WO2015025034A1

WO2015025034A1 - Method for improving pollen viability

Info

Publication number: WO2015025034A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/067900
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ernesto HERNANDEZ MENDIETA; Catalina RUBIO GRANADOS; Eulalio HERNANDEZ MENDIETA; Margie Angelica Taylor
Original assignee: Basf Se
Priority date: 2013-08-22
Filing date: 2014-08-22
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: MX2016002320A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for improving the viability and for increasing the number of fecundated flowers by treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide. The invention also relates to the use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for improving the pollen viability of seed plants and for increasing the number of fecundated flowers in seed plants.

Description

Method for improving pollen viability Description The present invention relates to a method for improving the viability and for increasing the number of fecundated flowers by treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide. The invention also relates to the use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for improving the pollen viability of seed plants and for increasing the number of fecundated flowers in seed plants.

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes (sperm cells). The main role of pollen is to discharge male gametes into the embryo sac for fertilization and subsequent seed and fruit development. The viability of pollen is one of the main factors for a successful fertilization of flowers and consecutively for seed and fruit development; and thus in agriculture has an impact on crop yield. A pollen grain is deemed viable when it has the ability to germinate in the stigma and discharge sperm cells into the embryo sac after pollination. Pollen viability is influenced by various factors, such as age, metabolism, core number and functionality, protection and exposure inside anthers, and environmental conditions, such as relative moisture and temperature at the time of dispersion. Especially abiotic stress, such as heat and draught at the time of dispersion, has a negative impact on pollen viability. Pollen has a relatively high water content. If environmental conditions, such as heat and draught (in the sense of a low relative humidity of the ambient atmosphere), lead to a fast decrease of this water content, pollen is rapidly degraded.

It was the object of the present invention to provide a method for improving pollen viability and also for increasing the number of fecundated flowers.

It was surprisingly found that the treatment with strobilurin fungicides improves pollen viability and also increases the number of fecundated plants.

The invention thus relates to a method for improving the pollen viability, which method comprises treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide. The invention further relates to the use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for improving the pollen viability of seed plants. The invention also relates to a method for increasing the number of fecundated flowers, which method comprises treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide. The invention further relates to the use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for increasing the number of fecundated flowers of seed plants.

The invention further relates to the use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for improving the pollen viability of seed plants.

According to the present invention, "improved pollen viability" means that pollen viability is improved by a measurable amount over the viability of pollen of the same seed plant variety growing under the same conditions, but without the application of the at least one strobilurin fungicide. Analogously, "increasing the number of fecundated flowers" means that the number of fecundated flowers is increased by a measurable amount over the number of fecundated flowers of the same seed plant variety growing under the same conditions, but without the application of the at least one strobilurin fungicide. Locus means soil, area, material or environment where the plant is growing or intended to grow.

Propagules are all types of plant propagation material. The term embraces seeds, grains, fruit, tubers, rhizomes, spores, cuttings, offshoots, meristem tissues, single and multiple plant cells and any other plant tissue from which a complete plant can be obtained. In particular, propagules are seeds.

In the context of the present invention, parts of the plant refer to overground parts, such as leaves, stem, blossoms, flowers, fruit and the like. Treatment of the plant refers to treating the whole plant, specifically the whole overground part of the plant. Treatment of the plant parts refers to treating only some overground parts of the plant, such as the leaves. As the treatment is often carried out in form of a spray application, it does generally not make any sense to distinguish if the whole plant or only parts thereof are treated.

The improved pollen viability and the increased number of fecundated flowers are not to be attributed (exclusively) to the pesticidal, especially fungicidal effect of the strobilurin fungicides. At least a part of the improvement of the pollen viability and a least a part of the increase of the number of fecundated flowers is based on activity profiles of strobilurin fungicides which are different from their pesticidal, especially fungicidal activity. This can be seen from the fact that pollen viability is improved and the number of fecundated flowers is increased even if there is only low or no pesticidal pressure at all.

Pollen viability in terms of the present invention means that the pollen is principally fecund, and is able to discharge male gametes into the embryo sac for fertilization and subsequent seed and fruit development, or in other words that it has the ability to germinate in the stigma and discharge sperm cells into the embryo sac after pollination. Pollen viability can be assessed by in vitro as well as in vivo methods.

Customary in vitro methods use generally colorimetry, such as aceto-carmine staining. Staining methods detect cytoplasm, plasma membrane integrity or enzymatic activity, and thus identify pollen grains without cytoplasm (not viable).

In vivo methods are for example germination in an artificial environment.

The below remarks to preferred and particular embodiments of the invention apply both individually and in any possible combination with each other. They apply both to the methods and the uses of the invention.

The beneficial effect of the treatment with at least one strobilurine fungicide is present under all ambient conditions, and can be expected to become also manifest when the pollen is exposed to abiotic stress at the time of dispersion.

Abiotic stress is caused for example by extremes in temperature such as heat or cold or strong variations in temperature or temperatures unusual for the specific season, drought, extreme wetness, high salinity, radiation (e.g. increased UV radiation due to the decreasing ozone protective layer), increased ozone levels and organic pollution (e.g. by phythotoxic amounts of pesticides) or inorganic pollution (e.g. by heavy metal contaminants). As a result, the viability of pollen decreases.

