WO2017020180A1

WO2017020180A1 - Method and use of penflufen for controlling corn head smut

Info

Publication number: WO2017020180A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/085754
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jianjun Bai
Original assignee: Bayer Cropscience (China) Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2015-07-31
Filing date: 2015-07-31
Publication date: 2017-02-09
Also published as: CN105659978B; CN105659978A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling corn head smut which is caused by Sphacelotheca reiliana, comprising applying penflufen to corn seed at an application rate of from about 15 per 100 kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably from about 24 per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed. The present invention also raltes to use of penflufen for controlling corn head smut, wherein penflufen is used at an application rate of from about 15 per 100 kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably from about 24 per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.

Description

METHOD AND USE OF PENFLUFEN FOR CONTROLLING CORN HEAD SMUT

The present invention relates to a method for controlling corn head smut comprising applying penflufen to corn seed, and the use of penflufen for controlling corn head smut. Furthermore the treatment of seed is mainly described to control corn head smut.

Corn head smut is caused by Sphacelotheca reiliana. This disease is present in most areas where corn is frequently grown. Before the appearance of smutted ears, chlorotic flecks on leaf and anthocyan accumulation on stem can be observed. Crop losses resulting from the infection of corn are due to the formation of a sorus in place of the ear and sometimes the tassel. It has been reported that up to 80％ of corn plants can be smutted in an infected field. Teliospores present in soil of smutted corn are disseminated by wind. When temperature and soil moisture are optimal, the teliospores germinate in the soil as a fourcelled basidium (5 promycelium) that presents its lowermost septum above the teliospore cell wall as other species of Sphacelotheca. Each basidium germinates into a large number of haploid basidiospores, which bud like yeast to form sporidia. Compatible haploid sporidia can fuse to give infectious dicaryotic hyphae. Sphacelotheca reiliana infects corn only via roots.

Tebuconazole and ipconazole are examples for compounds that are approved for controlling corn head smut. It is desired to provide alternative fungicides which can be used for controlling corn head smut, especially when the existing approved fungicides suffer from resistance issues.

Penflufen of formula (I) is known from WO2003/010149, and was generally disclosed as a fungicide. WO2003/010149 discloses a variety of diseases which can be treated by the several compounds including penflufen； however, there is no disclosure mentioning of head smut.

WO2005/122770A2 relates to the use of fungicidally active carboxamides including penflufen for seed treatment, for corresponding seed dressings comprising the same, to a process for controlling phytopathogenic fungi by treating the seed with the same, and also to seed which has been treated with the same. In particular, it firstly discloses the use of penflufen as seed dressing for protection against attack by Pyrenophora, Rhizoctonia, Tilletia and Ustilago species. There is no disclosure mentioning of head smut either, in particular head smut cause by Sphaeloteca reiliana.

WO2005/041653A2 discloses novel active compound combinations comprising a carboxamide including penflufen and a second active compound having very good fungicidal properties. The active compound combinations of WO2005/041653A2 have very good funicidal properties and are suitable for controlling phytopathogenic fungi, such as Plasmodiophoromycetes, Oomycetes, Chytridiomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, Deuteromycetes, etc.

WO2008/148482A1 further discloses triple combinations comprising penflufen, metalaxyl and triazole, which are highly suitable for controlling unwanted phytopathogenic fungi.

It is known that the application rates of penflufen can be varied within a relatively wide range. In the treatment of seeds, the application rates are generally between 0.001 and 50 g per kilogram of seed, preferably between 0.01 and 10 g per kilogram of seed. However, it is mentioned in WO2008/148482A1, the activity of penflufen is generally good； however, at low application rates it is sometimes unsatisfactory.

On another hand, ecological and economical demands for modern fungicides are increasing constantly, for example with respect to toxicity, selectivity, application rate, environment friendliness, and there can furthermore be problems, for example, with resistance, it is favorable to develop a simple and safe fungicide product which is effective in controlling corn head smut, friendly to the environment, and also can be a suitable replacement in case of resistance.

Surprisingly, the inventor of the present application found that penflufen at low application rate can achieve unexpected effect of controlling corn head smut cause by Sphacelotheca reiliana.

