(51) Int Cl.: A01N 43/40 ( ) A01N 51/00 ( ) A01P 3/00 ( ) A01P 7/04 ( )

Transcription

1 (19) TEPZZ _ _6 B_T (11) EP B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: Bulletin 16/34 (21) Application number: (22) Date of filing: (1) Int Cl.: A01N 43/ (06.01) A01N 1/00 (06.01) A01P 3/00 (06.01) A01P 7/04 (06.01) (86) International application number: PCT/EP07/ (87) International publication number: WO 08/ ( Gazette 08/27) (4) PESTICIDAL COMPOSITION COMPRISING A 2-PYRIDYLMETHYLBENZAMIDE DERIVATIVE AND AN INSECTICIDE COMPOUND PESTIZIDZUSAMMENSETZUNG MIT EINEM 2-PYRIDYLMETHYLBENZAMID-DERIVAT UND EINER INSEKTIZIDVERBINDUNG COMPOSITION PESTICIDE COMPRENANT UN DÉRIVÉ DE 2-PYRIDYLMÉTHYLBENZAMIDE ET UN COMPOSÉ INSECTICIDE (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: HR RS () Priority: EP (43) Date of publication of application: Bulletin 09/1 (73) Proprietor: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH 789 Monheim am Rhein (DE) (72) Inventors: HUNGENBERG, Heike 764 Langenfeld (DE) THIELERT, Wolfgang 119 Odenthal (DE) BUSCHERMOEHLE, Alexander 073 Köln (DE) (74) Representative: BIP Patents c/o Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH Alfred-Nobel-Straße 789 Monheim am Rhein (DE) (6) References cited: WO-A-99/42447 WO-A-02/ WO-A-04/ FR-A WO-A-02/ WO-A-03/ WO-A-08/ Remarks: The file contains technical information submitted after the application was filed and not included in this specification EP B1 Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)

2 Description 1 [0001] The present invention relates to novel pesticidal compositions comprising a 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivative being compound (Ia) which is 2,6-Dichloro-N-{(3-chloro--(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl)methyl}-benzamide and an insecticide compound. The present invention also relates to a method of combating or controlling pests and diseases by applying at a locus infested or liable to be infested such a composition. [0002] International patent application WO-99/42447 discloses fluopicolide among other 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivatives, as well as their use as fungicide. The possibility of combining one or more of these 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivatives with known fungicidal products to develop a fungicidal activity is disclosed. No mention is made of any association of fluopicolide with an insecticide active ingredient. [0003] International patent application WO-04/ discloses compositions comprising 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivatives according to the present invention in mixture with a chloronitrile fungicide derivative and their use as fungicide. No mention is made of mixtures comprising fenamidone with an insecticide active ingredient. [0004] In international patent application WO-04/ there are generically disclosed numerous mixtures of some phtalamide insecticide compounds with known fungicide substances. The association of these insecticide compounds with fluopicolide has not been tested for in connection with their combined fungicide and insecticide activity. Such an association does not form part of the present invention. [000] It is always of high-interest in agriculture to use novel pesticidal mixtures showing a broader scope of activity and a fungicide or insecticide synergistic effect in order notably to avoid or to control the development of resistant strains to the active ingredients or to the mixtures of known active ingredients used by the farmer while minimising the doses of chemical products spread in the environment and reducing the cost of the treatment. [0006] We have now found some novel pesticidal compositions which possess the above mentioned characteristics. [0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a composition comprising : 2 A) a 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) 3 4 being compound (Ia) which is 2,6-Dichloro-N-{[3 chloro--(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]methyl}-benzamide (known as fluopicolide); and its agriculturally acceptable optical and/or geometric isomers, tautomers and addition salts with an acid or a base; and B) an insecticide compound chosen from the group being abamectin, acephate, acetamiprid, acrinathrin, aldicarb, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, carbaryl, carbofuran, chlorfenapyr, chlorfluazuron, chlorpyrifos-e, clothianidin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, cyromazine, deltamethrin, diflubenzuron, dinotefuran, emamectin