Pollen is especially susceptible to high temperatures and drought. Drought in this context means low ambient humidity (low relative humidity). Pollen grains have a high water content (ca. 60 % by weight) and react very sensitively to ambient conditions which promote reduction of their water content and degrade when their water content drops to ca. 30 % by weight. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the invention relates to a method for improving the viability of pollen which is exposed to abiotic stress (at the time of dispersion), in particular to heat stress and/or drought stress, and to a method for increasing the number of fecundated flowers fecundated by pollen which is exposed to abiotic stress (at the time of dispersion), in particular to heat stress and/or drought stress. In a more specific embodiment, the invention relates to a method for improving the viability of pollen which is exposed to high temperatures, e.g. to a temperature of at least 38 °C, in particular at least 40 °C, and/or to low relative humidity, e.g. to relative humidity of at most 60 %, in particular at most 50 %, specifically at most 30 %, at 25 °C (at the time of dispersion); and to a method for increasing the number of fecundated flowers fecundated by pollen which is exposed to high temperatures, e.g. to a temperature of at least 38 °C, in particular at least 40 °C, and/or to low relative humidity, e.g. to relative humidity of at most 60 %, in particular at most 50 %, specifically at most 30 %, at 25 °C (at the time of dispersion).

Relative humidity is the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the air-water mixture to the saturated vapor pressure of water at those conditions. The relative humidity of air is a function of both its water content and temperature. Relative humidity is generally expressed as a percentage and is defined as the ratio of the partial pressure of water vapor in the mixture to the saturated vapor pressure of water at a prescribed temperature.

The methods of the invention are carried out by treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide.

The treatment of a plant or its growth locus or its propagation material, such as a seed, with the at least one strobilurin fungicide can be accomplished in several ways. The at least one strobilurin fungicide may be applied directly to the propagules, especially the seed, and/or to the soil in which the seed is to be planted, for example, at the time of planting along with the seed (for example in-furrow application). Alternatively, it may be applied to the soil after planting and germination or to the foliage of the plant or to the whole plant after emergence. Treatment of the propagules is more expedient for annual plants (i.e. for plants which are completely harvested after one season and which have to be replanted for the next season) than for perennial plants. Preferably, in the methods of the invention, the at least one strobilurin fungicide is applied to seed plants or parts thereof (to be more precise to the overground parts of the plants, such as leaves, stems, stalks, culms etc.) and/or to the locus where the plants are growing, and in particular to seed plants or parts thereof (to be more precise to the overground parts of the plants, such as leaves, stems, stalks, culms etc.); e.g. by foliar application.

In particular, the seed plants or parts thereof and/or the locus where the plants are growing are treated with the at least one strobilurin fungicide when the seed plants are in the vegetative growth stage, i.e. before inflorescence/flowering. Cereals, especially corn, are more preferably treated when they are in the growth stage V6 to V8 (according to the Iowa State University classification system; "Soybean Growth and Development" (PM 1945)). Growth stages V6 to V8 are characterized by following features: The rapidly developing embryonic leaves grow through the coleoptilar tip; potential plant parts ("factory") are developed; overground parts: all plant parts are present; growing point and tassel (differentiated in V5) are above the soil surface; stalk is beginning a period of rapid elongation; determination of kernel rows per ear begins; tillers (suckers) begin to emerge; degeneration and loss of lower leaves; new leaf emerging (V-stage) about every 3 days. Plants for which the Iowa system does not apply are in particular treated when they are in the BBCH growth stage 2 to 4 (BBCH: German Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry; see http://www.bba.de/veroeff/bbch/bbcheng.pdf).

The treatment of the plant or parts thereof with the at least one strobilurin fungicide can be carried out once or several times per season, e.g. 1 , 2, 3 or 4 times, preferably 1 , 2 or 3 times per season.

Preferably, the at least one strobilurin fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, fenoxystrobin/flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyribencarb, trifloxystrobin, 2-(2-(6-(3-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy)-5-fluoro-pyrimidin-4- yloxy)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide, 3-methoxy-2-(2-(N-(4-methoxy- phenyl)-cyclopropane-carboximidoylsulfanylmethyl)-phenyl)-acrylic acid methyl ester, methyl (2-chloro-5-[1 -(3-methylbenzyloxyimino)ethyl]benzyl)carbamate and 2-(2-(3- (2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1 -methyl-allylideneaminooxymethyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino- N-methyl-acetamide. More preferred strobilurin fungicides are selected from azoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, fluxapyroxade, kresoxim-methyl, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin. In particular, the strobilurin fungicides are selected from dimoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, fluxapyroxade, kresoxim-methyl, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin. Specifically, the strobilurin fungicide is pyraclostrobin. The overall application rate of pure active compound, i.e. of the at least one strobilurin fungicide without formulation auxiliaries, is in general from 0.001 to 3 kg/ha, preferably from 0.005 to 2 kg/ha, more preferably from 0.01 to 1 kg/ha, in particular from 0.02 to 0.2 kg/ha and specifically from 0.03 to 0.15 g/ha of active substance (a.s.). In the treatment of propagules, the overall amount of the at least one strobilurin fungicide is generally from 1 to 1000 g/100 kg of seed, preferably from 1 to 200 g/100 kg, in particular from 5 to 100 g/100 kg.

The strobilurin fungicides are generally used as ready-to-use preparations. In the following, suitable ready-to-use preparations containing the at least one strobilurin fungicide (called in the following "active ingredient") are described.

In ready-to-use preparations, the active ingredient can be present in suspended, emulsified or dissolved form. The application forms depend entirely on the intended uses.

The active ingredient can be applied as such, in the form of its formulations or the application form prepared therefrom, for example in the form of directly sprayable solutions, powders, suspensions or dispersions, including highly concentrated aqueous, oily or other suspensions or dispersions, emulsions, oil dispersions, pastes, dusts, compositions for broadcasting or granules. Application is for example by spraying, immersing, dousing, sprinkling, spraying, dipping, coating, dressing, atomizing, dusting, broadcasting or watering. The application forms and methods depend on the intended uses; in each case, they should ensure the finest possible distribution of the active compounds. As regards suitable and preferred application techniques of the active agents mandatorily used in step (iii), reference is made to the above remarks.

