A composition for providing improved disease resistance in a plant

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition for providing improved disease resistance in a plant, wherein said composition comprises plant derived metabolites providing improved resistance to for example fungi, oomycetes, and bacteria. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for applying and use of the composition for providing disease resistance and stress tolerance in plants.

Description

[0001] A COMPOSITION FOR PROVIDING IMPROVED DISEASE RESISTANCE IN A PLANT

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a composition for providing improved disease resistance in a plant, wherein said composition comprises plant derived metabolites providing improved resistance to for example fungi, oomycetes, and bacteria. In addition, the present invention relates to methods for applying and use of the composition for providing disease resistance and stress tolerance in plants.

[0004] The use of pesticides is fundamental to keep crops healthy and prevent them from being destroyed by disease and infestation. Pesticides protect the plant against pests, such as weeds, insects or organisms that cause infectious diseases such as fungi and bacteria. The compounds in pesticides are designed to be toxic to said pests, eliminate diseases in plants and ultimately improve crop yield. However, the effect nor the area of the toxin is restrained to the target, for pesticides move into the surrounding environment, emerging as a concern to human health and the environment.

[0005] The use of plant protection products is fundamental for successful crop cultivation, but this protection goes hand in hand with increasingly polluted soils, ground and surface waters. Pesticides also remain on the plant after cultivation, entering our bodies as residues by the food we eat. High number of toxic residuals are found on a variety of crops such as grapes, tomato, spinach and potato. Regarding health issues, an alternative to pesticides it is essential. In response to these detrimental effects, governments and consumers are demanding more sustainable production methods, including decreased pesticide applications. The pesticides affect the earth, environments, ecosystems, and human health in general. Ironically, its impact towards its target is declining as pesticides are currently subject to increasing resistance by pathogens. The decreased susceptibility of a pest population results in contaminated yields and food shortage. Worldwide, more than 500 species of insects such as mites, spiders, and fungi including Bremia, have developed some level of pesticide resistance.

[0006] To overcome resistance, plant breeders, augment the plants’ gene pool by introducing novel resistance genes through cross breeding and artificial selection. This process is very specific and time consuming. The need for plant protection products persists in crop cultivation. Non-conventional methods are sough that are less harmful than traditional pesticides such as copper-formulations, natural sulfur (S8), potassium bicarbonate and metal salts. However, even ‘natural’ soaps and oils harm beneficial microorganisms. There is an increasing demand and interest for biological products endowing a positive effect to the target plant and its environment.

[0007] As a pathogen attacks the plant, its immunity is triggered starting thereby a defense response. Such a response is regulated by an intricate network of interacting metabolites like plant hormones, phytocomplexes and other bio substances. By anticipating on this network via administering compounds that interact with the defense response in a plant, the protection can be influenced from within. Hence, the use of bio-based products, e.g. bio- fertilizers, bio -protectors and / or bio-stimulants may offer a solution. However, finding the right node to tackle from the totality of interacting signals is not straightforward. Upon induction of a defense response, most of the plants’ energy goes to protection, which refrains energy from other faculties such as growth. Consequently, during an infection there can potentially be little to no plant growth. This mechanism functions as a tradeoff between growth and immunity. By strengthening the defense of a plant, growth is constrained. Correspondingly, bio-fertilizers and bio-stimulants intended to enhance plant growth can downregulate the immunity of a plant, and visa-versa do bio protectors not aimed for stimulation of plant growth. Likewise, synthetic nitrogen often negatively affects the plants defenses.

[0008] Considering the above there is a need in the art for novel organic and biological products to (partially) substitute conventional pesticides and providing plant protection while maintaining or even further stimulate plant growth. There is a need for a biological plant protector against pests which enables sustainable and preferably organic agriculture and reduces the damaging effects of current anti pest products on the environment.

[0009] It is the object of the present invention, among other objects, to address the above need in the art. The object of present invention, amongst other objects, is met by the present invention as outlined in the appended claims.

