Use of an agrochemical composition with fungicidal and plant health improving action in rapeseed

Description

The present invention relates to the use of an agrochemical composition comprising at least one specific herbicide and at least one specific fungicide for controlling phyto- pathogenic fungi in rapeseed and for increasing the health of rapeseed plants. The invention further relates to a method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi in rapeseed and to a method for increasing the health of rapeseed. The invention also relates to an agrochemical composition comprising said at least one specific herbicide and said at least one specific fungicide.

In the case of crop protection, such as fungicidal or plant health improving

compositions, it is desirable in principle to increase the specific activity of an active compound and the reliability of the effect. Also desirable is a broad spectrum of activity allowing the simultaneous control of phytopathogenic fungi. Frequently, this cannot be achieved using a single active compound. Rapeseed are among the most important crop plants. Improving their growth conditions is thus an ongoing need.

With a view to reducing the application rates and broadening the activity spectrum of the known compounds in rapeseed cultures, it was an object of the present invention to provide compositions which, at a reduced total amount of active compounds applied, show improved activity against important harmful fungi, in particular for certain indications. It was a further object to provide for compositions that are useful for the control of specific pathogens in specific important crops that are often susceptible to the attack of pathogens.

This and further objects are achieved by the agricultural composition described below. Surprisingly, this composition has better fungicidal activity, i.e. a better activity against harmful fungi, than would have been expected based on the fungicidal activity observed for the individual compounds, or a broader activity spectrum.

Moreover, the time frame, within which the desired fungicidal action can be achieved, may be expanded by said composition. This allows a more flexibly timed application of the compositions according to the present invention in comparison with the single compounds.

Said composition also has a better compatibility with useful plants. Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of an agrochemical composition comprising

A) at least one herbicide A selected from

A.a) lipid synthesis inhibitors inhibitors selected from clethodim (A.1 ), cy- cloxydim (A.2), diclofop (A.3), fenoxaprop (A.4), fenoxaprop-P (A.5), fluazi- fop (A.6), fluazifop-P (A.7), haloxyfop (A.8), haloxyfop-P (A.9), propaquizafop (A.10), prosulfocarb (A.1 1 ), quizalofop-ethyl (A.12), quizalo- fop-P (A.13), sethoxydim (A.14) and tepraloxydim (A.15);

A.b) acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors) selected from ethametsul- furon (A.16), flupyrsulfuron (A.17), thifensulfuron (A.18) and tribenuron (A.19); and

A.c) glutamine synthase (GS) inhibitors selected from glufosinate (A.20) and glufosinate-P (A.21 ); and their agriculturally acceptable salts esters and amides;

B) at least one fungicide B selected from

B.a) inhibitors of complex III at Q ₀ site selected from azoxystrobin (B.1 ), cou- methoxystrobin (B.2), coumoxystrobin (B.3), dimoxystrobin (B.4), enestro- burin (B.5), famoxadone (B.6), fenaminstrobin (B.7), fenoxy- strobin/flufenoxystrobin (B.8), fluoxastrobin (B.9), kresoxim-methyl (B.10), metominostrobin (B.1 1 ), picoxystrobin (B.12), pyraclostrobin (B.13), pyrametostrobin (B.14), pyraoxystrobin (B.15), trifloxystrobin (B.16), 2-[2- (2,5-dimethylphenyl-oxymethyl)phenyl]-3-methoxy-acrylic acid methyl ester (B.17), 2-(2-(3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1 -methyl-allylideneaminooxymethyl)- phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide (B.18), pyribencarb (B.19) and triclopyricarb/chlorodincarb (B.20); and

B.b) inhibitors of complex II selected from bixafen (B.21 ), boscalid (B.22), car- boxin (B.23), fluopyram (B.24), fluxapyroxad (B.25), isopyrazam (B.26), penflufen (B.27), penthiopyrad (B.28), sedaxane (B.29), 3-difluoromethyl-1 - methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (9-dichloromethylene-1 ,2,3,4- tetrahydro-1 ,4-methano-naphthalen-5-yl)-amide (B.30) and difluoromethyl- 1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2-methoxy- 1 -methyl-ethyl)-amide (B.31 ); for controlling phytopathogenic fungi in rapeseed.

In the context of the present invention, the term "rapeseed" denotes both the plant itself as well as its harvested product, such as rapeseed grains or seeds.

The invention moreover relates to a composition as defined above or below, comprising at least one herbicide A and at least one fungicide B.

The composition according to the invention or to be used according to the invention may be a physical mixture of the at least one compound A and the at least one compound B. Accordingly, the invention also provides a mixture comprising at least one compound A and at least one compound B. However, the composition may also be any combination of at least one compound A with at least one compound B, it not being required for compounds A and B to be present together in the same formulation.

An example of a composition according to the invention or to be used according to the invention in which the at least one compound A and the at least one compound B are not present together in the same formulation is a combipack. In a combipack, two or more components of a combipack are packaged separately, i.e., not jointly pre- formulated. As such, combipacks include one or more separate containers such as vials, cans, bottles, pouches, bags or canisters, each container containing a separate component for an agrochemical composition. One example is a two-component combipack. Accordingly the present invention also relates to a two-component combipack, comprising a first component which in turn comprises at least one compound A, a liquid or solid carrier and, if appropriate, at least one surfactant and/or at least one customary auxiliary, and a second component which in turn comprises at least one compound B, a liquid or solid carrier and, if appropriate, at least one surfactant and/or at least one customary auxiliary. More details, e.g. as to suitable liquid and solid carriers, surfactants and customary auxiliaries are described below.

The invention further refers to a method for controlling phytopathogenic fungi in rape- seed, which method comprises treating the fungi, rapeseed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the rapeseed plants grow or are to grow or rapeseed seeds to be protected from fungal attack or rapeseed seeds from which the rapeseed plants are to grow with an effective amount of an agrochemical composition as defined above or below.

In crop protection, there is also a continuous need for compositions that improve the health of plants. Healthier plants are desirable since they result among others in better yields and/or a better quality of the plants or crops. Healthier plants also better resist to biotic and/or abiotic stress. A high resistance against biotic stresses in turn allows the person skilled in the art to reduce the quantity of pesticides applied and consequently to slow down the development of resistances against the respective pesticides. It was therefore also an object of the present invention to provide an agrochemical composition which solves the problems outlined above, and which should, in particular, improve the health of rapeseed plants, in particular the yield and/or quality of rapeseed plants. It has been found that these objects are in part or in whole achieved by using the compositions as defined in the outset and below.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to the use of a composition as defined above or below, for synergistically increasing the health of rapeseed, in particular the yield of rapeseed plants, and to a method for synergistically increasing the health of rapeseed, in particular the yield of rapeseed plants, which method comprises treating rapeseed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the rapeseed plants grow or are to grow or rapeseed seeds from which the rapeseed plants are to grow with a synergistically effective amount of an agrochemical composition as defined above and below.

The methods of the invention comprise allowing an effective amount of the composition as defined above or below to act on rapeseed plants or parts thereof and/or the locus where the rapeseed cultures grow or are to grow. The methods of the invention include treatment of the seeds from which the rapeseed plants are to grow. If the rapeseed plants are not resistant against the herbicide(s) used and/or the herbicide(s) is/are not selective enough and/or no safener is used, it is convenient to avoid their direct contact with the herbicide(s) used as far as possible in order to avoid injury of the rapeseed plants. This can be done, for example, by treating the locus where the rapeseed plant is to grow, e.g. before or during sowing or before its emergence or before planting, or by treating the seeds of the rapeseed plant with the composition of the invention or, if the composition is not a physical mixture of herbicide and fungicide, with the herbicide of the composition. In all other cases, i.e. if the rapeseed plants are resistant against the herbicide(s) used and/or the herbicide is sufficiently selective and does not harm (or not to an economically dissatisfactory extent) the rapeseed plants and/or a safener is used, any known method for broadcasting agricultural compositions can be used. For further details, see below.

The herbicides A and the fungicides B as well as their agrochemical action and methods for producing them are generally known. For instance, the commercially available compounds can be found in "The Pesticide Manual, 15th Edition, British Crop Protection Council (2009)" among other publications.

The preferred embodiments of the invention mentioned herein below have to be under- stood as being preferred either independently from each other or in combination with one another.

Preferably, the at least one herbicide A is selected from clethodim, cycloxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, glufosinate, glufosinate-P; and their agriculturally acceptable salts, esters and amides.

Among the agriculturally acceptable salts, esters and amides of the above herbicides, preference is given to the following compounds: glufosinate: glufosinate-ammonium (A.22); glufosinate-P: glufosinate-P-ammonium (A.23);

The at least one herbicide A is more preferably selected from clethodim, cycloxydim, sethoxydim, tepraloxydim, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P and glufosinate-P-ammonium.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is clethodim and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below pre- ferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is cycloxydim and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is sethoxydim and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is tepraloxydim and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is glufosinate and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings. In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is glufosinate- ammonium and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is glufosinate-P and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one herbicide A is glufosinate-P- ammonium and the at least one fungicide B has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the below preferred meanings.

Preferably, the at least one fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, bixafen, boscalid, fluopyram, fluxapy- roxad, isopyrazam, 3-difluoromethyl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (9- dichloromethylene-1 ,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1 ,4-methano-naphthalen-5-yl)-amide and 3- difluoromethyl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2- methoxy-1 -methyl-ethyl)-amide.

More preferably, the at least one fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin,

dimoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, bixafen, boscalid, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, isopyrazam and 3-difluoromethyl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2- methoxy-1 -methyl-ethyl)-amide.

In a particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is azoxystrobin and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is dimoxystrobin and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is pyraclostrobin and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is bixafen and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is boscalid and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings. In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is fluopyram and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is fluxapyroxad and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is isopyrazam and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings.

