Herbicide components and site-specific weed control methods

Abstract

The invention relates to a herbicide component containing (A) Compounds with the formula (I) or their derivatives acceptable as agricultural chemicals, such as salts or esters thereof; and (B) at least one herbicide selected from the following groups: B1 acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor (ACCaza); B2 acetolate synthase inhibitor (ALS); B3 auxin mimic herbicide; B4 photosynthetic system-II inhibitor herbicide (PS-II); B5 hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor herbicide (HPPD); B6 very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) inhibitor herbicide; The invention B7 is a selected herbicide from the group comprising beflubutamide (B7a), bixlozone (B7b), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d), icafolin (B7e), pendimethalin (B7f), and tetflupyrolimet (B7g). The invention also relates to a method for controlling weeds, including the herbicide component as described in the invention.

Description

[0001] HERBICIDAL COMPOSITIONS

[0002] The present invention relates to novel herbicidal compositions comprising a combination of herbicidal active ingredients which provides control of weeds in crops of useful plants. The invention further provides methods of controlling weeds in crops of useful plants, and to the use of the herbicidal composition to control weeds. Combinations of herbicidal active ingredients are often used in agriculture to increase and / or broaden the control of problematic plants (weeds) in crops of useful plants. In some instances, the combination can give rise to a valuable greater-than-additive (synergistic) effect which can, for example, enable efficient weed control through lower application rates. Certain herbicidal compounds are taught in WO2019 / 158666 which are shown to provide effective control of problematic weeds in crops, especially cereal crops. It has now been found that combinations featuring such herbicidal compounds can provide beneficial effects.

[0003] Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a herbicidal composition comprising (A) a compound of Formula (I) or an agrochemically acceptable derivative e.g salt or ester thereof; and (B) at least one herbicide selected from the group consisting of:

[0004] B1 an acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicide;

[0005] B2 an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide;

[0006] B3 an auxin mimic herbicide;

[0007] B4 a photosystem-ll (PS-II) inhibiting herbicide;

[0008] B5 a hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide;

[0009] B6 a very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-inhibiting herbicide;

[0010] B7 a herbicide selected from the group consisting of beflubutamid (B7a), bixlozone (B7b), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d), icafolin (B7e) , pendimethalin (B7f) and tetflupyrolimet (B7g); or an agrochemically acceptable derivative e.g salt or ester of B.

[0011] The compound of Formula (I) is known from WO2019 / 158666 and provides effective control of problematic weeds in crops, especially cereal crops. The compound of Formula (I) is also known as 3-Acetyl-9-[2,6- dimethyl-4-(1-propyn-1-yl)phenyl]-10-hydroxy-3-azaspiro[5.5]undec-9-en-8-one having CAS Number 2374705-11-8. The compound of Formula (I) can exist in an alternative form, depicted below as compound (la): also known as 3-Acetyl-9-[2,6-dimethyl-4-(1-propyn-1-yl)phenyl]-3-azaspiro[5.5]undecane- 8, 10-dione having the CAS Number 2374704-95-5. It being understood that both forms, or mixtures thereof, can be utilised as component (A) of the present invention.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, B is B1. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ACCase-inhibiting herbicide (B1) is selected from the group consisting of clodinafop (B1a) (including clodinafop-propargyl (B1aa)), fenoxaprop (B1 b) (including fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1ba)), pinoxaden (B1c), tralkoxydim (Bid) and 3-[2-methoxy-4-(1- propyn-1-yl)phenyl]-4oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-2-yl methylcarbonate (CAS 1848207-89-5) (metproxybicyclone) (B1e).

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, component (B) is selected from the group consisting of clodinafop (B1a) (or clodinafop-propargyl (B1aa)), fenoxaprop (B1 b) (or fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1ba)) and pinoxaden (B1c).

[0014] In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, component (B) is clodinafop- propargyl (B1aa). In another more preferred embodiment of the present invention, component (B) is fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1 ba).

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, component (B) is pinoxaden (B1c).

