Composition of bacillus firmus cncm i-1582 spore and a fungicide

Abstract

Compositions are provided that improve overall plant vigor and yield by combining agriculturally effective amounts of at least one environmentally friendly biological control agent and at least one insect control agent and or fungicide. A composition of the present invention is particularly effective in the presence of plant parasitic nematode and fungal species. Along with a benefit of reducing insect pressure, the inventive composition enhances the root system of a plant and improves the establishment of the biological control agent within the rhizosphere, thereby enhancing the effectiveness thereof. Use of a composition of the present invention leads to an overall reduction in crop losses caused by either plant parasitic nematodes or fungi and this reduction is much greater than would have been expected from application of either component alone. Methods for utilizing compositions of the present invention are also provided. Further the compositions according to this invention display synergistic insecticidal, nematicidal, acaricidal or fungicidal activity.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A composition comprising  Bacillus firmus  CNCM 1-1582 spore and one fungicide, wherein the fungicide is selected from the group consisting of fluoxastrobin, fludioxonil, iprodione, and mancozeb. 
     
     
         3 . A composition according to  claim 2  that further comprises an insect control agent. 
     
     
         4 . Compositions according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the insect control agent is selected from the list: clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid, methiocarb, thiodicarb, beta-cyfluthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, tefluthrin, indoxacarb, spinosad, spinetoram, fipronil, ethiprole, emamectin-benzoate, avermectin, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramat, flubendiamide, (R),(S)-3-chloro-N 1 -{2-methyl-4-[1,2,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethyl]phenyl}-N 2 -(1-methyl-2-methylsulphonyl-ethyl)phthalamide, chlorantraniliprole (Rynaxypyr), or Cyantraniliprole (Cyazypyr), sulfoxaflor, 4-{[(6-brompyrid-3-yl)methyl](2-fluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115644), 4-{[(6-fluorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](2,2-difluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115644), 4-{[(2-chlor-1,3-thiazol-5-yl)methyl](2-fluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115644), 4-{[(6-chlorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](2-fluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/ 115644), 4-{[(6-chlorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](2,2-difluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on known from WO 2007/115644), 4-{[(6-chlor-5-fluorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](methyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115643), 4-{[(5,6-dichlorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](2-fluorethyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115646), 4-{[(6-chlor-5-fluorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](cyclopropyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from WO 2007/115643), 4-{[(6-chlorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](cyclopropyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from EP-A-0 539 588), 4-{[(6-chlorpyrid-3-yl)methyl](methyl)amino}furan-2(5H)-on (known from EP-A-0 539 588), [(6-chlorpyridin-3-yl)methyl](methyl)oxido-λ 4 -sulfanylidencyanamid (known from WO 2007/149134), [1-(6-chlorpyridin-3-yl)ethyl](methyl)oxido-λ 4 -sulfanylidencyanamid (known from WO 2007/149134) and its diastereomers (A) and (B).   
     
     
         5 . Compositions according to  claim 3  wherein the fungicide is selected from the group consisting of Fludioxonil, Fluoxastrobin, and Iprodione. 
     
     
         6 . Compositions according to  claim 2  that further comprise an isoflavone or a soil inoculant. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for treatment comprising applying a composition of  claim 2  to a seed, plant, or to soil wherein a plant is growing or wherein a plant is desired to grow. 
     
     
         9 . A seed treatment formulation comprising the composition of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         10 . Spray formulation for drench or in-furrow application comprising the composition of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         11 . Method of treating a plant comprising the steps of providing composition of  claim 2  comprising 0.0001 to 20% w/w of at least one spore-forming bacterium and 0.001 to 20% w/w of at least one fungicide, and applying the composition to the plant. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is applied to soil, a seed, fruit and/or a plant or a portion of a plant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the seed is selected from the group consisting of soybean, wheat, barley, rice, rapeseed, sugar beet, tomato, bean, carrot, cotton and corn seed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is applied to a root of a plant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is applied to soil before germination of seed and/or directly to soil in contact with a root of a plant or where a plant is desired to grow.