NZ525906A

NZ525906A - Use of the macrolides abamectin, emamectin, and spinosad in pest control for protecting plant propagation material

Info

Publication number: NZ525906A
Application number: NZ525906A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Dieter Hofer; Marius Sutter; Franz Brandl; Bruce Lee; Roger Graham Hall; Max Angst
Original assignee: Syngenta Participations Ag
Priority date: 1997-12-23
Filing date: 1998-12-21
Publication date: 2005-03-24
Also published as: GB0225529D0; GB0225527D0; CN1283960A; DE19882911T1; AU2009201218B2; FR2772557A1; GB2380132B; AR014177A1; BRPI9816227B8; GR1004560B; DE19882911B3; CA2715847A1; GR980100463A; GB2346807B; GB0015099D0; FR2801474A1; BR9816227B1; CA2715847C; GB2380133A; NZ505208A

Abstract

A method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs which grow at a later point of time against attacks by pests, wherein the pest to be controlled are selected from the insects of the orders Acarina and class Nematoda, comprises treating the seeds of the crops plant prior to sowing with a composition selected from wettable powders and suspension concentrates comprising as an active ingredient selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad. Also described is a seed treating composition in the form of a suspension concentrate or wettable powder comprising Abamectin, Emamectin or Spinosad, and as adjuvants 1-15% by weight surface active substances, 5-15% antifreeze agents, 1-10% colourants, 0.5%-1% antifoams, 1-10% coatings, 0.1-1% preservatives; 0.1-1% thickeners and solvents.

Description

New Zealand Paient Spedficaiion for Paient Number 525906 I 2 5 3 0 6 t'vrELL O'-HCB OF i\i2 MAT 2C03 R-~CE'Vct[) Patents Form No. 5 Our Ref: CLM218924 DIVISIONAL APPLICATION OUT OF NZ 50S208 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION USE OF MACROLIDES IN PEST CONTROL We, NOVARTIS AG, a body corporate organised under the laws of Switzerland of Lichtstrasse 35, 4056 Basel, Switzerland, Switzerland hereby declare the invention, for which We pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (Followed by page 1 a) PT0532890 100142401 1 - 1a - IPONZ AUG 2004 Use of Macrolides in Pest Control The present invention relates to a method of controlling pests with macrolide compounds; more specifically to a method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs formed 5 at a later point in time from attack by pests with such a macrolide compound.

This application is a divisional filed out of NZ 505208, the claims of which relate to a method of controlling pests in and on transgenic crops of useful plants with a macrolide compound.

NZ 525907 is another divisional filed out of NZ 505208, the claims of which relate to a method of controlling molluscs with a macrolide compound.

Certain pest control methods are proposed in the literature. However, these methods are not fully satisfactory in the field of pest control, which is why there is a demand for providing further methods for controlling and combating pests, in particular insects and representatives of the order Acarina, or for protecting plants, especially crop plants. This object is achieved according to the invention by providing the present method.

The present invention relates to a method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs which grow at a later point in time against attack by pests, wherein: the pests to be controlled are selected from insects, representatives of the order Acarina and representatives of the class Nematoda; the seeds of the said crop plants are treated; the treatment is carried out prior to the sowing; and the said seeds are treated with a seed treating composition selected from wettable powders and suspension concentrates, comprising as active ingredient at least one compound selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form and plant organs formed at a later point in time from attack by pests.

Agrochemically utilizable salts of the macrolides according to the invention are, for example, the same as mentioned above.

(Followed by page 2) In the case of abamectin, the free form is preferred in the frame of the present invention. Especially preferred within the scope of the present invention is a method in which emamectin is employed in free form or as agrochemically acceptable salt; especially as salt; in particular as the benzoate, substituted benzoate, benzenesulphonate, citrate, phosphate, tartrate or maleate; preferably as the benzoate or benzenesulphonate, especially preferably as the benzoate.

The scope of the subject-matter of the present invention extends to representatives of the classes Insecta, Arachnida and Nematoda.

