WO2021059248A1

WO2021059248A1 - Treatment for black sigatoka

Info

Publication number: WO2021059248A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/059036
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kuntal Das; Alvaro Peña CHINCHILLA
Original assignee: Upl Limited; UPL Corporation Limited
Priority date: 2019-09-28
Filing date: 2020-09-28
Publication date: 2021-04-01
Also published as: MX2022003594A; BR112022005805A2; CO2022003522A2; CR20220123A; CN114401634A

Abstract

A method of treating black sigatoka in banana plants by applying to the locus of the disease a composition of a silicic acid based compound and a variety of compatible fungicides and/or inhibitors..

Description

TREATMENT FOR BLACK SIGATOKA Technical field: The present invention relates to methods of controlling fungal diseases in plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to treatment of fungal diseases in banana. Background and prior art: Banana is of the most economically important crops grown in Asian, Africa and the Americas. Like all plants, the banana plant is subject to many diseases. The most damaging and possibly commercially important disease in banana is the black sigatoka disease also known as black leaf streak. The disease is characterized by dark leaf spots that eventually enlarge and coalesce, causing much of the leaf area to turn yellow then brown to finally black. The disease is caused by Ascomycetes fungi Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Morelet). Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Morelet) is a very specific filamentous fungi, extremely slow growing, its properties differ significantly from the other plant pathogens such as powdery mildew and Botrytis cinerea. Black Sigatoka attacks leaves during the entire growth period up to the time of harvesting. It initially causes spotting and blotching of the leaf surfaces that results in necrosis and withering of the leaf tissue. The course of the disease is usually slow, but on account of the reduction of the active leaf surface leads to decrease in photosynthesis. This in turn results in decrease in growth and maturity of the fruit, which directly impacts the yield and quality of the fruit. Black Sigatoka has a wide host range and infects most species of banana including dessert bananas, cooking bananas, and plantains. The ascospores, and to a certain extent conidia, are the propagules by which the fungus is dispersed by wind. The conidia form readily in high humidity, especially if a film of free water is present on leaves. These asexual spores disperse during rain-wash and splashing, causing local spread of the disease. The spread of the disease is rapid and chemical control is usually used to control and treat the disease. There are many chemical fungicides known to treat and control the spread of Black Sigatoka disease. These fungicides include commonly known contact fungicides such as mancozeb, chlorothalonil, as well as systemic fungicides such as morpholine, demethylation inhibitors (DMI), or strobiliurin (QoI) fungicides, benzimidazoles etc. Resistance to benzimidazole, DMI, and strobiliurin fungicides is widespread in many production areas. Researchers are constantly in search of newer fungicides that can control the disease without resistance developing, since developing resistance results in decreased sensitivity, which increases dosage as well as renewed efforts to find newer fungicides that can control and treat the disease. Various plant health promoting agents are known in the art including fertilizers, biologicals as well as plant additives that can promote growth as well as improve yield of the plant. The element silica is the second most abundant element in the earth’s crust. There are various studies that have been conducted that prove the importance of silica in the growth of plants. Studies have also demonstrated that silica is taken up in the same amount as any other known micronutrient (Role of Orthosilicic Acid (OSA) Based Formulation in Improving Plant Growth and Development, Jain et.al, Silicon (2016)). There are many silica based fertilizers and plant growth promoters known in the art. However, none have been mixed with combination of fungicides and insecticides. There is therefore a need in the art for a fungicide that can be used to control/treat Black Sigatoka disease without the risk of resistance being developed. There is a need in the art for a fungicide that completely controls the disease and prevents the spread of the disease further. Embodiments of the present invention can therefore provide for one or more advantages of the present invention: Objects of the invention: One object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling black Sigatoka disease in banana. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of increasing yield in banana crop. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of improving plant health in banana. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a composition for the control of Black Sigatoka in banana. Some or all of these and other objects of the invention are can be achieved by way of the invention described hereinafter. Summary of the invention: In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying at least a silicic acid based active ingredient to the locus of the disease. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying at least a silicic acid based active ingredient and at least one fungicide to the locus of the disease. In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of increasing yield of a banana tree, said method comprising applying at least a silicic acid based active ingredient to the banana plant. Another aspect of the present invention provides a composition for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising at least one silicic acid based active ingredient. Brief description of the drawings: Fig.1 : It represents trial results of present compositions. Detailed description of the invention For the purposes of the following detailed description, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations except where expressly specified to the contrary. Moreover, other than in any operating examples, or where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing, for example, quantities of materials/ingredients used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". The term "about" used shall be interpreted to mean "approximately" or "reasonably close to" and any statistically insignificant variations therefrom. As used herein, the terms “comprising” “including,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. The terms “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. In any aspect or embodiment described hereinbelow, the phrase comprising may be replaced by the phrases “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of” or “consisting substantially of”. In these aspects or embodiment, the combination or composition described includes or comprises or consists of or consists essentially of or consists substantially of the specific components recited therein, to the exclusion of other fungicides or plant growth promoting agents or adjuvants or excipients not specifically recited therein. The term “fungicidally effective amount” refers to an amount of an active that kills the pest or inhibits the plant disease for which control is desired, in an amount not significantly toxic to the plant being treated. