The present invention relates to a preparation for stabilizing fungal spores. The formulation comprises at least one glycerophospholipid and spores of a fungal microorganism.

A formulation for voluntary oral administration of bioactive compounds to rodents. The semidsolid formulation having at least one thickening agent, a digestible sweetener selected from sucralose and calcium saccharin, a diluent agent, wherein the diluent agent is a powder with a granulometry between 300 and 800 μm, obtained from finely grounded seeds, cereal grains or cereal grain based diet for rodents, at least one flavor masking agent and a bioactive compound. The semi-solid formulation promotes voluntary feeding in rodents regardless of the bioactive compounds contained therein and without disruption of the metabolic pathways, therefore the semi-solid formulation has shown to be ideal for use in the oral administration of drugs and bioactive compounds to rodents. Use of the semi-solid formulation in the production of toxicant baits for rodents is also envisioned.

Architectural structures including an inorganic material carrier including cement and particles or fibers of a glass including a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions. In aspects, the glass may have a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In aspects, the glasses may include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. In other aspects, the glass can have a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The glasses and articles disclosed herein can exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

Architectural structures including an inorganic material carrier including cement and particles or fibers of a glass including a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions. In aspects, the glass may have a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In aspects, the glasses may include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. In other aspects, the glass can have a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The glasses and articles disclosed herein can exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

The present invention relates to an agronomic composition comprising zinc, manganese and microorganism(s) capable of promoting nutrient uptake by a plant from the soil. Furthermore, the present invention provides a seed coated by an agronomic composition according to the invention and a method for improving the yield of a plant, in particular for increasing nutrient uptake and/or cold tolerance in early stages of development by applying the agronomic composition according to the invention to a seed or to soil, in which a seed is planted. Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of an agronomic composition of the present invention to improve the yield of a plant. In particular, the composition of the present invention is used to improve recovery of a plant and/or to prevent tissue damage when the plant is exposed to low temperatures at the seed or seedling stage.

The present invention relates to an agronomic composition comprising zinc, manganese and microorganism(s) capable of promoting nutrient uptake by a plant from the soil. Furthermore, the present invention provides a seed coated by an agronomic composition according to the invention and a method for improving the yield of a plant, in particular for increasing nutrient uptake and/or cold tolerance in early stages of development by applying the agronomic composition according to the invention to a seed or to soil, in which a seed is planted. Finally, the present invention also relates to the use of an agronomic composition of the present invention to improve the yield of a plant. In particular, the composition of the present invention is used to improve recovery of a plant and/or to prevent tissue damage when the plant is exposed to low temperatures at the seed or seedling stage.

The present invention provides a method for controlling a soybean rust fungus having an amino acid substitution of F129L in a mitochondrial cytochrome b protein. A compound represented by formula (I)

##STR00001##

[wherein: X.sup.1 represents —C(H)═ or the like; X.sup.2 represents —C(O)OCH.sub.3 or the like; Y.sup.1 represents —C(R.sup.4)═ or the like; Y.sup.2 represents —C(R.sup.5)═ or the like; R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, and R.sup.5 each represent a C1-C4 alkyl group or the like; and E represents a C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group or the like]
can be used for controlling a soybean rust fungus having an amino acid substitution of F129L in a mitochondrial cytochrome b protein.

The present invention pertains to the use for preventing or treating intestinal infections caused by gram-positive bacteria in animals of an antibacterial compound selected from lactylate in accordance with formula 1,
R2—COO—[—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 1
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a glycolylate of formula 2,
R2—COO—[—CH2—COO].sub.n—R1  Formula 2
or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, a lactate ester of formula 3,
HO—CH(CH.sub.3)—COO—R22  Formula 3
and/or a glycolic acid ester of formula 4,
HO—CH2—COO—R2  Formula 4
wherein R1 is selected from H, n stands for an integer with a value of 1-10, and R2 stands for a C1-C35 alkyl or alkenyl chain which may be branched or unbranched. The compound, which preferably is a lactylate or a Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe(II), Zn, NH.sub.4, or Cu(II) salt thereof, is particularly useful in the treatment or prevention of Clostridia. An animal nutrition composition and a method for preventing or treating infections are also claimed.

Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. By improving the population of biological agents, the modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. In particular, modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations of biological agents can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause promoting plant growth. Therefore, the present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions of the invention include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.

Methods for improving the ability of a population of biological agents to compete and survive in a field setting are provided. By improving the population of biological agents, the modified population of agents is able to grow, compete with other microbial strains and fungi, and provide protection for plants from pathogens. In particular, modified biological agents and modified populations of such agents that are herbicide tolerant or resistant are selected or engineered. In this manner, the protection from disease-causing agents is enhanced. Such modified populations of biological agents can be added to soils to prevent fungal pathogens and the diseases they cause promoting plant growth. Therefore, the present invention is useful for enhancing the competitiveness of modified biological agents particularly over other microbial agents which are not herbicide resistant. Compositions of the invention include selected or engineered herbicide resistant biological agents and modified populations of biocontrol agents. These modified biological agents can be used as an inoculant or as a seed coating for plants and seeds.