Method of controlling phytopathogens

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of controlling rice blight in rice cultivations. The present invention further relates to a fungicidal combination for controlling diseases in rice crop.

Description

[0001] Method of Controlling Phytopathogens Technical field The present invention relates to a method of controlling phytopathogen in rice crop. The present invention further relates to a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogen in rice crop. Background Rice (Oryza Sativa) is a nutritional staple food and has shaped the culture and diets of millions of peoples. The rice plant is a member of the Poaceae (old Gramineae) family. Consumption of rice is no longer restricted to Asian countries but is also a staple crop in parts of Africa and Latin America. It is gaining a foothold in parts of Europe and the UK as well. Approximately, 500 million metric tons of milled rice are produced annually with China and India contributing to more than half of the rice produced globally. The widespread acceptance of rice around the globe stems from multiple reasons. First and foremost, rice is the primary source of energy for over half of the world's people and plays a vital role against malnutrition. This is attributed to the fact that it contains decent amounts of fibre, protein, vitamin B, iron, and manganese depending on the strain of rice. Secondly, the by-products of milling of rough rice have found various uses over the years. Rice milling is the process which helps in removal of hulls and barns from paddy grains to produce polished rice. Rough rice, on milling, produces brown rice, milled rice, germ, bran, broken rice, and husk. Bran and rice polish (finely powdered bran and starch resulting from polishing) are sometimes used as livestock feed. Rice bran is used in cattle and poultry feed. Oil processed from the bran is used in the soap industry. Broken rice is used in brewing, distilling, and in the manufacture of starch and rice flour. Husks (or hulls) are used for fuel, packing material, industrial grinding, and fertilizer manufacture. Rice straw is used as cattle feed, livestock bedding, and roof thatching. Rice crop has wide physical adaptability and there is hardly any type of soil in which it cannot be grown. This has played a part in it being widely embraced by humans as a food source. The plethora of issues afflicting rice production is serious cause for concern. While the role of rice in the food and agrarian ecosystem is well-established, traditional rice-producing countries are facing setbacks of shrinking arable land due to industrialisation, resource scarcity, soil fertility, increasing food demands of a growing population, and climate change effects. It is estimated that production of rice needs to be increased by around 70% to meet the global demands for food from the ever-expanding human population. Further, rice is cultivated differently than other grains because it is a water-thirsty crop that requires consistent irrigation all season to grow. The biggest threat to rice cultivation is phytopathogen that annually destroy a significant fraction of the world's total rice harvest and cause enormous yield losses. Consequently, for many reasons, including those mentioned above, it is pertinent to develop strategies for alleviating losses due to biotic and abiotic factors. Rice is prone to many diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Amongst them, rice bacterial blight, also called bacterial blight of rice, rice blight or bacterial leaf blight, is one of the most destructive afflictions of cultivated rice and causes 20 to 60 percent of the crops to be destroyed annually. It is a severe threat to rice cultivation around the globe. The causal agent of bacterial blight is gram negative bacteria Xanthomonas oryzae. It causes wilting of seedlings and yellowing and drying of leaves. In mature rice plants, bacterial blight first becomes evident as water-soaked streaks that spread from the leaf tips and margins, becoming larger and eventually releasing a milky bacterial ooze that dries into yellow droplets. Characteristic greyish white lesions then appear on the leaves, signalling the late stages of infection, when leaves dry out and die. When a seedling of the rice plant is affected by the disease, the leaves dry out and wilt, a syndrome known as kresek. Since rice paddies are flooded throughout most of the growing season, Xanthomonas oryzae may easily spread to other crops and rice paddies by wind, rainfall, and irrigational water. Of the disease-causing organisms, phytopathogen such as Xanthomonas oryzae impose the greatest challenge in sustaining rice production. Therefore, several pest management strategies have been developed to tackle fungal infestation. Specifically, bacterial leaf blight has been found to be efficiently managed through use of resistant / tolerant cultivar in combination with sound chemical control practices. However, chemical control and genetic engineering have their own set of challenges. The major threat that could arise while using fungicides is the development of tolerance. And most varieties are resistant only to a few major diseases that are the subjects of intensive breeding efforts. In view of the above drawbacks, there is an acute need in the art to provide a fungicidal combination and a method for superior control of phytopathogens causing diseases in rice. Object(s) of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling phytopathogen, viz., Xanthomonas sp. in rice crop. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogen viz., Xanthomonas oryzae in rice crop. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide the use of a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogen viz., Xanthomonas oryzae in rice crop. Summary of the Invention In an aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae in rice crop. In an aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising one or more multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogen, specifically, Xanthomonas oryzae in rice crop. In another aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur for controlling phytopathogen in rice crop. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling phytopathogen in rice crop. In an aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling phytopathogen comprising applying one or more multisite fungicides to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice crop. