NL1039389C2 - Method for controlling plant disease in ornamental bulbous plants. - Google Patents

Description

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PLANT DISEASE IN ORNAMENTAL BULBOUS PLANTS

Technical Field 5 The present invention relates to a method for controlling plant disease in ornamental bulbous plants.

Background Art A large number of chemical compounds for controlling plant 10 diseases have heretofore been developed and provided for practical use.

Tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin are known as compounds with plant disease controlling activity (see, for example, The Pesticide Manual Thirteenth Edition (published by 15 British Crop Protection Council)).

However, these compounds are not satisfactory in some cases, and excellent methods for controlling plant diseases have been needed depending on the situation.

20 Summary of Invention

Thus, the present invention is claimed as follows: [1] A method for controlling plant diseases in an ornamental bulbous plant, comprising the steps of: locally treating the soil of a cultivation area where the 25 ornamental bulbous plant is to be grown with an effective amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin; and simultaneously with or subsequently to the treatment step, stirring the soil of the cultivation area from the surface to a depth of 5 to 50 cm of the soil; and 30 planting bulbs of the ornamental bulbous plant into the soil stirred in the above stirring step.

[2] The method described in [1], in which the amount of azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of tolclofos-methyl in the treatment step.

1039389 2 [3] The method described in [1] or [2], in which the total amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 kg per 10000 m2 of the cultivation area.

[4] The method described in any one of [1] to [3], in 5 which the ornamental bulbous plant is a plant selected from the group consisting of tulip, lily, gladiolus and hyacinth.

[5] The method described in any one of [1] to [3], in which the ornamental bulbous plant is tulip.

[6] A method for culturing an ornamental bulbous 10 plant, comprising the step of planting bulbs of the ornamental bulbous plant into a soil, a depth of 5 to 50 cm from the surface of which soil have been treated with tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin in an amount effective for controlling plant diseases .

15 [7] The method described in [6], in which the amount of azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of tolclofos-methyl.

[8] The method described in [6] or [7], in which the total amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin is from 1 to 20 1000 kg per 10000 m2 of the cultivation area.

[9] The method described in any one of [6] to [8], in which the ornamental bulbous plant is a plant selected from the group consisting of tulip, lily, gladiolus and hyacinth.

[10] The method described in any one of [6] to [8], 25 in which the ornamental bulbous plant is tulip.

The present invention can controll plant diseases in ornamental bulbous plants and is useful for culturing ornamental bulbous plants.

30

Embodiment of the Invention

The method according to the present invention for controlling plant diseases comprises the steps of: locally treating the soil of a cultivation area where the 35 ornamental bulbous plant is to be grown with an effective amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin; and 3 simultaneously with or subsequently to the treatment step, stirring the soil of the cultivation area from the surface to a depth of 5 to 50 cm of the soil; and planting bulbs of the ornamental bulbous plants into the 5 soil stirred in the above stirring step.

Tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin are described, for example, on pages 979 and 52 of The Pesticide Manual, Thirteenth Edition (published by British Crop Protection Council).

These compounds may be commercially available formulations 10 or produced using a known process. Alternatively, a commercially available formulation containing tolclofos-methyl and/or azoxystrobin may be used in the present invention.

The amount of azoxystrobin to be used in the present invention is generally from 1 to 1000 parts, preferably from 5 15 to 1000 parts by weight, more preferably from 10 to 500 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of tolclofos-methyl.

For the present invention, tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin may be simply admixed or combined. However, in general, as tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin, a formulation 20 which contains an azoxystrobin and a formulation which contains tolclofos-methyl are admixed or combined, or a formulation which contains tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin are used.

Such formulations are formulated into oil solutions, emulsions, flowables, water-dispersible powders, water-25 dispersible granules, dust powders, granules and the like which can be obtained by mixing tolclofos-methyl and/or azoxystrobin with an inert carrier and, if necessary, adding a surfactant or other formulation additives. Such formulations contain active compound(s), i.e., tolclofos-methyl and/or azoxystrobin in the 30 total amount of usually from 0.1 to 99% and preferably from 0.2 to 90% by weight of the formulations.