[0010] Specially, the above object, among other objects, is met, according to a first aspect, by present invention by a composition for providing disease resistance in a plant comprising plant derived metabolites, wherein said metabolites comprise between 0.05 to 5 wt%, preferably 0.06 to

[0011] 4 wt%, more preferably 0.07 to 3 wt%, most preferably 0.08 to 2 wt% phenols, and between 0.1 to

[0012] 5 wt%, more preferably 0.12 to 4 wt%, most preferably between 0.15 to 3 wt% saponin, and between 1 to 100 ppm more preferably 2 to 80 ppm most preferably between 3 to 60 ppm triacontanol, and wherein at least 70 wt%, preferably at least 80 wt%, more preferably at least 90 wt%, most preferably 100 % of the composition derives from Medicago sativa based on the total weight of the composition.

[0013] The composition of present invention provides plant protection while stimulating plant growth comprising the bio stimulating metabolites tannins, saponin and triacontanol. Together, the right metabolites inside the plant are upregulated thereby improving the entire defense response from the plant. Saponins are glycosides consisting of a sugar molecule attached to a non-sugar (aglycone) moiety. The aglycone portion of saponins is usually a triterpenoid or steroid, providing the compound with its characteristic structure. While saponins have toxic or antinutritional properties, when used in the specified concentration ranges of 0.1 to 5 wt% in the composition of present invention, they exhibit antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the growth of bacteria, and fungi. The same has been observed for (poly)phenols.

[0014] The composition of present invention is derived from Medicago sativa, better known as alfalfa. Alfalfa comprises both growth-enhancing and growth inhibiting metabolites. On one hand, its metabolites increase yield of several plant species by e.g. improving salinity stress in plants. On the other hand, does Medicago sativa produce metabolites that can suppress growth, seed germination and nutrient uptake. Due to the allelopathy of alfalfa, a biological phenomenon by which compounds influence diverse effects (such as growth, survival, development, and reproduction) of other organisms, it is difficult to cultivate a precise effect. Surprisingly, in concert with the metabolites such as tannins, saponin and triacontanol of the composition of present invention, alfalfa has an enhancing effect towards both immunity and growth.

[0015] The metabolite triacontanol is a naturally occurring plant growth promoter which act as a photosynthesis enhancer. Since light is a primary source of nutrition, using triacontanol increases the totality of energy of the plant. Increasing cell division rates and production of larger root and shoot mass. Still, the energy of a plant is limited and normally do compounds that induce plant growth redirect most of the plants’ energy away from its defense mechanisms. However, as is demonstrated in the examples herein, the composition of present invention comprising saponin, triacontanol and (poly)phenols has a positive, synergistic effect of said compounds on plant growth and plant yield while having an improved effect on the plants defense against disease, expressed by an improved disease score. Further examples show that the plants immunity improved while fruit yield and plant growth is not halted.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the (poly)phenols is one or more selected from the group consisting of flavonoids, tannins, pseudotannins, condensed tannings, catechin, epicatechin and flavan-3-ols, preferably tannins.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the metabolites are derived from Medicago sativa, Triticum aestivum, Saccharum officinarum, Vitis vinifera, Opuntia ficus indica, Ribes nigrum, Medicago sativa, Salvia Rosmarinus, Eucalyptus spp., Lentiscus pistacia, Castanea spp., Thymbra capitata, Thymus spp., Salix spp., Sinapis spp., Humulus lupulus and Zingiber officinale, preferably Medicago sativa, Triticum aestivum and Saccharum officinarum.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the composition induces the expression of one or more defense related genes in said plant selected from the group consisting of PR1, PR5, STS and PAL, preferably PR1 and PR5. Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are proteins produced in plants in the event of a pathogen attack as part of systemic acquired resistance. Stilbene synthase (STS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of antimicrobial phytoalexins. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene family encodes the first enzyme of the phenylpropanoids pathway, generating detrimental compounds against pathogens.

