The present invention relates to fungicidal two- and three-component mixtures based on metalaxyl having an R-enantiomer content of more than 70 % by weight, and to the use thereof in controlling and preventing Oomycetes infestation. The metalaxyl component is called active ingredient I.

The following fungicides may be used as the second component π of the mixtire:

HA) mancozeb;

HB) chlorothalonil; πC) a copper salt, for example CuCO ₃ , CuSO ₄ , Cu(OH) ₂ -CuCl ₂ , especially Cu(OH) ₂ ;

HD) folpet;

HE) fluazinam [= 3-cMoro-N-(3-chloro-5-trifluoromemyl-2-pyridyl)-α,c ,α-trifluoro-2,6- dinitro-p-toluidine] ; and

HF) cymoxanil, which can be used either on its own or in admixture with one of the above-mentioned components HA to HE (three-component mixtures).

More specifically, the invention relates to mixtures comprising metalaxyl having an R-enantiomer content of more than 85 % by weight, preferably of more than 92 % by weight, and especially containing pure R-enantiomer that is essentially free of S-enantiomer.

Metalaxyl of the formula

has an asymmetric *C atom and can be resolved into the enantiomers in customary manner (GB-P.l 500 581). Since 1975 it has been known to those skilled in the art that the R-enantiomer is far superior to the S-enantiomer in terms of fungicidal action and is in practice regarded as the true mechanism of action. Commercial metalaxyl is available in the form of the racemate. Likewise, m tures of metalaxyl racemate with mancozeb, chlorothalonil, copper preparations, folpet, fluazinam or cymoxanil have become known

commercially or otherwise. There has in the past never been any practical necessity to resolve the racemate, of which half consists of the desired R-enantiomer.

It has now been found, completely surprisingly, that R-metalaxyl in pure or more than 70 % form, in admixture with the fungicidal components HA to HF, achieves a synergisti- cally enhanced action which in some cases exceeds that of the prior-known mixtures based on the racemate by a factor of 10. Given that half of the racemate consists of R- enantiomer, factors of approximately 2 or, at most, 3 were to be expected.

With this completely unexpected result, the present invention constitutes a very consi¬ derable enrichment of the art and represents a possible means of reducing in an environ¬ mentally protective manner the total amount of fungicides used for controlling Oomycetes on plants.

In addition to the two-component mixture I:H, the present invention relates also to a method of controlling fungi, which comprises treating a site, for example a plant, that is infested by or threatened with infestation by fungi with, in any desired sequence or simul¬ taneously, a) component I and b) the active ingredient of formula H.

Advantageous mixing ratios of the two active ingredients are I:H = from 10:1 to 1:100, preferably I:H = from 5:1 to 1:30. In many cases, mixtures in which the mixing ratio of the active substances I:H is from 1:1 to 1:20, for example 2:5, 1:4, 1:8 or 1:10, are advantageous.

The active ingredient mixtures I+H according to the invention have very advantageous curative, preventive and systemic fungicidal properties for protecting cultivated plants. The active ingredient mixtures of the invention can be used to inhibit or destroy the micro¬ organisms which occur on plants or on parts of plants (the fruit, blossom, leaves, stems, tubers or roots) of different crops of useful plants, while at the same time parts of plants that grow later are also protected against such microorganisms. This applies especially also to microorganisms that have developed reduced sensitivity to metalaxyl.

The active ingredient mixtures of formulae I and H are generally used in the form of compositions. R-metalaxyl (formula I) and the active ingredient of formula H can be applied to the area or plant to be treated simultaneously or in immediate succession, if desired together with further carriers, surfactants or other application-promoting adjuvants

customarily employed in formulation technology.

Suitable carriers and adjuvants can be solid or liquid and are the substances ordinarily employed in formulation technology, e.g. natural or regenerated mineral substances, solvents, dispersants, wetting agents, tackifiers, thickeners, binders or fertilisers.

A preferred method of applying an active ingredient mixture comprising at least one of each of the active ingredients I and H is application to the parts of the plants that are above the soil, especially to the leaves (foliar application). The frequency and rate of application depend upon the biological and climatic living conditions of the pathogen. The active ingredients can, however, also penetrate the plant through the roots via the soil (systemic action) if the locus of the plant is impregnated with a liquid formulation or if the subs¬ tances are introduced in solid form into the soil, e.g. in the form of granules (soil application).

The compounds of the combination are used in unmodified form or, preferably, together with the adjuvants conventionally employed in formulation technology, and are therefore formulated in known manner e.g. into emulsifiable concentrates, coatable pastes, directly sprayable or dilutable solutions, dilute emulsions, wettable powders, soluble powders, dusts, granules, or by encapsulation in e.g. polymer substances. As with the nature of the compositions, the methods of application, such as spraying, atomising, dusting, scattering, coating or pouring, are chosen in accordance with the intended objectives and the prevail¬ ing circumstances. Advantageous rates of application of the active ingredient mixture are normally from 50 g to 1800 g of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare, preferably from 100 g to 1000 g a.i./ha. Mixtures of R-metalaxyl (I) with mancozeb (HA) are advantageously employed at rates of application of from 100 g to 120 g of I and 1600 g of HA.

