FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to biological control of diseases caused by Ganoderma spp. in agricultural plants and, particularly, basal stem rot caused by G. boninense in oil palms.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] The African oil palm Elaeis guineensis Jacq. is an important oil-food crop. Oil palm plants are monoecious, i.e. single plants produce both male and female flowers. They are characterized by an alternating series of male and female inflorescences. The male inflorescence is made up of numerous spikelets, and can bear well over 100,000 flowers. Oil palm is naturally cross-pollinated by insects and the wind. The female inflorescence is a spadix that contains several thousands of flowers borne on thorny spikelets. A bunch carries 500 to 4,000 fruit. The oil palm fruit is a sessile drupe that is spherical to ovoid or elongated in shape and is composed of an exocarp, a mesocarp containing palm oil, and an endocarp surrounding a kernel.

[0003] Oil palm is important both because of its high yield and because of the high quality of its oil. Regarding yield, oil palm is the highest yielding oil-food crop, with a recent average yield of 3.67 tons per hectare per year and with the best progenies known to produce about 10 tons per hectare per year. Oil palm is also the most efficient plant known for harnessing the energy of sunlight for producing oil. Regarding quality, oil palm is cultivated for both palm oil, which is produced in the mesocarp, and palm kernel oil, which is produced in the kernel. Palm oil in particular is a balanced oil, having almost equal proportions of saturated fatty acids (- 55% including 45% of palmitic acid) and unsaturated fatty acids (= 45%), and it includes beta-carotene. The palm kernel oil is more saturated than the mesocarp oil. Both are low in free fatty acids. The current combined output of palm oil and palm kernel oil is about 50 million tonnes per year, and demand is expected to increase substantially in the future with increasing global population and per capita consumption of oils and fats.

[0004] Basal stem rot is a disease of oil palm plants that is becoming an increasingly common problem among oil palm plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia and that threatens to limit the productivity of these plantations. Basal stem rot is caused by a species of the f mgus Ganoderma, and in particular G. boninense, and is considered to be the most destructive disease in the oil palm industry in Southeast Asia. Infections appear to advance more quickly in subsequent generations of oil palm planting because of accumulation of inoculums, and the possibility of evolution of more virulent strains of the pathogen. The mating system of G. boninense strongly favors outcrossing and this provides a possible mechanism for the selection of pathogen virulence.

[0005] Infection is believed to be caused by contact of the pathogen with roots. Earliest visual symptoms include wilting of fronds and malnutrition. Diagnostic symptoms for confirmation of basal stem rot include detection of disease lesions (also termed dry rot) at the base of oil palm plants and the appearance of fruiting bodies. Basal stem rot can result in oil palm plants that have small canopies, show signs of loose vigor (the so-called skirting), are impaired with respect to fruit production, and are subject to being toppled by the wind.

[0006] Basal stem rot threatens to reduce fresh fruit bunch yield in Malaysia and Indonesia, as shown in a recent case study at Johor estate (Roslan & Idris, 2012, Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal, 12(1), 24-30). Affected oil palm plants can die within six to twelve months after the development of symptoms, and up to 80% of plantings may die within the first half of the otherwise expected economic life of the oil palm plants. Recycled fields from coconut plantings and fields left with infected stumps have created a mass of inoculum of Ganoderma boninense in the soil. New plantings of oil palms in these fields will be subject to infection, and thus these fields will have shorter cycles in the next generation of planting. Malaysia adopted a zero- burning policy in its land clearing activities for oil palm plantations as early as 1993, and lands with Ganoderma boninense infestation have been treated by other methods as alternatives to burning, such as removal of stumps, pulverizing of felled oil palm trunks, and harrowing and ploughing of fields (Mohd Noor, 2003, Oil Palm Industry Economic Journal, 3(1), 16-32).

[0007] Currently, there are several techniques proposed for controlling Ganoderma infection in oil palm. Chemical treatment with synthetic triazole fungicides, such as bromoconazole and hexaconazole, has been widely employed in oil palm. These two fungicides however are only able to prolong the lifespan of infected palms but have failed to inhibit Ganoderma fungus from growing and spreading.

[0008] Synthetic chemical treatments may be impractical for large-scale application due to their high cost of implementation. In addition, synthetic fungicides often are non-specific and therefore can act on organisms other than the target organisms, including other naturally occurring beneficial organisms. Consumers worldwide are increasingly conscious of the potential environmental and health problems associated with the residuals of chemicals, particularly in food products. This has resulted in growing consumer pressure to reduce the use or at least the quantity of chemical (i.e., synthetic) fungicides. Thus, there is a need to manage food chain requirements while still allowing effective disease control.

[0009] A further problem arising with the use of synthetic fungicides is that the repeated and exclusive application of a fungicide often leads to selection of resistant pathogens. Normally, such strains are also cross-resistant against other active ingredients having the same mode of action. An effective control of the pathogens with said active compounds is then not possible any longer. However, active ingredients having new mechanisms of action are difficult and expensive to develop.

[0010] The risk of resistance development in pathogen populations as well as

environmental and human health concerns have fostered interest in identifying alternatives to synthetic fungicides for managing plant diseases. The use of biological control agents is an alternative for controlling Ganoderma infection. Biological control agents that provide effective control of

Ganoderma without increasing the occurrence of resistant strains of the pathogen are particularly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In view of this, it was an object of the present invention to provide compositions comprising a biological control agent with activity against Ganoderma. In particular, it was a further object of the present invention to provide a composition that, when applied to a crop, results in a decreased amount of residues in the crop, thereby reducing the risk of resistance formation and nevertheless providing efficient pest and/or disease control.

[0012] Accordingly, it was found that these objectives are at least partly solved by the compositions and methods according to the invention as defined in the following. The composition according to the present invention preferably fulfills the above-described needs. It has been discovered surprisingly that the application of the compositions according to the present invention to plants, plant parts, and/or plant’s locus of growth preferably allows efficient control of phytopathogens and, particularly, Ganoderma spp., the causative agents basal stem rot in oil palms.

[0013] In certain aspects, the present invention provides a composition for controlling a fungal infection by Ganoderma spp. in an agricultural plant, the composition comprising Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or a fungicidal mutant thereof. In one aspect, the composition comprises a fermentation product of the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof. For example, the fermentation product may comprise Bacillus subtilis QST713 cells or cells of a fungicidal mutant of Bacillus subtilis QST713, metabolites and residual fermentation broth. In certain aspects, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 cells or cells of a fungicidal mutant of Bacillus subtilis QST713 are spores.

[0014] In other aspects, the present invention relates to the use of a composition disclosed herein for treating a fungal infection by Ganoderma sp. in an agricultural plant.

[0015] In further aspects, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a fungal infection by Ganoderma spp. in an agricultural plant, the method comprising applying to an agricultural plant and/or locus for plant growth Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B- 21661 or a fungicidal mutant thereof.

[0016] In one aspect, the applying is preceded by identifying that the agricultural plant and/or the locus for plant growth needs treatment. In another aspect, the agricultural plant comprises propagation material selected from the group consisting of a seedling, a nursery plant, and a seed.

[0017] In certain aspects, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof is applied to the agricultural plant and/or the locus for plant growth prior to planting and/or at planting. For example, the composition can be applied before, during or after the plant or plant part comes into contact with the soil. As further examples, the methods of the present invention include but are not limited to applying the composition using an application method such as soil surface drench, shanked-in, injected or applied in-furrow. In one aspect, the methods of the present invention include applying the compositions as a seed treatment.

[0018] The treatment of the plants and plant parts with the compositions according to the invention may be carried out directly or by acting on the environment, habitat or storage space using customary treatment methods, for example by dipping, spraying, atomizing, misting, evaporating, dusting, fogging, scattering, foaming, painting on, spreading, injecting, drenching, trickle irrigation and, in the case of propagation material, in particular in the case of seed, furthermore by the dry seed treatment method, the wet seed treatment method, the slurry treatment method, by encrusting, by coating with one or more coats and the like. It is furthermore possible to apply the active substances by the ultra-low volume method or to inject the active substance preparation or the active substance itself into the soil.

[0019] In some aspects, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof is applied to soil. In one aspect, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof is applied to soil in contact with roots of the agricultural plant or soil at a base of the agricultural plant.

[0020] In some embodiments, such application results in enhanced yield and/or improved health of the plant. In one embodiment, the application results in a reduction of disease severity.

[0021] In yet another embodiment, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof is applied at a rate of about 1 ^c 10 ⁴ to about 1 ^c 10 ⁸ colony forming units (cfu) per gram of soil. In other embodiments, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or fungicidal mutant thereof is applied at a rate of about 1 x 10 ⁵ to about 1 * 10 ⁸ cfu per gram of soil, at a rate of about 1 * 10 ⁶ to about 1 * 10 ⁸ cfu per gram of soil, at a rate of about 1 * 10 ⁴ to about 1 * 10 ⁷ cfu per gram of soil, or at a rate of about 1 * 10 ⁵ to about 1 x 10 ⁷ cfu per gram of soil.

[0022] In some aspects, the method further comprises applying to the agricultural plant and/or locus for plant growth an herbicide, insecticide and/or a fungicide. The herbicide, insecticide and/or fungicide may be applied sequentially or simultaneously with the Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661 or a fungicidal mutant thereof. In one aspect, the fungicide is a triazole fungicide. A non-limiting list of triazole fungicides includes azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, paclobutrazol, penconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, uniconazole-P, voriconazole, l-(4-chlorophenyl)-2- (lH-l,2,4-triazol-l-yl)cycloheptanol, mefentrifluconazole, and ipfentrifluconazole.

[0023] In some aspects, the fungicidal mutant strain has a genomic sequence with greater than about 90% sequence identity to Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B- 21661 and/or the fungicidal mutant strain has fungicidal activity that is comparable to or better than that oiBacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661.

[0024] In other aspects, the Ganoderma spp. are Ganoderma boninense, Ganoderma orbiforme, Ganoderma zonatum, and/or Ganoderma miniatocinctum. In a certain aspect, the

Ganoderma spp. is Ganoderma boninense. It is most preferred that Ganoderma boninense is controlled by Bacillus subtilis QST713.

[0025] In yet other aspects, the agricultural plant is a palm tree selected from the group consisting of oil palm, coconut palm, date palm, sago palm, nipa palm, areca palm, and ornamental palm. In one aspect, the agricultural plant is an oil palm.

[0026] In some aspects, the present invention provides methods of treating a plant to control Ganoderma spp. wherein the methods comprise applying an effective amount of at least one biological control agent selected from Bacillus subtilis QST713 deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661, metabolites produced therefrom, a cell -free extract thereof, and combinations thereof to the plant, to a part of the plant and/or to the locus surrounding the plant, such as to a plant’s growth media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 A depicts control of Ganoderma boninense strain PER71 and Ganoderma boninense strain UP by Bacillus subtilis QST713. FIG. IB depicts control of Ganoderma boninense strain PER71 and Ganoderma boninense strain UP with the triazole fungicide, tebuconazole.

