GB2099302A - Fungicide preparation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fungicide preparation comprising, in admixture, one or more methyl benzimidazole carbamate fungicides and a foliar fertiliser, the mixture having been found to produce improved fungicidal performance over the use of equivalent proportions of the fungicide material itself.

Description

SPECIFICATION Afungicide preparation and a method of using it This invention relates to a fungicide preparation and a method for using it and has as its object the improvement of the fungicide activities of known fungicide preparations.

According to the present invention a fungicide preparation comprises an MBC fungicide (as herein defined), a mixture of MBC fungicides, or mixture of MBC fungicides with one or more other fungicides, with a foliarfertiliser.

The term "MBC fungicide" is used herein to refer both to methyl benzimidazole carbamate fungicides such as Benomyl and Carbendazim, and to fungicides such as Thiabendazole, Thiophanate and Thiophanate-methyl which produce or generate methyl benzimidazole carbamates in use. These compounds have formuiae as follows:: BENOMYL-Methyl 1 t (butylcarbamoyl) benzimidazol - 2 - yl carbamate CARBENDAZIM - Methyl benzimidazol - 2 - yl carbamate THIOPHANATE METHYL - Di methyl 4,4' - (o phenylene) bis (3 - thiollophanate) THIABENDAZOLE -2 - (thiazol -4- yl) benzimidazole THIOPHANATE - Diethyl 4,4' - (o - phenylene) bis (3 thiallophanate) When other non MBC fungicides are utilised together with one or more MBC fungicide to form a fungicide preparation ofthe present invention, the said other fungicide orfungicides may be one of the following:: BUPIRIMATE - 5 - butyl - 2 - (ethylamino) - 6 - methyl pyrimidin - 4 - yl dimethyl sulphamate DODEMORPH - 4 - cyclododecyl - 2,6 - dimethylmorpholine ETHIRIMOL - 5 - butyl - 2 - ethylamino - 6 - methyl pyrimidin - 4 - ol FENARIMOL - 2,4' - dichloro - a- - (pyrimidin - 5 - yl) benzhydryl alcohol METALAXYL - N - (2 - methoxyacetyl) - N - (2,6 xylyl) - DL- alaninate NITROTHAL - ISOPROPYL - di - isopropyl 5 - nitroisophthalate PYRAZOPHOS - 0-6 - ethoxycarbonyl - 5 - methylpyrazolo [1,5 - aj pyrimidin - 2 - yl o,o - diethyl phosphorothioate TRIADIMEFON -1 - (4- chlorophenoxy) - 3,3 dimethyl - 1 - (1,2,4 - triazol - 1 - yl) butanone TRIDEMORPH - 2,6 - dimethyl - 4 - tridecylmorpholine TRIFORINE- 1,4 - bis(2,2,2 - trichloro - 1 - for- mamidoethyl) piperazine The names listed above in upper case letters are British Standard Common Names for the defined compounds.

The preferred MBC fungicides for use in the present invention are Benoyml and/or Carbendazim, Triforine being the preferred non-MBC fungicide. A preparation containing Carbendazim and triforine is particularly preferred.

The fertiliser used should preferably be easily dissolved in water and may contain one or more of the following conventional fertiliser ingredients.

Sources of Nitrogen Ammonium sulphate Ammonium nitrate Monammonium phosphate Diammonium phosphate Potassium nitrate Urea Sources of Phosphorus Monammonium phosphate Diammonium phosphate Potassium phosphate Superphosphate Sources of Potassium Potassium chloride Potassium nitrate Potassium phosphate Potassium Sulphate The fertiliser may further contain trace elements such as iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum, zinc, copper, colbalt and other additives such as chelating agents, vitamins and growth hormones.

The fungicide preparation of the present invention is conveniently in the form of a powder or liquid preparation and is best applied as an aqueous solution or dispersion. The fungicide component of the preparation may be made up into an aqueous solution or dispersion and then the fertiliser added or alternatively the fungicide and fertiliser components may be mixed together and then made up into an aqueous solution or dispersion.

The fungicide component of a preparation according to the present invention is preferably present in such solution or dispersion in an amount of 0.005% to 5.0%, more preferably 0.05% to 1.25%, by weight in water.

The fertiliser is preferably present in such solution or dispersion in an amount of 0.1% to 2.0% more preferably about 0.6%, by weight in water.

Preparations comprising a mixture of a variety of fungicides and a like variety of fertilisers hav been proposed. However the use of the particular MBC fungicides and like variety offertilisers have been foliarfertiliseris believed to be novel and has moreover been found to give an entirely unexpected increase in fungicidal performance. While it might be expected that the addition of a fertiliserto such a known fungicidal compound would improve the growth of the plants to which it is applied, what is unexpected is that the control of plant disease is significantly, and in some cases greatly, improved by application of the mixed preparation of the present invention.