The present invention

In one aspect of the present invention, it provides a method for controlling corn head smut comprising applying penflufen to corn seed at an application rate of from about 15 g per 100 kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably from 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed, such as 20 g, 25 g, 30 g, 35 g, 40 g, 45 g, 50 g, 55 g, 60 g, 65 g, or 70 g per 100 kg of seed or any number in between these numbers.

In one embodiment of the above aspect, the application rate is from about 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 36 g per 100 kg of seed. Alternatively, the application rate is from about 36 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed. For example, the application rate can be about 24 g per 100 kg of seed, 36 g per 100 kg of seed or 48 g per 100 kg of seed.

The above mentioned method is has lower toxicity and more friendly to the environment by apply penflufen as single ingredient at low application rate.

In another aspect of the present invention, it provides use of penflufen for controlling corn head smut, wherein penflufen is used at an application rate of from about 15 g per 100 kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed preferably from 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.

The present invention not only can achieve good effect of controlling corn head smut by application penflufen as single ingredient at low dosage to corn seeds, but also can increase yield of corn.

Definition

In conjunction with the present invention “controlling” denotes a significant reduction of Sphacelotheca reiliana infection in comparison to the untreated group, more preferably the infection is essentially diminished (50-79％) , most preferably the infection is totally suppressed (80-100％) .

The “about” used herein is to mean approximately, in the region of, roughly, or around. When the term "about" is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below the numerical values set forth. In general, the term "about" is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20％, or preferably 15％, or more preferably 10％.

Formulations

The present invention further relates to a composition comprising penflufen for controlling corn head smut. The composition is preferably fungicidal composition which comprise agriculturally suitable auxiliaries, carriers, surfactants or extenders.

According to the invention, a carrier is a natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic substance with which the active ingredients are mixed or combined for better applicability, in particular for application to plants or plant parts or seed. The carrier, which may be solid or liquid, is generally inert and should be suitable for use in agriculture.

Useful solid carriers include: for example ammonium salts and natural rock flours, such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz, attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and synthetic rock flours, such as finely divided silica, alumina and silicates； useful solid carriers for granules include: for example, crushed and fractionated natural rocks such as calcite, marble, pumice, sepiolite and dolomite, and also synthetic granules of inorganic and organic flours, and granules of organic material such as paper, sawdust, coconut shells, corn cobs and tobacco stalks； useful emulsifiers and/or foam-formers include: for example nonionic and anionic emulsifiers, such as polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene fatty alcohol ethers, for example alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates and also protein hydrolysates； suitable dispersants are nonionic and/or ionic substances, for example from the classes of the alcohol-POE and/or -POP ethers, acid and/or POP POE esters, alkylaryl and/or POP POE ethers, fat and/or POP POE adducts, POE-and/or POP-polyol derivatives, POE-and/or POP-sorbitan or -sugar adducts, alkyl or aryl sulphates, alkyl-or arylsulphonates and alkyl or aryl phosphates or the corresponding PO-ether adducts. Additionally suitable are oligo-or polymers, for example those derived from vinylic monomers, from acrylic acid, from EO and/or PO alone or in combination with, for example, (poly) alcohols or (poly) amines. It is also possible to use lignin and its sulphonic acid derivatives, unmodified and modified celluloses, aromatic and/or aliphatic sulphonic acids and also their adducts with formaldehyde.

The active ingredients can be converted to the customary formulations, such as solutions, emulsions, wettable powders, water-and oil-based suspensions, powders, dusts, pastes, soluble powders, soluble granules, granules for broadcasting, suspoemulsion concentrates, natural products impregnated with active ingredient, synthetic substances impregnated with active ingredient, fertilizers and also microencapsulations in polymeric substances.

The active ingredients can be applied as such, in the form of their formulations or the use forms prepared therefrom, such as ready-to-use solutions, emulsions, water-or oil-based suspensions, powders, wettable powders, pastes, soluble powders, dusts, soluble granules, granules for broadcasting, suspoemulsion concentrates, natural products impregnated with active ingredient, synthetic substances impregnated with active ingredient, fertilizers and also microencapsulations in polymeric substances. Application is accomplished in a customary manner, for example by watering, spraying, atomizing, broadcasting, dusting, foaming, spreading-on and the like. It is also possible to deploy the active ingredients by the ultra-low volume method or to inject the active ingredient preparation/the active ingredient itself into the soil. It is also possible to treat the corn seeds.

