AU2011209135B2 - Composition and method for improving plant health - Google Patents

Abstract

Pesticidal mixtures comprising, as active components, a neonicotinoid and pyraclostribin and metalaxyl, in synergistically effective amounts.

Description

Section 29 Regulation 32(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Composition and method for improving plant health The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P11 1AHAU/0710 Composition and method for improving plant health Description 5 The present invention relates to plant-protecting active ingredient mixtures having syn ergistically enhanced action and to a method of improving the health of plants by apply ing said mixtures to the plants or the locus thereof. One typical problem arising in the field of pest control lies in the need to reduce the 10 dosage rates of the active ingredient in order to reduce or avoid unfavorable environmental or toxicological effects whilst still allowing effective pest and pathogen control. Another problem encountered concems the need to have available pest control agents 15 which are effective against a broad spectrum of pests and pathogens. Another problem underlying the present invention is the desire for compositions that improve plants, a process which is commonly and hereinafter referred to as "plant health". For example, advantageous properties that may be mentioned are improved 20 crop-characteristics including: emergence, crop yields, protein content, more developed root system (improved root growth), tillering increase, increase, plant height, bigg -r leaf blade, less dead basal leaves, stronger tillers, greener leaf color, pigment content, photosynthetic activity, less fertilizers needed, less seeds needed, more productive tillers, earlier flowering, early grain maturity, less plant verse (lodging), increased shoot 25 growth, enhanced plant vigor, increased plant stand and early germination; or any other advantages familiar to a person skilled in the art. Another difficulty in relation to the use of pesticides is that the repeated and exclusive application of an individual pesticidal compound leads in many caes to a rapid selec 30 tion of pests or pathogens that have developed natural or adapted resistance against the active compound in question. It was therefore an object of the present invention to provide pesticidal mixtures which solve the problems outlined above. 35 The combating of harmful phytopathogenic fungi is not the only problem the farmer has to face. Also harmful insects and other pestscan cause a great damage to crops and other plants. An efficient combination of fungicidal and insecticidal activity is desirable to overcome this problem. Thus, it is a further object of the present invention to provide 2 a mixture that, on the one hand, has good fungicidal activity, and, on the other hand, good insecticidal activity, resulting in a broader pesticidal spectrum of action. We have found that this object is in part or in whole achieved by the combination of 5 active compounds defined at the outset. The present invention aims to achieve or address at least one of the objects or prior art disadvantages respectively referred to herein. 10 The invention, the subject of the present application, is directed to pesticidal mixtures comprising, as active components, a neonicotinoide and pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, in synergistically effective amounts. Especially, it has been found that a mixture of a neonicotinoid, preferably acetamiprid, 15 clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam most preferably thiamethoxam and one or two fungicides selected from pyraclostrobin and boscalid achieves and mixtures comprising boscalid and metalaxyl show markedly enhanced action against plant pathogens compared to the control rates that are possible with the 20 individual compounds and/or is suitable for improving the health of plants when applied to plants, parts of plants, seeds, or at their locus of growth. Mixtures of thiamethoxam with certain strobilurine fungicides are known from W099/48366. However, all of the strobilurines mentioned in that document are acetic acid derivatives, whereas pyraclostrobin of the present invention is a methyl car 25 bamate. W002/102148 discloses mixtures of fludioxonil, metalaxyl and a strobilurine fungicide which optionally may further contain an insecticide, inter alia thiamethoxam. The stro bilurine fungicides disclosed all are acetic acid derivatives. 30 In WO 00/28825, at least quaternary compositions are described that comprise an in secticide such as thiamethoxam and three fungicides selected from acylalanines, for example metalaxyl, phenylpyrroles, for example fludioxonil, and triazoles, for example difenoconazole. Preferred is a composition comprising thiamethoxam, mefenoxam, 35 fludioxonil and difenoconazole. None of this documents mentions mixtures of thiamethoxam with pyraclostrobin or boscalid or mixtures comprising boscalid and metalaxyl.

2a Acetamiprid is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 7. Clothianidin is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), 5 The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 198. Dinotefuran is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 336.

