The present invention relates to a plant protecting agent or composition, based on a chemical active agent or a

composition of chemical active agents.

Plant protecting agents are commonly defined as pesticides and herbicides which are in particular applied for the protection of plants, more specifically chemical or

biological agents and compositions which are designed:

1) to protect plants and plant products against pathogenic organisms or to prevent their action;

2) to influence the life/vitality of plants in some other, manner (e.g. growth regulators);

3) to preserve plant products (e.g. seed protecting agents)

4) to destroy undesired plants or parts of plants or to

inhibit or prevent any undesirable growth of plants

(herbicides ) .

The present invention relates in particular to a plant protecting agent according to group 1 above, which is based on a chemical agent or a composition of chemical agents. The corresponding pathogenic organisms are usually denominated as plant pathogens.

Prior art A variety of plant protecting agents of group 1 are known in the prior art.

Some of these known and commercially available agricultural pesticides can only be applied in relatively low dosages and under strictly controlled conditions due to their toxicity for, e.g. fish stock, animals, other organisms, plants in the soil etc. Also an issue for a number of commercially available

agricultural pesticides is the development of resistances by many pathogenic microorganisms. Thus, there remains a strong need for further chemical agents or chemical compositions having activity against plant pathogens and this is reflected by ongoing research and development efforts.

The main objects of the present invention are to provide a plant protecting agent or agricultural pesticide which is effective against plant pathogens and concurrently is not or hardly toxic for other plants or organisms in the required ranges of concentration for the contemplated application as a plant protecting agent.

These objectives are achieved by an agricultural pesticide having the features of claim 1 or claim 4. Further aspects of the invention and more specific embodiments are the subject of further claims.

Description of the invention The agricultural pesticide according to claim 1 comprises a substance from the group of poly (alkyl) guanidines

(alternatively denoted or known as poly (alkylen) guanidines) , poly (alkyl) biguanidines (or poly (alkylen) biguanidines) , polyguanines or octenidin or any blends of substances of this group.

These substances are advantageous in that they are exhibiting antimicrobial activity but are not toxic for humans and animals, at least not in the required ranges of concentration for the contemplated application as a plant protecting agent.

In particular, the substances used according to the present invention show a broad-spectrum effect against bacteria, fungi and viruses in the field of plant pathogens.

The advantageous broad-spectrum effect of these substances, in particular poly (hexamethylen) guanidine (PH G) and poly- (hexamethylen) biguanidine (PHMB), is especially surprising since the anti-bacterial effect of such poly ( alkyl ) guanidines or poly (alkyl) biguanidines was previously only known with respect to some specific bacteria, in particular human- pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus,

Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella choleraesuis .

The anti-bacterial activity of the cationic polymer poly- (hexamethylen) guanidine-hydrochloride (PHMGH) against human pathogenic microorganisms with respect to iatrogenic

infections was described in this context for example in the following publication (Journal of Medical Microbiology (2008), 57, 1523-1528: "Polyhexamethylene guanidine

hydrochloride-based disinfectant; a novel tool to fight meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus and nosocomial infections", Mathias K. Oule et al.) . In particular, the publication "Mathias K. Oule et al." addresses the

antimicrobial effectivity of PHMGH as a novel tool for fighting a meticillin-resistant human-pathogenic

Staphylococcus aureus.

The term "plant-pathogen" in the context of the present invention refers to microorganisms, in particular bacteria, fungi and viruses, which act as pathogenic organisms against plants or plant products. Many plant pathogens, such as for example fungi, are spore forming organisms. Especially surprisingly, it has been found that the agricultural pesticide according to the invention shows a high antimicrobial activity against a broad variety of spore forming organisms.