[0028] FIG. 2A depicts control of Ganoderma disease in the roots and internal plant tissue of oil palm trees treated with SERENADE ^® ASO ( Bacillus subtilis QST713) or one of four chemical treatments. FIG. 2B depicts control of Ganoderma disease in the stems and foliage of oil palm trees treated with SERENADE ^® ASO ( Bacillus subtilis QST713) or one of four chemical treatments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The microorganisms and particular strains described herein, unless specifically noted otherwise, are all separated from nature and grown under artificial conditions such as in shake flask cultures or through scaled-up manufacturing processes, such as in bioreactors to maximize bioactive metabolite production, for example. Growth under such conditions leads to strain

“domestication.” Generally, such a“domesticated” strain differs from its counterparts found in nature in that it is cultured as a homogenous population that is not subject to the selection pressures found in the natural environment but rather to artificial selection pressures. [0030] As used herein, the verb“comprise” as is used in this description and in the claims and its conjugations is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. In addition, reference to an element by the indefinite article“a” or“an” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements are present, unless the context clearly requires that there is one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article“a” or“an” thus usually means“at least one”.

[0031] The SERENADE ^® product (EPA Registration No. 69592-12) contains a unique strain of Bacillus subtilis (strain QST713) and many different lipopeptides that work synergistically to destroy disease pathogens and provide superior antimicrobial activity. The SERENADE ^® product is used to protect plants such as vegetables, fruit, nut, and vine crops against diseases such as Fire Blight, Botrytis, Sour Rot, Rust, Sclerotinia, Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Spot and White Mold. The

SERENADE ^® products are available as either liquid or dry formulations, which can be applied as a foliar and/or soil treatments. Copies of EPA Master Labels for SERENADE ^® products, including SERENADE ^® ASO, SERENADE ^® MAX, SERENADE ^® OPTIMUM (or OPTI), and SERENADE SOIL ^® , are publicly available through National Pesticide Information Retrieval System’s (NPIRS ^® ) USEPA/OPP Pesticide Product Label System (PPLS).

[0032] SERENADE ^® ASO (Aqueous Suspension-Organic) contains 1.34% of dried QST713 as an active ingredient and 98.66% of other ingredients. SERENADE ^® ASO is formulated to contain a minimum of 1 x 10 ⁹ cfii/g of QST713 while the maximum amount of QST713 has been determined to be 3.3 x 10 ¹⁰ cfu/g. Alternate commercial names for SERENADE ^® ASO include SERENADE BIOFUNGICIDE ^® , SERENADE SOIL ^® and SERENADE ^® GARDEN DISEASE. For further information, see the U.S. EPA Master Labels for SERENADE ^® ASO dated January 4, 2010 and SERENADE SOIL ^® , each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0033] SERENADE ^® MAX contains 14.6% of dried QST713 as an active ingredient and 85.4% of other ingredients. SERENADE ^® MAX is formulated to contain a minimum of 7.3 x 10 ⁹ cfu/g of QST713 while the maximum amount of QST713 has been determined to be 7.9 x 10 ¹⁰ cfu/g. For further information, see the U.S. EPA Master Label for SERENADE ^® MAX, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0034] SERENADE ^® OPTIMUM (or OPTI) contains 26.2% of dried QST713 as an active ingredient and 73.8% of other ingredients. SERENADE ^® OPTIMUM (or OPTI) is formulated to contain a minimum of 1.31 x 10 ¹⁰ cfu/g of QST713. For further information, see the U.S. EPA Master Label for SERENADE ^® OPTIMUM (or OPTI), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0035] NRRL is the abbreviation for the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection, an international depositary authority for the purposes of deposing microorganism strains under the Budapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure, having the address National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 North University Street, Peoria, Illinois 61604, U.S.A.

[0036] Bacillus subtilis QST713, its mutants, its supernatants, and its lipopeptide metabolites, and methods for their use to control plant pathogens and insects are fully described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,060,051; 6,103,228; 6,291,426; 6,417,163; and 6,638,910; each of which is specifically and entirely incorporated by reference herein for everything it teaches. In these U.S. patents, the strain is referred to as AQ713, which is synonymous with QST713. Bacillus subtilis QST713 has been deposited with the NRRL on May 7, 1997, under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on the

International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purpose of Patent Procedure under Accession Number B-21661. Any references in this specification to QST713 refer to Bacillus subtilis QST713 (aka AQ713) as present in the SERENADE ^® products, deposited under NRRL Accession No. B-21661, or prepared in bioreactors or shake flasks under conditions that simulate production of the SERENADE ^® product.

[0037] At the time of filing U.S. Patent Application No. 09/074,870 in 1998, which corresponds to the above patents, the QST713 strain was designated as a Bacillus subtilis based on classical, physiological, biochemical and morphological methods. Taxonomy of the Bacillus species has evolved since then, especially in light of advances in genetics and sequencing technologies, such that species designation is based largely on DNA sequence rather than the methods used in 1998. After aligning protein sequences from B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42, B. subtilis 168 and QST713,

approximately 95% of proteins found in B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 are 85% or greater identical to proteins found in QST713; whereas only 35% of proteins in B. subtilis 168 are 85% or greater identical to proteins in QST713. However, even with the greater reliance on genetics, there is still taxonomic ambiguity in the relevant scientific literature and regulatory documents, reflecting the evolving understanding of Bacillus taxonomy over the past 15 years. For example, a pesticidal product based on B. subtilis strain FZB24, which is as closely related to QST713 as is FZB42, is classified in documents of the Environmental Protection Agency as B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens . Due to these complexities in nomenclature, this particular Bacillus species is variously designated, depending on the document, as B. subtilis, B. amyloliquefaciens, and B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens . Therefore, we have retained the B. subtilis designation of QST713 rather than changing it to B. amyloliquefaciens, as would be expected currently based solely on sequence comparison and inferred taxonomy. As regulatory authorities in various countries may require registration under any one of the possible taxonomic classifications, it is to be understood for purposes of this patent application that the strain deposited as Bacillus subtilis QST713 and assigned NRRL Accession No. B-21661 is equivalent to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens QST713.

[0038] As explained in detail in international patent publication number WO 2012/087980, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, cultures of B. subtilis QST713 are actually a mixture of wild type cells and a relatively small percentage of variant cell types, which have been designated as“sandpaper cells”, based on the morphology of their colonies.

[0039] The B. subtilis strain AQ30002 (aka QST30002) or AQ30004 (aka QST30004), deposited as Accession Nos. NRRL B-50421 and NRRL B-50455 which are described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2012/087980 or mutants of these B. subtilis strains having all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of B. subtilis strain AQ30002 (aka QST30002) or AQ30004 (aka QST30004) can also be used in the method of the invention, either alone or in mixture with B. subtilis QST713.

[0040] The term“mutant” refers to a genetic variant derived from QST713. In one embodiment, the mutant has all the identifying characteristics of QST713. In a particular instance, the mutant controls plant pathogens (e.g., Ganoderma spp.) at least as well as the parent QST713 strain. In another embodiment, mutants are genetic variants having a genomic sequence that has greater than about 85%, greater than about 90%, greater than about 95%, greater than about 98%, or greater than about 99% sequence identity to the QST713 strain. Mutants may be obtained by treating QST713 cells with chemicals or irradiation or by selecting spontaneous mutants from a population of QST713 cells (such as phage resistant mutants) or by other means well known to those practiced in the art.

[0041] Compositions of the present invention can be obtained by culturing Bacillus subtilis QST713 or mutants thereof according to methods well known in the art, including by using the media and other methods described in U.S. Patent No. 6,060,051. Conventional large-scale microbial culture processes include submerged fermentation, solid-state fermentation, or liquid surface culture. Towards the end of fermentation, as nutrients are depleted, Bacillus subtilis cells begin the transition from growth phase to sporulation phase, such that the final product of fermentation is largely spores, metabolites and residual fermentation medium. Sporulation is part of the natural life cycle of Bacillus subtilis and is generally initiated by the cell in response to nutrient limitation. Fermentation is configured to obtain high levels of colony forming units of Bacillus subtilis and to promote sporulation. The bacterial cells, spores and metabolites in culture media resulting from fermentation may be used directly or concentrated by conventional industrial methods, such as centrifugation, tangential-flow filtration, depth filtration, and evaporation. Fermentation broth and broth concentrate are both referred to herein as “fermentation products.” Compositions of the present invention include fermentation products. In some embodiments, the concentrated fermentation broth is washed, for example, via a diafiltration process, to remove residual fermentation broth and metabolites.

[0042] The fermentation broth or broth concentrate can be dried with or without the addition of carriers using conventional drying processes or methods such as spray drying, freeze drying, tray drying, fluidized-bed drying, drum drying, or evaporation. [0043] The resulting dry products may be further processed, such as by milling or granulation, to achieve a specific particle size or physical format. Carriers, described below, may also be added post-drying.

[0044] Cell-free preparations of fermentation broth of the novel variants and strains of Bacillus of the present invention can be obtained by any means known in the art, such as extraction, centrifugation and/or filtration of fermentation broth. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that so- called cell-free preparations may not be devoid of cells but rather are largely cell-free or essentially cell- free, depending on the technique used (e.g., speed of centrifugation) to remove the cells. The resulting cell-free preparation may be dried and/or formulated with components that aid in its application to plants or to plant growth media. Concentration methods and drying techniques described above for fermentation broth are also applicable to cell-free preparations.

[0045] Metabolites of Bacillus subtilis can be obtained according to the methods set forth in U.S. Patent No. 6,060,051. The term“metabolites” as used herein may refer to semi-pure and pure or essentially pure metabolites or to metabolites that have not been separated from Bacillus subtilis. In some embodiments, after a cell-free preparation is made by centrifugation of fermentation broth, the metabolites may be purified by size exclusion filtration such as the SEPHADEX ^® resins including LH- 20, G10, and G15 and G25 that group metabolites into different fractions based on molecular weight cut-off, such as molecular weight of less than about 2000 Daltons, less than about 1500 Daltons, less than about 1000 Daltons and so on, as the lipopeptides are between 800 Daltons and 1600 Daltons.

[0046] Concentration methods and drying techniques described above for formulation of fermentation broth are also applicable to metabolites.

[0047] Compositions of the present invention may include formulation inerts added to compositions comprising cells, cell-free preparations or metabolites to improve efficacy, stability, and usability and/or to facilitate processing, packaging and end-use application. Such formulation inerts and ingredients may include carriers, stabilization agents, nutrients, or physical property modifying agents, which may be added individually or in combination. In some embodiments, the carriers may include liquid materials such as water, oil, and other organic or inorganic solvents and solid materials such as minerals, polymers, or polymer complexes derived biologically or by chemical synthesis. In some embodiments, the carrier is a binder or adhesive that facilitates adherence of the composition to a plant part, such as a seed or root. See, for example, Taylor, A.G., et ak,“Concepts and Technologies of Selected Seed Treatments”, Annu. Rev. Phytopathol. 28: 321-339 (1990). The stabilization agents may include anti-caking agents, anti-oxidation agents, desiccants, protectants or preservatives. The nutrients may include carbon, nitrogen, and phosphors sources such as sugars, polysaccharides, oil, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and phosphates. The physical property modifiers may include bulking agents, wetting agents, thickeners, pH modifiers, rheology modifiers, dispersants, adjuvants, surfactants, antifreeze agents or colorants. In some embodiments, the composition comprising cells, cell -free preparation or metabolites produced by fermentation can be used directly with or without water as the diluent without any other formulation preparation. In some embodiments, the formulation inerts are added after concentrating fermentation broth and during and/or after drying.