3 Imidacloprid is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 562. 5 Nitenpyram is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 705. Thiacloprid is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 958. 10 Thiamethoxam is an insecticide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 960. Pyraclostrobin is a fungicide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), 15 The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 842. Boscalid is a fungicide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 13th Ed. (2003), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 104. 20 Fludioxonil is a fungicide. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed. (1997), The Britizh Crop Protection Council, London, page 566. Metalaxyl is a fungicide including: metalaxyl; metalaxyl consisting of more than 70% by weight of the R-enantiomer, metalaxyl consisting of more than 85% by weight of the R 25 enantiomer; metalaxyl consisting of more than 92% by weight of the R-enantiomer; metalaxyl consisting of more than 97% by weight of the R-enantiomer; and mefenoxam (i.e.,-R-metalaxyl or metalaxyl-M) wherein the metalaxyl component is pure R metalaxyl which is substantially free of S-enantiomer. See, for example, the Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed. (1997), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 7G2; and 30 the Pesticide Manual, 11th Ed. (1997), The British Crop Protection Council, London, page 794. Preferably, the term metalaxyl as used herein refers to mefenoxam. Preferred are mixtures comprising a neonicotinoid and pyraclostrobin, preferably acetamiprid and pyraclostrobin, 35 clothianidin and pyraclostrobin, dinotefuran and pyraclostrobin, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin, nitenpyram and pyraclostrobin, thiacloprid and pyraclostrobin, 40 or thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin, more preferably mixtures comprising 4 acetamiprid and pyraclostrobin, clothianidin and pyraclostrobin, imidacloprid and pyraclostrobin, or thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin, wherein most preferred are mixtures comprising 5 thiamethoxam and pyraclostrobin. Preferred are furthermore mixtures comprising a neonicotinoid and boscalid, preferably acetamiprid and boscalid, clothianidin and boscalid, 10 dinotefuran and boscalid, imidacloprid and boscalid, nitenpyram and boscalid, thiacloprid and boscalid, or thiamethoxam and boscalid, more preferably mixtures comprising 15 acetamiprid and boscalid, clothianidin and boscalid, imidacloprid and boscalid, or thiamethoxam and boscalid, wherein mixtures comprising thiamethoxam and boscalid are most -preferred. 20 Another r referred embodiment of the present invention comprises mixtures comp;ing a neonicotinoid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, preferably acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, clothianidin, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, 25 dinotefuran, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, nitenpyram, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, thiacloprid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, or thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, more preferably mixtures comprising 30 acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, clothianidin, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, or thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and boscalid, wherein most preferred are mixtures com prising thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and boscalid. 35 The mixtures of the present invention may further comprise metalaxyl. Accordingly, preferred mixtures comprise a neonicotinoid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, preferably 40 acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, 5 clothianidin, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyi, dinotefuran, pyraciostrobin and metalaxyl, imidacloprid, pyraciostrobin and metalaxyl, nitenpyram, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, 5 thiacloprid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, *or thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, more preferably mixtures comprising acetamiprid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, clothianidin, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, Imidacloprid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, or 10 thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, wherein most preferred are mixtures comprising thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl. Furthermore, preferred mixtures comprise a neonicotinoid, boscalid and metalaxyl, preferably 15 acetamiprid, boscalid and metalaxyl, clothianidin, boscalid and metalaxyl, dinotefuran, boscalid and metalaxyl, imidacloprid, boscalid and metalaxyl, nitenpyram, boscalid and metalaxyl, 20 -thiacloprid, boscalid and metalaxyl, or thiamethoxam, boscalid and metalaxyl, more preferably mixtures comprising acetamiprid, boscalid and metalaxyl, clothianidin, boscalid and metalaxyl, imidacloprid, boscalid and metalaxyl, or 25 thiamethoxam, boscalid and metalaxyl, wherein most preferred are mixtures compris ing thiamethoxam, boscalid and metalaxyl are preferred. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, preferred mixtures comprise a neonicotinoid, pyraclostrobin, boscalid, and metalaxyl, preferably 30 acetamiprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, clothianidin, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxy, dinotefuran, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, imidacioprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, nitenpyram, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, 35 thiacloprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, or thiamethoxam, boscalid, pyraciostrobin and metalaxyl, more preferrably mixtures comprising acetamiprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, clothianidin, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, 40 imidacloprid, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, or 6 thiamethoxam, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, wherein most preferred are mix tures comprising thiamethoxam, pyraclostrobin, boscalid and metalaxyl. Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises mixtures comprising 5 boscalid and metalaxyl All embodiments of the above-mentioned mixtures are herein below also referred to as "inventive mixtures" or "mixtures according to the invention". 10 The inventive mixtures are suitable for foliar application in living crops of plants as well as, in particular, for dressing applications on plant propagation material. The latter term embraces seeds of all kinds (fruit, tubers, grains), cuttings, cut shoots and the like. One particular field of application is the treatment of all kinds of seeds. 15 In addition to the mixtures, this invention also relates to a method of controlling fungi and/or improving the health of plants, which comprises treating a site, for example a plant or a plant propagation material, that is infested or liable to be infested by fungi with a) a neonicotinoid, preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitanpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, 20 imidacloprid or thiamethoxam most preferably thiamethoxam, with b) pyraclostrobin, id/or with c) boscald, in any desired sequence or simultaneously, that is, jointly or separately. In addition, the invention furthermore relates to a method of controlling fungi and/or 25 improving the health of plants, which comprises treating a site, for example a plant or a plant propagation material, that is infested or liable to be infested by fungi with a) boscalid and b) metalaxyl, in any desired sequence or simultaneously, that is, jointly or separately. 30 Generally, the invention furthermore relates to a method of controlling fungi and/or im proving the health of plants, which comprises treating a site, for example a plant or a plant propagation material, that is infested or liable to be infested by fungi with the pes ticides present in a inventive mixture in any desired sequence or simultaneously, that is, jointly or separately. 35 Advantageous mixing ratios by weight of the active ingredients are neonicotinoid, pref erably acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam most preferablythiamethoxam : pyraclostrobin or : boscalid from 100:1 to 1:100. A pre ferred ratio for neonicotinoid, preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imida 40 cloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, 7 clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam most preferably thiamethoxam:boscalid is 10:1 to 1:10, For example, for seed treatment, ratios of 3 kg: 30 g a./100 kg, 100 g : 1 g a.i./100 kg, 30 g : 3 kg a.i.I100 kg or 1 g: 100g a.il100 kg of seed are suitable. For some specific crop seeds, such as lettuce or onions, the rates can be higher. 5 Furthermore, advantageous mixing ratios by weight of three active ingredients are thiamethoxam : pyraclostrobin : boscalid in which each combination of two ingredients in the mixture of three ingredients ranges from 100:1 to 1:100.. The amount of any one of the ingredients in the mixture may range from I g to 3 kg a.i./100 kg of seed. For 10 example, ratios of 50 g: 5 g: 20 g a.i.I100 kg is suitable. Advantageously, the pesticidal mixtures may comprise metalaxyl in which each combi nation of two ingredients in the mixture of two to four ingredients ranges from 100:1 to 1:100.. 