CN1352525A - Method for reinforcing the growth of crops and ornamental plants against unwanted fungal attack in the above-ground region of the plants - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to multi-component mixtures for the preventative and/or intensive reinforcement of crops and/or ornamental plants against attack by pathogens, especially pathogenic fungi, but also against other harmful factors such as drought stress or mechanical stresses such as hail. The mixtures of valuable substances are applied to the above-ground part of the plant in an aqueous preparation and contain the following: (a) ecologically compatible oil-in-water-type wetting agents; (b) water-soluble and/or water-swellable and plant-available compounds of silicon with (c) lipophilic saturated and/or olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbon radicals with organic compounds that have a fat structure and are both aerobically and anaerobically decomposable. Preferred forms of embodiment use additional components (d), which are compounds containing P and/or N and having lipophilic radicals. The invention also relates to the use of the multi-component mixtures for preventative and/or intensive plant reinforcement against harmful factors, especially for combating and/or defending plants against fungal attacks by applying homogenised aqueous preparations of the mixture of active agents of components consisting of (a), (b) and (c) to the above-ground part of the plant, preferably in conjunction with simultaneous and/or deferred application of the component(s) (d).

Description

Enhances the growth of beneficial and ornamental plants against unwanted fungal attack of the above-ground areas of the plants

Spray formulations containing high concentrations of silicon are used prophylactically in biological farming to protect plants from foliar diseases; on this, see e.g. the book Allgemeiner Pflanzenbau [General Crop Production] published by Heyland, Verlag Eugen Ulmer, 7th edition, p. 384 Page. These formulations provide double protection. Due to the high pH of conventional spray formulations, the spores of the fungus were unable to colonize themselves on the leaves. Also some silicon is taken up via the leaves and enters the plant tissue. This leads to a higher mechanical strength, providing greater resistance to penetrating fungal spores. It is advisable to use the aqueous spray mixture with a wetting agent such as a plant protection soap to promote wetting of the treated plant parts. However the reality that spray formulations do not adhere to the leaf surface long enough and are washed off by rainfall or irrigation water becomes problematic.

Subject of an earlier non-previously-published patent application DE19830889.2 - the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into the present invention the following disclosed subject - which is a plant with resistance to attack by pathogenic fungi and/or soil-borne pests - Aqueous formulations of partial ester mixtures of fatty alcohols and/or fatty acids with lower polyfunctional alcohols and ecologically tolerable O/W type alkyl polyglycoside surfactant compounds for enhanced and/or phyto-disinfection - also known as For APG compounds - use as mixture of useful substances. The teaching of this earlier application provides two forms of application of the above-mentioned mixture of useful substances, which can also be combined with one another: On the one hand, the mixture is introduced into the soil and/or applied to the above-ground parts of the plants in the form of an aqueous formulation . The result of this method is an unexpected phyto-strengthening and/or phyto-disinfecting action against attack of plants by, in particular, phytopathogenic fungi. However, fungal populations in the mycorrhizal zone associated with plant roots and capable of promoting plant growth and in situ fungal populations were not adversely affected.

The teaching of EP0230598 describes the use of alkyl glycosides as active ingredients in compositions for the protection of beneficial plants and ornamental plants to control pests. The APG compounds described herein, especially also suitable APG ethoxylates, can be applied to above-ground parts of plants in the form of aqueous spray mixtures. Useful substances are the abovementioned APG ingredients and their combinations with other active substances from insecticides, fungicides, viricides, acaricides, but also compositions or substances from the field of plant promotion. In this context, it may be mentioned that this not only produces an additive result of the individual effects, but also a synergistically enhanced effect.

The technical teaching of the present invention described below is based on the premise of combining the per se known techniques for the treatment of above-ground parts of plants with those disclosed in the above mentioned earlier application EP19830889.2, especially for the control of and/or water-soluble and/or water-swellable silicon compounds for defense against phytopathogenic attack by fungi. Furthermore, the teaching of the present invention also seeks to exploit elements of another earlier non-previously-published application DE 19748884.6 filed by the applicant company, which will be discussed in detail later on.

Invention subject

Thus, in a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a multicomponent mixture for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic strengthening of beneficial plants and/or Ornamental plants are protected against attack by pathogens, especially pathogenic fungi, and against other detrimental effects such as drought stress or mechanical stress such as hail, said mixture comprising:

(a) Ecologically Tolerable O/W Wetting Agents

(b) Silicon compounds which are soluble or swellable in water and which are also available to plants, and

(c) Lipophilic saturated and/or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon moieties having an aliphatic structure, simultaneously being aerobically and anaerobically degradable organic compounds.

Preferred embodiments of the present teachings describe and use multicomponent mixtures of the type described above, which also comprise, as component (d), phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds having at least some lipophilic moieties.

Another embodiment of the teaching of the present invention relates to the use of the above-mentioned multi-component mixture for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic strengthening of plants against harmful effects, in particular for the control and/or defense against fungal attack, by applying the above-mentioned composition to the above-ground parts of the plant. The homogenized aqueous formulation of the active ingredient mixtures of subcomponents (a), (b) and (c) is preferably achieved in combination with the simultaneous and/or staggered application of component (d).