Depending on the embodiment in which the ready-to-use preparations of the active ingredient is present, they comprise one or more liquid or solid carriers, if appropriate surfactants and if appropriate further auxiliaries customary for formulating crop protection agents. The recipes for such formulations are familiar to the person skilled in the art. Aqueous application forms can be prepared, for example, from emulsion concentrates, suspensions, pastes, wettable powders or water-dispersible granules by addition of water. To prepare emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions, the active compounds, as such or dissolved in an oil or solvent, can be homogenized in water by means of a wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier. However, it is also possible to prepare concentrates composed of active substance, wetting agent, tackifier, dispersant or emulsifier and, if appropriate, solvent or oil, such concentrates being suitable for dilution with water. The concentrations of the active ingredient in the ready-to-use preparations can be varied within relatively wide ranges. In general, they are between 0.0001 and 10 %, preferably between 0.01 and 1 % (% by weight total content of active compound, based on the total weight of the ready-to-use preparation). The active ingredient may also be used successfully in the ultra-low-volume process (ULV), it being possible to employ formulations comprising more than 95 % by weight of active compound, or even to apply the active ingredient without additives.

Oils of various types, wetting agents, adjuvants, bactericides and/or fertilizers may be added to the active ingredient, even, if appropriate, not until immediately prior to use (tank mix). These agents can be mixed in a weight ratio of from 1 :100 to 100:1 , preferably from 1 :10 to 10:1 with the active ingredient employed.

Adjuvants are for example: modified organic polysiloxanes, e.g. Break Thru S 240^®; alkohol alkoxylates, e.g. Atplus 245^®, Atplus MBA 1303^®, Plurafac LF 300^® and Lutensol ON 30^®; EO-PO block copolymers, e.g. Pluronic RPE 2035^® and Genapol B^®; alkohol ethoxylates, e.g. Lutensol XP 80^®; and sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate, e.g. Leophen RA^®. The formulations are prepared in a known manner, for example by extending the active ingredient with solvents and/or carriers, if desired with the use of surfactants, i.e. emulsifiers and dispersants. Solvents/carriers suitable for this purpose are essentially: water, aromatic solvents (for example Solvesso products, xylene), paraffins (for example mineral oil fractions), alcohols (for example methanol, butanol, pentanol, benzyl alcohol), ketones (for example cyclohexanone, methyl hydroxybutyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, mesityl oxide, isophorone), lactones (for example gamma-butyrolactone), pyrrolidones (pyrrolidone, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-ethylpyrrolidone, n-octylpyrrolidone), acetates (glycol diacetate), glycols, dimethyl fatty acid amides, fatty acids and fatty acid esters. In principle, solvent mixtures may also be used.

Carriers such as ground natural minerals (for example kaolins, clays, talc, chalk) and ground synthetic minerals (for example finely divided silica, silicates); emulsifiers such as nonionic and anionic emulsifiers (for example polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, alkylsulfonates and arylsulfonates), and dispersants such as lignosulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose. Suitable surfactants are alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkylsulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acids and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, furthermore condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of naphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenyl polyglycol ether, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristerylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, alcohol and fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters, lignosulfite waste liquors and methylcellulose.

Suitable for the preparation of directly sprayable solutions, emulsions, pastes or oil dispersions are mineral oil fractions of medium to high boiling point, such as kerosene or diesel oil, furthermore coal tar oils and oils of vegetable and animal origin, aliphatic, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons, for example toluene, xylene, paraffin, tetrahydronaphthalene, alkylated naphthalenes or their derivatives, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, mesityl oxide, isophorone, strongly polar solvents, for example dimethyl sulfoxide, 2-yrrolidone, N-methylpyrrolidone, butyrolactone, or water.

Powders, compositions for broadcasting and dusts can be prepared by mixing or jointly grinding the active ingredient with a solid carrier. Granules, for example coated granules, impregnated granules and homogeneous granules, can be prepared by binding the active ingredient onto solid carriers. Solid carriers are, for example, mineral earths such as silica gels, silicates, talc, kaolin, attaclay, limestone, lime, chalk, bole, loess, clay, dolomite, diatomaceous earth, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, magnesium oxide, ground synthetic materials, fertilizers such as, for example, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ureas and plant products such as cereal meal, tree bark meal, wood meal and nutshell meal, cellulose powder and other solid carriers. Formulations can further comprise binders and/or gelling agents and optionally colorants.

In general, the formulations comprise between 0.01 and 95 % by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 90 % by weight, in particular 5 to 50 % by weight, of the active ingredient. In this context, the active ingredient is employed in a purity of from 90 % to 100 %, preferably 95 % to 100 % (according to NMR spectrum).

After two- to ten-fold dilution, formulations may comprise 0.01 to 60 % by weight, preferably 0.1 to 40 % by weight of the active ingredient in the ready-to-use preparations.

Examples of formulations are:

1 . Products for dilution in water

I) Water-soluble concentrates (SL, LS)

10 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of water or a water-soluble solvent. Alternatively, wetting agents or other adjuvants are added. Upon dilution in water, the active compound dissolves. The ready formulation contains 10 % by weight of active ingredient.

II) Dispersible concentrates (DC)

20 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 70 parts by weight of cyclohexanone with addition of 10 parts by weight of a dispersant, for example polyvinylpyrrolidone. The active ingredient is contained in 20 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, a dispersion results.

III) Emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

15 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 75 parts by weight of xylene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). The active ingredient is contained in 15 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, an emulsion results.

Emulsions (EW, EO, ES) 25 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 35 parts by weight of xylene with addition of calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate and castor oil ethoxylate (in each case 5 parts by weight). This mixture is introduced into 30 parts by weight of water by means of an emulsifier (Ultraturrax) and made into a homogeneous emulsion. The active ingredient is contained in 25 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, an emulsion results.