These are mainly insects of the order Lepidoptera, for example Acleris spp., Adoxophyes ssp., Aegeria spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Amylois spp., Anticarsia gemmatalis, Archips spp., Argyrotaenia spp., Astylus atromaculatus, Autographa spp., Busseola fusca, Cadra cautella, Carposina nipponensis, Chilo spp., IPONZ 12 AUG 2004 Coleophora spp., Crocidolomia binataiis, Cryptophlebia leucotreta, Cydia spp., Diatraea spp., Diparopsis castanea, Earias spp., Ephestia spp., Eucosma spp., Eupoeciiia ambiguella, Euproctis spp., Euxoa spp., Grapholita spp., Hedya nubiferana, Heiiothis spp., Hellula undaiis, Heteronychus arator, Hyphantria cunea, Keiferia lycopersicella, Leucoptera scitella, Lithocollethis spp., Lobesia botrana, Lymantria spp., Lyonetia spp., Malacosoma spp., Mamestra brassicae, Manduca sexta, Operophtera spp., Ostrinia nubilalis, Pammene spp., Pandemia spp., Panolisfiamrnea, Pectinophora gossypiella, Phthorimaea operculella, Pieris rapae, Pieris spp., Plutelia xyiostella, Prays spp., Scirpophaga spp., Sesamia spp., Sparganothis spp., Spodo'ptera spp., Synanthedon spp., Thaumetopoea spp., Tortrix spp., Trichoplusia ni and Yponomeuta spp.; of the order Coleoptera, for example Agriotes spp., Anthonomus spp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Cosmopolites spp., Curcuiio spp., Dermestes spp., Diabrotica spp., Epilachna spp., Eremnus spp., Leptinotarsa decemlineata, Lissorhoptrus spp., Melolontha spp., Orycaephilus spp., Otiorhynchus spp., Phlyctinus spp., PopH.'ia spp., Psylfiodes spp., Rhizopertha spp., Scarabeidae, Sitophilus spp., Sitotroga spp., Tenebrio spp., Tribofium spp. and Trogoderma spp.; of the order Orthoptera, for example Blatta spp., Blattella spp., Gryllotalpa spp., Leucophaea maderae, Locusta spp., Periplaneta spp. and Schistocerca spp.; of the order Psocoptera, for example Liposcelis spp.; of the order Anopfura, for example Haematopinus spp., Linognathus spp., Pediculus spp., Pemphigus spp. und Phylloxera spp.; of the order Mallophaga, for example Damalinea spp. and Trichodectes spp.; of the order Thysanoptera, for example Frankliniella spp., Hercinothrips spp., Taeniothrips spp., Thrips palmi, Thrips tabaci and Scirtothrips aurantii; of the order Heteroptera, for example Cimex spp., Distantiella theobroma, Dysdercus spp., Euchistus spp. Eurygaster spp. Leptocorisa spp., Nezara spp., Piesma spp., Rhodnius spp., Sahlbergella singularis, Scotinophara spp. and Triatoma spp.; of the order Homoptera, for example Aleurothrixus floccosus, Aleyrodes brassicae, Aonidielia spp., Aphididae, Aphis spp., Aspidiotus spp., Bemisia tabaci, Ceropiaster spp., Chrysomphalus aonidium, Chrysomphaius dictyospermi, Coccus hesperidum, Empoasca spp., Eriosoma larigerum, Erythroneura spp., Gascardia spp., Laodelphax spp., Lecanium IPONZ 12 AUG 2004 corni, Lepidosaphes spp., Macrosiphus spp., Myzus spp., Nephotettix spp., Nilaparvata spp., Paratoria spp., Pemphigus spp., Planococcus spp., Pseudaulacaspis spp., Pseudococcus spp., Psylia spp., Puivinaria aethiopica, Quadraspidiotus spp., Rhopalosiphum spp., Saissetia spp., Scaphoideus spp., Schtzaphis spp., Sitobion spp.,. Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Trioza erytreae and Unaspis citri; of the order Hymehoptera, for example Acromyrmex, Atta spp., Cephus spp., Diprion spp., Diprlonidae, Gilpinia polytoma, Hoplocampa spp., Lasius spp., Monomorium pharaonis, Neodiprion spp., Solenopsis spp. and Vespa spp.; of the order Diptera, for example Aedes spp., Antherigona soccata, Bibio hortulanus, Calliphora erythrocephala, Ceratitis spp., Chrysomyia spp., Culex spp., Cuterebra spp., t Dacus spp., Drosophila melanogaster, Fannia spp., Gastrophilus spp., Glossina spp., Hypoderma spp., Hyppobosca spp., Liriomyza spp., Lucilla spp., Melanagromyza spp., Musca spp., Oestrus spp., Orseolia spp., Oscinella frit, Pegomyia hyoscyami, Phorbia spp., Rhagoletis pomonella, Sciara spp., Stomoxys spp., Tabanus spp., Tannia spp. and Tipula spp.; of the order Siphonaptera, for example Ceratophyllus spp. and Xenopsylla cheopis; or of the order Thysanura, for example Lepisma saccharina.

