Method for improving turfgrass abiotic stress tolerance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of controlling abiotic stress on turfgrass using an effective non-phytotoxic amount of acibenzolar-s-methyl.

Claims

1. A method for controlling or suppressing abiotic stress in turfgrass, comprising applying to the turfgrass or to the locus of the turfgrass, a composition comprising acibenzolar-S-methyl and a fungicide, wherein the acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at a rate of from 4 to 20 g/ha wherein the presence of the acibenzolar-S-methyl in the composition improves the quality of the turfgrass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied pre-abiotic stress or under low to moderate abiotic stress conditions.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an adjuvant, solvent, carrier, surfactant or extender.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the composition comprises from 0.01 to 90% by weight of acibenzolar-S-methyl, from 10 to 99.99% of a carrier and from 0 to 20% of a surfactant.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at the rate of from 5 to 16 g/ha.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at intervals of from 5 to 21 days, either pre-abiotic stress or under low to moderate abiotic stress conditions, during the turf growing season.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein 6 to 8 applications of acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at intervals of from 7 to 14 days.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the turfgrass is an annual or perennial Gramineae belonging to at least one of the genera Agropyron, Agrostis, Axonopus, Bromus, Buchloë, Cynodon, Eremochloa, Festuca, Lolium, Paspulum, Pennisetum, Phleum, Poa, Stenotaphrum or Zoysia.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is a triazole.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is selected from propiconazole, difenoconazole, cyproconazole, triticonazole, metconazole, triadimefon, or tebuconazole.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is a strobilurin.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin trifloxystrobin, fluoxastrobin or pyraclostrobin.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is thiabendazole.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is SDHIs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is selected from boscalid, isopyrazam, penthiopyrad, or solatenol.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is Phenylamides.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is selected from metalaxyl or mefonoxam.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is fludioxonil.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is mancozeb.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the fungicide is chlorothalonil.

Description

FORMULATION EXAMPLE

(1) TABLE-US-00001 Suspension concentrate Active ingredient 40% Propylene glycol 10% Nonylphenol polyethylene glycol  6% ether (15 mol of ethylene oxide) Sodium lignosulfonate 10% Carboxymethylcellulose  1% Silicone oil (in the form of a  1% 75% emulsion in water) Water 32%

(2) In preparing and SC, the finely ground active ingredients are mixed with the adjuvants, giving a suspension concentrate from which suspensions of any desired dilution can be obtained by dilution with water. Using such dilutions, living plants as well as plant propagation material can be treated and protected against infestation by microorganisms, by spraying, pouring or immersion.

(3) The following examples are for illustrative purposes only. The examples are not intended as necessarily representative of the overall testing performed and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES

(4) Acibenzolar-S-methyl applied in combination with chlorothalonil has provided turfgrass drought tolerance compared to chlorothalonil applied alone and an untreated check.

Example 1

(5) Greenhouse grown creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) was treated with Daconil Action (a commercially available chlorothalonil-ASM formulation; Syngenta) and Daconil Weatherstik (a commercially available chlorothalonil formulation; Syngenta) at 3.6 fluid ounces per 1000 square feet of turf. Daconil Action contains 54% chlorothalonil and 0.176% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Daconil Weatherstik contains 54% chlorothalonil. Rates are equivalent to the following:

(6) TABLE-US-00002 Rate—fluid Chlorothalonil acibenzolar-S-methyl Treatment ounces/1000 sq. ft. g ai/ha g ai/ha Daconil 3.6 8250 16.5 Action Daconil 3.6 8250 Weatherstik

(7) Two applications were applied on a 7 day interval. Bentgrass plants were maintained in the greenhouse. Watering was stopped and drought stress imposed in Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik treatments 3 days after the last application. The untreated check continued to be watered. Turf quality was rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being equal to the watered check, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead.

(8) Quality ratings 13 days after drought stress was imposed are included in Table 1. Turfgrass treated with Daconil Action maintained an acceptable quality rating of 6.2. This was significantly (P=0.05) different from trufgrass treated with Daconil Weatherstik.

(9) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 1 Quality Rating from Turfgrass Treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik 13 Days After Drought Stress Was Imposed in the Greenhouse. Treatment Rate oz/1000 sq. ft. turf Quality Rating* Check (watered) 9.0 a** Daconil Weatherstik 3.6 2.1 c Daconil Action 3.6 6.2 b *Rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being equal to the watered check, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead. **Means with same letter not different, LSD (P = 0.05)

(10) These data support the claim of enhanced drought tolerance in turfgrass when acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied in combination with chlorothalonil. Daconil Action is a unique blend of a multiple-site contact fungicide (chlorothalonil) with acibenzolar-S-methyl a systemic compound used for control of disease through induction of host plant resistance. The mode of action of acibenzolar-S-methyl mimics the natural systemic activated resistance (SAR) response found in most plant species. This SAR response does not involve direct activity against the target pathogens but relies on the plants natural defense mechanism. The SAR response activated by acibenzolar-S-methyl allows the plant to defend itself against abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, cold and salinity.