[0048] Compositions of the present invention may include carriers, which are inert formulation ingredients added to compositions comprising a lipopeptide -containing fermentation product, cell -free preparations of lipopeptide s or purified, semi -purified or crude extracts of lipopeptides to improve recovery, efficacy, or physical properties and/or to aid in packaging and administration.

Such carriers may be added individually or in combination.

[0049] The inventive compositions can be used as such or, depending on their particular physical and/or chemical properties, in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such as aerosols, capsule suspensions, cold-fogging concentrates, warm-fogging

concentrates, encapsulated granules, fine granules, flowable concentrates for the treatment of seed, ready-to-use solutions, dustable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, water-in-oil emulsions, macrogranules, microgranules, oil-dispersible powders, oil-miscible flowable concentrates, oil-miscible liquids, gas (under pressure), gas generating product, foams, pastes, pesticide coated seed, suspension concentrates, oil dispersion, suspo-emulsion concentrates, soluble concentrates, suspensions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts and granules, water-soluble and water-dispersible granules or tablets, water-soluble and water-dispersible powders for the treatment of seed, wettable powders, natural products and synthetic substances impregnated with active ingredient, and also microencapsulations in polymeric substances and in coating materials for seed, and also ULV cold-fogging and warm-fogging formulations.

[0050] In some embodiments, the inventive compositions are liquid formulations. Non limiting examples of liquid formulations include suspension concentrations and oil dispersions. In other embodiments, the inventive compositions are solid formulations. Non-limiting examples of solid formulations include freeze-dried powders and spray-dried powders.

[0051] Compositions of the present invention may include formulation ingredients added to compositions of the present invention to improve recovery, efficacy, or physical properties and/or to aid in processing, packaging and administration. Such formulation ingredients may be added individually or in combination.

[0052] The formulation ingredients may be added to compositions comprising cells, cell- free preparations, isolated compounds, and/or metabolites to improve efficacy, stability, and physical properties, usability and/or to facilitate processing, packaging and end-use application. Such formulation ingredients may include agriculturally acceptable carriers, inerts, stabilization agents, preservatives, nutrients, or physical property modifying agents, which may be added individually or in combination. In some embodiments, the carriers may include liquid materials such as water, oil, and other organic or inorganic solvents and solid materials such as minerals, polymers, or polymer complexes derived biologically or by chemical synthesis. In some embodiments, the formulation ingredient is a binder, adjuvant, or adhesive that facilitates adherence of the composition to a plant part, such as leaves, seeds, or roots. See, for example, Taylor, A.G., et al.,“Concepts and Technologies of Selected Seed Treatments,” Annu. Rev. Phytopathol., 28: 321-339 (1990). The stabilization agents may include anti-caking agents, anti-oxidation agents, anti-settling agents, antifoaming agents, desiccants, protectants or preservatives. The nutrients may include carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus sources such as sugars, polysaccharides, oil, proteins, amino acids, fatty acids and phosphates. The physical property modifiers may include bulking agents, wetting agents, thickeners, pH modifiers, rheology modifiers, dispersants, adjuvants, surfactants, film-formers, hydrotropes, builders, antifreeze agents or colorants.

In some embodiments, the composition comprising cells, cell-free preparation and/or metabolites produced by fermentation can be used directly with or without water as the diluent without any other formulation preparation. In a particular embodiment, a wetting agent, or a dispersant, is added to a fermentation solid, such as a freeze-dried or spray-dried powder. In some embodiments, the formulation inerts are added after concentrating fermentation broth and/or during and/or after drying. A wetting agent increases the spreading and penetrating properties, or a dispersant increases the dispersability and solubility of the active ingredient (once diluted) when it is applied to surfaces. Exemplary wetting agents are known to those of skill in the art and include sulfosuccinates and derivatives, such as MULTIWET™ MO-70R (Croda Inc., Edison, NJ); siloxanes such as BREAK-THRU ^® (Evonik, Germany); nonionic compounds, such as ATLOX™ 4894 (Croda Inc., Edison, NJ); alkyl

polyglucosides, such as TERWET ^® 3001 (Huntsman International LLC, The Woodlands, Texas); C12- C14 alcohol ethoxylate, such as TERGITOL ^® 15-S-15 (The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan); phosphate esters, such as RHODAFAC ^® BG-510 (Rhodia, Inc.); and alkyl ether carboxylates, such as EMULSOGEN™ LS (Clariant Corporation, North Carolina).

[0053] The active ingredients specified herein by their“common name” are known and described, for example, in the Pesticide Manual (“The Pesticide Manual”, 14th Ed., British Crop Protection Council 2006) or can be searched in the internet (e.g. http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides).

[0054] The compositions of the present invention for use in controlling Ganoderma spp. (e.g., Ganoderma boninense, the causative agent of basal stem rot in oil palm) may be mixed with and/or used in rotation with other chemical and non-chemical additives, adjuvants and/or treatments, wherein such treatments include but are not limited to chemical and non-chemical fungicides, insecticides, miticides, nematicides, fertilizers, nutrients, minerals, auxins, growth stimulants and the like. In some embodiments, the compositions of the present invention when mixed with or used in rotation with other chemical and non-chemical additives, adjuvants and/or treatments produce a synergistic or superadditive effect in controlling Ganoderma spp. [0055] In one embodiment, the Bacillus subtilis QST713, fungicidal mutant thereof, metabolites produced therefrom, and/or cell-free extract thereof are mixed with and/or used in rotation with a fungicide.

[0056] Where a compound (A) or a compound (B) can be present in tautomeric form, such a compound is understood herein to include, where applicable, corresponding tautomeric forms, even when these are not specifically mentioned in each case.

[0057] All named mixing partners of the classes (1) to (15) can, if their functional groups enable this, optionally form salts with suitable bases or acids.

[0058] According to one embodiment of the present invention preferred fungicides are selected from the group consisting of:

[0059] 1) Inhibitors of the ergosterol biosynthesis, for example (1.001) cyproconazole,

(1.002) difenoconazole, (1.003) epoxiconazole, (1.004) fenhexamid, (1.005) fenpropidin, (1.006) fenpropimorph, (1.007) fenpyrazamine, (1.008) fluquinconazole, (1.009) flutriafol, (1.010) imazalil, (1.011) imazalil sulfate, (1.012) ipconazole, (1.013) metconazole, (1.014) myclobutanil, (1.015) paclobutrazol, (1.016) prochloraz, (1.017) propiconazole, (1.018) prothioconazole, (1.019) Pyrisoxazole, (1.020) spiroxamine, (1.021) tebuconazole, (1.022) tetraconazole, (1.023) triadimenol, (1.024) tridemorph, (1.025) triticonazole, (1.026) (lR,2S,5S)-5-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-(chloromethyl)-2-methyl-l- (lH-l,2,4-triazol-l-ylmethyl)cyclopentanol, (1.027) (lS,2R,5R)-5-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-(chloromethyl)-2- methyl- 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- l-ylmethyl)cyclopentanol, ( 1.028) (2R)-2-( 1 -chlorocyclopropyl)-4-[( 1R)- 2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)butan-2-ol, ( 1.029) (2R)-2-( 1 -chlorocyclopropyl)-4- [( 1 S)-2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)butan-2-ol, (1.030) (2R)-2-[4-(4- chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)propan-2-ol, (1.031) (2S)-2-(l- chlorocyclopropyl)-4-[(lR)-2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl]-l-(lH-l, 2,4-triazol-l-yl)butan-2-ol, (1.032) (2S)- 2-( 1 -chlorocyclopropyl)-4-[( 1 S)-2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)butan-2-ol, (1.033) (2S)-2-[4-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-l-(lH -l,2,4-triazol-l-yl)propan-2-ol, (1.034) (R)-[3-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-l,2- oxazol-4-yl](pyridin-3-yl)methanol,

(1.035) (S)-[3-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-l,2- oxazol-4-yl](pyridin-3-yl)methanol, (1.036) [3-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-5-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-l,2-oxaz ol-4-yl](pyridin-3-yl)methanol, (1.037) l-({(2R,4S)-2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-4-methyl- l,3-dioxolan-2-yl}methyl)-lH- 1,2,4-triazole, (1.038) l-({(2S,4S)-2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-4-methyl- l,3-dioxolan-2- yl } methyl) -lH-1, 2, 4-triazole, (1.039) l-{[3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)oxiran-2- yl]methyl}-lH-l,2,4-triazol-5-yl thiocyanate, (1.040) l-{[rel(2R,3R)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4- difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl}-lH-l,2,4-triazol-5-yl thiocyanate, (1.041) l-{[rel(2R,3S)-3-(2- chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl}-lH-l ,2,4-triazol-5-yl thiocyanate, (1.042) 2- [(2R, 4R,5R)-l-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2, 6, 6-trimethylheptan-4-yl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-l, 2,4- triazole -3 -thione, (1.043) 2-[(2R,4R,5S)-l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimeth ylheptan-4-yl]- 2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione, (1.044) 2-[(2R,4S,5R)-l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6- trimethylheptan-4-yl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione , (1.045) 2-[(2R,4S,5S)-l-(2,4- dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylheptan-4-yl]-2,4-di liydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-tliione, (1.046) 2-[(2S,4R,5R)-l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimeth ylheptan-4-yl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4- triazole -3 -thione, (1.047) 2-[(2S,4R,5S)-l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimeth ylheptan-4-yl]- 2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione, (1.048) 2-[(2S,4S,5R)-l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6- trimethylheptan-4-yl] -2,4-dihydro-3H- 1 ,2,4-triazole-3 -thione, ( 1.049) 2-[(2S,4S,5 S)- 1 -(2,4- dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylheptan-4-yl]-2,4-di hydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione, (1.050) 2-[l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-5-hydroxy-2,6,6-trimethylheptan-4- yl]-2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3- thione, (1.051) 2- [2-chloro-4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)propan-2-ol, (1.052) 2-[2-chloro-4-(4-chlorophenoxy)phenyl]-l-(lH-l,2,4-triazol-l -yl)butan-2-ol, (1.053) 2-[4-(4- chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)butan-2-ol, ( 1.054) 2-[4-(4- chlorophenoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] - 1 -( 1H- 1 ,2,4-triazol- 1 -yl)pentan-2-ol, (1.055)