A detailed description of the content of the invention

The combination according to the invention of active substances or useful substances from the field of strengthening plants and protecting them against phytopathogenic fungal populations leads to a cumulative result of the expected positive effect which cannot be predicted from the disclosed prior art. Let us summarize briefly: as developed in an earlier application EP19830889.2 whose subject matter is the promotion of beneficial microbial flora, the defensive function of the silicon-containing aqueous spray Apparently pathogenic fungal populations are supported and promoted by entirely different mechanisms. The microbial growth process is actually also present on the leaf surface. The lipophilic part of the useful substance or the useful substance mixture applied according to the invention to the above-ground parts of the plant results in optimal distribution and long-term adhesion in combination with the surface-active APG components used. The silicon content is thus retained longer in the plant surface area, at least to some extent, and it is protected from excessive early leaching. However, even if this leaching of inorganic silicon components dissolved in water cannot be completely prevented, it is clear that the action of the silicon-based components in the active substance mixtures applied according to the invention is direct and rapid. Any microbial populations that arise and already exist as a result of the attack by the phytopathogenic fungi are thus attenuated at least to a substantial extent. The organic-based constituents of the useful substance composition according to the invention which continue to adhere are now able to increasingly exert their phyto-strengthening and harmful-substance-effect-reducing functions.

Before discussing in more detail the individual useful substances in the method of the invention, let us briefly summarize the teaching of the above mentioned earlier but not prior-published application DE 19748884.6. Although its principle is mainly based on promoting, controlling and ensuring the growth of microorganisms in the soil, and thus in the rhizosphere, the teaching of the present invention also uses the principle described therein for the application of the above-mentioned multi-component useful substance mixture to the above-ground parts of plants on the outer layer of the plant.

The teachings of this earlier application are governed by two general concepts: the use of compounds comprising selected hydrocarbon moieties as additional carbon sources for the growth of microbial communities together with phosphorus and nitrogen containing carriers and, if desired, with macronutrients for plants and/or micronutrients into the soil. At the same time, the preparation of these growth aids and the form of their use are planned so that they can be optimally dispersed in the root zone and introduced into the rhizosphere of the substrate. The teaching of this earlier application involves the addition of an aqueous formulation comprising:

- Ecologically tolerant O/W wetting agents and

- organic compounds as additional carbon sources for the growth of microbial populations, which contain lipophilic saturated and/or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon moieties of aliphatic structure and are degradable aerobically and anaerobically,

Combine simultaneous and/or staggered joins

- Phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds containing at least to some extent lipophilic moieties and preferably oil soluble, and if desired also a carrier containing other macronutrients and/or micronutrients for plant growth.

On the one hand, the presently discussed new teaching proposes the unconditional use of silicon compounds which are soluble and/or swellable in water and at the same time available to plants, together with components (a) and (c). On the other hand, the concomitant use of phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds having at least some degree of lipophilic moiety - component d of the invention - is a preferred but not unlimited approach. As a decisive element, the teaching of the present invention provides an organophilic component (c) in combination with an ecologically tolerable O/W wetting agent (a) with a water-soluble and/or water-swellable and at the same time plant-available Compositions of silicon compounds (b).

As regards the composition of suitable water-soluble and/or water-swellable silicon compounds which are at the same time plant-available, reference is made to general expert knowledge. The following is just a brief overview:

Suitable water-soluble silicon compounds are in particular alkali metal silicates, preference being given to sodium and/or potassium silicates, also known as water glass. Alkali metal metasilicates as well as silica sols and formed silica gels are also suitable, since they are known from the relevant prior art for soil improvement to promote plant growth. The chemical identification of water-soluble silicate compounds, especially sodium and/or potassium waterglass, has been found, for example, in publications by H. Weldes, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol. 61, No. 4, 1969, No. "Properties of Soluble Silicates", pp. 29ff., especially Tables III and IV on page 31 of the above citation. Detailed information on the solubility of said sodium and/or potassium waterglasses is found in this publication, especially in the section "Sodium and Potassium Silicate Solutions" on pages 35-38 of the above citation. In order to complete the disclosure of the present invention, the technical information of these references is hereby specifically incorporated into the subject matter of the present invention.

The silicon additionally provided according to the invention for stabilizing and promoting plant growth is not, however, limited to the silicon components of inorganic origin mentioned so far. Selected plants are known to increase the silicon content of the aerial parts of the plant. Examples are little nettles and/or mare's tail. The teachings of the present invention therefore provide for the use of suitable plant-derived silicon sources available to plants in addition to or instead of inorganic silicon sources, suitable materials being in particular residues and/or extracts of plants of the above-mentioned group, such substances as described in the present invention What is taught can also be applied to plants.