In another particular embodiment, the at least one fungicide B is 3-difluoromethyl-1 - methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2-methoxy-1 -methyl- ethyl)-amide and the at least one herbicide A has one of the above general or, in particular, one of the preferred meanings. In particular, the composition to be used in the uses and the methods according to the invention comprises

A) at least one herbicide A selected from clethodim, cycloxydim, sethoxydim, tepra- loxydim, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P- ammonium; and other agriculturally acceptable salts, esters and amides; and B) at least one fungicide B selected from azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, pyra- clostrobin, bixafen, boscalid, fluopyram, fluxapyroxad, isopyrazam and 3- difluoromethyl-1 -methyl-1 H-pyrazole-4-carboxylic acid (2-(2,4-dichloro-phenyl)-2- methoxy-1 -methyl-ethyl)-amide. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component A at least one, preferably exactly one, herbicide A.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component A at least two, preferably exactly two, herbicides A different from each other.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component A at least three, preferably exactly three, herbicides A different from each other.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition compris es as component B at least one, preferably exactly one, fungicide B.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition compris es as component B at least two, preferably exactly two, fungicides B different from each other. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component A at least one, preferably exactly one, herbicide A, and at least one, preferably exactly one, fungicide B.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition compris- es as component A at least two, preferably exactly two, herbicides A different from each other, and at least one, preferably exactly one, fungicide B.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as component A at least three, preferably exactly three, herbicides A different from each other, and at least one, preferably exactly one, fungicide B.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition comprises as only active components at least one, preferably exactly one, herbicide A, and at least one, preferably exactly one, fungicide B. Particularly preferred are the compositions 1.1 to 1.713, comprising at least one herbicide A and at least one fungicide B, preferably comprising the herbicide A and the fungicide B, as defined in the respective row of table 1. The compound numbers (A.x for herbicide A; B.x for fungicide B) correspond to the compound numbers given above in the list of herbicides A and fungicides B to be used according to the present invention.

Table 1 (compositions 1.1. to 1.713)

No herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung.

A B A B A B

1.1 A.1 B.1 1.16 A.1 B.16 1.31 A.1 B.31

1.2 A.1 B.2 1.17 A.1 B.17 1.32 A.2 B.1

1.3 A.1 B.3 1.18 A.1 B.18 1.33 A.2 B.2

1.4 A.1 B.4 1.19 A.1 B.19 1.34 A.2 B.3

1.5 A.1 B.5 1.20 A.1 B.20 1.35 A.2 B.4

1.6 A.1 B.6 1.21 A.1 B.21 1.36 A.2 B.5

1.7 A.1 B.7 1.22 A.1 B.22 1.37 A.2 B.6

1.8 A.1 B.8 1.23 A.1 B.23 1.38 A.2 B.7

1.9 A.1 B.9 1.24 A.1 B.24 1.39 A.2 B.8

1.10 A.1 B.10 1.25 A.1 B.25 1.40 A.2 B.9

1.11 A.1 B.11 1.26 A.1 B.26 1.41 A.2 B.10

1.12 A.1 B.12 1.27 A.1 B.27 1.42 A.2 B.11

1.13 A.1 B.13 1.28 A.1 B.28 1.43 A.2 B.12

1.14 A.1 B.14 1.29 A.1 B.29 1.44 A.2 B.13

1.15 A.1 B.15 1.30 A.1 B.30 1.45 A.2 B.14 herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung.

A B A B A B

A.2 B.15 1.84 A.3 B.22 1.122 A.4 B.29

A.2 B.16 1.85 A.3 B.23 1.123 A.4 B.30

A.2 B.17 1.86 A.3 B.24 1.124 A.4 B.31

A.2 B.18 1.87 A.3 B.25 1.125 A.5 B.1

A.2 B.19 1.88 A.3 B.26 1.126 A.5 B.2

A.2 B.20 1.89 A.3 B.27 1.127 A.5 B.3

A.2 B.21 1.90 A.3 B.28 1.128 A.5 B.4

A.2 B.22 1.91 A.3 B.29 1.129 A.5 B.5

A.2 B.23 1.92 A.3 B.30 1.130 A.5 B.6

A.2 B.24 1.93 A.3 B.31 1.131 A.5 B.7

A.2 B.25 1.94 A.4 B.1 1.132 A.5 B.8

A.2 B.26 1.95 A.4 B.2 1.133 A.5 B.9

A.2 B.27 1.96 A.4 B.3 1.134 A.5 B.10

A.2 B.28 1.97 A.4 B.4 1.135 A.5 B.11

A.2 B.29 1.98 A.4 B.5 1.136 A.5 B.12

A.2 B.30 1.99 A.4 B.6 1.137 A.5 B.13

A.2 B.31 1.100 A.4 B.7 1.138 A.5 B.14

A.3 B.1 1.101 A.4 B.8 1.139 A.5 B.15

A.3 B.2 1.102 A.4 B.9 1.140 A.5 B.16

A.3 B.3 1.103 A.4 B.10 1.141 A.5 B.17

A.3 B.4 1.104 A.4 B.11 1.142 A.5 B.18

A.3 B.5 1.105 A.4 B.12 1.143 A.5 B.19

A.3 B.6 1.106 A.4 B.13 1.144 A.5 B.20

A.3 B.7 1.107 A.4 B.14 1.145 A.5 B.21

A.3 B.8 1.108 A.4 B.15 1.146 A.5 B.22

A.3 B.9 1.109 A.4 B.16 1.147 A.5 B.23

A.3 B.10 1.110 A.4 B.17 1.148 A.5 B.24

A.3 B.11 1.111 A.4 B.18 1.149 A.5 B.25

A.3 B.12 1.112 A.4 B.19 1.150 A.5 B.26

A.3 B.13 1.113 A.4 B.20 1.151 A.5 B.27

A.3 B.14 1.114 A.4 B.21 1.152 A.5 B.28

A.3 B.15 1.115 A.4 B.22 1.153 A.5 B.29

A.3 B.16 1.116 A.4 B.23 1.154 A.5 B.30

A.3 B.17 1.117 A.4 B.24 1.155 A.5 B.31

A.3 B.18 1.118 A.4 B.25 1.156 A.6 B.1

A.3 B.19 1.119 A.4 B.26 1.157 A.6 B.2

A.3 B.20 1.120 A.4 B.27 1.158 A.6 B.3

A.3 B.21 1.121 A.4 B.28 1.159 A.6 B.4 herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung. A B A B A B

A.6 B.5 1.198 A.7 B.12 1.236 A.8 B.19

A.6 B.6 1.199 A.7 B.13 1.237 A.8 B.20

A.6 B.7 1.200 A.7 B.14 1.238 A.8 B.21

A.6 B.8 1.201 A.7 B.15 1.239 A.8 B.22

A.6 B.9 1.202 A.7 B.16 1.240 A.8 B.23

A.6 B.10 1.203 A.7 B.17 1.241 A.8 B.24

A.6 B.11 1.204 A.7 B.18 1.242 A.8 B.25

A.6 B.12 1.205 A.7 B.19 1.243 A.8 B.26

A.6 B.13 1.206 A.7 B.20 1.244 A.8 B.27

A.6 B.14 1.207 A.7 B.21 1.245 A.8 B.28

A.6 B.15 1.208 A.7 B.22 1.246 A.8 B.29

A.6 B.16 1.209 A.7 B.23 1.247 A.8 B.30

A.6 B.17 1.210 A.7 B.24 1.248 A.8 B.31

A.6 B.18 1.211 A.7 B.25 1.249 A.9 B.1

A.6 B.19 1.212 A.7 B.26 1.250 A.9 B.2

A.6 B.20 1.213 A.7 B.27 1.251 A.9 B.3

A.6 B.21 1.214 A.7 B.28 1.252 A.9 B.4

A.6 B.22 1.215 A.7 B.29 1.253 A.9 B.5

A.6 B.23 1.216 A.7 B.30 1.254 A.9 B.6

A.6 B.24 1.217 A.7 B.31 1.255 A.9 B.7

A.6 B.25 1.218 A.8 B.1 1.256 A.9 B.8

A.6 B.26 1.219 A.8 B.2 1.257 A.9 B.9

A.6 B.27 1.220 A.8 B.3 1.258 A.9 B.10

A.6 B.28 1.221 A.8 B.4 1.259 A.9 B.11

A.6 B.29 1.222 A.8 B.5 1.260 A.9 B.12

A.6 B.30 1.223 A.8 B.6 1.261 A.9 B.13

A.6 B.31 1.224 A.8 B.7 1.262 A.9 B.14

A.7 B.1 1.225 A.8 B.8 1.263 A.9 B.15

A.7 B.2 1.226 A.8 B.9 1.264 A.9 B.16

A.7 B.3 1.227 A.8 B.10 1.265 A.9 B.17

A.7 B.4 1.228 A.8 B.11 1.266 A.9 B.18

A.7 B.5 1.229 A.8 B.12 1.267 A.9 B.19

A.7 B.6 1.230 A.8 B.13 1.268 A.9 B.20

A.7 B.7 1.231 A.8 B.14 1.269 A.9 B.21

A.7 B.8 1.232 A.8 B.15 1.270 A.9 B.22

A.7 B.9 1.233 A.8 B.16 1.271 A.9 B.23

A.7 B.10 1.234 A.8 B.17 1.272 A.9 B.24

A.7 B.11 1.235 A.8 B.18 1.273 A.9 B.25 herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung.