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling phytopathogen comprising applying tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice crop. In another aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper-based fungicide and a sulphur-based fungicide. In another aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides the use of a fungicidal combination comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur for controlling phytopathogen in rice crop. In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a kit. The kit comprises a plurality of components comprising at least one of the ingredients of the fungicidal combination of the present invention. Detailed description of the nvention For the purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of materials / ingredients used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". The term "about" used to qualify the amounts of active components shall be interpreted to mean "approximately" or "reasonably close to" and any statistically insignificant variations therefrom. As used herein, the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. In any aspect or embodiment described hereinbelow, the term “comprising” may be replaced by the phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of”. In these aspects or embodiments, the combination or composition described includes or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of or consists substantially of the specific components recited therein, to the exclusion of other ingredients or excipients not specifically recited therein. The phrase ‘fungicidally effective amount’ refers to an amount of the fungicide that kills or inhibits the phytopathogenic disease for which control is desired, in an amount not significantly toxic to the plant being treated. As used herein, the term “phytopathogens” refers to organisms or / and microorganisms (bacterial or fungal) that causes disease in plants. Phytopathogens negatively impact crop yields and sales by eliciting plant diseases. The term ‘disease control’ as used herein denotes control and prevention of a disease. Controlling effects include all deviation from natural development, for example: killing, retardation, inhibition or decrease of the disease. The term “plants” refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, panicle / flowers, and foliage. The term “locus” of a plant as used herein is intended to embrace the place on which the plants are growing, where the plant propagation materials of the plants are sown or where the plant propagation materials of the plants will be placed into the soil. The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of a plant, such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants, germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion. The term “agriculturally acceptable amount of active” refers to an amount of an active that kills or inhibits the plant disease for which control is desired, in an amount not significantly toxic to the plant being treated. As used herein, the term “% disease severity” refers to the percentage decay observed in the crops in terms of the percentage of relevant host tissues covered by lesions or damaged by the disease in crops. Severity results from the number and size of the lesions. The % severity indicates the extent of damage caused by the disease. As used herein, the term “% disease control” refers to the % control and prevention of a disease in crops. As used herein, the term “% disease incidence” refers to the percentage of diseased plants or parts in the sample or population of plants. It can be the proportion or percentage of diseased leaves in a plant, diseased stalks or a tiller or diseased seedlings in a field. The term “g ai / L” as used herein denotes the concentration of the respective active ingredient in “grams” present “per litre” of the composition or combination. The term “g ai / h” as used herein denotes the concentration of the respective active ingredient in “grams” applied “per hectare” of the crop field. The term “L / ha” as used herein denotes the concentration of the respective active ingredient in “litres” applied “per hectare” of the crop field. As used herein, the term “multisite fungicide” refers to a fungicide which acts at multiple target sites in the metabolism of a target pathogen. Each of the aspects described above may have one or more embodiments. Each of the embodiments described hereinafter may apply to one or all the aspects described hereinabove. These embodiments are intended to be read as being preferred features of one or all the aspects described hereinabove. Each of the embodiments described hereinafter applies to each of the aspects described hereinabove individually. Because conventional single-site fungicides attack only one metabolic pathway within a pathogen, it becomes easier for the pathogen to evolve a workaround by undergoing a single gene mutation. In contrast to single-site fungicides, multisite fungicides keep pathogens guessing by attacking multiple proteins and enzymes and risk of resistance to these fungicides is low. By way of the present disclosure, the present inventors have developed a fungicidal combination to inhibit the growth of phytopathogens observed in rice by employing a combination of multisite fungicides or a combination of multisite fungicides with other fungicides. The present inventors have extended tremendous inventive ingenuity to arrive at the present fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicides to provide inhibition of Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice. Accordingly, the present inventors have provided a fungicidal combination comprising a copper fungicide and a sulphur fungicide to exert inhibitory activity against phytopathogens in rice. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising one or more multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogen - Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice crop. In an embodiment, the multisite fungicides are selected from the group comprising a copper salt, sulphur, dithiocarbamates, phthalimides, chloronitriles, sulfamides, bis-guanidines, triazines, quinones, quinoxalines, maleimide and thiocarbamates. In a preferred embodiment, the multisite fungicide is a copper salt. In an embodiment, the copper salt is selected from copper sulphate, tribasic copper sulphate, dibasic copper sulphate, copper oxychloride, copper chloride, copper oxide, cupric oxide, copper nitrate, copper perchlorate, copper bromide, copper hydroxide, copper iodide, cupric acetate, or copper sulphate pentahydrate. In a preferred embodiment, the copper salt is tribasic copper sulphate. In an embodiment, the copper salt is copper sulphate. In a preferred embodiment, the multisite fungicide is sulphur. In an embodiment, sulphur is particulate sulphur having a particle size distribution based on diameters of D90 below 50 microns. In an embodiment, sulphur is particulate sulphur having a particle size distribution based on diameters of D90below 25 microns. In an embodiment, sulphur is particulate sulphur having a particle size distribution based on diameters of D90between about 1 and 3 microns, which by itself exhibits a significantly improved rain wash resistance and reduced phytotoxicity to leaf surfaces. Even more surprisingly, such suspension concentrates having a particle size distribution based on diameters D90 between about 1 and 3 microns, alone or in combination with a second multisite contact fungicide, exhibits significantly improved efficacy against fungal infestations. The particulate sulphur component of the present invention has a D90 of about 1.2 microns.

