A NON-NEMATICIDAL COMPOSITION AND ITS USE

Abstract

A non-nematicidal composition comprises at least one glucan and / or at least one fucan, which acts individually or synergistically with mannitol to reduce losses in crop yield and marketable grade caused by infestation of the growth medium with plant-pathogenic nematodes, to levels equivalent to those achieved with commercial nematicides, but without posing a risk to the ecosystem or user. In some cases, the composition comprises at least one glucan, at least one fucan, and at least one mannitol, which may be in a weight / weight ratio of approximately 1:2:3 of at least one glucan:at least one fucan:at least one mannitol, or from approximately 1:1:1 to 1:1:3 of at least one glucan:at least one fucan:at least one mannitol.

Description

A NON-NEMATICIDAL COMPOSITION AND ITS USE Introduction The invention relates to improving the growth, yield, or marketable grade of plants cultivated in a medium infested with plant-pathogenic nematodes to levels comparable with those otherwise achieved through nematicide treatment alone. Plant-pathogenic nematodes cause extensive damage to crops, reducing performance, yield, and marketable grade, ultimately resulting in substantial economic losses. Recent estimates contribute $100 billion in losses worldwide due to crop losses associated with nematodes, half of which are attributed to Meloidogyne spp. (Bird and Kaloshian, 2003; Loison M, 2012). The range of economically important crop species affected by pathogenic nematodes is extensive, encompassing those naturally occurring in subtropical, tropical, and similar warm-temperature regions.Economically important plants affected by pathogenic nematodes include: grain legumes (e.g., soybeans, peanuts, beans, and peas), vegetable crops, ornamental crops, nursery and flower crops, cereals (e.g., corn, rice, wheat), root and tuber crops (e.g., potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, taro, ginger, carrots, beets), plantations, trees, and cash crops (e.g., bananas, plantains, black pepper, cotton, coconuts, citrus crops, coffee, pineapple, and sugarcane). CCfcfcnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI deciduous fruit crops and nuts (Bridge and Starr, 2007). The most effective and widespread means of controlling nematode-associated diseases involve the direct killing of the nematodes themselves and / or the reduction of nematode populations. These methods range from chemical control (nematicides) to biofumigation and soil solarization; each of which inflicts varying amounts of damage to the ecological environment and / or is restricted in its scope of application. Many chemical nematicides have been shown to have adverse effects on human health (e.g., neurotoxicity). In light of such effects, nematicide treatments are becoming increasingly restricted in their use (Chitwood DJ, 2003 and Gowen SR, 1992). Thus, there is a need to develop methods for controlling plant-pathogenic nematodes and other pests in a way that does not harm human health or the environment.However, for safer treatments to be effective and economically viable, they must provide benefits to the agricultural sector in the form of improved plant performance and marketable grade, at levels otherwise achieved through the use of current nematicide treatments. Furthermore, the scientific validation of safer alternatives requires robust and independent field trials to demonstrate that such effects are reproducible. Few safe alternatives to chemical control of plant nematodes have undergone this level of scientific validation, and many natural alternatives to chemical control are either ineffective, reproducible, or economically unfeasible. CCfcEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI of safe and viable alternatives to the use of hazardous nematicides is addressed by the present invention. Implications for human health of nematicide use The term “nematicide” refers to the lethal action of a nematicide on specific and essential processes within nematode tissues (Nolin JW, 2000). Nematicides are widely used in agriculture worldwide to reduce plant-parasitic nematode populations and, in turn, reduce nematode-related crop losses and maximize overall yield. There are several classes of nematicides, categorized according to their application method or specific mode of action. Although the mechanisms vary, nematicides should achieve reductions in the population size of these parasites where they are applied. Examples of fumigant nematicides include: 1,3-dichloropene, 2-dimethyl bromide, methyl bromide, methyl iodide, chloropicrin, and metam sodium potassium.Following application in liquid form, fumigant nematicides rapidly vaporize and move through open air spaces in the soil as a gas, thereby exerting their nematicidal effects (Reviewed by Nolin JW, 2002). The mode of action of broad-spectrum fumigant nematicides involves the agent penetrating directly through the nematode's body wall. Once inside the nematode's body cavity, the internal organs are affected, resulting in death. Broad-spectrum fumigants typically do not require direct ingestion by the nematode (Reviewed by Nolin JW, 2002). Examples of non-fumigant nematicides include Vydat® (active ingredient: oxamyl), Temik, Mocap, Nemacur, and Counter. They are formulated as either liquids or granules and, when applied, move through soil water by percolation, where they exert their nematicidal effects. Non-fumigant nematicides are sometimes classified as contact or systemic nematicides based on whether they kill nematodes via contact or by uptake by the plant initially and subsequently affecting nematodes that feed on plant cell fluids (Reviewed by Nolin JW, 2002). Non-fumigant nematicides such as carbamates (Temik, Vydat®) and organophosphates (Mocap, Nemacur) are highly toxic to insects, disrupting normal behavior and causing paralysis and death. Non-fumigant nematicides have "narcotic" effects, which are more responsive to nematode mortality rather than direct death (Reviewed by Nolin JW, 2002).By disrupting nerve impulses and neurotransmission, various aspects of nematode behavior and development are affected, resulting in extensive reductions in global nematode numbers and associated population growth. In general, the toxicity and mortality associated with systemic nematicides, such as Vidate® (oxamyl), Temik, and Nemacur, are primarily due to neurological effects, resulting in disorientation and starvation. At high concentrations over a prolonged period, non-fumigant nematicides can be directly lethal to nematodes by causing more extensive disruption of nerve impulses (Reviewed by Nolin JW, 2002). Although effective in controlling nematode infestations, some nematicides can have toxic effects on humans. Furthermore, the risk of toxicity through transmission via human diets is now considered significant (EPA, 2010).This has led to increased regulation and in some cases prohibition of certain nematicides in the US and Europe in recent years. The number of people exposed to pesticides internationally is unknown but likely numbers in the tens or hundreds of millions. While some pesticides are selective in the type of pest they kill (EPA 2013), others are nonselective and can be toxic to nontarget species (Starks SE et al., 2012). In humans, pesticide exposure can culminate in acute neurological effects and clinical toxicity. In cases where exposure to high levels of pesticides does not result in physician-diagnosed pesticide poisoning, such exposures can contribute to persistent adverse neurological effects (Starks SE et al., 2012). Given the severity of the side effects associated with many pesticides, there are growing movements around the world to reduce or even replace the use of several of these agents.In particular, the European Directive (EU) 2009 / 128 / EC requires member states to adopt action plans to reduce the risks associated with pesticide use. Nematicides, in particular, are experiencing increasing scrutiny from regulatory bodies. Notably, the EU has placed severe restrictions on the use of Temik (aldicarb), a carbamate insecticide and nematicide commonly used in potato production. This is due in part to the neurotoxic effects attributed to this chemical (Cone M, 2010). Furthermore, there is now an agreement to end all uses of aldicarb in the United States based on risk assessments of toxicity data indicating significant toxicity associated with its use (EPA, 2010). Specifically, aldicarb has been cited by the EPA as potentially posing “unacceptable dietary risks, especially to infants and young children” (EPA, 2010).However, although aldicarb is being phased out and banned in some countries, there are several other pesticides and nematicides of known toxicity still widely in use today. A growing number of nematicides and other pesticides are expected to be phased out worldwide in the coming years due to health and environmental hazards associated with their use. Studies have shown that acute neurological effects can occur following exposure to nematicides, including organophosphate (OP) and carbamate classes of nematicides (Farahat TM et al., 2003; Mackenzie Ross SJ et al., 2010; Rohlman DS et al., 2011; Roldan-Tapia L et al., 2005). Acute neurological effects and clinical toxicity due to OP exposure have been well described. Immediate clinical toxicity can be either mild or acute. Mild effects include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Severe acute effects include seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, respiratory failure, and in some cases, coma (Bardin PG et al., 1994). CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / E / YILI Acute OP poisoning effects include chronic neurological sequelae such as reduced neuropsychological performance and increases in other neurological symptoms (Steenland K, et al., 1994; London L, et al., 1998; Rosenstock L, et al., 1991; Stallones L, et al., 2002; Wesseling C, et al., 2002). Chronic neurological effects have also been found with exposure to methyl bromide, a fumigant nematicide (Anger WK., 2003 and O'Malley MA et al., 2011). Replacements for methyl bromide have been presented; however, these also pose health risks to humans. For example, while oxamyl has been listed as one of several potential alternatives to methyl bromide, it is rated as extremely toxic to humans and excessive applications can lead to the accumulation of residues in food (UNEP, 2005).To reduce exposure to oxamyl, Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for this chemical in crops have been established by agencies in a variety of countries (FAO / WHO, 2002). However, these reports are sometimes limited in the scope of crops assessed. Currently, there is a system for reporting food-related issues within the European Union via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF, EU Regulation EC / 178 / 2002). This allows for official controls at points of entry for fruits and vegetables imported from specific countries, with oxamyl and methomyl listed among many other hazards (RASFF, EU Regulation EC / 178 / 2002). Recently, RASFF was cited to provide a 2008 notification of a potato sample in which oxamyl was found to be at levels “at CCbEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI that would lead to intakes above the acute reference dose” (ECPRF, 2011). Thus, although restrictions are in place in some jurisdictions, nematicides such as oxamyl have been found to reach unsafe levels in human food. From a human health perspective, therefore, there is a need for safer alternatives to chemical nematicides. Environmental implications of nematicide use Pesticides can potentially impact non-target species in the air, soil, and water, including soil bacteria and fungi, pollinators, and pest parasites. In 2008, the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety suspended the registration of eight neonicotinoid pesticide seed treatments, one of which was linked to the death of large numbers of honeybees. Other pesticides and nematicides are likely to face additional scrutiny in the coming years, given that several, including Vydate® (active ingredient: oxamyl), are known to be highly toxic to bees (DuPont MRVydate® Insecticide / Nematicide, Technical Bulletin, 2013). There are also concerns about the impact of nematicides on soil environments. This is due to the important roles that biological / microbial communities play in maintaining the health of natural and agricultural soil systems (Ibekwe M, 2004).The impact of nematicides on biological communities in the soil is observed to be variable depending on the type of nematicide used, the type of soil, and the species of communities. CCfcEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI biological / microbial species under study. It is well established that fumigant nematicide treatments can negatively impact non-target species such as bacteria and fungi (Ibekwe M, 2004). Furthermore, it is well known that fumigant nematicides can drastically impact the structure of beneficial free-living nematode communities. For example, following fumigation of Japanese soybean fields, nematode density was observed to decrease, while the dominant taxon shifted from Rhabditidae to Cephalobidae (Okada H et al., 2004). In addition, fungal-feeding nematodes were found to be severely reduced by fumigant nematicides used on commercial strawberry farms in southern Spain (Sánchez Moreno, S., et al., 2010).Although some studies indicate that such effects are transient, long-term repeated use of fumigant nematicides can have more significant and lasting effects on soil microbial populations (Reeve JR et al., 2010). Unlike fumigant nematicides, those classified as non-fumigants are considered to have little impact on organisms that lack a nervous system (e.g., bacteria, fungi), since such nematicides generally act by inhibiting cholinesterase in neurons. However, few studies have examined the effect of non-fumigant nematicides on non-target soil animals, such as free-living, beneficial nematode species. Some studies suggest that non-fumigants such as phosthiazate and imiciaphos have specificity for CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI has shown limited effects on plant pathogenic nematodes and on otherwise beneficial free-living nematodes (Wada S et al., 2011; Strz and Kimpinski, 1999; Cowgill et al., 2002; Kimpinski et al., 2005 and Pankhurst et al., 2005). In contrast, the nematicide oxamyl (active ingredient in Vydate®) has been found to decrease total nematode populations and reduce free-living nematodes when applied alone or in combination with carbofuran (Yeates et al., 1983, Yeates, 1985; Yeates and Pestridge, 1986 and Smolik, 1977). A recent study also demonstrates a toxic effect of oxamyl against a nematode species that feeds on bacteria, Bursilla sp., a species with key roles in decomposition and nitrogen cycling (Bell et al., 2006). In particular, a reduction in adult survival and inhibition of egg production were attributed to this nematicide.Adverse effects on bacterial counts were also reported when oxamyl was present at high levels (400 ppm), an effect with additional potential environmental impacts (Bell et al., 2006). The authors conclude that non-target impacts on soil nematodes are likely due to conventional oxamyl application. Oxamyl and cyfluthrin have also been found to have no target effects on reducing the numbers of a soil predator that plays an important role in pest management (Tillman PG, Mullinix BG Jr et al., 2004). Collectively, these studies highlight the potential negative effects of nematicides on target species within the soil, emphasizing the need for safer alternatives. CCfcRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI nematicides and conventional treatments that do not impact the biological / microbial communities of the soil or the environment. Carbamate pesticides and nematicides are particularly toxic to non-target wildlife species, including birds and CCbEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI fish (Grue, CE, et al., 1983 and Boran M et al., 2007). Despite their reduced stability in aquatic environments, carbamate nematicides have been found as contaminants in a variety of water sources around the world, including streams and rivers in Martinique (Bocquene' and Franco, 2005), surface waters in Spain (Chiron et al., 1993, 1994), well water in Maine (USA; Bushway RJ et al, 1992), and a toxic carbaryl metabolite (1-naphthol) has been found in surface and groundwater in the US and India (Busshway 1981) Dikshit et al., 1990). In the Yaqui agricultural zone In the Valley located in northwestern Mexico, methiocarb and 3-hydroxycarbofuran were also detected in groundwater and surface water (5.4 micrograms / l and 5.4 micrograms / l, respectively; García de Llasera MP et al., 2001). Thus, from a potentially human and environmental health point of view, there is a great need for safer alternatives to the use of chemical nematicides and pesticides. In response to human health and environmental concerns, nematicides face increasing scrutiny and potential bans in both Europe and the United States. Without the development of safer alternatives that can achieve crop yield increases equivalent to those obtained through nematicides, the impact of a global ban on nematicide use in food production could be significant. Impact of climatic conditions on the effectiveness of nematicides Unfavorable environmental conditions are known to adversely influence the efficacy and environmental fate of many pesticides and nematicides, most notably rainfall. Although a certain level of rainfall or irrigation water is required for water-soluble, non-fumigant nematicides to be transferred and effective within the soil region, growers' failure to control nematode infestations while using non-fumigant nematicides is a likely consequence of excessive rainfall or irrigation and poor chemical retention within the primary root zone of crops (Noling et al., 2002). In particular, rain occurring immediately after the application of aldicarb can wash the agent away from the soil zone, thereby reducing its effectiveness (Sharma et al., 1998). A simulated rainfall of 50An 8 mm application on the second and eighth days after aldicarb application demonstrated a 64% suppression of the nematicide, which appeared in the effluent in its sulfone or oxidized sulfoxide form (sandy soil, Bowman BT, 1988). In the case of oxamyl, a UK study indicated that the nematicide application in June was mostly washed off the foliage by the occurrence of heavy rain afterward. CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI application (Whitehead et al., 1985). In turn, oxamyl is known to be susceptible to leaching into groundwater in areas with high rainfall (Dupont Technical Bulletin). Such effects can have a substantial impact on the efficacy of nematicides over time. For example, inconsistent nematode control with ethoprop and a variety of other non-fumigant nematicides was found in Florida over a period of two decades (Garcia-M, R and Rich JR, 1983; Nordmeyer D et al., 1982 and Rich JR et al., 1984). Such effects have been attributed to excessive rainfall following the application of nematicide to deep sandy soils (Garcia-M, R and Rich JR, 1983), and the persistence efficacy of ethoprop was found to be related to post-treatment rainfall levels of maize (sandy loam soil, Rohde, W. A et al., 1980).It has also been observed in trials that early-season rainfall extends the period of adverse effects on the efficacy of non-fumigant nematicides to 12 years (Rahi GS et al., 1992). Furthermore, simulated rainfall experiments demonstrated that 2.5 cm of rain can render ethoprop nematicides ineffective against the nematode species M. javanica (Rahi GS et al., 1992). These studies highlight an inherent limitation of nematicide applications in regions experiencing excessive rainfall. Therefore, there is a need for treatments that are more robust and less susceptible to the adverse conditions of high precipitation. This is particularly relevant for regions such as Northern Europe, where high rainfall levels pose a significant problem even during the summer months. Mechanisms of crop damage induced by nematodes The underlying processes by which nematodes successfully invade, feed, and reproduce in plant host tissue are highly complex. This, in turn, poses considerable challenges to the development of technologies or agents that can effectively control or reduce nematode-induced crop damage. The three main classes of pathogenic nematodes are: sedentary endoparasites, migratory endoparasites, and migratory ectoparasites. 