A B A B A B

A.9 B.26 1.312 A.11 B.2 1.350 A.12 B.9

A.9 B.27 1.313 A.11 B.3 1.351 A.12 B.10

A.9 B.28 1.314 A.11 B.4 1.352 A.12 B.11

A.9 B.29 1.315 A.11 B.5 1.353 A.12 B.12

A.9 B.30 1.316 A.11 B.6 1.354 A.12 B.13

A.9 B.31 1.317 A.11 B.7 1.355 A.12 B.14

A.10 B.1 1.318 A.11 B.8 1.356 A.12 B.15

A.10 B.2 1.319 A.11 B.9 1.357 A.12 B.16

A.10 B.3 1.320 A.11 B.10 1.358 A.12 B.17

A.10 B.4 1.321 A.11 B.11 1.359 A.12 B.18

A.10 B.5 1.322 A.11 B.12 1.360 A.12 B.19

A.10 B.6 1.323 A.11 B.13 1.361 A.12 B.20

A.10 B.7 1.324 A.11 B.14 1.362 A.12 B.21

A.10 B.8 1.325 A.11 B.15 1.363 A.12 B.22

A.10 B.9 1.326 A.11 B.16 1.364 A.12 B.23

A.10 B.10 1.327 A.11 B.17 1.365 A.12 B.24

A.10 B.11 1.328 A.11 B.18 1.366 A.12 B.25

A.10 B.12 1.329 A.11 B.19 1.367 A.12 B.26

A.10 B.13 1.330 A.11 B.20 1.368 A.12 B.27

A.10 B.14 1.331 A.11 B.21 1.369 A.12 B.28

A.10 B.15 1.332 A.11 B.22 1.370 A.12 B.29

A.10 B.16 1.333 A.11 B.23 1.371 A.12 B.30

A.10 B.17 1.334 A.11 B.24 1.372 A.12 B.31

A.10 B.18 1.335 A.11 B.25 1.373 A.13 B.1

A.10 B.19 1.336 A.11 B.26 1.374 A.13 B.2

A.10 B.20 1.337 A.11 B.27 1.375 A.13 B.3

A.10 B.21 1.338 A.11 B.28 1.376 A.13 B.4

A.10 B.22 1.339 A.11 B.29 1.377 A.13 B.5

A.10 B.23 1.340 A.11 B.30 1.378 A.13 B.6

A.10 B.24 1.341 A.11 B.31 1.379 A.13 B.7

A.10 B.25 1.342 A.12 B.1 1.380 A.13 B.8

A.10 B.26 1.343 A.12 B.2 1.381 A.13 B.9

A.10 B.27 1.344 A.12 B.3 1.382 A.13 B.10

A.10 B.28 1.345 A.12 B.4 1.383 A.13 B.11

A.10 B.29 1.346 A.12 B.5 1.384 A.13 B.12

A.10 B.30 1.347 A.12 B.6 1.385 A.13 B.13

A.10 B.31 1.348 A.12 B.7 1.386 A.13 B.14

A.11 B.1 1.349 A.12 B.8 1.387 A.13 B.15 herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung.

A B A B A B

A.13 B.16 1.426 A.14 B.23 1.464 A.15 B.30

A.13 B.17 1.427 A.14 B.24 1.465 A.15 B.31

A.13 B.18 1.428 A.14 B.25 1.466 A.16 B.1

A.13 B.19 1.429 A.14 B.26 1.467 A.16 B.2

A.13 B.20 1.430 A.14 B.27 1.468 A.16 B.3

A.13 B.21 1.431 A.14 B.28 1.469 A.16 B.4

A.13 B.22 1.432 A.14 B.29 1.470 A.16 B.5

A.13 B.23 1.433 A.14 B.30 1.471 A.16 B.6

A.13 B.24 1.434 A.14 B.31 1.472 A.16 B.7

A.13 B.25 1.435 A.15 B.1 1.473 A.16 B.8

A.13 B.26 1.436 A.15 B.2 1.474 A.16 B.9

A.13 B.27 1.437 A.15 B.3 1.475 A.16 B.10

A.13 B.28 1.438 A.15 B.4 1.476 A.16 B.11

A.13 B.29 1.439 A.15 B.5 1.477 A.16 B.12

A.13 B.30 1.440 A.15 B.6 1.478 A.16 B.13

A.13 B.31 1.441 A.15 B.7 1.479 A.16 B.14

A.14 B.1 1.442 A.15 B.8 1.480 A.16 B.15

A.14 B.2 1.443 A.15 B.9 1.481 A.16 B.16

A.14 B.3 1.444 A.15 B.10 1.482 A.16 B.17

A.14 B.4 1.445 A.15 B.11 1.483 A.16 B.18

A.14 B.5 1.446 A.15 B.12 1.484 A.16 B.19

A.14 B.6 1.447 A.15 B.13 1.485 A.16 B.20

A.14 B.7 1.448 A.15 B.14 1.486 A.16 B.21

A.14 B.8 1.449 A.15 B.15 1.487 A.16 B.22

A.14 B.9 1.450 A.15 B.16 1.488 A.16 B.23

A.14 B.10 1.451 A.15 B.17 1.489 A.16 B.24

A.14 B.11 1.452 A.15 B.18 1.490 A.16 B.25

A.14 B.12 1.453 A.15 B.19 1.491 A.16 B.26

A.14 B.13 1.454 A.15 B.20 1.492 A.16 B.27

A.14 B.14 1.455 A.15 B.21 1.493 A.16 B.28

A.14 B.15 1.456 A.15 B.22 1.494 A.16 B.29

A.14 B.16 1.457 A.15 B.23 1.495 A.16 B.30

A.14 B.17 1.458 A.15 B.24 1.496 A.16 B.31

A.14 B.18 1.459 A.15 B.25 1.497 A.17 B.1

A.14 B.19 1.460 A.15 B.26 1.498 A.17 B.2

A.14 B.20 1.461 A.15 B.27 1.499 A.17 B.3

A.14 B.21 1.462 A.15 B.28 1.500 A.17 B.4

A.14 B.22 1.463 A.15 B.29 1.501 A.17 B.5 herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung.

A B A B A B

A.17 B.6 1.540 A.18 B.13 1.578 A.19 B.20

A.17 B.7 1.541 A.18 B.14 1.579 A.19 B.21

A.17 B.8 1.542 A.18 B.15 1.580 A.19 B.22

A.17 B.9 1.543 A.18 B.16 1.581 A.19 B.23

A.17 B.10 1.544 A.18 B.17 1.582 A.19 B.24

A.17 B.11 1.545 A.18 B.18 1.583 A.19 B.25

A.17 B.12 1.546 A.18 B.19 1.584 A.19 B.26

A.17 B.13 1.547 A.18 B.20 1.585 A.19 B.27

A.17 B.14 1.548 A.18 B.21 1.586 A.19 B.28

A.17 B.15 1.549 A.18 B.22 1.587 A.19 B.29

A.17 B.16 1.550 A.18 B.23 1.588 A.19 B.30

A.17 B.17 1.551 A.18 B.24 1.589 A.19 B.31

A.17 B.18 1.552 A.18 B.25 1.590 A.20 B.1

A.17 B.19 1.553 A.18 B.26 1.591 A.20 B.2

A.17 B.20 1.554 A.18 B.27 1.592 A.20 B.3

A.17 B.21 1.555 A.18 B.28 1.593 A.20 B.4

A.17 B.22 1.556 A.18 B.29 1.594 A.20 B.5

A.17 B.23 1.557 A.18 B.30 1.595 A.20 B.6

A.17 B.24 1.558 A.18 B.31 1.596 A.20 B.7

A.17 B.25 1.559 A.19 B.1 1.597 A.20 B.8

A.17 B.26 1.560 A.19 B.2 1.598 A.20 B.9

A.17 B.27 1.561 A.19 B.3 1.599 A.20 B.10

A.17 B.28 1.562 A.19 B.4 1.600 A.20 B.11

A.17 B.29 1.563 A.19 B.5 1.601 A.20 B.12

A.17 B.30 1.564 A.19 B.6 1.602 A.20 B.13

A.17 B.31 1.565 A.19 B.7 1.603 A.20 B.14

A.18 B.1 1.566 A.19 B.8 1.604 A.20 B.15

A.18 B.2 1.567 A.19 B.9 1.605 A.20 B.16

A.18 B.3 1.568 A.19 B.10 1.606 A.20 B.17

A.18 B.4 1.569 A.19 B.11 1.607 A.20 B.18

A.18 B.5 1.570 A.19 B.12 1.608 A.20 B.19

A.18 B.6 1.571 A.19 B.13 1.609 A.20 B.20

A.18 B.7 1.572 A.19 B.14 1.610 A.20 B.21

A.18 B.8 1.573 A.19 B.15 1.611 A.20 B.22

A.18 B.9 1.574 A.19 B.16 1.612 A.20 B.23

A.18 B.10 1.575 A.19 B.17 1.613 A.20 B.24

A.18 B.11 1.576 A.19 B.18 1.614 A.20 B.25

A.18 B.12 1.577 A.19 B.19 1.615 A.20 B.26 No herb. fung. No herb. fung. No herb. fung. A B A B A B

1.616 A.20 B.27 1.649 A.21 B.29 1.682 A.22 B.31

1.617 A.20 B.28 1.650 A.21 B.30 1.683 A.23 B.1

1.618 A.20 B.29 1.651 A.21 B.31 1.684 A.23 B.2

1.619 A.20 B.30 1.652 A.22 B.1 1.685 A.23 B.3

1.620 A.20 B.31 1.653 A.22 B.2 1.686 A.23 B.4

1.621 A.21 B.1 1.654 A.22 B.3 1.687 A.23 B.5

1.622 A.21 B.2 1.655 A.22 B.4 1.688 A.23 B.6

1.623 A.21 B.3 1.656 A.22 B.5 1.689 A.23 B.7

1.624 A.21 B.4 1.657 A.22 B.6 1.690 A.23 B.8

1.625 A.21 B.5 1.658 A.22 B.7 1.691 A.23 B.9

1.626 A.21 B.6 1.659 A.22 B.8 1.692 A.23 B.10

1.627 A.21 B.7 1.660 A.22 B.9 1.693 A.23 B.11

1.628 A.21 B.8 1.661 A.22 B.10 1.694 A.23 B.12

1.629 A.21 B.9 1.662 A.22 B.11 1.695 A.23 B.13

1.630 A.21 B.10 1.663 A.22 B.12 1.696 A.23 B.14

1.631 A.21 B.11 1.664 A.22 B.13 1.697 A.23 B.15

1.632 A.21 B.12 1.665 A.22 B.14 1.698 A.23 B.16

1.633 A.21 B.13 1.666 A.22 B.15 1.699 A.23 B.17

1.634 A.21 B.14 1.667 A.22 B.16 1.700 A.23 B.18

1.635 A.21 B.15 1.668 A.22 B.17 1.701 A.23 B.19

1.636 A.21 B.16 1.669 A.22 B.18 1.702 A.23 B.20

1.637 A.21 B.17 1.670 A.22 B.19 1.703 A.23 B.21

1.638 A.21 B.18 1.671 A.22 B.20 1.704 A.23 B.22

1.639 A.21 B.19 1.672 A.22 B.21 1.705 A.23 B.23

1.640 A.21 B.20 1.673 A.22 B.22 1.706 A.23 B.24

1.641 A.21 B.21 1.674 A.22 B.23 1.707 A.23 B.25

1.642 A.21 B.22 1.675 A.22 B.24 1.708 A.23 B.26

1.643 A.21 B.23 1.676 A.22 B.25 1.709 A.23 B.27

1.644 A.21 B.24 1.677 A.22 B.26 1.710 A.23 B.28

1.645 A.21 B.25 1.678 A.22 B.27 1.711 A.23 B.29

1.646 A.21 B.26 1.679 A.22 B.28 1.712 A.23 B.30

1.647 A.21 B.27 1.680 A.22 B.29 1.713 A.23 B.31

1.648 A.21 B.28 1.681 A.22 B.30

Among the above compositions, preference is given to the following:

1.1, 1.4, 1.10, 1.12, 1.13, 1.21.1.22, 1.24, 1.25.1.26, 1.30, 1.31,

1.32, 1.35, 1.41 , 1.43, 1.44, 1.52, 1.53, 1.55, 1.56, 1.57, 1.61, 1.62, 1.404, 1.407, 1.413, 1.415, 1.416, 1.424, 1.425, 1.427, 1.428, 1.429, 1.433, 1.434, 1.435, 1.438, 1.444, 1.446, 1.447, 1.455, 1.456, 1.458, 1.459, 1.460, 1.464, 1.465, 1.590, 1.593, 1.599, 1.601, 1.602, 1.610, 1.611, 1.613, 1.614, 1.615, 1.619, 1.620, 1.621, 1.624, 1.630, 1.632, 1.633, 1.641, 1.642, 1.644, 1.645, 1.646, 1.650, 1.651, 1.652, 1.655, 1.661 , 1.663, 1.664, 1.672, 1.673, 1.675, 1.676, 1.677, 1.681 , 1 ,682, 1.683, 1.686, 1.692, 1.694, 1.695, 1.703, 1.704, 1.706, 1.707, 1.708, 1.712, 1.713.

More preference is given to following compositions:

1.1, 1.4, 1.13, 1.21.1.22, 1.24, 1.25.1.26, 1.31,

1.32, 1.35, 1.44, 1.52, 1.53, 1.55, 1.56, 1.57, 1.62,

1.404, 1.407, 1.416, 1.424, 1.425, 1.427, 1.428, 1.429, 1.434,

1.435, 1.438, 1.447, 1.455, 1.456, 1.458, 1.459, 1.460, 1.465,

1.590, 1.593, 1.602, 1.610, 1.611, 1.613, 1.614, 1.615, 1.620,

1.621, 1.624, 1.633, 1.641, 1.642, 1.644, 1.645, 1.646, 1.651,

1.652, 1.655, 1.664, 1.672, 1.673, 1.675, 1.676, 1.677, 1,682,

1.683, 1.686, 1.695, 1.703, 1.704, 1.706, 1.707, 1.708, 1.713.

It may be useful to apply the compositions according to the present invention comprising at least one the herbicide A and the at least one fungicide B in combination with safeners. Accordingly in another embodiment of the present invention the compositions according to the present invention comprise as additional component at least one saf- ener C.

Safeners are chemical compounds which prevent or reduce damage on useful plants without having a major impact on the herbicidal action of the herbicidal active components of the present compositions towards unwanted plants. They can be applied either before sowings (e.g. on seed treatments, shoots or seedlings) or in the pre-emergence application or post-emergence application of the useful plant. The at least one safener C and at least one the herbicide A and at least one fungicide B can be applied simultaneously or in succession.

Suitable safeners C are e.g. (quinolin-8-oxy)acetic acids, 1-phenyl-5-haloalkyl-1 H- 1 ,2,4-triazol-3-carboxylic acids, 1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-5-alkyl-1 H-pyrazol-3,5- dicarboxylic acids, 4,5-dihydro-5,5-diaryl-3-isoxazol carboxylic acids, dichloroacetam- ides, alpha-oximinophenylacetonitriles, acetophenonoximes, 4,6-dihalo-2- phenylpyrimidines, N-[[4-(aminocarbonyl)phenyl]sulfonyl]-2-benzoic amides, 1,8- naphthalic anhydride, 2-halo-4-(haloalkyl)-5-thiazol carboxylic acids, phosphorthiolates and N-alkyl-O-phenylcarbamates and their agriculturally acceptable salts and their ag- riculturally acceptable derivatives such amides, esters, and thioesters, provided they have an acid group.

Examples of preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyometrinil, cyprosul- famide, dichlormid, dicyclonon, dietholate, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofen- im, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, mephenate, naphthalic anhydride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1 -oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5- trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1 ,3-oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31 -4) and N-(2- Methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfona mide (CAS 129531 - 12-0).

Especially preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyprosulfamide, dichlormid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, flurazole, fluxofenim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, naphthalic anhydride, oxabetrinil, 4-(dichloroacetyl)-1 -oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5-trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1 ,3-oxazolidine (R- 29148, CAS 52836-31 -4) and N-(2-Methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)- amino]benzenesulfonamide (CAS 129531 -12-0).

Particularly preferred safeners C are benoxacor, cloquintocet, cyprosulfamide, dichlor- mid, fenchlorazole, fenclorim, furilazole, isoxadifen, mefenpyr, naphtalic anhydride, 4- (dichloroacetyl)-1 -oxa-4-azaspiro[4.5]decane (MON4660, CAS 71526-07-3), 2,2,5- trimethyl-3-(dichloroacetyl)-1 ,3-oxazolidine (R-29148, CAS 52836-31 -4) and N-(2- Methoxybenzoyl)-4-[(methylaminocarbonyl)amino]benzenesulfona mide (CAS 129531 - 12-0).

The safeners C are known safeners, see, for example, The Compendium of Pesticide Common Names (http://www.alanwood.net/pesticides/); Farm Chemicals Handbook 2000 volume 86, Meister Publishing Company, 2000; B. Hock, C. Fedtke,

R. R. Schmidt, Herbizide [Herbicides], Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart 1995;

W. H. Ahrens, Herbicide Handbook, 7th edition, Weed Science Society of America, 1994; and K. K. Hatzios, Herbicide Handbook, Supplement for the 7th edition, Weed Science Society of America, 1998.

The assignment of the active compounds to the respective mechanisms of action is based on current knowledge. If several mechanisms of action apply to one active compound, this substance was only assigned to one mechanism of action.

If the herbicide A, the fungicide B and/or the safener C are capable of forming geometrical isomers, for example E/Z isomers, both the pure isomers and mixtures thereof may be used in the compositions according to the invention. If the herbicide A and/or the fungicide B have one of more centers of chirality and are thus present as enantio- mers or diastereomers, both the pure enantiomers and diastereomers and mixtures thereof may be used in the compositions according to the invention.

The herbicide A, the fungicide B and/or the safener C can be present in different crystal modifications whose biological activity may differ. They are likewise subject matter of the present invention. If the herbicide A, the fungicide B and/or the safener C have ionizable functional groups, they can also be employed in the form of their agriculturally acceptable salts. Suitable are, in general, the salts of those cations and the acid addition salts of those acids whose cations and anions, respectively, have no adverse effect on the activity of the active compounds.

Preferred cations are the ions of the alkali metals, preferably of lithium, sodium and potassium, of the alkaline earth metals, preferably of calcium and magnesium, and of the transition metals, preferably of manganese, copper, zinc and iron, further ammonium and substituted ammonium in which one to four hydrogen atoms are replaced by Ci-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-Ci-C4-alkyl, Ci-C4-alkoxy-Ci-C4-alkyl, hydroxy-Ci-C4-alkoxy-Ci-C4- alkyl, phenyl or benzyl, preferably ammonium, methylammonium, isopropylammonium, dimethylammonium, diisopropylammonium, trimethylammonium, tetramethylammoni- um, tetraethylammonium, tetrabutylammonium, 2-hydroxyethylammonium, 2-(2- hydroxyeth-1 -oxy)eth-1 -ylammonium, di(2-hydroxyeth-1 -yl)ammonium, benzyltrime- thylammonium, benzyltriethylammonium, furthermore phosphonium ions, sulfonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4-alkyl)sulfonium, such as trimethylsulfonium, and sulfoxonium ions, preferably tri(Ci-C4-alkyl)sulfoxonium.

Anions of useful acid addition salts are primarily chloride, bromide, fluoride, iodide, hy- drogensulfate, methylsulfate, sulfate, dihydrogenphosphate, hydrogenphosphate, nitrate, bicarbonate, carbonate, hexafluorosilicate, hexafluorophosphate, benzoate and also the anions of Ci-C4-alkanoic acids, preferably formate, acetate, propionate and butyrate. The herbicide A, the fungicide B and/or the safener C having a carboxyl group can be employed in the form of the acid, in the form of an agriculturally suitable salt or else in the form of an agriculturally acceptable derivative in the compositions according to the invention, for example as amides, such as mono- and di-Ci-C6-alkylamides or aryla- mides, as esters, for example as allyl esters, propargyl esters, Ci-Cio-alkyl esters, alkoxyalkyl esters and also as thioesters, for example as Ci-Cio-alkylthio esters. Preferred mono- and di-Ci-C6-alkylamides are the methyl and the dimethylamides. Preferred arylamides are, for example, the anilides and the 2-chloroanilides. Preferred alkyl esters are, for example, the methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, pentyl, mexyl (1 -methylhexyl) or isooctyl (2-ethylhexyl) esters. Preferred Ci-C4-alkoxy-Ci-C4- alkyl esters are the straight-chain or branched Ci-C4-alkoxy ethyl esters, for example the methoxyethyl, ethoxyethyl or butoxyethyl ester. An example of a straight-chain or branched Ci-Cio-alkylthio ester is the ethylthio ester. Suitable and preferred salts and esters of specific herbicides A are listed above.

The compositions according to the present invention are useful in plant protection of rapeseed. The term "plant" as used herein includes all parts of a plant such as germinating seeds, emerging seedlings and herbaceous vegetation including all below- ground portions (such as the roots) and aboveground portions.

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is also known as rape, oilseed rape, rapa, rappi, rapaseed, colza and, in the case of one particular group of cultivars, canola. In the terms of the present invention, "rapeseed" is used as a synonym for all these terms, inclusive cano- la, as well as other cultivated Brassica species, such as for example field mustard (Brassica campestris) or Indian mustard (Brassica juncea).