The formulations mentioned can be prepared in a manner known per se, for example by mixing the active ingredients with at least one customary extender, solvent or diluent, emulsifier, dispersant and/or binder or fixing agent, wetting agent, a water repellent, if appropriate siccatives and UV stabilizers and if appropriate dyes and pigments, antifoams, preservatives, thickeners, stickers, gibberellins and also other processing auxiliaries.

The present invention includes not only formulations which are already ready for use and can be deployed with a suitable apparatus to the plant or the seed, but also commercial concentrates which have to be diluted with water prior to use.

The auxiliaries used may be those substances which are suitable for imparting particular properties to the composition itself or and/or to preparations derived therefrom (for example spray liquors, seed dressings) , such as certain technical properties and/or also particular biological properties. Typical auxiliaries include: extenders, and solvents.

Suitable extenders are, for example, water, polar and nonpolar organic chemical liquids, for example from the classes of the aromatic and nonaromatic hydrocarbons (such as paraffins, alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, chlorobenzenes) , the alcohols and polyols (which may optionally also be substituted, etherified and/or esterified) , the ketones (such as acetone, cyclohexanone) , esters (including fats and oils) and (poly) ethers, the unsubstituted and substituted amines, amides, lactams (such as N-alkylpyrrolidones) and lactones, the sulphones and sulphoxides (such as dimethyl sulphoxide) .

Liquefied gaseous extenders or carriers are understood to mean liquids which are gaseous at standard temperature and under standard pressure, for example aerosol propellants such as halohydrocarbons, or else butane, propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

In the formulations it is possible to use thickners such as carboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in the form of powders, granules or latices, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, or else natural phospholipids such as cephalins and lecithins and synthetic phospholipids. Further additives may be mineral and vegetable oils.

If the extender used is water, it is also possible to use, for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents. Useful liquid solvents are essentially: aromatics such as xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics or chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes, chloroethylenes or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example petroleum fractions, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide, or else water.

Formulations comprising penflufen may additionally comprise further components, for example surfactants. Suitable surfactants are emulsifiers and/or foam formers, dispersants or wetting agents having ionic or nonionic properties, or mixtures of these surfactants. Examples thereof are salts of polyacrylic acid, salts of lignosulphonic acid, salts of phenolsulphonic acid or naphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols (preferably alkylphenols or arylphenols) , salts of sulphosuccinic esters, taurine derivatives (preferably alkyl taurates) , phosphoric esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols, fatty esters of polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containing sulphates, sulphonates and phosphates, for example alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates, protein hydrolysates, lignosulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose. The presence of a surfactant is necessary if one of the active ingredients and/or one of the inert carriers is insoluble in water and when application is effected in water. The proportion of surfactants is between 5 and 40 per cent by weight of the inventive composition.

It is possible to use dyes such as inorganic pigments, for example iron oxide, titanium oxide and Prussian Blue, and organic dyes such as alizarin dyes, azo dyes and metal phthalocyanine dyes, and trace nutrients such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

Further additives may be perfumes, mineral or vegetable, optionally modified oils, waxes and nutrients (including trace nutrients) , such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt, molybdenum and zinc.

Additional components may be stabilizers, such as cold stabilizers, preservatives, antioxidants, light stabilizers, or other agents which improve chemical and/or physical stability.

If appropriate, other additional components may also be present, for example protective colloids, binders, adhesives, secondary thickeners, thixotropic substances, penetrants, stabilizers, sequestering agents, complex formers. In general, the active ingredients can be combined with any solid or liquid additive commonly used for formulation purposes.

The formulations contain generally between 0.01 and 99％ by weight, 0.05 and 98％ by weight, preferably between 0.1 and 95％ by weight, more preferably between 0.5 and 90％ of active ingredient, most preferably between 10 and 70 per cent by weight.

The formulations described above can be used for controlling corn head smut, in which the formulations comprising penflufen are applied to the microorganisms and/or in their habitat.

Seed Treatment

The invention includes a method for treating corn seed, comprising applying penflufen to corn seed at an application rate of from about 15 g per 100kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed, preferably from 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed, such as 20 g, 25 g, 30 g, 35 g, 40 g, 45 g, 50 g, 55 g, 60 g, 65 g, or 70 g per 100 kg of seed or any number in between these numbers.