1. Sedentary endoparasites: Root-knot and cyst nematodes represent two important examples of sedentary endoparasites. Without effective control measures using agents such as nematicides, root-knot nematodes (RKNs) attack crops through the root system and inflict a wide range of damage on growing crops worldwide. The primary symptom of infestation is the presence of root galls, which impact water and nutrient uptake. In particular, nematodes are observed to alter xylem vessels and disrupt water transport (Kirkpatrick, TL, et al., 1991), although several studies point to disruption of nutrient uptake and translocation (Carneiro, RG, et al., 2002 and references therein). The net effects of infection are reduced crop performance and marketable yield.Significant losses are also observed in sports turf on a global scale, particularly affecting golf courses. Cyst nematodes such as Globodera pallida also cause severe yield losses worldwide, especially in areas with low organic matter soils, and particularly affect potato crops. The mechanisms underlying nematode-induced crop damage are highly complex, both at the level of the parasite itself and at the level of plant biology. Nematodes are highly successful and effective parasites and can infect around 2,000 plant species, having evolved highly specialized systems to infect and derive nutrition from host plant tissue. This can involve the modification of root cells into feeding sites known as syncytia, thus enabling successful feeding during key developmental and reproductive stages (Hussey et al., 1989). This process requires the secretion of a complex array of effector proteins, the roles of which are still being elucidated (Hamamouch et al., 2012).Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) of the family Meloidogyne are non-infectious in their second-stage juvenile (J2) phase. During this time, they are attracted to and migrate into the growing plant root, penetrating through the root cap and into the region where the vascular cylinder undergoes differentiation. The juveniles inject esophageal gland secretions through their stylet into several undifferentiated procambial root cells, which are then transformed into "giant cells" (reviewed by Hussey, 1989 and Hussey RS and Janssen GJW, 2002). These serve as feeding sites for the parasite during various stages of its life cycle and are also a primary source of nematode-mediated damage in the root zone. Once initiated, the nematode enters a sedentary life stage and undergoes three molts in the process of reaching adulthood. Females primarily occupy the giant cells.They have a bulbous, sac-like shape, are non-motile, and produce eggs within three to six weeks of infection. The female continues to grow regardless of fertilization by the males. Following the female's death, her body encysts to protect the hundreds of embryonated eggs that have been produced. This ensures the viability of the eggs in the soil for years. Males, on the other hand, gain mobility after their third molt and leave the root in a fusiform form to enter the free-living stage in the soil (reviewed by Williamson VN and Hussey RS, 1996). Cyst nematodes (e.g., genera Heterodera and Globodera) have a life cycle similar to root-knot nematodes, including second-stage juveniles, root location and invasion, development of a feeding site for all juvenile stages and adult females, and development of worm-like males (Cook R and Noel GR, 2002).Mating is necessary in some, but not all, species. Different species may also vary in several biological characteristics that reflect their adaptation to specific ecosystems. These differences include mode of reproduction (sexual or asexual), generation time and number per growing season, hatching (biotic or abiotic stimuli), and tolerance to abiotic stresses (Cook R and Noel GR (2002)). Although their life cycles are often short, sedentary endoparasites are highly effective at establishing themselves within host plants to the point where they become highly parasitic, negatively impacting plant growth, yield, performance, and marketability. Examples of sedentary endoparasites include root-knot, cyst, and citrus nematodes. 2. Migratory endoparasites: Migratory endoparasites are mobile, feeding by burrowing into the root and feeding on internal root cells. These nematodes migrate to and from feeding locations and can cause extensive plant damage within a crop's growing area. They can be free-living, allowing them to live freely in the soil and feed on plants without requiring attachment. Migratory endoparasites are infectious at almost all life stages. Although migratory endoparasites may lay eggs in the soil, many are laid and hatch within the roots. Development within the egg involves development from the first-stage juvenile (J1) to the second-stage juvenile (J2). Following hatching at the J2 stage, the nematode develops into either a male or female through several molts. In many species of migratory endoparasites, males do not require egg fertilization.Examples of migratory endoparasites are: lesion, stem, bulb, burrow, leaf, growth retardation, lance, and whorl. 3. Migratory ectoparasites: These species typically feed on cells within the epidermis of roots. The life cycle involves the laying and hatching of eggs in the soil, with nematodes emerging as second-stage juveniles (J2) after several molts within the egg. Successful feeding by J2 nematodes involves migration through the soil, locating a root, and feeding on the epidermal cells on the root surface using a stylet. The nematode can then retrieve the stylet and feed at a new location. Development into a third-stage juvenile is followed by a fourth molt, at which point the nematode becomes an adult. Examples of migratory ectoparasite classes include pinworms, ringworms, mintworms, daggerworms, stingerworms, and stumpworms. Nematode behavior and survival The survival and population success of nematodes is directly associated with the strategies and mechanisms they use to obtain food, reproduce, hatch, and move between locations. Sensory receptor systems are critical in this regard, with much of nematode behavior involving chemoreception, thermoreception, and other sensory systems. Migration, kinesis, and taxis represent important aspects of nematode behavior, with the movements of many nematode species directed by chemotaxis, thermotaxis, gravitaxis, and other mechanisms. Thermoreception and thermotaxis are particularly important for nematodes in terms of influencing their dispersal and search for food sources, while sex hormones or pheromones play crucial roles in preproduction. In addition to successfully obtaining food sources, achieving adequate nutrition, and reproducing successfully, both pathogenic and beneficial nematode populations must also respond to and survive pressures induced by abiotic and biotic stresses. Nematodes other than Animalia respond to infections such as bacterial and fungal pathogens by inducing the expression of host defense genes. Many of the genes present within nematode genomes are homologous to, or have evolutionary relationships with, those found in larger animals. For example, the Caenorhabditis elegans genome contains the scavenger receptor (SR) protein family, which is orthologous to those in larger animals.Nematodes also possess genes with evolutionary relationships to C-type lectin-like receptors of the DECTIN-1 cluster in larger animals, although they are not orthologous to any specific receptor (Means TK 2010 and Sattler S et al., 2012). Furthermore, nematodes have acquired a number of genes from bacteria and fungi. One notable acquisition for the nematode genome is the endo-beta-1,3-glucanase gene, which appears to have been acquired by several pathogenic nematode species, most likely through horizontal gene transfer mechanisms with bacteria (Kikuchi et al., 2005). Thus, the success of nematodes within their ecosystems and niches is a function of their long evolutionary history, involving the maintenance of important families of functional genes and the acquisition of other genes from other sources, such as bacteria and fungi.This long evolutionary history has allowed nematodes to evolve into a position where they occupy a vast array of ecological niches. Similarly, many other components of the ecosystem have also evolved to live and thrive within the nematode ecosystem. This has given rise to a multitude of other pathogens that use nematodes as vectors to successfully infect plants. Nematodes as viral vectors and their interactions with other pathogens Plant-pathogenic nematodes are hosts for a wide range of plant pathogens. Examples include viruses such as tobraviruses and nepoviruses (Ferris H, 2001 and references therein). Examples of tobraviruses include tobacco rattle virus (TRV), pea early browning virus (PEBV), pepper ring spot virus (PepRSV), and tomato black ring virus. For example, TRV is a plant-pathogenic virus that causes twisting in potatoes, which reduces crop quality. Vectors of TBV include stubby-rooted nematodes of the family Trichodoridae. Plants are typically infected with the virus when the nematodes are feeding. Nepoviruses are mostly transmitted to plants by dagger and needle nematodes of the genera Hyphinema and Longidorus (Ferris H, 2001 and references herein). X. americanum transmits tobacco and tomato ring spot viruses. Strains include peach rosette mosaic virus, peach yellow shoot mosaic virus, cherry rasp leaf virus, and grapevine yellow vein virus. X. californicum, X. rivesi, and X. brevicolle have also been reported as viral vectors. The plum brown strain and Prunus stem pitting strain of tomato ring spot virus, and the cherry leaf mottle strain, can be transmitted to crops by X. californicum. Arabian mosaic virus is transmitted to crops by X. diversicaudatum, while grapevine fan leaf virus is transmitted by X. index.Longidorus elegantus transmits raspberry ring spot virus and tomato black ring virus (Ferris H, 2001 and references therein). These plant-pathogenic nematodes are observed to act as vectors for a range of other pathogens that negatively affect crop yield and / or quality. Because the lifespan of certain nematode species can extend for several years, populations can remain infectious during this time and continuously reinfect crops with viral pathogens. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ for several seasons. It has been observed that plant-pathogenic nematodes interact with and / or exacerbate a variety of plant diseases. One example of this is the involvement of lesion nematodes in early death disease of potato. Coinfection of potato with Pratylenchus penetrans increases the severity of early death disease of potato, which is directly caused by Verticillium dahlia (LaMondia 2006 and references therein). Thus, there is a significant impact of nematodes on the severity of co-infections and other diseases. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / E / YILI Alternative methods to reduce nematode-induced crop damage Methods for preventing nematode-induced damage focus predominantly on nematicidal approaches, that is, killing the parasite directly or disrupting neurotransmission to cause disorientation and starvation, ultimately leading to parasite death and population reduction. Since 1970, considerable interest has been expressed in the potential for developing natural approaches to pest management that do not rely solely on chemical or other nematicidal treatments. However, most of the natural approaches developed during this time are less effective than mainstream nematicides and do not provide the same positive effects in improving growth and yield in the face of nematode challenges. A method for nematode control was proposed by Triantaphyllou, AC (1973), suggested that the population dynamics approach to nematode crop damage is very often proportional to the female population, particularly in the case of some sedentary endoparasite species. The mechanisms that determine nematode sex include genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD). GSD requires fertilization by males, but in the absence of males, meiotic and mitotic parthenogenetic pathways (i.e., asexual reproduction without fertilization) occur in many root-knot nematode (RKN) species to produce viable eggs (see Castagnone-Sereno, P. 2006 and references therein). Sex determination in RKN and other species, such as cyst nematodes (e.g., genera Heterodera and Globodera), is highly influenced by external environmental factors, including host tissue quality and population size.Under unstressed, favorable conditions, the development of J2 juveniles in females is favored, while under stressed conditions, it is associated with increased proportions of males developing from J2. Such changes in proportion may be due to an ESD mechanism that influences sexual development (Ellenby, C. 1954, Grundler, F et al., 1991, Trudgill, DL, et al., 1967). From an agricultural perspective, it would be advantageous to develop a viable means of shifting the sex ratio of certain nematode populations toward males (Triantaphyllou, AC, 1973), thereby reducing pathogenicity and improving plant performance. Other alternative pest control methods have been proposed, such as “microorganism manipulation” of host sexuality. Dagger nematodes, for example, are hosts for symbiotic cytoplasmic bacteria, which are transmitted exclusively via the maternal line, e.g., Verrucomicrobia species (Vandekerckhove et al., 2000 and references therein). Males are rare in these populations, with females reproducing asexually and tending to produce females. It has been suggested that microbes inherited maternally in this way may have an evolutionary advantage if they can drive the host sex ratio in a direction favorable to population growth, i.e., toward the female direction (Vandekerckhove et al., 2000 and references therein).In terms of nematode control, any mechanism that can alter the proportion of nematodes toward males can provide a means to reduce crop damage, given the lower incidence of asexually reproducing females at the population level. It is worth noting that bacteria-like endosymbionts and other associated bacteria have been described for various other nematode classes, including cyst nematodes (Heterodera), burrowing nematodes (Radophoblus), and pine wood nematodes (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and B. mucronatas). Several species of bacteria associated with pine wood nematodes, including certain strains of Pseudomonas, have been found to be associated with a significant increase in nematode reproductive rates, while others have shown suppressive effects (Zhao and Lin, 2005; Zhao et al., 2007).It has also been suggested that bacterial symbionts can enhance nematode growth and / or reproduction through the reciprocal exchange of nutrients or product factors, which contribute to pathogenicity. The relationship between nematodes and the microbiome may also provide complementary pathways in detoxification metabolism (Chen 2013 and references therein). Although there is theoretical potential to control nematodes through mechanisms involving reproduction, metabolism, digestion, and / or pathogenesis-related factors, technologies that can achieve these effects in a way that is safe for both the environment and human health have not yet been developed. Natural approaches to controlling nematode-induced crop damage have been relatively unsuccessful. Nearly 30 years have passed since such approaches were investigated by the scientific community, with few natural alternatives developed to rival commercial nematicide treatments since then. However, such approaches remain attractive given the growing understanding by the scientific and medical communities of the health and environmental implications of mainstream nematicides and the increasing government control placed on these agents worldwide in recent years—a trend likely to continue in the coming decades. Moreover, there is a growing body of scientific evidence suggesting that, rather than killing plant-pathogenic nematodes, significant benefits can be gained from maintaining and managing their presence within the soil ecosystem.In particular, harmful nematode species are increasingly viewed as integral and potentially beneficial components of soil systems (reviewed by Neher Da, 2010). Although the negative effects of plant-pathogenic nematodes are well described, their positive role in ecosystems and agriculture is being appreciated. For example, Heterodera trifolii Foggar, a pathogenic cyst nematode species that feeds on clove roots (Heterodera trifolii), has been shown to be associated with increased root growth, microbial biomass, and 15N transfer to neighboring plants in pastures containing clove and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass; Bardgett et al., 1999). Furthermore, increases in root growth in host clove plants (+141%) and neighboring uninfected ryegrass (+219%) were achieved in the presence of this pathogenic nematode species.This suggests an important role for plant-pathogenic nematodes within the broader ecosystem by contributing to the transfer of carbon and nitrogen below the soil surface and resulting in enhanced root growth in unaffected neighboring plant species. Similar growth-regulating effects within the broader plant community have been observed for short-grass prairie (Ingham RE 1985), in addition to a positive correlation between root-feeding nematodes and increased root biomass in mid-succession grasslands (de Deyn GB et al.). 