EP4401559A1

EP4401559A1 - Method of controlling fungal diseases

Info

Publication number: EP4401559A1
Application number: EP22777294.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David ROLDAN; Angel Rodriguez TELLO; Ricardo Marquez; Alicia Moreno MUÑOZ; Humberto Merayo ALBA
Original assignee: UPL Europe Ltd; UPL Corp Ltd
Current assignee: UPL Europe Ltd; UPL Corp Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-17
Filing date: 2022-09-16
Publication date: 2024-07-24
Also published as: UY39948A; WO2023041929A1; MX2024003198A; CO2024004680A2; CL2024000759A1; AU2022348205A1; PY2281462A

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of controlling fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family using a liquid sulphur formulation.

Description

Title: Method of controlling fungal diseases

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method of controlling fungal diseases. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of controlling fungal diseases in the Cucurbitaceae family.

Background and prior art of the invention

Managing diseases is a very important factor in the production for melons, cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins, and other cucurbit crops. The already extensive list of more than 200 cucurbit diseases has expanded recently to include cucurbit yellow vine disease, Acremonium collapse, Rhizopycnis root rot, bacterial blight, cucumber root mat, cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus, cucurbit leaf crumple virus, and cucurbit leaf curl virus.

Crops of the Cucurbitaceae family are exposed to different plant pathogens causing serious diseases and yield losses. Powdery mildew is the most serious disease that attacks squash plants and causes 30-50% of yield losses. The causal agent of cucurbit powdery mildew disease is Podosphaera xanthii (also known as Podosphaera fuliginea), which is one of the most important limiting factors of cucurbit production all over the world.

Powdery mildew affects almost all cucurbits under field and greenhouse conditions. It is the most common disease of cucurbits and a serious threat in many countries. It is caused by airborne fungi Podosphaera fuliginea. Powdery mildew is on one of the most important limiting factors for cucurbit production. The disease is widely distributed and destructive among cucurbits in most areas of the world and can be a major production problem causing yield losses of 30%-50%. The disease first appears on older leaves. Conidia are produced profusely in the white powdery mycelium, and these spores spread quickly through wind to the adjacent leaves or plants as well as travel over long distances.

The consistent fungicide application to control P. xanthii in field has led to the development of resistance to various chemicals, thereby reducing the effectiveness of these treatments. Thus, efforts are being made to develop novel techniques to control powdery mildew in the field.

The role of elemental sulphur as a pesticide has been known for a long time. Sulphur is mostly available in its elemental form and different formulations such as granules, pellets, powders, etc. are known for providing sulphur in a form for use as a fertilizer or pesticide. However, the problems associated with sulfur formulations include formation of unsightly residue on ornamentals and the tendency of particulate sulfur to settle down when in liquid form.

US Patent Publication No. 2014/0044765, filed by the present applicant discloses a stable formulation of mineral oil and sulfur having a superior insecticidal efficacy and a low phytotoxicity. The stable formulation disclosed therein consists of mineral oil; and a suspension concentrate comprising particulate sulfur suspended in an aqueous medium comprising at least one wetting agent, wherein said particulate sulfur has a particle size diameter distribution of D90 less than about 10 microns. However, the said disclosure only discusses the use of the formulation disclosed therein as an insecticide.

Moreover, a formulation with a high loading of sulfur has not been reported for control of fungal pathogens in crops, more specifically, crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

The need to reduce yield losses caused by Podosphaera spp. infestation in crops at large, as well as crops of the Cucurbitaceae family is urgent. The present inventors have aimed at providing a method of controlling fungal infestation in crops using a liquid sulfur formulation having reduced phytotoxicity, low residue formation, and efficient fungicidal activity against fungal pathogens causing powdery mildew in crops, more specifically crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Object of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling fungal diseases in Cucurbitaceae family of vegetation using a liquid sulphur composition.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling cucurbit powdery mildew disease using a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is having reduced phytotoxic effect in plants, low residue formation, and efficient fungicidal activity. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method of controlling cucurbit powdery mildew disease using a liquid sulphur formulation.

The aforementioned objects and associated objects of the present invention would be apparent from the description of the invention as set out hereinafter.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to a method of controlling fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family using a liquid sulphur composition.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprising applying to a locus of growing crops a liquid sulphur composition.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprising applying to a locus of growing crops a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method of controlling cucurbit powdery mildew disease using a liquid sulphur formulation.