The compositions according to the invention can also be used in genetically modified rapeseed plants. The term "genetically modified plants" is to be understood as plants whose genetic material has been modified by the use of recombinant DNA techniques to include an inserted sequence of DNA that is not native to that plant species' genome or to exhibit a deletion of DNA that was native to that species' genome, wherein the modification(s) cannot readily be obtained by cross breeding, mutagenesis or natural recombination alone. Often, a particular genetically modified plant will be one that has obtained its genetic modification(s) by inheritance through a natural breeding or propagation process from an ancestral plant whose genome was the one directly treated by use of a recombinant DNA technique. Typically, one or more genes have been integrated into the genetic material of a genetically modified plant in order to improve certain properties of the plant. Such genetic modifications also include but are not limited to targeted post-translational modification of protein(s), oligo- or polypeptides, e. g., by inclusion therein of amino acid mutation(s) that permit, decrease, or promote glycosyla- tion or polymer additions such as prenylation, acetylation farnesylation, or PEG moiety attachment. Rapeseed plants as well as the propagation material of said plants, which can be treated with the inventive mixtures include all modified non-transgenic plants or transgenic plants, e.g. crops which tolerate the action of herbicides or fungicides or insecticides owing to breeding, including genetic engineering methods, or plants which have modi- fied characteristics in comparison with existing plants, which can be generated for example by traditional breeding methods and/or the generation of mutants, or by recombinant procedures.

For example, mixtures according to the present invention can be applied (as seed treatment, foliar spray treatment, in-furrow application or by any other means) also to plants which have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering including but not limiting to agricultural biotech products on the market or in development (cf. http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/er/agri_products.asp). Rapeseed plants that have been modified by breeding, mutagenesis or genetic engineering, e.g. have been rendered tolerant to applications of specific classes of herbicides, such as auxinic herbicides such as dicamba or 2,4-D; bleacher herbicides such as 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors or phytoene desaturase (PDS) inhibitors; acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors such as sulfonylureas or imid- azolinones, e.g. imazamox; enolpyruvyl shikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSP) inhibitors such as glyphosate or sulfosate; glutamine synthetase (GS) inhibitors such as glufosinate or bialafos; protoporphyrinogen-IX oxidase (PPO) inhibitors; lipid biosynthesis inhibitors such as acetylCoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors; or photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors at the photosystem II receptor site, such as bromoxynil, ioxynil, atrazine, simazine or terbutylazine as a result of conventional methods of breeding or genetic engineering; furthermore, plants have been made resistant to multiple classes of herbicides through multiple genetic modifications, such as resistance to both glyphosate and glufosinate or to both glyphosate and a herbicide from another class such as ALS inhibitors, HPPD inhibitors, auxinic herbicides, or ACCase inhibitors. These herbicide resistance technologies are, for example, described in Pest Management Science 61 , 2005, 246; 61 , 2005, 258; 61 , 2005, 277; 61 , 2005, 269; 61 , 2005, 286; 64, 2008, 326; 64, 2008, 332; Weed Science 57, 2009, 108; Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 2007, 708; Science 316, 2007, 1 185; and references quoted therein. Several cultivated plants have been rendered tolerant to herbicides by mut- genesis and conventional methods of breeding, e. g., Clearfield® summer rape (Cano- la, BASF SE, Germany) being tolerant to imidazolinones, e. g., imazamox. Genetic engineering methods have been used to render rapeseed plants tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate, imidazolinones and glufosinate, some of which are under development or commercially available under the brands or trade names RoundupReady® (glyphosate tolerant, Monsanto, USA) and LibertyLink® (glufosinate tolerant, Bayer CropScience, Germany). Preferably, the rapeseed plants are tolerant against herbicides selected from the group of photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors at the pho- tosystem II receptor site, e.g. atrazine, simazine, terbutylazine or bromoxynil or its agri- culturally acceptable esters; acetolactate synthase inhibitors (ALS inhibitors), e.g. ima- zamox or its agriculturally acceptable salts; auxinic herbicides, e.g. 2,4-D, dicamba and their agriculturally acceptable salts, esters and amides; EPSP synthase inhibitors, e.g. glyphosate, sulfosate and their agriculturally acceptable salts; and glutamine synthase inhibitors, e.g. glufosinate, bialafos and their agriculturally acceptable salts.

Furthermore, rapeseed plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins, especially those known from the bacterial genus Bacillus, particularly from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as delta-endotoxins, e. g., CrylA(b), CrylA(c), CrylF, CrylF(a2), CryllA(b), CrylllA, CrylllB(bl ) or Cry9c; vegetative insecticidal proteins (VIP), e. g., VIP1 , VIP2, VIP3 or VIP3A; insecticidal proteins of bacteria colonizing nematodes, e. g., Photorhabdus spp. or Xenorhabdus spp.; toxins produced by animals, such as scorpion toxins, arachnid toxins, wasp toxins, or other insect-specific neurotoxins; toxins produced by fungi, such as Streptomycetes toxins, plant lectins, such as pea or barley lectins; agglutinins; pro- teinase inhibitors, such as trypsin inhibitors, serine protease inhibitors, patatin, cystatin or papain inhibitors; ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP), such as ricin, maize-RIP, abrin, luffin, saporin or bryodin; steroid metabolism enzymes, such as 3- hydroxy-steroid oxidase, ecdysteroid-IDP-glycosyl-transferase, cholesterol oxidases, ecdysone inhibitors or HMG-CoA-reductase; ion channel blockers, such as blockers of sodium or calcium channels; juvenile hormone esterase; diuretic hormone receptors (helicokinin receptors); stilbene synthase, bibenzyl synthase, chitinases or glucanases. In the context of the present invention these insecticidal proteins or toxins are to be understood expressly also as including pre-toxins, hybrid proteins, truncated or otherwise modified proteins. Hybrid proteins are characterized by a new combination of pro- tein domains, (see, e. g., WO 02/015701 ). Further examples of such toxins or genetically modified plants capable of synthesizing such toxins are disclosed, e. g., in EP-A 374 753, WO 93/007278, WO 95/34656, EP-A 427 529, EP-A 451 878, WO 03/18810 and WO 03/52073. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e. g., in the publica- tions mentioned above. These insecticidal proteins contained in the genetically modified plants impart to the plants producing these proteins tolerance to harmful pests from all taxonomic groups of arthropods, especially to beetles (Coleoptera), two-winged insects (Diptera), and moths (Lepidoptera) and to nematodes (Nematoda). Genetically modified plants capable to synthesize one or more insecticidal proteins are, e. g., described in the publications mentioned above.

Furthermore, rapeseed plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the resistance or tolerance of those plants to bacterial, viral or fungal pathogens. Examples of such proteins are the so-called "pathogenesis-related proteins" (PR proteins, see, e.g., EP-A 392 225), plant disease resistance genes or T4-lyso-zym. The methods for producing such genetically modified plants are generally known to the person skilled in the art and are described, e.g., in the publications mentioned above.

Furthermore, rapeseed plants are also covered that are by the use of recombinant DNA techniques capable to synthesize one or more proteins to increase the productivity (e.g., bio-mass production, grain yield, starch content, oil content or protein content), tolerance to drought, salinity or other growth-limiting environmental factors or tolerance to pests and fungal, bacterial or viral pathogens of those plants.

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of ingredients or new ingredients, specifically to improve human or animal nutrition, e. g., oil crops that produce health-promoting long-chain omega-3 fatty acids or unsaturated omega-9 fatty acids (e. g., Nexera® rape, Dow AgroSciences, Canada).

Furthermore, plants are also covered that contain by the use of recombinant DNA techniques a modified amount of ingredients or new ingredients, specifically to improve raw material production.

The compositions to be used according to the invention or the crop protection compositions comprising them or formulated therefrom can be used, for example, in the form of ready-to-spray aqueous solutions, powders, suspensions, also highly concentrated aqueous, oily or other suspensions or dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, materials for broadcasting, or granules, by means of spraying, atomizing, dusting, broadcasting or watering or treatment of the seed or mixing with the seed. The use forms depend on the intended purpose; in any case, they should ensure the finest pos- sible distribution of the active compounds according to the invention.

The crop protection compositions comprise an effective amount of the composition according to the invention, i.e. at least one herbicide A or an agriculturally useful salt thereof and at least one fungicide B, and also auxiliaries customary for formulating crop protection agents.

Examples for composition types are suspensions (SC, OD, FS), emulsifiable concen- trates (EC), emulsions (EW, EO, ES), pastes, pastilles, wettable powders or dusts (WP, SP, SS, WS, DP, DS) or granules (GR, FG, GG, MG), which can be water- soluble or wettable, as well as gel formulations for the treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds (GF).

Usually the composition types (e. g. SC, OD, FS, EC, WG, SG, WP, SP, SS, WS, GF) are employed diluted. Composition types such as DP, DS, GR, FG, GG and MG are usually used undiluted.

The compositions are prepared in a known manner (cf. US 3,060,084, EP-A 707 445 (for liquid concentrates), Browning: "Agglomeration", Chemical Engineering, Dec. 4, 1967, 147-48, Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook, 4th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1963, S. 8-57 und ff. WO 91/13546, US 4,172,714, US 4,144,050, US 3,920,442, US 5,180,587, US 5,232,701 , US 5,208,030, GB 2,095,558, US 3,299,566, Klingman: Weed Control as a Science (J. Wiley & Sons, New York, 1961 ), Hance et al.: Weed Control Handbook (8th Ed., Blackwell Scientific, Oxford, 1989) and Mollet, H. and Grubemann, A.: Formulation technology (Wiley VCH Verlag, Weinheim, 2001 ).

The crop protection compositions may also comprise auxiliaries which are customary in agrochemical compositions. The auxiliaries used depend on the particular application form and active substance, respectively.

Examples of auxiliaries customary for the formulation of crop protection agents are inert auxilaries, solid or liquid carriers, surfactants (such as dispersants, protective colloids, emulsifiers, wetting agents and tackifiers), organic and inorganic thickeners, bactericides, antifreeze agents, antifoams, optionally colorants and, for seed formulations, adhesives.