2004). Furthermore, the presence or absence of root-feeding nematodes has been found to dramatically affect the type(s) and growth rate of plant species (de Dyn GB et al., 2004). These studies emphasize the important role that plant-pathogenic nematodes play in the soil and how their biotic interactions and feedbacks within the ecosystem can impact plant growth within the community. Based on such studies, there is a growing movement currently underway within both the scientific and agricultural communities. In particular, the use of organic amendments to improve disease suppression in crops is likely to be enhanced in the future by applying ecological concepts related to nematode coexistence strategies of different nematode species sharing the same resource (Neher DA et al., 2010).Therefore, natural approaches to counteract the negative effects of pathogenic nematodes do not require treatments to act in a nematicidal manner. New treatments to combat nematode infestation have been developed in recent years, each with its own advantages and limitations. Limitations include difficulties in producing the agents, limited duration of efficacy, dependence of efficacy on the nematode species, and little effect on nematode multiplication (Loison M et al, 2012). For a natural alternative to chemical nematicides to be viable, it must provide yield increases and marketable grades on par with those achieved using commercially available nematicide treatments, with consistent effects against a range of nematode species, with an economically viable product, and with verifiable effectiveness on a large commercial scale. Declarations of the invention According to the invention, the use of a non-nematicidal composition comprising at least one glucan and / or at least one tucan is provided, which acts individually or synergistically with mannitol to reduce losses in crop yield and marketable grade caused by infestation of growth medium with plant pathogenic nematodes, to levels equivalent to those achieved with commercial nematicides, but without putting the ecosystem or user at risk. The invention covers the use of glucan alone, tucano alone, glucan with mannitol, tucano with mannitol, glucan with tucano, and glucan with tucano and mannitol. The composition may include at least one glucan. The composition may include at least one toucan. The composition may comprise at least one glucan and at least one tucan. The composition may comprise at least one glucan and at least one mannitol. The composition may comprise at least one glucan and at least one mannitol. The composition may comprise at least one tucano and at least one mannitol. The invention also provides for the use of a non-nematicidal composition comprising at least one glucan and / or at least one tucano or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano to reduce losses in crop yield and marketable grade due to infestation of the growth medium with plant-pathogenic nematodes, without endangering the ecosystem or the user. The composition may comprise a weight / weight ratio of approximately 1:1:1 to 1:1:3 of at least one glucan: at least one tucano: at least one mannitol. The composition may also comprise a weight / weight ratio of approximately 1:2:3 of at least one glucan: at least one tucano: at least one mannitol. In one instance, the ratio is 1:1:1. In another instance, the ratio is 1:1:2. In yet another instance, the ratio is 1:1:3. Advantageously, the compositions described herein: They have no impact on the environment; They leave no residue; They are not harmful to the person applying the composition; They are not harmful to consumers of the crops; They maintain the balance of the soil ecosystem; They are not harmful to bees; and They provide an environmentally and economically safe alternative to nematicides (equally effective to commercially available nematicides). CCfcRnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI At least one glucan can be a beta glucan; the beta glucan can be (1^3) or (1^6) glucan. At least one glucan can be laminarin. At least one tucano can be an alpha-tucano, at least one tucano can be a fucoidan. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucan and / or at least one mannitol can be isolated from a brown macroalga of the class Phaeophyceae. The brown macroalga of the class Phaeophyceae can be derived from one or more of the families Laminariaceae, Fucaceae, or Lessoniaceae. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucano and / or at least one mannitol can be isolated from a brown macroalga of the species Ascophyllum. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucano and / or at least one mannitol can be isolated from a brown macroalga of the Laminaria species. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucano and / or at least one mannitol can be isolated from a brown macroalga of the Sargassum species. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucano and / or at least one mannitol may be derived from red algae, the red algae may be Florideophyceae. At least one glucan and / or at least one tucano or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano can be produced by means of synthetic chemistry and / or related approaches CCbEnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ biotechnology. At least one glucan can be derived from fungal species; the fungus can be a yeast, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In one aspect, the invention provides the use of mannitol to treat crops in soils infested with nematodes. Pathogenic nematodes can be selected from one or more of the group comprising: migratory ectoparasites, sedentary endoparasites, or migratory endoparasites. Pathogenic nematodes may be selected from one or more of the following groups: root-knot nematode, cyst nematode, stem nematode, bulb nematode, citrus nematode, kidney nematode, lesion nematode, pin nematode, stump-root nematode, stinger nematode, stunt nematode, burrowing nematode, lance nematode, dagger nematode, angulina nematode, spiral nematode, ring nematode, sheath nematode, sheath-like nematode, seed gall nematode, spring dwarf nematode, summer dwarf nematode, thorn nematode, sessile nematode, awl nematode, pinewood nematode, needle nematode, mint nematode, foliar nematode, leaf nematode, false-root-knot nematode, and rice-root nematode. Pathogenic nematodes may belong to one or more of the following families: Heteroderidae, Anguinidae, Pratylenchidae, Tylenchulidae, Hoplolaimidae, Trichodoridae, Belenolaimidae, Longidoridae, Criconematidae, Aphelenchoididae, Dolichodoridae, or Parasitaphelenchidae.Pathogenic nematodes may belong to one or more of the genus: Heterodera, Globodera, Meloidogyne, Ditylenchus, Pratylenchus, Tylenchulus, Rotylenchulus, Gracilacus, Trichodorus, Paratrichodorus, Belonolaimus, Merlinius, Quinisulcius, Tylenchorhynchus, Radopholus, Hoplolaimus, Xiphinema, Anguina,. Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema, Mesocriconema, Hemicycliophoras, Hemicriconemoides, Aphelenchoides, Cacopaurus, Dolichodorus, Bursaphelenchus, Hirschmanniella, Longidorus, Aphelenchoides or Nacobbus. The invention also provides a method for reducing losses in crop yield and marketable grade caused by infestation of growth media with plant-pathogenic nematodes without endangering the ecosystem or user, comprising the step of: applying a composition comprising at least one glucan and / or at least one tucano or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano, to the crop growth medium and / or a plant being cultivated in the crop growth medium wherein the composition is applied in an amount such that approximately 60 grams / hectare of at least one glucan and / or at least one tucano or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano is applied to a crop growth area. The invention covers the use of glucan alone, tucano alone, glucan with mannitol, tucano with mannitol, glucan with tucano, and glucan with tucano and mannitol. The composition may include at least one glucan. The composition may include at least one toucan. The composition may comprise at least one glucan and at least one tucan. The composition may comprise at least one glucan and at least one mannitol. The composition may comprise at least one tucano and at least one mannitol. The composition can be applied in quantities greater than 60 grams / hectare of at least one glucan and / or at least one tucano, or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano, in order to provide increased yield and a marketable grade subject to return on investment, where the quantity is increased approximately 10 times. "Marketable grade" refers to the production grade as defined by size and quality parameters of the harvested vegetables, fruits, seeds, or plant biomass, which is suitable for sale and meets the required quality standards. The invention further provides a method for reducing losses in crop yield and marketable grade caused by infestation of crop growth media with plant-pathogenic nematodes without endangering the ecosystem or user, comprising the step of: applying a composition comprising at least one glucan, at least one tucano, and at least one mannitol to the crop growth medium and / or a plant being cultivated in the crop growth medium, wherein the composition is applied in an amount such that approximately at least 60 grams / hectare of at least one glucan, at least one tucano, and at least one mannitol are applied to a CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y crop growth area. In one case, the ratio is 1:1:1. In another case, the ratio is 1:1:2. In another case, the ratio is 1:1:3. The composition can be applied in an amount such that more than 60 grams / hectare of at least one glucan and / or at least one tucano or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano are applied to the growing area in order to promote increased yield and marketable grade subject to return on investment from the application, where the amount is increased approximately 10 times. Advantageously, the compositions described herein can prevent losses in crop yield and marketable grade caused by infestation of the growth medium with plant-pathogenic nematodes at levels equivalent to those achieved with commercial nematicides, but without endangering the ecosystem or the user. “Ecosystem” refers to a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment. An ecosystem can be terrestrial and / or aquatic. Terrestrial ecosystems are ecosystems that occur on land and include tundra, taiga, temperate deciduous forest, tropical rainforest, grasslands, and deserts. Aquatic ecosystems are those that occur in bodies of water, including freshwater and marine ecosystems. Basic constituents of ecosystems include biotic components, for example, producers (autotrophs), consumers, and decomposers. Biotic components comprise the food web of Soil nutrients within ecosystems can include bacteria, algae, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, lichens, protozoa, nematodes, arthropods, insects, aphids, mites, vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. In addition to biological components, physical and chemical components and compounds form key parts of ecosystems and include organic matter, inorganic matter, micronutrients, macronutrients, minerals, and gases. Other constituents of ecosystems include abiotic components, such as water, rainfall, humidity, light, radiation, temperature, climate, atmosphere, air, latitude, altitude, and factors that affect pH. The growth area, substrate, or growth medium in which organisms grow within an ecosystem can be solid, liquid, or semi-solid and can be biotic and / or abiotic.The types of species within ecosystems include native species, immigrant species, indicator species, and keystone species. Species within an ecosystem interact in a variety of ways, including interspecific competition, predation, parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism. Important cycles that occur within ecosystems include the biogeochemical cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorus cycle, the sulfur cycle, and the hydrologic cycle (water cycle). The compositions described herein do not pose any risk to terrestrial ecosystems and are not nematicides. Additionally, the compositions do not negatively impact the general biota within the growing area. Furthermore, the compositions do not negatively impact water quality, as this can occur with other nematicide treatments, nor do they lead to hazardous chemical runoff into the wider environment. CCbBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI aquatic ecosystems, as can occur with some nematicides. The compositions do not pose any danger to bees, as can occur with some nematicides. Additionally, the compositions do not negatively impact abiotic or physical or chemical components of the ecosystem. The compositions described herein do not pose any risk to the user and are widely used as dietary supplements in animals and humans. Two individual constituents of the compositions, glucan and / or tucan, have been isolated and are used as dietary feed additives to improve animal health, either individually or in combination (McDonnell et al., 2010). The third constituent, mannitol, is widely used in food and as an artificial sweetener. The composition can be applied to the member of the Plant Kingdom or growth area containing a member or members of the Plant Kingdom, optionally at stages of root development, such as one or more of: root primordium formation, root meristem formation, establishment of tissue systems, root elongation, or root hair formation. The composition can be applied to the plant during tuber growth and developmental stages, such as one or more of the following: sprout development, vegetative growth, tuber initiation, tuber growth, or tuber maturation. The first application of the composition can be at 50% post-emergence, followed by applications at regular weekly intervals for a period of four to six weeks. The composition can be applied at regular intervals during key stages of plant development. The composition can be applied at a point in time when root and / or shoot emergence is considered optimal. The composition can be applied at a preferred application rate of at least 60 g / Ha of bioactives, optionally at least 64 g / Ha, at least 70 g / Ha, at least 80 g / Ha, at least 90 g / Ha, at least 100 g / Ha, optionally also at levels between 100 and 400 g / Ha, optionally also at levels >400 g / ha of bioactives. The composition can be applied as a pre-sowing treatment, either to the seed before germination or to the seed post-germination and / or before sowing. The composition can be applied according to the diversified germination behavior of the seed population, taking place first by fertigation or soil application one week after sowing and at regular intervals subsequently thereafter, also by soil fertigation, with the total duration and timing of intervals dependent on the life cycle characteristics of the particular nematode species targeted and root growth, vegetative growth and / or reproductive growth CCfcEnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ of the harvest in use. The composition can be applied according to the diversified germination behavior of the seed population, with the first foliar application taking place at 50% post-emergence, followed by applications whose total duration and timing depend on the life cycle characteristics of the particular nematode species targeted and the root growth, vegetative growth and / or reproductive growth of the crop in use. The composition can be applied to annual plants and / or their growing medium at various points in time, including seed sowing, between seed sowing and harvest, post-harvest and / or pre-sowing, optionally within a growing season. The composition can be applied to biennial plants and / or their growth medium at points in time throughout the two-year life cycle. The composition can be applied to perennials and / or their growing medium during planting, growth, flowering, sowing, and post-harvest periods over several years. The composition can be applied at points in time either before the growing season, during the growing season, at the end of the growing season, just after the growing season, or outside the growing season, such as during off-season periods in summer or winter or crop rotation periods. The composition can be applied to the plant and / or growing medium of cool season crops, cover crops, or CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ grass. The composition can be applied during winter sowing, spring sowing, summer sowing, frost sowing, dormancy sowing or reseeding processes. The composition can be applied as a single application. The composition can be applied as a treatment for the purposes of improving or maintaining quality, viability, shelf life and / or to prevent losses related to storage or transport. The composition can be applied in the presence of a fertilizer, other active ingredients or bionematicides, such as fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, biostimulants, plant strengtheners, nematicides, nematophagous fungi or bacteria, rhizobacteria, endophytic fungi, chemoattractants, hatching stimulants, nematodes, beneficial nematodes or species of fungi or bacteria, optionally selected from one or more of the group comprising: Trichoderma spp., Bacillus or Pseudomonas spp., and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The plants can be selected from families of seed-producing, not flowering, plants belonging to the division Gymnospermae. The plant can be selected from families within the Bryophyta and Pteridophyta divisions. The plants can be selected from flowering plant families belonging to the division Angiospermae, including Solanaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Amaranghaceae. The plant CCbBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI, belonging to the Solanaceae family of flowering plants, may be selected from potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicon), pepper (Capsicum spp.), eggplant (Solanum melongena), petunia (Petunia hybrid), tree tomato (Cyhomandra betacea), cucumber (Solanum muricatum), naranjilla (Solanum quitoense), and coffee (Coffea arabica). Plants belonging to the Poaceae family of monocotyledonous flowering plants may include species of corn, wheat, millet, rice, bamboo, common bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, velvet bentgrass, ryegrass, or species used in sports turf. Plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family of flowering plants include species of Brassica oleracea, Armoracia rusticana, Brassica rapa, Brassica napus, Matthiola, and Raphanus sativus. The plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family of flowering plants may include species of beetroot and spinach. Enhanced growth can be conferred in reproductive or vegetative plant organs, optionally selected from root, rhizoid, stem, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, cones, strobili, or spores. The growth medium may be infested with pathogenic plant nematodes, optionally root-knot, cyst, stem, bulb, citrus, reniform, lesion, pin, stump-root, sting, stunt, burrow, lance, dagger, anguine, spiral, ring, sheath, pod-like, seed gall, spring dwarf, summer dwarf, thorn, sessile, awl, pinewood, needle, mint, foliar, leaf, false-root-knot and rice-root nematodes, optionally belonging to the families Heteroderidae, Anguinidae, Pratylenchidae, Tylenchulidae, Hoplolaimidae, Trichodoridae, Belenolaimidae, Longidoridae, Criconematidae, Aphelenchoididae, Dolichodoridae or Parasitaphelenchidae, optionally belonging to the genera