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide methods of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, comprising applying an agriculturally acceptable amount of at least a silicic acid based active ingredient to the infected loci. It has now been surprisingly found that a silicic acid based active ingredient has a preventive or prophylactic effect, as well as a curative effect, on black sigatoka in banana. In this embodiment, the present invention provides an effective method of controlling or treating or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana using plant growth regulating agent. In an embodiment, according to the present invention is a silicic acid based compound having the general formula. [S_iO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n or salts thereof. In an embodiment, n varies from 6 to 200. In an embodiment, x is 1.5 and n is 20. In an embodiment, x is 1.5 and n is 8, or 6, or 10, or greater than 16. In an embodiment, x is 1.5 and n is greater than 20. In an embodiment, x is 1.5 and n is 36. In an embodiment, the salts of silicic acid may be silicates, a combination of silica combined with metal oxides. Used as fertilizers like calcium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium silicate and combinations of diatomaceous earth with minerals. Such silicic acids may be selected from metasilicic acid (H₂SiO₃), orthosilicic acid (H₄SiO₄), disilicic acid (H₂Si₂O₅), and pyrosilicic acid (H₆Si₂O₇); preferably orthosilicic acid, more specifically stabilised orthosilicic acid. In an embodiment, the active ingredient is ortho-silicic acid. These silicic acid derivative compounds have been found to offer preventive and/or curative effects to the black sigatoka infection in banana. Therefore, they are referred to herein active ingredients according to the present invention. The compound has not been previously used on banana, either pre- or post-harvest. The present inventors have therefore, surprisingly found that silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, can be used to prevent and/or control black sigatoka disease in banana. The present inventors have surprisingly found that use of silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, in low volumes results in prevention and/or control of black sigatoka. The present invention therefore allows for a reduction in dosage of ortho-silicic acid whilst preventing the disease, thereby providing an improvement over the fungicides known to be used for control of black sigatoka. According to the present invention, it is possible to remarkably prevent and / or eliminate black sigatoka disease. Accordingly, the present invention provides in various embodiments, methods and compositions for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana by applying agriculturally acceptable amount of active, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, to the affected loci. The present inventors have surprisingly found the following hitherto unknown benefits of silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid: - prophylactically prevents or partially prevents black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana; and - partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana when administered in combination with a fungicide. The term ‘disease control’ as used herein denotes control and prevention of a disease. Controlling effects include all deviation from natural development, for example: killing, retardation, decrease of the fugal disease. The term ‘plants’ refers to all physical parts of a plant, including seeds, seedlings, saplings, roots, tubers, stems, stalks, foliage and fruits. The ‘locus’ is intended to the site of the established vegetation and/or parts of the established vegetation such as leaves or foliage, saplings etc. Banana plants may be of any variety of the species Musa x paradisiaca. Therefore, in one aspect, the present invention provides a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, to the locus of the disease. In one aspect the present invention provides a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka, said method comprising applying to the locus of the disease, at least a silicic acid based compound having general formula [SiO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n or salts thereof wherein, n varies from 6 to 200. x is 1.5 and n is 20. x is 1.5 and n is 8, or 6, or 10, or greater than 16. x is 1.5 and n is greater than 20. x is 1.5 and n is 36 According to the present invention the silicic acid derivatives exhibits the outstanding control effect with respect to black Sigatoka disease in banana. In yet another aspect, the present invention may provide a method of increasing yield of a banana tree, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho- silicic acid, to the banana plant. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the present inventors believe that the silicic acid derivatives, for example ortho-silicic acid, reduces the number of ascospores, thereby arresting the growth and reducing spread of Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Morelet) as well as controlling the growth on the foliage. As will be demonstrated by the experiments described herein, the application of silicic acid derivatives controlled Mycosphaerella fijiensis (Morelet) with almost 95 to 100% efficacy. In an embodiment, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, may be used in an amount of about from 0.1 L to about 5L per hectare, preferably 1L to 2L/ ha for preventive and/or curative control of black sigatoka in banana. In some embodiments, silicic acid based compound is applied at the rate of 0.5L to 5 L/ha. In some embodiments, silicic acid based compound is applied at least once in an interval of 3 to 20 days. Thus, in an embodiment, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, is applied to the affected banana plants in the form of a composition. In an aspect, the present invention provides a composition for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid. In an aspect, the present invention provides a composition for use in the treatment of black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid. In another aspect, the present invention provides use of a composition for the treatment of black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid. The silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, may be sprayed alone or may be mixed with adjuvants such as oils, or surfactants etc. The oils used may include but are not limited to mineral oils, vegetable oils and fats, sunflower oil, high-oleic sunflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, rapeseed oil, high-oleic rapeseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, safflower oil, high oleic safflower oil and the like. Therefore, in an embodiment, the present composition comprises at least one silicic acid derivative compound and a mineral oil. The mineral oil of the present invention may be the ones commonly used in combination with synthesised chemical fungicides available in the state of the art. Said mineral oils are characterised for being effective by themselves in treatments against Sigatoka, since they produce the physical effect of covering the leaves. In addition, the physical and chemical properties of vegetable extracts, generally lipophilic oils, make them suitably compatible with mineral oils. For this reason, using mineral oil in the composition achieves a special synergy for the treatment against Sigatoka. Although the mineral oil selected can be any of the ones commonly used in the field, the preferred embodiment uses at least one mineral oil based on distilled hydrocarbons and light paraffinic oils. The mineral oil may be added preferably in the concentration of 10 to 75% of the total weight of the composition, most preferably 30 to 50 % of the total weight of the composition. In an embodiment, a mineral oil may be used to exert a curative control of black sigatoka. In an aspect, the present invention provides a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives and a mineral oil, to the locus of the disease. Therefore, in this embodiment, the present invention provide a composition for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho- silicic acid and a mineral oil. In some embodiment, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, may be mixed with micronutrient. In an embodiment, the micronutrient is selected from but not limited to Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K₂O), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu), boron (B) and Molybdenum (Mo). In an aspect, the present inventors have further surprisingly found that silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, exerts a curative control of black sigatoka, in terms of a partial or complete control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect attributed to the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, when applied to the effected loci, in combination with a fungicide. Therefore, in this embodiment, the present invention can provide a method of partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, in combination with a fungicide to the locus of the disease. In an embodiment, the method for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka, said method comprising applying a composition of at least one silicic acid based compound having general formula [SiO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n or salts thereof wherein, n varies from 6 to 200. x is 1.5 and n is 20. x is 1.5 and n is 8, or 6, or 10, or greater than 16. x is 1.5 and n is greater than 20. x is 1.5 and n is 36 and at least one fungicide to the locus of the disease. Preferably, the fungicide is selected from at least one contact fungicides group or systemic fungicides group. In an embodiment, the fungicide is selected from contact fungicides such as dithiocarbamate fungicides or chlorothalonil; or systemic fungicides such as DM inhibitors, QoI inhibitors, amines, anilinopyrimidines, benzimidazoles, SDHI fungicides and Guanidines. The dithiocarbamate fungicide may be selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb, zineb or combinations thereof. The DM inhibitor fungicides may be selected from imazalil, oxpoconazole, pefurazoate, prochloraz, triflumizole, triforine, pyrifenox, fenarimol, nuarimol, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, epoxiconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, Penconazole, Propiconazole, prothioconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, Triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole or combination thereof. The QoI inhibitor fungicides may be selected from azoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin enoxastrobin, enestrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, kresoxim-methyl, trifloxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, famoxadone, fluoxastrobin, fenamidone or combinations thereof. The amine fungicides may be selected from aldimorph, dodemorph, fenpropimorph, tridemorph, fenpropidin, piperalin or combinations thereof. The anilinopyrimidine fungicides may be selected from cyprodinil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil or combinations thereof. The benzimidazole fungicides may be selected from albendazole, benomyl, carbendazim, chlorfenazole, cypendazole, debacarb, fuberidazole, mecarbinzid, rabenzazole, thiabendazole or combinations thereof. The SDH inhibitor fungicides may be selected from benodanil, boscalid, carboxin, fenfuram, flutolanil, furametpyr, fluindapyr, fluoxapyroxad, mepronil, oxycarboxin, penthiopyrad, isofetamid, fluopyram, benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, inpyrfluxam, isopyrazam, penflufen, sedaxane, isoflucypram, pydiflumetofen, pyraziflumid, thifluzamide or combinations thereof. The guanidine fungicide may be selected from guazatine, iminoctadine or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, or a salt thereof, in combination with fungicidally effective amount of a fungicide selected from the group consisting of dithiocarbamates, chlorothalonil, DM inhibitors, QoI inhibitors, SDH inhibitors, amines, anilinopyrimidines, benzimidazoles, guanidines and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, and a fungicide selected from the group consisting of dithiocarbamates, chlorothalonil, DM inhibitors, QoI inhibitors, SDH inhibitors, amines, anilinopyrimidines, benzimidazoles, guanidines and/or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, in combination with a fungicide, may be applied to the effected locus in the form of a composition. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and dithiocarbamate fungicides. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and dithiocarbamate fungicides selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb, zineb or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and mancozeb. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and chlorothalonil. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) inhibitors. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and quinone outside inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of fenamidone, famoxadone, and a strobilurin fungicide selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, mandestrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, fenaminstrobin, pyraclostrobin, trifloxystrobin or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and azoxystrobin. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound, dithiocarbamate fungicide and quinone outside inhibitor fungicide. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and DM inhibitors. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and a conazole fungicide. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and amine fungicides. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and anilinopyrimidine fungicides. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and benzimidazole fungicides. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and SDH inhibitor fungicides. In an embodiment, the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana comprises a silicic acid derivative compound and guanidine fungicide. In an embodiment, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, may be mixed with other fungicides from unknown fungicide group or known to be used for prophylactic or curative control of black sigatoka disease, such fungicides may be tank mixed or formulated into a specific formulation. In an embodiment, the composition may comprise combination of any two or more of the fungicides described hereinabove. As described above, the compositions of the present invention may be used alone or in combination with one or more other agricultural agents, including pesticides, insecticides, acaracides, additional fungicides, bactericides, herbicides, antibiotics, antimicrobials, nemacides, rodenticides, entomopathogens, phermones, attractants, plant growth regulators, plant hormones, insect growth regulators, chemosterilants, microbial pest control agents, repellents, viruses, phagostimulents, plant nutrients, plant fertilizers and biological control agents. When used in combination with other agricultural agents the administration of the two agents may be separate, simultaneous or sequential. Specific examples of these agricultural agents are known to those skilled in the art, and many are readily commercially available. Examples of such plant nutrients include but are not limited to nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, boron, potassium, copper, iron, phosphorus, manganese, molybdenum, cobalt, boron, copper, silicon, selenium, nickel, aluminum, chromium and zinc. Examples of antibiotics include but are not limited to oxytetracyline and streptomycin. Examples of fungicides include but are not limited to the following classes of fungicides: carboxamides, benzimidazoles, triazoles, hydroxypyridines, dicarboxamides, phenylamides, thiadiazoles, carbamates, cyano-oximes, cinnamic acid derivatives, morpholines, imidazoles, beta-methoxy acrylates and pyridines/pyrimidines. In another embodiment, a surfactant is added to the present composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid. In some embodiments, to the present composition comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, a fungicide and a surfactant selected from but are not limited to, nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, cationic surfactant and anionic surfactants. The addition of a surfactant can improve adhesion of the active to the surface of the leaf as well as improve bio-availability of the active. Exemplary nonionic surfactants may include polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether and the like, polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers, polyoxyethylene castor oil, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters; alcohol ethoxylates, alkylpyrrolidones, alkyl phenol ethoxylated alcohol such as nonylphenol ethoxylated alcohol. Exemplary amphoteric surfactant such as poly-octyl amino ethyl glycine, coconut oil fatty acid amide propyl betaine, such as imidazoline derivatives, and among others, poly-octyl amino ethyl glycine, coconut oil fatty acid amide propyl betaine may be used. Exemplary cationic surfactant may be selected from polyoxyethylene cocoamine, lauryl dihydroxyethyl amine, cationized cellulose, chloride lauryl trimethyl ammonium, quaternary ammonium salts, such as stearyltrimethylammonium chloride, and among others, polyoxyethylene cocoamine, cationized cellulose, lauryl dihydroxyethyl amine is preferably used. Anionic surfactant may be selected from potassium soap, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, castor oil sodium sulfate, an alkyl ether phosphoric acid esters. As the surfactant, one kind may be used alone, or two or more kinds of surfactants may be used in combination. In another embodiment, any biodegradable surfactant known to a person skilled in the art may be used in the compositions of the present invention. In an embodiment, the present compositions comprise an adjuvant. In one preferred embodiment the adjuvant is organosiloxane compound. In another embodiment, the organosiloxane compound is selected from the group consisting of (i) a polyalkyleneoxide-modified heptamethyltrisiloxane selected from hydroxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl-heptamethyltrisiloxane; methoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl-heptamethyltrisiloxane; and acetoxy(polyethyleneoxy)propyl-heptamethyltrisiloxane; and (ii) poly(oxy-1,2- ethanediyl), a-methyl- w -[3-[1,3,3,3-tetramethyl -1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-1- disiloxanyllpropoxy] or ethoxylated trisiloxane. In another embodiment, the organosiloxane compound may be selected from polyoxyethylene