The agricultural pesticide according to the invention has for example shown to be effective in particular against plant pathogens like the bacterium Erwinia amylovora (fire blight) , the fungus Phytophthora infestans (late blight) , Venturia inaequalis (apple scab) and ascomycetes of the genera

Fusarium. However, the applicability of the claimed

agricultural pesticide is by no means limited to these organisms and a variety of further target pathogens are disclosed below.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the agricultural pesticide represents a composition wherein the substance which is selected from the group comprising

poly (alkyl ) guanidines, poly (alkyl) biguanidines, poly- guanidines or octenidin, or any blends or substances of these groups is present in combination with at least one other component exhibiting activity against agricultural pests. More specifically, said other component exhibiting activity . against agricultural pests represents a commercially known or available pesticide or at least one active agent of a commercially known or available pesticide. It has been found that by the means of such a combination the dosage of a plurality of commercially available pesticides can be reduced up to 90% without loss of the antimicrobial effectivity . Further, it has even been demonstrated that for a number of commercially available agricultural pesticides an increase the antimicrobial activity can be achieved while still applying the same dosage of those pesticides (albeit in combination with the substances of claim 1) . This is in particular advantageous, since usually an increase of the antimicrobial activity of such commercial pesticides is not possible by just increasing the dosage of the commercial pesticides due to strict regulatory limits.

Such commercially available agricultural pesticides, in particular those belonging to the above group 1) of plant protecting agents, may be classified according to their chemical nature and their corresponding mechanisms or modes of activity for example in the following categories

(according to the Fungicide Resistance Activity Committee ( FRAC ) ) :

A) Azoles (trade names: Opus Top, Input, Agent, Caramba) B) Benzimidazole Carbamates (trade names: Duett Ultra, Don- Q, Paroli, Topsin)

C) Carboxamides (trade names: Input Xpro, Variano Xpro,

Aviafor Xpro, Champion, Adexar)

D) Amines (trade names: Input Xpro, Rubin TT, pronto Plus, Input Classic, Ceralo, Prolectus)

E) Strobulines (trade names: Amistar, Ortiva, Stroby,

Discus, Acanto, Flint)

F) Application as a contact agent (trade names: Delan,

Infinito, Acrobat Plus, Tatto, Tridex, Revus, MZ, Ridomil Gold)

Further commercial products beyond these categories according to FRAC are Vegas, Dynali, Capalo, Fleity, Vivando. The categorisation "contact agent" is based on the application form by means of contacting the surface of plants.

Typically, in the agricultural pesticide according to the present invention said least one other component exhibiting activity against agricultural pests is selected from the group of compounds comprising azoles, in particular diazoles, triazoles, benzimidazoles , and pyrazoles, carbamates, in particular benzimidazole carbamates and dithiocarbamates , carboxamides , dicarboximides , anilides, nicotinamides, amines and ammonium compounds, including spiroketalamines and heterocyclic compounds such as pyrimidines, pyridines, piperidines, morpholines, pyrroles, in particular

phenylpyrroles , diazines, strobulines, nitriles, in

particular chloronitriles , cinnamic acids.

In more specific embodiments, said least one other component exhibiting activity against agricultural pests is selected from the group comprising propyl-3- (dimethylamino) propyl- carbamate hydrochloride (also known as Propamocarb- hydrochloride) , 8-tert-butyl-l, 4-dioxaspiro [4.5] decan-2- ylmethyl- (ethyl) (propyl) amine ( Spiroxamine ) , (RS)-2-(4- chlorophenyl ) -N- [ 3-methoxy-4 - (prop-2-ynyloxy) phenethyl] -2- (prop-2-ynyloxy) acetamide (Mandipropamide ) , methyl N- methoxyacetyl) -N-2, 6-xylyl-D-alaninate (Metalaxyl-M) ,

N-propyl-N- [2-2,4, 6-trichlorophenoxy ) ethyl] imidazole- 1- carboxamide ( Prochloraz ) , N-4 , 6-dimethylpyrimidin-2- yl) aniline ( Pyrimethanil ) , methyl (E ) -3-methoxy-2- { 2-6- ( trifluoromethyl ) pyridin-2-yloxymethyl ] -phenyl } aerylate