V) Suspensions (SC, OD, FS)

20 parts by weight of active compound are comminuted in a stirred ball mill with addition of 10 parts by weight of dispersants, wetting agents and 70 parts by weight of water or an organic solvent to give a fine suspension of active compound. The active ingredient is contained in 20 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, a stable suspension of the active compound results. VI) Water-dispersible and water-soluble granules (WG, SG)

50 parts by weight of active compound are ground finely with addition of 50 parts by weight of dispersants and wetting agents and made into water-dispersible or water- soluble granules by means of technical apparatuses (for example extrusion, spray tower, fluidized bed). The active ingredient is contained in 50 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound results.

VII) Water-dispersible and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, SS, WS)

75 parts by weight of active compound are ground in a rotor-stator mill with addition of 25 parts by weight of dispersants, wetting agents and silica gel. The active ingredient is contained in 75 % by weight. Upon dilution in water, a stable dispersion or solution of the active compound results.

VIII) Gel formulations (GF)

20 parts by weight of active compound, 10 parts by weight of dispersants, 1 part by weight of gelling agent and 70 parts by weight of water or an organic solvent are ground in a ball mill to give a finely divided suspension. Upon dilution in water, a stable suspension of the active compound results.

2. Products for direct application

IX) Dusts (DP, DS)

5 parts by weight of active compound are ground finely and mixed intimately with 95 parts by weight of finely particulate kaolin. This gives a dust with 5 % by weight of active ingredient. X) Granules (GR, FG, GG, MG)

0.5 part by weight of active compound is ground finely and combined with 95.5 parts by weight of carriers. Current methods are extrusion, spray drying or the fluidized bed. This gives granules for direct application with 0.5 % by weight of active ingredient.

XI) ULV solutions (UL)

10 parts by weight of active compound are dissolved in 90 parts by weight of an organic solvent, for example xylene. This gives a product for direct application with 10 % by weight of active ingredient.

Formulations suitable for treating the plants and parts thereof are, for example:

I soluble concentrates (SL, LS)

III emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

IV emulsions (EW, EO, ES)

V suspensions (SC, OD, FS)

VI water-dispersible and water-soluble granules (WG, SG)

VII water-dispersible and water-soluble powders (WP, SP, WS)

VIII gel formulations (GF)

IX dusts and dust-like powders (DP, DS)

Preferred formulations to be used for foliar treatment are FS formulations. Generally, theses formulations comprise 1 to 800 g/l of active compounds, 1 to 200 g/l of wetting agents, 0 to 200 g/l of antifreeze agents, 0 to 400 g/l of binders, 0 to 200 g/l of colorants (pigments and/or dyes) and solvents, preferably water.

Preferred FS formulations of the active compounds for foliar treatment usually comprise from 0.5 to 80 % of active compound, from 0.05 to 5 % of wetting agent, from 0.5 to 15 % of dispersant, from 0.1 to 5 % of thickener, from 0 to 20 % of antifreeze agent, from 0 to 2 % of antifoam, from 0 to 15 % of tackifier or adhesive, from 0 to 75 % of filler/vehicle, and from 0.01 to 1 % of preservative.

Suitable wetting agents and dispersants are in particular the surfactants mentioned above. Preferred wetting agents are alkylnaphthalenesulfonat.es, such as diisopropyl- or diisobutylnaphthalenesulfonat.es. Preferred dispersants are nonionic or anionic dispersants or mixtures of nonionic or anionic dispersants. Suitable nonionic dispersants are in particular ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers and also tristryrylphenol polyglycol ether, for example polyoxyethylene octylphenol ether, ethoxylated isooctylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers, tributylphenyl polyglycol ether, tristerylphenyl polyglycol ether, alkylaryl polyether alcohols, alcohol and fatty alcohol/ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated castor oil, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, ethoxylated polyoxypropylene, lauryl alcohol polyglycol ether acetal, sorbitol esters and methylcellulose. Suitable anionic dispersants are in particular alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts of lignosulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, phenolsulfonic acid, dibutylnaphthalenesulfonic acid, alkylarylsulfonates, alkyl sulfates, alkylsulfonates, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty acids and sulfated fatty alcohol glycol ethers, furthermore arylsulfonate/formaldehyde condensates, for example condensates of sulfonated naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives with formaldehyde, condensates of naphthalene or of naphthalenesulfonic acid with phenol and formaldehyde, lignosulfonates, lignosulfite waste liquors, phosphated or sulfated derivatives of methylcellulose and polyacrylic acid salts.

Suitable for use as antifreeze agents are, in principle, all substances which lower the melting point of water. Suitable antifreeze agents include alkanols, such as methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, the butanols, glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol and the like. Suitable thickeners are all substances which can be used for such purposes in agrochemical compositions, for example cellulose derivatives, polyacrylic acid derivatives, xanthane, modified clays and finely divided silica.

Suitable for use as antifoams are all defoamers customary for formulating agrochemically active compounds. Particularly suitable are silicone antifoams and magnesium stearate.

Suitable for use as preservatives are all preservatives which can be employed for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Dichlorophene, isothiazolenes, such as 1 ,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one, 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one hydrochloride, 5-chloro-2- (4-chlorobenzyl)-3(2H)-isothiazolone, 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, 5-chloro- 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one hydrochloride, 4,5-dichloro-2-cyclohexyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 4,5-dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, 2-methyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one calcium chloride complex, 2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one, and benzyl alcohol hemiformal may be mentioned by way of example.

Adhesives/tackifiers may be added to improve the adhesion of the effective components on plants treating. Suitable adhesives are EO/PO-based block copolymer surfactants, but also polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl pyrrolidones, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polybutenes, polyisobutenes, polystyrene, polyethyleneamines, polyethyleneamides, polyethyleneimines (Lupasol®, Polymin®), polyethers and copolymers derived from these polymers.

