Method for controlling rust

Abstract

A combination comprising a multi-site contact fungicide, a first systemic fungicide and optionally a second systemic fungicide and a method using the same.

Claims

1. A composition comprising a fungicidal combination and at least one agriculturally acceptable excipient wherein the fungicidal combination consists consisting of: (a) a multi-site contact fungicide, wherein the multi-site contact fungicide is chlorothalonil; (b) a first systemic fungicide selected from the group consisting of quinone outside inhibitors, wherein the quinone outside inhibitors are strobirulin fungicides, (c) a second systemic fungicide selected from the group consisting of demethylation inhibitors, wherein the demethylation inhibitors are conazole fungicides, and (d) at least one agriculturally acceptable excipient.

2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein: (a) the strobilurin fungicide is selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, mandestrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, fluoxastrobin, hesoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, fenaminstrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin; (b) the conazole fungicide is selected from the group consisting of climbazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, prochloraz-manganese, triflumizole, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluotrimazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, pencoconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, perfurazoate and uniconazole-P.

3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein: (a) the strobilurin fungicide is selected from the group consisting of trifloxystrobin, picoxystrobin, azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin; and (b) the conazole fungicide is selected from the group consisting of prothioconazole, tebuconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, and metconazole.

4. The composition fungicidal combination according to claim 3, wherein: (a) the first systemic fungicide is trifloxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is prothioconazole; or (b) the first systemic fungicide is trifloxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is tebuconazole; or (c) the first systemic fungicide is trifloxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is cyproconazole; or (d) the first systemic fungicide is trifloxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is epoxiconazole; or (e) the first systemic fungicide is trifloxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is metconazole; or (f) the first systemic fungicide is picoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is prothioconazole; or (g) the first systemic fungicide is picoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is tebuconazole; or (h) the first systemic fungicide is picoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is cyproconazole; or (i) the first systemic fungicide is picoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is epoxiconazole; or (j) the first systemic fungicide is picoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is metconazole; or (k) the first systemic fungicide is azoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is prothioconazole; or (l) the first systemic fungicide is azoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is tebuconazole; or (m) the first systemic fungicide is azoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is cyproconazole; or (n) the first systemic fungicide is azoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is epoxiconazole; or (o) the first systemic fungicide is azoxystrobin and the second systemic fungicide is metconazole; or (p) the first systemic fungicide is pyraclostrobin and the second systemic fungicide is prothioconazole; or (q) the first systemic fungicide is pyraclostrobin and the second systemic fungicide is tebuconazole; or (r) the first systemic fungicide is pyraclostrobin and the second systemic fungicide is cyproconazole; or (s) the first systemic fungicide is pyraclostrobin and the second systemic fungicide is epoxiconazole; or (t) the first systemic fungicide is pyraclostrobin and the second systemic fungicide is metconazole.

5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the fungicidal combination consists of: (i) chlorothalonil; (ii) prothioconazole; and (iii) trifloxystrobin.

6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the fungicidal combination consists of: (i) chlorothalonil; (ii) prothioconazole; and (iii) picoxystrobin.

7. A method of treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, comprising: applying to the plant at the locus of the infection a composition according to claim 1.

8. A kit comprising a fungicidal combination and at least one agriculturally acceptable excipient wherein the fungicidal combination consists consisting of: (a) a multi-site contact fungicide, wherein the multi-site contact fungicide is chlorothalonil; (b) a first systemic fungicide selected from the group consisting of quinone outside inhibitors, wherein the quinone outside inhibitors are strobirulin fungicides, (c) a second systemic fungicide selected from the group consisting of demethylation inhibitors, wherein the demethylation inhibitors are conazole fungicides, and (d) at least one agriculturally acceptable excipient.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) It has surprisingly been found that the use of a contact protective dithiocarbamate fungicide along with at least one systemic fungicide effectively penetrates the dense canopy barrier of the infected leguminous plant while simultaneously not allowing the rust pathogen to move up the plant foliage. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the contact protective dithiocarbamate fungicide component of the combination effectively penetrates the dense plant foliage, while the systemic fungicide component effectively prevents the rust pathogen from infecting the remaining portion of the plant effectively reducing the susceptibility of the plant towards the infection. This synergistic complementation was not seen when either the foliar protective fungicide or the systemic fungicide were individually used in isolation, but was observed when the two fungicides were used in conjunction. This synergistic complementation between the contact preventive dithiocarbamate fungicide and a systemic fungicide for the treatment and control of Phakopsora species of fungicides was unexpected and surprising.