Before discussing other useful substance components in the multicomponent mixture used according to the present invention and the mixing ratio between the components, the following must be clearly stated: according to the present invention, preferred are multisubstance compositions of the above-mentioned type, It is present in the formulation in the form of a homogeneous aqueous concentrate. Specifically, these are ultrafine aqueous organic suspensions having a continuous aqueous phase and a finely divided organic phase. These concentrates can be prepared by dilution or mixing with copious amounts of water to give the spray mixtures required for the practical application and can be applied simply in a known manner. The selection of the individual components (a) to (d) and their concentrations in the multicomponent mixture are determined by necessary considerations and the desired effects for the practical application. The following overview applies first:

The type and amount of the silicon component (b) are selected in such a way that secondary harmful effects, which are not desired for practical use, eg, caused by excessively high alkalinity, do not occur. On the other hand, precisely water-soluble sodium and/or potassium water glass-type silicon compounds are agents used for controlling phytopathogenic fungi on leaf surfaces and have been proven in practice, and the above-mentioned compounds are undoubtedly generally in the form of The application is in the form of an aqueous spray mixture having a silicon compound concentration of approximately 0.1% by weight.

In a preferred embodiment, the organic components, especially components (a) and (c), are selected in such a way that their use according to the invention results in complete coverage of the outer surface of the plant with lipophilic phases (c) and (d), which is contemplated by the present invention. This is an important prerequisite for ensuring adequate development of the oil phase at the application temperature or at least for a limited period of time, eg when exposed to solar radiation, in particular by selecting a suitable substance or composition of substances.

Definitions and descriptions of the basic components (a), (c) and (d) to be used according to the invention are described in the already repeated but not prior-published earlier DE19748884, in principle in This also applies. The disclosure content of this earlier patent application is hereby specifically incorporated into the subject matter of the present disclosure. However, in order to complete the technical information about the multicomponent mixtures to be used according to the invention, the following are stated in general terms:

Regarding (a) "Ecologically Tolerable O/W Wetting Agents"

The wetting agents or surfactants described herein belong in particular to the class of anionic surfactants and/or nonionic surfactants. An important prerequisite is that they are ecologically tolerable and therefore sufficiently biodegradable, in particular in the matrix. Surfactant compounds of the nonionic surfactant class that are rapidly and substantially biodegradable are the preferred type of auxiliary substances described herein.

Examples of suitable anionic surfactants are soaps and biodegradable alkyl sulfates, especially fatty alcohol sulfates. Surfactants based on minor or insufficiently degradable petrochemicals, such as alkylbenzene sulfonates or alkyl ether sulfates, are less suitable. Suitable representatives are the partial esters of phosphoric acid with fatty alcohols, particularly suitable with linear fatty alcohols, preferably of natural origin and thus having an even number of carbon atoms. Suitable esters of short chain fatty alcohols, for example those containing 6 to 10 carbon atoms in the fatty alcohol molecule, are suitable examples. However, alkyl phosphates with longer fatty alcohol residues, for example 12 to 24 carbon atoms, are also suitable in principle. The corresponding fatty alcohol ether phosphates are also suitable, but less preferred.

Biodegradable surfactants belonging to class (a) and which are particularly preferred according to the invention are said compounds which are at least predominantly nonionic in character, additionally preferably originate at least predominantly from natural substances and preferably have an HLB value of 10-18 within range.

It is particularly preferred according to the invention to use, at least to some extent and in particular at least predominantly, alkyl(oligo)glucoside compounds whose alkyl residues originate at least predominantly from linear fatty alcohols. Such compounds, currently also called APG components or APG compounds, are surface-active additives with a wide range of applications. Several factors are important for its current practical application on an industrial scale: It is well known that APG-based wetting agents can be based entirely on natural substances. They can be obtained by reacting fatty alcohols with glucose, oligoglucose, etc., or with polyglucosides such as starch while shortening the chain length to obtain reaction products of the general formula R-O-(G)x, wherein R represents primary, It is preferably straight-chain and has at least 6 carbon atoms, preferably 8-24 carbon atoms, especially an aliphatic hydrocarbon moiety of 8-18 carbon atoms, G represents a monosaccharide unit containing 5-6 carbon atoms, preferably glucose. The degree of oligomerization x—and thus the DP value, which represents the distribution of monoglycosides and oligoglycosides—is generally a value between 1-10 in the surfactant class of the present invention, for example at about 1.2-5 In the range, preferably in the range of about 1.2-4, especially in the range of 1.2-2. Reference is made to the extensive expertise and publications on the preparation and composition of APG compounds of the type described; see for example the book "Alkyl Polyglucosides" by Hill et al., published by VCH-Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Weinheim, 1997.

Regarding (c) "organic compounds containing a lipophilic hydrocarbon moiety of aliphatic structure"

An important characteristic of these additional components (c) is that they are parameters that can be degraded aerobically and anaerobically by natural degradation processes. According to the present invention, the carbon source necessary for organic vegetative growth is the lipophilic hydrocarbon moiety present in this component (c) having an aliphatic structure and therefore a higher concentration of energy-donating C-H groups. As mentioned above, these hydrocarbon moieties having an aliphatic structure may be saturated and/or at least to some extent ethylenically unsaturated. Further considerations regarding the physicochemical makeup of this ingredient, discussed below, may be a contributing factor here.

Preferred ingredient (c) is a biologically tolerable organic compound which is soluble in oil and contains natural fatty residues of at least 6 carbon atoms, especially at least 8 carbon atoms. Preference is given to using suitable components based on linear hydrocarbon moieties or hydrocarbon compounds. Suitable ingredients based at least predominantly on natural substances are of particular importance.