trisiloxane surfactant commercially available under the trade name Silwet® L-77, polyalkyleneoxide-modified polydimethylsiloxane available under the trade name SilEnergy and Polyethermodified trisiloxane. In one preferred embodiment the adjuvant is trisilicone alkoxylate. In some embodiments, the present composition comprises silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and an adjuvant. In some embodiments the present composition comprises silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, an adjuvant and a fungicide. In some embodiments, the present composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, a fungicide and an adjuvant to the locus of the disease. In an embodiment, the present invention provides the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, comprising 1) a silicic acid compound; 2) a fungicide selected from (a) dithiocarbamate molecular moiety selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; (b) strobilurin fungicide is selected from the group consisting of fluoxastrobin, mandestrobin, pyribencarb; methoxyacrylate strobilurin fungicides selected from azoxystrobin, bifujunzhi, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, jiaxiangjunzhi, picoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin; methoxycarbanilate strobilurin fungicides selected from pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb; methoxyiminoacetamide strobilurin fungicides selected from dimoxystrobin, fenaminstrobin, metominostrobin, orysastrobin; methoxyiminoacetate strobilurin fungicides selected from kresoxim-methyl, trifloxystrobin, or combinations thereof; and/or 3) an adjuvant to the locus of the disease. In an embodiment, the present invention provides the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, comprising a silicic acid derivative, particularly ortho-silicic acid, mancozeb and organosiloxane compound. In an embodiment, the present invention provides the composition for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, comprising a silicic acid derivative, particularly ortho-silicic acid, azoxystrobin and organosiloxane compound. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, a fungicide and an adjuvant to the locus of the disease. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method of partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid, at least one mineral oil, and a second fungicide to the locus of the disease. In an embodiment, the composition according to the present invention may be formulated as commonly known formulations such as solid, or liquid formulations, including but not limited to, wettable powders, granules, dusts, soluble (liquid) concentrates, suspension concentrates, oil in water emulsion, water in oil emulsion, emulsifiable concentrates (EC), capsule suspensions, ZC formulations, liquid creame (FC) formulation, oil dispersions or other known formulation types. In an embodiment, the formulations can comprise agriculturally acceptable surfactants, dispersants, polymers, wetting agents, other adjuvants stabilizers, pH modifiers, anti-freeze agents, suspending agents, emulsifiers, antifoam agents, pH stabilising agents, preservatives and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the formulation is an liquid cream (FC) formulation. In another preferred embodiment, the liquid cream (FC) formulation of orthosilicic acid may be applied to the affected locus in an amount from about 1.0 L/Ha to about 4.0 L/Ha, preferably from about 1.0 L/Ha to about 2.0 L/Ha, more preferably about 1.0 L/Ha. In an embodiment, the present invention may provide a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying a liquid cream (FC) formulation comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid. In another embodiment, the present invention may provide a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying a liquid cream (FC) formulation comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and at least one mineral oil. In another embodiment, the present invention may provide a method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said method comprising applying a liquid cream (FC) formulation comprising silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and at least fungicide. In an embodiment the composition contains from about 1% to 80% by weight of the fungicide, preferably it is from about 10% to about 70% by weight of the composition. Typically, the fungicide may be applied to the affected locus in an amount in the range from about 1.0 L/Ha to about 5.0 L/Ha. One of the advantages of the composition of the present invention is that it is compatible with synthetic chemical fungicides commonly used for controlling Sigatoka. Therefore, in the embodiments of the invention, the silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and/or the composition comprising the same can be used in combination with synthetic agrochemicals as well organic actives known to be used in the control of Black Sigatoka, which creates a synergy that improves the effect achieved by using synthetic chemical fungicides, or it can also be used to control the appearance of strands that are resistant to said synthetic fungicides. This way, in the embodiments of the invention, silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and/or the composition thereof may be used in combination with at least one synthetic chemical fungicide, or it may be used alternatively with other treatments, in which case a series of treatments based on the composition of the invention would be applied followed by a series of treatments based on at least one synthetic chemical fungicide. Preferably, the synthetic chemical fungicide will be selected from among the fungicides authorised for controlling Black Sigatoka in banana crops such as those fungicides belonging to dithiocarbamates, carbamates, aromatic fungicides, benzimidazoles, strobilurins, conazoles, amines, anilinopyrimidines, succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors and combinations thereof. The composition of the present invention maybe applied simultaneously as a tank mix or a ready formulation or may be applied sequentially as foliar application particularly spraying. The method according to present invention comprising spraying the present fungicide composition on a plant that causes the black sigatoka disease. In an embodiment, the silicic acid based active fungicide alone or in combination with at least one another fungicide is sprayed on the plant before black sigatoka disease develops. The spraying time may be before or after the black sigatoka