benzoate, ethiprole, fenpyroximate, fipronil, flonicamid, flufenoxuron, gamma-cyhalothrin, hexaflumuron, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, L-cyhalothrin, lepimectin, lufenuron, methamidophos, methiocarb, methomyl, methoxyfenozide, milbemycin, nitenpyram, novaluron, profenofos, pymetrozine, rynaxapyr, spinosad, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramate, tebufenozide, tebufenozide, tebufenpyrad, tebupirimphos, teflubenzuron, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiodicarb, triazophos and triflumuron; in a (A) / (B) weight ratio of from 1/00 to 00/1; 0 [0008] The composition according to the present invention provides a synergistic effect. This synergistic effect allows a reduction of the chemical substances spread into the environment and a reduction of the cost of the pesticidal treatment. [0009] In the context of the present invention, the term "synergistic effect" is defined by Colby according to the article entitled "Calculation of the synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combinations" Weeds, (1967), 1, pages -22. [00] The latter article mentions the formula : 2

3 in which E represents the expected percentage of inhibition of the pest for the combination of the two pesticides at defined doses (for example equal to x and y respectively), x is the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by the compound (a) at a defined dose (equal to x), y is the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by the compound (b) at a defined dose (equal to y). When the percentage of inhibition observed for the combination is greater than E, there is a synergistic effect. [0011] The latter article also mentions the formula : in which E represents the expected percentage of inhibition of the pest for the combination of the three pesticides at defined doses (for example equal to x, y and z respectively), x is the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by the compound (a) at a defined dose (equal to x), y is the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by the compound (b) at a defined dose (equal to y) and z is the percentage of inhibition observed for the pest by the compound (c) at a defined dose (equal to z). When the percentage of inhibition observed for the combination is greater than E, there is a synergistic effect. [0012] The composition according to the present invention comprises a 2-pyridylmethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) being compound (Ia) which is 2,6-dichloro-N-{[3-chloro--(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]methyl}-benzamide, also known as fluopicolide and its agriculturally acceptable possible tautomers and addition salts with an acid or a base. [0013] The composition according to the present invention comprises an insecticide compound (b). [0014] Preferably, the insecticide compound (b) is chosen as being abamectin, acephate, acetamiprid, acrinathrin, aldicarb, alpha-cypermethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin, carbaryl, carbofuran, chlorfenapyr, chlorfluazuron, chlorpyrifos- E, clothianidin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, cyromazine, deltamethrin, diflubenzuron, dinotefuran, emamectin benzoate, ethiprole, fenpyroximate, fipronil, flonicamid, flufenoxuron, gamma-cyhalothrin, hexaflumuron, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, L-cyhalothrin, lepimectin, lufenuron, methamidophos, methiocarb, methomyl, methoxyfenozide, milbemycin, nitenpyram, novaluron, profenofos, pymetrozine, rynaxapyr, spinosad, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramate, tebufenozide, tebufenpyrad, tebupirimphos, teflubenzuron, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiodicarb, triazophos triflumuron,. More preferably, the insecticide compound (b) is chosen as being abamectin, acetamiprid, aldicarb, beta-cyfluthrin, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos-e, clothianidin, cypermethrin, cyromazine, deltamethrin, diflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate, ethiprole, fipronil, gamma-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, L-cyhalothrin, lufenuron, methiocarb, methoxyfenozide, pymetrozine, rynaxapyr, spinosad, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramate, tebufenozide, tebufenpyrad, tefluthrin, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiodicarb, triflumuron,. Even more preferably, the insecticide compound (b) is chosen as being abamectin, aldicarb, beta-cyfluthrin, chlorpyrifos-e, clothianidin, cyromazine, deltamethrin, diflubenzuron, emamectin benzoate, fipronil, gamma-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, L-cyhalothrin, methiocarb, pymetrozine, rynaxapyr, spinosad, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen, spirotetramate, tebufenozide, tebufenpyrad, tefluthrin, thiamethoxam, thiodicarb,. [001] Non