Suitable compositions for soil treatment include granules which may be applied in- furrow, as broadcast granules or as impregnated fertilizer granules, and also spray applications which are applied to the soil as a preemergent or postemergent spray.

Suitable compositions for treating the plants, in particular the overground parts thereof, include spray applications, dusts and microgranules, spray applications being preferred.

Formulations suitable for producing spray solutions for the direct application are:

I soluble concentrates (SL, LS)

II) dispersible concentrates (DC)

III emulsifiable concentrates (EC)

IV emulsions (EW, EO)

V suspensions (SC)

VI water-dispersible and water-soluble granules (WG)

VII water-dispersible and water-soluble powders (WP, SP)

The method and use of the invention can principally be applied to any seed plant. Seed plants in the sense of the present invention are plants which can be propagated via seeds and which, of course, produce pollen. Seed plants also encompass plants which are generally propagated via other routes, such as potatoes (generally propagated via tubers) and sugar cane (mostly propagated via stem sections). The seed plants can be selected from agricultural seed plants, silvicultural seed plants and ornamental seed plants.

Agricultural plants are plants of which a part or all is harvested or cultivated on a commercial scale or which serve as an important source of feed, food, fibers (e.g. cotton, linen), combustibles (e.g. wood, bioethanol, biodiesel, biomass) or other chemical compounds. Agricultural plants are also horticultural plants, i.e. plants grown in gardens (and not on fields), such as certain fruits and vegetables. Silvicultural plants are trees, more specifically trees used in reforestation or industrial plantations. Industrial plantations generally serve for the commercial production of forest products, such as wood, pulp, paper, rubber, Christmas trees, or young trees for gardening purposes. Examples for silvicultural plants are conifers, like pines, in particular Pinus spec, fir and spruce, eucalyptus, tropical trees like teak, rubber tree, oil palm, willow (Salix), in particular Salix spec, poplar (cottonwood), in particular Popolus spec, beech, in particular Fagus spec, birch and oak. Ornamental plants are plants which are commonly used in gardening, e.g. in parks, gardens and on balconies. Examples are turf, geranium, pelargonia, petunia, begonia, and fuchsia, to name just a few among the vast number of ornamentals.

The seed plants can be non-transgenic seed plants or can be plants that have at least one transgenic event. In one embodiment, the plant is a transgenic plant having a transgenic event that confers resistance to a pesticide. Examples for transgenic plants having a pesticide resistance are transgenic crops which are resistant to herbicides from the group consisting of the sulfonylureas (see for example EP-A-0257993, US 5,013,659), imidazolinones (see for example US 6,222,100, WO 01/82685, WO 00/26390, WO 97/41218, WO 98/02526, WO 98/02527, WO 04/106529, WO 05/20673, WO 03/14357, WO 03/13225, WO 03/14356, WO 04/16073), glufosinate-type (see for example EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) or glyphosate-type (see for example WO 92/00377) or plants resistant towards herbicides selected from the group of cyclohexadienone/aryloxyphenoxypropionic acid herbicides (see for example US 5,162,602, US 5,290,696, US 5,498,544, US 5,428,001 , US 6,069,298, US 6,268,550, US 6,146,867, US 6,222,099, US 6,414,222) or transgenic crop plants, for example cotton, with the capability of producing Bacillus thuringiensis toxins (Bt toxins) which make the plants resistant to certain pests (see for example EP-A-0142924, EP-A- 0193259).

It is to be understood, however, that when the plant is a transgenic plant, the transgenic events that are present in the plant are by no means limited to those that provide pesticide resistance, but can include any transgenic event. In fact, the use of "stacked" transgenic events in a plant is also contemplated.

Due to the commercial importance, the seed plants are preferably selected from agricultural seed plants.

Preferably, the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae selected from cereals, which in turn are selected from corn, wheat, triticale, barley, oats, rye, millet and rice; and sugar cane; Fabaceaea selected from soybean, peanuts, beans, peas, lentils, alfalfa, trefoil and clovers; Solanaceaea selected from potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco; Brassicaceae selected from rape and cabbage; Asteraceae selected from sunflower, lettuce, artichokes, endive and chicory; Cucurbitaceaea selected from cucurbits, cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, melons and watermelons; Rosaceae selected from pome fruit, stone fruit, strawberries and almonds; Allioideaea selected from garlic, onions, leek and chives; Apiaceae selected from carrots, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fenel, parsley and parsnip; and other agricultural plants selected from cotton, sugar beets, citrus, bananas, blueberries, grapes, mango, papaya, flax, tea and coffee. More preferably, the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae selected from cereals, which in turn are selected from corn, wheat, triticale, barley, oats, rye, millet and rice; and sugar cane; Fabaceaea selected from soybean, peanuts, beans, peas, lentils, alfalfa, trefoil and clovers; Solanaceaea selected from potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco; Brassicaceae selected from rape and cabbage; Asteraceae selected from sunflower, lettuce, artichokes, endive and chicory; Cucurbitaceaea selected from cucurbits, cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, melons and watermelons; Rosaceae selected from pome fruit, stone fruit and strawberries; Allioideaea selected from garlic, onions, leek and chives; Apiaceae selected from carrots, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fenel, parsley and parsnip; and other agricultural plants selected from cotton, sugar beets, citrus, bananas, blueberries, mango, papaya, flax, tea and coffee.

The Poaceae are preferably selected from cereals. The Solanaceaea are preferably selected from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco.

More preferably, the agricultural seed plants are selected from cereals and Solanaceaea. The latter are in turn preferably selected from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco. Specifically, the agricultural seed plants are selected from corn and tomatoes.