disease, in order to efficiently control the target pathogen. Spraying may be performed on the entire plant or directly on the leaves. The number of spraying to the plant may be only once or sprayed twice or more. Preferably twice. In some embodiments, the silicic acid compound can be sprayed on the plant at a dosage within the range of 0.1 L/ha to 4 L /ha, preferably in the range of 1 L/ha to 2L/ha. When the plants are sprayed twice or more, the spraying interval is not particularly limited, but preferably 3 days to 25 days, even more preferably at an interval of 5 days to 15 days, and particularly preferably about 10-14 days interval. Moreover, since the pathogen of Black Sigatoka is always scattered, infection can always occur. Therefore, above method of spraying can be continued regularly at the above intervals throughout the year. In some embodiments, the banana plants to which the silicic acid compound or formulations comprising silicic acid compound are applied may show a reduced disease severity of about 10% to about 20%, about 20% to about 30%, about 30% to about 40%, about 40% to about 50%, about 50% to about 60%, about 60% to about 70%, about 70% to about 80%, about 80% to about 90%, or about 90% to about 100% when compared to infected, untreated control plants. The silicic acid compound in the present composition may be used in combination with other black Sigatoka control agents or may be used in combination with rotation. Typically, generation of resistance to pathogenic bacteria can be efficiently prevented by using a rotation in combination with other black Sigatoka control agents. Advantages of the invention: 1. The present provides a new and environmentally safe solution which is especially efficient for controlling Black Sigatoka in banana crops, showing acceptable effectiveness levels, no phytotoxicity and high biodegradability. 2. The present invention may eliminate or at least reduce in large quantities the massive use of fungicides, which incur a large financial cost, and above all have a significant environmental impact. Said environmental impact is worsened by the fact that the areas affected by Black Sigatoka are mostly tropical areas with very precious yet also fragile ecosystems. This policy to reduce the use of synthetic chemical fungicides is being promoted with the aim of protecting the environment in countries that grow bananas, since these compositions are especially polluting. The present invention gives the possibility of using it alternatively with said chemical treatments, replacing them or at least reducing their usage. In addition, the new use of silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and the composition comprising the same can be used alongside said conventional chemical treatments, preferably in lower doses. 3. Finally, the composition of the invention is a stable formulation that is compatible with the use of mineral oils commonly used in treatments for controlling banana diseases, which is free from antioxidants. In yet another object of the present invention is to provide the following advantages a) A fungicide that was hitherto not known to be used to control black sigatoka for banana. b) A method of controlling black sigatoka and improving the health of the plant. c) A method of controlling black sigatoka and improving yield of the plant. d) A method of controlling black sigatoka that can rapidly prevent spread of the disease of the plant. Using silicic acid derivatives, or the composition thereof, of the present invention, for the treatment and/or prevention of Black Sigatoka, either by itself or in combination with at least one fungicide suitable for treating said disease, is therefore an additional object of the invention. In the case when said fungicide is used in the usual dose (as detailed in the technical data sheet of the product or on its label), using the composition that is the object of the invention will reinforce its effectiveness for the treatment of Sigatoka. If, by contrast, a lower dose than usual of the chemical fungicide was used, the main advantage of the invention in this case would be reducing the amount of said fungicide used, achieving synergy with the composition of the invention. In an aspect the present invention provides use of silicic acid based compounds for controlling or treatment of black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana. In an embodiment, the present invention provides use of silicic acid-based compounds for controlling or treatment of black sigatoka preferably to reduce the Mycosphaerella fijiensis expression. In an aspect the present invention provides use of silicic acid-based compounds in combination with at least one fungicide for controlling or treatment of black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana. In particular embodiment the present invention provides use of silicic acid-based compounds for the treatment and/or prevention of Black Sigatoka fungal disease. In some embodiment, present invention provides use of silicic acid-based compounds in combination with a fungicide for the treatment and/or prevention of Black Sigatoka fungal disease wherein said fungicide is selected from a multi-site contact fungicide, a systemic fungicide selected from at least one Qo inhibitor (quinone outside inhibitors), at least one Qi (quinone inside inhibitor), at least one DM inhibitor (demethylation inhibitor) or at least one SDH Inhibitor (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors). In some embodiments the compositions and methods of the present invention for controlling or treating Black Sigatoka fungal disease comprise following fungicides for synergistic effect. In this aspect, the multi-site contact fungicide may be selected from copper fungicides, sulfur fungicides, dithiocarbamate fungicides, phthalimide fungicides, chloronitrile fungicides, sulfamide fungicides for example dichlofluanid, tolylfluanid, guanidine fungicides for example dodine, triazines fungicides for example anilazine and quinone fungicides. In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide is a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from amobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamoiph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metain, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb, zineb, fluazinam or combination thereof or chlorothalonil. In an embodiment, the multi-site contact fungicide is a benzimidazoles fungicide or thiophanates fungicide. In an embodiment, the contact fungicide is selected from