Mefentrifluconazole, (1.056) 2-{[3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]met hyl}-2,4- dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione, (1.057) 2-{[rel(2R,3R)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4- difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl}-2,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-tria zole-3-thione, (1.058) 2-{[rel(2R,3S)-3- (2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl}-2 ,4-dihydro-3H-l,2,4-triazole-3-thione, (1.059) 5-(4-chlorobenzyl)-2-(chloromethyl)-2 -methyl- 1-(1H-1, 2, 4-triazol-l-ylmethyl)cyclopentanol, (1.060) 5-(allylsulfanyl)-l-{ [3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl }-lH-l, 2,4- triazole, (1.061) 5-(allylsulfanyl)-l-{[rel(2R,3R)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4-d ifluorophenyl)oxiran-2- yl]methyl}-lH-l, 2, 4-triazole, (1.062) 5-(allylsulfanyl)-l-{[rel(2R,3S)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-(2,4- difluorophenyl)oxiran-2-yl]methyl}-lH-l, 2, 4-triazole, (1.063) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-{[3-(l, 1,2,2- tetrafluoroethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methybmi doformamide, (1.064) N'-(2,5- dimethyl-4-{[3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}phenyl )-N-ethyl-N-methylimidofonnamide, (1.065) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-{[3-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxy)phenyl]su lfanyl}phenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylimidoformamide, (1.066) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-{[3-(pentafluoroethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}ph enyl)-N- ethyl-N -methybmidoformamide, (1.067) N'-(2, 5 -dimethyl-4- { 3 -[( 1 , 1 ,2,2- tetrafluoroethyl)sulfanyl]phenoxy}phenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylim idofonnamide, (1.068) N'-(2,5- dimethyl-4-{3-[(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)sulfanyl]phenoxy}phenyl )-N-ethyl-N-methylimidofonnamide, (1.069) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-{3-[(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl)sulfanyl]p henoxy}phenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylimidoformamide, (1.070) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-{3-[(pentafluoroethyl)sulfanyl]phenoxy}ph enyl)-N- ethyl-N-methylimidofonnamide, (1.071) N'-(2,5-dimethyl-4-phenoxyphenyl)-N-ethyl-N- methylimidofonnamide, (1.072) N'-(4-{[3-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]sulfanyl}-2,5-dimethylphen yl)-N- ethyl-N-methylimidofonnamide, (1.073) N'-(4-{3-[(difluoromethyl)sulfanyl]phenoxy}-2,5- dimethylphenyl)-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide, (1.074) N'-[5-bromo-6-(2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-2- yloxy)-2-methylpyridin-3-yl]-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide, (1.075) N'-{4-[(4,5-dichloro-l,3- thiazol-2-yl)oxy] -2,5 -dimethylphenyl} -N-ethyl-N -methybmidoformamide, (1.076) N'- { 5 -bromo-6- [(lR)-l-(3,5-difluorophenyl)ethoxy]-2-methylpyridm-3-yl}-N-e thyl-N-methylimidoformamide, (1.077) N'- { 5 -bromo-6-[( 1 S)- 1 -(3 ,5 -difluorophenyl)ethoxy] -2-methylpyridin-3 -yl } -N-ethyl-N- methylimidoformamide, (1.078) N'-{5-bromo-6-[(cis-4-isopropylcyclohexyl)oxy]-2-methylpyrid in-3- yl}-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide, (1.079) N'-{5-bromo-6-[(trans-4-isopropylcyclohexyl)oxy]-2- methylpyridin-3-yl}-N-ethyl-N-methylimidoformamide, (1.080) N'-{5-bromo-6-[l-(3,5- difluorophenyl)ethoxy]-2-methylpyridin-3-yl}-N-ethyl-N-methy limidoformamide, (1.081)

Ipfentrifluconazole .

[0060] 2) Inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complex I or II, for example (2.001) benzovindiflupyr, (2.002) bixafen, (2.003) boscalid, (2.004) carboxin, (2.005) fluopyram, (2.006) flutolanil, (2.007) fluxapyroxad, (2.008) furametpyr, (2.009) Isofetamid, (2.010) isopyrazam (anti- epimeric enantiomer 1R,4S,9S), (2.011) isopyrazam (anti-epimeric enantiomer 1S,4R,9R), (2.012) isopyrazam (anti-epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9SR), (2.013) isopyrazam (mixture of syn-epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9RS and anti-epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9SR), (2.014) isopyrazam (syn-epimeric enantiomer 1R,4S,9R), (2.015) isopyrazam (syn-epimeric enantiomer 1S,4R,9S), (2.016) isopyrazam (syn-epimeric racemate 1RS,4SR,9RS), (2.017) penflufen, (2.018) penthiopyrad, (2.019)

pydiflumetofen, (2.020) Pyraziflumid, (2.021) sedaxane, (2.022) l,3-dimethyl-N-(l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3- dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl)-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.023) l,3-dimethyl-N-[(3R)-l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3- dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl]-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.024) l,3-dimethyl-N-[(3S)-l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3- dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl]-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.025) l-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-N-[2'- (trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-yl]-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.026) 2-fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)-N- (1,1 ,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro- lH-inden-4-yl)benzamide, (2.027) 3-(difluoromethyl)- 1 -methyl -N-( 1,1,3- trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl)-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxami de, (2.028) 3-(difluoromethyl)-l- methyl-N-[(3R)-l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl]-lH -pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.029) 3- (difluoromethyl)- 1 -methyl -N- [(3 S)- 1 , 1 ,3 -trimethyl-2,3 -dihydro- lH-inden-4-yl] - lH-pyrazole-4- carboxamide, (2.030) Fluindapyr, (2.031) 3-(difhaoromethyl)-N-[(3R)-7-fluoro-l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3- dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl]-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.032) 3-(difluoromethyl)-N-[(3S)-7- fluoro-l,l,3-trimethyl-2,3-dihydro-lH-inden-4-yl]-l-methyl-l H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.033) 5,8- difluoro-N-[2-(2-fluoro-4-{[4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl] oxy}phenyl)ethyl]quinazolin-4-amine, (2.034) N-(2-cyclopentyl-5-fluorobenzyl)-N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluorome thyl)-5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH- pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.035) N-(2-tert-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)-N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromet hyl)-5- fluoro-1 -methyl- lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.036) N-(2-tert-butylbenzyl)-N-cyclopropyl-3- (difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide , (2.037) N-(5-chloro-2-ethylbenzyl)-N- cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole -4-carboxamide, (2.038) N-(5-chloro-2- isopropylbenzyl)-N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l -methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.039) N-[(lR,4S)-9-(dichloromethylene)- 1,2,3, 4-tetrahydro-l, 4-methanonaphthalen-5-yl]-3- (difluoromethyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.040) N-[(lS,4R)-9-(dichloromethylene)- l,2,3,4-tetrahydro-l,4-methanonaphthalen-5-yl]-3-(difluorome thyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4- carboxamide, (2.041) N-[l-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-l-methoxypropan-2-yl]-3-(difluorom ethyl)-l-methyl- lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.042) N-[2-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-N-cyclopropyl-3- (difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide , (2.043) N-[3-chloro-2-fluoro-6- (trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5- fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4- carboxamide , (2.044) N- [5 -chloro-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl] -N -cyclopropyl-3 -(difluoromethy 1) -5 - fluoro-1 -methyl- lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.045) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l- methyl-N-[5-methyl-2-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]-lH-pyrazole-4- carboxamide, (2.046) N-cyclopropyl-3- (difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-N-(2-fluoro-6-isopropylbenzyl)-l-m ethyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide,

(2.047) N-cyclopropyl-3 -(difluoromethyl)-5 -fluoro-N -(2 -isopropyl-5 -methylbenzyl)- 1 -methyl- 1H- pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.048) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-N-(2-isopropylbenz yl)-l- methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carbothioamide, (2.049) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-N-(2- isopropylbenzyl)-l -methyl- lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.050) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-5- fluoro-N-(5-fluoro-2-isopropylbenzyl)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4 -carboxamide, (2.051) N-cyclopropyl-3- (difluoromethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-4,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-fluoro-l-m ethyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.052) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-5-fluorobenzyl)- 5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole- 4-carboxamide, (2.053) N-cyclopropyl-3-(difluoromethyl)-N-(2-ethyl-5-methylbenzyl)- 5-fluoro-l- methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.054) N-cyclopropyl-N-(2-cyclopropyl-5-fluorobenzyl)-3- (difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide , (2.055) N-cyclopropyl-N-(2- cyclopropyl-5-methylbenzyl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-fluoro-l-me thyl-lH-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, (2.056) N-cyclopropyl-N-(2-cyclopropylbenzyl)-3-(difluoromethyl)-5-f luoro-l-methyl-lH-pyrazole-4- carboxamide, (2.057) pyrapropoyne.

[0061] 3) Inhibitors of the respiratory chain at complex III, for example (3.001) ametoctradin, (3.002) amisulbrom, (3.003) azoxystrobin, (3.004) coumethoxystrobin, (3.005) coumoxystrobin, (3.006) cyazofamid, (3.007) dimoxystrobin, (3.008) enoxastrobin, (3.009)

famoxadone, (3.010) fenamidone, (3.011) flufenoxystrobin, (3.012) fluoxastrobin, (3.013) kresoxim- methyl, (3.014) metominostrobin, (3.015) orysastrobin, (3.016) picoxystrobin, (3.017) pyraclostrobin, (3.018) pyrametostrobin, (3.019) pyraoxystrobin, (3.020) trifloxystrobin, (3.021) (2E)-2-{2-[({[(lE)-l- (3-{[(E)-l-fluoro-2-phenylvinyl]oxy}phenyl)ethylidene]amino} oxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-(methoxyimino)- N-methylacetamide, (3.022) (2E,3Z)-5-{[l-(4-chlorophenyl)-lH-pyrazol-3-yl]oxy}-2-(metho xyimino)- N,3-dimethylpent-3-enamide, (3.023) (2R)-2-{2-[(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-methoxy-N- methylacetamide, (3.024) (2S)-2-{2-[(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)methyl]phenyl}-2-methoxy-N- methylacetamide, (3.025) (3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-[({3-[(isobutyryloxy)methoxy]-4-met hoxypyridin- 2-yl}carbonyl)amino]-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo- l,5-dioxonan-7-yl 2-methylpropanoate, (3.026)

mandestrobin, (3.027) N-(3-ethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-formamido-2-hydroxyb enzamide, (3.028) (2E,3Z)-5-{[l-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)-lH-pyrazol-3-yl]oxy} -2-(methoxyimino)-N,3- dimethylpent-3-enamide, (3.029) methyl {5-[3-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]-2- methylbenzyl} carbamate, (3.030) metyltetraprole, (3.031) florylpicoxamid. [0062] 4) Inhibitors of the mitosis and cell division, for example (4.001) carbendazim,

(4.002) diethofencarb, (4.003) ethaboxam, (4.004) fluopicolide, (4.005) pencycuron, (4.006) thiabendazole, (4.007) thiophanate -methyl, (4.008) zoxamide, (4.009) 3-chloro-4-(2,6-difluorophenyl)- 6-methyl-5-phenylpyridazine, (4.010) 3-chloro-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-6- methylpyridazine, (4.011) 3-chloro-5-(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)-6-methyl-4-(2,4,6- trifluorophenyl)pyridazine, (4.012) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)- 1,3-dimethyl- lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.013) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-bromo-6-fluorophenyl)-l, 3-dimethyl- lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.014) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-bromophenyl)-l,3-dimethyl-lH - pyrazol-5 -amine, (4.015) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-l,3-d imethyl-lH- pyrazol-5 -amine, (4.016) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-chlorophenyl)-l,3-dimethyl-l H-pyrazol-5- amine, (4.017) 4-(2-bromo-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2 -fluorophenyl)-!, 3-dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.018) 4-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-l,3-dimet hyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.019) 4-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-chloro-6-fluorophenyl)-l,3- dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.020) 4- (2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-N-(2-chlorophenyl)-l,3-dimethyl-lH -pyrazol-5-amine, (4.021) 4-(2-chloro-4- fluorophenyl)-N-(2 -fluorophenyl)-!, 3-dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.022) 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,6- difluorophenyl)-3,6-dimethylpyridazine, (4.023) N-(2-bromo-6-fluorophenyl)-4-(2-chloro-4- fluorophenyl)-l,3-dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.024) N-(2-bromophenyl)-4-(2-chloro-4- fluorophenyl)-l,3-dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-amine, (4.025) N-(4-chloro-2,6-difluorophenyl)-4-(2-chloro- 4-fluorophenyl)- 1 ,3 -dimethyl- lH-pyrazol-5 -amine .