15 Advantageous mixing ratios by weight of the active ingredients are metalaxyl: boscalid from 100:1 to 1:100 by weight. The novel active ingredient mixtures have very advantageous curative, preventive and systemic fungicidal properties for protecting cultivated plants. As has been mentioned, said ac t ve ingredient mixtures can be used to inhibit or destroy the pathogens that 20 occur on plants or parts of plants (fruit, blossoms, leaves, stems, tubers, roots) of dif ferenterops or useful plants, while at the same time those parts of plants which grow later are also protected from attack by such pathogens. Active ingredient mixtures have the special advantage of being highly active against diseases in the soil that mostly occur in the early stages of plant development. 25 Specifically, they are suitable for controlling the following harmful fungi: * Altemaria species on vegetables and fruit, * Bipo/aris and Drechslera species on cereals, rice and turf, 30 e Blumeria graminis (powdery mildew) on cereals, * Botrytis cinema (gray mold) on strawberries, vegetables, ornamentals and grapevines, * Didymella species on various plants, * Etysiphe cichoracearum and Sphaerotheca fuliginea on cucurbits, 35 * Fusarium and Verticilium species on various plants, 0 Mycosphaerella species on cereals, bananas and peanuts, e Phakopsara pachyrhizi and Phakopsara meibomiae on soybeans * Phytophthora species on various plants, * Plasmopara viticola on grapevines, 40 a Podosphaera leucotricha on apples, 8 e Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides on wheat and barley, * Pseudoperonospora species on hops and cucumbers, * Puccinia species on cereals, * Pyricularia oryzae on rice, 5 a Pythium species on various plants, * Rhizoctonia species on cotton, legumes, rice and turf, * Sclerotinia species on various plants, e Septoria tritici and Stagonospora nodorum on wheat, * Thielaviopsis species on various plants, 10 e Uncinula necator on grapevines, " Ustilago species on cereals and sugar cane, and * Venturia species (scab) on apples and pears. The mixtures, which comprise a neonicotinoid are also suitable for controlling the fol 15 lowing harmful insects from the order of the lepidopterans (Lepidoptera), for example Agrotis ypsilon, Agrotis segetum, Alabama argi/lacea, Anticarsia gemmatalis, Argyresthia conjugella, Autographa gamma, Supalus piniarius, Cacoecia murinana, Capua reticulana, Cheimatobia brumata, Choristoneura 20 fumiferana, Choristoneura occidentalis, Cirphis unipuncta, Cydia pomonela, Den drolimus pini, Diaphania nitidalis, Diatraea grandiosella, Earias insulana, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Eupoecilia ambiguela, Evetria bouliana, Feltia subterranea, Galleria mel lonela, Grapholitha funebrana, Grapholitha molesta, Helothis armigera, Helothis vires cens, Heliothis zea, Hellula undais, Hibemia defoliaria, Hyphantria cunea, Hypo 25 nomeuta malinellus, Keiferia lycopersicella, Lambdina fiscellaria, Laphygma exigua, Leucoptera coffeel/a, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocolletis blancardela, Lobesia botrana, Loxostege sticticalis, Lymantria dispar, Lymantria monacha, Lyonetia clerkella, Mala cosoma neustria, Mamestra brassicae, Orgyia pseudotsugata, Ostrinia nubilalis, Pano lis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella, Peridroma saucia, Phalera bucephala, Phthori 30 maea operculella, Phylloconistis citrella, Pieris brassicae, Plathypena scabra, PlutelIa xylostelia, Pseudoplusia includens, Rhyacionia frustrana, Scrobipalpula absolute, Sito troga cerealela, Sparganothis pileriana, Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera ittoralis, Spodoptera litura, Thaumatopoea pityocampa, Tortix viridana, Trichoplusia ni and Zei raphera canadensis, 35 beetles (Coleoptera), for example Agrilus sinuatus, Agriotes ineatus, Agriotes obscu rus, Amphimallus solstitialis, Anisandrus dispar, Anthonomus grandis, Anthonomus pomorum, Atomaria linearis, Blastophagus piniperda, Blitophaga undata, Bruchus rufti manus, Bruchus pisorum, Bruchus lentis, Byctiscus betulae, Cassida nebulosa, Cero 40 toma trifurcata, Ceuthorrhynchus assimiis, Ceuthorrhynchus napi, Chaetocnema tibi- 9 alis, Conoderus vespertinus, Cr/oceris asparagi, Diabrotica longicomis, Diabrotica spe ciosa, Diabrotica 12-punctata, Diabrotica virgifera, Diloboderus abderus, Epilachna varivestis, Epitrix hitpennis, Eutinobothrus brasiliensis, Hylobius ab/etis, Hypera brun neipennis, Hypera postica, Ips typographus, Lema bilineata, Leme melanopus, Leptino 5 tarsa decemlineata, Limonius califomicus, Lissorhoptrus oryzophlus, Melanotus com munis, Meligethes aeneus, Melolontha hippocastani, Melojontha melolontha, Ou/ems oryzae, Ortion-hynchus sulcetus, Oryazophagus oryzae, OtIorrhynchus ovatus, Phae don cochleadae, Phyllotreta chrysocephala, Phyllophaga sp., Phyllophaga cuyabana, Phyl/ophaga triticophaga, Phyllopertha hoticola, Phy/lotreta nemorum, Phyllotreta 10 strialata, Pop/ila japonica, Sitona lineatus and Sitophilus granada, dipterans (Diptera),for example Aedes aegypti, Aedes vexans, Anastrepha ludens, Anopheles macul/pennis, Ceratitis cap/tata, Chrysomya bezziana, Chrysomya homi nivorax, Chrysomya macellarla, Contarinia sorghicola, Cordylobia anthropophaga, 15 Culex pipiens, Dacus cucurbitae, Dacus oloes, Dasineura brassicae, Fannia canicu laris, Gasterophilus intestinals, Glossina morsitans, Haematobia irritans, Haplodipibsis equestris, Hylemyla platura, Hypoderma fineata, Liriomyza sativae, Lir/omyza trifoli, Lucille capnna, Lucilia cuprina, Lucila sericata, Lycoda pectoralis, Mayetiola destruc tor, Musca dome&ica, Muscina stabailans, Oestrus ovis, Oscinela fruit, Pegomya hyso 20 cyami, Phorbia antiqua, Phorbia brassicae, Phorbia coarctata, Rhagoletis cerasi, Rhagolets pomonella, Tabanus bovinus, Tipula oleracea and Tipula paludosa, thrips (Thysanoptera), e.g. Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis, Frankliniella triici, Scirtothrips citri, Thrips oryzae, Thrips palmi and Thrips tabaci, 25 hymenopterans (Hymenoptera), e.g. Acromyrmex ambuguus, Acromyrmex cras sispinus, Acromyrmex heiery, Acromyrmex landolti, Acromyrmex subterraneus, Athaia rose, Atta capiguara, Aila cephalotes, Atta laevigata, Atte robusta, Atta sexdens, Atta texana, Hoplocampa minute, Hoplocampa testudinea, Monomor/um pharaonis, So 30 lenapsis geminats and So/enopsis invicta, heteropterans (Heteroptera), e.g. Acrosternum hilare, Blissus leucopterus, Cyrtopeltis notatus, Dichelops furcatus, Dysdercus cingulatus, Dysdercus intermedius, Euchistos heros, Eurygaster integriceps, Euschistus impictiventris, Leptog/ossus phyflopus, Lygus 35 lineolars, Lygus pratensis, Nezara viridula, Plesma quadrata, Piezodorus guildni, Solubea insularis and Thyanta perditor, Hemiptera and Homoptera, e.g. Acrostemum hilare, Bissus leucopterus, Cyrtopetis notatus, Diaphorina citri, Dysdercus cingulatus, Dysdercus intermedius, Eurygaster 40 integriceps, Euschistus impictiventris, Leptoglossus phyllopus, Lygus lineoris, Lygus 10 pratensis, Nezara viridula, Piesma quadrata, Solubee insularis, Thyanta perditor, Acyrthosiphon onobrychis, Adelges lantcs, Aphidula nasturti, Aphis fabae, Aphis forbesi, Aphis pomi, Aphis gossypi, Aphis grossulariae, Aphis schneideri, Aphis spi raecola, Aphis sambuci, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aulacorthum solani, Brachycaudus car 5 dui, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Brachycaudus persicae, Brachycaudus prunicola, Bre vicoryne brassicae, Capitophorus hom, Cerosipha gossypi, Chaetosiphon fragaefoli, Cryptomyzus tibis, Dreyfusia nordmannianae, Dreyfusla piceae, Dysaphis radicola, Dysaulacorthum pseudosolani, Dysephis plantaginea, Dysaphis pyr, Empoasca fabae, Hyalopterus pruni, Hyperomyzus lactucae, Macrosiphum avenue, Macrosiphum eu 10 phorbiae, Macrosiphon rose, Megoura viciae, Melanaphis pyrarius, Metopolophium dirhodum, Myzodes persicae, Myzus ascalonicus, Myzus cerasi, Myzus vadans, Na sonovia ribis-nigri, Nilaparvata lugens, Pemphigus bursarius, Perkinsiela saccharicida, Phorodon humuli, Psy/la mal, Psylla pir, Rhopalomyzus ascalonicus, Rhopalosiphum maids, Rhopalosiphum padi, Rhopalosiphum insertum, Sappaphis mala, Sappaphis 15 mali, Schizaphis graminum, Schizoneura lanuginosa, Sitobion avenae, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Toxoptera aurantiland, Viteus vitffoli, Cimex lectufarius, Cimex hemip terus, Reduvius senHs, Triatoma spp., and Ailus critatus, termites (Isoptera), e.g; Calotermes flavico ills, Comitermes cumulans, Heterotermes 20 tenuis, Leucotermes flavipes,- Neocapritemes opacus, Procomitermes triacifer Reticu litermes lucifugus, SyniLannes molestus, -aertTermes nateensis, orthopterans (Orthoptera), e.g. Acheta domestic, Blatta orientalis, Blattella germanica, Forticula auricularia, Gtyilotalpa gryllotalpa, Locusta migratoria, Melanoplus bivittatus, 25 Melanoplus femur-rubrum, Melanoplus mexicanus, Melanoplus sanguinipes, Melano plus spretus, Nomadacris septemfasciata, Periplaneta americana, Schistocerca ameri cana, Schistocerca peregrina, Stauronotus maroccanus and Tachycines asynamorus, Arachnoidea, such as arschnids, e.g. of the families Argasidae, lxodidae and Sarcopti 30 dae, such as Amblyomma emeticanum, Amb/yomma vat/egatum, Argas persicus, Boophilus annulatus, Boophilus decoloratus, Boophilus microplus, Detmacentor si/va rum, Hyalomma truncatum, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes rubicundus, Omithodorus moubata, Otob/us megnini, Dermanyssus gallinae, Psoroptes ovis, Rhipicephalus appendicua tus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, Sarcoptes scabiel, and Eriophyidae spp. such as Aculus 35 schlechtendali, Phyllocoptrata oleivora and Er/ophyes sheldont Tarsonemidae spp. such as Phytonemus paidus and Polyphagotarsonemus latus; Tenuipalpidae spp. such as Brevipalpus phoenicis; Tetranychidae spp. such as Tetranychus cinnabarinus, Tetranychus kanzawai, Tetranychus pacificus, Tetranychus telarius and Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus u/mi, Panonychus citri, and oligonychus pratensis; 40 . - 11 thrips (Thysanoptera), e.g. Frankiniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis, Frankiniella schultzet, Frankin/ella tritici, Scirtothrips ctn, Thnps oryzae, Thnps palmi and Thnps tabaci. 