[0019] The PR1, PR5, STS and PAL genes play a crucial role during disease resistance in among others Vitis vinifera. Interestingly, while photosynthesis appears downregulated in grapevine plants after treatment with the composition of present invention, as is expected if a strong defense response is induced. Some pathways of primary metabolism are instead upregulated. This effect may “balance” the growth / defense trade-off, thus allowing plant growth and productivity, along with defense activation. PR1, PR5, STS and PAL, when overexpressed, are found to decrease susceptibility to Plasmopara viticola in grapes. The genes are involved in the synthesis of proteins that are believed to inhibit the spore germination and germ tube growth of Plasmopara viticola by creating transmembrane pores.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the organic composition, wherein the secondary metabolites are extracted from a plant part selected from the group consisting of leaf, root, seed and flower, preferably leaf.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the organic composition, wherein disease is caused by at least one selected from the group consisting of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, preferably fungi and oomycetes.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the organic composition, wherein the composition provides disease resistance in Vitis vinifera, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum, Gramineae spp., Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, Prunus avium, Azalea and / or Cucurbita pepo, preferably Vitis vinifera, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Vitis vinifera is Downy Mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola. In viticulture the greatest outbreaks are a result of Downy mildew infection caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola. Plasmopara viticola is a highly destructive disease of grapevines in all grape-growing areas of the world with spring and summer rainfall at temperatures above 10°C. In the twentieth century the disease was temporarily controlled by the introduction of a fungicide. However, the wide-spread use of this pesticide led to the reappearance of the disease due to resistance. To exemplify, this disease causes an annual decline of grape production of around 50% in France. The composition of present invention may also be effective against other diseases caused by the oomycete Peronospora and the fungus Botrytis cinerea,

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Solanum lycopersicum is late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. Late blight is a plant disease that affects a variety of Solanum spp., including potato, eggplant, pepper, nightshade weeds. Late blight first appears on the lower, older leaves as water- soaked, gray-green spots. As the disease matures, these spots darken and a white fungal growth forms on the undersides. Eventually the entire plant will become infected. Crops can be severely damaged.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Solatium tuberosum is potato blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans. The disease occurs later in the growing season with symptoms often not appearing until after blossom and is the most devastating disease of potatoes. Currently, Late blight control relies almost exclusively on the use of chemical pesticides, including copper derivatives.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Triticum aestivum is septoria leaf blotch caused by the fungus Zymosptoria tritici. Zymoseptoria tritici, is also known under the synonyms Septoria tritici or Mycosphaerella graminicola

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Zea mays is Fusarium ear rot caused by the fungus genus Fusarium spp.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the disease in Cucurbita pepo is powdery mildew caused by the fungus of the order Erysiphales.

[0029] According to yet a further embodiment, the present invention relates to the composition, wherein the triacontanol is from the epicuticular wax of one or more selected from the group consisting of Medicago sativa, Croton califomicus, Copemica cerifera Jatropha curcas, Oryza sativa and Vaccinium ashei, preferably Medicago sativa.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to the organic composition, wherein the saponines are from one or more selected from the group consisting of. Medicago sativa, Aesculus hippocastanum, Saponaria sp., Quillaja saponaria or Glycine max L, preferably Medicago sativa.

[0031] The present invention, according to a second aspect, relates to a method for applying a composition according to the first aspect of present invention for providing disease resistance and stress tolerance in plants, preferably chemical stress tolerance, comprising a multiple foliar treatment with a 3 to 13 days interval, preferably 4 to 12 days interval more preferably a 5 to 10 days interval. The time interval of the treatment is in accordance to crop management, disease cycle and / or stress event.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the composition is applied between 1 L / ha to 20 L / ha, preferably between 1.5 L / ha to 15 L / ha, more preferably 2 L / ha to 12.5 L / ha, most preferably between 2.5 L / ha to 10 L / ha. Preferably, the composition of present invention may be used in a dosage comprised about 5 gram diluted in 100 ml water and was used in an amount of about 12,5 L / ha, more preferably about 15 L / ha. According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the composition is applied to the plant is applied to the plant at least two times, preferably at least three times, more preferably at least four times. Preferably the plant receives at least one treatment per life cycle, preferably at least two treatments per life cycle, more preferably at least three treatments per life cycle of the plant.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the composition provides disease resistance in Vitis vinifera, Solarium lycopersicum, Solarium tuberosum, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays.

[0034] According to a yet another embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease in Vitis vinifera is Downy Mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola.

[0035] According to a further embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease in Solanum lycopersicum is late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease in Solanum tuberosum is potato blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease in Triticum aestivum is septoria leaf blotch caused by the fungus Zymosptoria tritici.