Amongst the class Arachnida, they are preferably representatives of the order Acarina, for example Acarus siro, Aceria sheldoni, Aculus schlechtendsli, Arnb'yornrna spp., Argas spp., Boophilus spp., Brevipalpus spp., Bryobia praetiosa, Calipitrimerus spp., Chorioptes spp., Dermanyssus gallinae, Eotetranychus carpini, Eriophyes spp., Hyalomma spp., Ixodes spp., Olygonychus pratensis, Ornithodoros spp., Panonychus spp., Phyllocoptruta oleivora, Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Psoroptes spp., Rhipicephaius spp., Rhizogiyphus spp., Sarcoptes spp., Tarsonemus spp. and Tetranychus spp..

Especially preferred is the control of insects of the orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera; in the order Colepotera especially the genera and species Agriotes spp., Anthonomus spp., Atomaria linearis, Chaetocnema tibialis, Diabrotica spp. and Leptinotarsa decemlineata; in the order Lepidoptera the genera and species Adoxophyes spp., Agrotis spp., Alabama argillaceae, Anticarsia gemmataiis, Chile spp., Gydia spp., Ephestia spp., Heliothis spp., Keiferia lycopersicella, Mamestra brassicae, Pectinophora gossypiella, Plutelia xyiostella, Sesamia spp., Spodoptera spp., Tortrix spp., and Trichoplusia.

A further preferred subject according tathe present invention is the control of representatives of the class Nematoda, such as root knot nematodes, stem eelworms and foliar nematodes; especially Heterodera ssp., for example Heterodera schachtii, Heterodora avenae and Heterodora trifolii; Globodera spp., for example Globodera rostochiensis; Meloidogyne spp., for example Meloidogyne incoginita and Meloidogyne javanica; Radopholus spp., for example Radopholus simils; Pratylenchus, for example Pratylenchus negiectans and Pratylenchus penetrans; Tylenchulus, for example Tylenchulus semipenetrans; Longidorus, Trichodorus, Xiphinema, Ditylenchus, Aphelenchoides and Anguina, in particular Meloidogyne, for example Meloidogyne incognita, and Heterodera, for example Heterodera glycines.

The macrolides used according to the present invention are preventatively and/or curatively valuable active ingredients in the fields of insect control, even at low application rates, while being well tolerated by warm-blooded species, fish, beneficials and plants. The active ingredients used according to the invention are effective against all or individual development stages of normally sensitive, but also resistant, pests. The action of the active ingredients used according to the invention may become apparent directly, i.e. in the form of destruction of the pests, which occurs immediately or only after some time has elapsed, for example during ecdysis, or indirectly, for example as a reduced oviposition and/or hatching rate, the good action corresponding to a destruction rate (mortality) of at least 50 to 60%.

With the aid of the active ingredients used in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to control, i.e. contain or destroy, pests which occur on plant propagation material, mainly on propagation material of useful plants and ornamentals in agriculture, in horticulture and in forests, and even plant organs which grow at a later point in time are still protected from these pests, that is to say the protection lasts, for example, until resistant mature plants have developed, and where the propagation material, or the plants developing therefrom, are protected not only from pests which attack the aerial plant organs, but also from soil-dwelling pests.

Suitable plant propagation material in the present invention, that is, for example, seedlings, rhizomes, nursery plants, cuttings or, in particular seed (seeds), such as fruit, tubers, kernels or bulbs, are, in particular, propagation material of cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, maize or sorghum; beet, such as sugar or fodder beet; fruit, for example 12 AUG 2004 pome fruit, stone fruit and soft fruit, for example apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries or berries, for example strawberries, raspberries and blackberries; legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas or soya beans, oil crops, such as oilseed rape, mustard, poppies, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor-oil plants, cacao or peanuts; cucurbits, such as pumpkins, cucumbers or melons; fibre plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage species, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes or capsicums; Lauraceae, such as avocado, Cinnamonium or camphor; or tobacco, nuts, coffee, egg plants, sugar cane, tea, pepper, grapevines, hops, Musaceae, latex plants or ornamentals; especially of cereals, rice, cotton, maize, soya beans, oilseed rape, vegetables, potatoes, sunflowers, sugar beet and sorghum.

