Method for improved use of the production potential of genetically modified plants

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for improving the utilization of the production potential of a genetically modified plant where the plant is treated with an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula (I) ##STR00001##
in which R.sup.1 to R.sup.3, X, L, n and Y have the meanings given in the description.

Claims

1. A method for improving production of a genetically modified plant, wherein the plant comprises at least one gene or gene fragment coding for a Bt toxin, comprising treating parts of the plant with from 50 to 200 g/ha of [1-(6-trifluoromethylpyridin-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)-oxido-λ.sup.4-sulphanylidenecyanamide: ##STR00038## to improve the production of the plant, wherein the improvement is caused by a synergistic action between (I-8) and a genetic modification of the genetically modified plant, wherein the parts of the plant are selected from the group consisting of shoots, leaves, flowers, roots, needles, stems, trunks, fruit-bodies, fruit, tubers, rhizomes, and combinations thereof, and wherein (I-8) is the only active compound with which the genetically modified plant is treated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant further is tolerant to one or more herbicides, wherein the herbicide tolerance is obtained by genetic transformation or selection of a plant containing a mutation.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is selected from the group consisting of Dianthus caryophyllus (carnation), Brassica napus (Argentine oilseed rape), Zea mays L. (maize), Cucumis melo (melon), Carica papaya (papaya), Solanum tuberosum L (potato), Glycine max L. (soya bean), Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), Nicotiana tabacum L. (tobacco), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Agrostis stonolifera (creeping bentgrass), Beta vulgaris (sugar beet), Brassica napus (Argentine canola), Brassica rapa (Polish canola), Cichorium intybus (chicory), Cucurbita pepo (squash), Gossypium hirsutum L. (cotton), Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Lens culinaris (lentil), Lens usitatissimum L. (flax, linseed), Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Oryza sativa (rice), Triticum aestivum (wheat), and Brassicus napus (canola), and wherein the gene or gene fragment coding for a Bt toxin codes for a crystal toxin (Cry).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a vegetable plant, maize plant, soya bean plant, cotton plant, tobacco plant, rice plant, sugar beet plant, oilseed rape plant, or potato plant.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein [1-(6-trifluoromethylpyridin-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)-oxido-λ.sup.4-sulphanylidenecyanamide is in a mixture with at least one mixing partner.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a maize plant, soya bean plant, tobacco plant, sugar beet plant, oilseed rape plant, or potato plant.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a cotton plant.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a maize plant.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a soya bean plant.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a tobacco plant.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a rice plant.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a sugar beet plant.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is an oilseed rape plant.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a potato plant.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Bt toxin is a crystal toxin.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein the herbicide tolerance is glyphosate tolerance, glutamine synthase tolerance, hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenase tolerance, acetolactate synthase tolerance, sulphonylurea tolerance, and/or imidazolinone tolerance.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a cotton plant including a gene from the Cry family for Lepidoptera resistance and a gene for glyphosate resistance.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a maize plant including a gene from the Cry family for Lepidoptera resistance and a gene for glyphosate resistance.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the genetically modified plant is a maize plant including a gene from the Cry family for Coleoptera resistance and a gene for glyphosate resistance.

20. A method for improving production of a genetically modified plant, wherein the plant comprises at least one gene or gene fragment coding for a Bt toxin, comprising treating parts of the plant in the presence of an insect pest with from 50 to 200 g/ha of [1-(6-trifluoromethylpyridin-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)-oxido-λ.sup.4-sulphanylidenecyanamide: ##STR00039## to improve the production of the plant, wherein the improvement is caused by a synergistic action between (I-8) and a genetic modification of the genetically modified plant, wherein the parts of the plant are selected from the group consisting of shoots, leaves, flowers, roots, needles, stems, trunks, fruit-bodies, fruit, tubers, rhizomes, and combinations thereof, and wherein (I-8) is the only active compound with which the genetically modified plant is treated.

Description

EXAMPLES

(1) The invention is illustrated in more detail by the examples below, without being limited thereby.

(2) A synergistic effect in insecticides and acaricides is always present when the action of the active compound combinations exceeds the total of the actions of the active compounds when applied individually.

(3) The expected action for a given combination of two active compounds can be calculated as follows, using the formula of S. R. Colby, Weeds 15 (1967), 20-22:

(4) If

(5) X is the kill rate, expressed as % of the untreated control, when employing active compound A at an application rate of m g/ha or in a concentration of m ppm, Y is the kill rate, expressed as % of the untreated control, when employing the transgenic seed and E is the kill rate, expressed as % of the untreated control, when employing the active compound A at application rates of m g/ha or in a concentration of m ppm and the transgenic seed,
then

(6) $E=X+Y-\frac{X.Math.Y}{100}$

(7) If the actual insecticidal kill rate exceeds the calculated value, the action of the combination is superadditive, i.e. a synergistic effect is present. In this case, the actually observed kill rate must exceed the value calculated using the above formula for the expected kill rate (E).

Example 1: Foliar and Drench Application Aphis gossypii/Cotton

(8) Individual potted genetically modified cotton plants with Lepidoptera resistance and Glyphosate resistance are treated with the desired product against the cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii).

(9) After the desired period of time, the kill in % is determined. 100% means that all the aphids have been killed; 0% means that none of the aphids have been killed.

(10) A considerable improvement in the control of pests compared to the control plants not treated according to the invention is noticeable.

(11) TABLE-US-00007 TABLE B1-1 Aphis gossypii test (foliar application) Concentration Kill Active compound in ppm in % after 1.sup.d compound I-8 20 65 cotton plant containing a gene 0 from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence found* calc.** compound I-8 combined with a 20 85 65 cotton plant containing a gene from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence according to the invention

(12) TABLE-US-00008 TABLE B1-2 Aphis gossypii test (drench application) Concentration Kill Active compound in ppm in % after 2.sup.d compound I-8 0.8 70 cotton plant containing a gene 0 from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence found* calc.** compound I-8 combined with a 0.8 90 70 cotton plant containing a gene from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence according to the invention *found = activity found **calc. = activity calculated using the Colby formula

Example 2: Foliar Application Spodoptera frugiperda/Maize

(13) Pots with in each case 5 genetically modified maize plants with Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and/or herbicide resistances are treated in 2 replications against the armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

(14) After the desired period of time, the kill in % is determined. 100% means that all caterpillars have been killed; 0% means that none of the caterpillars have been killed.

(15) A considerable improvement in the control of pests compared to the control plants not treated according to the invention is noticeable.

(16) TABLE-US-00009 TABLE B2 Spodoptera frugiperda test (foliar application) Concentration Kill Active compound in ppm in % after 4.sup.d compound I-8 100 0 maize plant containing a gene 40 from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence maize plant containing a gene 20 from the cry family for Coleoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence found* calc.** compound I-8 combined with a 100 90 40 maize plant containing a gene from the cry family for Lepidoptera resistence according to the invention compound I-8 combined with a 100 50 20 maize plant containing a gene from the cry family for Coleoptera resistence and a gene for Glyphosate resistence according to the invention *found = activity found **calc. = activity calculated using the Colby formula