[0038] According to a further embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the disease in Zea mays is Fusarium ear rot caused by the fungus genus Fusarium spp.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the method provides disease resistance selected from the group consisting of oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, fungi, animals and parasites preferably oomycetes and fungi.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment the present invention relates to the method, wherein the composition is combined with (synthetic) fungicides or antimicrobials to provide resistance against diseases in plants. The composition of present invention can be combined with conventional fungicides thereby controlling broad scope of fungal diseases with less detrimental burden on the environment.

[0041] The present invention, according to a further aspect, relates to a use of a composition according to the first aspect of present invention for providing improved disease resistance in a plant. Examples

[0042] Example 1: Improved disease resistance in tomato plants

[0043] The fungal pathogen Phytophthora is used to infect tomato are causing Tomato late blight. In this example the infected tomato plants are treated with the composition of present invention, or the metabolites in isolation as control to demonstrate the difference in effect on the plants’ defense system between the treatment with isolated metabolites and the treatment with the composition of present invention comprising said metabolites.

[0044] The composition of present invention comprises about 0, 1 wt% polyphenols, 0,2 wt% saponin and 4 ppm triacontanol, of which about 90 wt% of the composition metabolites are derived from Medicago sativa. For the isolated metabolites, high concentration of triacontanol was obtained from Medicago sativa, through supercritical CO2 extraction, while the pure saponin product was purchased from Merck.

[0045] The plants treated with the composition of present invention are compared to those treated with single metabolites, furthermore two conventional chemical fungicides are included as controls. Ridomil Gold, comprising the toxic compound Metalaxyl M and an oomycite K- Phosphite. A negative control was included that did not receive any treatment.

[0046] The improved disease tolerance is defined by a lower number of diseased leaflets. To said leaflets a severity score is assigned. The severity score was measured giving a score from 1 to 6, where:

[0047] 1 = 1% area covered with disease

[0048] 2 = 2-10% area covered with disease

[0049] 3 = 11-25% area covered with disease

[0050] 4 = 26-50% area covered with disease

[0051] 5 = 51-75% area covered with disease

[0052] 6 = 76-100% area covered with disease

[0053] The experiment was performed under mist conditions inducing disease progression. In total each plant received 4 doses of 20 gr of the composition of present invention diluted in 100 mL of water. 4 Doses of 0,05 g in 100 ml of water of saponins, and 4 ppm of triacontanol in 100 ml. 4 Doses of 0,2 mL of Ridomil Gold and 6 doses of 0,6 mL of K-Phosphite in 100 ml of water. At day 0, during tomato plant vegetative growth, day 4 and day 8 days, and after 10 days the treatments were repeated. All the products were sprayed on the leaves of 20 plants.

[0054] The effect of the composition of present invention is expressed in the efficacy on incidence, percentage leaves with any disease symptoms, and efficacy on severity (the severity score). The tolerance and severity of low and high leaflets were examined separately in the Table 1 and Table 2 respectively. The lower leaflets are older and more susceptible to Late blight infection.

[0055] The diseased leaflets per plant were counted after the first symptoms appeared and the severity class was assigned.

[0056] Table 1. Severity class lower leaflets and number of diseased leaflets

[0057] Table 2. Severity class upper leaflets and number of diseased leaflets

[0058] The untreated plants showed the first disease signals after 19 days from the 1sttreatment. The disease index for untreated plants is 4,7, and the number of infected lower leaves is 39,7. The number of infected lower leaflets of the composition of present invention is 27,4, comparable to conventional pesticides. The composition of present invention is ranked in the top 4. The other two are chemical compositions encompassing metalaxyl M and k-phosphate that kill both fungicides and oomycetes. For untreated the higher leaflets disease index is 3,9 and 12,9 leaflets are infected, again the composition of present invention has an improved effect on the disease index and number of infected leaflets compared to untreated, namely 3,0 and 11,6 respectively.

[0059] Metabolites saponin and triacontanol in isolation have a negative effect on the plants’ immunity in both lower and upper leaflets compared to the untreated control. However, the composition of present invention comprising the combination of saponin and triacontanol combined with polyphenols within the specified concentration, enhances the plants defense / immunity. The metabolites in the composition of present invention work synergistically and have an improved effect on the plants’ defense system.