Particularly important representatives of class (c) of substances described here are suitable hydrocarbon compounds which are at least to some extent functionalized with oxygen heteroatoms. Typical examples of ingredients of this type are fatty alcohols and/or fatty acids or derivatives and/or salts thereof. Suitable fatty alcohol or fatty acid derivatives are their esters, ethers and/or amides. Fatty alcohols and esters of fatty acids with monofunctional and/or polyfunctional alcohols are of particular importance for the present invention. When polyfunctional alcohols are used, the term fatty acid ester is extended to full and partial esters. Where appropriate, secondary effects and, hopefully, any synergy thus present in the overall system determine which specific components are the preferred representatives in each particular case. The relevant information in DE19701127 is referred to here by way of example only:

In general, surfactant-based aqueous formulations and in particular suitable aqueous APG-based wetting aids are distinguished by the high foaming capacity of these APG-based nonionic surfactant aids. This is obviously disadvantageous for the field of application of the present invention. It is therefore an additional task to remedy this by the concomitant use of so-called defoamers or defoamers.

Fatty alcohols, partial esters of polyfunctional alcohols, especially lower polyfunctional fatty alcohols such as glycerol, and fatty acids and especially mixtures thereof fulfill this task. However, they are at the same time the carbon source that the present invention intends to use to stimulate and enhance the growth of microorganisms, so they are the best representatives of the component (c) of the present invention.

However, mixtures of aqueous APG concentrates with alcohols and/or partial esters of fatty acids and polyols, especially glycerol, can lead to the formation of gels which can no longer be thickened to a flowable state. However, the addition of limited amounts of lower mono- and/or polyfunctional alcohols, such as ethanol and/or glycerol, to the concentrate of useful substances thickened to a gel-like state in the room temperature range can improve fluidity and Tossing recovery.

Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the determination of the useful substance or mixture of useful substances used as component (c) in a specific case must not only take into account that this component can be used as an optimal carbon source for microbial growth, but also take into account the influence of side effects such as the presence of water. low foaming behavior of submixtures, homogenization of multicomponent mixtures comprising lipophilic components in the aqueous phase and wetting agents of the O/W type, applicability in the sense of dilution with large quantities of water, and subsequent or spray application. These aspects are discussed inter alia in the aforementioned DE19701127. In order to complete the disclosure of the present invention, the subject matter of this disclosure is expressly also incorporated into the disclosure of the present invention.

It is important, especially for trouble-free application of water-based mixtures and their spreading on the plant surface, to select such ingredients with a pour point at least to some extent equal to or lower than 25-30° C., especially equal to or lower than 10-15° C. ( c). Examples of suitable ingredients are ethylenically unsaturated C _12-24 -fatty alcohols of natural origin, especially at least predominantly C _16/18 -fatty alcohols, which have a high degree of ethylenic double bonds and a freezing range equal to or less than 20° C., preferably Equal to or less than 10-15°C. Preferred multicomponent mixtures of this component (c) for use in the present invention are fatty alcohols and saturated, especially at least to some extent ethylenically unsaturated fatty acids with 2-6 carbon atoms, especially 3- Mixture of partial esters of polyfunctional alcohols with 5 carbon atoms. In particular, partial glycerol esters of fatty acids of natural origin are important ingredients for mixtures containing suitable fatty alcohols, in one embodiment preferred mixtures are approximately equal amounts of fatty alcohol and fatty acid partial esters, or contain several times the amount based on fatty alcohol A suitable mixture of partial esters. Suitable mixtures of fatty alcohols and fatty acid partial glycerides are, for example, in a ratio by weight of about 1:1 to 1:10, preferably 1:1 to 1:5, especially about 1:1 to 1:3. However, as previously mentioned, it is also possible to use such fatty acid partial esters alone as component (c). In addition, preferred suitable representatives are substances having a pour point within the above-mentioned range. Other preferred ingredients (c) are eg soaps, and also biodegradable alkyl sulfates, especially fatty alcohol sulfates. Particular preference is given to using soap. The soaps are generally known compounds, potassium soaps of fatty acids containing 6 to 18 and preferably 8 to 14 carbon atoms being particularly preferred within the scope of the technical teaching.

Regarding (d) "phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds containing at least some degree of lipophilic moiety"

The teaching of the invention provides for the preferably concomitant use of additionally selected phosphorus- and/or nitrogen-containing useful substances or useful substance mixtures. Ingredients that can serve as carriers for these two ingredients are preferred representatives of such materials.

The application of the useful substance (d) is influenced simultaneously by the action of the useful substance (c) used and the ecologically acceptable wetting agent. However, a staggered introduction of these useful substance components (d) or a combination of said staggered introduction with the simultaneous introduction of components (a), (b) and (c) is also possible.