A further aspect of the present invention relates in particular to seeds (dormant, primed, pregerminated or even with emerged roots and leaves) treated with penflufen. The inventive seeds are used in methods for protection of seeds and emerged plants from the seeds from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana. In these methods, seed treated with one active ingredient is used.

It is also desirable to optimize the amount of the active ingredient used so as to provide the best possible protection for the seeds, the germinating plants and emerged seedlings from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana, but without damaging the plants themselves. In particular, methods for the treatment of seed should also take into consideration the intrinsic phenotypes of transgenic plants in order to achieve optimum protection of the seed and the germinating plant with a minimum amount of compositions.

The present invention therefore also relates to a method for protecting seeds, germinating plants and emerged seedlings from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana, including treating the seeds with the composition of the present invention. The invention also relates to the use of the compositions for treating seeds to protect the seeds, the germinating plants and emerged seedlings from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana. The invention further relates to seeds which has been treated with the formulations of the present invention for protection from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that the treatment of the seeds with the formulations of the present invention not only protects the seed itself, but also the resulting plants after emergence, from infection of Sphacelotheca reiliana.

In the context of the present invention, penflufen is applied to seeds. Preferably, the seed is treated in such a way to ensure no damage in the course of treatment. In general, seeds can be treated at any time between harvest and sowing. It is customary to use seed which has been separated from the plant and freed from the panicle of corn. For example, it is possible to use seed which has been harvested, cleaned and dried down to a moisture content of less than 13％ by weight.

When treating the seeds, it generally has to be ensured that the amount of penflufen applied to the seed and/or the amount of further additives is selected such that the germination of the seed is not impaired, or that the resulting plant is not damaged.

Penflufen can be applied directly, i. e. without containing any other components and without having been diluted. In general, it is preferable to apply penflufen to the seed in the form of a suitable formulation. Suitable formulations and methods for seed treatment are known to those skilled in the art. Penflufen can be converted to the customary formulations relevant to on-seed applications, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders, foams, slurries or combined with other coating components for seed, such as film forming materials, pelleting materials, fine iron or other metal powders, granules, coating material for inactivated seeds, and also ULV formulations.

These formulations are prepared in a known manner, by mixing the penflufen with customary additives, for example customary extenders and solvents or diluents, dyes, wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, antifoams, preservatives, secondary thickeners, adhesives, gibberellins, and also water.

Useful dyes which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all dyes which are customary for such purposes. It is possible to use either pigments, which are sparingly soluble in water, or dyes, which are soluble in water. Examples include the dyes known by the names Rhodamine B, C.I. Pigment Red 112 and C.I. Solvent Red 1.

Useful wetting agents which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all substances which promote wetting and which are conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Preferred wetting agents are alkylnaphthalenesulphonates, such as diisopropyl-or diisobutylnaphthalenesulphonates.

Useful dispersants and/or emulsifiers which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all nonionic, anionic and cationic dispersants conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Preferred dispersants are nonionic or anionic dispersants or mixtures of nonionic or anionic dispersants. Suitable nonionic dispersants include especially ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block polymers, alkylphenol polyglycol ethers and tristryrylphenol polyglycol ether, and the phosphated or sulphated derivatives thereof. Suitable anionic dispersants are especially lignosulphonates, polyacrylic acid salts and arylsulphonate/formaldehyde condensates.

Antifoams which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all foam-inhibiting substances conventionally used for the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients. Silicone antifoams and magnesium stearate can be used with preference.

Preservatives which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all substances usable for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Examples include dichlorophene and benzyl alcohol hemiformal.

Thickeners which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all substances usable for such purposes in agrochemical compositions. Preferred examples include cellulose derivatives, acrylic acid derivatives, xanthan, modified clays and finely divided silica.

Adhesives which may be present in the seed dressing formulations in accordance with the invention are all customary binders usable in seed dressing products. Preferred examples include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and tylose.

The formulations for on-seed applications in accordance with the invention can be used to treat corn seeds either directly or after prior dilution with water. For instance, the concentrates or the preparations obtainable therefrom by dilution with water can be used to dress the corn seed. The formulations in accordance with the invention, or the dilute preparations thereof, can also be used for seeds of transgenic plants. In this case, additional synergistic effects may also occur in interaction with the substances formed by expression.