The genetically modified propagation material is preferably propagation material, in particular seed, which contains one or more genes expressing a pesticidal resistance, in particular an insecticidal or acaricidai, but also a fungicidal or nematocidal, resistance, which make the plant resistant to herbicides, which iead to increased resistance to piant diseases or which introduce other agronomically advantageous properties into the plant. Such plants, or their propagation material, are in particular those which contain a gene derived from a Bacillus thuringiensis and which encode an insecticidally active protein or contain a gene. These are, especially, genetically modified plant propagation materials of potatoes, alfalfa, cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, maize or sorghum; legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas or soya beans; beet such as sugar or fodder beet; oil crops, such as oilseed rape, mustard, poppies, olives, sunflowers, coconut, castor-oil plant, cacao or peanuts; cucurbits, such as pumpkins, cucumbers or melons; fibre plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbage species, carrots, onions or tomatoes.

Examples of the genetically modified plant propagation material mentioned are, for example, the commercially available products Maximizer® (KnockOut®), Yieldgard®, Roundup Ready Soybeans®, TC Blend® or NuCOTN 33B®, all of which are known to those skilled in the art.

IPONZ '2 AUG 20W Other fields of application for the active ingredients used in accordance with the present invention are, for example, the protection of stored products or stores or in the hygiene sector; in particular the protection of domestic animals or productive livestock from pests.

The present invention therefore also relates to corresponding compositions for use, to be selected depending on the intended aims and the prevailing circumstances from suspension concentrates and wettable powders, which comprise - at least - one of the active ingredients used in accordance with the invention, and to the use of these insecticidal compositions for use in a method. Preferred is a composition which comprises only one macrolide compound, especially emamectin or a salt thereof.

In these compositions, the active ingredient is employed in pure form, for example a solid active ingredient in a particular particle size or, preferably, together with - at least - one of the auxiliaries conventionally used in the art of formulation, such as extenders, for example solvents or solid carriers, or such as surface-active compounds (surfactants).

Suitable auxiliaries such as solvents, solid carriers, surface-active compounds, non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and anionic surfactants in the compositions employed in accordance with the invention are, for example, those which have been described in EP-A-736 252.

Liquid formulations for the treatment of plant propagation material according to the present invention, especially of seed, comprise, for example, surface-active substances (1 -15% by weight), such as ethoxyiated tristyrenephenols and their salts, alkyl polyglycol ether ethoxylates, polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene copolymers, the sodium salt of lignosulphonic acid, salts of polynaphthalenesuiphonic acid and alkylbenzenesulphonic acid triethanolamine salt; antifreeze agents (5-15%), such as, for example, DL-propane-1,2-diol or propane-1,2,3-triol; colourants (1 -10%), such as pigments or water-soluble dyes; antifoams (0.05 -1 %), such as polydimethylsiloxane; coatings (1 -10%), such as polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylate; INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFIC OF N.Z. 1 1 NOV 2004 l preservatives ( 0.1 -1%), such as 1,2-benzoisothiazol-3-one; thickeners (0.1 -1%), such as heteropolysaccharide; and solvents, such as water.

Solid formulations for the treatment of plant propagation material, especially of seed, comprise, for example: surface-active substances (1-10%), such as alkyl polyglycol ether ethoxylate, polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene copolymers, the sodium salt of lignosulphonic acid, salts of polynaphthalenesulphonic acid; colourants (1 -10%), such as pigments or water-soluble dyes; antifoams (0.05 -1%), such as polydimethylsiioxane; coatings (1 -10%), such as polyethylene glycol or cellulose; and carriers (to 100% w/w), such as silica powder, talc powder, clays and the like.

As a rule, the compositions comprise 0.1 to 99%, in particular 0.1 to 95%, of active ingredient and 1 to 99.9%, in particular 5 to 99.9%, of - at least - one solid or liquid auxiliary, it being possible, as a rule, for 0 to 25%, in particular 0.1 to 20%, of the compositions to be surfactants (% is in each case per cent by weight). While concentrated compositions are more preferred as commercially available goods, the end consumer will use, as a rule, dilute compositions having much lower concentrations of active ingredient.