The formulations are prepared in known manner, e.g. by homogeneously mixing and/or grinding the active ingredients with extenders, e.g. solvents, solid carriers and, where appropriate, surface-active compounds (surfactants).

The agrochemical compositions generally comprise 0.1 to 99 %, preferably 0.1 to 95 %, of active ingredients of formulae I and H, 99.9 to 1 %, preferably 99.9 to 5 %, of a solid or liquid adjuvant and 0 to 25 %, preferably 0.1 to 25 %, of a surfactant

Whereas commercial products will preferably be formulated as concentrates, the end user

will normally employ dilute formulations.

Suitable target crops are especially potatoes, vines, hops, maize, sugar beet, tobacco, vegetables (tomatoes, paprika, lettuce, etc.), and also bananas, natural rubber plants, as well as lawn areas and ornamentals. Other plants threatened by downy mildew have become known inter alia from the literature relating to metalaxyl.

The Examples which follow serve to illustrate the invention, "active ingredient" denoting a mixture of R-metalaxyl and compound H in a specific mixing ratio.

Wettable powders a) b) c) active ingredient

[I:πA = l:4(a), l:16(b), 2:13(c)] 27 % 51 % 75 % sodium lignosulfonate 5 % 5 % sodium laurylsulfate 3 % - 5 % sodium diisobutylnaphthalene- sulfonate - 6 % 10 % octylphenol polyethylene glycol ether (7-8 mol of ethylene oxide) - 2 % - highly dispersed silicic acid 5 % 10 % 10 % kaolin 60 % 26 %

The active ingredient is thoroughly mixed with the adjuvants and the mixture is thoroughly ground in a suitable mill, affording wettable powders which can be diluted with water to give suspensions of the desired concentration.

Emulsifiable concentrate active ingredient

(I:HA, HB, HD or HE = 3:7) 10 % octylphenol polyethylene glycol ether

(4-5 mol of ethylene oxide) 3 % calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate 3 % castor oil polyglycol ether

(35 mol of ethylene oxide) 4 % cyclohexanone 30 % xylene mixtiire 50 %

Emulsions of any required dilution, which can be used in plant protection, can be obtained from this concentrate by dilution with water.

Extruder granules active ingredient (I:HC = 1:4) 15 % sodium lignosulfonate 2 % carboxymethylcellulose 1 % kaolin 82 %

The active ingredient is mixed and ground with the adjuvants, and the mixture is moistened with water. The mixture is extruded and then dried in a stream of air.

Coated granules active ingredient (I:HD = 3:5) 8 % polyethylene glycol (mol. wL 200) 3 % kaolin 89 %

(mol. wt. = molecular weight)

The finely ground active ingredient is uniformly applied, in a mixer, to the kaolin moistened with polyethylene glycol. Non-dusty coated granules are obtained in this manner.

Suspension concentrate active ingredient(I:HF:HA = 3:1:7) 44 % propylene glycol 10 % nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether

(15 mol of ethylene oxide) 6 % sodium lignosulfonate 10 % carboxymethylcellulose 1 % silicone oil (in the form of a 75 % aqueous emulsion) 1 % water 28 %

The finely ground active ingredient is intimately mixed with the adjuvants, giving a suspension concentrate from which suspensions of any desired dilution can be obtained by

dilution with water. Such dilutions can be used to treat living plants by spraying, pouring or immersion and to protect them against infestation by microorganisms.

Biological Examples

Fungicides have a synergistic effect whenever the fungicidal action of the active ingre¬ dient combination is greater than the sum of the actions of the active ingredients when applied individually.

The action E to be expected for a given active ingredient combination, for example of two fungicides, obeys the so-called COLBY formula and can be calculated as follows (COLBY, L.R. "Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combina¬ tions". Weeds 15, pages 20-22, 1967) (LIMPEL et al., 1062 "Weeds control by ... certain combinations". Proc. NEWCL, Vol. 16, pp.48-53): (mg a.i./litre = milligrams of active ingredient per litre or a multiple thereof) X = % action by fungicide I at p mg a.i./litre Y = % action by fungicide π at q mg a.i71itre

E = the expected action of fungicides I+H at a rate of application of p+q mg a.iJlitre (additive action), then according to Colby: E = X + Y—

100

If the action (O) actually observed is greater than the expected action, then the action of the combination is superadditive, i.e. there is a synergistic effect.