5 In particular, the inventive mixtures are suitable for combating pests of the orders Col eoptera, Lepidoptera, Thysanoptera, Homoptera, Isoptera, and Orthoptera. They are also suitable for controlling the following plant parasitic nematodes such as Meloidogyne, GloboderaHeterodera, Radopholus, Rotylenchulus, Pratylenchus and 10 other genera. Suitable targets for seed treatment are various crop seeds, fruit species, vegetables, spices and ornamental seed, for example corn/maize (sweet and field), dururn wheat, soybean, wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, bananas, rice, cotton, sunflower, potatoes, 15 pasture, alfalfa, grasses, turf, sorghum, rapeseed, Brassica spp., sugar beet, egg plants, tomato, lettuce, iceberg lettuce, pepper, cucumber, squash, melon, bean, dry beans, peas, leek, garlic, onion, cabbage, carrot, tuber such as sugar cane, tobacco, coffee, turf and forage, cruciferous, cucurbits, grapevines, pepper, fodder beet, oil seed rape, pansy, impatiens, petunia and geranium. 20 The term seed treatment cor.prises all suitable .aed treatment techniques known in the art, such as, but not limited to, seed dressing, seed coating, seed dusting, seed soaking, seed film coating, seed multilayer coating, seed encrusting, seed dripping, and seed pelleting. 25 The active ingredient mixtures according to the invention are especially advantageous for seed treatment of oil seed -rape, wheat, com, rye, barley, oats, sorghum, sunflow ers, rice, maize, turf and forage, sugar beet, beans, peas, soybeans, ornamentals, and vegetables such as cucurbitsptomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, pepper, lettuce, cabbage, 30 carrots, cruciferous. Especially preferred is the seed treatment of oil seed rape, wheat, beans, corn, soy beans, sugar beet, rice, vegetables, and ornamentals. 35 The mixtures according to the invention are most preferably used for the seed treat ment of oil seed rape. In addition, mixtures according to the invention may also be used In crops which toler ate the action of herbicides or fungicides or insecticides owing to breeding, including 12 genetic engineering methods. For example, mixtures according to the invention can be employed in transgenic crops which are resistant to herbicides from the group consisting of the suifonylureas, imida 5 zolinones, glufosinate-ammonium or glyphosate-isopropylammonium and analogous active substances (see for example, EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) (WO 92/00377) (EP-A-0257993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,659) or in transgenic crop plants, for example cot ton, with the capability of producing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins (Bt toxins) which make the plants resistant to certain pests (EP-A-0142924, EP-A-0193259), 10 Furthermore, mixtures according to the invention can be used also for the treatment of plants which have modified characteristics in comparison with existing plants consist, which can be generated for example by traditional breeding methods and/or the gen eration of mutants, or by recombinant procedures). For example, a number of cases 15 have been described of recombinant modifications of crop plants for the purpose of modifying the starch synthesized in the plants (e.g. WO 92111376, WO 92114827, WO 91/19806) or of transgenic crop plants having a modified fatty acid composition (WO 91/13972). 20 In addition, the synergistically enhanced action'of the mixtures manifests itself, for ex ample, in lower rates of applicatichrand/orin a longer duration of action and/or higher crop yields. Such enhancements were not to be expected from the sum of the actions of the individual components. 25 It has been found that the action of the inventive mixtures, e.g. of the mixture of a neonicotinoid, preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, niten pyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, imida cloprid or thiamethoxam most preferably thiamethoxam with pyraclostrobin and / or boscalid goes far beyond the fungicidal action of the fungicide(s) present in the mixture 30 alone. It has been shown that the mixtures exhibit plant health effects (as outlined above) in the frame of the present invention. The term plant health comprises various sorts of improvements of plants that are not connected to the control of pests with the said mixture of a neonicotinoid, preferably acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imida cloprid, nitenpyram, thiacloprid or thiamethoxam, more preferably acetamiprid, 35 clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam most preferably thiamethoxam with pyra clostrobin and/or boscalid. The active ingredient mixtures can be used in the form of premix formulations or the active ingredients can be applied to the area, plant or seed to be treated simultane 40 ously or in immediate succession, if desired together with further carriers, surfactants 13 or other application-promoting adjuvants customarily employed in formulation technol ogy. The formulations are prepared in a known manner, for example by extending the active 5 compound with auxiliaries suitable for the formulation of agrochemicals, such as sol vents and/or carriers, if desiredsurfactants (e.g. surfactants, adjuvans and/ordispersants), preservatives, antifoaming agents, anti-freezing agents, for seed treatment formulation also optionally colorants and/or binders and/or gelling agents. (see e.g. for review US 3,060,084, EP-A 707 445 (for liquid concentrates), Browning, 10 "Agglomeration", Chemical Engineering, Dec. 4, 1967, 14748, Perry's Chemical Engi neer's Handbook, 4th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1963, pages 8-57 arid et seq. 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, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961, Hance et al., Weed Control Handbook, 8th 15 Ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1989 and Mollet, H., Grubemann, A., Formulation technology, Wiley VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim (Germany), 2001, 2. D. A. Knowles, Chemistry and Technology of Agrochemical Formulations, Kluwer Aca demic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1998 (ISBN 0-7514-0443-8). 20 Solvents/auxiliaries which are suitable iilude: - water, aromatic solvents (for example Solvesso products, xylene), paraffins (for example mineral fractions), alcohols (for example methanol, butanol, pentanol, benzyl alcohol), ketones (for example cyclohexanone, gamma-butyrolactone), pyrrolidones (NMP, NOP), acetates (glycol diacetate), glycols, fatty acid 25 dimethylamides, fatty acids and fatty acid esters. In principle, solvent mixtures may also be used. - carriers such as ground natural minerals (for example kaolins, clays, talc, chalk) and ground synthetic minerals (for example highly disperse silica, silicates); emulsifiers such as nonionic and anionic emulsifiers (for example 30 polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, alkylsulfonates and arylsulfonates) and dispersants such as lignin-suffite waste liquors and methylcellulose. Suitable surfactants are alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, 35 dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkylsulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acids and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, furthermore condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of naphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenyl ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, 14 octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenyl polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristearylphenyi polyglycol ether, alkylaryi polyether alcohols, alcohol and fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol 5 esters, lignin-sulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose. Substances which are suitable for the preparation of directly sprayable solutions, emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions are mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene or diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable or 10 animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, for example toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or their derivatives, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, isophorone, strongly polar solvents, for example dimethyl sulfoxide, N-methylpyrrolidone and water. 15 Seed Treatment formulations may additionally comprise binders and optionally color ants. Binders can be added to improve the adhesion of the active materials on the seeds after treatment. Suitable binders are block copolymers EO/PO surfactants but also 20 polyvinylalcoholsl, polyvinylpyrrolidones, pex'acrylates, polymethacrylates, polybute nes, polyisobutylenes, polystyrene, polyethyleneamines, polyethyleneamides, poly ethyleneimines (Lupasol@, Polymin@), polyethers, polyurethans and copolymers de rived from these polymers. 25 Optionally, also colorants can be included in the formulation. Suitable colorants or dyes for seed treatment formulations are Rhodamin B, C.I. Pigment Red 112, C.l. Solvent Red 1, pigment blue 15:4, pigment blue 15:3, pigment blue 15:2, pigment blue 15:1, pigment blue 80, pigment yellow 1, pigment ydtow 13, pigment red 112, pigment red 48:2, pigment red 48:1, pigment red 57:1, pigment red 53:1, pigment orange 43, pig 30 ment 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. An example of a gelling agent is carrageen (Satiagel) 35 Powders, materials for spreading and dustable products can be prepared by mixing or concomitantly grinding the active substances with a solid carrier.