Preferred compositions have, for examples, those compositions which are mentioned in EP-A-736 252.

The compositions according to the invention can also comprise other solid or liquid auxiliaries, such as stabilizers, for example unepoxidized or epoxidized vegetable oils (for example epoxidized coconut oil, rapeseed oil or soya oil), antifoams, for example silicone oil, preservatives, viscosity regulators, binders and/or tackifiers, and also fertilizers or other active ingredients for achieving specific effects, for example bactericides, nematicides, molluscides or selective herbicides.

The action of the compositions according to the present invention can be broadened considerably by adding other, for example insecticidally, acaricidally and/or fungicidaily active, ingredients and adapted to prevailing circumstances. Suitable additions of insecticidally and acaricidally active ingredients are, for example, representatives of the following classes of active ingredients: organophosphorus compounds, nitrophenols and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 1 NOV 200V RECEIVED derivatives, formamidines, triazine derivatives, nitroenamine derivatives, nitro- and cyanoguanidine derivatives, ureas, benzoyiureas, carbamates, pyrethroids, chlorinated hydrocarbons ana Bacillus thuringiensis producis. Especially preferred components in mixtures are NI-25, Tl-304, TI-435, MTI-446, fipronil, lufenuron, pyripfoxyfen, thiacloprid, fluxofenime; imidacioprid, thiamethoxam, fenoxycarb, diafenthiuron, pymetrozine, diazinon, disuiphoton; profenofos, furathiocarb, cyromazin, cypermethrin, tau-fluvaiinate, tefluthrin or Bacillus thuringiensis products, very especially Ni-25, Tl-304, TI-435, MTI-446, fipronil, thiacloprid, imidacioprid, thiamethoxam and tefluthrin.

Examples of suitable additions of fungicidally active ingredients are the following compounds: azoxystrobin; bitertanol; carboxin; Cu20; cymoxanil; cyproconazole; cyprodinil; dichlofluamid; difenoconazole; diniconazole; epoxiconazole; fenpiclonil; fludioxonil; fluquiconazole; flusilazoie; flutriafol; furalaxyl; guazatin; hexaconazole; hymexazol; imazalil; imibenconazole; ipconazole; kresoxim-methyl; mancozeb; metaiaxyl; R-metalaxyl; metconazole; oxadixyl, pefurazoate; penconazole; pencycuron; prochloraz; propiconazole; pyroquilone; SSF-109; spiroxamin; tebuconazole; teflutrin; thiabendazole; toiifluamide; triazoxide; triadimefon; triadimenol; triflumizole; triticonazole and uniconazole.

The compositions to be used according to the present invention are prepared in a known manner, for example in the absence of auxiliaries by grinding and/or screening, for example to a particular particle size, or by compressing a solid active ingredient, and in the presence of at least one auxiliary, for example by intimately mixing and/or grinding the active ingredient with the auxiliary/auxiliaries. These methods for preparing the compositions according to the invention and the use of macrolides for preparing these compositions are also subjects of the invention.

The application methods according to the present invention for the protection of plant propagation material, which, in accordance with the invention, is any plant material capable of developing complete plants after planting or sowing to the site of planting or sowing, for example seedlings, rhizomes, nursery plants, cuttings or, in particular, seed (seeds), such as fruits, tubers, kernels or bulbs, against attack by pests are characterized in that, for example, suitable compositions are applied in such a manner that they are applied in close spatial proximity to, or spatially together with, planting or sowing the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing. Application of these compositions in close spatial proximity to planting or sowing the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing takes place in accordance with the invention, preferably prior to planting or sowing the propagation IPO NZ 12 AUG 2004 material, by applying the compositions by soil application directly to the site where the propagation material has been planted or sown, for example preferably prior to sowing into the seed furrow or to a cioseiy delimited area around the site of planting or sowing the propagation material. Application of such compositions, which takes place spatially together with planting or applying the propagation material to the site of planting or sowing is to be understood as meaning that propagation material which has been pretreated with these compositions is planted or sown at the site of planting or sowing, it being possible, depending on the intended aims and prevailing circumstances, for the pretreatrnent of the propagation material to be effected for example by spraying, atomizing, dusting or scattering the compositions over the propagation material or brushing or pouring the i compositions over the propagation material or, in the event of seed, in particular also by dressing the seed. When carrying out seed dressing, which is preferred according to the invention, i.e. dry seed, wet seed-dressing, liquid seed-dressing or slurry dressing, a suitable pesticide is added to the seed prior to sowing in a seed-dressing apparatus and the composition is distributed uniformly over the seed, for example by stirring the contents of the seed-dressing apparatus and/or by rotating and/or shaking the entire seed-dressing apparatus. Particular embodiments of such a seed-dressing treatment comprise, for example, immersing the seed in a liquid composition, coating the seed with a solid composition (seed coating) or by achieving penetration of the active ingredient into the seed by adding the composition to the water used for pre-soaking the seed (seed soaking).