Solid carriers to be used for the formulation include fine powders or granules composed of minerals such as kaolin clay, attapulgite clay, bentonite, montmorillonite, acid white clay, 35 pyrophyllite, talc, diatomaceous earth and calcite; natural organic materials such as corn cob powder and walnut husk 4 powder; synthetic organic materials such as urea; salts such as calcium carbonate and ammonium sulfate; or synthetic inorganic materials such as synthetic hydrated silicon oxide. Liquid carriers include aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, 5 alkylbenzene and methylnaphthalene; alcohols such as 2-propanol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether; ketones such as acetone, cyclohexanone and isophorone; vegetable oil such as soybean oil and cotton seed oil; petroleum aliphatic hydrocarbons; esters; dimethylsulfoxide; acetonitrile; 10 and water.

Surfactants include anionic surfactants, such as alkyl sulfate ester salts, alkyl aryl sulfonate salts, dialkyl sulfosuccinate salts, polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether phosphate ester salts, lignosulfonate salts and naphthalene sulfonate 15 formaldehyde polycondensates; and non-ionic surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers, polyoxyethylene-alkylpolyoxypropylene block copolymers and sorbitan fatty acid esters; and cationic surfactants such as alkyltrimethylammonium salts.

20 Other formulation additives include water-soluble polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone; polysaccharides such as Arabic gum, alginic acid and salts thereof, CMC (carboxymethyl-cellulose) and Xanthan gum; inorganic materials such as aluminum magnesium silicate and 25 alumina sol; preservatives; coloring agents; and stabilizing agents such as PAP (acid phosphate isopropyl) and BHT.

Ornamental bulbous plants to be used in the method of the present invention for controlling plant diseases include Lily (Lilium spp), Tulip (Tulipa gesneriana), Hyacinth 30 (Hyacinthus orientalis), Muscari (Muscari latifolium), Allium (Allium cristophii), Tritoma (Kniphofia spp), colchicum (Colchicum autumnale), Pineapple lily (Eucomis autumnalis), Sandasonia (Sandersonia aurantiaca), Gloriosa (Gloriosa superba), Narcissus (Narcissus spp), Daffodil (Narcissus 35 pseudonarcissus), Amaryllis (Hippeastrum spp), snowdrop (Galanthus spp), snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), Diamond lily 5 (Bodenii Nerine), Zefiransasu (Zephyranthes carinata), licorice (Lycoris spp), Amazon lily (Eucharis grandiflora), Crocus (Crocus spp), Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp), Montbretia (Crocosmia * crocosmiiflora), German iris (Iris spp), Saffron (Saffron 5 crocus), Dahlias (dahlias spp), Ranunculus (Ranunculus asiaticus), Curcuma (Curcuma spp), Oxalis (Oxalis deppei), Canna (Canna indica), and Cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum) .

Among them, preferred is a plant selected from the group consisting of tulip, lily, gladiolus and hyacinth, and 10 more preferred is tulip, for the present invention.

Plant diseases that can be controlled by the present invention include soil-borne diseases, such as Bulb rot (Fusarium spp. Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium solani, Rhizopus spp. Rhizopus necans, Rhizopus stolonifer) , Damping off 15 (Rhizoctonia spp. Rhizoctonia solani), Bare batch, brown batch, Leaf rot (Rhizoctonia spp. Rhizoctonia solani), Bulb-coat rot (Rhizoctonia spp. Rhizoctonia solani), Sclerotial blight (Sclerotium spp. Sclerotium rolfaii), and Crown rot (Pythium spp. Pythium irregulare, P.spinosum, P. ultimum).

20 In the present invention, the soil of a cultivation area where the ornamental bulbous plant is to be grown with an effective amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin can be locally treated by applying tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin to the surface of the soil of a cultivation area where the 25 ornamental bulbous plant is to be grown, or into the soil of part of the cultivation area.

Tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin can be applied by spraying, irrigation or injection of thereof, which are applied either in combination or separately, or if necessary, 30 independently in the formulated form of an oil solution, water-dispersible powders, water-dispersible granules, dust powders, granules, an emulsion or a flowable, or a water dilution thereof.