15 Granules, for example coated granules, impregnated granules and homogeneous granules, can be prepared by binding the active compounds to solid carriers. Examples of solid carriers are mineral earths such as silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, less, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, 5 magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers, such as, for example, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas, and products of vegetable origin, such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powders and other solid carriers. 10 In general, the formulations comprise from 0.01 to 95% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 90% by weight, of the active compounds. The active compounds are employed in a purity of from 90% to 100%, preferably 95% to 100% (according to NMR spectrum). The following are examples of formulations: 1. Products for dilution with water for foliar application / for seed treatment purposes, these products can be applied diluted or 15 undiluted. A) Soluble concentrates (SL, LS) 10 parts by weight of the active compounds are divQlved in water or in a water-soluble solvent As an alternative, wetters or other auxiliaries are added. The active compound 20 dissolves upon dilution with water. B) Dispersible concentrates (DC) 20 parts by weight of the active compounds are dissolved in cyclohexanone with addition of a dispersant, for example polyvinylpyrrolidone. Dilution with water gives a 25 dispersion. C) Emulsifiable concentrates (EC) 15 parts by weight of the active compounds are disrhved in xylene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5% strength). 30 Dilution with water gives an emulsion. D) Emulsions (EW, EO, ES) 40 parts by weight of the active compounds are dissolved in xylene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5% strength). 35 This mixture is introduced into water by means of an emulsifier (Ultraturax) and made into a homogeneous emulsion. Dilution with water gives an emulsion. E) Suspensions (SC, OD, FS) In an agitated ball mill, 20 parts by weight of the active compounds are comminuted' 40 with addition of dispersant, wetters and water or an organic solvent to give a fine active 16 compound suspension. Dilution with water gives a stable suspension of the active compound. F) Water-dispersible granules and water-soluble granules (WG, SG) 5 50 parts by weight of the active compounds are ground finely with addition of dispersants and wetters and made into water-dispersible or water-soluble granules by means of technical appliances (for example extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound. 10 G) Water-dispersible powders and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, WS) 75 parts by weight of the active compounds are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of dispersant, wetters and silica gel. Dilution with water gives a stable dispersion or solution with the active compound.. 15 2. Products to be applied undiluted for foliar application. For seed treatment purposes, these products can be applied diluted or undiluted. H) Dustable powders (DP, DS) 5 parts by weight of the active compounds are ground Nfafy and mixed intimately with 20 95% of finely divided kaolin. This gives a dustable product. 1) Granules (GR, FG, GG, MG) 0.5 part by weight of the active compounds is ground finely and associated with 95.5% carriers. Current methods are extrusion, spray-drying or the fluidized bed. This gives 25 granules to be applied undiluted. J) ULV solutions (UL) 10 parts by weight of the active compounds are dissolvedin an organic solvent, for example xylene. This gives a product to be applied undilutad. 30 The active compounds can be used as such, in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, for example in the form of directly sprayable solutions, powders, suspensions or dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dustable products, materials for spreading, or granules, by means of spraying, atomizing, dusting, spreading or pouring. The use forms depend entirely on the intended 35 purposes; it is intended to ensure in each case the finest possible distribution of the active compounds according to the invention. Aqueous use forms can be prepared from emulsion concentrates, pastes or wettable powders (sprayable powders, oil dispersions) by adding water. To prepare emulsions, 40 pastes or oil dispersions, the substances, as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, can 17 be homogenized in water by means of a wetter, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. Alternatively, It is possible to prepare concentrates composed of active substance, wetter, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if appropriate, solvent or oil, and such concentrates are suitable for dilution with water. 5 The active compound 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 0.01 to 1%, 10 Various types of oils, wetters, adjuvants, herbicides, fungicides, other pesticides, or bactericides may be added to the active compounds, if appropriate just immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be admixed with the agents according to the invention in a weight ratio of 1:10 to 10:1. 15 The agrochemical compositions usually comprisd 0.1 to 99%, preferably 0.1 to 95%, of active ingredients, 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 Depending on the desired effect, the application rates of the mixtures according to the 20 invention are from 0.1 g/ha to 2000 g/ha, preferably from 50 t. 1500 g/ha, in particular from 50 to 750 g/ha. In the treatment of seed, the application rates of the mixture arc generally from C.1 g to 25 5 kg per 100 kg of seed, preferably from 1 g to 2.5 kg per 100 kg of seed, in particular from I g to 1 kg per 100 kg of seed. In the control of pests, the separate or joint application of the i. 'entive mixtures or compositions comprising them is carried out by spraying or dusting or otherwise apply 30 ing the mixture to the seeds, the seedlings, the plants or the soils before or after sow ing of the plants or before or after emergence of the plants, Conventional seed treatment formulations include for example flowable concentrates FS, solutions LS, powders for dry treatment DS, water dispersible powders for slurry 35 treatment WS, water-soluble powders SS and emulsion ES and EC, wherein FS and WS are the most preferred ones.