In another preferred embodiment the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae different from cereals. Cereals are the cultivated forms of grasses (Poaceae) and include for example wheat (inclusive spelt, einkorn, emmer, kamut, durum and triticale), rye, barley, rice, wild rice, maize (corn), millet, sorghum, teff and oats. Poaceae different from cereals are for example forage or pasture grasses or lawn grasses (turf). More preferably, the Poaceae different from cereals are selected from pasture grass, i.e. grass growing on pasture land or cultivated for being fed to grazing animals (especially in form of hay), such as cows (cattle), sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, buffalos or yaks. Examples are grasses from the genus Agrostis, Andropogon, Arrhenatherum, Bothriochloa, Brachiaria, Bromus, Cenchrus, Chloris, Cynodon, Dactylis, Echinochloa, Entolasia, Festuca, Heteropogon, Hymenachne, Hyparrhenia, Leersia, Lolium, Megathyrsus, Melinis, Paspalum, Pennisetum, Phalaris, Phleum, Poa, Setaria, Themeda and Thinopyrum. Preferably, the pasture grass is selected from the genus Brachiaria, Cynodon, Lolium and Pennisetum and more preferably from the genus Brachiaria, Cynodon and Pennisetum. In particular, the pasture grass is selected from the genus Brachiaria. In sum, the agricultural seed plants are more preferably selected from Poaceae and Solanaceaea, in particular from cereals, pasture grass and Solanaceaea, and specifically from cereals, pasture grass selected from the genus Brachiaria, Cynodon, Lolium and Pennisetum; tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco. Very specifically, the agricultural seed plants are selected from corn, pasture grass selected from the genus Brachiaria, and tomatoes.

The methods and uses of the present invention lead to an improved viability of the pollen produced by plants which have been treated or whose parts have been treated or which grow from plant propagation material which has been treated or in a locus which has been treated with at least one strobilurin fungicide. The methods and uses of the present invention moreover lead to an increased number of fecundated flowers which in turn results in an increased seed and fruit formation (of course if not impeded by other factors). Without wishing to be bound by theory, this increased number of fecundated flowers is at least partly attributed to improved pollen viability.

The invention will now be further illustrated by the following non-limiting examples. Examples 1 . Pollen viability in corn culture (field experiment)

The study was carried out at the Tlalzayancav experimental lab of the Grand Mend Mexico Company, in Ejido de Anenecuilco, in the city of Ayala, Morelos. The commercial corn variety A7573 (Asgrow®) was used at a sowing density of 62,500 plants per hectare. When the plants where in growth stage V6 (according to the Iowa classification system: The growing point is above ground. Ear shoots and tassel are initiated (visible with a hand lens), they were treated once with 37.5 g/ha, 50.0 g/ha or 62.5 g/ha of pyraclostrobin (used as the commercial product Headline® from BASF; diluted with water to a concentration of 0.094, 0.125 and 0.156 g/l, respectively). A part of the corn plants remained untreated (control group). Treatments were applied with a motorized sprayer (Arimitsu®) to a water consumption of 400 liters per hectare per application. Treatments were located at an experimental design of randomized complete blocks with eight repetitions. Each experimental unit consisted of 5 grooves 0.8 m apart and 5 m long, which equals 20 m² per plot and 160 m² per treatment. The experimental units were separated by a groove between blocks and 1 .0 meters between plots. 68 days after planting, five ears were cut per plot (40 per treatment) and each one of these was shaken vigorously in a paper bag to remove pollen. Subsequently, the pollen collected in bags corresponding to each plot was transferred to amber glass jars with a 120 ml capacity and this was cooled to 0 °C to avoid contact with light in order to avoid dehydration of the pollen. Harvesting took place between 7 am and 9 am that day. All prevailing weather data were recorded during harvesting. Pollen viability was determined by using a staining methodology with aceto-carmine (Schneider formula), through placing a sample with a dissecting needle on a base, putting a drop of dye and analyzing it under a compound microscope with a 40-fold zoom, counting the number of dyed and not dyed pollen grains and determining the percentage of dyed grains (which in turn correlates with viable grains), relative to the total amount of grains. Moreover, one gram of pollen was weighted and placed within a closed oven at 20 °C for 24 hours to determine the moisture content of each sample, relative to the total weight of the grains. During the whole development of the study, no incidence of pathogens was detected in the crop. The results are compiled in table 1.

Table 1

2. Pollen viability and fecundated flowers in tomato cultures (field experiment)

This study was carried out in August and September 2012 in a commercial field in Yurecuaro, Michoacan, Mexico of tomato of the variety Toro with phenological status of vegetative growth, transplanted in August. 1 1 , 18 and 25 days after transplantation the plants were treated with 125 g/ha of pyraclostrobin (used as the commercial product Headline® from BASF; diluted with water to a concentration of 0.313 g/l). A part of the tomato plants remained untreated (control group). Treatments were located at an experimental design of randomized complete blocks with four repetitions. Each experimental unit consisted of three grooves 2.0 m apart and 10 m long, which equals 60 m² per plot and 240 m² per treatment. 25, 32 and 40 days after transplantation (corresponds to 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th flowering), pollen viability and the number of flower clusters were determined. 70 and 79 days after transplantation, the number of fruits per cluster and the number of fruits at harvest was determined. 89 days after transplantation, the fruit length and diameter was determined.

For determining pollen viability, the anthers of three flowers per plant were randomly collected out of 3 plants, randomly, per plot (9 flowers, randomly, per experimental unit, and 36 per treatment). They were placed in a 5 ml test tube and taken for refrigeration so that, after applying the aceto-carmine staining technique at the laboratory, the number of live pollen grains could be counted and the viability percentage (% live pollen grains, relative to the total number of examined grains) could be determined. Sampling was done in the second, fourth, and sixth flowering.

The number of flower clusters per plant in the second, fourth, and sixth flowering was recorded by counting.

For determining the number of fecundated flowers (flower mooring per cluster), five flower clusters per plot were randomly marked from the second flowering (20 per treatment) and the number of flowers per cluster, the number of fruits at harvest as well as the fruit diameter and length were recorded in them.