In an additional aspect, the present invention relates to a method of controlling fungal diseases using a liquid sulphur formulation.

In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a liquid sulphur composition against powdery mildew in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Detailed description of the invention

For the purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of materials/ingredients used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". The term "about" used to qualify the amounts of active components shall be interpreted to mean "approximately" or "reasonably close to" and any statistically insignificant variations therefrom.

As used herein, the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to.

In any aspect or embodiment described hereinbelow, the phrase comprising may be replaced by the phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of”. In these aspects or embodiment, the combination or composition described includes or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of or consists substantially of the specific components recited therein, to the exclusion of other ingredients or excipients not specifically recited therein.

The term ‘disease control’ as used herein denotes control and prevention of a disease. Controlling effects include all deviation from natural development, for example: killing, retardation, inhibition or decrease of the fugal disease.

The term ‘plants’ refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage and fruits.

The term “locus” of a plant as used herein is intended to embrace the place on which the plants are growing, where the plant propagation materials of the plants are sown or where the plant propagation materials of the plants will be placed into the soil.

The term “plant propagation material” is understood to denote generative parts of a plant, such as seeds, vegetative material such as cuttings or tubers, roots, fruits, tubers, bulbs, rhizomes and parts of plants, germinated plants and young plants which are to be transplanted after germination or after emergence from the soil. These young plants may be protected before transplantation by a total or partial treatment by immersion.

The term "pesticidally effective amount" of mineral oil is that quantity of mineral oil which when applied in that 'amount will provide the required control of insect and pests. The particular amount is dependent upon many factors including, for example, the crop, pest to be controlled and environmental conditions. The selection of the proper quantity of active agent to be applied, however, is within the expertise of one skilled in the art and is not considered particularly limiting.

The term “agriculturally acceptable amount of active” refers to an amount of an active that kills or inhibits the plant disease for which control is desired, in an amount not significantly toxic to the plant being treated.

As used herein, the term % disease severity refers to the percentage decay observed in the crops in terms of the percentage of relevant host tissues covered by lesions or damaged by the disease. Seventy results from the number and size of the lesions. The % seventy indicates the extent of damage caused by the disease.

As used therein, the terms % disease control refers to the % control and prevention of a disease in crops.

Each of the aspects described above may have one or more embodiments.

Each of the embodiments described hereinafter may apply to one or all the aspects described hereinabove. These embodiments are intended to be read as being preferred features of one or all the aspects described hereinabove. Each of the embodiments described hereinafter applies to each of the aspects described hereinabove individually.

The inventors of the present disclosure have unexpectedly found that the application of a liquid sulphur formulation resulted in the control of fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family. Moreover, the efficient fungicidal effect of the liquid sulphur formulation was found against Podosphaera spp. in Cucurbitaceae crops in terms of reduction in % disease seventy and increase in % disease control of the fungal pathogen. The inventors have for the first time found that the present liquid sulphur formulation with reduced phytotoxicity and low residue formation, is having fungicidal activity, specifically against fungal pathogens causing powdery mildew in crops, specifically crops of the Cucurbitaceae family. The findings of the present invention aids in the reduction of losses in yield of crops. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi at a locus, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition.

In a preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulfur formulation comprising particulate sulfur suspended in an aqueous medium comprising at least one wetting agent, optionally at least one anti-foaming agent and optionally at least one thickener.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is selected from a suspension concentrate, a soluble concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, an oil in water emulsion or a water in oil emulsion, a flowable concentrate, a suspo-emulsion, an oil dispersion, a dispersible concentrate, a micro-emulsion, a capsule suspension and an emulsifiable gel.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is a suspension concentrate.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is a soluble concentrate.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is an oil in water emulsion.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is a water in oil emulsion.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is a suspension concentrate formulation combined with mineral oil.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur formulation is an emulsifiable concentrate. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, a suspension concentrate formulation comprising particulate sulphur.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, a soluble concentrate formulation comprising particulate sulphur.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, an emulsion formulation comprising particulate sulphur.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, an oil in water emulsion formulation comprising particulate sulphur.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprises applying to a locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition comprising sulphur in a concentration ranging from 1 % to 90% (w/w) by weight of the composition.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises sulphur in a concentration ranging from 10% to 80% by weight of the composition.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises sulphur in a concentration ranging from 10% to 60% by weight of the composition.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises sulphur in a concentration ranging from 10% to 50% by weight of the composition. In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises sulphur in a concentration ranging from 20% to 60% by weight of the composition.