Heterodera, Globodera, Meloidogyne, Ditylenchus, Pratylenchus, Tylenchulus, Rotylenchulus, Gracilacus, Trichodorus, Paratrichodorus, Belonolaimus, Merlinius, Quinisulcius, Tylenchorhynchus, Radopholus, Hoplolaímus, Xiphinema, Anguina, Helicotylenchus,Scutellonema, Mesocriconema, Hemicycliophoras, Hemicriconemoides, Aphelenchoides, Cacopaurus, Dolichodorus, Bursaphelenchus, Herschmanniella, Longidorus, Aphelenchoides or Nacobbus. Increases in growth, yield, or marketable grade of plants can be achieved by intensifying tolerance to biotic stress and / or secondary diseases, altering food supply, or favorably interfering with the nematode life cycle, fecundity, development, or digestive system in the direction of decreased pathogenicity. Increases in growth, yield, or marketable grade of plants can be achieved by altering either positively or negatively the behavior and / or behavioral responses of nematodes in the direction of decreased pathogenicity, optionally by affecting sensory receptors, chemoreception, thermoreception, kinesis and / or taxis, by optionally also affecting chemotaxis, thermotaxis and / or gravitaxis, and by optionally also affecting systems or factors that influence hatching. CCfcEnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Increases in plant growth, yield, or marketable grade can be achieved without putting the ecosystem or user at risk. The population dynamics and / or population density of free-living nematodes can be maintained and / or altered to levels that improve the overall soil, soil ecosystem, soil fertility, soil biota and microbiota levels, and / or to levels that reduce the numbers of other pathogens and / or pests. The free-living nematodes can be selected from feeder species of parasitic and / or beneficial bacteria / fungi, optionally also classified as colonizing and / or persistent. The microbiota can be selected from species of bacteria or fungi residing within the soil and / or plant ecosystems and may include: species residing within the intestinal tract of nematodes, gut bacteria derived from soil, species that are part of nematode-bacteria symbiosis, species present in eggs and / or cysts, species that are part of entomopathogenic nematode-bacteria complexes, species that influence nematode reproduction, nematophagous bacteria, rhizobacteria, endophytic fungi and / or soil bacteria or fungi that provide micro- and / or macronutrients in bioavailable forms. The total number of nematodes within the population infesting the crop growth medium may not be significantly reduced. Harvest yield and marketable grade can be CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI improved under conditions known to otherwise negatively impact the effectiveness of commercial nematicides, optionally unfavorable weather or climatic conditions, optionally also high rainfall. Crop yield and marketable grade can be improved to levels comparable with nematicides, without posing any health risk or danger to the individual applying the composition. Harvest yield and marketable grade can be increased to levels comparable with nematicides without endangering saplings or damaging sapling prunings. The compositions described herein can improve the growth, yield, or marketability of plants grown in media infested with plant-pathogenic nematodes, to levels comparable with DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl) and other registered nematicide treatments, without requiring a reduction in nematode numbers. The compositions described herein may provide a means of increasing the growth, yield, or marketability of plants, in the presence of other active ingredients, such as fungicides, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, dioecitric stimulants, plant strengtheners, nematicides, dionematicides, nematophagous fungi or bacteria, rhizobacteria, endophytic fungi, chemoattractants, hatching agents, nematodes, beneficial nematodes, or species of fungi or bacteria, optionally selected from one or more of the group comprising: Trichoderma PChRnnil 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ spp., Bascillus or Pseudomonas spp, and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The inventors have found that a particular composition, consisting of a high proportion of β-glucans, tucans, and mannitol, is able to improve the growth, yield, and marketable grade of crops grown in soils infested with parasitic nematode species, at levels comparable to and statistically indistinguishable from DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl) and other registered nematicide treatments. Furthermore, the composition provides these benefits without endangering the ecosystem, posing no health risks or dangers to the individual applying the composition, and without harming bees or bee populations. We describe a composition comprising at least one glucan, at least one tucano, mannitol and at least one glucan and at least one tucano, or at least one glucan and mannitol, or at least one tucano and mannitol for use in increasing the growth, yield or marketable grade of plants grown in media infested with plant pathogenic nematodes, to levels comparable with DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl) and other registered nematicide treatments, the use comprising application to the plant and / or growth medium. The composition may comprise at least one glucan. When the composition comprises more than one glucan, each glucan may be the same glucan or a different glucan. Optionally or additionally, the composition may comprise at least one tucano. When the composition comprises more than one tucano, each tucano CCfcRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI may be the same tucano or a different tucano. Optionally or additionally, the composition may comprise mannitol. Optionally, the composition may comprise at least one glucan, at least one tucano, mannitol, or a mixture or combination thereof. Optionally, the composition can be applied to the plant at various developmental or growth stages, including key developmental stages, tuber growth and development stages, vegetative growth stages, bulking, maturation, and / or reproductive development. "Root development" refers to the periods during which the following occur: root primordium formation, root meristem formation, tissue system establishment, root elongation, and root hair formation. "Tuber growth and development" refers to the periods during which the following occur: shoot development, vegetative growth, tuber initiation, tuber growth, or tuber maturation. "Vegetative growth" refers to the periods during which vegetative growth occurs."Increase in volume" refers to the period during which the tuber cells expand, increasing in size and weight. "Maturation" refers to the period during which the dry matter of the plant, tuber, or fruit reaches its maximum level. "Reproductive development" refers to the period encompassing flower development or fruit formation. Optionally, the composition can be applied to the growing area before, during, or after planting. "Growing area" means the area that contains or supports the growth of a particular plant, optionally including the underlying growing material, growing medium, and / or the plant itself. Optionally, the composition can be applied to the plant as a pre-sowing treatment. "Pre-sowing" means during the period before the seed has been planted in the field or growing medium. "Sowing treatment" means that the seeds have been treated with the composition diluted to a specific concentration in water and / or other compositions or liquids. Optionally, "seed treatment" refers to the "biopriming" process, which involves hydrating the seed and inoculating it with bioactive compounds or beneficial organism(s).Optionally, seed treatment may also refer to a process in which the composition involves "priming-induced stress tolerance." "Priming-induced stress tolerance" means the period or duration of seed treatment necessary to confer "priming memory" in the seeds. "Priming memory" means a process that can help the plant achieve greater stress tolerance to subsequent stress exposure for germinating seeds or growing plants. "Stress exposure" means the negative impacts on living organisms that occur due to exposure to factors that are either "biotic," "abiotic," or both. "Abiotic" stress means a negative impact or impacts of living and biological factors on a process within the organism(s). CCbBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI organisms within a specific environment. Optionally, this may include heat, drought, frost, salinity, flooding, overdrainage, physical disruption, nutrient deficiencies, excess soluble minerals, wind, or fire. Optionally, this may also include stresses which are man-made, including soil compaction, pollution, irrigation, herbicide application, or poor horticultural techniques. By “biotic” stress, we mean a stress or negative impact(s) on processes, which occur in a living organism as a result of damage induced by the presence of other living organisms or biological factors on a process within the living organism(s) within a specific environment, which may be caused by bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, parasites, nematodes, protozoa, insects, aphids, mites, weeds, or other plants.Both abiotic and biotic stresses are referred to as stresses caused by either biotic or abiotic factors, the effects of which can manifest as physiological or biochemical effects resembling abiotic and biotic stress. Optionally, tolerance responses in crops to pathogenic nematodes and / or other pathogens can be enhanced. Optionally, the microbiota, macrobiota, flora, and / or fauna can recognize, respond to, or utilize the composition or components of these substances through receptors, receptor-ligand systems, proteins, biochemical signaling, or enzymes. Alternatively, the microbiota, macrobiota, flora, and / or fauna can recognize, respond to, or utilize the composition or components of these substances through processing, partial decomposition, digestion, or biochemical modification. Optionally, the composition can be applied to the plant according to the “diversified germination behavior of the seed population.” “Diversified germination behavior” refers to the difference in germination rate observed in the seed population due to differences in seed morphology and genetically controlled mechanisms involved in seed dormancy. Optionally, the first application can take place one week after sowing, with subsequent regulatory intervals, also via fertigation or soil application. The total duration and interval times will depend on the life cycle characteristics of the particular nematode species targeted and the root growth, vegetative growth, and / or reproductive growth of the crop.Fertigation (also referred to as fertigation) refers to the application of water-soluble fertilizers or other products through an irrigation system. The application of the fertilizer can also be done via chemo-agulation. Chemo-agulation refers to the application of the fertilizer alone or as a tank mix with other fertilizers, chemicals, or bioformulations through irrigation systems. The application of the fertilizer can also be via soil conditioners or soil amendments. Soil application refers to the application of the fertilizer to the soil, either alone or in a tank mix. CCfcEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI with fertilizers, directed or soil-applied spraying, side-dressing treatments, or other methods such as surface, gravity, drip, microjet, sprinkler, mini-sprinkler, micro-sprinkler, hose-movement, overhead, furrow, flood, bubbler, open channel systems, and pressurized pipe systems. "Regular intervals" means points in time that are equally spaced apart, on a weekly, monthly, or other basis, and may occur before, during, and / or after infection. "Total duration" means the entire period from the first application to the final application at harvest. "Timing intervals" means regulating application to achieve the desired effects on growth, performance, or marketable grade.“Life cycle dependent” of nematodes means the periods encompassing dormancy, hatching, infection, reproduction, free-living or pre-parasitic phases, whether in the external environment or within living or dead plant tissue, or the parasitic phase within the host. “Root growth” means the period during which root development and growth occur, including root primordium formation, root meristem formation, tissue system establishment, root elongation, root hair formation, and all stages in which root size and / or dry matter increases. Optionally, the composition can also be applied via foliar application, with the first application taking place at 50% post-emergence, followed by subsequent applications. CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI applications whose total duration and timing depend on the life cycle characteristics of the particular nematode species targeted and the vegetative and reproductive growth of the crop in use. “Foliar application” means directed foliar spraying of the composition as a standalone product or as a tank mix with other fertilizers, chemicals, bio-formulations, or treatments, directly onto the leaves and / or vegetative components of the plant. “Post-emergence” means the stage between seedling emergence and the maturity of a crop plant. “Based on the vegetative growth stage” means the period in which the plant uses most of its metabolic energy for shoot emergence, stem and leaf growth, developing into a mature plant, and / or further growth and development subsequently obtained throughout the mature life stage.Based on “the reproductive growth stage” means the period in which the plant uses most of its energy to produce its reproductive organs, resulting in the formation of flowers and fruits. Optionally, the composition can be applied to annual plants and / or the associated growing medium from seed sowing to harvest in one growing season. "Annual" refers to plants that complete their entire life cycle, from seed to seed, in one growing season. Optionally, the composition can also be applied to biennial plants and / or the associated growing medium throughout their two-year life cycle. "Biennial" refers to plants that take two years to mature. CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI complete the life cycle. Optionally, the composition can be applied to perennial plants and / or growing medium during planting, growth, flowering, seed formation, and / or post-harvest periods for several years. “Perennial” means plants that continue to grow, flower, and form seeds for several years. Optionally, the composition can be applied to the plant and / or associated growing medium at points in time either before the growing season, during the growing season, at the end of the growing season, just after the growing season, or outside the growing season, such as off-season periods in summer or winter or crop rotation periods. “Off-season” means the practice of growing plants during periods outside of the optimal or normal growing season.Optionally, the composition can be applied to the growing medium and / or plants, optionally including cool-season crops, cover crops, and / or grass. "Cool-season crops" refers to plants that grow optimally at cool temperatures but are less tolerant of warmer temperatures. "Cover crop" refers to plants grown for soil protection and enrichment, optionally between regular harvest production periods. "Winter sowing," "spring sowing," and "summer sowing" refer to periods during the year when seeds are sown. "Frost sowing" refers to sowing carried out at the end of winter when daytime temperatures are above freezing and nighttime temperatures are below freezing. CCbRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI night. “Dorrest sowing” means planting seeds during periods when germination is unlikely and the seed enters a period of dormancy until conditions are optimal. “Reseeding” means applying seeds directly onto existing areas of vegetation without disturbing the growing material, optionally for the purpose of improving the health and thickness of the growing area. Optionally, the composition may be applied as a single application. Optionally, the composition may be applied as a treatment for the purpose of improving or maintaining quality, viability, shelf life, and / or preventing losses related to storage or transport. Definitions β-glucans are homopolysaccharides of linear or branched glucose residues. β-(1,3)glucans are a naturally occurring class of polysaccharides found in many species of yeast (including baker's yeast or S. cerevisiae), mushrooms, plants (including cereals), and some species of bacteria, lichens, and algae (particularly brown algae or the families Aschophyllum and Laminaria). However, the structure and physiological properties of the glucans found in these sources are quite different, with beta-glucans isolated from cereal sources (such as wheat, barley, and oats) being linear homopolysaccharides (of glucose) with approximately 70% (1,4)-linkages and 30% (1,3)-linkages (Cui et al, 2000 and MacGregor and Rattan, 19993), whereas glucans isolated from yeast consist predominantly of β-(1,3)glucan chains with β-(1,6) branching as well as a small incidence of linked β(1,6) chains (Magnelli et al, 2002). Algal β-glucans, called laminarin, consist of β(1,3)-D glucan with occasional linked (1,6) branches. Laminarin from Laminaria digitata occurs as two homologous series of molecules: a minor G series containing 22–28 glucosyl residues and a more abundant M series consisting of 20–300 glucosyl residues linked to a mannitol residue. Laminarin from many Laminaria species (including Laminaria hyperborea) is insoluble and consists predominantly of β-(1,3) chains, whereas laminarin from Laminaria digitata is soluble and consists of small but significant levels of linked β-(1,6) branches (Read et al., 1996). The β-glucans found in yeast are long, linear chains of up to 1300–1500 glucan residues linked by β-(1,3) bonds, with a lower incidence of β-(1,6) chains (which are much shorter, with only about 140 residues). On the other hand, algal β-glucans (also called laminarin) have much shorter chain lengths (average residue size of only 24 residues) with occasional β-(1,6) branching, depending on the species. *Laminarina digitata* has the 1,6 branching, which makes its glucans water-soluble. Another *Laminaria* species, similar to *Laminaria hyperborea*, lacks this branching, causing the linear chains to aggregate and rendering the glucans extracted from them predominantly insoluble. Glucans can also be produced synthetically by means of chemical synthesis or biotechnological approaches. Natural polysaccharides composed primarily of sulfated alpha-L-fucose residues are known as fucoidans (or α-fucans). These are present in brown algae, some echinoderms, and are the predominant polysaccharide in brown marine algae such as Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminara spp. Fucoidans (α-fucans) have been extensively studied due to their diverse biological activities, as they are potent anticoagulant, antitumor, and antiviral agents. Fucoidans can also be produced synthetically through chemical or biotechnological approaches. Mannitol is a sugar alcohol derived from mannose, which can occur as D-mannitol, its epimer D-sorbitol, or other isomeric forms. Mannitol is found in a wide variety of plants and marine algae and can also be produced synthetically through chemical synthesis and biotechnological