'18 In accordance with one variant, a further subject of the invention is a method of treating soil by the application, in particular into, the seed drill: either of a granular formulation containing the two active ingredients in combination or as a composition, or of a mix ture of two granular formulations, each containing one of the two active ingredients, 5 with optionally one or more solid or liquid, agriculturally acceptable carriers and/or op tionally with one or more agriculturally acceptable surfactants. This method is advanta geously employed in seedbeds of cereal, maize, cotton and sunflower. The invention also relates to the propagation products of plants, and especially the 10 seed comprising, that is treated with a mixture as defined above or a composition con taining the inventive mixture or a mixture of compositions each providing one of the active ingredients. 15 The seed comprises the inventive mixtures in an amount of from 0.1 g to 5 kg per 100 kg of seed. The synergistic pesticidal action of the inventive mixtures can be demonstrated by the experiments below: 20 Treatments Each mixture partner is evaluated separately at the same rates as used in the mixtures. Synergism is determined by comparing the expected biological effect on plant health or on disease control from the mixture based on the individual effects from the separate 26 partners to the biological effect seen with the mixture. Abbott's formula can be used to make this comparison. Seed Treatment - Cotton 30 Compounds are used as technical materials and formulated in 15 % acetone in 0.05% aqueous Tween 20* (Polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaureate). Fifty cotton seeds are placed in a 120 ml glass vial and 300 p of the compound preparation are pipetted onto the side of the vial just above the seeds. The vial can shaken for 3 minutes and the treated seeds were placed on aluminum foil to dry. 35 Plant Health 24 cotton seeds of each treatment are planted, 2 seeds per 7.5 cm square plastic pot containing Metro Mix 360 planting material and maintained in the greenhouse. Meas- 19 urements taken of plant health are time to emergence, percent emergence, shoot bio mass and root biomass at the 2-true-leaf stage. Synergistic Plant Disease Control 5 To determine treatment effects on plant disease control, 12 cotton seeds of each treatment are planted, 2 seeds per 7.5-cm square plastic pot containing sandy soil and challenged with fungal pathogens. Two fungal pathogens can be used: Pythium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp. Plants are maintained in the greenhouse with bottom watering. 10 Measurements of the severity of damping off and root rot are taken and then per cent disease control is calculated for each treatment based on the untreated controls. The test results will show that the mixtures according to the invention show a consider able enhanced activity demonstrating synergism compared to the calculated sum of the 15 single activities. Synergistic Plant Health Effects The synergistic plant health effects of the inventive mixtures has been denor.xstrated by 20 the experiments described below: To determine seed treatment effects of the inventive mixtures on plant health soft red winter wheat seeds (Variety Coker 9663) were treated with mixtures and with each mix ture partner separately. Compounds were applied in water if formulated or in 25% ace 25 tone if technical material. For mixtures, water was used as the carrier unless. one or more partners was used as technical material then 25% acetone was used as the car rier. Each treatment was prepared in a 20 ml glass vial. Then 25 seeds were added, and the vial was vortexed for one minute. After treatment, seeds were allowed to dry. 30 Plant growth pouches (18 cm x 16.5 cm cygTM Germination Pouches, Mega Intemational) were watered with 17-20 ml water, and 4 seeds were placed in each growth pouch on the same day as treatment Replication was 4x to 5x. Growth pouches were incubated at 25 C with 14 hours light and watered as needed. Germina tion was evaluated at 3-4 and 7-8 days after treatment (DAT). Root length and wet 35 weight mass and shoot length and wet weight mass were evaluated 7-8 DAT. Expected responses from the mixture were calculated based on the responses ob served when each mixture partner was applied alone.