Examples of thickeners (i.e. compounds which impart to the formulation modified flow properties, i.e. high viscosity in the state of rest and low viscosity in motion) are polysaccharides, such as xanthan gum (Kelzan® from Kelco), Rhodopol® 23 (Rhone Pou- lenc) or Veegum® (from R.T. Vanderbilt), and also organic and inorganic sheet minerals, such as Attaclay® (from Engelhardt).

Examples of antifoams are silicone emulsions (such as, for example, Silikon ^® SRE, Wacker or Rhodorsil® from Rhodia), long-chain alcohols, fatty acids, salts of fatty acids, organofluorine compounds and mixtures thereof.

Bactericides can be added for stabilizing the aqueous herbicidal formulations. Examples of bactericides are bactericides based on diclorophen and benzyl alcohol hemi- formal (Proxel® from ICI or Acticide® RS from Thor Chemie and Kathon® MK from Rohm & Haas), and also isothiazolinone derivates, such as alkylisothiazolinones and benzisothiazolinones (Acticide® MBS from Thor Chemie).

Examples of antifreeze agents are ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, urea or glycerol. Examples of colorants are both sparingly water-soluble pigments and water-soluble dyes. Examples which may be mentioned are the dyes known under the names Rho- damin B, C.I. Pigment Red 1 12 and C.I. Solvent Red 1 , and also pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2, pigment blue 15:1 , pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1 , pigment yellow 13, pigment red 1 12, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1 , pigment red 57:1 , pigment red 53:1 , pigment orange 43, pigment orange 34, pigment orange 5, pigment green 36, pigment green 7, pigment white 6, pigment brown 25, basic violet 10, basic violet 49, acid red 51 , acid red 52, acid red 14, acid blue 9, acid yellow 23, basic red 10, basic red 108.

Examples of adhesives (tackifiers or binders) are polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose ethers (Tylose®, shin-Etsu, Japan).

Suitable inert auxiliaries are, for example, the following:

mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene and diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, for example paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes and their derivatives, alkylated benzenes and their derivatives, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and cyclohexanol, ketones such as cyclohexa- none or strongly polar solvents, for example amines such as N-methylpyrrolidone, and water.

Suitable carriers include liquid and solid carriers.

Liquid carriers include e.g. non-aqueous solvents such as cyclic and aromatic hydro- carbons, e.g. paraffins, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes and their derivatives, alkylated benzenes and their derivatives, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol and cyclohexanol, ketones such as cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents, e.g. amines such as N-methylpyrrolidone, and water as well as mixtures thereof.

Solid carriers include e.g. mineral earths such as silicas, silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate and magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate and ureas, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nut- shell meal, cellulose powders, or other solid carriers.

Suitable surfactants (adjuvants, wetting agents, tackifiers, dispersants and also emulsi- fiers) are the alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts of aromatic sulfonic acids, for example lignosulfonic acids (e.g. Borrespers-types, Borre- gaard), phenolsulfonic acids, naphthalenesulfonic acids (Morwet types, Akzo Nobel) and dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (Nekal types, BASF AG), and of fatty acids, alkyl- and alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, lauryl ether sulfates and fatty alcohol sulfates, and salts of sulfated hexa-, hepta- and octadecanols, and also of fatty alcohol glycol ethers, condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and its derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of the naphthalenesulfonic acids with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctyl-, octyl- or nonylphenol, alkylphenyl or tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, isotridecyl alcohol, fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers or polyoxypropylene alkyl ethers, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetate, sorbitol esters, lignosulfite waste liquors and proteins, denaturated proteins, polysaccharides (e.g. methylcellulose), hydrophobically modified starches, polyvinyl alcohol (Mowiol types Clariant), polycarboxylates (BASF AG, Sokalan types), pol- yalkoxylates, polyvinylamine (BASF AG, Lupamine types), polyethyleneimine (BASF AG, Lupasol types), polyvinylpyrrolidone and copolymers thereof.

Powders, materials for broadcasting and dusts can be prepared by mixing or grinding the active ingredients together with a solid carrier.

Granules, for example coated granules, impregnated granules and homogeneous granules, can be prepared by binding the active ingredients to solid carriers.

Aqueous use forms can be prepared from emulsion concentrates, suspensions, pastes, wettable powders or water-dispersible granules by adding water. To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the components of the compositions according to the invention either as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, can be homogenized in water by means of a wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. Alternatively, it is also possible to prepare concentrates comprising active compound, wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if desired, solvent or oil, which are suitable for dilution with water.

In the formulation of the compositions according to the present invention the active ingredients are present in suspended, emulsified or dissolved form. The formulation according to the invention can be in the form of aqueous solutions, powders, suspensions, also highly-concentrated aqueous, oily or other suspensions or dispersions, aqueous emulsions, aqueous microemulsions, aqueous suspo-emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, materials for spreading or granules.

The compositions of the invention can for example be formulated as follows:

1 . Products for dilution with water

A Water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS) 10 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of water or a water-soluble solvent. As an alternative, wetters or other adjuvants are added. The active compound dissolves upon dilution with water. This gives a formulation with an active compound content of 10% by weight.

B Dispersible concentrates (DC)

20 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 70 parts by weight of cyclohex- anone with addition of 10 parts by weight of a dispersant, for example polyvinylpyrrolidone. Dilution with water gives a dispersion. The active compound content is 20% by weight

C Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

15 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 75 parts by weight of an organic solvent (eg. alkylaromatics) with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). Dilution with water gives an emulsion. The formulation has an active compound content of 15% by weight.

D Emulsions (EW, EO, ES)

25 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 35 parts by weight of an organic solvent (eg. alkylaromatics) with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). This mixture is introduced into 30 parts by weight of water by means of an emulsifier (e.g. Ultraturrax) and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion. The formulation has an active compound content of 25% by weight.

E Suspensions(SC, OD, FS)

In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weight of active compound are comminuted with addition of 10 parts by weight of dispersants and wetters and 70 parts by weight of wa- ter or an organic solvent to give a fine active compound suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active compound. The active compound content in the formulation is 20% by weight.

F Water-dispersible granules and water-soluble granules (WG, SG)

50 parts by weight of active compound are ground finely with addition of 50 parts by weight of dispersants and wetters and made into water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (for example extrusion, spray tower, fluid- ized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound. The formulation has an active compound content of 50% by weight.

G Water-dispersible powders and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, SS, WS) 75 parts by weight of active compound are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 25 parts by weight of dispersants, wetters and silica gel. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound. The active compound content of the formulation is 75% by weight.

H Gel formulations (GF) In a ball mill, 20 parts by weight of active compound, 10 parts by weight of dispersant, 1 part by weight of gelling agent and 70 parts by weight of water or of an organic solvent are mixed to give a fine suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension with active compound content of 20% by weight.

2. Products to be applied undiluted

I Dusts (DP, DS)

5 parts by weight of active compound are ground finely and mixed intimately with 95 parts by weight of finely divided kaolin. This gives a dusting powder with an active compound content of 5% by weight.

J Granules (GR, FG, GG, MG)

0.5 parts by weight of active compound are ground finely and associated with

99.5 parts by weight of carriers. Current methods here are extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed. This gives granules to be applied undiluted with an active compound content of 0.5% by weight.

K ULV solutions (UL)

10 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of an organic solvent, for example xylene. This gives a product to be applied undiluted with an active compound content of 10% by weight.

The concentrations of the active compounds in the ready-to-use preparations can be varied within wide ranges. In general, the formulations comprise from 0.001 to 98% by weight, preferably 0.01 to 95% by weight of at least one active compound. The active compounds are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum).

In the ready-to-use preparations, i.e. in the compositions to be used according to the invention in the form of crop protection compositions, the components A and B can be present formulated jointly or separately in suspended, emulsified or dissolved form. The use forms depend entirely on the intended applications.

The components A and B can be formulated and applied jointly or separately, simultaneously or in succession, before, during or after the emergence of the plants. In case of separate application, the order of the application of the components A and B is of minor importance. The only thing that is important is that the at least one active components A and B are present simultaneously at the site of action, i.e. are at the same time in contact with or taken up by the plant to be controlled and/or safened. A first embodiment of the invention relates to the use compositions in the form of a crop protection composition formulated as a 1 -component composition comprising the at least one active component A, at least one further active component B and optionally at least one safener C, and also a solid or liquid carrier and/or and, one or more surfac- tants, and, if desired, one or more further auxiliaries customary for crop protection compositions.

A second embodiment of the invention relates to compositions in the form of a crop protection composition formulated as a 2-component composition comprising a first formulation (component) comprising the at least one active component A, a solid or liquid carrier and, if appropriate, one or more surfactants, and a second component comprising at least one further active component B, and optionally at least one safener C, and a solid or liquid carrier and, if appropriate, and/or one or more surfactants, where additionally both components may also comprise further auxiliaries customary for crop protection compositions.

The crop protection compositions comprise a fungicidally effective amount of the composition according to the invention, i.e. at least one herbicide A or an agriculturally useful salt thereof and at least one further active compound B, and also auxiliaries cus- tomary for formulating crop protection agents as defined herein.

The required application rate of pure active compound composition, i.e. A and B and, if appropriate, C without formulation auxiliaries depends on the composition of the plant stand, on the development stage of the plants, on the climatic conditions at the site of use and on the application technique. In general, the application rate of A and B is from 0.001 to 3 kg/ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2.5 kg/ha and in particular from 0.01 to 2 kg/ha of active substance (a.s.).

The required application rates of the herbicide A are generally in the range of from 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1.5 kg/h of a.s.

The required application rates of the fungicide B are generally in the range of from 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1.5 kg/h of a.s.

The required application rates of the optional safener C are generally in the range of from 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1 .5 kg/h of a.s. The compositions according to the invention are applied to the plants mainly by spraying the leaves. Here, the application can be carried out using, for example, water as carrier by customary spraying techniques using spray liquor amounts of from about 100 to 1000 l/ha (for example from 300 to 400 l/ha). The compositions may also be applied by the low-volume or the ultra-low-volume method, or in the form of microgranules.