approaches. The term “glucan” means a polysaccharide molecule comprising at least two saccharide monomers, optionally D-glucose monomers, wherein each monomer is linked to an adjacent monomer by a glycosidic bond. The polysaccharide molecule may be linear or branched; that is, the polysaccharide molecule may be a linear-chain polysaccharide or a branched-chain polysaccharide. Optionally, the glucan is a branched-chain glucan. The glucan may be an alpha-glucan or a beta-glucan. Optionally, the glucan is a beta-glucan. The term “beta-glucan” means a glucan comprising at least one beta-glycosidic linkage. A glycosidic linkage is intended to mean a bond in which a carbon atom of a first monomer forms a bond, optionally a single bond, with a carbon atom on an adjacent monomer.A beta-glycosidic linkage is intended to mean a glycosidic linkage in which a functional group, optionally a hydroxyl group, attached to a carbon atom of a first monomer extends above the plane of the monomer (equatorially). Optionally, the carbon atom of a first monomer forms a bond, optionally a single-order bond, with the carbon atom of an adjacent monomer. Additionally, the glucan may optionally comprise a beta (1→6) glycosidic linkage, or optionally a beta (1→6) glycosidic linkage containing oxygen. Optionally, at least one glucan may be a beta (1→3, 1→6) glucan. Still optionally, the glucan may be a laminarin. "Fucan" means a polysaccharide, optionally a sulfated polysaccharide, comprising at least two fucose saccharide monomers, where each monomer is linked to an adjacent monomer by a glycosidic bond. The polysaccharide molecule may be linear or branched. Optionally, the fucan is a branched fucan. The fucan may be an alpha-fucan or a beta-fucan. Optionally, the fucan is an alpha-fucan. "Alpha-fucan" means a fucan comprising at least one alpha-glycosidic linkage. A glycosidic linkage is intended to mean a bond CCbBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI glycosidic, wherein a carbon atom of a first monomer forms a bond, optionally a single bond, with a carbon atom on an adjacent monomer. An alpha glycosidic bond is intended to mean a glycosidic bond wherein a functional group, optionally a hydroxyl group, attached to a carbon atom of a first monomer extends below the plane of the monomer (axially). Optionally, the carbon atom C1 of a first monomer forms a bond, optionally a single bond, with either the carbon atom C3 or C4 on an adjacent monomer. Optionally, tucano is fucoidan. By “mannitol” is meant a sugar alcohol derived from mannose, optionally D-mannitol or its epimer D-sorbitol, or other isomers of mannitol or other sugar alcohols. Optionally, the glucan and / or tucano and / or mannitol are isolated from a brown alga, optionally a brown marine alga, optionally a brown macroalga. Optionally, the brown macroalga, optionally a brown marine alga, is selected from Phaeophyceae, optionally selected from Phaeophyceae Laminariales and Phaeophyceae Fucales. Optionally, the brown alga, optionally a brown marine alga, is selected from Laminariaceae, Fucaceae, and Lessoniaceae. Optionally, the brown macroalga, optionally a brown marine alga, is selected from Ascophyllum species, optionally Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria species, optionally Laminaria digitata, Laminaria hyperborea, Laminaria saccharina, Laminaria japonica, or Sargassum species. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Alternatively, the glucan and / or tucano and / or mannitol is isolated from a red alga, optionally a red macroalga. Optionally, the red macroalga is a red marine alga. Optionally, the red macroalga, optionally a red marine alga, is selected from Florideophyceae, optionally selected from Florideophyceae Gigantinales, optionally selected from Gigartinaceae. Alternatively, glucan and / or tucano and / or mannitol can be derived by means of synthetic chemistry and / or biotechnology approaches. Optionally, the composition can be applied at regular intervals to a plant by means of fertigation or foliar spraying. Optionally, the plant is a flowering plant from the division Angiospermae. Additionally, the plant may be selected from the Solanaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Amaranthaceae families. The flowering plant from the Solanaceae family may be selected from potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicon), pepper (Capsicum spp.), eggplant (Solanum melongena), petunia (Petunia hybrid), tree tomato (Cyhomandra betacea), cucumber (Solanum muricatum), naranjilla (Solanum quitoense), and coffee (Coffea arabica). "Poaceae" refers to flowering monocotyledonous plants, which include, among others, species of corn, wheat, millet, rice, bamboo, common bentgrass, creeping bentgrass, velvet bentgrass, and ryegrass. "Brassicaceae" refers to flowering plants, which include, among others, species of Brassica oleracea, Armoracia rusticana, Brassica rapa, Brassica napus, and Matthiola. PChRnnil 7Π7 / Β / YILI and Raphanus sativus. By “Amaranthaceae” is meant flowering plants that include, among others, species of beet and spinach. “Increased growth, yield, or marketable grade” means irreversible increases in plant size and / or increases in the quantity harvested per unit area over a given time and / or increases in the levels of quality-related characteristics or criteria, which provide an increased return on investment. Furthermore, growth includes irreversible increases in the size of selected vegetative or reproductive plant organs such as roots, rhizoids, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, cones, strobili, or spores. “Growth media” means solids, liquids, water, gels, powders, soil, plant tissue, or other materials that support the growth of plants and / or nematodes and are present in growth systems, including outdoor fields, pots, greenhouses, and hydroponic systems.Additionally, the growth medium may refer to the plant tissue itself, in cases where the nematode feeds and / or spends part or all of its juvenile, adult, and / or reproductive life cycle within the plant tissue, optionally including leaf nematodes. “Levels comparable to DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl) and other registered nematicide treatments” means increases in growth, yield, or marketable grade that are equivalent to those achieved using commercially available chemical pesticides designed to kill plant-parasitic nematodes. The improvement in growth, yield, or marketable grade is intended to... CCfcRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI prevent or treat symptoms of plant diseases associated with the presence of parasitic nematodes, including those manifested in the root (root nodules (galls), cysts, root lesions, root tip lesions, excessive root branching, root systems with delayed growth), those manifested above ground (overall plant decline, yellowing of foliage, wilting, reduced number and size of leaves, reduced growth), those manifested in stem and / or foliage, and those manifested at harvest and market levels (lower yield, lower marketable grade, lower quality). "Plant pathogenic nematodes" refers to parasitic species that infect plant tissues, optionally, root-knot nematode, cyst nematode, stem nematode, bulb nematode, citrus nematode, kidney nematode, lesion nematode, pin nematode, stump-root nematode, sting nematode, growth retardation nematode, burrow nematode, lance nematode, dagger nematode, angulina nematode, spiral nematode, ring nematode,sheath, vainoid, seed pod, spring dwarfism, summer dwarfism, thorn, sessile, lezna, pine wood, needle, mint, foliage, leaf, false root knot and rice root optionally belonging to the family Heteroderidae, Ang Tyulenchilidae, Pratylenchilidae Hoplolaimidae, Trichodoridae, Belenolaimidae, Longidoridae, Criconematidae, Aphelenchoididae, Dolichodoridae or Parasitaphelenchidae, optionally belonging to the genera Heterodera, Globodera, Meloídogyne, Ditylenchus, Pratylenchus, Tylenchulus, Rocilenchus, Grachodorus, Trichodorus, Paratrichodorus, Belonolaímus, Merlinius, Quinisulcius, Tylenchorhynchus, Radopholus, Hoplolaimus, Xiphinema, Anguina, Helicotylenchus, Scutellonema, Mesocriconema, Hemicycliophoras, Hemicriconemoides, Aphelenchoides, Cacopaurus, Dolichodorus, Bursaphelenchus, Herschmanniella, Longidorus, Aphelenchoides or Nacobbus. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable grade can be increased by improving tolerance to biotic stress. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable grade can be increased by altering the plant substrate to decrease pathogenicity. Additionally, the nematode food supply can be altered either through changes in the composition or by modifying the plant material itself. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable grade can be increased by favorably interfering with the nematode life cycle in the direction of decreased pathogenicity. Optionally, the affected life cycle stages include the embryonic stage, hatching stage, juvenile stages (J1-J4), and adult stage. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable grade can be increased by favorably interfering with nematode fecundity in the direction of decreased pathogenicity. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable weight can be increased by favorably interfering with nematode population dynamics. Furthermore, population dynamics can be altered so that the male-to-female ratio shifts toward decreased pathogenicity, potentially with a higher proportion of free-living nematodes than infectious and / or reproducing females. Additionally, the population dynamics of parasitic and / or non-parasitic species that live free-living on nematodes can also be favorably altered. Optionally, growth, yield, or marketable grade can be increased without requiring reductions in the number of nematodes present in the soil.Optionally, increases in growth, yield, or marketable grade can be achieved by improving the overall soil ecosystem, enhancing soil fertility, improving soil biota and microbiota levels, and / or decreasing levels of other pathogens and / or pests. Additionally, soil biota levels, such as free-living nematodes and / or microbiota such as bacteria and fungi, can be favorably altered in a way that promotes plant health. Furthermore, the levels and / or success of infection or parasitism by pathogenic nematodes and / or other pathogenic species can be reduced. Other pathogenic species may also include species of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, protozoa, insects, mites, aphids, or nematodes.Additionally, free-living nematodes may include beneficial species that infect pest species, consume bacteria, are grazing species, predatory species, and other species. CCbEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI are classified as either colonizers and / or persistent nematodes and / or other species that perform other important functions within the ecosystem. "Colonizers" refers to free-living nematodes that are tolerant of disturbances, have short life cycles, high reproductive rates (which increase under favorable conditions), and exhibit population density fluctuations. "Persistent" refers to nematodes that are more sensitive to disturbances, have lower reproductive rates, longer life cycles, lower dispersal capabilities, and exhibit less population fluctuation. Optionally, the soil microbiota may also include beneficial species of fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, protozoa, insects, or mites.Optionally, nematode species can also be favorably altered to shift the proportion of free-living pathogenic nematodes (PPN) to beneficial bacteria / fungi that feed on plant growth. Additionally, nematode species and / or population structure can be altered to favor the proportion of beneficial free-living nematode species, as measured by colonizer / persistent scales, maturity indices, species ratios, or other measures. "Microbiota" refers to species of bacteria, fungi, or other microbes present on or within nematodes, in the soil, soil ecosystem, and / or plants. Optionally, the bacteria or fungi are selected from various species. CCbBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI residing within the intestinal tract of pathogenic and / or beneficial nematodes, optionally soil-derived gut bacteria, species that are part of nematode-bacteria symbiosis, species present in eggs and / or cysts, species that are part of entomopathogenic nematode-bacteria complexes, species that influence nematode reproduction, nematophagous bacteria, rhizobacteria, endophytic fungi, and / or soil bacteria or fungi that provide micro- and macro-nutrients in bioavailable forms. “Nematophagous bacteria” means obligate or opportunistic parasitic bacteria, rhizobacteria, endophytic bacteria, parasporal Cry protein-forming bacteria, and symbiotic bacteria. “Rhizobacteria” refers to bacteria residing within the rhizosphere, which can induce resistance in plants, i.e., induced system resistance.“Endophytic fungi” refers to pathogenic root-colonizing fungi and mycorrhizae, which compete with other root pathogens and may also modify root exudates. Optionally, the microbiota may include species of algae, fungi, oomycetes, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, protozoa, or nematodes. Optionally, the microbiota may be soil-resident and / or located in proximity to or within the rhizosphere and / or exert their effects on and / or within the rhizosphere. “Rhizosphere” refers to the region of growing medium or soil containing or influenced by microorganisms and / or root secretions. Optionally, microorganisms and / or plant roots in the rhizosphere may secrete root-edge cells or exudates. CCfcEnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI roots, hatching stimulants, chemical attractants, repellents or other compounds. Optionally, the microbiota influences nematode-plant-host recognition and / or interactions, either directly or indirectly. This paper describes a composition consisting of a formulation of laminarin and / or alpha-tucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan that alters one or more of the following: (I) root length, (II) tuber weight, (III) number of tubers, and (IV) marketable yield; while not reducing pathogenic nematode counts. Furthermore, we have demonstrated clear effects on growth, performance, yield, and quality parameters, which reach levels that are statistically indistinguishable from those achieved using commercial nematicides. According to one aspect, the invention provides the use of a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-tucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan in a method for improving plant growth and performance through the application of the composition at key developmental and growth stages throughout the life cycle. In preferred embodiments, the beta-glucan, alpha-tucans, and mannitol can be derived from more than one source, including seaweed and certain echinoderms. The seaweed can be derived from the group consisting of Laminariaceae, Fucacea, Gigartinaceae, or Lessoniaceae. Optionally, the glucan, tucans, and / or mannitol can be derived by means of synthetic or biotechnological approaches. Also described are: An application regimen for preventing or treating disease symptoms in plants, such as those selected from families belonging to Solanaceae, Poaceae, Brassicacea and Amaranthaceae, by applying to the plant during key development or growth periods, a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-fucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. An application regimen for improving plant growth, performance, and marketable yield by applying to the plant during key development or growth periods, a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-tucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. An application regimen to improve tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress, by applying to the plant during key periods of development or growth, a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-tucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. An application regime for interfering with the nematode life cycle, fecundity, development or digestive system in the direction of decreased pathogenicity, by applying to the plant or soil or growth medium during key periods of development or growth, a composition comprising beta-glucans or alpha-fucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. An application regime for interfering with the population dynamics of nematodes, both non-pathogenic and pathogenic species, by applying to the plant or soil or growth medium during key periods of development or growth, a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-fucans or at least a mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. An application regime for favorably altering soil microbial dynamics in different growth environments by applying to the plant or soil or growth medium during key periods of development or growth, a composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-fucans or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucan. The application schedule for administering the composition can be on a weekly basis at a rate of approximately 60 grams of bioactives applied per hectare of cultivated area. The application schedule can be adjusted to apply the composition at higher levels, approximately 10 times per hectare, in order to provide greater yield, marketability, and return on investment. The composition comprising beta-glucans and / or alpha-tucanos or at least one mannitol in combination with glucan and / or tucano described herein may be used in a method: - To increase root length, To increase the weight of the tuber, - To increase the number of tubers, To increase performance, CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI To increase marketable performance, To achieve the above without putting the ecosystem or user at risk To influence nematode multiplication rate, reproductive, digestive, or life cycle parameters To prevent or treat symptoms of disease in plants, such as those Angiosperms, to Solanaceae, selected from classes of Gymnosperms or optionally those families belonging Poaceae, Brassicacea and Amaranthaceae, when applied to the plant during key periods of development or growth with a composition comprising beta-glucans and alpha-fucans, Brief description of the drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, given by means of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1A-B are graphs that illustrate the positive relationship between potato cyst nematode (PCN) numbers and potato yield and marketable grade following the application of Composition 2; Figure 2 is a graph illustrating the population dynamics of free-living nematodes (FLN) through the growth period for each composition; and Figures 3A-D are graphs that demonstrate the effectiveness of Composition 2 in reducing localized and systemically induced fungal lesions in rapeseed plants grown under greenhouse conditions. Detailed description We describe a composition that is shown to improve the growth, yield, and marketable grade of plants grown in media infested with plant-pathogenic nematodes to levels comparable with those otherwise achieved through nematicide treatment alone. Furthermore, this composition is naturally derived