benthiavalicarb, furophanate, iodocarb, iprovalicarb, picarbutrazox, propamocarb and its derivatives, pyribencarb, thiophanate, thiophanate-methyl, tolprocarb, albendazole, benomyl, carbendazim, cypendazole, debacarb, mecarbinzid, diethofencarb, triclopyricarb or its salts or combinations thereof. In an embodiment the quinone outside inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a) strobilurin fungicide selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, mandestrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, fenaminstrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin; b) demethylation inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of triflumizole, triforine, pyridinitrile, pyrifenox, fenarimol, nuarimol, triarimol and a conazole fungicide selected from the group consisting of climbazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, prochloraz-manganese, triflumizole, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluotrimazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, pencoconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, perfurazoate and uniconazole-P. c) the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor is selected from (i) benzanilide fungicides selected from benodanil, flutolanil, mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam (ii) benzamide fungicides selected from benzohydroxamic acid, fluopicolide, fluopimomide, fluopyram, tioxymid, trichlamide, zarilamid, zoxamide oxathiin fungicides selected from carboxin and oxycarboxin (iii) thiazole fungicides selected from dichlobentiazox, ethaboxam, fluoxapiprolin, isotianil, metsulfovax, octhilinone, oxathiapiprolin, thiabendazole, thifluzamide (iv) pyrazolecarboxamide fungicides selected from the group consisting of benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, pydiflumetofen, pyrapropoyne, sedaxane, fluxapyroxad isopyrazam and boscalid. (v) anilide fungicides selected from benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, fluxapyroxad, isotianil, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, penflufen, pyracarbolid, pyraziflumid, sedaxane, thifluzamide, tiadinil, vanguard (vi) pyrazolecarboxamide fungicides selected from benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, pydiflumetofen, pyrapropoyne and sedaxane. In an embodiment the present fungicidal composition comprises a silicic acid-based compounds and a quinone outside inhibitor selected from the group consisting of Pyribencarb, fluoxastrobin, fenamidone, mandestrobin, azoxystrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, picoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, famoxadone, dimoxystrobin, fenaminstrobin, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, trifloxystrobin, metyltetraprole, cyazofamid, amisulbrom, fenpicoxamid or combinations thereof. In an embodiment the quinone inside inhibitor includes cyanoimidazole fungicides and sulfamoyltriazole fungicides, selected from cyazofamid and amisulbrom. In an embodiment the present fungicidal composition comprises a silicic acid-based compounds and a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor selected from the group consisting of pydiflumetofen, fenfuram, carboxin, oxycarboxin, benodanil, flutolanil, mepronil, isofetamid, benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, inpyrfluxam, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, sedaxane, isoflucypram, boscalid, fluopyram, thifluzamide, pyraziflumid or combinations thereof. In an embodiment the present fungicidal composition comprises a silicic acid-based compounds and a demethylation inhibitor selected from the group consisting of imazalil, oxpoconazole, pefurazoate, prochloraz, triflumizole, triforine, pyrifenox, pyrisoxazole, fenarimol, nuarimol, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, difenoconazole, diniconazole, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, mefentrifluconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, penconazole, propiconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, prothioconazole or combinations thereof. Accordingly, present invention provides use of aforesaid composition for controlling/treating and/or preventing fungal disease in target crop. The method of control disease according to the present invention may be carried out by spraying the suggested tank mixes, or the individual fungicides and/or adjuvants may be formulated as a kit-of-parts containing various components that may be mixed as instructed prior to spraying. In an embodiment, the components of the present invention may be packaged such that the silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid and/or a fungicide and/or adjuvant may be packaged separately and then tank mixed before the spraying. In another embodiment the components of the present invention may be packaged such that silicic acid derivatives, particularly ortho-silicic acid may be packaged separately, whereas, the fungicide and other additives are packaged separately, such that the two maybe tank mixed at the time of spraying. In an embodiment the present invention provides a kit-of-parts for controlling or partially preventing black sigatoka comprising a plurality of components, wherein said plurality of components comprising: at least one component comprising at least a silicic acid based compound optionally at least a second component comprising a fungicide The fungicidal method and composition of the present invention can offer some particular advantages over the compositions and methods known in the prior art. The method of the can be used to control and prevent black sigatoka in banana. The present invention demonstrates a better control capacity at reduced volumes thereby making it more environmentally friendly. The invention shall now be described with reference to the following specific examples. It should be noted that the example(s) appended below illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. EXAMPLES: Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3: Field trial were conducted to determine the efficacy of orthosilic acid formulation on Black sigatoka plant in Banana. The trial was conducted in Costa Rica. Full Randomized Blocks with three replicates were used to assess the efficacy of different treatments that include use of orthosilicic acid formulation in M. fijiensis disease control. The treatments tested are in table 1. The experimental unit consisted of rows with 10 banana plants, planted at 2.15 m between plants. Border of the rows were planted with Musa textillis, to avoid the drift contamination between treatments.