The available literature regarding fertilisers in general and foliarfertiliser in particular contains, to the best of the Applicants knowledge and belief, no evidence of fertilisers per se showing fungicidal activity, certainly none which would explain the improved fungicidal performance ofthe present invention. Moreover it is not believed reasonable to suppose that any increase in fungicidal activity may be a result of the beneficial effect on the growth of the plant attributable to the fertiliser. Indeed it has been shown in relation to many fertilisers that their application to plants, while increasing the growth of the plant, leaves it more susceptible to fungal attack.

There will appear below a number of examples of preparations according to the present invention and their use from which will be apparent the increase in fungicidal performance.

EXAMPLE 1 A 0.05% by weight dispersion ofthe fungicide Benomyl in water was applied to roses infected with the rose powdery mildew (Sphareothera pannosa).

The amount of disease was assessed by estimating the percentage of the leaf affected by the disease.

This gave a 31.6% control ofthe disease.

This was repeated using a 0.05% by weight dispersion of Benomyl in water containing 0.6% of a fertiliser. This gave a 50.0% control ofthe disease.

EXAMPLE 2 4.5 grams of Benomyl wettable powder were dispersed in 4.5 litres of water. 26.7mi of a liquid fertiliserA ofthe following commercially available composition.

%wlw Water 69.31 Sodium EDTA 0.25 Monammonium phosphate 5.48 Potassium phosphate 6.93 Urea 13.87 Potassium nitrate 3.46 Copper EDTA 0.03 Magnesium EDTA 0.42 Manganese EDTA 0.06 Zine ED-TA 0.03 Cobalt EDTA 0.02 Ferric monosodium detarate 0.10 Sodium molybdate 0.01 Borax 0.03 were added to the Benomyl cispersion which was then well mixed. This fertiliser composition is a commercially available liquid fertiliser sold as a foliar feed and containing many trace elements as well as the major nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The mixture was sprayed on to a third of a plot of roses infected with rose powdery mildew.

A dispersion of 4.5 grams of Benomyl wettable powder in 4.5 litres of water was sprayed on to another third of the same plot of roses The remaining third was left untreated.

Two weeks after spraying the roses were examined and the amount of disease present was assessed.

% leaf area affected by Treatment mildew Untreated 13.7 4.59 benomyl wettable powder 10.3 4.59 benomyl wettable powder + 26.7ml fertiliser A 5.2 EXAMPLE3 14.2ml of a fungicide containing 100 grammes per litre of Carbendazim and 100 grammes per litre of Triforine were diluted in 4.5 litre of water. 26.7ml of the same fertiliser A as used in Example 2 were added and the mixture used to spray a third of a plot of roses infected with rose black spot (Diplocarpon rosea).

14.2ml of the above fungicide in 4.5 litre of water were used to spray a further third of the plot of roses.

The remaining third of the plot was left untreated.

Two weeks after spraying the roses were examined and the amount of black spot present was assessed.

% leaf are affected by Treatment black spot Untreated 18.3 14.2ml fungicide 13.3 14.2ml fungicide + 26.6ml fertiliserA 6.7 EXAMPLE 4 1. Afungicide + fertiliser composition was made up using the following ingredients.

% w/wCarbendazim (9 & %) 26.97 China Clay 1.90 Berol 02P 1.66 (i) Ultrazine NA 2.66 Urea 17.43 Monammonium phosphate 21.84 Potassium nitrate 22.16 (ii) Sequestrene NA2 4.33 Synthetic fine silica 1.05 Ingredients (i) were mixed and milled as were ingredients (ii). (i) and (ii) were then mixed together.

2. A composition containing fungicide only was prepared as follows: %W/W Carbendazim (98.7%) 51.26 China Clay 35.74 Berol 02P 5.00 Ultrazine NA 8.00 The ingredients were then milled.

1.0kg of composition 1 was mixed with 200 litre of water to give a dispersion containing 250g of Carbendazim. 0.5kg of composition 2 was similarly mixed with 200 litre of water give a dispersion containing 2509 of Carbendazim. The dispersions were used to spray 1 hectare plots of Winter Barley infected with mildew (Erysiphe graminus). Athird hectare plot was left untreated. Two weeks after spraying the barley was examined and the amount of mildew present was assessed.

% area of 4th leaf affected Treatment by mildew Untreated 14.7 Composition 2 (fungicide only) 13.4 Composition 1 (fungicide + fertiliser) 5.7 EXAMPLE 5 1.0keg of composition 1 of Example 4 was mixed with 200 litres of water to give a dispersion contain ing 250g of Carbendazim. 0.5kg of composition 2 of Example 4 was similarly mixed with 200 litres of water to give a dispersion containing 250g of carbendazim. The dispersions were used to spray 1 hectare plots of Winter Wheat infected with eye spot. A third 1 hectare plot was left untreated. Six weeks after application, all three plots were examined and the amount of eye spot present was assessed.