and is shown to be non-nematicidal, as nematode population levels are not significantly reduced by the composition. Therefore, this invention provides a natural, effective, safe, and economical alternative means of improving the growth and yield of crops grown in a nematode-infested growing medium. Seaweed extracts There is considerable interest in the potential plant health and growth-promoting properties of seaweed extracts (Russo 1990 and Chojnacka et al., 2012). Evidence suggests that a variety of compounds from seaweed can enhance plant growth in the presence of nematodes. For example, some studies indicate that seaweed extracts can CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI increase the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and tomato, while in some cases it also impacts nematode populations (Wu Y et al., 1998; Featonby-Smith BC and Van Staden J. et al.; 1983; Courch et al. 1993A; Whapman et al., 1994): These effects are frequently attributed to the presence of compounds such as betaines and growth hormones, such as cytokinins and auxins (Wu Y et al., 1998, Crouch and Van Staden 1993B, Stirk and Van Staden, 1997, Jenkins T et al., 1998). However, the levels of growth hormones in seaweed extracts used in these studies are often unclear, as the methodologies employed frequently rely on growth hormone effect bioassays rather than direct quantitative measurements (e.g., mung bean rooting bioassays). This approach is still used today, despite its inherent limitations. Also emerging from these early studies was a clear impact of seaweed extracts on nematode fecundity. A study on tomato plants by Whapham et al. (1994) demonstrated reductions in the number of eggs produced by female Meloidognonye javanica after post-treatment of one generation with a commercial extract of Ascophyllum nodosum, “Maxicrop.” A further study by this group demonstrated a reduction in the number of J2 stages upon treatment with this product, effects which they attributed to the betaine components of the seaweed (Wu et al., 1997). However, much of this work was carried out under laboratory conditions, for example, hatching eggs in beakers containing seaweed media or water at a temperature of 20°C, and inoculating plants with the second-stage infective juvenile (J2) stage.Additionally, the “Maxicrop” ash treatment also resulted in significant reductions in J2, 63 days post-inoculation, which were not explained (Wu et al., 1997). Reductions in the number of female Meloidognye javanica and egg recovery from plants treated with an A. nodosum extract were reported by Wu et al. (1998) and attributed to betaine levels in the composition. However, this study was conducted in [location missing]. Arabidopsis thaliana under controlled conditions. As the authors state, these effects may be insufficient under normal agricultural conditions and, furthermore, would need to be incorporated into other control measures, such as nematicides (Wu et al., 1998). Such studies are limited by several factors, such as a lack of comparison with commercial-grade nematicides, and in some cases, the conclusions are based on in vitro findings, effects that cannot be observed in vivo or under field conditions.Other approaches to examining the effects of seaweed on fungi and nematodes involve solvent extraction, including n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol and ethanol. Sultana V et al., 2008 demonstrated the effect of solvent (n-hexane, chloroform, and methanol) and ethanol extracts of seaweed on increasing the mortality of juvenile Meloidogyne javanica, while also suppressing the infection of chili roots in housing and field plot experiments. Nematicidal and antifungal effects of such extracts have also been attributed to oily fractions containing various fatty acid esters, obtained through ethanol extraction (Ara J et al., 2005). However, the potential for extraction agents to account for some of these effects may be significant, for example, methanol is known to improve growth and crop performance (Nonomura et al., 1992, L¡, Y et al., 1995).Additionally, the effectiveness of these extracts has not been examined in large-scale trials and compared with current, effective commercial nematicides. Although Sultana V et al., 2011, reported an effect of *Solieria robusta*, reducing nematode gill counts to levels similar to carbofuran, they used dried seaweed. The properties of dried seaweed meal are highly variable both regionally and among species, and without clearly defined extraction procedures, it can be difficult to standardize or even replicate such effects. In fact, many early studies on seaweed cultivation and harvesting in the presence of nematodes have not been replicated. Where positive results have been found, extracts from a large number of species have been shown to be ineffective (Paracer S et al.).(De Waele D et al., 1987), and in some cases, extracts have been found to negatively affect plant growth and reduce tolerance to nematode attack (De Waele D et al., 1988). Recent efforts have also failed to identify a seaweed extract that can provide the protection and yield increases otherwise achieved with commercial nematicides (Martin TJ et al., 2007). Thus, there is still no non-seaweed-based formulation to date that can provide crop benefits at levels currently achieved through the use of registered nematicides. In conclusion, although evidence from the 1980s to the present suggests that seaweed can promote plant growth in the presence of nematodes, 30 years have passed without an effective or viable seaweed-based alternative to commercial nematicide treatments being developed. Despite their environmental and other hazards, commercial chemical-based nematicides remain the only practical method for counteracting the effects of nematode infestation on crop performance. For a natural alternative to nematicides to be viable in agriculture, it must demonstrate effects equivalent to or greater than those achieved using commercial nematicides alone. The lack of safe and viable alternatives to hazardous nematicides is addressed by the present invention. Laminarin, fucoidan and mannitol The effects of brown algae-derived polysaccharides, particularly laminarin, fucoidan, and mannitol, on improving plant performance in nematode-infested soils have not been explored. In mammals, there is considerable evidence to support a role for laminarin and fucoidan in improving various physiological and immunological parameters (Reilly et al., 2008; Novak et al., 2009; Leonard et al., 2011A and 2011B; Smith et al., 2011). Studies also suggest a role for glucans in eliciting plant defense responses (Klarzynski et al., 2000 and references therein; Wolskia et al., 2006). Mannitol has also been cited for use in osmotic priming (Dursun et al., 2012). However, these findings cannot be extrapolated to plant-parasitic nematodes. Besides the obvious differences between animal and plant morphology and physiology, findings concerning plant responses to bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens do not necessarily apply to Animalia, such as nematodes or insects. In particular, the processes involved in nematode-plant parasitism contrast with the mechanisms employed by other pathogens. For example, several nematode species must transform root cells into feeding sites (syncytia), a process that requires the secretion of a complex array of effector proteins, the roles of which are still being elucidated (Hamamouch N et al., 2012). Thus, while the induction of SARs may provide benefits against certain bacterial or fungal pathogens, defensive responses to nematodes are likely to be considered more complex.In fact, a study by Chinnasri B et al. (2006) shows that SAR inducers varied in their ability to reduce nematode reproduction in pineapple, with the variation in potency likely due to different activation points along the SAR signal transduction pathway. Although acibenzolar showed a broader spectrum of control than BABA and riboflavin, increases in crop yield were not achieved. Adverse effects on pineapple growth have been reported with CCbRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI (Chinnasri B et al., 2006). Furthermore, although early studies indicate that plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can be used to induce systemic resistance in plants against pests and diseases (Ramamoorthy V et al., 2001 and references therein), these approaches have been successful in limiting nematode control. In general, the effectiveness of using systemic resistance inducers in plants against nematodes is poorly understood. There are no known systemic resistance inducers in plants that can provide crop benefits at levels currently achieved through the use of registered nematicides. Although glucans are known plant defense inducers, it is unclear whether these properties impart effective responses against nematode infestation or whether significant increases in crop performance can be achieved. In fact, although recent attempts to develop compositions that are effective against nematodes have referred to glucans as inducers of plant defense (US 2009 / 0104222 (also published as EP2012591A2), EP1 135026 A4 (also published as US6582961), US 2002 / 0004458 A1, US 7927635 and US 8246965) in no case do glucans represent the active component of these compositions.Instead, glucans are generally cited simply as “enhancers” for the composition being described. Thus, there has been no description to date regarding the use of laminarin or CCfcRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI fucoidan (or related glucan or tucano) or mannitol compounds as active ingredients to improve performance parameters in nematode-infested soils, nor is there any evidence of such effects reported in the scientific literature to date. A suitable source of the active ingredients in the compositions described herein is seaweed, particularly brown algae species. Methods for producing laminarin for anti-cancer applications are described in US 20031 19780, US 200500651 14, and US 20050095250, either by extraction from seaweed as the raw material or by synthesis of analogues. The extraction method typically involves acid hydrolysis followed by centrifugation and then ultrafiltration, resulting in a purified fraction of laminarin. Seaweed species such as Laminaria digitata contain water-soluble forms of laminarin, thus eliminating the need for solubilization steps in this process. For the compositions of the invention, there is no requirement for a specific laminarin / glucan conformation, as its three-dimensional conformation is not considered to determine the mode of action, but rather the chain length and the nature of the bond. In some cases, there is no requirement for laminarin to be separated from other algal sugars, such as fucoidan, or sugar alcohols, such as mannitol, since these molecules impact biological actions distinct from their own properties and act synergistically with laminarin to enhance plant performance in the face of pathogenic challenges. The distinctive nutritional characteristics of seaweed include a category of nutrients called sulfated polysaccharides. These carbohydrate-related nutrients, also referred to as tucanos, have been examined for their properties in mammals, including anti-inflammatory properties and inhibition of human complement activation in vitro (Blonden et al., 1995). The biological properties of these molecules in plants are unclear. The immunological properties of laminarin, both in its naturally extracted and synthetic forms, have been extensively investigated. US2005095250, US20030119780, US20050065114, and US20040127457 discuss the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties of laminarin. Since the 1970s, β-glucans have been recognized as playing a role in plant-pathogen interactions. In modern times, the glucan-inducing properties have also been demonstrated in tobacco plants (Klarzynski O, et al., 2000 and references herein), and Wolskia et al. (2006) found enhanced protection against Susarium solani f. sp. eumartii and Rhizoctonia solani AG3 in plants and tubers. However, the extract used by Wolskia et al., 2006 was from a Rhizoctonia isolate and it is difficult to extrapolate studies on fungi to organisms such as nematodes.As discussed herein, plant defense responses that are effective against one pathogen do not necessarily indicate effectiveness against another. Nor do defense responses that are effective against nematodes. CCbRnn / l 7L7 / B / YILI necessarily correspond to increases in crop yield. Although US5750472 describes the use of laminarin in seed germination, there is no description of plant growth and performance in the presence of pathogenic nematodes. The use of β-glucans, α-fucans, or mannitol, alone or in combination, for improved plant performance and marketability is not demonstrated or suggested by the prior art. Furthermore, none of the prior art refers to the use of β-glucans, α-fucans, or mannitol, alone or in combination, to enhance tolerance to biotic stress, alter food supply, or favorably interfere with the nematode life cycle, fecundity, developmental system, or digestive system in the direction of decreased pathogenicity. Nor do they refer to the benefits of mannitol, β-glucans, or α-fucans, particularly those derived from seaweed, as a means of improving plant growth, performance, and marketability in nematode-infested soil, or as replacements for registered commercial nematicides. The invention will be more clearly understood from the following examples. Examples The examples given are the results of research studies on the effects of compositions containing laminarin, fucoidan, and mannitol on potato and grass species under challenge from G. pallida (cyst nematode) and Meloidogyne minor (root-knot nematode), as a model for all flowering plants including families belonging to Slanaceae, Poacee, Brassicacea, and Amaranthaceae and all species of plant-parasitic nematodes including families belonging to Heteroderidae, Anguinidae, Pratlyenchidae, Tylenchulidae, Hoplolaimidae, Trichodoridae, Belonolaimidae, Longidoridae, Creiconematidae, Aphelenchoididae, Dolichodoridae, or Parasitaphelenchidae. The examples shown include field trials conducted on potatoes using seaweed extract containing laminarin, fucoidan, and mannitol in combination in two compositions, Composition 1 and Composition 2. Fucoidan is examined individually.In addition, glucan alone, mannitol alone, glucan + fucan, glucan + mannitol, and fucan + mannitol are also examined as separate treatments. Comparisons with a commercially available nematicide, namely DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl), are also provided. Example 1 Objectives: To develop a composition for use in increasing the growth, yield, or marketable grade of plants grown in medium or soil infested with plant pathogenic nematodes, to levels comparable with DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl). Materials and methods: Field trials were conducted in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012 in soils known to contain populations of Globodera pallida cyst nematodes. Non-pathogenic nematode species are also known to be present in these soils, including the genera Heterodera / Globodera (cyst), Pratylenchus (lesion), Rotylenchus (spiral), Tylenchus, Tylenchorhynchus (stunting), Paratylenchus (pin), and Helicotylenchus (spiral). The trials were designed to examine the efficacy of compositions containing glucan, tucan, and mannitol in improving potato tuber yield and marketable grade, compared to a commercial nematicide, Vydate, and untreated controls. In each trial, the glucan and tucan forms used were laminarin and fucoidan, respectively.The optimal application rates and bioactive content of the compositions required to achieve these objectives were determined over the five-year performance trial period. Each treatment was completely randomized within four plots. Each plot contained six 0.7 m wide augers, 4 m long in 2008 and 3.7 m long in 2009, 2011, and 2012. Twelve tubers per auger were planted 33 cm apart in May of 2008 and 2011 and in the first week of June in 2009 and 2012. The Navan variety (Sonaum tuberosum L. ev. Navan) was planted in 2008, 2011, and 2012, while Désiré was planted in 2009. The four central augers were used for data collection, with the outer augers serving as guard rows. The compositions were applied by foliar spraying at 50% post-emergence and at approximately seven-day intervals thereafter.Foliar spraying was stopped after senescence was reported and crops were harvested in the fall. Compound fertilizers and fungicides were also applied at recommended rates and intervals, the latter to prevent the potato blight, Phytophthora infestans. In the 2008 trial, two compositions (Composition 1 and 2) were applied at a rate corresponding to a bioactive ratio of 1:2:3 of laminarin:fucoidan:mannitol. The application rate of bioactives per hectare was 73 g for Composition 1. The application rate for Composition 2, referred to as “Composition 2A,” was 67 g per hectare. Composition 1 was selected for a replicate trial the following year based on its improved performance compared to Composition 2 in 2008. The bioactive ratio of Composition 1 was maintained at a standard 1:2:3 ratio in 2009 and in all subsequent trials in which Composition 1 was evaluated.In the 2009 trial, composition 1 did not provide comparable benefits for Vydate in 2009; additional experiments were conducted at the facility in 2010, with the help of examining the potential benefits associated with increasing composition application rates (see Example 2). The application rates and bioactive content of the compositions were increased and tested in a field trial on nematode-infested soils in 2011. For Composition 1, the application rate was increased 2.5 times compared to 2008, corresponding to 182.5 g / ha, maintaining the same bioactive content and ratio as in 2008. The total bioactive content of the Composition 2 treatment in the 2011 trial, called “Composition 2B,” was increased from 2008 to achieve an application rate of 410 g of bioactives per hectare. Composition 2B is a reformulated version of Composition 2A used in 2008, applied in a 1:1:2 ratio of laminarin, fucoidan, and mannitol instead of a 1:2:3 ratio. An additional trial was captured in 2012 to examine the reproducibility of the increases achieved over Vydate® with Composition 2 in 2011.Composition 1 was also included in the trial, using the same bioactive rates and ratios as in 2011. In 2012, the bioactive ratio of Composition 2 was adjusted and applied to a 1:1:3 ratio of laminarin, fucoidan, and mannitol instead of 1:1:2 in the previous year. This corresponded to an application of 493 g of total bioactives per hectare (referred to as “Composition 2C”). Additionally, seed treatment with Composition 2C was evaluated in 2012. This involved applying a solution containing the composition to seed potatoes and allowing them to dry before planting. Planting took place within 24 hours of drying. In each trial, the application of foliar sprays was stopped after senescence was observed to begin. Each block consisted of: 1. Control 1: A fallow plot where plants did not grow or were allowed to grow 2. Control 2: A plot planted with potatoes but without any treatment. 