In one preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprising applying to a locus of crops where fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition comprising (a) mineral oil in an amount of 40-50% by weight; and (b) a suspension concentrate comprising particulate sulfur suspended in an aqueous medium, and at least one wetting agent, wherein sulfur is present in an amount of 5- 15% by weight of the composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days.

In one preferred embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling phytopathogenic fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, said method comprising applying to a locus of crops where fungal control is desired, an oil in water emulsion formulation comprising (a) mineral oil in an amount of 40-50% by weight; and (b) particulate sulfur suspended in an aqueous medium, and at least one wetting agent, wherein sulfur is present in an amount of 5-15% by weight of the composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises a suspension concentrate comprising particulate sulfur having particle size of about less than 50 microns, preferably less than 20 microns.

In an embodiment, the liquid sulphur composition comprises a suspension concentrate of particulate sulfur having a particle size of about less than 10 microns, preferably less than 5 microns, more preferably less than 3 microns. The lower particle size aids in suspending the particulate sulfur in the formulation of the present invention. Sulfur also acts as a stabilizer in the present formulation.

In an embodiment, the particulate sulfur has a particle size diameter distribution of D90 less than about 3 microns. In an embodiment, the mineral oil component in the compositions according to the present invention may be selected from paraffinic mineral oil or refined petroleum oil. In an embodiment, the mineral oil may be present in an amount of about 20-60% by weight and sulfur is present in an amount of upto 5-15% by weight, however these amounts are not to be construed as limiting.

In an embodiment, the wetting agent is selected from non-ionic surfactants such as alcohol ethoxylates for example of C9 to C15, particularly primary alcohols, which may be linear or branched, particularly mono-branched, ethoxylates with from 5 to 30 moles of ethylene oxide; and alkoxylates of such alcohols particularly mixed ethoxylate/ propoxylates which may be block or random mixed alkoxylates, typically containing from 3 to 10 ethylene oxide residues and from 1 to 5 propylene oxide residues, particularly where the polyalkoxylate chain is terminated with propylene oxide unit(s); polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene copolymers, particularly block copolymers.

In another embodiment, a further anti-foaming agent included within the formulations of the present invention may be selected from but are not limited to stearates; silicones; dimethyl polysiloxanes and ethoxylates. Preferably, the anti- foaming agent is dimethyl polysiloxanes or a silicone based defoamer. In an embodiment, the antifoaming agent may be present within the formulations according to the present invention in an amount of about 0.1 % to about 5% by total weight of the formulation.

In yet another embodiment, the thickener according to the present invention may be selected from a heteropolysaccharide or a synthetic or natural gum. The gum may preferably be in the form of a gel of predetermined strengths such as 2 percent. The thickener may be present in an amount of about 0.1 % to about 5% by total weight of the formulation.

Suitable adjuvants according to present invention are selected from surfactants, an antifoaming agent, a biocide and solvents.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 1 week after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 2 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 3 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 4 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 5 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 6 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling powdery mildew fungal diseases in crops.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling powdery mildew fungal diseases in crops, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 2 weeks to 6 weeks after the first application. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling powdery mildew fungal diseases in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling fungi at a locus where crops of the Cucurbitacea are growing, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days, for a duration of at least 2 weeks to 6 weeks after the first application.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling Podopsphaera xanthii at a locus where crops of the Cucurbitacea family are growing, said method comprising applying to the locus at which said fungal control is desired, a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days, for a duration of at least 2 weeks to 6 weeks after the first application.

In an embodiment, the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 0.1 L/ 100 L to 10 L/100 L.

In an embodiment, the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 0.5 L/ 100 L to 10 L/100 L.

In another embodiment, the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation is in the range of 0.5 L/100 L to 5 L/100 L.

In yet another embodiment, the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation is in the range of 0.5 L /100 L to 3L /100 L.

In an embodiment, the amount of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 50 l/ha to 1500 l/ha.