(2) Thus, in an aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one multi-site contact fungicide; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the multi-site contact fungicide, with at least one systemic fungicide.

(3) The multi-site contact fungicides of the present invention inhibit fungal growth through multiple sites of action and have contact and preventive activity. In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide may be selected from copper fungicides, sulfur fungicides, dithiocarbamate fungicides, phthalimide fungicides, chloronitrile fungicides, sulfamide fungicides, guanidine fungicides, triazines fungicides and quinone fungicides.

(4) The copper fungicides of the present invention are inorganic compounds containing copper, typically in the copper (II) oxidation state and are preferably selected from copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, copper hydroxide and tribasic copper sulfate (Bordeaux mixture). The sulfur fungicides of the present invention are inorganic chemicals containing rings or chains of sulfur atoms and is preferably elemental sulfur. The dithiocarbamate fungicides of the present invention contain a dithiocarbamate molecular moiety and are selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb. The phthalimide fungicides of the present invention contain a phthalimide molecular moiety and are selected from folpet, captan and captafol. The chloronitrile fungicide of the present invention comprises an aromatic ring substituted with chloro- and cyano-substituents and is preferably chlorothalonil. The sulfamide fungicides of the present invention are preferably selected from dichlofluanid and tolylfluanid. The guanidine fungicides of the present invention are preferably selected from dodine, guazantine and iminoctaadine. The triazine fungicide of the present invention is preferably anilazine. The quinone fungicide of the present invention is preferably dithianon.

(5) In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide of the present invention is a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb.

(6) Thus, in this aspect, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one systemic fungicide.

(7) In an embodiment, the dithiocarbamate fungicide is mancozeb.

(8) In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide is a combination of mancozeb and chlorothalonil.

(9) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with at least one systemic fungicide.

(10) The term contact fungicide as used herein for the dithiocarbamate fungicides denotes a fungicide that remains at the site where it is applied but does not travel within the plant. Typically, these fungicides do not show any post-infection activity.

(11) In an embodiment, the contact dithiocarbamate fungicide may be applied repeatedly at the site of the infection at pre-determined time intervals.

(12) The term systemic fungicide as used herein shall denote a fungicide that is absorbed into the plant tissue and possesses at least some amount of an after-infection activity. Preferably, the systemic fungicide of the present invention is capable of moving freely throughout the plant. However, the term systemic fungicide is intended herein to include the upwardly systemic fungicide as well as the locally systemic fungicide.

(13) In an embodiment, the systemic fungicide is preferably a quinone outside inhibitor (QoI). In this embodiment, the quinone outside inhibitor is selected from an imidazolinone fungicide, an oxazolidinedione fungicide or a strobilurin fungicide.

(14) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb, or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one quinone outside inhibitor.

(15) The QoI inhibitors useful in this embodiment of the present invention effect the inhibition of complex III: cytochrome bcl (ubiquinol oxidase) at Qo site i.e. cyt b gene.

(16) In one embodiment, the imidazolinone fungicide is fenamidone.

(17) In another embodiment, the oxazolidinedione fungicide is famoxadone.

(18) In another embodiment, the strobilurin fungicide is selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, mandestrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, fenaminstrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin.

(19) In another embodiment, the systemic fungicide of the present invention is preferably a demethylation inhibitor (DMI).

(20) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one demethylation inhibitor.

(21) In this embodiment, the preferred DMI inhibitor is preferably a conazole fungicide selected from the group consisting of climbazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, prochloraz-manganese, triflumizole, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluotrimazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, pencoconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, perfurazoate and uniconazole-P.

(22) In another embodiment, the preferred DMI inhibitor is preferably selected from triflumizole, triforine, pyridinitrile, pyrifenox, fenarimol, nuarimol and triarimol.

