The invention relates to substituted dihydro-hydantoin derivatives of the formula (I) wherein X, A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.a and R.sup.b are as defined in the specification. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for making compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using these compounds to control or inhibit plant growth.

##STR00001##

The invention relates to substituted dihydro-hydantoin derivatives of the formula (I) wherein X, A, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.a and R.sup.b are as defined in the specification. Furthermore, the present invention relates to processes and intermediates for making compounds of formula (I), to herbicidal compositions comprising these compounds and to methods of using these compounds to control or inhibit plant growth.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to active compound combinations, in particular within a fungicide composition, which comprises (A) a difluoromethyl-nicotinic indanyl carboxamide of formula (I) and a further fungicidally active compound (B). Moreover, the invention relates to a method for curatively or preventively controlling the phytopathogenic fungi of plants or crops, to the use of a combination according to the invention for the treatment of seed, to a method for protecting a seed and not at least to the treated seed.

Products are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one spore-forming bacterium and at least one optional insect control agent to a genetically modified plant, plant part, or seed. This product is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Use of the product leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than using genetically modified seed with just an insect control agent. According to some embodiments, the use of the product results in about a 2%-10% increase in soybean bushel yield, 3%-6.5% increase in cotton yield, and 3%-8% in corn bushel yield. Methods for utilizing and manufacturing the combination are also provided.

Products are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one spore-forming bacterium and at least one optional insect control agent to a genetically modified plant, plant part, or seed. This product is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Use of the product leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than using genetically modified seed with just an insect control agent. According to some embodiments, the use of the product results in about a 2%-10% increase in soybean bushel yield, 3%-6.5% increase in cotton yield, and 3%-8% in corn bushel yield. Methods for utilizing and manufacturing the combination are also provided.

The present invention relates to active compound concentrates having herbicidal action, comprising a) from 10 to 100 g/l of at least one 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazole compound of the formula I in which ##STR00001## R.sup.1, R.sup.3 independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, methylthio, methylsulfinyl or methylsulfonyl; R.sup.2 is a 5-membered heterocyclic radical which is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkoxy and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylthio; R.sup.4 is hydrogen, halogen or methyl; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl or C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl; and R.sup.6 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; or one of its agriculturally useful salts, b) from 200 to 700 g/l of 2-chloro-N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide, and c) from 10 to 200 g/l of at least one surfactant S selected from a mixture of at least one anionic surfactant and at least one nonionic surfactant, where the components a), b) and c) are present dissolved in a mixture of organic solvents consisting to at least 95% by weight, based on the solvent mixture, of d1) at least one aprotic polar organic solvent having a miscibility with water at 25° C. and 1 bar of at least 50 g/l, and d2) at least one organic solvent having a solubility in water at 25° C. and 1 bar of less than 5 g/l.

The present invention relates to active compound concentrates having herbicidal action, comprising a) from 10 to 100 g/l of at least one 4-benzoyl-substituted pyrazole compound of the formula I in which ##STR00001## R.sup.1, R.sup.3 independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, methyl, halomethyl, methoxy, halomethoxy, methylthio, methylsulfinyl or methylsulfonyl; R.sup.2 is a 5-membered heterocyclic radical which is unsubstituted or carries 1, 2, 3 or 4 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkoxy, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkyl, C.sub.1-C.sub.4-haloalkoxy and C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkylthio; R.sup.4 is hydrogen, halogen or methyl; R.sup.5 is C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkyl or C.sub.3-C.sub.6-cycloalkylmethyl; and R.sup.6 is hydrogen or C.sub.1-C.sub.4-alkyl; or one of its agriculturally useful salts, b) from 200 to 700 g/l of 2-chloro-N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide, and c) from 10 to 200 g/l of at least one surfactant S selected from a mixture of at least one anionic surfactant and at least one nonionic surfactant, where the components a), b) and c) are present dissolved in a mixture of organic solvents consisting to at least 95% by weight, based on the solvent mixture, of d1) at least one aprotic polar organic solvent having a miscibility with water at 25° C. and 1 bar of at least 50 g/l, and d2) at least one organic solvent having a solubility in water at 25° C. and 1 bar of less than 5 g/l.

Disclosed is a solid arthropodicide composition comprising by weight (a) from 0.3 to 100% of a particulate component comprising particles of a solid carrier infiltrated with a mixture comprising (i) one or more carboxamide arthropodicides and (ii) a surfactant constituent; (b) from 0 to 50% of a surfactant component having dispersing and wetting properties; and (c) from 0 to 99.7% of one or more additional formulating ingredients.
Also disclosed is a propagule contacted with a biologically effective amount of said composition.

Disclosed is a solid arthropodicide composition comprising by weight (a) from 0.3 to 100% of a particulate component comprising particles of a solid carrier infiltrated with a mixture comprising (i) one or more carboxamide arthropodicides and (ii) a surfactant constituent; (b) from 0 to 50% of a surfactant component having dispersing and wetting properties; and (c) from 0 to 99.7% of one or more additional formulating ingredients.
Also disclosed is a propagule contacted with a biologically effective amount of said composition.

Described is a broad spectrum, synergistic fungicidal composition when used for the preservation of a glued wood product comprising as active ingredients: (A) triadimefon, and (B) cyproconazole characterised in that the weight ratio of (A):(B) is from about 20:1 to about 1:1, the composition being further characterised in that the application rate for the composition is from about 10 gai/m.sup.3 to about 6,000 gai/m.sup.3.