(Picoxystrobin) , (E) - { 2- [ 6- ( 2-chlorophenoxy) -5- fluoropyrimidin-4-yloxy] phenyl } (5, 6-dihydro-l, , 2-dioxazin-3- yl)methanone ( Fluoxastrobin) , 3- (difluoromethyl ) -1-methyl-N- (3~ , 4 " , 5 " -trifluorobiphenyl-2-yl) pyrazole-4 -carboxamide

(Fluoxapyroxad) , S-allyl 5-amino-2 , 3-dihydro-2-isopropyl-3- oxo-4- (o-tolyl) pyrazole-l-carbothioate ( Fenpyrazamine) , tetrachloroisophthalonitrile (Chlorothalonil ) , 3- (3, 5- dichlorophenyl) -N-isopropyl-2, 4-dioxoimidazolidine-l- carboxamide (Iprodion), N- ( 3 " , 4 -dichloro-5-fluorobiphenyl-2- yl) -3- (difluoromethyl ) -l-methylpyrazole-4-carboxamide

(Bixafen) , dimethyl 4 , 4 - (o-phenylene ) bis ( 3-thioallophanate ) (Thiophanate-methyl) , 2-chloro-N- ( 4 " -chlorobiphenyl-2- yl ) nicotinamide (Boscalid) , 5, 10-dihydro-5, 10- dioxonaphtho [2, 3-b] -1, 4-dithi-in-2 , 3-dicarbonitrile

(Dithianon) , methyl (E) -2- { 2 [6- ( 2-cyanophenoxy) pyrimidin-4- yloxy) phenyl } 3-methoxyacrylate (Azoxystrobin) , (E,E)- methoxyimino- {2- [1- ( 3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl ) - ethylideneaminooxymethyl] -phenyl } -acetic acid methyl ester (Trifloxystrobin) , 2 , 6-dichloro-N- [ 3-chloro-5- (trifluoromethyl) -2-pyridylmethyl) benzamide ( Fluopicolide ) , ( +/-) -cis-4- [3- (4-tert-butylphenyl) -2-methylpropyl ] -2 , 6- dimethylmorpholine ( Fenpropimorph) , (E,Z 4— [ 3— ( 4—

chlorophenyl ) -3- (3, 4-dimethoxyphenyl ) -acryloyl] -morpholine (Dimethomorph) , (RS) -1- [3- (4-tert-butylphenyl) -2- methylpropyl ) piperidine ( Fenpropidine) , ( RS ) -1-p-chloro- phenyl-4, 4 -dimethyl-3- (lH-1, 2, -triazol-l-ylmethyl ) pentan-3-. ol (Tebuconazole) , (IRS, 2RS, IRS, 2SR) -1- ( -chlorophenoxy) -3,3- dimethyl-1- (lh-1, 2, 4 -triazole-l-yl ) butan-2-ol (Triadimenol) , 1- (2, 4-dichloro-beta-propylphenethyl ) -lH-1, 2, 4-triazole

(Penconazole) , ( IRS , 5RS , IRS , 5SR) -5- ( 4 -chlorobenzyl ) -2 , 2- dimethyl-1- (lH-1, 2, 4-triazol-ylmethyl ) cyclopentanol

(Metconazole) , (RS) -2- [2- ( 1-chlorocyclopropyl ) -3- [2- chlorophenyl) -2-hydroxypropyl ] -2, 4-dihydro-l, 2, 4-triazole-3- thione ( Prothioconazole ) , (2RS, 3RS) -1- [3- (2-chlorophenyl) -2- ( 4-fluoro-phenyl) oxiran-2-ylmethyl ] -lH-1, 2, -triazole

(Epoxiconazole) , (+/-) - (E) -5+ (4-chlorobenzylidene) -2-2- dimethyl-1- ( lH-1, 2 , 4 -triazol-1-methyl ) cyclopentanol