In a further embodiment, the composition to be used according to the invention can be applied by treating seed. The treatment of seed comprises essentially all procedures familiar to the person skilled in the art (seed dressing, seed coating, seed dusting, seed soaking, seed film coating, seed multilayer coating, seed encrusting, seed dripping and seed pelleting) based on the compounds of the formula I according to the invention or the compositions prepared therefrom. Here, the compositions can be applied diluted or undiluted.

The term seed comprises seed of all types, such as, for example, corns, seeds, fruits, tubers, seedlings and similar forms. Here, preferably, the term seed describes corns and seeds. The seed used can be seed of the rapeseed plants mentioned above, but also the seed of transgenic plants or plants obtained by customary breeding methods.

The rates of application of the active compound are from 0.0001 to 3.0, preferably 0.01 to 1.0 kg/ha of active substance (a.s.), depending on the control target, the season, the target plants and the growth stage. To treat the seed, the compounds I are generally employed in amounts of from 0.001 to 10 kg per 100 kg of seed.

Moreover, it may be advantageous to apply the compositions of the present invention on their own or jointly in combination with other crop protection agents, for example with agents for controlling pests or phytopathogenic fungi or bacteria or with groups of active compounds which regulate growth. Also of interest is the miscibility with mineral salt solutions which are employed for treating nutritional and trace element deficiencies. Non-phytotoxic oils and oil concentrates can also be added. The compositions to be used according to the invention are suitable as fungicides. They are distinguished by an outstanding effectiveness against a broad spectrum of phytopathogenic fungi, including soil-borne fungi, which derive especially from the classes of the Plasmodiophoromycetes, Peronosporomycetes (syn. Oomycetes), Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes (syn. Fungi imperfect!). Some are systemically effective and they can be used in crop protection as foliar fungicides, fungicides for seed dressing and soil fungicides. Moreover, they are suitable for controlling harmful fungi, which inter alia occur in wood or roots of plants.

The term "plant propagation material" is to be understood to denote all the generative parts of the plant such as seeds.

The compositions according to the invention are particularly suitable for controlling the following plant diseases: Alternaria spp. (Alternaria leaf spot) on rape (A. brassicola or brassicae); Botrytis cinerea (teleomorph: Botryotinia fuckeliana: grey mold) on rape;

Erysiphe spp. (powdery mildew) on rape (e. g. E. cruciferarum); Peronospora spp.

(downy mildew) on rape (e. g. P. parasitica); Phoma lingam (root and stem rot) on rape; Plasmodiophora brassicae (club root) on rape; Pythium spp. (damping-off) on rape (e. g. P. ultimum or P. aphanidermatum); Rhizoctonia spp. on rape; Sclerotinia spp. (stem rot or white mold) on rape (e. g. S. rolfsii or S. sclerotiorum).

The composition to be used according to the invention are employed as such or in formulated form for treating the fungi or the rapeseed plants, the locus where the rape- seed plants grow or are to grow or plant propagation material, especially rapeseed seeds, to be protected from fungal attack or plant propagation material, especially rapeseed seeds, from which the rapeseed plants are to grow to be protected from fungal attack with a fungicidally effective amount of the active substances. The application can be carried out both before and after the infection of the plants, plant propagation materials, such as seeds, or locus by the fungi.

"Locus" means the growth medium or environment in which a plant is growing or is intend to grow. Especially, it means the soil in which the plant grows or is intended to grow.

Plant propagation materials may be treated with a composition to be used according to the invention as such or in formulated form prophylactically either at or before planting or transplanting. The crop protection compositions (formulations) can be prepared and used as defined before.

Such formulations comprise a fungicidally effective amount of the composition according to the present invention. The term "effective amount" denotes an amount of the at least one herbicide A and the at least one fungicide B, which is sufficient for controlling harmful fungi on cultivated plants and which does not result in a substantial damage to the treated plants. Such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, such as the fungal species to be controlled, the treated cultivated plant species , the climatic conditions and the specific compounds A and B used.

Water-soluble concentrates (LS), flowable concentrates (FS), powders for dry treatment (DS), water-dispersible powders for slurry treatment (WS), water-soluble powders (SS), emulsions (ES) emulsifiable concentrates (EC) and gels (GF) are usually employed for the purposes of treatment of plant propagation materials, particularly seeds. These compositions can be applied to plant propagation materials, particularly seeds, diluted or undiluted. The compositions in question give, after two-to-tenfold dilution, active substance concentrations of from 0.01 to 60% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 40% by weight, in the ready-to-use preparations. Application can be carried out before or during sowing. Methods for applying or treating agrochemical compounds and com- positions thereof, respectively, on to plant propagation material, especially seeds, are known in the art, and include dressing, coating, pelleting, dusting, soaking and in- furrow application methods of the propagation material. In a preferred embodiment, the compounds or the compositions thereof, respectively, are applied on to the plant propagation material by a method such that germination is not induced, e. g. by seed dress- ing, pelleting, coating and dusting.

In a preferred embodiment, a suspension-type (FS) composition is used for seed treatment. Typically, a FS composition may comprise 1 -800 g/l of active substance, 1 -200 g/l Surfactant, 0 to 200 g/l antifreezing agent, 0 to 400 g/l of binder, 0 to 200 g/l of a pigment and up to 1 liter of a solvent, preferably water.

The active substance concentrations in the ready-to-use preparations can be varied within relatively wide ranges. In general, they are from 0.0001 to 10%, preferably from 0.001 to 1 % by weight of active substance.

The active substances may also be used successfully in the ultra-low-volume process (ULV), it being possible to apply compositions comprising over 95% by weight of active substance, or even to apply the active substance without additives. When employed in plant protection, the amounts of active substances applied are, depending on the kind of effect desired, from 0.001 to 2 kg per ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg per ha, more preferably from 0.05 to 0.9 kg per ha, in particular from 0.1 to 0.75 kg per ha. In treatment of plant propagation materials such as seeds, e. g. by dusting, coating or drenching seed, amounts of active substance of from 0.1 to 1000 g, preferably from 1 to 1000 g, more preferably from 1 to 100 g and most preferably from 5 to 100 g, per 100 kilogram of plant propagation material (preferably seed) are generally required. Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, other herbicides, bactericides, other fungicides and/or pesticides may be added to the active substances or the compositions comprising them, if appropriate not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the compositions according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1 :100 to 100:1 , preferably 1 :10 to 10:1.

Adjuvants which can be used are in particular organic modified polysiloxanes such as Break Thru S 240 ^® ; alcohol alkoxylates such as Atplus 245 ^® , Atplus MBA 1303 ^® , Plu- rafac LF 300 ^® and Lutensol ON 30 ^® ; EO/PO block polymers, e. g. Pluronic RPE 2035 ^® and Genapol B ^® ; alcohol ethoxylates such as Lutensol XP 80 ^® ; and dioctyl sulfosuccin- ate sodium such as Leophen RA ^® .

The fungicidal action of the compositions according to the present invention was demonstrated by the following experiments:

The compositions to be used according to the present invention may also be used for improving the health of a rapeseed plant.

The term "plant health" is to be understood to denote a condition of the plant and/or its products which is determined by several indicators alone or in combination with each other such as yield (e. g. increased biomass and/or increased content of valuable ingredients), plant vigor (e. g. improved plant growth and/or greener leaves ("greening effect"), quality (e. g. improved content or composition of certain ingredients) and tolerance to abiotic and/or biotic stress. The above identified indicators for the health condition of a plant may be interdependent or may result from each other.

In one embodiment, the aforementioned methods for increasing the health of a rape- seed plant comprises treating the plant propagules, preferably the seeds of a rapeseed plant selected from the group consisting of transgenic or non-transgenic rapeseed plants with a composition to be used according to the present invention.

Within the scope of the invention, the health of a plant is increased synergistically. Thus, the term "synergistically effective amount" refers to the fact that the purely additive effect (in mathematical terms) of the application of the individual compounds is surpassed by the application of the used composition. The synergistic increase of the health of a plant is more than surprising, since it can be assumed that fungicidal compounds and herbicides have completely different mode of actions. The term "effective amount" denotes an amount of the compositions used according to the invention, which is sufficient for achieving the synergistic plant health effects, in particular the yield effects as defined herein. More exemplary information about amounts, ways of application and suitable ratios to be used is given below. The skilled artisan is well aware of the fact that such an amount can vary in a broad range and is dependent on various factors, e.g. the treated cultivated plant as well as the climatic and soil conditions. The term "health of a plant" or "plant health" is defined as a condition of a plant and/or its products which is determined by several aspects alone or in combination with each other such as increased yield, plant vigor, quality and tolerance to abiotic and/or biotic stress.

Each listed plant health indicator listed herein is to be understood as a preferred em- bodiment of the present invention either each on its own or preferably in combination with each other.

It has to be emphasized that the above mentioned effects of the inventive compositions, i.e. enhanced health of a plant, are also present when the plant is not under bio- tic stress and in particular when the plant is not under pest pressure. It is evident that a plant suffering from fungal or insecticidal attack produces a smaller biomass and leads to a reduced yield as compared to a plant which has been subjected to curative or preventive treatment against the pathogenic fungus or any other relevant pest and which can grow without the damage caused by the biotic stress factor. However, the method and use according to the invention lead to an enhanced plant health even in the absence of any biotic stress. This means that the positive effects of the composition of the invention cannot be explained just by the fungicidal and/or herbicidal activities of the components A, B and optionally C, but are based on further activity profiles. As a result, the application of the inventive compositions can also be carried out in the ab- sence of pest pressure.

One indicator for the condition of the plant is the yield. "Yield" is to be understood as any plant product of economic value that is produced by the plant such as grains, or seeds or even straw. The plant products may in addition be further utilized and/or pro- cessed after harvesting.

According to the present invention, "increased yield" of a plant means that the yield of a product of the respective plant is increased by a measurable amount over the yield of the same product of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without the application of the composition used according to the invention.

Increased yield can be characterized, among others, by the following improved properties of the plant:

increased plant weight

increased biomass such as higher overall fresh weight (FW)

higher grain and/or fruit yield

more tillers or side shoots (branches)

larger leaves

increased shoot growth

increased protein content

increased oil content

increased starch content

increased pigment content

increased chlorophyll content (chlorophyll content has a positive correlation with the plant's photosynthesis rate and accordingly, the higher the chlorophyll content the higher the yield of a plant) In a preferred embodiment, the term "yield" refers to grains and seeds.