limitative examples of suitable mixtures according to the present invention may include mixtures of fluopicolide with abamectin, fluopicolide with acephate, fluopicolide with acetamiprid, fluopicolide with acrinathrin, fluopicolide with aldicarb, fluopicolide with alpha-cypermethrin, fluopicolide with beta-cyfluthrin, fluopicolide with bifenthrin, fluopicolide with carbaryl, fluopicolide with carbofuran, fluopicolide with chlorfenapyr, fluopicolide with chlorfluazuron, fluopicolide with chlorpyrifos-e, fluopicolide with clothianidin, fluopicolide with cyfluthrin, fluopicolide with cypermethrin, fluopicolide with cyromazine, fluopicolide with deltamethrin, fluopicolide with diflubenzuron, fluopicolide with dinotefuran, fluopicolide with emamectin benzoate, fluopicolide with ethiprole, fluopicolide with fenpyroximate, fluopicolide with fipronil, fluopicolide with flonicamid, fluopicolide with flufenoxuron, fluopicolide with gamma-cyhalothrin, fluopicolide with hexaflumuron, fluopicolide with imidacloprid, fluopicolide with indoxacarb, fluopicolide with L-cyhalothrin, fluopicolide with lepimectin, fluopicolide with lufenuron, fluopicolide with methamidophos, fluopicolide with methiocarb, fluopicolide with methomyl, fluopicolide with methoxyfenozide, fluopicolide with milbemycin, fluopicolide with nitenpyram, fluopicolide with novaluron, fluopicolide with profenofos, fluopicolide with pymetrozine, fluopicolide with rynaxapyr, fluopicolide with spinosad, fluopicolide with spirodiclofen, fluopicolide with spiromesifen, fluopicolide with spirotetramate, fluopicolide with tebufenozide, fluopicolide with tebufenozide, fluopicolide with tebufenpyrad, fluopicolide with tebufenpyrad, fluopicolide with tebupirimphos, fluopicolide with teflubenzuron, fluopicolide with tefluthrin, fluopicolide with thiacloprid, fluopicolide with thiamethoxam, fluopicolide with thiodicarb, fluopicolide with triazophos, fluopicolide with triflumuron,. 3

4 [0016] The composition according to the present invention comprises a compound of general formula (I) (a) and an insecticide compound (b) in a (a) / (b) weight ratio of from 1/00 to 00/1. Preferably, (a) / (b) weight ratio is of from 1/12 to 12/1. Even more preferably, (a) / (b) weight ratio is of from 1/2 to 2/1. [0017] Furthermore in the combinations according to the invention the compounds (I) (a) and (b) are present in a synergistically effective weight ratio of A:B in a range of 0:1 to 1:0, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:0, 0:1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:0. Further ratios of A:B which can be used according to the present invention with increasing preference in the order given are: 9:1 to 1:9, 9:1 to 1:90, 9:1 to 1:8, 9:1 to 1:80, 9:1 to 1:7, 9:1 to 1:70, 9:1 to 1:6, 9:1 to 1:60, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:0, 9:1 to 1:4, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:3, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:2, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:1, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:, 9:1 to 1:4, 9:1 to 1:3, 9:1 to 1:2, 90:1 to 1:90, 90:1 to 1:9, 90:1 to 1:8, 90:1 to 1:80, 90:1 to 1:7, 90:1 to 1:70, 90:1 to 1:6, 90:1 to 1:60, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:0, 90:1 to 1:4, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:3, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:2, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:1, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:, 90:1 to 1:4, 90:1 to 1:3, 90:1 to 1:2, 8:1 to 1:8, 8:1 to 1:9, 8:1 to 1:90, 8:1 to 1:80, 8:1 to 1:7, 8:1 to 1:70, 8:1 to 1:6, 8:1 to 1:60, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:0, 8:1 to 1:4, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:3, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:2, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:1, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:, 8:1 to 1:4, 8:1 to 1:3, 8:1 to 1:2, 80:1 to 1:80, 80:1 to 1:9, 80:1 to 1:90, 80:1 to 1:8, 80:1 to 1:7, 80:1 to 1:70, 80:1 to 1:6, 80:1 to 1:60, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:0, 80:1 to 1:4, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:3, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:2, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:1, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:, 80:1 to 1:4, 80:1 to 1:3, 80:1 to 1:2, 7:1 to 1:7, 7:1 to 1:9, 7:1 to 1:90, 7:1 to 1:8, 7:1 to 1:80, 7:1 to 1:70, 7:1 to 1:6, 