1) Action against Plasmopara viticola on vines

Small vine plants of the variety "Gutedel" are each grown in a plant-pot (diameter = 6 cm) under greenhouse conditions and are sprayed in the two-leaf stage with an active ingre¬ dient mixture prepared from an emulsifiable concentrate. The following concentrations of active ingredient are each applied to four plants: metalaxyl racemate: 2 mg and 6 mg a.i./litre; R-metalaxyl (100 %): 0.06 mg and 0.6 mg a.i./litre; mancozeb: 2 mg and 6 mg a.i./litre.

These dilutions are prepared in demineralised water immediately before the leaves are sprayed. In order to eliminate the effect of the gas phase of the metalaxyl in the vicinity, all the plants are separated from one another laterally by means of transparent plastics films and are kept in the dark for one day at 20-22 °C and about 100 % relative humidity.

The entire surface of the leaves of the plants is then uniformly sprayed to drip point with a freshly prepared sporangia suspension (120 000/ml) of a strain of Plasmopara viticola that is sensitive to metalaxyl. The plants are then kept at 20-22°C and about 100 % relative humidity for 7 days under artificial daylight of 16 hours' duration. Evaluation of the infestation is then carried out The Tables show in each case the average of four parallel sprayings. The expected action in the case of mixtures is calculated according to COLBY.

Level of action of racemic metalaxyl and R-metalaxyl in admixture with the residual component mancozeb

Metalaxyl R-enantiomer Mancozeb Mixing E O of metalaxyl ratio Expected Observed mg a.i./l mg a.i./l mg a.i. l action action

[COLBY]

2 12 6 24

0.06 12 0.6 18

2 0 6 20

2 2 1:1 12 27 6 2 3:1 24 71

2 6 1:3 40 69 6 6 1:1 30 90

0.06 2 1:33 12 43 0.6 2 1:3 18 56

0.06 6 1:100 30 64 0.6 6 1:10 35 91

The action of 2 mg of racemic metalaxyl in admixture with 2 mg or 6 mg of mancozeb corresponds to that of 0.06 mg of R-metalaxyl in admixture with 2 mg or 6 mg of manco¬ zeb. This shows that the action is improved about 30-fold when the R-enantiomer is used

instead of racemic metalaxyl.

2) Action against Phytophthora infestans on tomato plants

Residual-protective action

After a cultivation period of 3 weeks, tomato plants are sprayed with a series of concentra¬ tions of a spray mixture prepared from an emulsifiable concentrate of the active ingredient mixture. The treated plants are infected 48 hours later with a sporangia suspension of the fungus. Fungus infestation is evaluated after incubation of the infected plants for 4 days at 90-100 % relative humidity and 20°C.

The following results are obtained:

Mancozeb Metalaxyl R-enantiomer Percent of metalaxyl action

[ppm a.i.] [ppm a.i.] [ppm a.i.]

20 2 18

6 0.6 0

20 2 75

6 0.6 7

Copper oxychloride Metalaxyl R-enantiomer Percent of metalaxyl action

[ppm a.i.] [ppm a.ι.] [ppm a.L]

60 6 35

60 2 17.5

60 6 75

60 2 50

3) Action against Phytophthora on potato plants

Residual-protective action

After a cultivation period of 3 weeks, 2- to 3-week-old potato plants (variety Bintje) are sprayed with a series of concentrations of a spray mixture prepared from an emulsifiable concentrate of the active ingredient mixture. The treated plants are infected 24 hours later with a sporangia suspension of the fungus. Fungus infestation is evaluated after incubation of the infected plants for 5 days at 90-100 % relative humidity and 20°C.

The following results are obtained:

Mancozeb Metalaxyl R-enantiomer Percent of metalaxyl action

[ppm a.i.] [ppm a.ι. ] [ppm a.L]

20 2 70

6 0.6 15

20 2 100

6 ^' 0.6 50

Copper oxychloride Metalaxyl R-enantiomer Percent of metalaxyl action

[ppm a. ] [ppm a.ι.] [ppm a.L]

60 6 17.5

60 2 0

60 6 70

60 2 35

Similarly markedly increased actions are achieved also with the other components HB, πD, HE and HF of the mixture.

Preferred mixing ratios (in amounts by weight) are:

R-metalaxyl(I):IIA (mancozeb) = 1:1 to 1:20

I:HB (chlorothalonil) = 2:1 to 1:12

I:HC (copper preparation) = 5:1 to 1:30

I:HD (folpet) = 3:1 to 1:10

I:HE (fluazinam) = 5:1 to 1:20

I.HF (cymoxanil) = 6:1 to 1:6

I:HF:HA = 1 to 7 : 1 : 4 to 10

I:HF:HD = 1 to 7 : 1 : 2 to 8.

These marked increases in action with R-metalaxyl are observed also against other Oomycetes, especially Peronosporales, Pseudoperonospora, Albugo occidentalis, Phyto- phthora spp., Pythium, Bremia and other pathogens.