Typical application rates for the compositions used in the seed-dressing treatment according to the invention are, for example, between 0.1 and 100 g of active ingredient per 100 kg of seed, in particular between 1 and 60 g / 100 kg of seed, preferably between 4 and 40g /100 kg of seed. ~ The seed-dressing treatment according to the present invention comprises, in particular, that due to the low toxicity of the active ingredient used, good tolerance by birds of the dressed seed is observed, for example, in the case of birds which, being seed-eaters in the open countryside, tend to take seed from freshly seeded fields, such as buntings, blackbirds, thrusHes, ducks, pheasants, finches, geese", linnets, chickens, crows, skylarks, tits, seagulls, ravens, partridges, wood pigeons, goldfinches, pigeons or siskins. The seed-dressing treatment according to the invention also extends to the dressing of stored seed.

The commercial plant propagation material which has been pretreated according to the present invention is another subject of the present invention.

IPONZ 12 AUG 2034 Examples of formulations of macrolide compounds which can be used in the method according to the present invention, that is to say solutions, granules, dusts, sprayable powders, emulsion concentrates, coated granules and suspension concentrates, are of the type as has been described in, for example, EP-A-580 553, Examples F1 to F10.

Example F1: General procedure for liquid seed dressing The required amount of liquid formulation is placed into an Erlenmeyer flask. The flask is shaken to distribute the liquid on the entire bottom of the vessel. The required amount of seed is introduced into the flask immediately thereafter. The flask is shaken vigorously by hand for approximately one minute so that ail the seed is covered with iiquid. Tne contents of the flask are turned out onto a drying rack and dried in an oven.

Example F2: General procedure for dry seed dressing Various wide-necked flasks are each filled with the same number of seed kernels, and each flask is charged with such an amount of wettable powder that the desired amount of active ingredient per seed kernel (for example 0.03, 0.1 or 0,3 mg per kernel) is obtained. The flasks are placed on a roller and rotated for three minutes at 80 rotations/minute. The seed kernels which are attached to the walls of the flasks are then disengaged by shaking by hand, and the flasks are rotated in the opposite direction for three minutes.

Biological examples (% = per cent by weight, unless otherwise specified) Example B4: Seed-dressing action against first-instar larvae of Spodoptera littoraiis on maize leaves Maize seeds which have been dressed as described in procedure F1 are sown. 12,19, 26, 33, 40 and 47 days after sowing, sections 5 to 8 cm in length of the top-most leaves of the plants are placed in glass beakers and infested with a predetermined quantity of a suspension of freshly hatched L1 larvae of Spodoptera littoraiis. The beakers are closed with a lid and kept at 25°C, a relative atmospheric humidity of 60% and a day-light cycle of 16 hours. Evaluation takes place three to five days after infestation. The percentage reduction in population (% action) is determined by comparing the number of surviving larvae on the plants grown from dressed seeds and from untreated seeds.

Example B5: Seed-dressing action against adult Diabrotica balteata on sugar beet leaves Seeds of sugar beet which have been dressed as described in procedure F1 are sown. 33, 40, 47, 54 and 61 days after sowing, the leaves of in each case three to 5 plants are placed IPONZ 12 AUG 20M in a glass beaker and infested with a predetermined number of young adult Diabrotica balteata. The beakers are closed with a lid and kept at 25°C, a relative atmospheric humidity of 60% and 16 hours of daylight. Evaluation takes place three to five days after infestation. The percentage reduction in population (% action) is determined by comparing the number of surviving Diabrotica adults on the plants grown from dressed seeds and from untreated seeds.