[0060] Example 2 _ Improvement of yield in grape variety Merlot

[0061] The improvement of disease resistance using the composition of present invention was tested on the grape variety Merlot. For this grape variety pesticides are especially used to prevent diseases like Downy mildew, Grapevine trunk diseases and Powdery mildew. In this example it was tested if the use of convention pesticides could be (partly) substituted, reduced or used in combination with the composition of present invention for synergistic effects. Also, the effect of tannins that may be present in the composition of present invention was tested. In this example the dosage regime is according to conventional practices in grape, which is every 7 / 10 days. As such, in the period from May to August, 11 consecutive treatments have taken place.

[0062] Product A: The composition of present invention, comprising: 0,2 wt% polyphenol,

[0063] 0,4 wt% saponin, 6 ppm triacontanol and 0,18 wt% tannins of which 97% derived from Medic ago sativa. Each dosage comprised about 5 gram and was diluted in 100 ml water and was used in an amount of 12,5 L / ha.

[0064] Product B: Similar to Product A but without tannin, comprising: 0.2 wt% polyphenol,

[0065] 0.4 wt% saponin, 6 ppm triacontanol of which 100% derived from Medicago sativa. Each dosage comprised 5 gram and was diluted in 100 ml water and was used in an amount of 12,5 L / ha.

[0066] Product C: Conventional pesticides (or plant protection product (PPP)). The dosages used depended per product and was used according to the product description. Below the products used in each are listed in Table 3:

[0067] Table 3. List of conventional pesticides (PPP) (Product C) used in examples 2 to 4.

[0068] Several combinations of the composition of present invention (Product A and / or B) alone or in combination with Product C was tested, according to the scheme of Table 4. Table 5 shows the specific PPP (as indicated in Table 3) in combination with the treatment used for entry 5 to 7 of Table 4.

[0069] Table 4. Entries of the experiment

[0070] Table 5. details STRATEGY 2 For example, treatment entry 5 to 7 with STRATEGY 2: Plants received one of the 11 indicated treatments comprising 60% or 85% conventional PPP (product C) with (+) / without (-) Product A / B. The effect of the composition of present invention with and without tannins on the disease resistance of the plant and plant growth or yield, is measured as the efficacy on incidence calculated as percentage leaves that show disease symptoms, and efficacy on severity determined as severity of disease as the average leaf area percentage covered with disease (similar as indicated above in example 1). The yield is compared to the negative (untreated control, UTC) and positive control (PPP), as shown in Table 6.

[0071] Table 6. Results experiment Merlot

[0072] The results indicate Product B, which lacks tannins can partially substitute conventional fungicides, showing similar efficacy in view of disease resistance and an improved plant yield, and that Product A which comprises tannins has an improved efficacy and yield over all other products. The use of conventional pesticides can therefore be greatly reduced by (partly) substituting said pesticides with the composition of present invention.

[0073] Example 3 Improvement of yield in grape variety Glera

[0074] For the grape variety Glera pesticides are especially used to prevent diseases like Downy mildew, Grapevine trunk diseases and Powdery mildew. Although conventional PPPs reduce infection by diseases, they often have a detrimental effect on the plant growth. In this example it was tested if for the grape variety Glera the use of convention pesticides could be reduced by partly substituting said pesticides with an embodiment of present invention, and how this effected plant growth and fruit growth. Like example 2, the dosage regime is according to conventional practices. Similar to Example 2, comprising Product A and C were tested, see Table 7.

[0075] Table 7. Entries of example 3

[0076] The effect of the composition of present invention on the growth / yield of grapes was observed as expressed in yield (kg). The yield of the entries that received the composition of present invention was compared to a negative control (UTC), and PPP as shown in Table 8.

[0077] Table 8. Yield of Glera per treatment

[0078] The addition the composition of present invention (entry 4) improved the grape production by 80% (35,5 instead of 19,7 kg / plot) compared to entry 2, which received 100% conventional PPP. The above shows that usage of pesticides can be detrimental for the plant health and plant yield and that replacement of pesticides with the composition of present invention shows great improvements in view of plant yield.