[0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, B is B2. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ALS-inhibiting herbicide (B2) is selected from the group consisting of amidosulfuron (B2a), florasulam (B2b), flucarbazone (B2c), iodosulfuron (B2d) (including iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium (B2da)), mesosulfuron (B2e) (including mesosulfuron-methyl (B2ea)), metsulfuron (B2f) (including metsulfuron-methyl (B2fa)), penoxsulam (B2g), pyroxsulam (B2h), sulfosulfuron (B2i), thiencarbazone (B2j) (including thiencarbazone-methyl (B2ja)), thifensulfuron (B2k) (including thifensulfuron-methyl (B2ka)) and tribenuron (B2I). (including tribenuron-methyl (B2la)).

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, component B is florasulam (B2b).

[0018] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is B3. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the auxin mimic herbicide (B3) is selected from the group consisting of aminopyralid (B3a), 2,4-D (B3b), dicamba (B3c), fluroxypyr (B3d), halauxifen (B3e) (including halauxifen-methyl (B3ea)), MCPA (B3f), and indolauxipyr (B3g) (including indolauxipyr-methyl (B3ga)).

[0019] In one embodiment of the present invention component B is aminopyralid (B3a)

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention component B is 2,4-D (B3b). In this embodiment the 2,4-D may be in the form of an agrochemically acceptable ester or salt thereof including, but not limited to, the choline salt (B3ba) and 2-ethylhexyl ester (B3bb).

[0021] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is dicamba (B3c). In this embodiment the dicamba may be in the form of an agrochemically acceptable ester or salt thereof including, but not limited to, the aluminium (B3ca), aminopropyl (B3cb), bisaminopropylmethyl (B3cc), choline (B3cd), dichloroprop (B3ce), diglycolamine (B3cf), dimethylamine (B3cg), dimethylammonium (B3ch), potassium (B3ci) and sodium (B3cj) salts thereof.

[0022] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is fluroxypyr (B3d).

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B is halauxifen (B3e) or halauxifen-methyl (B3ea). In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is MCPA (B3f).

[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B is indolauxipyr (B3g) or indolauxipyr-methyl (B3ga).

[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is B4. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the photosystem-ll (PS-11) inhibiting herbicide is selected from the group consisting of bromoxynil (B4a), chlorotoluron (B4b), isoproturon (B4c), metribuzin (B4d) and pyridate (B4e).

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention component B is bromoxynil (B4a).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is chlorotoluron (B4b).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is isoproturon (B4c).

[0029] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is metribuzin (B4d).

[0030] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is pyridate (B4e).

[0031] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is B5. In one embodiment of the present invention, the HPPD-inhibiting herbicide (B5) is selected from the group consisting of bicyclopyrone (B5a), dioxopyritrione (B5b), fenquinotrione (B5c), mesotrione (B5d), pyrasulfatole (B5e) and topramezone (B5f).

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B5 is bicyclopyrone (B5a).

[0033] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B5 is fenquinotrione (B5c).

[0034] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B5 is mesotrione (B5d).

[0035] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B5 is pyrasulfatole (B5e)

[0036] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, component B5 is topramezone (B5f).

[0037] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is B6. In one embodiment of the present invention, the VLCFA-inhibiting herbicide (B6) is selected form the group consisting of ethofumasate (B6a), flufenacet (B6b), metolachlor (B6c) (or S-metolachlor (B6ca)), pretilachlor (B6d), prosulfocarb (B6e), pyroxasulfone (B6f) and triallate (B6g). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention component B6 is prosulfocarb (B6e).

[0038] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is B7. In a further embodiment, B7 is selected from the group consisting of beflubutamid (B7a), bixlozone (B7b), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d), icafolin (B7e) (including icafolin-methyl (B7ea)), pendimethalin (B7f) and tetflupyrolimet (B7g).

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, component B is selected from the group consisting of clodinafop-propargyl (B1aa), fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1ba), pinoxaden (B1c), tralkoxydim (Bid), 3-[2-methoxy-4-(1-propyn-1-yl)phenyl]-4oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-2-yl methylcarbonate (B1e), amidosulfuron (B2a), iodosulfuron (B2d), mesosulfuron (B2e) thiencarbazone (B2j), dicamba (B3c), fluroxypyr (B3d), halauxifen-methyl (B3ea), Indolauxipyr (B3g), pyridate (B4e), bicyclopyrone (B5a), fenquinotrione (B5c), pyrasulfatole, (B5e), pretilachlor (B6d), pyroxasulfone (B6f), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d) and icafolin- methyl (B7ea). In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention, the herbicidal composition comprises a mixture of components (A) (wherein I = a compound of Formula (I)) and (B) as disclosed in Table 1 below.