20 Percent effects for each of the mixture partners (MP1 and MP2) applied solo were cal culated as follows: MP1 = (Control response - MP1 response)/Control response * 100% MP2 = (Control response - MP2 response)/Control response * 100% 5 The appropriate control response was used for each mixture partner. Then, the expected % response for the mixture was calculated using Abbott's formula as follows: E%response = (MPI + MP2) - (MP1 * MP2) / 100 10 Finally, the expected response for the mixture was calculated by applying the expected % response to the appropriate control for the mixture, which is the solvent blank con trol, as follows: Expected response = Control response - (Control response * E%response/1 00) 15 Experiment 1 For each of the four measures of wheat plant health (root length, root mass, shoot - . length, and shoot mass), the actual response observed for the thiamethoxam plus 20 boscalid mixture (50 g ai + 20 g ai respectively per 100 kg seed) was greater than Uie expected response based on the responses observed when each partner was app:d alone demonstrating a synergistic effect on plant health. (Table 1). Percent germination of the wheat seeds for all treatments was 100%. 25 Table 1. Thiamethoxam + Boscalid (50 + 20 g a/ 100 kg seed) Wheat Expected Mixture Response Actual Mixture Response Plant Growth Meas- based on Median Solo Effects urement Root Length (cm) 14,9 15,5 Root Mass (g) 0,044 0,070 Shoot Length (cm) 14,3 15,8 Shoot Mass (g) 0,063 0,067 Evaluations were conducted on 20 seedlings per treatment, 5 reps with 4 seedlings each. 30 4& Experiment 2 For three of the four measures of wheat plant health (root mass, shoot length, shoot mass), the actual response observed for the thiamethoxam and metalaxyl mixture (50 g 5 ai + 20 g ai respectively per 100 kg seed) was greater than the expected response based on the responses observed when each partner was applied alone (Table 2). Percent germination of the wheat seeds for all treatments was 100%. 10 Evaluations were conducted on 16 seedlings per treatment, 4 reps with 4 seedlings each. Table 2. Thiamethoxam + Metalaxyl (50 + 20 g ai/ 100 kg seed Wheat Expected Mixture Response Actual Mixture Response Plant Growth Measure- based on Median Solo Ef ment' fects Root Length (cm) 15,8 15,0 Root Mass (g) 0,057 0,066 Shoot Length (cm) 13,6 16,1 Shoot Mass (g) 0,054 0,062 Evaluations were conducted on 16 seedlings per treatment, 4 reps with 4 seedlings 15 each. Comprises/comprising and grammatical variations thereof when used in this specification are to be taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one 20 or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims (12)