Subsequently, the soil all over the area can be stirred to 35 homogeneity, for example, by plowing with a tractor and the like from the surface to a depth of 5 to 50 cm of the soil, thereby 6 treating the cultivation area with tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin in an approximately homogeneous manner.

The present invention may also be implemented by performing the step of applying tolclofos-methyl and 5 azoxystrobin to the surface of the soil of a cultivation area where the ornamental bulbous plant is to be grown, or into the soil of part of the cultivation area, simultaneously with the step of homogeneously stirring the soil from the surface to a depth of 5 to 50 cm of the soil by, for example, plowing the 10 soil all over the cultivation area with a tractor and the like. In this embodiment, tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin may also be applied by spraying, irrigation or injection of thereof, which are applied either in combination or separately, or if necessary, independently in the formulated form of an oil 15 solution, water-dispersible powders, water-dispersible granules, dust powders, granules, an emulsion or a flowable, or a water dilution thereof.

In the present invention, although the amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin is appropriately determined 20 depending on the species of the ornamental bulbous plant and the size of the bulb, the type and the degree of occurrence of the plant disease, the forms of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin used, the timing of the treatment, and weather conditions, the total amount of these compounds is generally from 1 to 1000 kg, 25 preferably from 5 to 1000 kg, more preferably from 10 to 500 kg per 10000 m2 of the cultivation area. Or, depending on the above-mentioned condition, the total amount of these compounds is preferably from 1 to 100 kg and more preferably from 1.5 to 50 kg per 10000 m2 of the cultivation area.

30 In the soil treated accordance with the present invention, the ornamental bulbous plants can be grown by using a conventional growth method.

As it is possible to protect ornamental bulbous plants from plant diseases such as caused by soil-borne 35 pathogens in case of planting the bulbs of the ornamental bulbous plants into the soil previously treated with tolclofos- 7 methyl and azoxystrobin by the method described above, healthy growth of the ornamental bulbous plants may be promoted by the method of the present invention.

5 Examples

The present invention is further described in detail below by reference, for example, to test examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

In the following examples, unless otherwise 10 specified, the term "part" refers to "part by weight."

Initially, reference formulation examples are shown below.

Reference Formulation Example 1

An emulsion is obtained by well mixing 2.5 parts of 15 tolclofos-methyl, 1.25 parts of azoxystrobin, 14 parts of polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether, 6 parts of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 76.25 parts of xylene.

Reference Formulation Example 2 A flowable formulation is obtained by mixing 5 parts 20 of tolclofos-methyl, 5 parts of azoxystrobin, 35 parts of a mixture of white carbon and a polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ammonium salt (weight ratio 1:1) and 55 parts of water, followed by pulverizing the mixture by wet grinding.

Reference Formulation Example 3 25 A flowable formulation is obtained by mixing 10 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 10 parts of azoxystrobin, 1.5 parts of sorbitan trioleate and 23.5 parts of an aqueous solution containing 2 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, then by pulverizing the mixture by wet grinding, further by adding 45 parts of an 30 aqueous solution containing 0.05 part of Xanthan gum and 0.1 part of aluminum magnesium silicate to the mixture, still further by adding 10 parts of propylene glycol, followed by blending the resulting mixture by stirring.

Reference Formulation Example 4 35 A flowable formulation is obtained by mixing 20 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 5 parts of azoxystrobin, 1.5 parts of 8 sorbitan trioleate and 28.5 parts of an aqueous solution containing 2 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, then by pulverizing the mixture by wet grinding, further by adding 45 parts of an aqueous solution containing 0.05 part of Xanthan gum and 0.1 5 part of aluminum magnesium silicate to the mixture, still further by adding 10 parts of propylene glycol, followed by blending the resulting mixture by stirring.