[0079] Example 4 Improvement of yield in the grape variety Pinot noir

[0080] The effect of the composition of present invention was measured in yield grapes of the grape variety Pinot noir and subsequently compared with treatments comprising solely conventional pesticides and pesticides combined with phenols and triacontanol in isolated form. For this grape variety pesticides prevent infectious diseases like Downy mildew, Grapevine trunk diseases and Powdery mildew. The dosage regime is according to conventional practices, every 7 to 10 days. Similar to example 2, the tested treatments are Product A, B and C, see Table 9. Furthermore, in Entry 4, not product A or B was added, but instead pure tannins (0.18%) are added in entry 4 in addition to the PPP.

[0081] Table 9. Entries of example 4

[0082] The effect of the composition of present invention on the disease resistance and growth of grapes is determined in this example as a decrease in incidence of the disease on bunches of grape (Table 10, Incidence on bunches calculated on 100 bunches per plot), as described above in example 2, and in an increase in grape bunch yield (kg) displayed in Table 11, respectively.

[0083] Table 10. Disease incidence on grape bunches

[0084] Table 11. Grape bunch yield per treatment

[0085] The highest % of disease incidence on grape bunches was on UTC, as expected. The composition of present invention improved disease resistance in view of the UTC group, and was comparable to the plants that received PPP treatment. In view of grape bunch yield, the best result was achieved by entry 6, the composition of present invention. The yield of both entries 2 and 3, which comprises solely of conventional pesticides, is lower than the control, UTC, likely due to the detrimental effect of the conventional pesticides on yield. Treatment 4, comprising tannin and 70% fungicide as compared to entry 2, has a yield of 11.65 kg hence a negative grape production compared to UTC. The composition of present invention, Entry 5 and 6 respectively, results in an increased yield compared to UTC, 12.21 and 14.25 Kg to 11.82 Kg.

[0086] Tannins improve grape production when added within the composition of present invention, i.e. working synergistically with the saponin and triacontanol, whereas the effect of tannin alone does not show the improved effect on crop yield. Furthermore, conventional pesticides have a negative effect on the total production compared to the UTC and not only harm the pathogen but also the plant itself, which is particularly a problem with low disease pressure. The composition of present invention which combines phenols, tannins and triacontanol beneficially affects the yield for the grape and further improve the disease resistance in said plant.

[0087] Example 5: Increased plant defense in potato against pathogen

[0088] The composition of present invention was tested on improved disease resistance and plant yield in potato. The main pathogens threat in potatoes is the fungus Phytophthora infestans. Like previous examples, it is tested if conventional products can be (partly) substituted or used in combination with the composition of present invention for synergistic effects. Similar to the previous example 2, the tested treatments are Product A, B and C (see Table 12). However, for product C in example 5 only Poltiglia Bordolese was tested as PPP. Furthermore, Product A and B were used in an amount of 15 L / ha. Like the grape varieties, the dosage regime of Example 5 is according to conventional practices, every 7 to 10 days.

[0089] Table 12. Entries of example 5

[0090] The effect on the disease was assessed following the most recent European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) guidelines for Phytophthora in potato. The % tolerance and severity (measurement according to example 2) is reported in Table 13. Table 13. % of incidence and severity of downy mildew on potato

[0091] Measurements on % incidence is preformed twice, at T=1 are performed at 07 / 05 and T=2 measurements are performed 21 days later, 28 / 05. A significant reduction in disease incidence and in disease severity was observed when using the composition of present invention. Furthermore, the effect is observed for at least a period of more than 20 days. The composition comprising tannins showed the most optimal efficacy in view of improved disease resistance.

[0092] The potato yield is measured in average weight per potato and the total yield in ton per hectare representing the growth of the potato plant, Table 14.

[0093] Table 14. Yield potato per entry

[0094] Plants that received the composition of present invention have the biggest potato with an average weight of 173 - 182 gram and the best yield of 61 to 65 t / ha. The composition of present invention has an improved effect on the potato yield compared to the untreated potatoes and the potatoes treated with conventional pesticides.