"Grain" is to be understood as any plant product which is further utilized after harvesting, e.g. grains, seeds, straw etc., that is anything of economic value that is produced by the plant.

According to the present invention, the yield is increased by at least 5 %, preferable by 5 to 10 %, more preferable by 10 to 20 %, or even 20 to 30 %. In general, the yield increase may even be higher. Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the plant vigor. The plant vigor becomes manifest in several aspects such as the general visual appearance.

Improved plant vigor can be characterized, among others, by the following improved properties of the plant:

improved vitality of the plant

· improved plant growth

improved plant development

improved visual appearance

improved plant stand (less plant verse/lodging)

improved emergence enhanced root growth and/or more developed root system

enhanced nodulation, in particular rhizobial nodulation

bigger leaf blade

bigger size

· increased plant height

increased tiller number

increased number of side shoots

increased number of flowers per plant

increased shoot growth

· increased root growth (extensive root system)

enhanced photosynthetic activity (e.g. based on increased stomatal conductance and/or increased CO2 assimilation rate)

enhanced pigment content

earlier flowering

· earlier fruiting

earlier and improved germination

earlier grain maturity

less non-productive tillers

less dead basal leaves

· less input needed (such as fertilizers or water)

greener leaves

complete maturation under shortened vegetation periods

less fertilizers needed

less seeds needed

· easier harvesting

faster and more uniform ripening

longer shelf-life

longer panicles

delay of senescence

· stronger and/or more productive tillers

better extractability of ingredients

improved quality of seeds (for being seeded in the following seasons for seed production)

reduced production of ethylene and/or the inhibition of its reception by the plant.

According to the present invention, the plant vigor is increased by at least 5 %, preferable by 5 to 10 %, more preferable by 10 to 20 %, or even 20 to 30 %. In general, the plant vigor increase may even be higher. Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the "quality" of a plant and/or its products. According to the present invention, enhanced quality means that certain plant characteristics such as the content or composition of certain ingredients are increased or improved by a measurable or noticeable amount over the same factor of the plant produced under the same conditions, but without the application of the compositions to be used according to the present invention.

Enhanced quality can be characterized, among others, by following improved properties of the plant or its product:

increased nutrient content

· increased protein content

increased content of fatty acids

increased metabolite content

increased carotenoid content

increased sugar content

increased amount of essential amino acids

improved nutrient composition

improved protein composition

improved composition of fatty acids

improved metabolite composition

improved carotenoid composition

improved sugar composition

improved amino acids composition

improved or optimal fruit color

improved leaf color

higher storage capacity

higher processability of the harvested products.

According to the present invention, the quality of a plant and/or its products is increased by at least 5 %, preferable by 5 to 10 %, more preferable by 10 to 20 %, or even 20 to 30 %. In general, the quality of a plant and/or its products increase may even be higher.

Another indicator for the condition of the plant is the plant's tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress factors. Biotic and abiotic stress, especially over longer terms, can have harmful effects on plants. Biotic stress is caused by living organisms while abiotic stress is caused for example by environmental extremes. According to the present invention, "enhanced tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress factors" means (1 .) that certain negative factors caused by biotic and/or abiotic stress are diminished in a measurable or noticeable amount as compared to plants exposed to the same conditions, but without being treated with the composition to be used according to the invention and (2.) that the negative effects are not diminished by a direct action of the composition on the stress factors, e.g. by its fungicidal or herbicidal action which directly destroys the microorganisms or weeds, but rather by a stimulation of the plants' own defensive reactions against said stress factors.

Negative factors caused by biotic stress such as pathogens and pests are widely known and range from dotted leaves to total destruction of the plant. Biotic stress can be caused by living organisms, such as pests (for example insects, arachnides, nema- todes) competing plants (for example weeds), microorganisms (such as phythopatho- genic fungi and/or bacteria) and/or viruses.

Negative factors caused by abiotic stress are also well-known and can often be observed as reduced plant vigor (see above), for example: dotted leaves, "burned leaves", reduced growth, less flowers, less biomass, less crop yields, reduced nutritional value of the crops, later crop maturity, to give just a few examples. Abiotic stress can be caused for example by:

extremes in temperature such as heat or cold (heat stress / cold stress) strong variations in temperature

· temperatures unusual for the specific season

drought (drought stress)

extreme wetness

high salinity (salt stress)

radiation (for example by increased UV radiation due to the decreasing ozone layer)

increased ozone levels (ozone stress)

organic pollution (for example by phythotoxic amounts of pesticides)

inorganic pollution (for example by heavy metal contaminants). As a result of biotic and/or abiotic stress factors, the quantity and the quality of the stressed plants, their crops and fruits decrease. As far as quality is concerned, reproductive development is usually severely affected with consequences on the crops which are important for fruits or seeds. Synthesis, accumulation and storage of proteins are mostly affected by temperature; growth is slowed by almost all types of stress; pol- ysaccharide synthesis, both structural and storage is reduced or modified: these effects result in a decrease in biomass (yield) and in changes in the nutritional value of the product. According to the present invention, the plant's tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress is increased by at least 5 %, preferable by 5 to 10 %, more preferable by 10 to 20 %, or even 20 to 30 %. In general, the plant's tolerance or resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress increase may even be higher.

Advantageous properties, obtained especially from treated seeds, are e.g. improved germination and field establishment, better vigor and/or a more homogenous field establishment. As pointed out above, the above identified indicators for the health condition of a plant may be interdependent and may result from each other. For example, an increased resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress may lead to a better plant vigor, e.g. to better and bigger crops, and thus to an increased yield. Inversely, a more developed root system may result in an increased resistance to biotic and/or abiotic stress. However, the- se interdependencies and interactions are neither all known nor fully understood and therefore the different indicators are described separately.

In one embodiment the composition to be used according to the invention increases the yield of a plant or its product.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition to be used according to the invention is used for increasing the plant weight and/or the plant biomass (e.g. overall fresh weight) and/or the grain yield and/or the number of tillers. In another embodiment the composition to be used according to the invention increases the vigor of a plant or its product.

In another embodiment the composition to be used according to the invention increases the quality of a plant or its product.

In yet another embodiment the composition to be used according to the invention increases the tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against biotic stress.

In yet another embodiment the composition to be used according to the invention in- creases the tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against abiotic stress.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition to be used according to the invention increases the tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against drought stress. In another preferred embodiment, the composition to be used according to the invention increases the tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against cold stress. In yet another preferred embodiment, the composition to be used according to the invention increases the tolerance and/or resistance of a plant or its product against heat stress.

One of the most important factors for the increased resistance against biotic and abiotic stress is the stimulation of the plan's natural defense reactions after the application of the compositions to be used according to the present invention.

The compositions to be used according to the invention are employed by treating the plant, plant propagation material (preferably seed), locus in which a plant is growing or may grow with an effective amount of the active compounds.

The application can be carried out in the absence of pest pressure and/or both before and after an infection of the locus, plants or plant propagation materials (preferably seeds) by pests.

When preparing the compositions, it is preferred to employ the pure active compounds, to which further active compounds against pests, such as insecticides, other herbicides, other fungicides or else growth-regulating active compounds or fertilizers can be added as further active components according to need.

As stated above, the compositions to be used according to the present invention comprising compounds A, B and optionally compound C are used in "effective amounts". This means that they are used in a quantity which allows to obtain the desired effect which is a synergistic increase of the health of a plant but which does not give rise to any phytotoxic symptom on the treated plant.

When applied according to the invention, the composition comprises, depending on various parameters such as the treated plant species, the weather conditions or the specific mixture:

· of from 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1.5 kg/h of a.s. of the herbicide A;

• of from 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1.5 kg/h of a.s. of the fungicide B ; • 0.0005 kg/ha to 2.5 kg/ha and preferably in the range of from 0.005 kg/ha to 2 kg/ha or 0.01 kg/ha to 1.5 kg/h of a.s. of the optional safener C. As mentioned above, a variant of the present invention also comprises seed treatment with component B followed by foliar spraying with component A.

Seed treatment can be made into the seedbox before planting into the field. In the treatment of plant propagation material (preferably seed), amounts of from 0.01 g to 3 kg, in particular amounts from 0.01 g to 1 kg of the composition to be used according to the invention are generally required per 100 kg of plant propagation material (preferably seed). In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, amounts of from 0.01 g to 250 g of composition are required per 100 kg of plant propa- gation material (preferably seed). In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, amounts of from 0.01 g to 150 g of composition are required per 100 kg of plant.

In all ternary and quaternary compositions used according to the methods and uses of the present invention, the compounds are employed in amounts which result in a synergistic effect.

In a preferred embodiment, the pesticidal composition for increasing the health of a plant comprises a liquid or solid carrier and a composition as described above.

For use according to the present invention, the compositions can be converted into the customary formulations, for example solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dusts, powders, pastes and granules as described herein. In all uses and methods of the present invention the compositions preferably contain the at least one compound A and the at least one compound B in synergistically effective amounts, i.e. in a weight ratio of A and B such that a synergistic effect takes place. This means that the relative amount, i.e. the weight ratio of the at least one compound A and the at least one compound B in the composition provides for an increased fungi- cidal efficacy or an increased plant health effect on at least one weed or harmful fungus or plant health criterion which exceeds the additive fungicidal efficacy/plant health increasing effect of the compounds of the composition as calculated from the fungicidal efficacy/plant health increasing efficacy of the individual compounds at a given application rate. The calculation of the additive efficacies can be performed e.g. by Colby's formula (Colby, S.R. "Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide Combinations", Weeds, 15, 20-22, 1967). Synergism is present if the observed efficacy is greater than the calculated efficacy. To ensure synergism, the at least one compound of the formula A and the at least one compound B are preferably present in the compositions of the present invention in a total weight ratio of from 100:1 to 1 :100, more preferably from 50:1 to 1 :50, even more preferably from 20:1 to 1 :20, and in particular from 10:1 to 1 :10, e.g. from 5:1 to 1 :5 or from 3:1 to 1 :3 or from 2:1 to 1 :2.