% of plants infected by Treatment eye spot Untreated 23.2 Composition 2 (fungicide only) 6.0 Composition 1 (fungicide + fertiliser) 1 4.0 EXAMPLES 6,7,8,9 A composition was prepared by taking a proprietary wettable powder product containing 50% Carbendazim and mixing it with foliar fertiliser ingredients to make a combined fungicidelfertiliser mixture.

Composition 3 % wiz Carbendazim 50% wettable powder 50.0 Urea 13.0 Monammonium phosphate 16.4 Potassium nitrate 16.5 Sequestrene NA2 3.0 Synthetic silica 1.1 The composition was mixed with water to give a concentration of 0.125% Carbendazim. The proprietary Carbendazim wettable powder was also mixed with water to give a concentration of 0.125% Carbendazim and each was used to spray a plot in a field of winter barley infected with mildew. A third plot was left untreated. Two weeks after spraying the barley was examined and the amount of mildew present was assessed.

Plots in four other fields were treated in a similar manner.

% area of 3rd leaf affected by mildew Treatment Ex. 6 Ex.7 Ex.8 8 Ex.9 mean Untreated 3.3 6.8 14.7 | 32.9 14.4 Carbendazim 50% wettable powder 1.6 3.9 4.0 | 9.0 4.6 Composition 3 1.G 1 1.1 3.4 ss 8.0 3.3

EXAMPLE 10 Composition 3 and the proprietary Carbendazim wettable powder were mixed with water to give a concentration of 0.125% and used to spray plots of Winter Field Beans infected with Chocolate Spot. A third plot was left unsprayed.

Two weeks after application the plots were examined and the amount of Chocolate Spot assessed.

% Chocolate Spot * Treatment B M T Untreated 18.5 9.8 0.6 Carbendazim 50% Wettable Powder 11.2 4.0 0.3 Composition 3 9.6 3.9 0.3 sfor assessment of Chocolate Spot the stem of the plant is divided into three equal sections, bottom (B), middle (M) and top (T).

EXAMPLES 11, 12, 13, 14 Composition 3 and the proprietary Carbendazim wettable powder were mixed with water to give a concentration of 0.125% Carbendazim and used to spray plots of Winter Barley infected with Eyespot in 5 different fields. In each field a plot was left untreated. Four weeks after application the plots were examined and the amount of Eyespot assessed.

% Eyespot Treatment Ex.11 Ex.12 Ex.13 Ex.14 mean Untreated 74.2 18.3 31.6 17.6 35.4 Carbendazim 50% wettable powder 41.0 4.1 14.0 6.0 16.3 Composition 3 30.6 2.3 4.0 5.6 10.6 EXAMPLES 15, 16, 17 Composition 3 and the proprietary Carbendazim wettable powder were mixed with water to give a concentration of 0.125% Carbendazim and used to spray plots of Winter Wheat infected with Eyespot in 4 different fields. In each field a plot was left untreated.

Four weeks after application the plots were examined and the amount of eyespot assessed.

%Eyespot Treatment Mean Ex.15 Vex 16 Ex.17 Untreated 42.0 23.0 34.6 33.2 50% Carbendazim Wettable Powder 12.0 6.0 12.0 10.0 Composition 3 6.0 2.0 10.6 6.2 According to a further aspect of the invention a method combating fungal disease in a plant or crop comprises applying a fungicide preparation as defined above to the plant or crop.

The application of the fungicide preparation of the present invention to the plant or crop is preferably by spraying an aqueous solution or dispersion thereof on to the aerial parts of the plants although it is contemplated that other methods of application such as dusting the leaves with the dry preparation or applying it to the soil for absorbtion through roots may prove feasible.

While it is not essential that the fungicide andfer- tilisercomponents of the preparation of the present invention are premixed it will usually be moreconvenient to the user if the preparation can be supplied in this form as he will then have only to measure out and add to his spray tank one preparation instead of two. In today's highly competitive conditions any saving in time or labour is important especially during the spring spraying season when the period available for spraying is often reduced owing to unsuitable weather.

Claims (9)

1. Afungicide prepartion comprising an MBC fungicide (as herein defined), a mixture of MBC fungicides, or a mixture of MBC fungicides with one or more other fungicides, in admixture with a foliar fertiliser.

2. Afungicide preparation as claimed in claim 1 in which the MBC fungicide component comprises Benomyl and/or Carbendazim.

3. A fungicide preparation as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 containing Triforine as a non-MBC fungicide.

4. A fungicide preparation as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the MBC fungicide is Carbendazim and the fertiliser comprises urea, monammonium phosphate and/or potassium nitrate.

5. Afungicide preparation as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the fungicide component thereof is present in aqueous solution or dispersion in an amount from 0.005% to 5% by weight.

6. A fungicide preparation as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the fertiliser component thereof is present in aqueous solution or dispersion in an amount from 0.1% to 2%.

7. Afungicide preparation as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described in the Examples.

8. A method of combating fungal disease in a plant or crop comprising applying a fungicide preparation as claimed in any of the preceding claims to the plant or crop.

9. A method of combating fungal disease as claimed in claim 8 and substantially as described in the Examples.