A particularly important embodiment of the present invention provides for the use of oil-soluble phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds as ingredient (d) comprising at least some degree of lipophilic moiety. Particularly preferred representatives of these auxiliaries are therefore the phospholipids and/or their derivatives described in DE4437313 as important representatives of these components (d). The subject matter disclosed by this DE 4437313 is hereby specifically incorporated into the subject matter taught by the present disclosure, so that only some essential features are emphasized in particular below. This printed publication has highlighted the effect of added phospholipids on the microbial soil flora, as evidenced by the fact that organic compounds and plant residues present in the soil are more rapidly degraded, leading to an increase in soil microorganisms. The teaching of the present invention preferably additionally provides a lipophilic and flowable component (c) as a carbon source for microbial growth. According to the teachings of the present invention, the lipophilic portion of component (d) is associated with the lipophilic portion of the hydrocarbons in the carbon source (c). This led to the precise mobilization and enhancement of these diverse populations of microbial strains that promote healthy plant growth in unexpected ways.

Preferred constituents of useful substances belonging to category (d) are esters of phosphoric acid with mono- and/or polyhydric alcohols, which have a lipophilic moiety in their molecular structure. In particular the corresponding partial esters of phosphoric acid are also suitable, in which case they are generally used in the form of their partial salts.

Phosphoric esters suitable for this purpose are therefore partial esters of fatty alcohols which introduce the desired lipophilic moiety into the phosphate molecule via the hydrocarbon moiety of the fatty alcohol. In particular, particularly suitable substances for this purpose are partial esters of phosphoric acid with linear fatty alcohols, which compounds are preferably prepared at least substantially using C _6-10 -fatty alcohols and/or lower ethoxylates thereof. In principle, however, phosphate esters of higher aliphatic alcohols having, for example, 12 to 24 carbon atoms are also suitable, and suitable ethylenically unsaturated fatty alcohol residues are also of particular importance here.

However, particularly preferred phosphate esters of useful substances belonging to subclass (d) are phospholipids and phospholipid derivatives. These substances are known to be amphoteric substances obtained from plant or animal cells. According to the teaching of the present invention, preferred phospholipids are suitable compounds of plant origin, or phospholipid derivatives obtained therefrom. Particularly preferred representatives of this class (d) are glycerophospholipids, also commonly known as lecithins. Less preferred are sphingomyelins. Known and available substances are diacylphospholipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerophosphate, diphosphatidylglycerol, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidic acid. Preferred are monoacylphospholipids, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylserine, lysophosphatidylglycerol, lysophosphatidylglycerophosphate, lysodiphosphatidylglycerol, lyso-N - Acylphosphatidylethanolamines and lysophosphatidic acid. Commercially available phosphatidylglycerides known as lecithins and cephalins of vegetable or animal origin are commercially available in large quantities. These preparations are obtained, for example, from oils such as corn germ oil or cottonseed oil or soybean oil. Components belonging to subclass (d) and preferred according to the invention may be glycerophospholipids (enzymatically hydrolyzed lecithins) which can be hydrolyzed by enzymes and which make the compound more hydrophilic due to the removal of fatty acid esters. Only those products which lost their phosphate residues by enzymatic hydrolysis were excluded.

Preferred ingredient (d) is lecithin, lecithin hydrolyzate and/or chemically modified lecithin. These compounds can also be used in admixture with other nitrogen-containing components, particularly preferably urea and/or urea derivatives. Other examples of such additional ingredients are aminoalcohols such as ethanolamine and related compounds.

In a preferred embodiment, the teaching of the present invention provides that the amount of ingredient (c) should be adapted to the amount of phosphorus added via ingredient (d). The amount used to provide the source of carbon for microbial growth (c) should be at least such that the weight ratio of C:P is in the range of about 5-10:1, preferably at least about 20-25:1, and the above weight ratio is based on the composition ( d) Introduced phosphorus based. However, embodiments that ensure substantially higher C:P ratios are preferred. An important lower limit is therefore 40:1, preferably in the range of at least 50:1. In general, larger amounts of carbon sources are also possible, so C:P weight ratios of about 100:1 up to 500:1 or even beyond this are within the teachings of the present invention. Optimal distribution of carbon sources available to microbial growth thus enables the stimulation and support of organotrophic microbial growth described in the present subject matter.

In a preferred embodiment of the useful substance mixture of ingredients (a) and (d) and concomitant use of ingredient (c), the amounts of the ingredients in the mixture are designed so that the resulting P:N:C weight ratio is at least about In the range of 1:10:10 to 1:10:100.

The general rule, with respect to the employed amounts of ingredients (a), (c) and (d) on the one hand, and silicon-containing ingredient (b) on the other hand, is that ingredient (b) is -however based on its silicon content- is currently used in lesser quantities. Preferably the silicon content in the useful substance mixture to be applied to the plant surface is rather low, for example at least about a power of 10 lower than the mixture of components (a), (c) and (d) - still based on silicon.

Preferred for practice are water-diluted spray compositions in which the amounts of the ingredients discussed herein correspond approximately to the following quantitative ranges (expressed in percent by weight and based on the spray mixture used):

Wetting agent (a), especially APG:

0.01-0.1% by weight, the preferred amount is in the range of about 0.05% by weight.

The silicon content of component (b) used is calculated to be about 0.001-0.1% by weight Si, preferably in an amount in the range of about 0.002-0.05% by weight Si.