[0002] In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice crop, said combination comprising; (i) a copper salt, and (ii) sulphur. It is required to be noted that the order of the fungicide in the combination is not necessarily the same as described in the preferred embodiment above and is interchangeable. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper salt and sulphur for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from tribasic copper sulphate, and sulphur for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice, said combination comprising a copper salt, and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to sulphur ranges from 1:1 to 1:15. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice, said combination comprising a copper salt, and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to sulphur ranges from 1:5 to 1:10. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice, said combination comprising a copper salt, and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to sulphur is 1:8. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice, said combination comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of tribasic copper sulphate to sulphur is 1:8. The combinations of the present invention may be provided as a pre-mix composition or a kit of parts such that individual actives may be mixed before spraying. Alternatively, the kit of parts may contain at least two multisite fungicides comprising a combination of a copper-based fungicide and a sulphur-based fungicide pre-mixed and an optional third active which may be admixed with an adjuvant such that the two components may be tank mixed before spraying. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a kit comprising a fungicidal combination comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur. The combinations of the present invention may be sold as a pre-mix composition or a kit of parts such that individual actives may be mixed before spraying. Alternatively, the kit of parts may contain at least two multisite fungicides pre-mixed and the third active may be admixed with an adjuvant such that the two components may be tank mixed before spraying. In an embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination comprising one or more multisite fungicides for controlling Xanthomonas oryzae causing bacterial leaf blight in rice crop. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination for controlling growth of phytopathogens in rice crop, the combination comprising a copper salt, and sulphur. In an embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination comprising one or more multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogens in rice including bacterial leaf blight by Xanthomonas oryzae, stem rot by Sclerotium oryzae (Sexual stage: Magnaporthe salvinii), sheath blight by Rhizoctonia solani, false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, brown spot caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus, sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae, rice blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea, foot rot or Bakane disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme, amongst several other diseases. In an embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said combination comprising a copper salt and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to the sulphur ranges from 1:1 to 1:15. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said combination comprising a copper salt, and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to the sulphur ranges from 1:5 to 1:10. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said combination comprising a copper salt and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to the sulphur is 1:8. In a more preferred embodiment, the present invention provides use of a fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said combination comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur, wherein the weight ratio of tribasic copper sulphate to sulphur is 1:8. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising one or more multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising; (i) a copper salt, and (ii) sulphur. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper-based fungicide and a sulphur-based fungicide for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper salt and sulphur for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper salt and sulphur, wherein the concentration of the copper salt ranges from 1 g / kg to 200 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 100 g / kg to 800 g / kg. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, said composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper salt and sulphur, wherein the concentration of the copper salt ranges from 10 g / kg to 100 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 200 g / kg to 700 g / kg. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogens in rice, said composition comprising at least two multisite fungicides selected from a copper salt and sulphur, wherein the concentration of the copper salt is 80 g / kg and the concentration of the sulphur is 640 g / kg. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogens in rice, said composition comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate is 80 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur is 640 g / kg. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal composition comprising; (i) a copper salt; (ii) sulphur; and (iii) an agriculturally acceptable excipient. In an embodiment, the compositions of the present invention may typically be produced by mixing the actives in the composition with an inert carrier, and adding surfactants and other adjuvants and carriers as needed and formulated into solid, or liquid formulations, including but not limited to wettable powders, granules, dusts, soluble concentrates, suspension concentrates, oil in water emulsion, water in oil emulsion, emulsifiable concentrates, capsule suspensions, ZC formulations, oil dispersions or other known formulation types. The composition may also be used for treatment of a plant propagation material such as seeds etc. The combinations of the present disclosure may be formulated in the suspension form of a composition. Examples of the solid carrier used in formulation include fine powders or granules such as minerals such as kaolin clay, attapulgite clay, bentonite, montmorillonite, acid white clay, pyrophyllite, talc, diatomaceous earth and calcite; natural organic materials such as corn rachis powder and walnut husk powder; synthetic organic materials such as urea; salts such as calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate; synthetic inorganic materials such as synthetic hydrated silicon oxide; and as a liquid carrier, aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, alkylbenzene and methylnaphthalene; alcohols such as 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether; ketones such as acetone, cyclohexanone and isophorone; vegetable oil such as soybean oil and cotton seed oil; petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, dimethyl sulfoxide, acetonitrile and water. Examples of the surfactant include anionic surfactants such as alkyl sulfate ester salts, alkylaryl sulfonate salts, dialkyl sulfosuccinate salts, polyoxyethylene alkylaryl ether phosphate ester salts, lignosulfonate salts and naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde polycondensates; and nonionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene alkylpolyoxypropylene block copolymers and sorbitan fatty acid esters and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts. Examples of the other formulation auxiliary agents include water-soluble polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone, polysaccharides such as arabic gum, alginic acid and the salt thereof, CMC (carboxymethyl- cellulose), xanthan gum, inorganic materials such as aluminium magnesium silicate and alumina sol, preservatives, coloring agents and stabilization agents such as PAP (acid phosphate isopropyl) and BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene). In an embodiment the composition may further comprise one or more antifreeze agent, wetting agents, fillers, surfactants, anticaking agents, pH-regulating agents, preservatives, biocides, antifoaming agents, colorants, and other formulation aids. Suitable antifreeze agents that can be added to the agrochemical composition are liquid polyols, for example ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerol. Wetting agents that can be added to the agrochemical composition of the present invention include but are not limited to polyarylalkoxylated phosphate esters and their potassium salts (e.g., Soprophor®FLK, Stepfac TSP PE- K). Other suitable wetting agents include sodium dioctylsulfosuccinates (e.g., Geropon®SDS, Aerosol®OT) and ethoxylated alcohols (e.g., Trideth-6; Rhodasurf®BC 610; Tersperse®4894). Optionally, antifoaming or defoamers are employed to stop any unwanted foam generated while manufacturing highly concentrated liquid biocide dispersion composition. The preferred antifoaming agent is selected from the group of silicone-based compounds, alcohols, glycol ethers, mineral spirits, acetylene diols, polysiloxanes, organosiloxanes, siloxane glycols, reaction products of silicon dioxide and organosiloxane polymer, polydimethylsiloxanes or polyalkylene glycols alone or in combination. Defoamers that are suitable include SAG-10; SAG-1000AP; SAG-1529; SAG-1538; SAG-1571; SAG-1572; SAG-1575; SAG-2001; SAG- 220; SAG-290; SAG-30; SAG-30E; SAG-330; SAG-47; SAG-5440; SAG-7133 and SAG-770. Examples of thickening agents based on anionic heteropolysaccharides from the xanthan gum group are inter alia Rhodopol 23®, Rhodopol G®, Rhodopol 50 MD®, Rhodicare T®, Kelzan®, Kelzan S® and Satiaxane CX91®. Preservatives used may be benzisothiazolinone (Proxel GXL), 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3- diol (Bioban BP 30), 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3- one (Kathon CG / ICP), glutaraldehyde (Ucarcide 50), chloromethyl isothiazolinone (CMIT) / methylisothiazolinone (MIT) (Isocil Ultra 1.5), 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropioamide (Reputain 20), natamycin and nisin, bronopol / CMIT / MIT (Mergal 721K3). Suitable colorants (for example in red, blue, and green) are, preferably, pigments, which are sparingly soluble in water, and dyes, which are water-soluble. Examples are inorganic coloring agents (for example iron oxide, titanium oxide, and iron hexacyanoferrate) and organic coloring agents (for example alizarin, azo and phthalocyanine coloring agents). Fillers may include an organic or inorganic solid inert substance such as talc, clay, diatomaceous earth, magnesium aluminium silicate, white carbon black, pyrophyllite, light calcium carbonate, high clay, organic bentonite, etc. or mixtures thereof. The composition of the present invention maybe applied simultaneously as a tank mix or a formulation or may be applied sequentially. The application may be made to the soil before emergence of the plants, either