(Triticonazole) , (+/-)-l-[2-(2, 4-dichlorophenyl) - -propyl- 1, 3-dioxolan-2-ylmethyl] -lH-1, 2 , 4-triazole ( Propiconazole ) , manganese ethylenebis- (dithiocarbamate) polymeric complex with zinc salt (Mancozeb) , methyl- (E) -2-methoxyimino- (2 ) -o- tolyloxy-methyl (phenyl ) acetate (Kresoxim-methyl) . The agricultural pesticide according to the present invention comprising a substance which is selected from the group comprising poly (alkyl) guanidines, poly (alkyl) biguanidines, polyguanines or octenidin, or any blends of substances of this group, may be present in an aqueous formulation in a proportion between 10 ppm and 500.000 ppm, preferably between 10 ppm and 200.000 ppm, more preferably between 20 ppm und 40.000 ppm, of the total composition.

For example, when the poly (alkyl) guanidine, in particular PHMG, is applied in an aqueous formulation, typically it is comprised therein in a proportion between 10 ppm to 200.000 ppm, more preferably between 20 ppm to 40.000 ppm.

Preferred ranges for an exemplary composition based on PMHG as a representative of the poly ( alkyl ) guanidines are compiled in the following Table 1:

Table 1

Substance Content (ppm of the total composition)

Poly (hexamethylene) guanidine 10 ppm to 200.000 ppm,

(PHMG) more preferred 20 to 40.000 ppm

Water 999.990 ppm to 800.000 ppm, more preferred 999.980 to

960.000 ppm Preferably, the agricultural pesticide according to the invention is adjusted to a pH value in the range of 3 to 8.

As already mentioned above, in a preferred aspect of the present invention the agricultural pesticide represents a composition wherein the substance which is selected from the group comprising poly ( alkyl ) guanidines , poly (alkyl) - biguanidines , polyguanidines or octenidin, or any blends or substances of these groups is present in combination with at least one other component exhibiting activity against agricultural pests.

In this case, the substance which is selected from the group comprising poly (alkyl) guanidines, poly (alkyl ) biguanidines , polyguanines or octenidin, or any blends of substances of this group, is typically present in a proportion between 10 ppm and 200.000 ppm, preferably between 20 ppm und 8000 ppm, of the total composition. For example, PHMG is typically comprised in combination with an active agent of a commercially available agricultural pesticide in a formulation preferably between 10 to 200.000 ppm, more preferably comprised between 20 and 8.000 ppm. In such a composition, the least one other component

exhibiting activity against agricultural pests is typically present in a proportion between 5 ppm and 20.000 ppm,

preferably between 10 ppm und 5000 ppm, of the total

composition .

In the agricultural pesticide according to the present invention, the poly (alkyl ) guanidines , poly (alkyl) biguanidines or polyguanines may have a molecular weight in the range from 500 to 100.000 Dalton, such as 500 or 1000 to 40.0000 Dalton, preferably 500 or 1000 to 10.000 Dalton, 500 to 6.000 Dalton or 1000 to 4.000 Dalton.

In the agricultural pesticide according to the present invention, the poly (alkyl) guanidines or poly (alkyl) - biguanidines may have an alkyl (en) chain length of the monomer in the range from C ₂ to C ₂ o, preferably in the range from C ₂ to Ci4, and a degree of polymerisation n (number of monomeric alkylen units in the polymer) in the range from 5 to 600, preferably in the range from 5 to 300.

In particular, the poly (alkyl) guanidine may be selected from the group comprising a poly (tetramethylen) guanidine, poly (hexamethylen) guanidine (PHMG), a poly ( octamethylen ) - guanidine, poly (decamethylen) guanidine, poly(dodeca- methylen) guanidine or blends thereof.