3. Control 3: A plot with the nematicide “Vydate” (oxamyl) incorporated into the soil at full speed and planted with potatoes. 4. Potatoes were planted and foliar spraying of Composition 1 was applied. 5. Potatoes were planted and foliar spraying of Composition 2 was applied.* *Composition 2 was not evaluated in 2009. The harvested tubers were graded according to size as follows in 2008 and 2011: <45 mm: small table potato grade; 45–65 mm: table potato grade; >65 mm: large oven-type potatoes. The number and weight of tubers were recorded for each grade, with “marketable yield” defined as tubers (weight and number) falling into the >45 mm category. In the 2012 trial, a similar grading system was used: <35 mm, 35–55 mm, and 55 mm; with the >35 mm category defining “marketable yield.” The potential impact of applications on potato cyst nematode (PCN) numbers was also examined. This involved collecting soil samples from each plot just before planting to estimate the initial PCN population (P1). This was repeated the day before harvest, yielding the final population density (Pf). The PCN were extracted from the soil using a standard protocol for the “Fenwick Can” process.The number of cysts per gram of soil and the number of eggs per cyst were calculated, yielding the number of PCN eggs per gram of soil for both pre-planting (P1) and pre-harvest (Pf). These figures were then used to calculate the nematode multiplication rate (Pf / P1). A one-way ANOVA was used to test for differences between groups. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlation between PON and yield parameters. Results: Performance and marketable grade In the initial field trial in 2008, Composition 1 significantly increased total yield per plot compared to untreated controls (22,444 g versus 19,334 g, p-value = 0.018*, Table 1), while the increases achieved with Composition 2A (21,488 g) were not statistically significant. Treatment with Composition 1 was also associated with a significant increase in marketable yield versus controls (21,091 g versus 18,055 g, p-value = 0.029*). Both Composition 1 and 2A were associated with significant yield increases in the 45–65 mm marketable grade category (1,253 and 1,438 g, respectively) compared to untreated controls (8,094 g; p-values ​​0.027 and 0.021*, respectively). Composition 2A also significantly increased the number of tubers / plot in the 45-65 mm category compared to untreated controls (n = 83 versus 60, p value = 0.031*).In contrast to Compositions 1 and 2A, the application of Vydate® (oxamyl) did not increase potato yield or marketable grade. This was attributed to the high levels of rainfall that occur during this season, a known factor that limits the effectiveness of this nematicide. In conclusion, Composition 1 improved both total yield and marketable grade to levels greater than Vydate® or untreated controls, while Composition 2A achieved increases in marketable grade but not in total yield. Based on its improved performance over Composition 2A, Composition 1 was therefore selected for a second trial in 2009. In 2009, a substantial increase in average yield per borer was achieved in the Composition 1 treatment compared to untreated controls (5528 g versus 3801 g, p = 0.052, Table 2), corresponding to a 45% yield increase over the control. However, in contrast, Vydate® (oxamyl) was associated with a considerably greater overall yield increase over the controls (12817 g versus 3801 g, p > 0.0001). This trial confirmed that the application of Composition 1 is associated with improved potato yields on nematode-infested soil. However, given its failure to provide yield increases comparable to Vydate®, the application rates and bioactive content of the composition were re-examined at the laboratory facilities in 2010 (see Example 2) and subsequently adjusted to improve efficacy before the next field trial planned for 2011. The objectives of the 2011 trial were to examine the potential impact of increased bioactive application on improving yield and marketable grade compared to Vydate® (oxamyl). In this trial, the application of Composition 2B alone achieved an increase in average yield per borehole that was statistically indistinguishable from that achieved with Vydate® (9284 g versus 10556 g, p>0.05) and represented a substantial 37% increase over untreated controls (6775 g, pZ0.011*, Table 3). Increases in overall marketable yield (>45 mm tuber size) were also achieved with Composition 2B at comparable levels to Vydate (7888 g versus 5349 g, p=0.006**). Significant increases in the overall number of higher marketable grade potatoes (>45 mm) with Composition 2B compared to untreated controls (n=49 versus 35, p-value = 0.026*), statistically indistinguishable to Vydate (n = 56).Although Composition 1 also resulted in increases in the number of marketable high-grade potatoes (47 versus 35, p-value = 0.049*; Table 3), it was not associated with increases in total yield to levels comparable with Vydate. Composition 1 was associated with an increase in total yield versus controls (7664 g versus 6775 g); however, this increase did not reach statistical significance and was substantially lower than that achieved with Vydate® (10556 g). In conclusion, this trial demonstrated that treatment with Composition 2B is associated with significant increases in yield and marketable grade to levels comparable to and statistically indistinguishable from Vydate® (oxamyl). The effectiveness of Composition 2 alone in improving yield and marketable grade to levels comparable with Vydate® was re-examined in a field trial adjustment in 2012. In 2012, the application of Composition 2C was associated with significantly higher yield per auger than untreated controls (6695 g versus 4929 g, p = 0.001**; Table 4), with statistically indistinguishable increases from those achieved with Vydate® (6695 g versus 6479 g, respectively, p > 0.05). Similarly, overall marketable yield (>35 mm) per auger was significantly increased with Composition 2C compared to untreated controls (6449 g versus 4654 g, p = 0.0001*) and comparable to Vydate (6300 g). Although Composition 2C had no effect on marketable light and medium grades, a substantial increase in the large weight grade category (>55 mm) was achieved over controls (4571 g versus 2780 g, p value = 0.001*) and at levels comparable with Vydate (4551 g). This effect was also observed at the tuber number level (p value = 0.004**).Composition 1 did not significantly increase yield or marketable grade over untreated controls. However, Composition 1 was associated with a significant increase in yield in the lowest weight category, both in terms of number of tubers (n = 19 vs. 13, p = 0.009**) and weight (<35 mm; 383 vs. 274, p = 0.014*; Table 4). Seed treatment with Composition 2C was also associated with a marginal overall increase in yield over the control and a slight increase within the 35–55 grade. Overall, the findings from the 2012 trial demonstrate a significant increase in total yield and marketable grade following the application of Composition 2, statistically greater than the untreated controls and at comparable levels, and statistically indistinguishable from those achieved with Vydate. Because similar effects were achieved in the trial conducted the previous year, the effectiveness of Composition 2 in improving overall performance and marketable grade to levels comparable with Vydate is shown to be reproducible. In general, the increases in yield and marketable grade were observed to be largely associated with the levels of bioactives applied per hectare.Although applying 67–73 g / ha was shown to be effective in improving yield and marketable grade (2008 trial) and also increased overall yield in 2009, the efficacy of the formulation was improved at higher bioactive application rates (2011 and 2012 trials). This is consistent with observations from laboratory experiments showing the substantial effects of these types of formulations when applied at higher levels (see Example 2). Potato cyst nematode (PCN) populations Increases in tuber yield are achieved with compositions that do not negatively impact nematode population levels, as shown in Table 5. The multiplication rate of PCN (Pf / Pi) was not significantly affected by treatment with either Composition 1 or Composition 2 (Table 5). In contrast, the nematicide treatment (Vydate) is associated with a CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI showed a significant reduction in nematode multiplication rate compared to untreated controls (Pf / Pi = 0.62 and 17.28 respectively, p-value > 0.05; Table 5), at similar levels for the fallow treatment. Although a reduction in Pf / Pi was observed through the use of Composition 1 in 2011, it was not significantly lower than the untreated controls (7.04 versus 17.28, p-value > 0.05, Table 5). Thus, in contrast to the nematicide treatment, Compositions 1 and 2 did not significantly reduce nematode numbers. This demonstrates that the compositions do not act as nematicide treatments when they improve crop growth and marketable grade. Moreover, in the case of Composition 2, the darrenas with the highest PCN levels were also associated with the largest increase in overall yield and high-grade marketable rootstock figures (r2= 0.919, p value = 0.041*, and r2= 0.986, p value = 0.007**, respectively, Figures 1A-B). This shows that Composition 2 achieves increases in yield and marketable grade without reducing the number of parasitic nematodes, and furthermore, is highly effective in plots containing high levels of PCN. Limb-living nematodes (FLN): In 2012, the effect of different compositions on free-living nematodes (FLN) was examined throughout the growing season. Plots were assessed by FLN counts at selected time points. The nematicide treatment was associated with a significant reduction in FLN counts compared to the untreated control during the growing season (p < 0.05, Figure 2). In contrast, Composition 1 and Composition 2C were associated with FLN counts similar to the untreated control throughout the growing season. This demonstrates that the compositions do not negatively affect the overall soil ecosystem (Figure 2). FLN counts were reduced for all treatments and the control near harvest. Discussion These trials demonstrate that treating potatoes with Composition 2 is associated with significant increases in total yield and marketable grade, to levels comparable with the commercial nematicide DuPont MRVydate® (oxamyl). In contrast to Vydate® (oxamyl), these increases were achieved without reducing nematode populations or producing the nematicidal effects typically required for most commercial nematicides to be effective. Thus, Composition 2 provides a means of improving crop yields in the face of pathogenic nematode infestation. Compositions 1 and 2 were also effective under unfavorable weather conditions known to negatively impact the efficacy of commercial nematicides, such as the very high levels of rainfall that occurred in 2008.In contrast to commercial nematicides, Composition 1 and 2 pose no health risks or dangers to the individual applying the composition, nor do they endanger or harm bee populations. Additionally, Composition 1 and 2 do not negatively affect the soil ecosystem. Optimal application speeds: Initial field trials demonstrated that the compositions could achieve a level of efficacy equivalent to a nematicide when applied at a rate of >67 g of bioactives per hectare (Composition 1 and Composition 2A). Therefore, 67 g represents the lower limit at which efficacy can be obtained from the compositions. However, >67 g / ha did not produce reproducible results in the following year. By applying bioactives at a total rate of >400 g / ha, reproducible results comparable to nematicides were achieved in the 2011 and 2012 trials (Composition 2B and 2C). Overall, these trials indicated that although efficacy can be achieved at a minimum rate of 67 g / ha, higher rates of >400 g of bioactives per hectare are required to ensure year-to-year consistency and achieve maximum yields.The rate greater than >400 g / ha refers to either the total sum of the three bioactives together, the total sum of synergistic combinations of the bioactives, or the amount applied per hectare when the bioactives are applied as individual single applications. Although yield increases can be achieved at a 1:2:3 ratio of laminarin:fucoidan:mannitol (Composition 1 and 2A), a ratio between 1:1:2 and 1:1:3 (Composition 2B and C, respectively) achieves consistent year-over-year yield increases. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / ΥΙΛΙ con-year. In conclusion, the application of Composition 2 was associated with significant increases in yield and marketable grade in nematode-infested soils, at levels comparable to nematicide treatments, but without requiring direct nematicidal effects. The differences in efficacy between Composition 1 and Composition 2 indicate differences in the levels of bioactive compounds present in the two compositions.Further analysis of the efficacy of Composition 2 demonstrates an effect in reducing localized and systemically induced necrotrophic fungal lesions on rapeseed plants (n = 10 per treatment) grown under greenhouse conditions (minimum temperature: 12°C). The lesion diameter of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum was reduced by about 35% at the highest application rate (1.5%; p <0.0001****; Figure 3A), while the lesion size was reduced by over 43% in systemically infected leaves at the same application rate (S+2, systemic infection; p <0.0001 ****; Figure 3B). Similarly, localized Alternaria brassicae lesions were reduced by over 40% (p <0.0001****; Figure 3C) with a reduction greater than 35% observed in systemically infected leaves (S+2); p < 0.0001****; Figure 3D.This trial demonstrated that Composition 2 is effective in reducing the size of fungal lesions induced by the necrotrophic fungal pathogens Alternaria brassicae and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. In particular, treatment with Composition 2 achieves reductions in the size of lesions arising from both infections. CCbRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI is both localized and systemic. This systemic reduction is most noticeable in the case of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infections, in which a greater reduction in lesion size is achieved on leaves S + 2 (systemic infection), compared to leaf “S” (local infection). These effects are likely to apply to other fungal pathogens, including biotrophic species. CCfcRnn / l 7Π7 / Β / YILI Table 1: Effect of compositions on total yield and marketable yield in 2008. Yield increase vs. Controls (%) Marketable osej ¿0 c Xp op 17% 11% ogrades in 2008 on treatment with Composition 1, Composition 2A listed in the table above and classified according to the grade denote statistically significant increases in yield and grade; in treatment. The level of statistical significance was denoted as follows: *P jeqnj ΌN c Xp o^· 00 22% 22% Total osen 05 'c ^p op 16% 11% jeqnj on 'S 'c Xp OJ 13% 18% Average yield per plot (11.2m2) Weights of tubers (g) Ίθωοο puoH LO LO O 00 O 00 00 21091* 20036 jeqni ep |EIOI -on 19334 20029 22444* 21488 wwgi7> 1452 wwgg -luiugt? 8094 9386 11253* 11438* wwg9< 9961 9394 9837 8598 Numbers of tubers jewoo puoH co in CD in CO Ί— Ί— 00 1-1-- jeqnj ep lejoj on LO CM T- 00 cu I- Ί-- T- . wujgv> CU 00 co cu CO cu CO The yields of potato I and Nematicide (Vydate) are of marketable. The marketable asterisks over controls s > 0.05. wwgg -wwgt? o co cu CD o co co 00 Luwgg< 00 00 CO co co o 00 o Έ o O Nematicide (Vydate) Composition 1 Composition 2A. CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Υ Table 2: Effect of Composition 1 on total yield in 2009 T rating Average yield per auger (2.59m2) Total yield (weight, g) Yield increase vs. yield. controls (%) Control 3801.44 n / a Nematicide (Vydate) 128 + 131.8%**** Composition 1 5527.81* +45% . Total potato yields achieved in 2009 under treatment with Composition 1 and Nematicide (Vydate). Asterisks denote statistically significant yield increases over untreated controls. The level of statistical significance was denoted as follows: P = 0.09–0.05, P < 0.0001. Table 3: Effect of compositions on total yield and marketable yield in 2011. ώ > oc Φ JO Φ N Φ osaj n / a .0 o lo 20% 47%** CO O o O CXJ Έ E c 2 2 O -o O) ou tn 0) E ¿ ω c Φ se o Φ E o O jaqni 0*%1% Φ** 1,461% n / a Green compositions with the I yield were denoted φ ~ o 2 O c Φ osad n / a 56%*** 13% 37%* E < I- jaqni ΟΝ n / a 31% 12% 11% — O Φ o Φ c πω Φ 4 ω9 9342*** 6412 00 00 00 the Com| cados ( statist lificative OJ E T- Φ Φ or Φ Q. ercules (g) jaqnj ap |EJOJ ΌΝ 6775 10556*** 7664 9284* but with and classifying ° 13 tube safety wwg^> 12 c - C .2 ω Pesos wwgg -wwgt? .Q > ri Φ W 1 ° C VI o - c ω n CM 2 Φ o 7 E o Q. O ω •leave puey LO CO 56** 47* 49 p —1 * c E « Φ C Φ * Φ Φ c ω o ω Φ ja E φ T ~ c oc ον 8'69 LO σ> 78.36 LO 13 o -2 2 o 2 ° ~ o S5 u φ .O φ * Φ c ω ñ * ο- § 2 2 Number wwgg -wwg^ 33 48 45 42 Φ ω φ C ο -σ - ο — ω ο ο ω φ φ ... ° tí Φ ν wwgg< CM CO CXJ l·- ί- Φ ω >_ η Φ -i ο I c > ω o Έ o O Nematicida (Vydate) Composition 1 Composition 2B The rendí and Nematicida commercializadle commercializadle sigue: *P < O.Oí. Yield increase vs. Controls (%) Marketable osaj c 35%** 39%** xP ox os in 2012 on treatment with Composition 1, Composition 2C already table above and classified according to marketable grade. Statistically significant values ​​in yield and marketable grade of statistical significance were denoted as follows: * P < 0.05, jaqni ΌN CC c ^P θ'LO 12% ^p θ'CO Total osaj CC c 31%** tp (Γ CO CO xP ox LO jaqni ΌN CC c ^p OJ xp (Γ 00 χO ox CO Average yield per plot (11.2m2) Tuber weights (g) jowoq puay 4654 6300** 6449** 4695 jaqni ap |EIOJ ΌN 4929 6479** 6695** 00 LO LO wwgt7> CM 1479* CO CM CD en C\l wwgg -wwgt? 1874 1749 1878 2232 wwg9< 2780 4551** 4571 ** 2627 Number of tubers •jawoo puey CD CD CD LO O jaqnj ap leioi ον σ> LO 00 00 Potato yields achieved with Nematicide (Vydate) are described in I. Asterisks denote statistical increases over untreated controls. “P < 0.01” levels.wwg^> co 1-- OO CM 1-- 1— wwgg -wwgt? cy LO co 00 co item wwgg< LO CM co * LO CO co CM oco O Nematicide (Vydate) Composition 1 Composition 2A. Table 5: Effect of compositions on multiplication rate, Pf / P¡, of PCN. Treatment Multiplication rate (Pf / P¡) Significance Fallow 0.75 a Control (no treatment) 17.28 b Full-rate nematicide (Vydate) 0.62 a Composition 1 7.04 b Composition 2B 18.23 b Within columns sharing the same letter, the values ​​are not significantly different (significance at the p<0.05 level). This test was conducted in 2011. Example 2 Objectives: To examine the effects of Composition 1 and fucoidan on plant root growth in nematode-infested growth media. Materials and methods: The effects of Composition 1 and fucoidan on root growth of creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass were examined in laboratory facilities in the presence or absence of plant-parasitic nematodes in 2010. Seeds were pre-moistened in test materials for 16 hours each and allowed to germinate on moist USGA sand at 16°C. Roots were analyzed using a WinRHIZO image analysis system over a 7-day period to assess average root length following applications (n=10 seedlings per treatment). Experiments were also conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Composition 1 and fucoidan in enhancing root length in the presence or absence of plant-pathogenic nematodes. Seedlings (7 replicates) were established in sand columns containing USGA-specified sand and sprayed weekly with either Composition 1 or fucoidan.Composition 1 was applied according to the same bioactive ratio as in 2008, but at a substantially increased rate of 1460 g of bioactives applied per hectare. Fucoidan was applied at a rate equivalent to 600 g / ha. Root-knot nematodes of the species Meloidogyne minor were inoculated around the roots in week 1, as second-stage juveniles. The roots were analyzed using a WinRHIZO image analysis system over a 25-day period. Results: Although Composition 1 had no effect on early root growth of any grass species, a significant increase in the average root length of perennial ryegrass was achieved by soaking the seeds in fucoidan versus untreated controls (48.9 mm versus 43.0 mm, p <0.05*, Table 6). In the absence of Meloidogyne minor infestation, Composition 1 was associated with a significant increase in root growth of perennial ryegrass seedlings compared to untreated controls (79.6 mm vs. 69.4 mm, p <0.05*, Table 7). A substantial increase was observed in the presence of nematodes (97.4 mm vs. 42.3 mm, p <0.05), suggesting the enhanced efficacy of Composition 1 in the presence of nematodes. Treatment with fucoidan was highly effective in increasing root growth in the absence of nematodes, thus suggesting a high level of efficacy for fucoidan in enhancing the root growth of perennial ryegrass in nematode-infested growing media. In the presence of nematodes, the efficacy was also highly effective. Significant increases in root growth were also observed when treating creeping bentgrass with Composition 1 and fucoidan. In the absence of Meloidogyne minor infestation, Composition 1 resulted in a significant increase in root growth compared to the control (22.8 mm vs. 174 mm, p < 0.05*, Table 7). Similarly, a significant increase in root length following the application of Composition 1 was achieved in the presence of nematodes compared to untreated controls (18.7 mm vs. 12.4 mm, p < 0.05*). Treatment with fucoidan produced comparable results. 