Reference Formulation Example 5

Forty parts of tolclofos-methyl, 5 parts of 10 azoxystrobin, 5 parts of propylene glycol (manufactured by

Nacalai Tesque, INC.), 5 parts of Soprophor FLK (manufactured by Rhodia Nicca, Ltd.), 0.2 part of an anti-form C emulsion (manufactured by Dow Corning Corporation), 0.3 part of proxel GXL (manufactured by Arch Chemicals, Inc.) and 49.5 parts of 15 ion-exchange water are mixed to prepare a bulk slurry. To 100 parts of the slurry, 150 parts of glass beads (Φ=1 mm) are added, and the slurry is ground for 2 hours while it is cooled with coolant water. After the grinding, the glass beads are removed by filtration, thereby obtaining a flowable formulation. 20 Reference Formulation Example 6

An AI premix is obtained by mixing 50 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 0.5 part of azoxystrobin, 38.5 parts of NN kaolin clay (manufactured by Takehara Chemical Industrial Co., Ltd.), 10 parts of Morwet D425 and 1.5 parts of Morwer EFW 25 (manufactured by Akzo Nobel N.V.). The premix is pulverized with a jet mill to obtain powder.

Reference Formulation Example 7 A granule was obtained by well grinding and mixing 1 part of tolclofos-methyl, 1 part of azoxystrobin, 1 part of 30 synthetic hydrated silicon oxide, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 parts of bentonite and 65 parts of kaolin clay, and then by adding water to well knead the mixture, followed by granulation and drying.

Reference Formulation Example 8 35 A water-dispersible powder is obtained by well grinding and mixing 40 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 1 part of 9 azoxystrobin, 3 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 2 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate and 54 parts of synthetic hydrated silicon oxide.

Reference Formulation Example 9 5 A powder is obtained by well grinding and mixing 1 part of tolclofos-methyl, 10 parts of azoxystrobin, 79 parts of kaolin clay, and 10 parts of talc.

Reference Formulation Example 10

An emulsion is obtained by well mixing 2 parts of 10 tolclofos-methyl, 0.25 part of azoxystrobin, 14 parts of polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether, 6 parts of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and 77.75 parts of xylene.

Reference Formulation Example 11 A flowable formulation is obtained by mixing 10 parts 15 of tolclofos-methyl, 2.5 parts of azoxystrobin, 1.5 parts of sorbitan trioleate and 30 parts of an aqueous solution containing 2 parts of polyvinyl alcohol, then by pulverizing the mixture by wet grinding, further by adding 47.5 parts of an aqueous solution containing 0.05 part of Xanthan gum and 0.1 20 part of aluminum magnesium silicate to the mixture, still further by adding 10 parts of propylene glycol, followed by blending the resulting mixture by stirring.

Reference Formulation Example 12 A granule was obtained by well grinding and mixing 20 25 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 1 part of azoxystrobin, 1 part of synthetic hydrated silicon oxide, 2 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 30 parts of bentonite and 47 parts of kaolin clay, and then by adding water to well knead the mixture, followed by granulation and drying.

30 Reference Formulation Example 13 A water-dispersible powder is obtained by well grinding and mixing 5 parts of tolclofos-methyl, 10 parts of azoxystrobin, 5 parts of calcium lignin sulfonate, 3 parts of sodium lauryl sulfate and 77 parts of synthetic hydrated silicon 35 oxide.

10

Next, test examples are shown below.

Test Example 1 A test solution is prepared by mixing tolclofos- 5 methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable;

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution is applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (applied amounts are 10 shown in Table 1) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of tulip (variety "Angelique") is planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs are allowed to grow in the green 15 house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation is carried out as described above, except that the soil is not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot).

20 After a predetermined time period, each of the treated and non-treated plots is observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence is calculated according to Equation 1 for each of the treated and untreated 25 plots, and the disease control value is calculated according to Equation 2 for the treated plot.

Percentage disease incidence = (number of non-germinated bulbs + number of diseased plants)/ (total number of bulbs) x 30 100 (Equation 1)

Disease control value = (A-B)/ A x 100 (Equation 2), A: Percentage disease incidence in the untreated plot; 35 B: Percentage disease incidence in the untreated plot 11

The results show that plant diseases are controlled in the treated plot.