Some specific embodiments of the agricultural pesticide according to the present invention are aqueous compositions comprising poly (hexamethylen) guanidine in an amount of 20- 8000 ppm, and one or more of compounds selected from the group comprising 2 , 6-dichloro-N- [ 3-chloro-5- ( trifluoro- methyl) -2-pyridylmethyl ) benzamide, 5, 10-dihydro-5, 10- dioxonaphtho [2 , 3-b] -1 , 4-dithi-in-2 , 3-dicarbonitrile, methyl (E) -2- { 2 [ 6- (2-cyanophenoxy) pyrimidin-4-yloxy) phenyl } 3- methoxyacrylate , propyl-3- (dimethylamino) propylcarbamate hydrochloride in an amount of 10-1000 ppm each and the balance of water. Preferred ranges for an exemplary composition of active agents according to the invention based on a blend of PHMG with the commercially available pesticide active agent

Dithianon (Delan®, Bayer) from the class of "contact agents" are : Table 2

Preferred ranges for an exemplary composition of active agents according to the invention based on a blend of

PHMG with the commercially available active agents

Fluopicolid/Propamocarb-hydrochlorid (Infinito®, Bayer) from the class of "contact agents" are:

Table 3

Substance Content (ppm of the total composition)

Poly (hexamethylene) guanidine 10 ppm to 200.000 ppm, more

(PHMG) preferred 20 to 8.000 ppm

Propamocarb-hydrochlorid 5 ppm to 1.500 ppm, more (Infinito®, Bayer) preferred 10 to 800 ppm

Fluopicolid 5 ppm to 1.000 ppm, more (Infinito®, Bayer) preferred 10 to 250 ppm

Water 999.975 ppm to 797.500 ppm, more preferred 999.960 to

990.950 Preferred ranges for an exemplary composition of active agents according to the invention based on a blend of PHMG with the commercially available pesticide agent Azoxystrobin (Amistar®, Syngenta) from the class of Strobilurines are:

Table 4

Further suitable blends of PHMG with active agents of commercially available pesticides are compiled in Table 5 below .

The given proportions refer to a spray mixture which is typically applied in an amount of 1000 1/ha.

In Table 6 below a number of commercially available

pesticides which are suitable for blending with

poly (alkyl) guanidines, in particular PHMG, in the

compositions according to the present invention, as well as suitable proportions in spray mixtures are compiled. Table 5

Table 6

The agricultural pesticide according to the present invention may exhibit activity against any kind of agricultural pest, typically the agricultural pest is a microorganism, in particular selected from the group comprising bacteria, fungi and viruses.

More specifically the agricultural pest is selected from the group of plant pathogenic fungi, comprising Alternaria species, Aspergillus species, Blumeria species, Botrytis species, Ceratocystis species, Crinipellis species,

Cephaleuros species, Colletotrichum species, Curvularia species, Erysiphaceae species, Fusaria species, Gloeosporium species, Glomerella species, Melampsora species, Myco- sphaerella species, Moniliophthora species, Magnaporthe species, Odium species, Penicillium species, Plasmopara species, Puccinia species, Phakopsora species, Podosphaera species, Pythium species, Phytophora species, Rhizopus species, Setosphaeria species, Sclerophtora species, Ustilago species, Venturia species, Verticillium species; plant pathogenic bacteria, comprising Acetobacter species,

Agrobacterium species, Clavibacter species, Candidatus

Liberibacter species, Curtobacterium species, Dickeya

species, Erwinia species, Pantoea species, Pectobacterium species, Pseudomonas species, Ralstonia species, Xanthomonas species; plant pathogenic viruses, comprising Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) , Tomato spotted wilt virus (TS V) , Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) , Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) , Potato virus Y (PVY), Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) , African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) , Plum pox virus (PPV), Brome mosaic virus (BMV) , Banana bunchy top nanovirus (BBTV) ,

Banana streak badnavirus (BSV) , Barley yellow dwarf disease luteovirus complex, Maize streak mastrevirus (MSV) , Maize dwarf mosaic potivirus, Rice tungro disease virus complex, Rice yellow mottle sobemovirus (RY V) , Sucarcane mosaic potivirus, Sweet potato feathery mottle potivirus (SPFMV) .