[0063] 5) Compounds capable to have a multisite action, for example (5.001) bordeaux mixture, (5.002) captafol, (5.003) captan, (5.004) chlorothalonil, (5.005) copper hydroxide, (5.006) copper naphthenate, (5.007) copper oxide, (5.008) copper oxychloride, (5.009) copper(2+) sulfate, (5.010) dithianon, (5.011) dodine, (5.012) folpet, (5.013) mancozeb, (5.014) maneb, (5.015) metiram, (5.016) metiram zinc, (5.017) oxine-copper, (5.018) propineb, (5.019) sulfur and sulfur preparations including calcium polysulfide, (5.020) thiram, (5.021) zineb, (5.022) ziram, (5.023) 6-ethyl-5,7-dioxo- 6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3',4':5,6][l,4]dithiino[2,3-c][l,2]th iazole-3-carbonitrile.

[0064] 6) Compounds capable to induce a host defence, for example (6.001) acibenzolar-S- methyl, (6.002) isotianil, (6.003) probenazole, (6.004) tiadinil.

[0065] 7) Inhibitors of the amino acid and/or protein biosynthesis, for example (7.001) cyprodinil, (7.002) kasugamycin, (7.003) kasugamycin hydrochloride hydrate, (7.004) oxytetracy cline, (7.005) pyrimethanil, (7.006) 3 -(5 -fluoro-3 ,3 ,4,4-tetramethyl-3 ,4-dihydroisoquinobn- 1 -yl)quinoline .

[0066] 8) Inhibitors of the ATP production, for example (8.001) silthiofam.

[0067] 9) Inhibitors of the cell wall synthesis, for example (9.001) benthiavalicarb, (9.002) dimethomorph, (9.003) flumorph, (9.004) iprovabcarb, (9.005) mandipropamid, (9.006) pyrimorph, (9.007) valifenalate, (9.008) (2E)-3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-l-(morp holin-4- yl)prop-2-en- 1 -one, (9.009) (2Z)-3 -(4-tert-butylphenyl)-3 -(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)- 1 -(morpholin-4- yl)prop-2-en- 1 -one .

[0068] 10) Inhibitors of the lipid and membrane synthesis, for example (10.001) propamocarb, (10.002) propamocarb hydrochloride, (10.003) tolclofos-methyl.

[0069] 11) Inhibitors of the melanin biosynthesis, for example ( 11.001) tricyclazole,

(11.002) 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl {3 -methyl- l-[(4-methylbenzoyl)amino]butan-2-yl} carbamate.

[0070] 12) Inhibitors of the nucleic acid synthesis, for example (12.001) benalaxyl,

(12.002) benalaxyl-M (kiralaxyl), (12.003) metalaxyl, (12.004) metalaxyl-M (mefenoxam).

[0071] 13) Inhibitors of the signal transduction, for example (13.001) fludioxonil, (13.002) iprodione, (13.003) procymidone, (13.004) proquinazid, (13.005) quinoxyfen, (13.006) vinclozolin.

[0072] 14) Compounds capable to act as an uncoupler, for example (14.001) fluazinam,

(14.002) meptyldinocap.

[0073] 15) Further compounds, for example (15.001) Abscisic acid, (15.002) benthiazole,

(15.003) bethoxazin, (15.004) capsimycin, (15.005) carvone, (15.006) chinomethionat, (15.007) cufraneb, (15.008) cyflufenamid, (15.009) cymoxanil, (15.010) cyprosulfamide, (15.011) flutianil, (15.012) fosetyl-aluminium, (15.013) fosetyl-calcium, (15.014) fosetyl-sodium, (15.015) methyl isothiocyanate, (15.016) metrafenone, (15.017) mildiomycin, (15.018) natamycin, (15.019) nickel dimethyldithiocarbamate, (15.020) nitrothal-isopropyl, (15.021) oxamocarb, (15.022) Oxathiapiprolin, (15.023) oxyfenthiin, (15.024) pentachlorophenol and salts, (15.025) phosphorous acid and its salts, (15.026) propamocarb-fosetylate, (15.027) pyriofenone (chlazafenone), (15.028) tebufloquin, (15.029) tecloftalam, (15.030) tolnifanide, (15.031) l-(4-{4-[(5R)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-l,2-oxazol-

3-yl]-l,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin-l-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(tri fluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]ethanone, (15.032) l-(4-{4-[(5S)-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-l,2-oxazol- 3-yl]-l,3-thiazol-2-yl}piperidin- l-yl)-2-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]ethano ne, (15.033) 2-(6-benzylpyridin-2- yl)quinazoline, (15.034) dipymetitrone, (15.035) 2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]-l-[4-(4- {5-[2-(prop-2-yn-l-yloxy)phenyl]-4,5-dihydro-l,2-oxazol-3-yl }-l,3-thiazol-2-yl)piperidin-l- yl]ethanone, (15.036) 2-[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]-l-[4-(4-{5-[2-ch loro-6-(prop-2-yn-l- yloxy)phenyl] -4,5 -dihydro- 1 ,2-oxazol-3-yl } - 1 ,3 -thiazol-2-yl)piperidin- 1 -yl]ethanone, (15.037) 2-[3,5- bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]-l-[4-(4-{5-[2-fluoro-6- (prop-2-yn-l-yloxy)phenyl]-4, 5-dihydro- l,2-oxazol-3-yl}-l,3-thiazol-2-yl)piperidin-l-yl]ethanone, (15.038) 2-[6-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-5- methylpyridin-2-yl]quinazoline, (15.039) 2-{(5R)-3-[2-(l-{[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l- yl]acetyl }piperidin-4-yl)- 1 ,3 -thiazol-4-yl] -4,5 -dihydro- 1 ,2-oxazol-5 -yl } -3 -chlorophenyl

methanesulfonate, (15.040) 2-{(5S)-3-[2-(l-{[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]ac etyl}piperidin-

4-yl)- 1,3 -thiazol-4-yl] -4, 5 -dihydro- l,2-oxazol-5-yl} -3 -chlorophenyl methanesulfonate, ( 15.041) Ipflufenoquin, (15.042) 2-{2-fluoro-6-[(8-fluoro-2-methylquinolin-3-yl)oxy]phenyl}pr opan-2-ol, (15.043) 2-{3-[2-(l-{[3,5-bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]acetyl} piperidin-4-yl)-l,3-thiazol-4-yl]- 4,5-dihydro-l,2-oxazol-5-yl}-3-chlorophenyl methanesulfonate, (15.044) 2-{3-[2-(l-{[3,5- bis(difluoromethyl)-lH-pyrazol-l-yl]acetyl}piperidm-4-yl)-l, 3-thiazol-4-yl]-4,5-dihydro-l,2-oxazol-5- yl}phenyl methanesulfonate, (15.045) 2-phenylphenol and salts, (15.046) 3-(4,4,5-trifluoro-3,3- dimethyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-l-yl)quinoline, (15.047) quinofumelin, (15.048) 4-amino-5- fluoropyrimidin-2-ol (tautomeric form: 4-amino-5-fluoropyrimidin-2(lH)-one), (15.049) 4-oxo-4-[(2- phenylethyl)amino]butanoic acid, (15.050) 5-amino-l,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol, (15.051) 5-chloro-N'- phenyl-N'-(prop-2-yn-l-yl)thiophene-2-sulfonohydrazide, (15.052) 5-fluoro-2-[(4- fluorobenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine, (15.053) 5-fluoro-2-[(4-methylbenzyl)oxy]pyrimidin-4-amine, (15.054) 9-fluoro-2, 2-dimethyl-5-(quinolin-3-yl)-2, 3-dihydro- 1,4-benzoxazepine, (15.055) but-3-yn-l-yl { 6-[( { [(Z)-( 1 -methyl- lH-tetrazol-5 -yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino } oxy)methyl]pyridin-2-yl } carbamate, (15.056) ethyl (2Z)-3-amino-2-cyano-3-phenylacrylate, (15.057) phenazine-1 -carboxylic acid, (15.058) propyl 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate, (15.059) quinolin-8-ol, (15.060) quinolin-8-ol sulfate (2: 1), (15.061) tert-butyl { 6-[( { [( 1 -methyl- lH-tetrazol-5 -yl)(phenyl)methylene]amino } oxy)methyl]pyridin-2- yl } carbamate, (15.062) 5 -fluoro-4-imino-3 -methyl- 1 -[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl] -3 ,4-dihydropyrimidin- 2(lH)-one, (15.063) aminopyrifen.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fungicide is a synthetic fungicide. As used herein, the term“synthetic” defines a compound that has not been obtained from a biological control agent. Especially a synthetic insecticide or fungicide is no metabolite of the biological control agents according to the present invention.

[0075] In some embodiments, the Bacillus subtilis QST713 or fungicidal mutant thereof and the fungicide are applied in a synergistically effective amount. The synergistically effective amount may be calculated as a synergistic weight ratio and/or range of synergistic weight ratios as described further below.

[0076] The biological control agent (i.e., Bacillus subtilis QST713 or fungicidal mutant thereof) and the fungicide may be used or employed in a synergistic weight ratio. The skilled person understands that these ratios refer to the ratio within a combined-formulation as well as to the calculative ratio of the biological control agent described herein and the fungicide when both components are applied as mono-formulations to a plant to be treated. The skilled person can calculate this ratio by simple mathematics since the volume and the amount of the biological control agent and fungicide, respectively, in a mono-formulation is known to the skilled person.

[0077] The ratio can be calculated based on the amount of the fungicide, at the time point of applying said component of a combination according to the invention to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth and the amount of a biological control agent shortly prior (e.g., 48 h, 24 h, 12 h, 6 h, 2 h, 1 h) or at the time point of applying said component of a combination according to the invention to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth. [0078] The application of the biological control agent and the fungicide to a plant, plant part, or locus for plant growth can take place simultaneously or at different times as long as both components are present on or in the plant after the application(s). In cases where the biological control agent and fungicide are applied at different times and fungicide is applied noticeably prior to the biological control agent, the skilled person can determine the concentration of fungicide on/in a plant by chemical analysis known in the art, at the time point or shortly before the time point of applying the biological control agent. Vice versa, when the biological control agent is applied to a plant first, the concentration of a biological control agent can be determined using tests, which are also known in the art, at the time point or shortly before the time point of applying the fungicide.