Table 1

Applied Amount of Applied Amount of

Test No. Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin [a.i. kg/10000m2] [a.i. kg/10000m2] ï 3Ö ÏT5 2 15 ΓΤ5 3 ΓΓ5 15 4 Ö Ö 5

Test Example 2 A test solution was prepared by mixing tolclofos- methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable;

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable 10 (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution was applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (the applied amounts are shown in Table 2) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of tulip (variety "Angelique") was planted per pot at the depth 15 of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs were allowed to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation was carried out as 20 described above, except that the soil was not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot).

After a predetermined time period, about 10 weeks, each of the treated and non-treated plots was observed for the 25 presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence was calculated according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value 12 was calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, for the treated plot.

The results are shown in Table 2.

5 Table 2

Applied Applied

Amount of Amount of Percentage Disease

Test

Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin disease control

No.

[a.i. [a.i. incidence value kg/10000m2] kg/10000m2] 5 3Ö Γ5 Ö 1ÖÖ 6 Ï5 Γ5 Ö 1ÖÖ 7 175 15 Ö ÏÖÖ 8 Ö Ö 1ÖÖ

Test Example 3 A test solution is prepared by mixing tolclofos- methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable; 10 Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution is applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (applied amounts are shown in Table 3) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of 15 lily (variety "Party Diamond") is planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs are allowed to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

20 On the other hand, cultivation is carried out as described above, except that the soil is not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot).

After a predetermined time period, each of the 25 treated and non-treated plots is observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the 13 sprouts. The percentage disease incidence is calculated according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value is calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, 5 for the treated plot.

The results show that plant diseases are controlled in the treated plot.

Table 3

Applied Amount of Applied Amount of

Test No. Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin [a.i. kg/10000m2] [a.i. kg/10000m2]

9 30 ITS

ÏÖ 15 ITS

Π ITS 15 12 Ö Ö 10

Test Example 4 A test solution was prepared by mixing tolclofos-methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable;

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable 15 (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution was applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (the applied amounts are shown in Table 4) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of lily (variety "Party Diamond") was planted per pot at the 20 depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs were allowed to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation was carried out as 25 described above, except that the soil was not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot) .

14

After a predetermined time period, about 15 weeks, each of the treated and non-treated plots was observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence was calculated 5 according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value was calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, for the treated plot.

The results are shown in Table 4.

10

Table 4

Applied Applied

Amount of Amount of Percentage Disease

Test

Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin disease control

No.

[a.i. [a.i. incidence value kg/10000m2] kg/10000m2] T3 15 Γ5 40 60 "Ti ö ö ïïïö

Test Example 5 A test solution is prepared by mixing tolclofos-15 methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable;

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution is applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (applied amounts are 20 shown in Table 5) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of gladiolus (variety "Cayenne") is planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs are allowed 25 to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation is carried out as described above, except that the soil is not subjected to the 15 application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot).

After a predetermined time period, each of the treated and non-treated plots is observed for the presence or 5 absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence is calculated according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value is calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, 10 for the treated plot.

The results show that plant diseases are controlled in the treated plot.

16

Table 5

Applied Amount of Applied Amount of

Test No. Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin [a.i. kg/10000m2] [a.i. kg/10000m2] Ï5 3Ö ΓΤ5 16 15 Γ5 17 Γ5 15 Ï8 Ö Ö

Test Example 6 A test solution was prepared by mixing tolclofos-5 methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable; Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 201 (w/w) flowable (Product name: Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution was applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (the applied amounts 10 are shown in Table 6) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of gladiolus (variety "Cayenne") was planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs were allowed 15 to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation was carried out as described above, except that the soil was not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated plot).

20 After a predetermined time period, about 7 weeks, each of the treated and non-treated plots was observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence was calculated according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of 25 the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value was calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, for the treated plot.

The results are shown in Table 6.

17

Table 6

Applied Applied

Amount of Amount of Percentage Disease

Test

Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin disease control

No.