Example 2

(11) Greenhouse grown creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) was treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik at 3.6 fluid ounces per 1000 square feet of turf. Daconil Action contains 54% chlorothalonil and 0.176% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Daconil Weatherstik contains 54% chlorothalonil. Rates are equivalent to the following:

(12) TABLE-US-00004 Rate—fluid Chlorothalonil acibenzolar-S-methyl Treatment ounces/1000 sq. ft. g ai/ha g ai/ha Daconil 3.6 8250 16.5 Action Daconil 3.6 8250 Weatherstik

(13) Two applications were applied on a 7 day interval. Bentgrass plants were maintained in the greenhouse. Watering was stopped and drought stress imposed on the check and plants treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik 4 days after the last application. Turf quality was rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being best, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead.

(14) Quality rating taken 4-10 days after drought stress was imposed are included in Table 2. Turfgrass treated with Daconil Action maintained an acceptable quality rating for at least 2 days longer than turf treated with Daconil Weatherstik. This was significantly (P=0.05) from turfgrass treated with Daconil Weatherstik.

(15) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 2 Quality Rating from Turfgrass Treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik 4-10 Days Days After Drought Stress Was Imposed in the Greenhouse. Rate oz/ Days After Drought Stress was Imposed 1000 sq ft 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Check 8.75a 8.63a 6.13b 5ab   3.75b 3b   2.25b Daconil 3.6 8.38a 8.25a 6.38b 5.38b 4b   3.5b   3.13ab Weatherstik Daconil 3.6 9a   9a   7.88a 7.25a 6.38a 5.75a 5.25a Action

(16) These results support the claim of enhanced drought tolerance in turfgrass when acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied in combination with chlorothalonil.

Example 3

(17) Greenhouse grown creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) was treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik at 2 and 3.6 fluid ounces per 1000 square feet of turf. Daconil Action contains 54% chlorothalonil and 0.176% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Daconil Weatherstik contains 54% chlorothalonil. Rates are equivalent to the following:

(18) TABLE-US-00006 Rate—fluid Chlorothalonil acibenzolar-S-methyl Treatment ounces/1000 sq. ft. g ai/ha g ai/ha Daconil 2.0 4600 9.2 Action Daconil 3.6 8250 16.5 Action Daconil 2.0 4600 Weatherstik Daconil 3.6 8250 Weatherstik

(19) Three applications were applied on a 14 day interval. Bentgrass plants were maintained in the greenhouse. Watering was stopped and drought stress imposed on the check and plants treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik immediately after the last application. Plants were re-watered 15 days after drought stress was imposed. Turf quality was rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being best, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead.

(20) Quality rating 12-15 days after watering was stopped are included in Table 3. Turfgrass treated with both rates of Daconil Action maintained a improvement in turf quality over the untreated check and plants treated with Daconil Weatherstik in ratings taken 15 days after drought stress was imposed in the greenhouse. This significant (P=0.05) improvement continued to be evident after rewatering.

(21) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 3 Quality Rating from Turfgrass Treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik After Drought Stress Was Imposed in the Greenhouse. Turf Quality (1-9 Scale)* Rate oz/ Days After Drought Stress Was Imposed Treatment 1000 sq. ft. 12 13 14 15 3 DARW*** Check  6.3 a** 2.8 bc  1.8 bc 1.1c  1.2 c Daconil Action 3.6 7.4 a 6.7 a  5.6 a  5.7 a 6.2 a Daconil Action 2 7.7 a 6.8 a  5.6 a  5 ab  5.7 a Daconil Weather 3.6 6.7 a 4.4 abc  3.3 abc 2 c   2.2 c Stik Daconil Weather 2 6.5 a 3.7 abc 2.1 bc 2.1 c 2.3 c Stik *Rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being equal to the watered check, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead. **Means with same letter not different, LSD (P = 0.05) ***DARW = Days after re-watering

(22) These results support the claim of enhanced drought tolerance in turfgrass when acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied in combination with chlorothalonil.