(23) In another embodiment, the systemic fungicide of the present invention is a combination of at least one quinone outside inhibitor and at least demethylation inhibitor.

(24) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one quinone outside inhibitor and at least one demethylation inhibitor.

(25) In an embodiment, the preferred quinone outside inhibitor is a strobilurin fungicide and the preferred demethylation inhibitor is a conazole fungicide. In this embodiment, the preferred dithiocarbamate is selected from the group consisting of thiram, ziram, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb and zineb.

(26) Therefore, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from thiram, ziram, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb and zineb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one strobilurin fungicide and at least one conazole fungicide.

(27) In an embodiment, the preferred dithiocarbamate is mancozeb. In this embodiment, the preferred strobilurin fungicide is selected from trifloxystrobin, picoxystrobin, azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin, while the preferred conazole fungicide is selected from prothioconazole, tebuconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, metconazole and tebuconazole.

(28) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with at least one strobilurin fungicide selected from trifloxystrobin, picoxystrobin, azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin and at least one conazole fungicide selected from prothioconazole, tebuconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, metconazole and tebuconazole.

(29) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is trifloxystrobin and the preferred conazole is prothioconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with trifloxystrobin and with prothioconazole.

(30) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is picoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with picoxystrobin and with tebuconazole.

(31) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is picoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is cyproconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with picoxystrobin and with cyproconazole.

(32) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is azoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is cyproconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with azoxystrobin and with cyproconazole.

(33) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is epoxiconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with pyraclostrobin and with epoxiconazole.

(34) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with pyraclostrobin and with tebuconazole.

(35) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is metconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with pyraclostrobin and with metconazole.

(36) In another embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is trifloxystrobin and the preferred conazole is selected from cyproconazole, propiconazole or tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with mancozeb; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to mancozeb, with trifloxystrobin and with at least one compound selected from cyproconazole, propiconazole or tebuconazole.

(37) In another embodiment, the systemic fungicide of the present invention is a quinone inside inhibitor. Preferably, the quinone inside inhibitor includes cyanoimidazole fungicides and sulfamoyltriazole fungicides.

(38) In an embodiment, the quinone inside inhibitor is selected from cyazofamid and amisulbrom.

(39) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one quinone inside inhibitor.

(40) In another embodiment, the systemic fungicide of the present invention is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide (SDHI). Preferably, the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of benodanil, flutolanil, mepronil, fluopyram, fenfuram, carboxin, oxycarboxin, thifluzamide, bixafen, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane and boscalid.

(41) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating soybean rust in a host leguminous plant, wherein the method comprises treating the plant at the locus of the infection with at least one dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil; and concurrently, prior or subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, with at least one succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor.

(42) It has been found that a combination of a multi-site contact fungicide, preferably a dithiocarbamate fungicide, along with a systemic fungicide selected from at least one Qo inhibitor (Quinone outside inhibitors), at least one Qi (quinone inside) inhibitor, at least one DM inhibitor (demethylation inhibitor) or at least one SDH Inhibitor (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors) leads to an unexpected and surprisingly good control of Soybean Rust as compared to other fungicides reported in the art.

(43) Surprisingly, it has been found that dithiocarbamates, preferably mancozeb or combinations thereof with chlorothalonil, acts as a synergist to improve disease control and plant health of a host legume plant infected with soybean rust when applied concurrently or subsequently to at least two fungicides selected from Qo inhibitors (Quinone outside inhibitors), DM inhibitors (demethylation inhibitor), SDH Inhibitors (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors), Qi inhibitors (Quinone inside inhibitors) or combinations thereof. The present inventors believe that these combinations have never been hitherto reported in the art and many of their surprising properties never been envisaged. These combinations were found to possess surprisingly improved efficacy of enhanced disease control of Asian Soybean Rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae infections. These combinations were also found to improve the quality of the plant by decreasing stress and improving nutrition levels, thereby increasing the yield of the plant that was infected with a fungicidal infection, especially with the soybean rust infection.

(44) In an embodiment, these combinations were also found especially effective against corynespora, antbracnose, cercospora, leaf spot, rhizoctonia and sclerotinia families of fungi apart from their superior efficacy against phakopsora family of fungi.