pre-planting or post-planting. The application may be made as a foliar spray at different timings during crop development, with either one or two applications early or late post-emergence. The compositions according to the invention can be applied before or after infection of the useful plants or the propagation material thereof by the fungi. In an embodiment, the phytopathogens in rice crop include bacterial leaf blight by Xanthomonas oryzae, stem rot by Sclerotium oryzae (Sexual stage: Magnaporthe salvinii), sheath blight by Rhizoctonia solani, false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, brown spot caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus, sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae, rice blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea, foot rot or Bakane disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme, amongst several other diseases. In an embodiment, the present method for controlling phytopathogens comprises applying one or more multisite fungicides to a plant, plant part, locus, or a propagation material of rice. In an embodiment, the present method for controlling phytopathogens comprises applying at least two multisite fungicides to a plant, plant part, locus, or a propagation material of rice. In an embodiment, the multisite fungicides are selected from the group comprising a copper salt, sulphur, dithiocarbamates, phthalimides, chloronitriles, sulfamides, bis-guanidines, triazines, quinones, quinoxalines, maleimide and thiocarbamates. In a preferred embodiment, the multisite fungicide is a copper salt. In an embodiment, the copper salt is selected from copper sulphate, tribasic copper sulphate, dibasic copper sulphate, copper oxychloride, copper chloride, copper oxide, cupric oxide, copper nitrate, copper perchlorate, copper bromide, copper hydroxide, copper iodide, cupric acetate, and copper sulphate pentahydrate. In a preferred embodiment, the copper salt is tribasic copper sulphate. In an embodiment, the copper salt is copper sulphate. In a preferred embodiment, the multisite fungicide is sulphur. In an embodiment, the present method for controlling phytopathogens comprises applying a fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicides to a plant, plant part, locus, or a propagation material of rice, wherein the said fungicidal combination comprises a copper salt and sulphur. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising copper sulphate and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice crop. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising a copper salt and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice at an application rate ranging from 0.1 L / ha to 10 L / ha. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice at an application rate ranging from 0.1 L / ha to 10 L / ha. In a preferred embodiment, the present method for controlling phytopathogens comprises applying one or more multisite fungicides comprising applying a combination of tribasic copper sulphate and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice at an application rate ranging from 0.5 L / ha to 5 L / ha. In a preferred embodiment, the present method for controlling phytopathogens comprises applying one or more multisite fungicides comprising applying a combination of tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice at an application rate ranging from 0.5 L / ha to 3 L / ha. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising a copper salt and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of the copper salt ranges from 1 g / kg to 200 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 100 g / kg to 800 g / kg. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and a sulphur-based fungicide to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate ranges from 1 g / kg to 200 g / kg and the concentration of the sulphur-based fungicide ranges from 100 g / kg to 1000 g / kg. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate ranges from 10 g / kg to 100 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 100 g / kg to 800 g / kg. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate ranges from 20 g / kg to 100 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 200 g / kg to 800 g / kg. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate ranges from 50 g / kg to 90 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 400 g / kg to 700 g / kg. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate ranges from 50 g / kg to 90 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur ranges from 400 g / kg to 700 g / kg. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controlling phytopathogens comprising applying a combination of multisite fungicides comprising tribasic copper sulphate and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice, wherein the concentration of tribasic copper sulphate is 80 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur is 640 g / kg. In an embodiment, the method of controlling phytopathogen of the present invention is applied to diseases in rice including bacterial leaf blight by Xanthomonas oryzae, stem rot by Magnaporthe salvinii, sheath blight by Rhizoctonia solani, false smut caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, brown spot caused by Cochliobolus miyabeanus, sheath rot caused by Sarocladium oryzae, rice blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea, foot rot or Bakane disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme, amongst several other diseases. In an embodiment, the method of present invention