CONCLUSION: Use of OSA FC formulation at 1l/ha showed good control of mycosphaerella fijiensis as represented in figure 1. Further there was also good control of mycosphaerella fijiensis during the application of tank mix of OSA 1.0 l/ha and mancozeb 62 SC1.0 l/ha one monthly application as compared to solo application of mancozeb SC formulation.

Claims

Claims: 1. A method of preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka, said method comprising applying to the locus of the disease, at least a silicic acid based compound having general formula [SiO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n or salts thereof wherein, n varies from 6 to 200. x is 1.5 and n is 20. x is 1.5 and n is 8, or 6, or 10, or greater than 16. x is 1.5 and n is greater than 20. x is 1.5 and n is 36 2. The method as claimed in claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicic acid based compound is selected from metasilicic acid, ortho silicic acid, disilicic acid, and pyrosilicic acid.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicic acid based compound is ortho silicic acid.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicic acid based compound is applied at the rate of 0.5L to 5 L/ha.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said silicic acid based compound is applied at least once in an interval of 3 to 20 days.

6. A method for partial or complete curative control of the disease, condition, symptom or adverse effect associated with the incidence of black sigatoka, said method comprising applying a composition of at least one silicic acid based compound having general formula [SiO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n or salts thereof wherein, n varies from 6 to 200. x is 1.5 and n is 20. x is 1.5 and n is 8, or 6, or 10, or greater than 16. x is 1.5 and n is greater than 20. x is 1.5 and n is 36 and at least one fungicide to the locus of the disease.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said fungicide is selected from at least one contact fungicides group or systemic fungicides group.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fungicide is: (i) a dithiocarbamate fungicide selected from asamobam, asomate, azithiram, carbamorph, cufraneb, cuprobam, disulfiram, ferbam, metam, nabam, tecoram, thiram, urbacide, ziram, dazomet, etem, milneb, mancopper, mancozeb, maneb, metiram, polycarbamate, propineb and zineb; or (ii) a phthalimide fungicide selected from captan, captafol and folpet; or (iii) chlorothalonil; or (iv) a quinone outside inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of a) strobilurin fungicide selected from the group consisting of azoxystrobin, mandestrobin, coumoxystrobin, enoxastrobin, flufenoxystrobin, pyraoxystrobin, dimoxystrobin, enestrobin, fluoxastrobin, kresoxim-methyl, metominostrobin, orysastrobin, picoxystrobin, pyrametostrobin, triclopyricarb, fenaminstrobin, pyraclostrobin and trifloxystrobin; b) demethylation inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of triflumizole, triforine, pyridinitrile, pyrifenox, fenarimol, nuarimol, triarimol and a conazole fungicide selected from the group consisting of climbazole, clotrimazole, imazalil, oxpoconazole, prochloraz, prochloraz-manganese, triflumizole, azaconazole, bitertanol, bromuconazole, cyproconazole, diclobutrazol, difenoconazole, diniconazole, diniconazole-M, epoxiconazole, etaconazole, fenbuconazole, fluotrimazole, fluquinconazole, flusilazole, flutriafol, furconazole, furconazole-cis, hexaconazole, imibenconazole, ipconazole, metconazole, myclobutanil, pencoconazole, propiconazole, prothioconazole, quinconazole, simeconazole, tebuconazole, tetraconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol, triticonazole, uniconazole, perfurazoate and uniconazole-P; c) the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor is selected from (i) benzanilide fungicides selected from benodanil, flutolanil, mebenil, mepronil, salicylanilide, tecloftalam; (ii) benzamide fungicides selected from benzohydroxamic acid, fluopicolide, fluopimomide, fluopyram, tioxymid, trichlamide, zarilamid, zoxamide oxathiin fungicides selected from carboxin and oxycarboxin; (iii) thiazole fungicides selected from dichlobentiazox, ethaboxam, fluoxapiprolin, isotianil, metsulfovax, octhilinone, oxathiapiprolin, thiabendazole, thifluzamide; (iv) pyrazolecarboxamide fungicides selected from the group consisting of benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, pydiflumetofen, pyrapropoyne, sedaxane, fluxapyroxad isopyrazam and boscalid; (v) anilide fungicides selected from benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, bixafen, boscalid, carboxin, fenhexamid, fluxapyroxad, isotianil, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-M, metsulfovax, ofurace, oxadixyl, oxycarboxin, penflufen, pyracarbolid, pyraziflumid, sedaxane, thifluzamide, tiadinil, vanguard; (vi) pyrazolecarboxamide fungicides selected from benzovindiflupyr, bixafen, fluindapyr, fluxapyroxad, furametpyr, isopyrazam, penflufen, penthiopyrad, pydiflumetofen, pyrapropoyne and sedaxane or (v) quinone inside inhibitor includes cyanoimidazole fungicides and sulfamoyltriazole fungicides, selected from cyazofamid and amisulbrom.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said fungicide is dithiocarbamate fungicide.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fungicide is Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors fungicide.

11. A composition for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising at least a silicic acid based compound of formula [SiO_x(OH)_4-2x]_n. or salts thereof.

12. A composition for preventing or partially preventing black sigatoka or a symptom or condition associated with black sigatoka in banana, said composition comprising a combination of at least a silicic acid based compound of formula [SiOx(OH)4-2x]n or salts thereof and a fungicide.

13. The composition comprising the fungicidal combination as claimed in claim 9 with at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.

14. The composition as claimed in claim 11 or 12 further comprising an adjuvant.

15. The composition as claimed in claim 14 wherein said adjuvant is organosiloxane compound.

16. A kit-of-parts for controlling or partially preventing black sigatoka comprising a plurality of components, wherein said plurality of components comprising: at least one component comprising at least a silicic acid based compound optionally at least a second component comprising a fungicide.