(45) Thus, in this aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising at least one multi-site contact fungicide, a first systemic fungicide and a second systemic fungicide.

(46) In this aspect, the multi-site contact fungicide may be selected from copper fungicides, sulfur fungicides, dithiocarbamate fungicides, phthalimide fungicides, chloronitrile fungicides, sulfamide fungicides, guanidine fungicides, triazines fungicides and quinone fungicides.

(47) The copper fungicides of this aspect are inorganic compounds containing copper, typically in the copper (II) oxidation state and are preferably selected from copper oxychloride, copper sulfate, copper hydroxide and tribasic copper sulfate (Bordeaux mixture).

(48) The sulfur fungicides of this aspect are inorganic chemicals containing rings or chains of sulfur atoms and is preferably elemental sulfur.

(49) The dithiocarbamate fungicides of this aspect contain a dithiocarbamate molecular moiety and are selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb.

(50) The phthalimide fungicides of this aspect contain a phthalimide molecular moiety and are selected from folpet, captan and captafol.

(51) The chloronitrile fungicide of this aspect comprises an aromatic ring substituted with chloro-and cyano-substituents and is preferably chlorothalonil.

(52) The sulfamide fungicides of this aspect are preferably selected from dichlofluanid and tolylfluanid.

(53) The guanidine fungicides of this aspect are preferably selected from dodine, guazantine and iminoctaadine.

(54) The triazine fungicide of this aspect is preferably anilazine.

(55) The quinone fungicide of this aspect is preferably dithianon.

(56) In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide of this aspect is preferably selected from (a) a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; and (b) a chloronitrile fungicide, which is chlorothalonil.

(57) Thus, in this aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising: (i) a multi-site contact fungicide selected from (a) a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; or (b) a chloronitrile fungicide, which is chlorothalonil and combinations thereof; (ii) a first systemic fungicide selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; and (iii) a second systemic fungicide selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor.

(58) In an embodiment, the first and second systemic fungicides are preferably different from each other.

(59) In an embodiment, when the multi-site contact fungicide is a combination of mancozeb and chlorothalonil, the preferred systemic fungicide is at least one systemic fungicide selected from quinone outside inhibitor, quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor or a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor.

(60) In a preferred embodiment, the first and second systemic fungicides are selected from different classes of systemic fungicides. For example: (i) when the first systemic fungicide is a demethylation inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (ii) the first systemic fungicide is a quinone outside inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (iii) the first systemic fungicide is a quinone inside inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a demethylation inhibitor and a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (iv) the first systemic fungicide is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor and a demethylation inhibitor.

(61) Thus, in this aspect, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising: (i) a multi-site contact fungicide selected from (a) a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; or (b) a chloronitrile fungicide, which is chlorothalonil or combination thereof; (ii) a first systemic fungicide selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; and (iii) a second systemic fungicide selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; such that (a) when the first systemic fungicide is a demethylation inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (b) the first systemic fungicide is a quinone outside inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone inside inhibitor, demethylation inhibitor and succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (c) the first systemic fungicide is a quinone inside inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a demethylation inhibitor and a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor; or when (d) the first systemic fungicide is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, the second systemic fungicide is selected from a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor and a demethylation inhibitor; or (e) when the multi-site contact fungicide is a combination of mancozeb and chlorothalonil, the systemic fungicide is at least one of a quinone outside inhibitor, a quinone inside inhibitor, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor and a demethylation inhibitor

(62) In a preferred embodiment, the preferred quinone outside inhibitor is a strobilurin fungicide and the preferred demethylation inhibitor is a conazole fungicide. In this embodiment, the preferred dithiocarbamate is selected from the group consisting of thiram, ziram, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb and zineb.

(63) Therefore, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising at least one multi-site contact fungicide selected from thiram, ziram, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, propineb, zineb and chlorothalonil or combinations thereof; at least one strobilurin fungicide and at least one conazole fungicide.