The number of fruits per cluster was recorded through random sampling of five plants per experimental unit (20 per treatment) for the second, fourth, and sixth flowering. A variance analysis and a mean comparison test were applied to the assessed criteria with a = 0.05 with the SAS® statistical analysis package by carrying out an assessment analysis. During the whole development of the study, no incidence of pathogens was detected in the crop. The results are compiled in tables 2 to 8.

Table 2: Pollen viability

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05).

Table 3: Number of flower clusters per plant

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05). Table 4: Number of flowers per cluster

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other. Results having the same letters (here: A) are statistically equal (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05).

Table 5: Number of fruits per cluster

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05). Table 6: Number of fruits at harvest

Treatment (amount) fruits/cluster fruits/cluster fruits/cluster

2^nd flowering 4^th flowering 6^th flowering

- (control) 5.00 (B) 6.10 (B) 5.80 (B)

Pyraclostrobin (125 g/ha) 6.95 (A) 7.45 (A) 7.60 (A)

Table 7: Fruit length

Treatment (amount) length [cm] length [cm] length [cm]

2^nd flowering 4^th flowering 6^th flowering

- (control) 6.72 (B) 6.70 (B) 6.60 (B)

Pyraclostrobin (125 g/ha) 7.27 (A) 7.41 (A) 7.45 (A)

Table 8: Fruit diameter

Treatment (amount) diameter [cm] diameter [cm] diameter [cm]

2^nd flowering 4^th flowering 6^th flowering

- (control) 5.60 (B) 5.54 (B) 5.40 (B)

Pyraclostrobin (125 g/ha) 6.13 (A) 6.19 (A) 6.22 (A) Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05).

As the results show, the treatment with pyraclostrobin results in a significantly improved pollen viability and in an increased number of fecundated flowers, which becomes manifest in an increased number of fruits.

3. Pollen viability and fecundated flowers in tomato cultures (greenhouse experiment)

This study was carried out in August and September 2012 in a greenhouse in Campo Nuevo en el Ejido de Anenecuilco, in the Ayala Municipality, Morelos of tomato of the variety El Cid with phenological status of vegetative growth, transplanted in August. 9, 16 and 23 days after transplantation the plants were treated with 125 g/ha of pyraclostrobin (used as the commercial product Headline® from BASF; diluted with water to a concentration of 0.313 g/l). A part of the tomato plants remained untreated (control group). Treatments were located at an experimental design of randomized complete blocks with four repetitions. Each experimental unit consisted of three grooves 2.0 m apart and 10 m long, which equals 20 m² per plot and 80 m² per treatment. 23, 30 and 43 days after transplantation (corresponds to 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th flowering), pollen viability and the number of flower clusters were determined. 71 and 80 days after transplantation, the number of fruits per cluster and the number of fruits at harvest was determined. 93 days after transplantation, the fruit length and diameter was determined.

For determining pollen viability, the anthers of three flowers per plant were randomly collected out of 3 plants, randomly, per plot (9 flowers, randomly, per experimental unit, and 36 per treatment). They were placed in a 5 ml test tube and taken for refrigeration so that, after applying the aceto-carmine staining technique at the laboratory, the number of live pollen grains could be counted and the viability percentage (% live pollen grains, relative to the total number of examined grains) could be determined. Sampling was done in the second and sixth flowering.

The number of fruits per cluster was recorded through random sampling of five plants per experimental unit (20 per treatment) for the second, fourth, and sixth flowering. A variance analysis and a mean comparison test were applied to the assessed criteria with a = 0.05 with the SAS® statistical analysis package by carrying out an assessment analysis. During the whole development of the study, no incidence of pathogens was detected in the crop. The results are compiled in tables 9 to 15.

Table 9: Pollen viability

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05). Table 10: Number of flower clusters per plant

Results having different letters (here: A versus B) are significantly different from each other. Results having the same letters (here: A) are statistically equal (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05). Table 1 1 : Number of flowers per cluster

Table 13: Number of fruits at harvest Treatment (amount) fruits/cluster fruits/cluster fruits/cluster

2^nd flowering 4^th flowering 6^th flowering

- (control) 6.60 (B) 7.15 (B) 7.25 (B)

Pyraclostrobin (125 g/ha) 8.50 (A) 8.40 (A) 8.45 (A)

Table 14: Fruit length

Table 15: Fruit diameter

4. Pollen viability in Brachiaria hybrid BR06/0423 (field experiment)

The study was carried out in in Chiapas, Mexico under controlled field conditions (irrigation, agricultural practice). On August 22, 2013 (the plants were in pre-flower stage), they were treated once with 62.5 g/ha or 125 g/ha of pyraclostrobin (used as the commercial product Headline® 25 EC from BASF). A part of the Brachiaria plants remained untreated (control group). Treatments were located at an experimental design of randomized complete blocks with 3 repetitions. 18 days after the treatment, when the plants were at full bloom, the anthers of two flowers per plot (6 per treatment) were collected. Pollen viability was determined by using a staining methodology with aceto-carmine (1 %; Schneider formula), through placing a sample on a base, putting a drop of dye and analyzing it under a compound microscope with a 40-fold zoom, counting the number of dyed and not dyed pollen grains and determining the percentage of dyed grains (which in turn correlates with viable grains), relative to the total amount of grains. Moreover, the overall number of pollen grains was counted. During the whole development of the study, no incidence of pathogens was detected in the crop. The results are compiled in table 16.

Table 16

When seeds had developed these were harvested and the amount of pure seeds/ha as well as the thousand-seed weight (TSW) were determined. The results are compiled in table 17 below. During the whole development of the study, no incidence of pathogens was detected in the crop.