For example, if potassium water glass is used as silicon-containing component, the corresponding content of potassium water glass in the preferred spray mixture according to the invention is in the range of about 0.02 to 0.5% by weight.

Carbon sources defined as useful substances of category (c):

0.05-0.2% by weight, preferably 0.08-0.15% by weight.

Lecithins as typical and preferred representatives of component (d):

0.04-0.8% by weight.

In a further embodiment, the teaching of the present invention provides for the simultaneous and/or staggered use of the abovementioned multicomponent mixtures according to the invention together with other, in particular synthetic, plant protection agents. Preference is given to combination with suitable fungicides. However, an essential element of the teaching of the invention is found here in a preferred additional teaching: When mixing the mixture of useful substances according to the invention with conventional plant protection agents, in particular suitable fungicides, these conventional The amount of ingredients used is substantially reduced. Thus, the synthetic plant protection ingredients which can be used concomitantly in practice can be only a maximum of 50-75% of the customary use, or where appropriate practically a maximum of 20-30%.

Special mention should be made here of a meaningful additional useful ingredient that can be used concomitantly herein. These useful substance components have a chitin and/or chitosan structure, these compounds may be those with a polymer structure, but particularly suitable compounds have an oligomeric structure.

Cultivation and treatment of beneficial and ornamental plants with a multicomponent mixture of useful substances of at least predominantly organic origin not only promotes plant growth but also increases the health of plants relative to pathogens, especially from fungal, bacterial and/or viral diseases Pathogens in the field, accompanied by the use of said useful substance components having a chitin and/or chitin structure and simultaneously having an oligomer and/or polymer structure, combined with simultaneous and/or staggered administration of the compounds defined in the present invention Surfactant components belonging to subclass (a) above and component (c) above - organic compounds containing lipophilic saturated and/or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon moieties containing fatty structures which can be degraded both aerobically and anaerobically are the applicant company The subject of an earlier application DE19849253.7. The disclosure of this earlier application is hereby specifically incorporated into the disclosure of other embodiments of the technical teaching of the present invention discussed herein. Reference is made in particular to this earlier application for detailed information on the prior art on the use of chitin/deacetyl-derivatives in the field of plant protection. The following is only a brief summary:

It is known from the relevant prior art that substantial improvements in the field of agriculture can be obtained through the concomitant use of chitin and chitin-based derivatives, especially chitosan, by improving plant health on the one hand, and on the other. This aspect is evidenced notably by increasing production. Among the numerous literature reference is made, for example, to the paper "CHITIN WORLD" by Zbigniew S. Karnicki et al., Wirtschaftsverlag NW, Verlag für neue Wissenschaft GmbH, D, Bremerhaven, 1994. For example, reference may be made to pages 246-254 of the paper "NEW APPLICATION OF CHITOSAN INAGRICULTURE" by Henryk Pospieszny et al. and references cited therein. See also the publication "Application of Chitin and Chitosan", edited by M.F.A. Goosen, Technomic Publishing Company Inc. Lancaster, USA, Chapter 8, Donald Freepons "Enhancing Food Production with Chitosan Seed-Coating Technology" and the rest of the same reference: p. Chapter 1, "Application and Properties of Chitosan" by Q. Li et al.; Chapter 2, "Applications of Chitin and Chitosan in the Ecological and Environmental Fields" by Shigehiro Hirano, and Chapter 11, "NewApplications of Chitin and Its Derivatives in Plant Protection". Finally, reference may be made to the papers "CHITOSAN, A NATURAL REGULATOR INPLANT-FUNGAL PATHOGEN INTERACTIONS, INCREASES CROPYIELDS" by Lee A. Hadwiger et al., Academic Press Inc., 1984, from pp. 291, and "Biotechnology Annual Review Volume 2", Publication in Elsevier Science B.V. 1996, "Chitin biotechnology applications" by SHIGEHIRO HIRANO cited above, pp. 237-258.

The literature cited in this paper proves that chitin or its derivatives, which are natural substances, especially chitosan obtained by deacetylation, have significant activity in the process of plant growth, which lies in whether it is in the form of oligomers Also in the form of polymers there is a marked activity against pathogens, especially in the field of fungal, bacterial and/or viral diseases.

If chitin and/or especially chitosan is used in admixture with components (a), (b), (c) and, where appropriate, also with (d), the amounts used are in each case based on the free At least 0.05%, in particular at least 0.1-1%, by weight of the aqueous multicomponent mixture. What is important is that even such small amounts of chitin- or chitosan-based components can substantially influence life processes in soil and plants, in particular promoting the growth of healthy microbial flora and thus plant growth as well as inhibiting growth of pests.