[0079] In particular, in one embodiment the synergistic weight ratio of the biological control agent/spore preparation and the fungicide lies in the range of 1 : 500 to 1000 : 1, preferably in the range of 1 : 500 to 500 : 1, more preferably in the range of 1 : 500 to 300 : 1. It has to be noted that these ratio ranges refer to the biological control agent/spores preparation (to be combined with at least one fungicide (I) or a preparation of at least one fungicide (I)) of around 10 ¹⁰ cells/spores per gram preparation of said cells/spores. For example, a ratio of 100: 1 means 100 weight parts of a biological control agent/spore preparation having a cell/ spore concentration of about 10 ⁹ or 10 ¹⁰ cells/spores per gram preparation and 1 weight part of fungicide are combined (either as a solo formulation, a combined formulation or by separate applications to plants so that the combination is formed on the plant).

[0080] In another embodiment, the synergistic weight ratio of the biological control agent/spore preparation to fungicide is in the range of 1 : 100 to 20.000 : 1, preferably in the range of 1 :50 to 10.000: 1 or even in the range of 1 :50 to 1000: 1. Once again the mentioned ratios ranges refer to biological control agent/spore preparations of biological control agents of around 10 ⁹ or 10 ¹⁰ cells or spores per gram preparation of said biological control agent.

[0081] Still in another embodiment, the synergistic weight ratio of the biological control agent/spore preparation to the fungicide is in the range of 1 :0.0001 to 1 : 1, preferably in the range of 1 :0.0005 to 1 :0.1 or even in the range of 1 : 0.001 to 1:0.05. Here the mentioned ratio ranges refer to the amount in ppm of the biological control agent/spore preparation and the fungicide, wherein the amount of the biological control agent refers to the dried content of the biological control agent/spore preparation solution.

[0082] The cell/spore concentration of preparations can be determined by applying methods known in the art. To compare weight ratios of the biological control agent/ spore preparation to fungicide, the skilled person can easily determine the factor between a preparation having a biological control agent/spore concentration different from 10 ⁹ or 10 ¹⁰ cells/spores per gram cell/spore preparation and a preparation having a biological control agent/ spore concentration of 10 ⁹ or 10 ¹⁰ cells/spores per gram preparation to calculate whether a ratio of a biological control agent/spore preparation to fungicide is within the scope of the above listed ratio ranges. [0083] In another embodiment, the Bacillus subtilis QST713, fungicidal mutant thereof, metabolites produced therefrom, and/or cell-free extract thereof are mixed with and/or used in rotation with an herbicide.

[0084] Examples of active compounds which may be mentioned as herbicides which are known from the literature and which can be combined with the Bacillus subtilis QST713, fungicidal mutant thereof, metabolites produced therefrom, and/or cell-free extract thereof are the following (compounds are either described by“common name” in accordance with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or by chemical name or by a customary code number), and always comprise all applicable forms such as acids, salts, ester, or modifications such as isomers, like stereoisomers and optical isomers. As an example at least one applicable form and/or modifications can be mentioned.

[0085] Examples for herbicides are:

[0086] Acetochlor, acifluorfen, acifluorfen-sodium, aclonifen, alachlor, allidochlor, alloxydim, alloxy dim-sodium, ametryn, amicarbazone, amidochlor, amidosulfuron, 4-amino-3-chloro-5- fluoro-6-(7-fluoro-lH-indol-6-yl)pyridine-2-carboxylic acid, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminocyclo- pyrachlor-potassium, aminocyclopyrachlor-methyl, aminopyralid, amitrole, ammoniumsulfamate, anilofos, asulam, atrazine, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, beflubutamid, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, benfluralin, benfuresate, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, bensulide, bentazone, benzobicyclon, benzofenap, bicyclopyron, bifenox, bilanafos, bilanafos-sodium, bispyribac, bispyribac-sodium, bixlozone, bromacil, bromobutide, bromofenoxim, bromoxynil, bromoxynil-butyrate, -potassium, - heptanoate, and -octanoate, busoxinone, butachlor, butafenacil, butamifos, butenachlor, butrabn, butroxydim, butylate, cafenstrole, carbetamide, carfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, chloramben, chlorbromuron, l-{2-chloro-3-[(3-cyclopropyl-5-hydroxy-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol- 4-yl)carbonyl]-6- (trifluormethyl)phenyl }piperidin-2-on, 4- {2-chloro-3 - [(3 ,5 -dimethyl- lH-pyrazol- 1 -yl)methyl] -4- (methylsulfonyl)benzoyl}-l,3-dimethyl-lH-pyrazol-5-yl-l,3-di methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-carboxylat, chlorfenac, chlorfenac-sodium, chlorfenprop, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, chloridazon, chlorimuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, 2-[2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-3 -(morpholin-4-ylmethyl)benzoyl] -3 - hydroxycyclohex-2-en-l-on, 4-{2-chloro-4-(methylsulfonyl)-3-[(2,2,2-trifhiorethoxy)meth yl]benzoyl}- 1 -ethyl- lH-pyrazol-5 -yl- 1 ,3 -dimethyl- lH-pyrazol-4-carboxylat, chlorophthalim, chlorotoluron, chlorthal-dimethyl, 3-[5-chloro-4-(trifhiormethyl)pyridine-2-yl]-4-hydroxy-l-met hylimidazolidine-2-on, chlorsulfuron, cinidon, cinidon-ethyl, cinmethylin, cinosulfuron, clacyfos, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, clomazone, clomeprop, clopyralid, cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, cumyluron, cyanamide, cyanazine, cycloate, cyclopyranil, cyclopyrimorate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cyhalofop, cyhalofop-butyl, cyprazine, 2,4-D, 2,4-D-butotyl, -butyl, -dimethylammonium, -diolamin, - ethyl, -2-ethylhexyl, -isobutyl, -isooctyl, -isopropylammonium, -potassium, -triisopropanolammonium, and -trolamine, 2,4-DB, 2,4-DB-butyl, -dimethylammonium, -isooctyl, -potassium, and -sodium, daimuron (dymron), dalapon, dazomet, n-decanol, desmedipham, detosyl-pyrazolate (DTP), dicamba, dichlobenil, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, diclofop-P -methyl, diclosulam, difenzoquat, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, diflufenzopyr-sodium, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dimethametryn, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, 3-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-6-[(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex- l-en-l-yl)carbonyl]-l-methylchinazolin-2,4(lH,3H)-dion, 1, 3-dimethyl -4-[2-(methylsulfonyl)-4- (trifluormethyl)benzoyl]-lH-pyrazol-5-yl-l,3-dimethyl-lH-pyr azol-4-carboxylat, dimetrasulfuron, dinitramine, dinoterb, diphenamid, diquat, diquat-dibromid, dithiopyr, diuron, DMPA, DNOC, endothal, EPTC, esprocarb, ethalflurabn, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethiozin, ethofumesate, ethoxyfen, ethoxyfen-ethyl, ethoxysulfuron, etobenzanid, ethyl-[(3-{2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[3-methyl-2,6- dioxo-4-(trifluormethyl)-3,6-dihydropyrimidin-l(2H)-yl]pheno xy}pyridin-2-yl)oxy]acetat, F-9960, F- 5231, i.e. N-{2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[4-(3-fluoropropyl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro -lH-tetrazol-l- yl]phenyl}ethanesulfonamide, F-7967, i. e. 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-lH-benzimidazol- 4-yl]-l-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine-2,4(lH,3H)-dion e, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxa- prop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fenoxasulfone, fenquinotrione, fentrazamide, flamprop, flamprop-M- isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, flucarbazone, flucarbazone-sodium, flucetosulfuron, fluchloralin, flufenacet, flufenpyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumetsulam, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, fluometuron, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, -dimethylammonium and -methyl, fluoroglycofen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, flu- propanate, flupyrsulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, fluridone, flurochloridone, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-meptyl, flurtamone, fluthiacet, fluthiacet-methyl, fomesafen, fomesafen-sodium, foramsulfuron, fosamine, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glufosinate-P- ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glyphosate, glyphosate-ammonium, -isopropyl- ammonium, -diammonium, -dimethylammonium, -potassium, -sodium, and -trimesium, H-9201, i.e. O- (2,4-dimethyl-6-nitrophenyl) O-ethyl isopropylphosphoramidothioate, halauxifen, halauxifen-methyl ,halosafen, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-P-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, hexazinone, HW-02, i.e. 1- (dimethoxyphosphoryl) ethyl-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetate, 4-hydroxy-l-methoxy-5-methyl-3-[4- (trifluormethyl)pyridine-2-yl]imidazolidine-2-on, 4-hydroxy-l-methyl-3-[4-(trifluormethyl)pyridine-2- yl]imidazolidine-2-on, (5-hydroxy- l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl)(3, 3, 4-trimethyl-l, l-dioxido-2,3-dihydro- 1 -benzothiophen-5 -yl)methanon, 6-[(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex- 1 -en- 1 -yl)carbonyl] - 1 ,5 -dimethyl-3 -(2- methylphenyl)chinazolin-2,4(lH,3H)-dion, imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazamox-ammonium, imazapic, imazapic-ammonium, imazapyr, imazapyr-isopropylammonium, imazaquin, imazaquin-ammonium, imazethapyr, imazethapyr-immonium, imazosulfuron, indanofan, indaziflam, iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, ioxynil, ioxynil-octanoate, -potassium and -sodium, ipfencarbazone, isoproturon, isouron, isoxaben, isoxaflutole, karbutilate, KUH-043, i.e. 3- ({ [5 -(difluoromethyl)- 1 -methyl-3 -(trifluoromethyl)- lH-pyrazol-4-yl]methyl } sulfonyl)-5 ,5 -dimethyl -4,5 - dihydro- 1,2-oxazole, ketospiradox, lactofen, lenacil, linuron, MCPA, MCPA-butotyl, - dimethylammonium, -2-ethylhexyl, -isopropylammonium, -potassium, and -sodium, MCPB, MCPB- methyl, -ethy,l and -sodium, mecoprop, mecoprop-sodium, and -butotyl, mecoprop-P, mecoprop-P- butotyl, -dimethylammonium, -2-ethylhexyl, and -potassium, mefenacet, mefluidide, mesosulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, mesotrione, methabenzthiazuron, metam, metamifop, metamitron, metazachlor, metazosulfuron, methabenzthiazuron, methiopyrsulfuron, methiozolin, 2-({2-[(2- methoxy ethoxy )methyl] -6-(trifluormethyl)pyridin-3 -yl } carbonyl)cyclohexan- 1 ,3 -dion, methyl isothiocyanate, l-methyl-4-[(3, 3, 4-trimethyl- l,l-dioxido-2,3-dihydro-l-benzothiophen-5-yl)carbonyl]- lH-pyrazol-5-ylpropan-l-sulfonat, metobromuron, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, molinat, monolinuron, monosulfuron, monosulfuron- ester, MT-5950, i.e. N-(3-chloro-4-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpentan amide, NGGC-011, napropamide, NC-310, i.e. [5-(benzyloxy)-l-methyl-lH-pyrazol-4-yl](2,4-dichlorophenyl) methanone, neburon, nicosulfuron, nonanoic acid (pelargonic acid), norflurazon, oleic acid (fatty acids), orbencarb, orthosulfamuron, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxaziclomefon, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, paraquat dichloride, pebulate, pendimethalin, penoxsulam, pentachlorphenol, pentoxazone, pethoxamid, petroleum oils, phenmedipham, picloram, picolinafen, pinoxaden, piperophos, pretilachlor,

primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, prodiamine, profoxydim, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propazine, propham, propisochlor, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone- sodium, propyrisulfuron, propyzamide, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyraflufen- ethyl, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate (pyrazolate), pyrazosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazoxyfen, pyribambenz, pyribambenz-isopropyl, pyribambenz-propyl, pyribenzoxim, pyributicarb, pyridafol, pyridate, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyriminobac-methyl, pyrimisulfan, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium, pyroxasulfone, pyroxsulam, quinclorac, quinmerac, quinoclamine, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, QYM-201, QYR-301, rimsulfuron, saflufenacil, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine, simetryn, SL-261, sulcotrion, sulfentrazone, sulfometuron,

sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosulfuron, SYN-523, SYP-249, i.e. 1 -ethoxy-3 -methyl- l-oxobut-3-en-2-yl 5- [2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate, SYP-300, i.e. l-[7-fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-yn-l- yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-l,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-3-propyl-2-thioxoimi dazolidine-4,5-dione, 2,3,6-TBA, TCA (trichloroacetic acid), TCA-sodium, tebuthiuron, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tepraloxydim, terbacil, terbucarb, terbumeton, terbuthylazin, terbutryn, tetflupyrolimet, thenylchlor, thiazopyr, thiencarbazone, thiencarbazone-methyl, thifensulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, thiobencarb, tiafenacil, tolpyralate, topra- mezone, tralkoxydim, triafamone, tri-allate, triasulfuron, triaziflam, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, triclopyr, trietazine, trifloxysulfuron, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, trifludimoxazin, trifluralin, triflusulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, tritosulfuron, urea sulfate, vemolate, and ZJ-0862, i.e. 3,4-dichloro-N-{2-[(4,6- dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)oxy]benzyl } aniline .

[0087] In some embodiments, the Bacillus subtilis QST713, fungicidal mutant thereof, metabolites produced therefrom, and/or cell-free extract thereof are mixed with and/or used in rotation with indaziflam, glyphosate, or a sulfonylurea. In one aspect, the herbicide is glyphosate. In another aspect, the herbicide is indaziflam. [0088] In yet other embodiments, the Bacillus subtilis QST713, fungicidal mutant thereof, metabolites produced therefrom, and/or cell-free extract thereof are mixed with and/or used in rotation with a fertilizer.

[0089] Methods for applying or treating the compositions and strains of the present invention onto plant propagation material, especially seeds, are known in the art, and include dressing, coating, pelleting and soaking application methods of the propagation material.

[0090] In some embodiments, the application methods according to the invention part for the protection of a plant propagation material, which, in accordance with the invention, is any plant material capable of developing complete plants after planting or sowing to the site of planting or sowing, for example seedlings, rhizomes, nursery plants, cuttings or, in particular, seed (seeds), such as fruits, tubers, kernels or bulbs, against attack by pests are characterized in that, for example, suitable compositions are applied in such a manner that they are applied in close spatial proximity to, or spatially together with, planting or sowing the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing. Application of these compositions in close spatial proximity to planting or sowing the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing takes place in accordance with the invention, preferably prior to planting or sowing the propagation material, by applying the compositions by soil application directly to the site where the propagation material has been planted or sown, for example preferably prior to sowing into the seed furrow or to a closely delimited area around the site of planting or sowing the propagation material. Application of such compositions, which takes place spatially together with planting or applying the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing is to be understood as meaning that propagation material which has been pretreated with these compositions is planted or sown at the site of planting or sowing, it being possible, depending on the intended aims and prevailing circumstances, for the pretreatment of the propagation material to be effected for example by spraying, atomizing, dusting or scattering the compositions over the propagation material or brushing or pouring the compositions over the propagation material or, in the event of seed, in particular also by dressing the seed. When carrying out seed dressing, i.e., dry seed, wet seed-dressing, liquid seed-dressing or slurry dressing, the Bacillus subtilis QST713, and/or metabolites produced therefrom are added to the seed prior to sowing in a seed-dressing apparatus and the composition is distributed uniformly over the seed, for example by stirring the contents of the seed-dressing apparatus and/or by rotating and/or shaking the entire seed dressing apparatus. Particular embodiments of such a seed-dressing treatment comprise, for example, immersing the seed in a liquid composition, coating the seed with a solid composition (seed coating) or by achieving penetration of the active ingredient into the seed by adding the composition to the water used for pre-soaking the seed (seed soaking).

[0091] The compositions and strains of the present invention can be applied to the seeds using conventional treating techniques and machines, such as fluidized bed techniques, the roller mill method, rotostatic seed treaters, and drum coaters. Other methods, such as spouted beds may also be usefiil. The seeds may be pre-sized before coating. After coating, the seeds are typically dried and then transferred to a sizing machine for sizing. Such sizing and treating procedures are known in the art.

[0092] In one embodiment, the compositions and strains of the present invention can be applied or treated on to the plant propagation material by a method such that the germination is not induced; generally seed soaking induces germination because the moisture content of the resulting seed is too high. Accordingly, examples of suitable methods for applying (or treating) plant propagation material, such as a seed, are seed dressing, seed coating or seed pelleting and the like.

[0093] In a typical embodiment, the plant propagation material is seed. Although it is believed that the present method can be applied to a seed in any physiological state, it is preferred that the seed be in a sufficiently durable state that it incurs no damage during the treatment process.

Typically, the seed would be a seed that had been harvested from the field; removed from the plant; and separated from any cob, stalk, outer husk, and surrounding pulp or other non-seed plant material. The seed would preferably also be biologically stable to the extent that the treatment would cause no biological damage to the seed. It is believed that the treatment can be applied to the seed at any time between harvest of the seed and sowing of the seed or during the sowing process (seed directed applications). The seed may also be primed according to techniques understood by those skilled in the art either before or after the treatment.

[0094] Even distribution of the active ingredients and adherence thereof to the seeds is desired during propagation material treatment. Treatment could vary from a thin film (dressing) of the formulation containing the compositions and strains of the present invention on a plant propagation material, such as a seed, where the original size and/or shape are recognizable to an intermediary state (such as a coating) and then to a thicker film (such as pelleting) with many layers of different materials (such as carriers, for example, clays; different formulations, such as of other active ingredients;

polymers; and colorants) where the original shape and/or size of the seed is no longer recognizable.

[0095] In some embodiments, the seed treatment occurs to an unsown seed. The term “unsown seed” is meant to include seed at any period between the harvest of the seed and the sowing of the seed in the ground for the purpose of germination and growth of the plant.

[0096] Treatment to an unsown seed is not meant to include those practices in which the active ingredient is applied to the soil, but would include any application practice that would target the seed during the planting process.

[0097] In some embodiments, treatment occurs before sowing of the seed so that the sown seed has been pre-treated with the compositions and strains of the present invention. In particular, seed coating or seed pelleting are preferred in the treatment with the compositions and strains described herein. As a result of the treatment, the compositions and strains of the present invention are adhered on to the surface of the seed and therefore available for pest and/or disease control. [0098] The treated seeds can be stored, handled, sowed and tilled in the same manner as any other active ingredient treated seed.

[0099] In some embodiments, strains and compositions of the present invention are applied at a rate of about 1 x 10 ² to about 1 x 10 ⁷ cfu/seed, depending on the size of the seed. In some embodiments, the application rate is about 1 x 10 ³ to about 1 x 10 ⁶ cfu per seed.

[00100] When used as a soil treatment, the compositions of the present invention can be applied as a soil surface drench, shanked-in, injected and/or applied in-furrow or by mixture with irrigation water. The rate of application for drench soil treatments, which may be applied at planting, during or after seeding, or after transplanting and at any stage of plant growth, is about 4 x 10 ⁷ to about 8 x 10 ¹⁴ cfu per acre (1.62 x 10 ⁷ to 3.24 x 10 ¹⁴ cfu per hectare) or about 4 x 10 ⁹ to about 8 x 10 ¹³ cfu per acre (1.62 x 10 ⁹ to 3.24 x 10 ¹³ cfu per hectare) or about 4 x 10 ¹¹ to about 8 x 10 ¹² cfu per acre (1.62 x 10 ¹¹ to 3.24 x 10 ¹² cfu per hectare) or about 2 x 10 ¹² to about 6 x 10 ¹³ cfu per acre (8.09 x 10 ¹¹ to 2.43 x 10 ¹³ cfu per hectare) or about 2 x 10 ¹² to about 3 x 10 ¹³ cfu per acre (8,09 x 10 ¹¹ to 1.21 x 10 ¹³ cfu per hectare).

[00101] In some embodiments, the rate of application is about 1 x 10 ¹² to about 6 x 10 ¹² cfu per acre (4.05 x 10 ¹¹ to 2.43 x 10 ¹² cfu per hectare) or about 1 x 10 ¹³ to about 6 x 10 ¹³ cfu per acre (4.05 x 10 ¹² to 2.43 xlO ¹³ cfu per hectare). The rate of application for in-furrow treatments, applied at planting, is about 2.5 x 10 ¹⁰ to about 5 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 1000 row feet (7.6 x 10 ⁹ to 1.52 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 100 row meter). In some embodiments, the rate of application is about 6 x 10 ¹⁰ to about 3 x 10 ¹² cfu per 1000 row feet (1.83 x 10 ¹⁰ to 9.1 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 100 row meter) or about 6 x 10 ¹⁰ to about 4 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 1000 row feet (1.83 x 10 ¹⁰ to 1.22 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 100 row meter) or about 6 x 10 ¹¹ to about 3 x 10 ¹² cfu per 1000 row feet (1.83 x 10 ¹² to 9.1 x 10 ¹¹ cfu per 100 row meter) or about 6 x 10 ¹¹ to about 4 x 10 ¹² cfu per 1000 row feet (1.83 x 10 ¹¹ to 1.22 x 10 ¹² cfu per 100 row meter). Those of skill in the art will understand how to adjust rates for broadcast treatments and other less common soil treatments.

[00102] The compositions of the present invention can be introduced to the soil before planting or before germination of the seed. The compositions of the present invention can also be introduced to the soil in contact with plant roots, to soil at the base of the plant, or to the soil around the base of the plant (e.g., within a distance of about 5 cm, about 10 cm, about 15 cm, about 20 cm, about 25 cm, about 30 cm, about 35 cm, about 40 cm, about 45 cm, about 50 cm, about 55 cm, about 60 cm, about 65 cm, about 70 cm, about 75 cm, about 80 cm, about 85 cm, about 90 cm, about 95 cm, about 100 cm, or more around or below the base of the plant). The compositions may be applied by utilizing a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, drip irrigation, sprinklers, soil injection or soil drenching.