In still more specific embodiments, the agricultural pest is selected from the group of plant pathogenic fungi comprising Alternaria sp. (e.g. infesting fruit trees), Aspergillus flavus (e.g. infesting ananas; dry rot), Blumeria graminis (e.g. infesting crop), Botrytis cinerea (gray mold rot), Botryodiplodia theobromae (e.g. infesting lichee),

Ceratocystis paradoxa (e.g. infesting ananas; soft rot),

Crinipellis perniciosa (e.g. infesting cocoa; witches broom), Cephaleuros spp. (e.g. infesting mango), Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (e.g. infesting lichee), Curvularia

verucculosa (e.g. infesting ananas; dry rot), Erysiphaceae sp. (powdery mildew) , Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium

graminearum (crop), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense type 1-4 (e.g. infesting bananas; fusarium wilt), Gloeosporium sp. (stored fruit; post-harvest rost) , Glomerella Tucumanensis (sugar cane) , elampsora lini, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycosphaerella musicola (bananas; Yellow Sigatoka) ,

Mycosphaerella fijiensis (bananas; Black Sigatoka),

Moniliophthora Roreri (cocoa; frosty pod) , Magnaporthe oryzae, Odium lycopersicum (tomato; mildew) , Penicillium claviforme (ananas; dry rot), Penicillium digitatum (citrus fruits; blue and green mold rot), Plasmopara viticola (grape vine; downy mildew), Pucciniomycotina (wheat; brown rust), Puccinia sorghi (corn; corn rust), Phakopsora meibomiae, Phakopsora pachyrizi (soy beans; soy bean rust), Podosphaera leucotricha (apple; apple mildew), Podosphaera aphanis

(strawberry), Podosphaera pannosa (rose; powdery rose mildew, Pythium sp . , Phytospora infestans (potato; late blight), Phytophtora Pod Rot (cocoa; black pod) , Rhizopus stolonifer (ananas; soft rots), Rhizopus oryzae (ananas; soft rots), Setosphaeria turcica (corn; turcicum leaf spots) , Ustilago maydis (corn; corn smut) , Verticillium albo-atrum (mango) , Venturia inaequalis (apple; apple scab) , Venturia carpophila (peach; peach scab) ; and plant pathogenic bacteria comprising Acetobacter peroxydans (e.g. infesting ananas; marble

disease), Acetobacter aceti (ananas; red rot), Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Clavibacter michiganensis , Clavibacter

sepedonicus, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,

Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens , Dickeya dadantii, Dickeya solani, Erwinia ananas (ananas; marble disease), Erwinia amylovora (fruit trees; fire blight) , Pantoea agglomerans

(ananas; red rot), Pectobacterium carotovorum, Pectobacterium atrosepticum, Pseudomonas syringae pathovars, Pseudomonas savastanoi, Ralstonia solanacearum, Xanthomonas oryzae,

Xanthomonas campestris pathovars, Xanthomonas axonopodis pathovars, Xanthomonas oryzae, pv. Oryzae.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for protecting plants, in particular cultivated plants, against pests, comprising contacting the plants to be

protected and/or the soil or nutrient medium wherein said plants are grown, with the agricultural pesticide as defined above for a predetermined time and in a sufficient amount to prevent or inhibit a harmful effect of said pests on the plants to be protected.

Typically, in this method the pesticide formulation is applied at least once in an amount of 100-5000 1, preferably 500-1500 1, per ha soil or nutrient medium. EXAMPLE 1

Activity against Botrytis cinerea in vitro

The Botrytis cinerea isolate BC 271 (which is resistent against strobilurines , anilinopyrimidines , hydrogenase inhibitors, Fenhexamide and has a reduced sensitivity against Fludioxonil) was cultivated on agar until the production of spores commenced. A spore concentration of 1 x 10 ⁵

conidiospores/ml was used for the tests.

The respective analyt (see Table 7 for a compilation of various tested analytes and standards) was added to the suspension of spores in the desired concentration and 10 μΐ (containing 1000 conidiospores) were placed on an agar plate (malt extract) in each repetition of the test, subsequently the plates were incubated at 20°C. Each test was repeated 4 times. The growth of fungi on the agar plates was examined after 2 days and 3 days (Table 8).