(64) In an embodiment, the preferred dithiocarbamate is mancozeb. In this embodiment, the preferred strobilurin fungicide is selected from trifloxystrobin, picoxystrobin, azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin, while the preferred conazole fungicide is selected from prothioconazole, tebuconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, metconazole and tebuconazole.

(65) Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil or combinations thereof; at least one strobilurin fungicide selected from trifloxystrobin, picoxystrobin, azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin and at least one conazole fungicide selected from prothioconazole, tebuconazole, cyproconazole, epoxiconazole, metconazole and tebuconazole.

(66) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is trifloxystrobin and the preferred conazole is prothioconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; trifloxystrobin and prothioconazole.

(67) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is picoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; picoxystrobin and tebuconazole.

(68) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is picoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is cyproconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; picoxystrobin and cyproconazole.

(69) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is azoxystrobin and the preferred conazole is cyproconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; azoxystrobin and cyproconazole.

(70) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is epoxiconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole.

(71) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole.

(72) In one embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is pyraclostrobin and the preferred conazole is metconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; pyraclostrobin and metconazole.

(73) In another embodiment, the preferred strobilurin is trifloxystrobin and the preferred conazole is selected from cyproconazole, propiconazole or tebuconazole. Thus, in this embodiment, the present invention provides a fungicidal combination comprising mancozeb or chlorothalonil; trifloxystrobin and at least one compound selected from cyproconazole, propiconazole or tebuconazole.

(74) It was thus found that the addition of a dithiocarbamate fungicide to at least a demethylation inhibitor or a quinone outside inhibitor or a quinone inside inhibitor or a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor or combinations thereof greatly increased the activity of the systemic fungicides over the expected disease control and expected yield.

(75) In an embodiment, the application of the dithiocarbamate fungicide may be prior, subsequent or concurrent to the application of the systemic fungicide. When the systemic fungicide is applied subsequently to the dithiocarbamate fungicide, such sequential application of the systemic fungicide may be within 24 hours to 4 weeks of the application of the dithiocarbamate fungicide. In the case of concurrent application, the dithiocarbamate may be tank mixed with other actives or per-formulated mixtures may be conveniently used. The addition of mancozeb to existing combination products greatly increased the efficacy of the known combinations, thereby acting as a synergist, improving the rate of disease control and improving the overall health of the plant.

(76) The amount of dithiocarbamate to be applied may range from 1 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha, preferred being 1.5 kg/ha to 2.0 kg ha.

(77) In an embodiment, the dithiocarbamate may be applied in an effective amount so as to act as a synergist to the systemic fungicides of the present invention. However, the appropriate amounts of the fungicides used in the present invention, whether multi-site contact fungicides or systemic fungicides, is not particularly limiting and may be conveniently chosen by a skilled artisan.

(78) The method of control of the present invention may be carried out by spraying the suggested tank mixes, or the individual fungicides may be formulated as a kit-of-parts containing various components that may be mixed as instructed prior to spraying.

(79) In an embodiment, the fungicides or the combinations thereof contemplated according to the present invention may be pre-formulated and may be in the form of Water Dispersible Granules (WDG), Wettable Powders, Suspension Concentrates, Emulsifiable Concentrate, Suspoemulsions, Capsule Suspensions etc. However, the choice of any preferred formulation type is not particularly limiting.

(80) Adjuvants and ancillary ingredients may be used to formulate such pre-formulated compositions and may employ wetters, adhesives, dispersants or surfactants and, if appropriate solvent or oil and other agriculturally acceptable additives.

(81) In an embodiment, the present invention thus provides a composition comprising any of the fungicidal combinations such as herein described along with agriculturally acceptable excipients.

(82) It is readily understood that the method of treatment of the present invention may be used on all host plants that are infected by both Phakopsora pachyrhizi and/or Phakopsora meibomiae. Such exemplary host plants may include soybean, Fenugreek, Kidney beans, Pinto beans, Fava or Broadbeans, Lima beans, Mung beans, Winged or Goa beans, Black-eyed Pea, Cowpea or Yard-long Bean, Green peas, Pigeon Pea, Swordbean, Urd or Black-gram etc.