In an embodiment, the amount of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 100 l/ha to 1000 l/ha. The amount of the liquid sulphur formulation applied can vary for each application. Accordingly, the amount of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 100 L/ha to 500 L/ha for the first three applications, the amount of the liquid sulphur formulation used is in the range of 500l/ha to 1000 L/ha for the subsequent three applications.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling fungi, said method comprising applying to the locus of crops a liquid sulphur composition, wherein the liquid sulphur composition may be applied to a plant, seed, or locus in which a plant is growing, locus in which a plant or seed is about to be planted, plant roots, or combinations thereof.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling fungi, in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family, such as bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), bur cucumber (Sicyos), bryony (Bryonia), Citrullus colocynth (C. colocynthis), watermelon (C. lanatus), chayote (Sechium edule), Cucumis cucumber (C. sativus), gherkin (C. anguria) melon (C. melo), muskmelon loofah (genus Luffa), musk cucumber (Sicana odorifera), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina), squash (genus Cucurbita) calabazilla (Cucurbita foetidissima), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata), winter squash (Cucurbita maxima), yellow-flowered gourd (Cucurbita pepo, subspecies ovifera), zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), wax gourd (Benincasa hispida). The crops are not limited to the aforementioned list of crops and can extend to all species of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Examples of the crops on which the present sulphur composition and the method of described herein may be applied to crops including but not limited to com, rice, wheat, barley, rye, oat, sorghum, cotton, soybean, peanut, buckwheat, beet, rapeseed, sunflower, sugar cane, tobacco, etc.; vegetables: solanaceous vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, pimento, pepper, potato, etc., cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini, water melon, melon, squash, etc., cruciferous vegetables such as radish, white turnip, horseradish, kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, cabbage, leaf mustard, broccoli, cauliflower, etc., asteraceous vegetables such as burdock, crown daisy, artichoke, lettuce, etc, liliaceous vegetables such as green onion, onion, garlic, and asparagus, ammiaceous vegetables such as carrot, parsley, celery, parsnip, etc., chenopodiaceous vegetables such as spinach, Swiss chard, etc., lamiaceous vegetables such as Perilla frutescens, mint, basil, etc, strawberry, sweet potato, Dioscorea japonica, colocasia, etc., flowers, foliage plants, turf grasses, fruits: pome fruits such apple, pear, quince, etc, stone fleshy fruits such as peach, plum, nectarine, Prunus mume, cherry fruit, apricot, prune, etc., citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, rime, grapefruit, etc., nuts such as chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, almond, pistachio, cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, etc. berries such as blueberry, cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, etc., grape, kaki fruit, olive, plum, banana, coffee, date palm, coconuts, etc., trees other than fruit trees; tea, mulberry, flowering plant, trees such as ash, birch, dogwood, Eucalyptus, Ginkgo biloba, lilac, maple, Quercus, poplar, Judas tree, Liquidambar formosana, plane tree, zelkova, Japanese arborvitae, fir wood, hemlock, juniper, Pinus, Picea, and Taxus cuspidate, etc.

In an embodiment, the method of the present invention is applied to crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

The method of controlling fungi according to the present disclosure may be used to control a broad spectrum of plant diseases, such as:

Disease in rice: Blast (Magnaporthe grisea), Helminthosporium leaf spot (Cochliobolus miyabeanus), sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani), and bakanae disease (Gibberella fujikuroi).

Diseases in wheat: powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis) , Fusariuin head blight (Fusarium graminearum, F. avenacerum, F. culmorum, Microdochium nivale) , rust (Puccinia striiformis, P. graminis, P. recondita), pink snow mold (Micronectriella nivale), Typhula snow blight (Typhula sp . ) , loose smut (Ustilago tritici) , bunt (Tilletia caries) , eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotrichoides), leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) , glume blotch (Stagonospora nodorum), septoria, and yellow spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis).

Diseases of barley: powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis), Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum, F. avenacerum, F. culmorum, Microdochium nivale), rust (Puccinia striiformis, P. graminis, P. hordei), loose smut (Ustilago nuda) , scald (Rhynchosporium secalis) , net blotch (Pyrenophora teres), spot blotch (Cochliobolus sativus), leaf stripe (Pyrenophora graminea), and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).