provides effective controlling of phytopathogens such that, the method can be applied at pre or post emergence of the diseases, thereby providing resistance management and complete control of the phytopathogens. In an embodiment, the method of present invention provides a method for effective control of phytopathogens such that, the method can be applied at the pre-harvest stage or post-harvest stage of crops. In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention can be combined with at least one additional agrochemical component / pesticide. Examples of such pesticides include but are not limited to herbicides, fungicides, miticides, larvicides, avicides, insecticides, nematicides and rodenticides. In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises applying a fungicidal compound or an insecticidal compound or an herbicidal compound either concurrently or subsequently or sequentially to the locus of crops. In an embodiment, the present method for controlling the growth of phytopathogens is extended for use as an eco-friendly wide spectrum product against pests. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a kit is provided, said kit comprises a plurality of components, each of which includes at least one of the ingredients of the disclosed fungicide combinations. In one embodiment of the present invention, the kits may include at least one of the components used to prepare the fungicidal composition. For example, the kits may include at least two multisite fungicides. One or more of the components may be combined together or pre-formulated within the kit. In those embodiments where more than two components are provided in a kit, the components may already be combined together and as such are packaged in a single container such as a vial, bottle, can, pouch, bag or canister. In another embodiments, two or more components of a kit may be packaged separately, i.e., not pre-formulated. As such, the kits may include one or more separate containers such as vials, cans, bottles, pouches, bags and / or canisters, each container containing a separate component for the stable fungicidal composition. In both forms, a single component of the kit may be applied separately from or together with the other components, or as a component of a combined composition for preparing the fungicidal combinations disclosed herein. It will be understood that the specification and examples are illustrative but not limiting of the present invention and that other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Other embodiments can be practiced that are also within the scope of the present invention. The following examples illustrate the disclosure, but by no means intend to limit the scope of the claims. Examples Example 1: Bio-efficacy of the Combinations for Disease Management The combination of sulphur and tribasic copper sulphate was evaluated for its disease controlling activity in rice crop. Two applications were made within an interval of 7 days (DAA-1: Days after first application and DAA-2: Days after second application). The observations for efficacy in the control of the phytopathogens were made at twenty days after the second application (i.e., 21 DAA-2). The % control of Xanthomonas oryzae was determined. Table 1: Treatment Details Treatment Treatment / Concentration Formulation Rate No. Active ingredient (g a.i. / L) (L / ha) 1 Untreated Control - - - 2 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 SC 1.5 Copper Sulphate 3 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 SC 2.5 Copper Sulphate 4 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 SC 3 Copper Sulphate 4 SC: Suspension concentrate, A.I.: Active ingredient Table 2: Evaluation of % control of Xanthomonas oryzae Treat. Treatment / Conc. % control Active ingredient (g a.i. / L) 1 Untreated Control - 0 2 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 84.81 12 Copper Sulphate 3 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 88.89 Copper Sulphate 4 Sulphur + Tribasic 640 + 80 92.06 Copper Sulphate The % control of Xanthomonas oryzae was found to be significantly high, therefore the combination of sulphur and tribasic copper sulphate is effective in controlling phytopathogens in rice crop. Example 2: Phytotoxicity studies Phytotoxicity was observed as EWRS method (1: healthy plant, 9: total kill) at 1, 3 and 7DAA1. The EWRS classification scale: Score Phytotoxicity symtoms 1 No symptoms / healthy plants 2 very mild symptoms, slight stunting 3 mild but clearly recognizable symptoms 4 More severe symptoms (e.g.chlorosis) not necessarily with negative effect on yield. 5 Thinning out, heavy chlorosis or stunting, reduction in the yield to be expected 6 9 heavy damage to total kill Table 3: Phytotoxicity data for the fungicidal combinations S.no Active Combinations Product (gr, ml / ha) 1DAA 3DAA 7DAA 1Tribasic copper sulphate 80 + Sulphur 640SC 1000 1 1 12Tribasic copper sulphate 80 + Sulphur 640SC 2000 1 1 13Tribasic copper sulphate 80 + Sulphur 640SC 3000 1 1 1As seen in table 3, no visible phytotoxicity symptoms were observed, indicating that the combination is crop safe. It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and the scope of the appended claims. In addition, any elements or limitations of any disclosure or embodiment thereof disclosed herein can be combined with any and / or all other elements or limitations (individually or in any combination) or any other disclosure or embodiment thereof disclosed herein, and all such combinations are contemplated with the scope of the disclosure without limitation thereto.