Table 7

Analyt Active Amount Amount of Mixing Ratio

Agent (s) of active Analyt :Water

Active agent

Agent applied in

(mg/l vitro (mg/l

analyt) analyt

after 1:10

dilution)

KAT Cationic 2500 250 1:9

P2500 Polymer

(PHMG)

KAT PHMG 1250 125 1:9

P1250

KAT P625 PHMG 625 62.5 1:9 BasD30 Dithianon 30 3 1:9

TM PD PHMG 1250 125 1:9 1250 Dithianon 15 1.5

TM PD PHMG 625 62.5 1:9 625 Dithianon 15 1.5

Byln312 Propamocarb- 312.5 31.25 1:9 hydrochloride

Fluopicolide 31.25 3.125

TM PI PHMG 1250 125 1:9 1250 Propamocarb- 156.25 15.625

hydrochloride

Fluopicolide 15.625 1.5625

TM PI PHMG 625 62.5 1:9 625 Propamocarb- 156.25 15.625

hydrochloride

Fluopicolide 15.625 1.5625

SynAm200 Azoxystrobin 200 20 1:9

TM PA PHMG 1250 125 1 : 9 1250 Azoxystrobin 100 10

TM PA PHMG 625 62.5 1 : 9 625 Azoxystrobin 100 10

Delan Dithianon 30 3 1:9

700g/kg

Geoxe Fludioxonil 250 ppm

0.05%

Switch Fludioxonil 250 ppm

0.1 % Cyprodinil 375 ppm Table 8

Fig. 1 demonstrates the results for untreated control (top quarter), 10% Kat P 2500 (right), 0.1% Switch (bottom) and 0.01 % Switch (left) after 3 days incubation at 20°C (2 of 4 repeats) .

Summary :

After application of the Botrytis conidiospores onto agar plates, the spores germinated in the control as well as in the mixtures with Switch (0.1% and 0.01%), BasD30 (10%), Byln312 (10%) and SynAm200 (10%), resulting in visible mycelium after 2 days and air mycelium after 3 days. After 3 days the colonies of the untreated control had grown to a size of ca. 4 cm diameter. 0.1% Switch decreased the growth of the partially resistent Botrytis strain to ca . 1 cm and

0.01% Switch to 1.5 - 1.8 cm. (The growth of sensitive

Botrytis strains on agar is completely inhibited by 0.1% Switch) .

The analytes KAT P 2500, KAT P 1250, KAT P 625, TM PD 1250, TM PD 625, TM PI 1250, TM PI 625, TM PA 1250 and TM PA 625 (10% dilution each) completely inhibited the development of the Botrytis isolate Be 271.

EXAMPLE 2

Activity against Venturia inaequalis in vitro

Infested leaves of an apple tree (Jonagold; originally harvested in the botanical garden of the University of

Konstanz and further propagated in the greenhouse) which had been stored frozen were thawed and rinsed with water. The resulting suspension of conididospores was mixed with the various analytes (see Table 7 for a compilation of various tested analytes), so that the analytes were diluted 1:10,

1. e. used in a concentration of 10%. 40 μΐ of each mixture were applied to aqueous agar and these plates were incubated at 20°C for 24 h. Subsequently, for each test batch at least 200 conidiospores were assessed for germination using a microscope and the proportion of germinated conidiospores

(percent) was calculated (Table 9) . The tests were done as a double determination and were repeated once. Table 9

Summary :

The average germination rate of the conidiospores in the untreated control was 36.3%. Byln312 was not able to inhibit germination of the spores. Each of the other analytes

demonstrated a degree of efficacy against this pathogen above 98.5%. The reference standard Delan WG (dithianon) reduced the germination by 99.7% if applied in the recommended concentration of 0.05% and by 98.7% if applied in a

concentration of 0.0005%.