Example B6: Seed-dressing action against third-instar larvae of Diabrotica balteata on maize roots Maize seeds which have been treated as described in procedure F1 are sown. 14, 21 and 28 days after sqwing, in each case five third-instar larvae of Diabrotica balteata are placed on the bottom of each plant pot. Evaluation takes place 6 days after infestation. The data registered are the number of surviving instars (larvae and pupae) in the stem of the plants, on the soil surface and in the soil. The percentage reduction in population (% action) is determined by comparing the number of surviving larvae and pupae on the plants grown from dressed seeds and from untreated seeds and their environment.

Example B7: Seed-dressing action against Aphis fabae A glass flask or a plastic container is filled with 100 g of bean seeds and such an amount of a formulation of the active ingredient that a ratio of 0.1,1 or 10 g of active ingredient per kg of seed is achieved. The active ingredient is distributed uniformly on the seed surface by rotating and/or shaking the container. The seeds which have been dressed in this way are sown in flowerpots (3 seeds per pot). The plantlets are grown in a greenhouse at 25 to 30°C until they have reached the 2-leaf stage and then populated with Aphis fabae. 6 days after . population, the test is evaluated. The percentage reduction in population (% action) is determined by comparing the number of surviving individuals on the plants grown from dressed seeds and from untreated seeds.

In this test, a good action is shown by abamectin, emamectin and spihosad.

Example B8: Seed-dressing action against Mvzus persicae A glass flask or a plastic container is filled with 100 g of sugar beet seeds and such an amount of a pasty formulation of the active ingredient, prepared with a sprayabie powder and a little water, that a ratio of 0.1,1 or 10 g of active ingredient per kg of seed is achieved. The closed seed-dressing container is agitated on a roller until the paste is distributed uniformly on the seed surface. The seeds which have been dressed (coated) in IPONZ 12 AUG 2004

Claims

-13- this way are dried and sown into ioess soil in plastic pots. The seedlings are grown in a greenhouse at 24 to 26°C, a relative atmospheric humidity of 50 to 60% and a daily illumination time of 14 hours. 4 weeks after germination, the plants, which are 10 cm high, are populated with a mixed population of Myzus persicae. Evaluation takes place 2 and 7 days after the plants have been populated. The percentage reduction in population (% action) is determined by comparing the number of surviving individuals on the plants grown from dressed seeds and from untreated seeds. In this test, a good action is shown by abamectin, emamectin and spinosad. IPONZ 12 AUG 2004 -14- What we claim is:

1. A method of protecting plant propagation material and plant organs which grow at a later point in time against attack by pests, wherein: 5 the pests to be controlled are selected from insects, representatives of the order Acarina and representatives of the class Nematoda; the seeds of the said crop plants are treated; 10 the treatment is carried out prior to the sowing; and the said seeds are treated with a seed treating composition selected from wettable powders and suspension concentrates, comprising as active ingredient at least one 15 compound selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is Abamectin in free form. 20

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the active ingredient is Spinosad in free form.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition comprises as adjuvants: 1-15% by weight surface-active substances; "25 5-15% antifreeze agents; 1-10% colourants; 0.05-1% antifoams; 1-10% coatings; 0.1-1% preservatives; 30 0.1-1% thickeners; and solvents.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the composition comprises as adjuvants: 1-10% surface-active substances; 35 1-10% colourants; 0.05-1% antifoams; 1-10% coatings; and IPONZ carriers (to 100% w/w). 12 AUG 2004 -15-

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pests are representatives of the class Nematoda.

7. A seed treating composition in the form of a suspension concentrate or wettable powder comprising as active ingredient at least one compound selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form and as adjuvants: 1-15% by weight surface-active substances; 5-15% antifreeze agents; 1-10% colourants; 0.5-1% antifoams; 1 -10% coatings; 0.1-1% preservatives; 0.1-1% thickeners; and solvents.

8. A seed treating composition in the form of a suspension concentrate or wettable powder comprising as active ingredient at least one compound selected from Abamectin, Emamectin and Spinosad in free form or in agrochemically utilizable salt form and as adjuvants; 1-10% surface-active substances; 1-10% colourants; 0.05-1% antifoams; 1. 1-10% coatings; and carriers (to 100% w/w).

9. Method according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the Examples thereof.

10. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, substantially as herein described.

11. Composition according to claim 7 or claim 8, substantially as herein described. SY 3ENTA PARTICIPATIONS AG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CFFiC: OF N.Z. 1 1 NOV 2004 REC tVFO ByTts Attorneys BALDWINS