[0040] Table 1 : Two-way Mixtures.

[0041] In general, the mixing ratio (by weight) of the compound of Formula (I) A to the compound of component B is from 0.01 :1 to 100:1 , more preferably from 0.025:1 to 20:1 , even more preferably from 1 :30 to 20:1. Preferred ratio ranges for preferred compositions of the invention are given in Table 2 below. Where component (B) exists in alternative forms (e.g salt I ester) then it should be understood that these can be substituted as necessary.

[0042] Table 2: Exemplar ratio ranges for specific compositions of the invention (A:B).

[0043] The skilled person will appreciate that the most preferred ratio range of A:B for any one of composition numbers M 1.001 to M 1.073 as described in Table 2 above is likely to be as indicated. However, each ratio can be optimised depending on the mixture partners. Thus approximate ratios of 1 :30, 1 :20, 1 :10, 1 :5, 1 :4, 1 :3, 1 :2, 1 :1 , 2:1 , 3:1 , 4:1 , 5:1 , 10:1 , 20:1 30:1 are also envisaged.

[0044] It should be further understood that the compositions of the present invention may further comprise one or more additional herbicidal active ingredient(s), thus providing three- way, four-way or even five-way or more mixes. Thus, the composition of the present invention may contain more than one (B) component, for example two, three or four (B) components. Examples of such are shown below in Table 3. Table 3. Three- / Four-way mixtures The compositions of the of the present invention, especially those outlined in Tables 1 and 3 may further comprise an additional herbicidal component, for example glyphosate (or an acceptable salt thereof), glufosinate (or L-glufosinate) (or acceptable salts thereof). In another embodiment of the invention the herbicidal compositions of the present invention, especially those outlined in Tables 1 and 3, may further comprise a herbicide safener (C). In this embodiment, the safeners cloquintocet-mexyl (C1) and / or mefenpyr-diethyl (C2) are particularly preferred. Where a safener is combined with the composition of the invention, it is preferred that the mixing ratio of compound of Formula (I) to safener is from 100:1 to 1 :10, especially from 20:1 to 1 :1.

[0045] It is possible that the safener and the compositions of the invention are applied simultaneously. For example, the safener and the composition of the invention might be applied to the locus pre-emergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence. It is also possible that the safener and the composition of the invention are applied sequentially. For example, the safener might be applied before sowing the seeds as a seed treatment and the composition of the invention might be applied to the locus pre-emergence or might be applied to the crop post-emergence.

[0046] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of controlling weeds at a locus comprising applying to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a composition of the present invention. In this embodiment the composition can be applied, for example as a pre-plant burndown (PPBD) treatment.

[0047] In another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method of selectively controlling weeds at a locus comprising crop plants and weeds, said method comprising applying to the locus a weed controlling amount of a composition according to the invention. In a preferred embodiment the crop plant is a cereal crop, such was wheat (winter or spring varieties) or barley (winter or spring varieties).

[0048] When applied in a composition of the invention component (A) is typically applied at a rate of 10 to 300 g ha, more particularly 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250 or 300. Such rates of component (A) are applied typically in association with 5 to 2000g / ha of component B, and more specifically in association with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 120, 125, 140, 150, 200, 240, 250, 300, 400, 480, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500, 1800, or 2000g / ha of component (B). The Examples described herein illustrate but do not limit the range of rates of components A and B that may be employed in the invention.

[0049] The amount of a composition according to the invention to be applied, will depend on various factors, such as the compounds employed; the subject of the treatment, such as, for example plants, soil or seeds; the type of treatment, such as, for example spraying, dusting or seed dressing; or the application time. In agricultural practice the application rates of the composition according to the invention depend on the type of effect desired, and typically range from 30 to 4000 g of total composition per hectare, and more commonly between 30 and 2000g / ha. The application is generally made by spraying the composition, typically by tractor mounted sprayer for large areas, but other methods such as dusting (for powders), drip or drench can also be used.

