Composition comprising a biological control agent and a fungicide

Abstract

The present invention relates to a composition comprising at least one biological control agent selected from the group consisting of Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) and Coniothyrium minitans CON/M/91-08 (DSM 9660) and/or a mutant of these strains having all the identifying characteristics of the respective strain, and/or at least one metabolite produced by the respective strain that exhibits activity against nematodes, insects and/or phytopathogens, and at least one fungicide (I) selected from the group consisting of inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complex I, II and III in a synergistically effective amount. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit of parts comprising said composition and the use of said composition.

Claims

1. A composition comprising Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550), and penflufen, wherein combination of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) and the penflufen results in a synergistic effect.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein a weight ratio of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) to the penflufen lies in the range of 1:100 to 20000:1.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) is formulated on a carrier in a concentration of between 1×10.sup.5 and 1×10.sup.10 spores/g carrier.

4. The composition according to claim 1 additionally comprising at least one auxiliary selected from the group consisting of extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners and adjuvants.

5. A seed treated with a composition comprising Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550), and penflufen, wherein combination of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) and the penflufen results in a synergistic effect.

6. The seed according to claim 5, wherein a weight ratio of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) to the penflufen lies in the range of 1:100 to 20000:1.

7. A kit of parts comprising Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550), and penflufen, wherein combination of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) and the penflufen results in a synergistic effect.

8. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) is formulated on a carrier in a concentration of between 1×10.sup.5 and 1×10.sup.10 spores/g carrier.

9. A method for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested fruits or vegetables caused by insects, mites, nematodes and/or phytopathogens comprising simultaneously or sequentially applying Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550), and penflufen, on the plant, plant parts, harvested fruits, vegetables and/or plant's locus of growth wherein combination of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) and the penflufen results in a synergistic effect.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a weight ratio of the Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251 (AGAL No. 89/030550) to the penflufen lies in the range of 1:100 to 20000:1.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the plant is selected from the group consisting of wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet, maize, cotton, soybeans, rice, potatoes, sunflower, coffee, tobacco, canola, oilseed rape, beets, peanuts, tomato, cucumber, bean, brassicas, onions, lettuce, fruit plants, lawns, and ornamentals.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

Rhizoctonia Test (Cotton)/Drench

(1) The test is performed under greenhouse conditions.

(2) Perlite was incubated with mycelia of Rhizoctonia solani. Infected perlite was scattered in a 1:1 mix of steamed field soil and sand and was incubated in a dark box in greenhouse for 6 days. After soil incubation, cotton seeds were sown in 6*6 cm pots containing this soil mixture.

(3) Compounds and compound combinations were suspended and diluted with water to the desired concentrations. 30 ml of compound or compound combination preparation were drenched on each pot. Pots were incubated in the greenhouse for 7 days at 20° C.

(4) Assessment consisted of counting of emerged seedlings. 0% means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated control, while an efficacy of 100% means that all seedlings have emerged.

(5) The table below clearly shows that the observed activity of the active compound combination according to the invention is greater than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is present.

(6) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE Rhizoctonia test (cotton)/Drench Efficacy in % Compounds Application rate found* calc.** BioAct ® 4 × 10.sup.11 cfu***/seed 33 (Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251) F70 fluopyram 1.2 mg ai/seed  0 BioAct ® + F70 4 × 10.sup.11 cfu***/seed + 53 33 1.2 mg ai/seed *found = activity found **calc. = activity calculated using Colby's formula ***cfu = colony forming units

EXAMPLE 2

Hypocotyl Growth Enhancement (Cotton)/Drench

(7) The test is performed under greenhouse conditions.

(8) Five cotton (variety Vicky) seeds were sown in a 6*6 cm pot containing 1:1 mix of steamed field soil and sand. Compounds and compound combinations were suspended and diluted with water to the desired concentrations. Just after sowing, 30 ml of compound or compound combination preparation were drenched on each pot. The pots (three replications per treatment) were placed in randomized arrangement in the greenhouse and kept at 20° C. for 7 days.

(9) Length of hypocotyls was measured at 7 days after sowing. Average length of 15 seedlings is shown in the table < >.

(10) Cotton seedlings were grown significantly higher than untreated in both BioAct or fluopyram treatment and hypocotyls in the pots which their mixture was drenched were longer than those of each single treatment.

(11) TABLE-US-00002 Hypocotyl Compounds Application rate cm Untreated (water) 4 × 10.sup.11 cfu*/plant 5.3 BioAct ® 6.0 (Paecilomyces lilacinus strain 251) F70 fluopyram 1.2 mg ai/plant 5.9 BioAct ® + F70 4 × 10.sup.11 cfu*/plant + 6.5 1.2 mg ai/plant *colony forming unit