Claims

Claims1. A composition for providing improved disease resistance in a plant, wherein said composition comprises plant derived metabolites, wherein said metabolites comprise between 0.05 to 5 wt% (poly)phenols, between 0.1 to 5 wt%, saponin, between 1 to 100 ppm triacontanol, and wherein at least 70 wt%, preferably at least 80 wt%, more preferably at least 90 wt%, most preferably 100 wt% of the composition is derived from Medicago sativa based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the (poly)phenols is one or more selected from the group consisting of flavonoids, tannins, pseudotannins, condensed tannings, catechin, epicatechin and flavan-3-ols preferably tannins.

3. The composition according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plant derived metabolites are derived from Medicago sativa, Triticum aestivum, Saccharum officinarum, Vitis vinifera, Opuntia ficus indica, Ribes nigrum, Medicago sativa, Salvia Rosmarinus, Eucalyptus spp., Lentiscus pistacia, Castanea spp., Thymbra capitata, Thymus spp., Salix spp., Sinapis spp., Humulus lupulus and Zingiber officinale preferably Medicago sativa, Triticum aestivum and Saccharum officinarum.

4. The composition according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition induces the expression of one or more genes in said plant selected from the group consisting of PR1, PR5, STS and PAL, preferably PR1 and PR5.

5. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the metabolites are from a plant part selected from the group consisting of leaf, root, seed and flower, preferably leaf.

6. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein said disease is caused by at least one selected from the group consisting of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, preferably fungi and oomycetes.

7. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the composition provides disease resistance in Vitis vinifera, Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum tuberosum, Gramineae spp., Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, Prunus avium, Azalea and Cucurbita pepo, preferably Vitis vinifera and Solanum lycopersicum.

8. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the disease in Vitis vinifera is Downy Mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola.

9. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein the disease in Solatium lycopersicum is late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

10. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the disease in Solatium tuberosum is potato blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

11. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 10, wherein the disease in Triticum aestivum is septoria leaf blotch caused by the fungus Zymosptoria tritici.

12. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the disease in Zea mays is Fusarium ear rot caused by the fungus genus Fusarium spp.

13. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 12, wherein the disease in Cucurbita pepo is powdery mildew caused by the fungus of the order Erysiphales.

14. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the triacontanol is from the epicuticular wax of one or more selected from the group consisting of Medicago sativa, Croton californicus, Copemica cerifera Jatropha curcas, Oryza sativa and Vaccinium ashei, preferably Medicago sativa.

15. The composition according to any one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the saponins are from one or more selected from the group consisting of Medicago sativa, Aesculus hippocastanum, Saponaria sp., and Quillaja saponaria, preferably Medicago sativa.

16. A method for applying a composition according claims 1 to 15 for providing disease resistance and stress tolerance in plants, comprising multiple foliar treatment with a 3 to 13 days interval, preferably a 4 to 12 days interval more preferably a 5 to 10 days interval.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the composition is applied between 1 L / ha to 20 L / ha, preferably between 1.5 L / ha to 15 L / ha, more preferably 2 L / ha to 12.5 L / ha, most preferably between 2.5 L / ha to 10 L / ha.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the composition is applied to the plant at least two times, preferably at least three times, more preferably at least four times.

19. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 18, wherein the composition provides disease resistance in Vitis vinifera, Solarium lycopersicum, Solarium tuberosum, Gramineae, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays, Prunus avium or Azalea.

20. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 19, wherein the disease in Vitis vinifera is Downy Mildew caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola.

21. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 20, wherein the disease in Solanum lycopersicum is late blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora inf estans.

22. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 21, wherein the disease in Solanum tuberosum is potato blight caused by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.

23. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 22, wherein the disease in Triticum aestivum is septoria leaf blotch caused by the fungus Zymosptoria tritici.

24. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 23, wherein the disease in Zea mays is Fusarium ear rot caused by the fungus genus Fusarium spp.

25. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 24, wherein the method provides disease resistance selected from the group consisting of fungi, oomycetes and bacteria preferably fungi and oomycetes.

26. The method according to any one of the claims 16 to 25, wherein the composition is combined with fungicides or antimicrobials to provide resistance against diseases in plants.

27. Use of composition according to claims 1 to 15 for providing improved disease resistance in a plant.

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