Table 17

Results having different letters (here: A versus B or C) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05). 5. Pollen viability in Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II and other properties (field experiment)

The experiment was carried out like in example 4, using however another Brachiaria hybrid and collecting the anthers only 43 day after treatment (however also at full bloom. The results are compiled in table 18.

Table 18

Treatment (amount) Viability [%] No. of pollen grains

- (control) 38 (A) 1 1 (A)

Pyraclostrobin (62.5 g/ha) 66 (B) 18 (B)

Pyraclostrobin (125.0 g/ha) 75 (B) 22 (C) Results having different letters (here: A versus B or C) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05).

Moreover, following properties were observed: number of flower stems/m², number of spikelets/m², and number of flowers/m². The results are compiled in table 19.

Table 19

Results having different letters (here: A versus B or C) are significantly different from each other (according to Tukey's test with a = 0.05).

Claims

A method for improving the pollen viability, which method comprises treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide.

A method for increasing the number of fecundated flowers, which method comprises treating seed plants or parts thereof, the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow and/or plant propagules from which the plants are to grow with at least one strobilurin fungicide.

The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, where seed plants or parts thereof and/or the locus where the plants are growing, and in particular seed plants or parts thereof are treated.

The method as claimed in claim 3, where the seed plants or parts thereof and/or the locus where the plants are growing are treated when the seed plants are in the vegetative growth stage.

The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, where the at least one strobilurin fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, fenoxy- strobin/flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyribencarb, trifloxystrobin, 2-(2-(6-(3-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy)-5-fluoro- pyrimidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide, 3-methoxy-2-(2- (N-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropane-carboximidoylsulfanylmethyl)-phenyl)- acrylic acid methyl ester, methyl (2-chloro-5-[1 -(3-methylbenzyloxyimino)- ethyl]benzyl)carbamate and 2-(2-(3-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)-1 -methyl-allylidene- aminooxymethyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino-N-methyl-acetamide.

The method as claimed in claim 5, where the strobilurin fungicide is pyraclostrobin.

The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, where the seed plants are selected from agricultural seed plants, silvicultural seed plants and ornamental seed plants. The method as claimed in claim 7, where the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae selected from cereals, which in turn are selected from corn, wheat, triticale, barley, oats, rye, millet and rice; and sugar cane;

Fabaceaea selected from soybean, peanuts, beans, peas, lentils, alfalfa, trefoil and clovers; Solanaceaea selected from potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco; Brassicaceae selected from rape and cabbage; Asteraceae selected from sunflower, lettuce, artichokes, endive and chicory; Cucurbitaceaea selected from cucurbits, cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, melons and

watermelons; Rosaceae selected from pome fruit, stone fruit, strawberries and almonds; Allioideaea selected from garlic, onions, leek and chives; Apiaceae selected from carrots, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fenel, parsley and parsnip; and other agricultural plants selected from cotton, sugar beets, citrus, bananas, blueberries, grapes, mango, papaya, flax, tea and coffee.

The method as claimed in claim 8, where the agricultural seed plants are selected from cereals and Solanaceaea, and are specifically selected from corn and tomatoes.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, where the agricultural seed plants are

selected from Poaceae different from cereals, in particular from grasses of the genus Brachiaria, Cynodon, Lolium and Pennisetum, and in particular from grasses of the genus Brachiaria.

1 1 . The use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for improving the pollen viability of seed plants.

12. The use of at least one strobilurin fungicide for increasing the number of fecundated flowers in seed plants. 13. The use as claimed in any of claims 1 1 or 12, where the at least one strobilurin fungicide is selected from azoxystrobin, coumethoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestroburin, fenaminstrobin, fenoxystrobin/flufenoxystrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyribencarb, trifloxystrobin, 2-(2- (6-(3-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxy)-5-fluoro-pyrimidin-4-yloxy)-phenyl)-2-methoxy- imino-N-methyl-acetamide, 3-methoxy-2-(2-(N-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-cyclopropane- carboximidoylsulfanylmethyl)-phenyl)-acrylic acid methyl ester, methyl (2-chloro- 5-[1 -(3-methylbenzyloxyimino)ethyl]benzyl)carbamate and 2-(2-(3-(2,6-di- chlorophenyl)-1 -methyl-allylideneaminooxymethyl)-phenyl)-2-methoxyimino- N-methyl-acetamide.

14. The use as claimed in claim 13, where the strobilurin fungicide is pyraclostrobin. 15. The use as claimed in any of claims 1 1 to 14, where the seed plants are selected from agricultural seed plants, silvicultural seed plants and ornamental seed plants.

16. The use as claimed in claim 15, where the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae selected from cereals, which in turn are selected from corn, wheat, triticale, barley, oats, rye, millet and rice; and sugar cane; Fabaceaea selected from soybean, peanuts, beans, peas, lentils, alfalfa, trefoil and clovers; Solanaceaea selected from potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and tobacco; Brassicaceae selected from rape and cabbage; Asteraceae selected from sunflower, lettuce, artichokes, endive and chicory; Cucurbitaceaea selected from cucurbits, cucumbers, pumpkins, squashes, melons and watermelons; Rosaceae selected from pome fruit, stone fruit, strawberries and almonds; Allioideaea selected from garlic, onions, leek and chives; Apiaceae selected from carrots, celery, chervil, coriander, cumin, dill, fenel, parsley and parsnip; and other agricultural plants selected from cotton, sugar beets, citrus, bananas, blueberries, grapes, mango, papaya, flax, tea and coffee.

17. The use as claimed in claim 16, where the agricultural seed plants are selected from cereals and Solanaceaea, and are specifically selected from corn and tomatoes.

18. The use as claimed in claim 15, where the agricultural seed plants are selected from Poaceae different from cereals, in particular from grasses of the genus Brachiaria, Cynodon, Lolium and Pennisetum, and in particular from grasses of the genus Brachiaria.