For treatment of seeds with the formulations in accordance with the invention, or the preparations prepared therefrom by adding water, all mixing units usable customarily for on-seed applications are useful. Specifically, the procedure in on-seed applications is to place the seeds into a mixer, to add the particular desired amount of the formulations, either as such or after prior dilution with water, and to mix everything until all applied formulations are distributed homogeneously on the seeds. If appropriate, this is followed by a drying operation.

GMO

As already mentioned above, it is possible to treat all corn plants and their parts in accordance with the invention. In a preferred embodiment, wild plant species and plant cultivars, or those obtained by conventional biological breeding methods, such as crossing or protoplast fusion, and also parts thereof, are treated. In a further preferred embodiment, transgenic plants and plant cultivars obtained by genetic engineering methods, if appropriate in combination with conventional methods (Genetically Modified Organisms) , and parts thereof are treated. The terms “parts” or “parts of plants” or “plant parts” have been explained above. More preferably, plants of the plant cultivars which are commercially available or are in use are treated in accordance with the invention. Plant cultivars are understood to mean plants which have new properties ( "traits" ) and have been obtained by conventional breeding, by mutagenesis or by recombinant DNA techniques. They can be cultivars, varieties, bio-or genotypes.

The method of treatment according to the invention can be used in the treatment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) , e.g. plants or seeds. Genetically modified plants (or transgenic plants) are plants of which a heterologous gene has been stably integrated into genome. The expression “heterologous gene” essentially means a gene which is provided or assembled outside the plant and when introduced in the nuclear, chloroplastic or mitochondrial genome gives the transformed plant new or improved agronomic or other properties by expressing a protein or polypeptide of interest or by downregulating or silencing other gene (s) which are present in the plant (using for example, antisense technology, cosuppression technology, RNA interference–RNAi–technology or microRNA–miRNA-technology) . A heterologous gene that is located in the genome is also called a transgene. A transgene that is defined by its particular location in the plant genome is called a transformation or transgenic event.

Plants and plant cultivars which are preferably to be treated according to the invention include all plants which have genetic material which impart particularly advantageous, useful traits to these plants (whether obtained by breeding and/or biotechnological means) .

Plants and plant cultivars which are also preferably to be treated according to the invention are resistant against one or more biotic stresses, i. e. said plants show a better defense against animal and microbial pests, such as against nematodes, insects, mites, phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria, viruses and/or viroids.

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention are those plants which are resistant to one or more abiotic stresses. Abiotic stress conditions may include, for example, drought, cold temperature exposure, heat exposure, osmotic stress, flooding, increased soil salinity, increased mineral exposure, ozone exposure, high light exposure, limited availability of nitrogen nutrients, limited availability of phosphorus nutrients, shade avoidance.

Plants and plant cultivars which may also be treated according to the invention, are those plants characterized by enhanced yield characteristics. Increased yield in said plants can be the result of, for example, improved plant physiology, growth and development, such as water use efficiency, water retention efficiency, improved nitrogen use, enhanced carbon assimilation, improved photosynthesis, increased germination efficiency and accelerated maturation. Yield can furthermore be affected by improved plant architecture (under stress and non-stress conditions) , including but not limited to, early flowering, flowering control for hybrid seed production, seedling vigor, plant size, internode number and distance, root growth, seed size, fruit size, pod size, pod or ear number, seed number per pod or ear, seed mass, enhanced seed filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content and composition for example starch, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in anti-nutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability.

Plants that may be treated according to the invention are hybrid plants that already express the characteristic of heterosis or hybrid vigor which results in generally higher yield, vigor, health and resistance towards biotic and abiotic stresses.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may be treated according to the invention are herbicide-tolerant transgenic plants, i. e. plants made tolerant to one or more given herbicides. Such plants can be obtained either by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such herbicide tolerance.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are insect-resistant transgenic plants, i. e. plants made resistant to attack by certain target insects. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such insect resistance.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are tolerant to abiotic stresses. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants containing a mutation imparting such stress resistance.

Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention show altered quantity, quality and/or storage-stability of the harvested product and/or altered properties of specific ingredients of the harvested product.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are plants with altered seed shattering characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered seed shattering characteristics and include plants with delayed or reduced seed shattering.

Plants or plant cultivars (that can be obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may also be treated according to the invention are plants with altered post-translational protein modification patterns.

Application

Penflufen can be applied directly, that is to say without comprising further components and without having been diluted. In general it is preferable to apply the compound or composition to the seed or the soil in the form of a suitable "formulation. Suitable formulations and methods for the treatment of seed are known to the skilled worker and are described, for example, in the following documents: US 4,272,417 A, US 4,245,432 A, US 4,808,430 A, US 5,876,739 A, US 2003/0176428Al, WO 2002/080675 A1, WO 2002/028186.

When treating the seed, care must generally be taken that the amount of the composition according to the invention applied to the seed and/or the amount of further additives is chosen in such a way that the germination of the seed is not adversely affected, or that the resulting plant is not damaged. This must be borne in mind in particular in the case of active compounds which may have phytotoxic effects at certain application rates.

Examples

The following examples illustrate particular embodiments of the invention in a non-limiting fashion.

Example 1: The effect of controlling corn head smut

Materials

In the experiment, the tested subjects were Penflufen 240g/L FS (commercially available under the tradename of

) . The positive control drug was Tebuconazole 060 FS (commercially available under the tradename

from Bayer) , and Ipconazole+metalaxyl 045 EW (commercially available under the tradename of Rancona

) . Water was used as blank control.

The corn seeds used in the experiment were seeds sensitive to Sphacelotheca reiliana. Such seeds are commercially available under the tradename Rongxin

from Shanxi Ruipu Seed Co. Ltd.

Experimental design and treatment

The experimental treatment groups were shown in Table 1. As for four treatment groups, each treatment group was repeated for four times, and thus a total of 16 plots (20 m² per plot) for all treatment groups.

Table 1. Experimental design and treatment

Application method

Corn seeds were treated with proper diluted products one day before sowing. Seeds were dried up before sowing.

Spore inoculation

Spores of Sphacelotheca reiliana was fully mixed with sieved soil in 1: 1000 ratio. After corn seeds were sowed, 100 g of spore mixture was covered on the corn seeds.

Efficacy calculation

The experimental data was statically analyzed using Duncan’s Multiple-Range test, and was calculated using the following equations:

Results

Emergence of corn seedling

As can be seen from data shown in Tables 2 and 3, penflufen treatment can accelerate the emergence of corn seeds and increase emergence rate of corn seeds, as good as Tebuconazole and Ipconazole+Metalaxyl treatment groups.

Table 2: Effect of treatment groups to emergence timing of corn seedling

Table 3: Effect of treatment groups to emergence rate of corn seedling

Effect of treatment groups on controlling corn head smut

As can be seen from the data shown in Table 4, penflufen treatment shows better effect for controlling corn head smut, as compared with Tebuconazole and Ipconazole+Metalaxyl treatment groups.

Table 4. Control Effect of Penflufen against corn head smut----analysis of variance

Yield enhancement

As can be seen from data shown in Table 5, penflufen treatment can significantly increase the yield of corn, as good as Tebuconazole and Ipconazole&Metalaxyl treatment groups.

Table 5. Enhancement effect of treatment groups on corn yield

Claims

Method for controlling corn head smut comprising applying penflufen to corn seed at an application rate of from about 15 g per 100kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed.
Method according to Claim 1, wherein the application rate is in the range of between about 24 g per 100 kg of seed and about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.
Method according to Claim 1, the application rate is from about 24 g per 100kg of seed to about 36 g per 100 kg of seed.
Method according to Claim 1, the application rate is from about 36 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.
Method according to Claim 1, the application rate is about 36 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use of penflufen for controlling corn head smut, wherein penflufen is used at an application rate of from about 15 g per 100 kg of seed to about 72 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use according to Claim 6, the application rate is from about 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use according to Claim 6, the application rate is from about 24 g per 100 kg of seed to about 36 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use according to Claim 6, the application rate is from about 36 g per 100 kg of seed to about 48 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use according to Claim 6, the application rate is about 36 g per 100 kg of seed.
Use according to any one of claims 6-10, for increasing yield in corn.