Diseases in corn: smut (Ustilago maydis), brown spot (Cochliobolus heterostrophus), copper spot (Gloeocercospora sorghi), southern rust (Puccinia polysora), gray leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis), white spot (Phaeosphaeria mydis and/or Pantoea ananatis) and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).

Diseases of citrus: melanose (Diaporthe citri), scab (Elsinoe fawcetti), penicillium rot (Penicillium digitatum, P.italicum), and brown rot (Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora citrophthora) .

Diseases of apple: blossom blight (Monilinia mali), canker (Valsa ceratosperma), powdery mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha), Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria alternata apple pathotype), scab (Venturia inaequalis), powdery mildew, bitter rot (Colletotrichum acutatum), crown rot (Phytophtora cactorum), blotch (Diplocarpon mali) , and ring rot (Botryosphaeria berengeriana) .

Diseases of pear: scab (Venturia nashicola, V. pirina), powdery mildew, black spot (Alternaria alternata Japanese pear pathotype), rust (Gymnosporangium haraeanum), and phytophthora fruit rot (Phytophtora cactorum).

Diseases of peach: brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), powdery mildew, scab (Cladosporium carpophilum), and phomopsis rot (Phomopsis sp.).

Diseases of grape: anthracnose (Elsinoe ampelina), ripe rot (Glomerella cingulata), powdery mildew (Uncinula necator), rust (Phakopsora ampelopsidis), black rot (Guignardia bidwellii), botrytis, and downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola).

Diseases of Japanese persimmon: anthracnose (Gloeosporium kaki), and leaf spot (Cercospora kaki, Mycosphaerella nawae). Diseases of gourd: anthracnose (Colletotrichum lagenarium), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), gummy stem blight (Mycosphaerella melonis), Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum), downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis), Phytophthora rot (Phytophthora sp.), and damping-off (Pythium sp.).

Diseases of tomato: early blight (Alternaria solani), leaf mold (Cladosporium fulvum), and late blight (Phytophthora infestans).

Diseases of eggplant: brown spot (Phomopsis vexans), and powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) Diseases of cruciferous vegetables: Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria japonica), white spot (Cercosporella brassicae), clubroot (Plasmodiophora brassicae), and downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica).

Diseases of onion: rust (Puccinia allii), and downy mildew (Peronospora destructor)

Diseases of soybean: purple seed stain (Cercospora kikuchii), sphaceloma scad (Elsinoe glycines), pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae), septoria brown spot (Septoria glycines), frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina), rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi), Yellow rust, brown stem rot (Phytophthora sojae), and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).

Diseases of kidney bean: anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemthianum). Diseases of peanut: leaf spot (Cercospora personata), brown leaf spot (Cercospora arachidicola) and southern blight (Sclerotium rolfsii).

Diseases of garden pea: powdery mildew (Erysiphe pisi), and root rot (Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi).

Diseases of potato: early blight (Alternaria solani), late blight (Phytophthora infestans), pink rot (Phytophthora erythroseptica), and powdery scab (Spongospora subterranean f. sp. subterranea).

Diseases of strawberry: powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca humuli), and anthracnose (Glomerella cingulata). Diseases of tea: net blister blight (Exobasidium reticulatum), white scab (Elsinoe leucospila), gray blight (Pestalotiopsis sp.), and anthracnose (Colletotrichum theae- sinensis).

Diseases of tobacco: brown spot (Alternaria longipes), powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum), anthracnose (Colletotrichum tabacum), downy mildew (Peronospora tabacina), and black shank (Phytophthora nicotianae).

Diseases of rapeseed: sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), and Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani). Diseases of cotton: Rhizoctonia damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani).

Diseases of sugar beet: Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora beticola), leaf blight (Thanatephorus cucumeris), Root rot (Thanatephorus cucumeris), and Aphanomyces root rot (Aphanomyces cochlioides).

Diseases of rose: black spot (Diplocarpon rosae), powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca pannosa), and downy mildew (Peronospora sparsa). Diseases of chrysanthemum and asteraceous plants: downy mildew (Bremia lactucae), leaf blight (Septoria chrysanthemi-indici), and white rust (Puccinia horiana).