In a further embodiment of the teaching of the present invention, additives in terms of plant strengthening can additionally be added to the multicomponent mixture described above. As examples of properties, reference may be made to concomitant use of environmentally tolerable antioxidants, in particular antioxidants derived from tocopherol and/or ascorbic acid and derivatives thereof. The supposedly active principle of these additives is known to be that these antioxidants also - like the above-mentioned chitin- or chitosan-based additives - act as so-called "elicitors" which stimulate The plant's own immune system, thereby increasing its resistance to the adverse effects of the plants thus treated. In the related prior art, reference may be made, for example, to DE4437945A1 which describes a plant enhancer comprising vitamin E, surfactants and, where appropriate, other formulation aids in a carrier suitable for application to plants and Based on a special aqueous solvent system. Furthermore, antioxidants without phytotoxic effects, in particular vitamin C and/or carotenoids, can be used concomitantly. Embodiments of water-based emulsions of the above-described principal ingredients with additional enhanced activities as described above can be devised in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Example

Stress in plants leads to derailment of physiological processes. Deviations from normal metabolism occur even before the plants develop overt symptoms of damage (eg wilting, necrosis, yellowing). Any stress that is directly or indirectly involved in the photosynthetic process involves changes in chlorophyll fluorescence emission. The effects of various stressors on plants have been demonstrated by numerous studies using fluorescence measurements. These stresses include factors such as low and high temperatures, ozone, lack of water, sulfur dioxide, herbicides, surfactants (as examples of abiotic stresses) or phytopathogenic fungi (as examples of biotic stresses).

Measures that may help reduce stress or increase plant resistance to abiotic or biotic factors are therefore becoming more and more important in the application of applied research, especially of ecological orientation, to plant protection.

method:

10-day-old soybean seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris) were selected and moved into cultivation containers with tillage soil and sand, and sprayed with a surfactant-containing potassium water glass solution as a plant strengthening ingredient.

For this, the following quantities of potassium water glass (in brackets: pure silicon) are used:

0.02% (0.002%)

0.1% (0.01%)

0.5% (0.05%)

7 days after exposure, primary leaves of plants were treated with 0.3 mmol/l paraquat as an abiotic stressor (=experiment part A) or Botrytis cinerea ( ¹⁰⁶ spores/leaf) as a biotic stressor (=experiment part B) .

In part A of the experiment, chlorophyll fluorescence was measured 4, 24 and 48 hours after application of the stressor paraquat. In part B of the experiment, chlorophyll fluorescence was measured 24, 48, 72 and 120 hours after application of the stressor Botrytis.

All measurements were performed at room temperature in the dark using a fluorometer. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured on plants that had been dark adapted for 30 minutes as described in the specialist literature (eg: (1) Koch, C., G. Noga, G. Strittmatter (1994): Between potato and Phytophthora infestans cultivar/ In the early stage of genus-specific interaction, photosynthetic electron transfer is affected differently, Planta 193:551-557; (2) Schmitz, M., G. Noga (1998): α-tocopherol reduces environmental stress and Improves fruit quality; ActaHort. 466:89-94, ISHS 1998)).

result:

Part A: Paraquat

The intensity of the fluorescence is taken as a measure of plant resistance, i.e. the stronger the fluorescence, the more robust/healthy the plant. As expected, the fluorescence of plants that had been treated with the stressor paraquat was weaker than that of plants not exposed to the stressor. The fluorescence of the plants that had been treated with the test substance potassium water glass was significantly stronger than that of the stressed plants. All tested doses of potassium water glass (0.2-5.0 g/m ² ) also gave fluorescence values as good as the unstressed control.

Table 1 : Leaf treatment with selected plant enhancers and its effect on the corresponding chlorophyll fluorescence of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) 7 days after treatment with plant enhancers; n=8. variable 4h 24h 48h control 0.62 0.63 0.60 Paraquat 0.43 0.54 0.51 Potassium silicate 0.2g/m ² 0.60 0.59 0.60 Potassium silicate 1.0g/m ² 0.56 0.60 0.60 Potassium silicate 5.0g/m ² 0.58 0.61 0.62

Part B: Botrytis

The intensity of the fluorescence is taken as a measure of plant resistance, i.e. the stronger the fluorescence, the more robust/healthy the plant. As expected, the fluorescence of plants that had been treated with the biological stressor Botrytis cinerea was weaker than that of plants not exposed to the stressor. Plants that had been treated with the test substance potassium water glass showed significantly stronger fluorescence than stressor-treated plants (Table 2).

Table 2: Leaf treatment with selected plant enhancers and its effect on the corresponding chlorophyll fluorescence of kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) 7 days after treatment with plant enhancers; n=8. variable 24h 48h 72h 120h control 2.1 20.5 2.09 1.75 Paraquat 1.81 1.60 1.50 1.06 Potassium silicate 0.2g/m ² 1.90 1.73 1.62 1.54 Potassium silicate 1.0g/m ² 1.90 1.61 1.60 1.59 Potassium silicate 5.0g/m ² 1.85 1.72 1.74 1.41

table 3: Example number Potassium water glass (concentration 30wt.%) Potassium soap based on _C8-14 fatty acid (concentration 40wt.%) C _8-10 Alkyl-1.5-Glucoside (concentration 30wt.%) Diglycerin Lecithin (lyophilized) 1 66g 17g 17g 2 44g 22g 34g 3 34g 16g 50g 4 73g 7g 15g ^* 4.5g 0.5g 5 98g -- 0.5g ^* 0.45g 0.05g

^* Concentration of 63wt.% APG solution

Examples 1-3 above represent combinations of potassium soap and APG compound mixed with water glass. Examples 4-5 show that it is also possible to combine other additives, here preferably diglycerol and useful substances of class (c). Diglycerin may act as an emulsifier, in which case, as in Example 5 here, the use of potassium soap may not be required.