[00103] The compositions may also be applied to soil and/or plants in plug trays or to seedlings prior to transplanting to a different plant locus. When applied to the soil in contact with the plant roots, to the base of the plant, or to the soil within a specific distance around the base of the plant, including as a soil drench treatment, the composition may be applied as a single application or as multiple applications. The compositions may be applied at the rates set forth above for drench treatments or a rate of about 1 x 10 ⁵ to about 1 x 10 ⁸ cfu per gram of soil, 1 x 10 ⁵ to about 1 x 10 ⁷ cfu per gram of soil, 1 x 10 ⁵ to about lxlO ⁶ cfu per gram of soil, 7 x 10 ⁵ to about 1 x 10 ⁷ cfu per gram of soil, 1 x 10 ⁶ to about 5 x 10 ⁶ cfu per gram of soil, or 1 x 10 ⁵ to about 3 x 10 ⁶ cfu per gram of soil. In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are applied as a single application at a rate of about 7 x 10 ⁵ to about 1 x 10 ⁷ cfu per gram of soil. In another embodiment, the compositions of the present invention are applied as a single application at a rate of about 1 x 10 ⁶ to about 5 x 10 ⁶ cfu per gram of soil. In other embodiments, the compositions of the present invention are applied as multiple applications at a rate of about 1 x 10 ⁵ to about 3 x 10 ⁶ cfu per gram of soil.

[00104] In a method according to the invention a composition comprising Bacillus subtilis QST713 or a fungicidal mutant thereof can be applied to any plant or any part of any plant grown in any type of media used to grow plants (e.g., soil, vermiculite, shredded cardboard, and water) or applied to plants or the parts of plants grown aerially, such as orchids or staghorn ferns. The composition may, for instance, be applied by spraying, atomizing, vaporizing, scattering, dusting, watering, squirting, sprinkling, pouring or fumigating. As already indicated above, application may be carried out at any desired location where the plant of interest is positioned, such as agricultural, horticultural, forest, plantation, orchard, nursery, organically grown crops, turfgrass and urban environments.

[00105] In some embodiments, the applying is preceded by identifying that the agricultural plant and/or the locus for plant growth needs treatment. Identification of the presence of Ganoderma sp. in infected plants can occur various ways described in the art. Detection of Ganoderma sp. can occur with a colorimetric method, using, for example, ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), a semi- selective media for Ganoderma cultures from oil palms, or Ganoderma- selective media (GSM) which can detect the pathogen from any infected tissues. Other non-limiting examples of methods to detect Ganoderma sp. in infected plants include advanced molecular techniques such as the use of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies recognizing Ganoderma sp. antigens and using an enzyme-linked

immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods using to detect DNA and/or R A produced by the Ganoderma sp. pathogen. In addition, device systems such as remote sense systems or e-nose systems can be used to detect the Ganoderma sp. pathogen. See Naher et al, AJCS 7(11): 1723-1727 (2013).

[00106] The term“agricultural plants” as used in the present context refers to crop plants which are employed as plants for obtaining foodstuffs, feedstuffs, fuels or for industrial purposes.

[00107] The terms“plant propagation material” and“plant propagule” are to be understood to denote all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds and vegetative plant material such as cuttings and tubers (e.g., potatoes), which can be used for the multiplication of the plant. This includes seeds, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes, shoots, sprouts and other parts of plants. Seedlings and young plants, which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from soil, may also be mentioned. These young plants may also be treated totally or partially by immersion or pouring before transplantation.

[00108] The term“locus” is to be understood as any type of environment, soil, area or material where the plant is growing or intended to grow as well as the environmental conditions (such as temperature, water availability, radiation) that have an influence on the growth and development of the plant and/or its propagules. In addition, the term“locus” is to be understood as a plant, seed, soil, area, material or environment in which a pest is growing or may grow.

[00109] The agricultural plants which can be treated and/or improved with the compositions and methods of the present invention include for example the following types of plants: turf, vines, cereals, for example wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, maize and millet/sorghum; beet, for example sugar beet and fodder beet; fruits, for example pome fruit, stone fruit and soft fruit, for example apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries and berries, for example strawberries, raspberries, blackberries; legumes, for example beans, lentils, peas and soybeans; oil crops, for example oilseed rape, mustard, poppies, olives, sunflowers, coconuts, castor oil plants, cacao and peanuts; cucurbits, for example pumpkin/squash, cucumbers and melons; fibre plants, for example cotton, flax, hemp and jute; citrus fruit, for example oranges, lemons, grapefruit and tangerines; vegetables, for example spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage species, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes and bell peppers; Lauraceae, for example avocado, Cinnamomum, camphor, or else plants such as tobacco, nuts, coffee, aubergine, sugar cane, tea, pepper, grapevines, hops, bananas, latex plants and ornamentals, for example flowers, shrubs, deciduous trees and coniferous trees. This enumeration is no limitation.

[00110] Examples of agricultural plants, which are trees, that can be can be treated and/or improved with the compositions and methods of the present invention include: Abies sp., Areca sp., Elaeis sp. Eucalyptus sp., Picea sp., Pinus sp., Aesculus sp., Platanus sp., Tilia sp., Acer sp., Tsuga sp., Fraxinus sp., Sorbus sp., Betula sp., Crataegus sp., Ulmus sp., Quercus sp., Fagus sp., Salix sp., and Populus sp. Preferred trees which can be treated and/or improved in accordance with the compositions and methods according to the invention are: African oil palm {Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) and American oil palm {Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortes).

[00111] The following examples are given for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes of the present invention.

EXAMPLES

Example 1. Bacillus subtilis QST713 Control of Ganoderma boninense

[00112] An agar plate-based assay was used to evaluate the antifungal activity of Bacillus subtilis QST713, tebuconazole, and fosetyl-aluminum against two strains of Ganoderma boninense : G. boninense strain PER71 and G. boninense strain UP. Agar plates were prepared containing each antifungal agent at the following concentrations: 10 ppm, 1 ppm, 0.1 ppm, 0.01 ppm, 0.001 ppm and 0 ppm (i.e.,“Control”). The commercially available product, SERENADE ^® ASO containing Bacillus subtilis QST713, was used for the assay.

[00113] A disc inoculated with G. boninense strain PER71 or G. boninense strain UP was placed in the center of each agar plate and incubated at room temperature in the dark. Several days later, radial growth of the G. boninense strains was observed and photographed. The results presented in FIGs. 1A and IB are representative of five replicates tested for each application rate of the antifungal agents.

[00114] Bacillus subtilis QST713 demonstrated robust control of both G. boninense strain PER71 and G. boninense strain UP at all of the concentrations tested (see FIG. 1A). Tebuconazole controlled G. boninense strain PER71 at concentrations of 10 ppm and 1 ppm and G. boninense strain UP at a concentration of 10 ppm (see FIG. IB). The agar plates containing fosetyl -aluminum did not show any control of either strain of G. boninense (data not shown).

Example 2. Bacillus subtilis QST713 Control of Ganoderma boninense

[00115] Oil palm seedlings were inoculated with Ganoderma sp. and then checked several weeks later to confirm that the Ganoderma sp. mycelia were actively infecting the developing seedlings. Twenty-one days after inoculation, each oil palm seedling was treated with SERENADE ^® ASO containing Bacillus subtilis QST713 at an application rate equivalent to 2000 mL/hectare or with one of four different chemical treatments (i.e., Chemical Treatment A, Chemical Treatment B, Chemical Treatment C, and Chemical Treatment D) at application rates similar to those generally used in the field. Each chemical treatment contained a mixture of chemical fungicides. Chemical Treatment A and Chemical Treatment B included tebuconazole in the chemical mixtures. All treatments were prepared by diluting the fungicidal agents in a total volume of 0.5 liters water, which was then applied as a drench to the oil palm seedlings. Untreated control seedlings were not inoculated with Ganoderma sp. (i.e., “Non-Inoculated, Untreated Control”) and were included in the analysis for purposes of comparison.

[00116] The plant height of each group of oil palm seedlings was measured at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after treatment, and the root mass of each group was measured at 2 and 4 months after treatment. Each measurement is reported as a percentage relative to the corresponding plant height or root mass of the non-inoculated, untreated control oil palm seedlings. The chemical treatments all had a detrimental effect on plant height and root mass, and this detrimental effect became more pronounced with time. In contrast, oil palm seedlings treated with SERENADE ^® ASO {Bacillus subtilis QST713) maintained a plant height and a root mass slightly greater than those of the non-inoculated, untreated control seedlings (see Table 1).

[00117] Leaf color was also determined in each group of oil palm seedlings at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months after treatment using the leaf color chart (LCC) developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Oil palm seedlings treated with SERENADE ^® ASO {Bacillus subtilis QST713) generally had better leaf color ratings than the non-inoculated, untreated control plants whereas the oil palm seedlings treated with chemical fungicides generally had leaf color ratings worse than those of the non-inoculated, untreated control plants.

[00118] At 4 months after treatment, oil palm seedlings from each group were rated for symptoms of Ganoderma disease. The internal plant tissue and roots of the oil palm seedlings were rated according to the following scale:

0 = There are no necrotic symptoms in the roots and base of the stem;

1 = There are necrotic roots but no necrosis at the base of the stem;

2 = There are necrotic roots, and necrosis is starting to occur at the base of the stem in <5% of the plant tissue;

3 = There are necrotic roots, and 5% - 25% of the tissue at the base of the stem is necrotic; and

4 = There are necrotic roots, and > 25% of the tissue at the base of the stem is necrotic with an emerging Ganoderma fruit body at the base of the stem; the oil palm seedling is severely necrotic or dead.

The stem and foliage of the oil palm seedlings were rated according to the following scale:

0 = No necrotic symptoms are present in the seedling leaves;

1 = Occurrence of Ganoderma mycelium at the base of the stem;

2 = Occurrence of Ganoderma mycelium at the base of the stem with 1 to 3 necrotic leaves;

3 = The appearance of Ganoderma fruit body at the base of the stem with more than 3 necrotic leaves; and

4 = The appearance of Ganoderma fruit body at the base of the stem with the death of the oil palm seedling.

[00119] Surprisingly, oil palm seedlings treated with SERENADE ^® ASO {Bacillus subtilis QST713) after inoculation with Ganoderma sp. had healthier roots and internal plant tissue than the non- inoculated, untreated control plants (see FIG. 2A). Among the treated groups of oil palm seedlings, those treated with SERENADE ^® ASO {Bacillus subtilis QST713) had the lowest Ganoderma disease ratings for both 1) internal plant tissue and roots; and 2) stem and foliage (see FIGs. 2A and 2B, respectively). Application of chemical treatments containing tebuconazole (i.e., Chemical Treatment A and Chemical Treatment B) resulted in less severe symptoms of Ganoderma disease in the oil palm seedlings than did application of the other chemical treatments.

[00120] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

All publications, patents, and patent publications cited are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety for all purposes. [00121] It is understood that the disclosed invention is not limited to the particular methodology, protocols and materials described as these can vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purposes of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.

[00122] Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

CS 199004 FC // KHM/JF / 2020-03-18

- 31 - able 1. Plant heights and root masses of treated oil palm seedlings after inoculation with Ganoderma relative to untreated, non-inoculated control seedlings.