Diseases of various groups: diseases caused by Pythium spp. (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium debarianum, Pythium graminicola, Pythium irregulare, Pythium ultimum), gray mold. (Botrytis cinerea), and Sclerotinia rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum).

Disease of Japanese radish: Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria brassicicola).

Diseases of turfgrass: dollar spot (Sclerotinia homeocarpa), and brown patch and large patch (Rhizoctonia solani).

Disease of banana: Black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis), Yellow sigatoka (Mycosphaerella musicola). Disease of sunflower: downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedii).

Seed diseases or diseases in the early stages of the growth of various plants caused by Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Gibberella spp., Tricoderma spp., Thielaviopsis spp., Rhizopus spp., Mucor spp., Corticium spp., Phoma spp., Rhizoctonia spp. and Diplodia spp.

Viral diseases of various plants mediated by Polymixa spp. or Olpidium spp. and so on.

In an embodiment, typical examples of diseases of Cucurbitaceae crop plants include cucumber bacterial wilt, cucumber powdery mildew, cucumber bacterial brown spot, cucumber leaf blight, cucumber anthracnose, cucumber gummy stem blight, cucumber Fusarium wilt, cucumber damping-off, cucumber bacterial soft rot, cucumber root rot, cucumber gray mold, cucumber downy mildew, melon bacterial wilt, melon powdery mildew, melon bacterial brown spot, melon leaf blight, melon anthracnose, melon gummy stem blight, melon Fusarium disease, melon damping-off, melon bacterial soft rot, melon root rot, melon gray mold, melon downy mildew, and so forth. Among these, the agent of the present invention is especially effective on cucumber powdery mildew and cucumber anthracnose.

Examples of the pathogenic microbes of these diseases include cucumber powdery mildew fungus (Erysiphe polygoni), cucumber anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum orbiculare (syn: C. orbicu/are), Podopsphaera xanthii (also known as Podosphaera fuliginea) and so forth.

In an embodiment, the present method for controlling the growth of fungal pathogens can be extended for use as an eco-friendly wide spectrum product against pests. The present composition acts against the over wintering stage (eggs and neanid/adult forms) reducing the damage potential.

In an embodiment, the method of present invention provides effective controlling of fungal pathogens such that, the method can be applied at pre or post emergence of the fungal diseases, thereby providing resistance management and complete control of the fungal pathogens. In an embodiment, the method of present invention provides effective controlling of fungal pathogens such that, the method can be applied at the pre-harvest stage or post-harvest stage of crops.

In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention can be combined with at least one additional agrochemical component/pesticide. Examples of such pesticides include but are not limited to herbicides, fungicides, miticides, larvicides, avicides, insecticides, nematicides and rodenticides.

In another embodiment, the method of the present invention further comprises applying at least one agrochemical selected from a fungicide, an insecticide, an herbicide or a bio-stimulant either concurrently or subsequently or sequentially to the locus of crops.

In an embodiment, the present method of controlling fungal pathogens in crops helps to increase yield in a crop using the said liquid sulphur composition.

In an embodiment, the present method of controlling fungal pathogens in crops helps to improve crop health by using the said liquid sulphur composition.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides the use of a liquid sulphur composition for controlling the growth of pathogenic fungi causing powdery mildew in crops.

In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides the use of liquid sulphur composition for controlling the growth of pathogenic fungi causing powdery mildew in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family.

The invention will now be described in more details with reference to the following examples. While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and following examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Examples:

Example 1: Liquid sulphur formulation

Table 1 : Emulsion formulation (water in oil)

EO: water in oil emulsion

Example 2: Liquid sulphur formulation

Table 2: Suspension concentrate

Example 3: Field trial to evaluate fungicidal activity

The field trial to determine the efficacy and selectivity of the present oil based sulphur formulation of Example 1 against the powdery mildew in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family (zucchini) was done in field conditions with 1 plot having 2 rows with 14 zucchini plants in each row at 0.5 m distance within the row. The plot size was 21 m², i.e. 3m (width) x 7m (length). In order to have a good crop coverage, 6 applications of the present composition were made and each application was designated as A, B, C, D, E and F sequentially. Each of the six applications were made consecutively after a time interval of 7 days. The applications A, B & C were made using an amount of the composition at 400 L/ha of water volume, followed by applications D, E and F at 800 L/ha of water volume. The fungal pathogen inoculation, i.e. inoculation by Podosphaera fuliginea is natural. The % severity and the % control in the incidence of the fungal disease is observed 21 days after application ‘F’.