(83) As will be demonstrated in the examples, the addition of a multi-site contact fungicide to a systemic fungicide(s) for the treatment of ASR, greatly improved the disease control as well as improved yield. The lower the mixture performance in the rust control, the greater the additional benefit of the multi-site contact fungicide was seen.

(84) The method of the present invention improves the existing disease control to an unexpectedly high degree and surprisingly improves the yield obtained. The method of the present invention also allows for greater resistance control and decreases the amount of the actives used.

(85) These and other advantages of the invention may become more apparent from the examples set forth herein below. These examples are provided merely as illustrations of the invention and are not intended to be construed as a limitation thereof.

EXAMPLES

(86) A study was conducted to determine the fungitoxicity of the multi-site contact fungicide, a dithiocarbamate fungicide mancozeb to Phakopsora pachyrhizi causal agent of Asian soybean rust (ASR) and the contribution of its incorporation to mixtures of strobilurin and triazole fungicides [demethylation inhibitor (DMI)+quinone outside inhibitor (QoI)]. Experiments were conducted in the field in nine locations where fungitoxicity of mancozeb to soybean rust was determined. Two doses were tested (1.5 and 2.0 kg/ha in various application numbers for mancozeb. The effect of mancozeb (1.5 kg/ha) incorporated to commercial mixtures was also tested. The tests were conducted on soybean cultivar Monsoy 9144 RR. A commercially available mancozeb 750 WDG (wettable granules) formulation was used for applying mancozeb. The combination mixtures were used as follows:

(87) TABLE-US-00001 S No. Combination used Dosage A(1) 200 g/L azoxystrobin + 80 g/L 300 mL/Ha cyproconazole A(2) Mancozeb 750 WDG + 200 g/L azoxystrobin + 1500 g/Ha + 80 g/L cyproconazole 300 mL/Ha B(1) 85 g/L pyraclostrobin + 62.5 g/L 500 mL/Ha epoxiconazole B(2) Mancozeb 750 WDG + 85 g/L 1500 g/Ha + pyraclostrobin + 62.5 g/L epoxiconazole 500 mL/Ha C(1) Cyproconazole 80 g/L + Picoxystrobin 200 g/L 300 mL/Ha C(2) Mancozeb 750 WDG + 1500 g/Ha + Cyproconazole 80 g/L + Picoxystrobin 200 g/L 300 mL/Ha D(1) Picoxystrobin 200 g/L + Tebuconazole 80 g/L 300 mL/Ha D(2) Mancozeb 750 WDG + Picoxystrobin 200 g/L + 1500 g/Ha + Tebuconazole 80 g/L 300 mL/Ha
The percentage control of these experimental trials were noted and tabulated as hereunder:

(88) TABLE-US-00002 Fungicide applied Assessment method Percent control Difference A(1) Percentage severity 36.0 A(2) Percentage severity 68.4 +32.4% A(1) - Replicate Percentage severity 40.0 A(2) - Replicate Percentage severity 68.0 +28.0% B(1) Percentage severity 51.7 B(2) Percentage severity 71.3 +19.6% B(1) - Replicate AUDPC - Area 55.6 under disease progress curve B(2) - Replicate AUDPC 71.7 +20.7% C(1) AUDPC 47.0 C(2) AUDPC 74.0 +27.0% C(1) - Replicate Percentage severity 44.3 C(2) - Replicate Percentage severity 54.4 +11.1% D(1) AUDPC 68.6 D(2) AUDPC 90.2 +21.7% D(1) - Replicate Percentage severity 44.6 D(2) - Replicate Percentage severity 52.0 +7.4%

(89) It was thus found that the incorporation of mancozeb increased the rust control of the conventional strobilurin+conazole fungicide treatment standard. It was further found that the lower the mixture performance in the rust control, the greater the additional benefit of mancozeb. It was thus concluded that the addition of a multi-site contact fungicide such as mancozeb acted as a synergist to the combination products registered for the treatment of Asian soybean rust. The addition of a dithiocarbamate increased disease control and improved yield of plants.

(90) The instant invention is more specifically explained by above examples. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited by the examples in any manner. It will be appreciated by any person skilled in this art that the present invention includes aforesaid examples and further can be modified and altered within the technical scope of the present invention.