1. Pesticidal mixtures comprising, as active components a neonicotinoid and pyraclostrobin and metalaxyl, in synergistically effective amounts. 5

2. Pesticidal mixtures according to claim 1, in which each combination of two ingredients in the mixture of three ingredients ranges from 100:1 to 1:100.

3. Pesticidal mixtures according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the neonicotinoid is 10 thiamethoxam.

4. Pesticidal mixtures according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the neonicotinoid is clothianidin. 15

5. Pesticidal mixtures according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the neonicotinoid is imidacloprid.

6. Pesticidal mixtures according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the neonicotinoid is acetamiprid. 20

7. A method of improving the health of plants, which method comprises applying in any desired sequence, simultaneously, that is, jointly or separately, or in succession, synergistically effective amounts of the individual components of a mixture according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 25

8. A method of controlling or preventing fungal infestation in plants, parts of plants, seeds, or at their locus of growth, which method comprises applying in any desired sequence, simultaneously, that is, jointly or separately, or in succession, synergistically effective amounts of the individual components of a mixture 30 according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the mixture as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 is applied in an amount of from 0.1 g/ha to 2000 g/ha. 35

10. A method of protection of seeds, the method comprising contacting the seeds before sowing and/or after pregermination with a mixture as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6 in synergistically effective amounts. 23

11. Plant propagation material treated with the mixtures according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in an amount of from 0.1 g to 5 kg per 100 kg of seeds. 5

12. The plant propagation material according to claim 11, wherein seeds are the propagation material. 10 BASF SE WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P29061AU01