Table 3: Treatment conditions to evaluate fungicidal activity

Example 3: Efficacy of the sulphur formulation on Podosphaera fuliginea in zucchini crop

The fungicidal effect of the sulphur formulation is observed in crops treated with the sulphur formulation of Example 1 , 21 days after the 6^th application (application ‘F’).

Table 4: At a rate of application of 2L/100L, the % severity of the powdery mildew disease was 1 % and the % control of the Podosphaera fuliginea fungal pathogen is 99%. The considerable reduction in seventy of the disease and the complete control of the fungal pathogen using the sulphur formulation of Example 1 at application rates of 1 , 1.5 and 2 L/100 L indicated that the method of the present disclosure is efficient and a robust method to overcome issues encountered in powdery mildew disease in crops.

Example 4: Efficacy of the liquid sulphur formulation on Podosphaera fuliginea in Cucumis melo

The field trial determined the efficacy of the present liquid sulphur formulation against powdery mildew in Cucumis melo crops of the Cucurbitaceae family in greenhouse conditions. In order to have a good crop coverage, 8 applications of the liquid sulphur formulations were made and each application was designated as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H sequentially. Each of the 8 applications were made consecutively after a time interval of 7 days. The % severity of the fungal disease is observed at 7 days after application ‘F (7 DAF)’, 7 days after application G (7 DA - G), and 7 days after application H (7 DA-H).

Table 5:

Table 6:

The % severity of powdery mildew significantly reduces on application of the liquid sulphur formulation.

Advantages of the present invention:

• The present method results in complete control of fungal diseases and reduction in disease seventy.

• The present method can also aid in the resistant management against fungal diseases including powdery mildew.

Claims

We claim,

1 . A method of controlling fungal infestation in crops of the Cucurbitaceae family comprising applying to a locus a liquid sulphur composition.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration ranging from at least 2 weeks to 6 weeks after the first application.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid sulphur composition is a suspension concentrate, a soluble concentrate, an emulsifiable concentrate, an oil in water emulsion or a water in oil emulsion, a flowable concentrate, a suspo- emulsion, an oil dispersion, a dispersible concentrate, a micro-emulsion, a capsule suspension and an emulsifiable gel.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid sulphur composition is a suspension concentration formulation.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid sulphur composition is an oil in water emulsion formulation.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the concentration of sulphur is ranging from 1 % to 80% (w/w) by weight of the composition.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the liquid sulphur composition comprises particulate sulphur suspended in an aqueous medium, at least one wetting agent, and sulphur is present in an amount of 5-15% by weight and is combined with mineral oil in an amount of 40-50% by weight.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein sulphur is having a particle size ranging from 0.1 microns to 50 microns.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein particulate sulphur is having a particle size ranging from 0.1 microns to 10 microns.

23 The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the said composition is applied at an interval of at least 7 days for a duration of at least 4 weeks after the first application. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation is ranging from 0.1 L/ 100 L to 10 L/100 L. The method as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the rate of application of the liquid sulphur formulation is ranging from 0.5 L/ 100 L to 5 L/100 L. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the crops of the Cucurbitaceae family are selected from the group comprising bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), bur cucumber (Sicyos), bryony (Bryonia), Citrullus colocynth (C. colocynthis), watermelon (C. lanatus), chayote (Sechium edule), Cucumis cucumber (Cucumis sativus), gherkin (Cucumis anguria) melon (Cucumis melo), muskmelon loofah (genus Luffa), musk cucumber (Sicana odorifera), snake gourd (Trichosanthes cucumerina), squash (genus Cucurbita) calabazilla (C. foetidissima), pumpkin (C. moschata), winter squash (C. maxima), yellow-flowered gourd (C. pepo, subspecies ovifera), zucchini (C. pepo), wax gourd (Benincasa hispida). The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein fungal infestation is caused by cucumber powdery mildew fungus (Erysiphe polygoni), cucumber anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum orbiculare (syn: C. orbiculare), Podopsphaera xanthii (Podosphaera fuliginea). The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein fungal infestation in Cucurbitaceae family is caused by Podosphaera xanthii.