fungi.

[0116] When applied to useful plants in combination with 1 to 5000 g ai / ha, in particular 2 to 2000 g ai / ha, e.g. 25, 50, 75, 100, 250, 500, 800, 1000, 1500 g ai / ha of component (B), component (A) is applied at a rate of 5 to 2000 g ai / ha, in particular 10 to 1000 g ai / ha, e.g. 25, 50, 75, 100 or 200 g ai / ha.

[0117] In agricultural practice, the application rate of the combination according to the invention depends on the type of action desired and is typically in the range of from 20 to 4000 g of total combination per hectare.

[0118] When the combination of the invention is used to treat seed, ratios of 0.001 to 50 g of component (A) per kg seed, preferably 0.01 to 10 g per kg seed, and 0.001 to 50 g of component (B) per kg seed, preferably 0.01 to 10 g per kg seed are generally sufficient.

[0119] The present invention also provides a fungicidal composition, which comprises a synergistically effective amount of a combination of components (A) and (B) as mentioned above and an agriculturally acceptable carrier and optionally a surfactant. In the composition, the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is preferably between 1000:1 and 1:1000, more preferably as described above.

[0120] The composition of the present invention can be used in any conventional form, for example, in the form of a two-pack, a dry seed treatment powder (DS), a seed treatment emulsion (ES), a seed treatment flowable concentrate (FS), a seed treatment solution (LS), a seed treatment water dispersible powder (WS), a seed treatment capsule suspension (CF), a seed treatment gel (GF), an emulsion concentrate (EC), a suspension concentrate (SC), a suspoemulsion (SE), a capsule suspension (CS), a water-dispersible granule (WG), an emulsifiable granule (EG), an oil-in-water emulsion (EO), an oil-in-water emulsion (EW), a microemulsion (ME), an oil dispersion (OD), an oil suspension (OF), an oil-soluble liquid (OL), a soluble concentrate (SL), an ultra low volume suspension (SU), an ultra low volume liquid (UL), a concentrate (TK), a dispersible concentrate (DC), a wettable powder (WP) or any technically feasible formulation in combination with an agriculturally acceptable adjuvant.

[0121] Such compositions can be produced in a conventional manner, for example by mixing active ingredients with appropriate formulation inerts (diluents, solvents, fillers and optionally other formulation ingredients, such as surfactants, biocides, antifreeze agents, adhesives, thickeners and compounds providing auxiliary effects). Conventional slow-release formulations intended to last for a long time can also be used. In particular, formulations to be applied in a spraying form, such as water-dispersible concentrates (e.g., EC, SC, DC, OD, SE, EW, EO, etc.), wettable powders and granules can contain surfactants such as wetting agents and dispersants and other compounds providing auxiliary effects, such as condensation products of formaldehyde and naphthalene sulfonates, alkylaryl sulfonates, lignin sulfonates, fatty alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkylphenols and ethoxylated fatty alcohols.

[0122] The seed dressing formulation is applied to the seed in a manner known per se using the combination of the invention and the diluent in the form of a suitable seed dressing formulation, for example an aqueous suspension or dry powder with good adhesion to the seed. Such seed dressing formulations are known in the art. The seed dressing formulation may contain a single active ingredient or a combination of active ingredients in encapsulated form, for example as a sustained-release capsule or microcapsule.

[0123] Typically, the formulation comprises from 0.01% to 90% by weight of active ingredient, from 0 to 20% of agriculturally acceptable surfactants and 10% to 99.99% of solid or liquid formulation inerts and adjuvants, component (A) together with components (B) and (C), and optionally other active agents (particularly microbicides or preservatives, etc.). Concentrated forms of the composition typically contain between about 2% and 80% by weight, preferably between about 5% and 70% of active agent. The application form of the formulation may, for example, contain 0.01% to 20% by weight, preferably 0.01% to 5% by weight of active agent. Commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates, however, and end users will typically use diluted formulations.

[0124] Biological Examples

[0125] Combinations of the invention were tested using one or more of the following protocols.

[0126] Fusarium species

[0127] According to Pesticides guidelines for laboratory bioactivity tests, Part 2: Petri plate test for determining fungicides inhibition of mycelial growth (NY / T 1156.2-2006), the test was performed. In particular, according to the results of the preliminary experiment, the optimal concentration range for determining the sensitivity of pathogens to fluopicolide, epoxiconazole and their mixtures was determined, and 5-7 concentration gradients were set so that the inhibition rate of the lowest concentration was close to 10%, and the inhibition rate of the highest concentration was close to 90%. The same volume of solutions of fluopicolide, epoxiconazole and their mixtures in DMSO with the desired concentrations were added to the melted PDA medium to prepare the test plates, and the PDA plates with the same volume of DMSO were used as controls.

[0128] A mycelial plug was prepared at the edge of the colony with a borer with a diameter of 5 mm. With the mycelium upward, the mycelial plug was transferred to the center of the PDA medium plate containing fluopicolide, fluopicolide and a mixture thereof and the control plate. After three days of cultivation in the dark in a 25°C incubator, the diameter of each mycelial colony on the PDA plate was measured vertically twice and then averaged. Inhibition rate (%) = (average diameter of mycelial colonies on the control plate - average diameter of mycelial colonies on the test plate) / (average diameter of mycelial colonies on the control plate) * 100%.

[0129] The EC for each tested agent and each mixture was calculated by linear regression analysis between the probability values ​​of inhibition and the logarithmic values ​​of a series of concentrations. 50 The co-toxicity coefficient (CTC) of the mixture was calculated and evaluated according to the Sun-YP method. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[0130] Table 1 - Fungicidal activity of pentozolin and epoxiconazole against Fusarium graminearum calculated using the CTC method

[0131]

[0132] Table 2 - Fungicidal activity of pentocyclanil and epoxiconazole against Fusarium asiatica calculated using the CTC method

[0133]

[0134] The EC of each reagent tested and each mixture was also calculated using the Wadley method. 50 The results are shown in Tables 3 and 4 below.

[0135] Table 3 - Fungicidal activity of pentozolinone and epoxiconazole against Fusarium graminearum calculated using the Wadley method

[0136]

[0137] Table 4 - Fungicidal activity of pentozolin and epoxiconazole against Fusarium asiatica calculated using the Wadley method

[0138]

Claims

1. A composition suitable for controlling diseases caused by plant pathogens, comprising pentocyclanil as component (A) and epoxiconazole as component (B), or agrochemically acceptable salts, stereoisomers, diastereomers, enantiomers and tautomers thereof.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein components (A) and (B) are present in synergistically effective amounts.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 100:1 to 1:

100.

4. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 9:1 to 1:

9.

5. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 5:1 to 1:

5.

6. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 1.5:

1.

7. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weight ratio of (A) to (B) is 1:

1.

8. The composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an agriculturally acceptable carrier and / or formulation adjuvant, and optionally a surfactant.

9. A method for controlling diseases on useful plants or on their propagation material caused by phytopathogens, which method comprises applying to the useful plants, the locus thereof or their propagation material a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A method for controlling Fusarium species on useful plants, said method comprising applying to said useful plants, the locus thereof or propagation material thereof an effective amount of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pathogen is Fusarium graminearum or Fusarium asiatica.

12. Use of a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 as a fungicide.

13. A method for protecting natural substances of plant and / or animal origin and / or their processed forms taken from the natural life cycle, which method comprises applying a combination of components (A) and (B) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8 to the natural substances of plant and / or animal origin or their processed forms.

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