CONIOTHYRIUM MINITANS FOR USE AGAINST MOSS GROWTH

Abstract

The invention relates to the use of Coniothyrium minitans for controlling moss growth and to a method of controlling moss growth, comprising applying Coniothyrium minitans to an area to be kept free from mosses.

Claims

1. A method of controlling moss growth on turf, consisting of applying Coniothyrium minitans and a carrier to the turf.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans causes existing moss to die.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein spores of Coniothyrium minitans are used.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application takes place onto turf found in a park, golf course, sports ground or garden.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application is effected on a turf roll or turf sod.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is applied in a formulation comprising between about 110.sup.7 and about 110.sup.15 spores Coniothyrium minitans per gram of formulation, and the formulation application rate is between 2 and 2000 kg/ha.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the formulation comprises between 110.sup.7 and 110.sup.10 spores Coniothyrium minitans per gram of formulation.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is Coniothyrium minitans CON/M/91-08 with Accession Number DSM9660 or a mutant thereof having the same properties in respect of moss growth.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is formulated on the carrier.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the carrier is a water-soluble sugar carrier.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the carrier is glucose or dextrose.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is formulated as spores on the carrier at a concentration of between about 110.sup.7 and about 110.sup.15 spores/g carrier.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is formulated as spores on the carrier at a concentration of between about 110.sup.8 and about 110.sup.13 spores/g carrier.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is formulated as spores on the carrier at a concentration of between about 110.sup.8 and about 110.sup.10 spores/g carrier.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the Coniothyrium minitans is applied as a drench.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the carrier is water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method of controlling mosses, comprising applying Coniothyrium minitans to an area to be kept free from mosses, such as, for example, a crop of useful plants or places such as paved places.

[0029] To describe the preferred embodiments of this aspect of the invention, those of the first aspect of the invention may be used.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08 is used.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, spores of Coniothyrium minitans are used.

[0032] In a further preferred embodiment, the application takes place onto and/or into the soil or the area to be treated.

[0033] In a further preferred embodiment the application is effected on turf.

[0034] In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is applied in gardens, parks, sports grounds, terraces, pavements and otherwise plant-free places.

[0035] In a further preferred embodiment, the application of Coniothyrium minitans takes place in combination with at least one herbicide which is active against mosses.

[0036] In an especially preferred embodiment, the herbicide is selected from the group consisting of dodecyldimethylammonium chloride, ACN (2-amino-3-chloro-1,4-naphtoquinone), carfentrazone-ethyl, lauroyl methyl-[beta]-alanine-sodium, ferrous ammonium sulphate, copper hydroxide, mancozeb, propineb, oxadiazone, formaldehyde and chlorothalonil.

[0037] In a further especially preferred embodiment, the application of Coniothyrium minitans and at least one herbicide takes place simultaneously or alternatingly.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the application rate is between 2 and 2000 kg/ha.

[0039] In a further preferred embodiment, the spore concentration in the formulation applied is between 110.sup.7 and 110.sup.10/g.

[0040] In another preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is preventive.

[0041] The examples which follow describe the invention in non-limiting form.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Drench Test

[0042] The test was carried out under greenhouse conditions.

[0043] 120 mL of a mixture of steamed field soil and sand (1:1) was filled into transparent cylindrical vessels 5.5 cm in size.

[0044] The test formulation, the product CONTANS, comprising 110.sup.9 spores of the strain Coniothyrium minitans CON/M/91-08, was dissolved in water and diluted with water to the desired concentrations. 20 mL of the made-up solutions were pipetted onto the soil in the vessels.

[0045] The vessels were covered with a transparent lid.

[0046] The vessels remained in the greenhouse for the next 19 weeks, at 15 C. and at natural light conditions. The lids were opened slightly after approximately 2 weeks, and the soil was watered every 3 weeks and kept moist.

[0047] The evaluation was effected by estimating, per vessel, the soil surface area which had in the meantime been covered by growth, predominantly haircup moss growth. 0% means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated control, while an efficacy of 100% means that no moss growth was discernible.

[0048] In this test, the following formulations display an efficacy of up to 100% at a dose of 200 kg/ha (see Table 1).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Concentration Efficacy % Control 0* CONTANS** 2 kg/ha = 0.024 mg/mL 50 CONTANS** 20 kg/ha = 0.24 mg/mL 38 CONTANS** 200 kg/ha = 2.4 mg/mL 100 Glucose 200 kg/ha = 2.4 mg/mL 13 DDAC-C10*** 6.25 kg/ha = 20 L/mL 100 *Moss growth: 80% of area **Coniothyrium minitans CON/M/91-08; 5 10.sup.8 viable spores/g ***Didecyldimethylammonium chloride with alkyl chain length C10

[0049] The Coniothyrium minitans spores used are bound to glucose. To rule out a potential effect of glucose on the moss growth, an experiment with glucose was carried out, and this experiment shows that the effect cannot be attributed to the glucose.