Claims

We claim:

1. A method of controlling phytopathogens in rice crop comprising applying to a plant, plant part or a plant propagation material or a locus thereof, a fungicidal combination comprising one or more multi-site fungicide.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multisite fungicides are selected from the group comprising copper salt, sulphur, dithiocarbamates, phthalimides, chloronitriles, sulfamides, bis-guanidines, triazines, quinones, quinoxalines, maleimide, thiocarbamates and combination thereof.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the multisite fungicide is a copper salt.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the copper salt is selected from the group comprising copper sulphate, tribasic copper sulphate, dibasic copper sulphate, copper oxychloride, copper chloride, copper oxide, cupric oxide, copper nitrate, copper perchlorate, copper bromide, copper hydroxide, copper iodide, cupric acetate, or copper sulphate pentahydrate.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fungicidal combination comprising at least two multisite fungicide is selected from copper salt and sulphur.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the weight ratio of copper salt to sulphur is ranging from 1:1 to 1:

15.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprising applying the fungicidal combination comprising a copper salt and sulphur to a plant, plant part, locus, or propagation material of rice at an application rate ranging from 0.1 L / ha to 10 L / ha.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the concentration of the copper salt is ranging from 1 g / kg to 200 g / kg.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the concentration of sulphur is ranging from 100 g / kg to 800 g / kg.

10. A fungicidal combination for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, the combination comprising; a. a copper salt; and b. sulphur.

11. The fungicidal combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein the weight ratio of the copper salt to sulphur ranges from 1:1 to 1:15.

12. A fungicidal composition for controlling phytopathogens in rice crop, the composition comprising: a. a copper salt; b. sulphur; and c. an agriculturally acceptable excipient.

13. The fungicidal composition as claimed in claim 12, wherein the concentration of the copper salt is ranging from 1 g / kg to 200 g / kg and the concentration of sulphur is ranging from 100 g / kg to 800 g / kg.

14. The fungicidal composition as claimed in claim 12, wherein the composition is formulated into solid, or liquid formulations is selected from wettable powders, granules, dusts, soluble concentrates, suspension concentrates, oil in water emulsion, water in oil emulsion, emulsifiable concentrates, capsule suspensions, ZC formulations, oil dispersions or other known formulation types.

15. A kit comprising a plurality of components comprising at least one of the ingredients of the fungicidal combination as claimed in claim 1.