Example 4

(23) Greenhouse grown creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) was treated with Daconil Action at 3.5 fluid ounces per 1000 sq. ft. of turf. Daconil Action contains 54% chlorothalonil and 0.176% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Daconil Action was compared to Actigard 50WP which contains 50% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Rates are equivalent to the following:

(24) TABLE-US-00008 Chlorothalonil acibenzolar-S-methyl Treatment g ai/ha g ai/ha Daconil 8250 16.5 Action Actigard 30 50WP

(25) The purpose of the trial was to compare multiple applications of Daconil Action (16.5 g ai/ha of acibenzolar-S-methyl) with a single application of Actigard (30 g ai/ha acibenzolar-S-methyl). Two applications of Daconil Action were applied on a 7 day interval prior to inducing drought stress. A single application of Actigard was applied at the same time as the second Daconil Action application. Bentgrass plants were maintained in the greenhouse. Watering was stopped and drought stress imposed on the check and plants treated with Daconil Action and Actigard immediately after the second application of Daconil Action and the single Actigard application. Turf quality was rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being best, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead.

(26) Quality rating 11-13 days after watering was stopped are included in Table 4. Turfgrass treated with Daconil Action maintained a significant (P=0.10) improvement in turf quality over the untreated check and plants treated with Actigard in ratings taken 11-13 days after drought stress was imposed.

(27) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE 4 Quality Rating from Turfgrass Treated with Daconil Action and Actigard After Drought Stress Was Imposed in the Greenhouse. Turf Quality (0-9scale)* Days After Drought Stress was Imposed Rate g 11 11 ai/ha Application Timing (8:00 AM) (4:30 PM) 12 13 Check  6.63a** 4.25b  3.62a 2.38ab Daconil 8200 2 applications, 7 7.25a 6.25a  5.75a 3.75a  Action day interval Actigard 30 Single application 6.63a 4.75ab 3.18a 2.00ab *Rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being equal to the watered check, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead. **Means with same letter not different, LSD (P = 0.10)

(28) These data support the claim that multiple applications of Daconil Action applying 16.5 g ai/ha of acibenzolar-S-methyl are more effective than a single application acibenzolar-S-methyl in reducing drought stress symptoms. These applications are non-phytotoxic to turf.

Example 5

(29) Greenhouse grown creeping Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik at 2 and 3.5 fluid ounces per 1000 square feet of turf. Daconil Action contains 54% chlorothalonil and 0.176% acibenzolar-S-methyl. Daconil Weatherstik contains 54% chlorothalonil. Rates are equivalent to the following:

(30) TABLE-US-00010 Rate—fluid Chlorothalonil acibenzolar-S-methyl Treatment ounces/1000 sq. ft. g ai/ha g ai/ha Daconil 2.0 4600 9.2 Action Daconil 3.5 8250 16.5 Action Daconil 2.0 4600 Weatherstik Daconil 3.5 8250 Weatherstik

(31) The purpose of the trial was to compare multiple applications of Daconil Action (16.5 g ai/ha of acibenzolar-S-methyl) to Daconil Weatherstik for reduction in heat stress. Four applications of Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik were applied on a 7 day interval prior to inducing heat stress. Kentucky Bluegrass plants were maintained in an incubator. Heat stress imposed on the check and plants treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik immediately after the last application. Temperatures were maintained at 35 degrees C. during the day and 30 degrees C. at night. Turf quality was rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being best, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead.

(32) Quality rating 11-13 days after watering was stopped are included in Table 5. Turfgrass treated with Daconil Action maintained a significant (P=0.10) improvement in turf quality over the untreated check and plants treated with Actigard in ratings taken 11-13 days after drought stress was imposed.

(33) TABLE-US-00011 TABLE 5 Quality Rating from Turfgrass Treated with Daconil Action and Daconil Weatherstik After Drought Stress Was Imposed in an incubator. Turf Quality (0-9 scale)* Days After Heat Stress Application was Imposed Timing 7 12 Check 3.25a** 3.00abc Daconil 3.5 4 applications 3.81a 3.75ab Action 7 day interval Daconil 2.0 4 applications 3.75a 3.5ab Action 7 day interval Dacinil 3.5 4 applications 1.75b 2.06cd Weatherstik 7 day interval Daconil 2.0 4 applications 1.68b 1.93cd Weatherstik 7 day interval *Rated on a 1-9 scale with 9 being equal to the watered check, 6 being acceptable, and 1 being dead. **Means with same letter not different, LSD (P = 0.10)

(34) These data support the claim that multiple applications of DaconilAction applying 9.2 and 16.5 g ai/ha of acibenzolar-S-methyl are more effective than Daconil Weatherstik in reducing heat stress symptoms in turf. These applications are non phytotoxic to turf.

(35) Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments and examples thereof, the scope of the present invention is not limited only to those described embodiments. As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, modifications and adaptations to the above-described invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is defined and circumscribed by the appended claims. All publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes to the same extent as if each individual publication were specifically and individually indicated to be so incorporated by reference.