[0050] When active ingredients are combined, the activity to be expected (E) for any given active ingredient combination obeys the so-called Colby Formula and can be calculated as follows (Colby, S.R., Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combination, Weeds, Vol. 15, pages 20-22; 1967): ppm = milligrams of active ingredient (a.i.) per litre

[0051] X = % action by first active ingredient using p ppm of the active ingredient

[0052] Y = % action by second active ingredient using q ppm of the active ingredient.

[0053] According to Colby, the expected action of active ingredients A +B using p + q ppm of active ingredient is represented by the following formula:

[0054] If the action actually observed (O) is greater than the expected action E then the action of the combination is super-additive, i.e. there is a synergistic effect. In mathematical terms, synergism corresponds to a positive value for the difference of (O-E). In the case of purely complementary addition of activities (expected activity), said difference (O-E) is zero. A negative value of said difference (O-E) signals a loss of activity compared to the expected activity.

[0055] Accordingly, the combination of the present invention takes advantage of any additive herbicidal activity, and certain embodiments may even exhibit a synergistic effect. This occurs whenever the action of an active ingredient combination is greater than the sum of the actions of the individual components.

[0056] Combinations of the invention may also provide for an extended spectrum of activity in comparison to that obtained by each individual component, and / or permit the use of lower rates of the individual components when used in combination to that when used alone, in order to mediate effective herbicidal activity. In addition, it is also possible that the composition of the invention may show increased crop tolerance, when compared with the effect of the compound A alone. This occurs when the action of an active ingredient combination is less damaging to a useful crop than the action of one of the active ingredients alone.

[0057] Throughout this document the expression “composition” should be interpreted as meaning the various mixtures or combinations of components (A) and (B), for example in a single “ready-mix” form, in a combined spray mixture composed from separate formulations of the single active ingredient components, such as a “tank-mix”, and in a combined use of the single active ingredients when applied in a sequential manner, i.e. one after the other with a reasonably short period, such as a few hours or days. The order of applying the components (A) and (B) is not essential for working the present invention.

[0058] The term “herbicide” as used herein means a compound that controls or modifies the growth of plants. The term “herbicidally effective amount” means the quantity of such a compound or combination of such compounds that is capable of producing a controlling or modifying effect on the growth of plants. Controlling or modifying effects include all deviation from natural development, for example killing, retardation, leaf burn, albinism, dwarfing and the like.

[0059] The term “locus” as used herein means fields in or on which plants are growing, or where seeds of cultivated plants are sown, or where seed will be placed into the soil. It includes soil, seeds, and seedlings, as well as established vegetation.

[0060] The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage, and fruits.

[0061] The term "plant propagation material” denotes all generative parts of a plant, for example seeds or vegetative parts of plants such as cuttings and tubers. It includes seeds in the strict sense, as well as roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, and parts of plants.

[0062] The term “safener” as used herein means a chemical that when used in combination with a herbicide reduces the undesirable effects of the herbicide on non-target organisms, for example, a safener protects crops from injury by herbicides but does not prevent the herbicide from killing the weeds.

[0063] Crops of useful plants in which the composition according to the invention can be used include perennial and annual crops, such as berry plants for example blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries; cereals for example barley, maize (corn), millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum triticale and wheat; fibre plants for example cotton, flax, hemp, jute and sisal; field crops for example sugar and fodder beet, coffee, hops, mustard, oilseed rape (canola), poppy, sugar cane, sunflower, tea and tobacco; fruit trees for example apple, apricot, avocado, banana, cherry, citrus, nectarine, peach, pear and plum; grasses for example Bermuda grass, bluegrass, bentgrass, centipede grass, fescue, ryegrass, St. Augustine grass and Zoysia grass; herbs such as basil, borage, chives, coriander, lavender, lovage, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme; legumes for example beans, lentils, peas and soya beans; nuts for example almond, cashew, ground nut, hazelnut, peanut, pecan, pistachio and walnut; palms for example oil palm; ornamentals for example flowers, shrubs and trees; other trees, for example cacao, coconut, olive and rubber; vegetables for example asparagus, aubergine, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marrow, melon, okra, onion, pepper, potato, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach and tomato; and vines for example grapes. However, the compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in controlling weeds in cereal crops, especially wheat crops (including spring and winter varieties) and barley crops including spring and winter varieties.