100 Table 6: Effect of pre-soaked seeds with Composition 1 and fucoidan on early root growth. Treatment Average root length (mm) Perennial ryegrass (n = 10) Creeping bentgrass (n = 10) Control 43.0a 37.9a Composition 1 38.1a 37.7a Fucoidan 48.9b 39.1a Within columns that share the same letter, it means that they are not significantly different (significance at the p<0.05 level). Table 7: Effects of Composition 1 and fucoidan on average root length (mm) of perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass in the presence and absence of plant pathogenic nematodes. Perennial ryegrass (n = 7) Creeping Bentgrass (n=7) Application -Mm + Mm Application -Mm +Mm Control 69.4a 42.3a Control 17.4a 12.4a Composition 1 79.6b 97.4b Composition 1 22.8b 18.7b Fucoidan 129.2C 102.2b Fucoidan 27.1b 20.2b Columns sharing the same letter are not significantly different (significance at the p<0.05 level). “+Mm” denotes inoculation with Meloidogyne minor, and “-Mn” denotes conditions where inoculation with Meloidogyne did not occur. 101 minor). Discussion These experiments demonstrate that Composition 1 and a purified component thereof (fucoidan) significantly increase root growth of creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass in a growing medium infested with root-knot nematodes of the species Meloidogyne minor. Furthermore, Composition 1 was shown to be as effective as fucoidan in the presence of nematodes, despite containing lower levels of this bioactive. This suggests that the significant effects imparted by Composition 1 can be attributed to the presence of additional bioactives in the product, which may be acting synergistically with fucoidan to stimulate plant growth in the presence of nematodes (laminarin and / or mannitol). Moreover, these findings indicate that the efficacy of such compositions can be increased when applied at rates that ensure high levels of applied bioactives per hectare.This hypothesis was tested in field trials in 2011, 2012 (see Example 1) and in 2013 (Experiment 3). Composition 1 was less effective than fucoidan in the absence of nematodes, with fucoidan also having significant effects in both nematode-infested and similar nematode-free media (perennial ryegrass experiment). This indicates that fucoidan is highly effective in both stressed and non-stressed environments. The efficacy of Composition 1, which Composition 102, which contains lower levels of fucoidan, may have its effects intensified in the presence of additional molecules (e.g., laminarin, mannitol), which act synergistically to produce greater effects in nematode-infested media. Furthermore, fucoidan was also effective as a treatment for perennial ryegrass in pre-germination stages, with Composition 1 only effective in enhancing root growth when applied to established seedlings. Thus, although fucoidan is an effective growth-promoting composition when applied at the seed treatment stage, Composition 1 is as effective as fucoidan alone as a treatment once seedlings are established. Again, this points to synergistic effects between bioactives such as laminarin and / or mannitol and fucoidan in Composition 1, effects that may become more evident once seeds are established but to a lesser extent before germination. In conclusion, treatment with Composition 1 and fucoidan significantly increased root growth in creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass in the presence of nematode infestation. From an economic standpoint, Composition 1 would provide a higher return on investment for growers due to its lower production costs, while fucoidan would be less viable given the purification costs. The significant effects observed with Composition 1 suggest a synergistic mode of action between fucoidan and other bioactives contained in the composition, such as laminarin. CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y 103 and / or mannitol. Furthermore, these findings indicate that the composition's efficacy is enhanced by ensuring that high levels of bioactives are applied per hectare, an effect confirmed in field trials in 2011 and 2012 (see Example 1). The hypothesis that interactions between bioactives are potentially synergistic in their effects was investigated in a field trial in 2013 (Example 3). CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y Example 3 Objectives: To determine the efficacy of glucan alone, mannitol alone, glucan+fucan, glucan+mannitol, and fucan+mannitol in improving the yield of potatoes grown in soil infested with plant-pathogenic nematodes, as compared to DuPontMRVydate® (oxamyl) Materials and methods: Differences in efficacy achieved with Composition 1 and Composition 2 in field trials between 2008 and 2012 pointed to a differential effect of bioactive levels within the two compositions (Example 1). Laboratory trials on the cultivated grass species in the presence of Meloidogyne minor identified fucoidan as one of the bioactive compounds responsible for enhanced growth (Example 2). Despite lower fucoidan levels, Composition 1 also achieved equivalent increases in root growth in the same trial compared to purified fucoidan. This suggested a synergistic effect of fucoidan with other bioactive compounds. The composition includes 104 bioactives, such as glucan and / or mannitol. A field trial was conducted in 2013 to further determine which bioactives or combinations of bioactives are responsible for conferring improvements in overall and marketable yield in nematode-infested growth media. As in previous trials, the glucan and tucan forms used were laminarin and fucoidan, respectively. The bioactive compounds were isolated, and stock solutions were prepared containing glucan alone, mannitol alone, glucan + mannitol, fucan + mannitol, and glucan + fucan. The efficacy of the bioactive fractions was evaluated in plots known to be infested with Globodera pallida. Treatments were completely randomized, with plots approximately 16 m² in area and six rows wide. Twelve tubers were planted per row. A one-meter separation was placed between blocks, with two rows of fallow between treatments. The row dimensions were 0.7 meters wide and 3.7 meters long. The Navan crop (Solanum tuberosum L. ev. Navan) was planted, and the compounds were applied by foliar spraying at 50% post-emergence and at approximately seven-day intervals thereafter. Foliar spraying ceased once senescence was observed. For each of the 5 treatments, a total of 621 g of bioactives per Ha was applied.A nematicide treatment, Vydate, was applied at full rate as a separate treatment. Standard compound fertilizers and fungicides were also applied. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y 105 recommended rates and intervals. The harvest was collected in November. Total harvest weight and marketable yield (category >35 mm) were measured, with comparisons between bioactive and nematicide treatments made by means of a one-way ANOVA. CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y Results: Glucan only The total yield with glucan alone was statistically indistinguishable from Vydate (10524 g vs. 11337 g, p=0.21). The marketable yield with glucan alone was also statistically indistinguishable from Vydate (10218 g vs. 11009 g, p=0.22). This demonstrates that the yields achieved with glucan alone are comparable to those achieved with Vydate. Mannitol alone The overall yield in the mannitol-only treatment was significantly lower than that achieved with Vydate (9652 g vs. 11337 g, p = 0.009**). This was also observed at the total marketable yield level (9324 g vs. 11009 g, p = 0.01*). This demonstrates that mannitol alone does not achieve comparable yields with Vydate. Glucan + mannitol 106 Treatment with glucan and mannitol was associated with an almost 6% increase in total yield compared to that achieved with full-rate Vydate (12,028 g vs. 1,133.7 g, p = 0.28). Similarly, marketable yield was 6.7% higher for the glucan and mannitol treatment compared to Vydate (1,174.8 g vs. 1,100.9 g, p = 0.25). This demonstrates that the yields achieved with glucan and mannitol treatment are comparable to those achieved with Vydate. CCfcBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y Mannitol+fucan The mannitol+fucan treatment was associated with a total yield that was statistically indistinguishable from Vydate (11549 g vs. 11337 g, p = 0.74). The marketable yield was also marginally higher and statistically indistinguishable from Vydate (11352 g vs. 11009 g, p = 0.59). This demonstrates that the yields achieved with the mannitol+fucan treatment are comparable to those achieved with Vydate. Glucan+fucan The yield achieved with the glucan+fucan treatment was statistically indistinguishable from that achieved with Vydate (10,650 g vs. 1,133 g, p = 0.29) and similar to that achieved with glucan alone (10,524 g). Likewise, the marketable yield in both treatments was also statistically indistinguishable (10,433 g vs. 1,1009 g, p = 0.37). This demonstrates that 107 The yields achieved on treatment with glucan+fucan are comparable to those achieved with Vydate. Discussion The objective of this trial was to compare the yields achieved with glucan alone, mannitol alone, glucan + mannitol, fucan + mannitol, and glucan + fucan with those achieved with a commercial nematicide, Vydate. In most cases, the yields were found to be comparable and statistically indistinguishable from Vydate. The yield with mannitol alone, however, was significantly lower than that of Vydate. Glucan alone, in contrast, provided a yield comparable to Vydate. In contrast to their effects as simple bioactive fractions, the effectiveness of glucan and mannitol alone was substantially enhanced by the presence of additional molecules. Notably, the glucan-mannitol and mannitol+fucan treatments were associated with the highest marketable yields in the overall trial, achieving marginally higher levels than Vydate, although not significantly. This points to a surprising level of synergy among the bioactives. While mannitol alone did not provide comparable nematicide yields, the yield achieved with mannitol in the presence of fucoidan was comparable to both glucan+mannitol and Vydate. Furthermore, the glucan+fucan treatment was also associated with yields statistically indistinguishable from Vydate and marginally higher than Vydate. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y 108 greater than glucan alone. This trial demonstrates the efficacy of individual and synergistic combinations of laminarin, laminarin and mannitol, laminarin and fucoidan, and fucoidan and mannitol. The application rates of individual bioactives and their synergistic combinations are as specified in Example 1. The rate of >400 g / ha refers to either the sum total of the three bioactives together, the sum total of dual synergistic combinations of the bioactives, or the amount applied per hectare when the bioactives are applied as single, individual applications. CCfcRnn / l 7Π7 / E / Y Table 8: Effects of bioactives on total yield and marketable yield in 2013. Treatment Average yield per auger (2.59m2) Total weight (g) Marketable weight (g) Full-rate nematicide 11337 11009 Glucan only 10524 10218 Mannitol only 9652** 9324* Glucan + mannitol 12028 11748 Mannitol + tucano 11549 113525 Glucan + tucano 10650 10433 The potato yields achieved in 2013 under treatment with glucan alone, mannitol alone, glucan+fucan, glucan + mannitol, fucan+mannitol and nematicide (Vydate) are described in the table above. 109 Asterisks denote statistically significant differences in performance versus full nematicide rate. Statistical significance levels are denoted as follows: * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y Conclusions: In conclusion, this trial demonstrates that glucan alone, glucan + mannitol, mannitol + fucan, and fucan + glucan, but not mannitol alone, achieve yields that are statistically indistinguishable from Vydate. 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Claims

1. A method for controlling populations of plant-pathogenic nematodes while maintaining or increasing populations of beneficial nematodes without requiring the use of any chemical pesticide or nematicide, comprising the step of: applying a composition comprising glucan to plants or crop growth medium which is infested with plant-pathogenic nematodes, wherein: the composition is at least as effective as commercially available synthetic nematicides in terms of reducing crop yield losses and symptoms of nematode infection, wherein the composition does not pose a risk to the ecosystem; and does not pose a risk to an individual applying the composition.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the population dynamics or population density of beneficial nematodes are maintained or altered to levels which improve the overall soil, soil ecosystem, soil fertility, soil biota and microbiota levels and / or to levels which reduce the numbers of other pathogens and / or pests.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the beneficial nematodes are selected from nematodes that feed on beneficial bacteria / fungi, entomopathogenic nematodes, grazing species, predatory species, colonizers or persistent species.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the glucan: is isolated from a brown macroalga of the class Phaeophyceae that CCfcBnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI may be derived from one or more Fucaceae or Lessoniaceae; is is is is of the families Laminariaceae, isolated isolated isolated isolated from of of a a a brown macroalga brown macroalga brown macroalga derived from red algae of the class produced biotechnology.

5. The glucan method is derived 6.The method of the species of fungus is 7. The Ascophyllum, Laminaria, Sargassum, Florideophyceae, or by means of chemical synthesis approaches and / or methods in accordance with the claim of a fungus or yeast such as a glucan derived from a plant source 8. The method of conformity with composition is applied in a 1, 5, Saccharomyces the such the in where the the cere visiae. claim 1 as barley, where or oats. claim 1, where such quantity such greater than grams / hectare of the glucan is applied to the growth area.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is applied at different stages of crop or plant growth, including: pre-sowing stage; planting stage; sowing stage; at regular intervals throughout the plant life cycle; during key developmental stages, including seed germination, vegetative and root growth, flowering, blooming and fruiting; post-harvest; during the off-season; or during crop rotation periods.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is applied by means of one or more of the following means: seed treatment; application to the soil or growing medium; irrigation; drip irrigation; foliar application; fertigation; root application; tuber application; or plant application. 11.- The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is in a liquid, powder or granule form.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition is applied on a regular basis at a minimum rate of approximately 60 g / hectare. CCbBnn / l 7Π7 / Β / Y 131 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plants are selected from: families of seed-producing, non-flowering plants belonging to the division Gymnospermae; flowering plants belonging to the division Angiospermae; plants including grain legume crops, vegetable crops, cereal crops, root and tuber crops, plantations, tree and commercial crops, fruit and nut crops, ornamental, nursery and flower crops, lawn and grass crops, cool-season crops and cover crops; or plants including annuals, biennials and perennials. 14.- The method according to claim 1, wherein the improved growth is conferred in vegetative tissues or reproductive organs of selected plants from root, rhizoid, stem, leaves, flower, seed, fruit, cones, strobilus or spores. 15.- The method according to claim 1, wherein increases in growth, yield or marketable grade of plants are achieved by intensifying tolerance to biotic stress and secondary diseases, altering the food supply or favorably interfering with the life cycle, fecundity, development or digestive system of nematodes in the direction of decreased pathogenicity.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the harvest yield and marketable grade are improved under conditions that are otherwise known to negatively impact the efficacy of commercial nematicides. CCbRnn / l 7P7 / B / YILI 132 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the conditions that are otherwise known to negatively impact the effectiveness of commercial nematicides include unfavorable weather or climatic conditions.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition does not endanger bees or harm bee populations. 19.- The method according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a tucano or a sugar alcohol.

20. The method according to claim 1, for improving the microbial dynamics of the soil, wherein the composition comprises an active ingredient, wherein the active ingredient consists essentially of glucan and a prebiotic such as fucoidan.