Claims (21)

1. A multicomponent mixture for the preventive and/or therapeutic enhancement of beneficial plants and/or ornamental plants against pathogens, especially pathogenic ones, by applying the mixture of useful substances in the form of an aqueous formulation to the aerial parts of the plants Infestation of pathogens in fungi, and against more detrimental effects such as drought stress or mechanical stress such as hail, the mixture includes (a) an ecologically tolerable O/W wetting agent, (b) water-soluble or water-swellable silicon compounds that are also plant-available, and (c) Lipophilic saturated and/or ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon moieties having an aliphatic structure, simultaneously being aerobically and anaerobically degradable organic compounds. 2. The multicomponent mixture according to claim 1, further comprising, as component (d), a phosphorus and/or nitrogen compound having at least some degree of lipophilic moiety. 3. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising alkali metal silicates, especially sodium water glass and/or potassium water glass, alkali metal metasilicates and/or silica sol or silica gel, and Plant extracts with a higher silicon content, such as extracts of nettles and/or algae, can also be included as component (b) if desired. 4. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claims 1-3, comprising as component (a) at least mainly nonionic biodegradable surfactants, and preferably at least mainly derived from natural substances and preferably The HLB value is in the range of 10-18. 5. The multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-4, wherein component (a) is at least to some extent, preferably at least predominantly, alkyl (oligo)glucoside compounds (APG compounds), the alkyl residues of which At least primarily from straight chain fatty alcohols. 6. Multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-5, comprising glucose and APG compounds, especially fatty alcohols, containing at least 6 carbon atoms, preferably 8-24 carbon atoms, said APG compounds Is based on natural substances and has a DP value in the range of 1.2-5. 7. The multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-6, wherein component (c) is functionalized at least to some extent with oxygen as a heteroatom, preferably with fatty alcohols and/or fatty acids or derivatives thereof, such as corresponding esters or Partial esters, ethers and/or amides. 8. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claims 1-8, wherein component (c) is also at least mainly based on natural substances. 9. The multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-8, wherein component (c) has a pour point at least to some extent equal to or lower than 25-30°C, in particular equal to or lower than 10-15°C. 10. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claims 1 to 9, wherein the ethylenically unsaturated C _12-24 -fatty alcohol, in particular at least predominantly has a high degree of ethylenic double bonds and has a freezing range equal to or below 20° C., Preferably C16 _/18 -fatty alcohols at or below 10-15°C, and/or fatty acid esters or fatty acid partial esters such as suitable glycerides as component (c), mixtures possibly containing the above-mentioned component (c) are preferred of. 11. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claims 1-10, wherein soap is used as component (c), particularly preferably soap is used in combination with an APG compound. 12. The multicomponent mixture as claimed in claims 1-11, wherein oil-soluble phosphorus and/or nitrogen compounds are used as constituent (d) compounds, said compounds containing at least some lipophilic moieties. 13. The multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-12, wherein lecithin, lecithin hydrolyzate and/or chemically modified lecithin - preferably its mixture with other nitrogenous macronutrients - as component (d) , preferably urea and/or urea derivatives are used as further nitrogen-containing components. 14. The multi-component mixture according to claims 1-13, further comprising organic nitrogen compounds of the chitin and/or chitosan type with oligomeric and/or polymeric structures. 15. The multicomponent mixture according to claims 1-14, further comprising environmentally tolerable antioxidants, especially suitable tocopherols and/or ascorbic acid. 16. Multicomponent mixtures according to claims 1 to 15, formulated in the form of homogenized aqueous concentrates, which can be processed by diluting or mixing with large quantities of water to give the spray mixtures required for the actual application. 17. Use of the multi-component mixture according to claims 1-16 for prophylactically and/or therapeutically enhancing the resistance of plants to harmful effects, in particular for controlling and/or protecting plants from fungal attack, by applying the above-ground The partial application of the homogenized aqueous formulation of the active substance mixture of components (a), (b) and (c) is preferably achieved in conjunction with the simultaneous and/or staggered application of component (d). 18. Use according to claim 17, wherein the aqueous formulation of the multicomponent mixture is applied to the above-ground parts of the plant by spray application. 19. Use according to claims 17 and 18, wherein the silicon content of the aqueous formulation of the multicomponent mixture for application to plants is - calculated - in the range of 0.001-0.1% by weight silicon, preferably 0.002-0.05% by weight silicon within range. 20. The use as claimed in claims 17-19, wherein simultaneously and/or in a staggered manner together with other, especially synthetic, plant protection agents - preferably in combination with suitable fungicides - and/or for enhancing the defense of the plants themselves The multicomponent mixtures according to the invention are used together with the elicitors of the system, preferably in significantly lower amounts than when the synthetic plant protection agents are used alone. 21. Use as claimed in claims 17-20, wherein on beneficial plants, especially on fruit and vegetable growth or other plants which are desired to be used, representatives of nutritionally physiologically acceptable components (a)-(d) are used thing.