[0064] Crops are to be understood as being those which are naturally occurring, obtained by conventional methods of breeding, or obtained by genetic engineering. They include crops which contain so-called output traits (e.g. improved storage stability, higher nutritional value and improved flavour).

[0065] Crops are to be understood as also including those crops which have been rendered tolerant to herbicides or classes of herbicides (e.g. ALS-, GS-, EPSPS-, PPO-, ACCase- and HPPD-inhibitors) by conventional methods of breeding or by genetic engineering. An example of a crop that has been rendered tolerant to imidazolinones, e.g. imazamox, by conventional methods of breeding is Clearfield® Wheat. Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by genetic engineering methods include e.g. glyphosate- and glufosinate-resistant varieties commercially available under the trade names RoundupReady® and LibertyLink®. Examples of crops that have been rendered tolerant to PPO inhibiting herbicides by genetic engineering are known in the art, for example as described in WO95 / 34659.

[0066] The compositions of the invention can typically be used to control a wide variety of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed species in the crop. The compositions of the present invention provide particular good control of Alopecurus sp. (e.g Alopecurus myosuroides (ALOMY)), Apera sp. (e.g Apera spica-venti), Avena sp. (e.g Avena fatua (AVEFA)), Beckmannia sp., Echinochloa sp. (e.g Echinochloa crus-galli (ECHCG)), Lolium sp. (e.g Lolium multiflorum (LOLMU ), Phalaris sp. (e.g. Phalaris minor (PHAM I)), Poa sp. (e.g. Poa annua (POAAN) and Setaria sp. (e.g Setaria faberi (SETFA)). In all aspects of the invention, in any particular embodiment, the weeds, e.g. to be controlled and / or growth- inhibited, may be monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds, which are tolerant or resistant to one or more herbicides for example, ALS inhibitor herbicides , PSI I inhibitor herbicides such as atrazine or EPSPS inhibitors such as glyphosate.

[0067] The compositions of the invention can be applied before or after planting of the crops, before weeds emerge (pre-emergence application) or after weeds emerge (post-emergence application).

[0068] The compositions of the invention can advantageously be used in formulations as described, for example, in WO2019 / 158666.

[0069] BIOLOGICAL EFFICACY

[0070] B1 Post-emergence efficacy The efficacy of various compositions of the present invention were tested against plants including the following species: Alopecurus myosuroides (ALOMY), Avena fatua (AVEFA), Chenopodium album (CHEAL), Echinochloa crus-galli (ECHCG), Lolium multiflorum (LOLMU), Phalaris minor (PHAM I) and Setaria faberi (SETFA). The compositions are applied post-emergence, and the tests evaluated at certain days-after-application (DAA) as indicated. The tests were evaluated (100 = total damage to plant; 0 = no damage to plant), and the results are shown below in tables B1 to B22.

[0071] Table B1 : Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Clodinafop-propargyl (B1aa) Table B2: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1ba) Table B3: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Pinoxaden (B1c)

[0072] Table B4: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Tralkoxydim (Bid) Table B5: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and 3-[2-methoxy-4-(1-propyn-1- yl)phenyl]-4oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-2-yl methylcarbonate (B1e). Table B6: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Amidosulfuron (B2a)

[0073] Table B7: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and lodosulfuron (B2d) Table B8: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Mesosulfuron (B2e)

[0074] Table B9: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Thiencarbazone (B2j).

[0075] Table B10: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Dicamba (diglycolamine salt) (B3cf).

[0076] Table B11: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Fluroxypyr (B3d).

[0077] Table B12: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Halauxifen-methyl (B3ea).

[0078] Table B13: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Indolauxipyr (B3g).

[0079] Table B14: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Pyridate (B4e). Table B15: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Bicyclopyrone (B5a).

[0080] Table B16: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Fenquinotrione (B5c).

[0081] Table B17: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Pyrasulfatole (B5e). Table B18: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Pretilachlor (B6d).

[0082] Table B19: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Pyroxasulfone (B6f).

[0083] Table B20: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Cinmethylin (B7c). Table B21: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Diflufenican (B7d). Table B22: Combination of Compound of Formula (I) and Icafolin-methyl (B7ea).