[a.i. [a.i. incidence value kg/10000m2] kg/10000m2] 1 ÏÖ~ 15 1.5 0 9 0 2 0 0 100 0

Test Example 7 5 A test solution is prepared by mixing tolclofos- methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable;

Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable (Product name Amistar®20 Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution is applied to the surface of the 10 cultivation soil at an amount of 2000 ml/m2 (applied amounts are shown in Table 7) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of hyacinth (variety "Odysseus") is planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained 15 cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The bulbs are allowed to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation is carried out as described above, except that the soil is not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated 20 plot).

After a predetermined time period, each of the treated and non-treated plots is observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence is calculated 25 according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value 18 is calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, for the treated plot.

The results show that plant diseases are controlled in the treated plot.

5

Table 7

Applied Amount of Applied Amount of

Test No. Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin [a.i. kg/10000m2] [a.i. kg/10000m2] 21 30 ΓΤ5 22 Ï5 Π5 23 Γ75 15 24 Ö Ö

Test Example 8 A predetermined concentration of a test solution was 10 prepared by mixing tolclofos-methyl 50% (w/v) flowable (Product name: Rizolex® Flowable; Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.) and azoxystrobin 20% (w/w) flowable (Product name Amistar®20

Flowable; Syngenta Japan K.K.) in water. The test solution was applied to the surface of the cultivation soil at an amount of 15 2000 ml/m2 (the applied amounts are shown in Table 8) and then stirred to homogeneity. A bulb of hyacinth (variety "Odysseus") was planted per pot at the depth of 5 cm from the surface of the soil in five pots (12 cm in diameter and 15 cm in depth) filled with the obtained cultivation soil to the depth of 12 cm. The 20 bulbs were allowed to grow in the green house (the treated plot).

On the other hand, cultivation was carried out as described above, except that the soil was not subjected to the application of the test solution or the stirring (the untreated 25 plot).

After a predetermined time period, about 15 weeks, each of the treated and non-treated plots was observed for the presence or absence of germination and the emergence of disease 19 in the sprouts. The percentage disease incidence was calculated according to Equation 1, shown in Test Example 1, for each of the treated and untreated plots, and the disease control value was calculated according to Equation 2, shown in Test Example 1, 5 for the treated plot.

The results are shown in Table 8.

Table 8

Applied Applied

Amount of Amount of Percentage Disease

Test

Tolclofos-Methyl Azoxystrobin disease control

No.

[a.i. [a.i. incidence value kg/10000m2] kg/10000m2] "25 Ï5 Π5 Ö ÏÖÖ ~26 Ö Ö 80 10 t 03 9389

Claims (10)

A method for controlling plant diseases in an ornamental bulb crop, comprising the following steps: locally treating the soil of a growing area where the ornamental bulb crop is to be grown, with an effective amount of tolclofos-methyl and azoxystrobin; and, simultaneously with, or later in, the treatment step, tipping over the soil of the growing area from the surface 10 to a depth of 5 to 50 cm from the soil; and planting bulbs of the ornamental bulb crop in the soil that is stirred in the stirring step. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the amount of azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight per weight of tolclophos-methyl. The method as set forth in claim 20. or claim 2, wherein the total amount of tolclophos-methyl and azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 kg per 10,000 m2 of the growing area. 4. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ornamental bulb is a plant selected from the group consisting of: tulip, lily, gladiolus and hyacinth. 5. The method as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ornamental bulb consists of tulips. 6. A method for growing an ornamental bulb plant, comprising the step of planting ornamental bulb bulbs in the soil treated with tolclophos-methyl and azoxystrobin in an amount effective for controlling 1039389 plant diseases of the surface of the bottom to a depth of 5 to 50 cm. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the amount of azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of tolclophos-methyl. The method as set forth in claim 10 or claim 7, wherein the total amount of tolclophos-methyl and azoxystrobin is from 1 to 1000 kg per 10,000 m2 of the growing area. 9. The method as set forth in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the ornamental bulb is a plant selected from the group consisting of: tulip, lily, gladiolus and hyacinth. 10. The method as set forth in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the ornamental bulb consists of tulips. 1039389