Claims

CLAIMSA herbicidal composition comprising (A) a compound of Formula (I)or an agrochemically acceptable derivative e.g salt or ester thereof; and (B) at least one herbicide selected from the group consisting of:B1 an acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACCase)-inhibiting herbicide;B2 an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide;B3 an auxin mimic herbicide;B4 a photosystem-ll (PS-II) inhibiting herbicide;B5 a hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicide;B6 a very long chain fatty acid (VLCFA)-inhibiting herbicide;B7 a herbicide selected from the group consisting of beflubutamid (B7a), bixlozone (B7b), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d), icafolin (B7e) , pendimethalin (B7f) and tetflupyrolimet (B7g); or an agrochemically acceptable derivative e.g salt or ester of (B).

2. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein B is an ACCase-inhibiting herbicide (B1) selected from the group consisting of clodinafop (B1a), clodinafop- propargyl (B1aa), fenoxaprop (B1 b), fenoxaprop-P-ethyl (B1ba), pinoxaden (B1c), tralkoxydim (Bid) and 3-[2-methoxy-4-(1-propyn-1-yl)phenyl]-4oxobicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2- en-2-yl methylcarbonate.

3. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component B is an ALS- inhibiting herbicide (B2) selected from the group consisting of amidosulfuron (B2a), florasulam (B2b), flucarbazone (B2c), iodosulfuron (B2d), iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium (B2da), mesosulfuron (B2e), mesosulfuron-methyl (B2ea), metsulfuron (B2f), metsulfuron-methyl (B2fa), penoxsulam (B2g), pyroxsulam (B2h), sulfosulfuron (B2i),thiencarbazone (B2j), thiencarbazone-methyl (B2ja), thifensulfuron (B2k), thifensulfuron-methyl (B2ka), tribenuron (B2I) and tribenuron-methyl (B2la).

4. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (B) is an auxin mimic herbicide (B3) selected from the group consisting of aminopyralid (B3a), 2,4-D (B3b), dicamba (B3c), fluroxypyr (B3d), halauxifen (B3e), halauxifen-methyl (B3ea), MCPA (B3f), indolauxipyr (B3g) and indolauxipyr-methyl (B3ga).

5. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (B) is a photosystem-ll (PS-II) (B4) selected from the group consisting of bromoxynil (B4a), chlorotoluron (B4b), isoproturon (B4c), metribuzin (B4d) and pyridate (B4e).

6. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (B) is a HPPD- inhibiting herbicide (B5) selected from the group consisting of bicyclopyrone (B5a), dioxopyritrione (B5b), fenquinotrione (B5c), mesotrione (B5d), pyrasulfatole (B5e) and topramezone (B5f).

7. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (B) is a VLCFA- inhibiting herbicide (B6) selected form the group consisting of ethofumasate (B6a), flufenacet (B6b), metolachlor (B6c), S-metolachlor (B6ca), pretilachlor (B6d), prosulfocarb (B6e), pyroxasulfone (B6f) and triallate (B6g).

8. A herbicidal composition according to claim 1 , wherein component (B) is B7 is selected from the group consisting of beflubutamid (B7a), bixlozone (B7b), cinmethylin (B7c), diflufenican (B7d), icafolin (B7e) (including icafolin-methyl (B7ea), pendimethalin (B7f) and tetflupyrolimet (B7g).

9. A herbicidal composition according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a herbicide safener (C).

10. A herbicidal composition according to claim 9, wherein the herbicide safener is cloquintocet-mexyl (C1) or mefenpyr-diethyl (C2)11. A method of controlling weeds at a locus comprising applying to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A method of selectively controlling weeds at a locus comprising crop plants and weeds, said method comprising applying to the locus a weed controlling amount of a herbicidal composition according to any one of claims 1 to 0.

13. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 12, wherein the crop plant is a cereal crop.

14. A method according claim 13, wherein the crop plant wheat or barley.

15. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the weeds comprise species selected from the group consisting of Alopecurus sp., Apera sp., Avena sp., Beckmannia sp., Echinochloa sp., Lolium sp., Phalaris sp., Poa sp. and Setaria sp.