7:1 to 1:60, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:0, 7:1 to 1:4, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:3, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:2, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:1, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:, 7:1 to 1:4, 7:1 to 1:3, 7:1 to 1:2, 70:1 to 1:70, 70:1 to 1:9, 70:1 to 1:90, 70:1 to 1:8, 70:1 to 1:80, 70:1 to 1:7, 70:1 to 1:6, 70:1 to 1:60, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:0, 70:1 to 1:4, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:3, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:2, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:1, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:, 70:1 to 1:4, 70:1 to 1:3, 70:1 to 1:2, 6:1 to 1:6, 6:1 to 1:9, 6:1 to 1:90, 6:1 to 1:8, 6:1 to 1:80, 6:1 to 1:7, 6:1 to 1:70, 6:1 to 1:60, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:0, 6:1 to 1:4, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:3, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:2, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:1, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:, 6:1 to 1:4, 6:1 to 1:3, 6:1 to 1:2, 60:1 to 1:60, 60:1 to 1:9, 60:1 to 1:90, 60:1 to 1:8, 60:1 to 1:80, 60:1 to 1:7, 60:1 to 1:70, 60:1 to 1:6, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:0, 60:1 to 1:4, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:3, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:2, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:1, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:, 60:1 to 1:4, 60:1 to 1:3, 60:1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, 0:1 to 1:9, 0:1 to 1:90, 0:1 to 1:8, 0:1 to 1:80, 0:1 to 1:7, 0:1 to 1:70, 0:1 to 1:6, 0:1 to 1:60, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:4, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:3, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:2, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:1, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:, 0:1 to 1:4, 0:1 to 1:3, 0:1 to 1:2, 4:1 to 1:4, 4:1 to 1:9, 4:1 to 1:90, 4:1 to 1:8, 4:1 to 1:80, 4:1 to 1:7, 4:1 to 1:70, 4:1 to 1:6, 4:1 to 1:60, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:0, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:3, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:2, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:1, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:4, 4:1 to 1:3, 4:1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, 3:1 to 1:3, 3:1 to 1:9, 3:1 to 1:90, 3:1 to 1:8, 3:1 to 1:80, 3:1 to 1:7, 3:1 to 1:70, 3:1 to 1:6, 3:1 to 1:60, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:0, 3:1 to 1:4, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:2, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:1, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:4, 3:1 to 1:3, 3:1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, 2:1 to 1:2, 2:1 to 1:9, 2:1 to 1:90, 2:1 to 1:8, 2:1 to 1:80, 2:1 to 1:7, 2:1 to 1:70, 2:1 to 1:6, 2:1 to 1:60, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:0, 2:1 to 1:4, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:3, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:1, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:4, 2:1 to 1:3, 2:1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, 1:1 to 1:1, 1:1 to 1:9, 1:1 to 1:90, 1:1 to 1:8, 1:1 to 1:80, 1:1 to 1:7, 1:1 to 1:70, 1:1 to 1:6, 1:1 to 1:60, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:0, 1:1 to 1:4, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:3, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:2, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:, 1:1 to 1:4, 1:1 to 1:3, 1:1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:9, :1 to 1:90, :1 to 1:8, :1 to 1:80, :1 to 1:7, :1 to 1:70, :1 to 1:6, :1 to 1:60, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:0, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:2, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:1, :1 to 1:, :1 to 1:4, :1 to 1:3, :1 to 1:2, 4:1 to 1:4, 4:1 to 1:9, 4:1 to 1:90, 4:1 to 1:8, 4:1 to 1:80, 4:1 to 1:7, 4:1 to 1:70, 4:1 to 1:6, 4:1 to 1:60, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:0, 4:1 to 1:4, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:3, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:2, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:1, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:, 4:1 to 1:3, 4:1 to 1:2, 3:1 to 1:3, 3:1 to 1:9, 3:1 to 1:90, 3:1 to 1:8, 3:1 to 1:80, 3:1 to 1:7, 3:1 to 1:70, 3:1 to 1:6, 3:1 to 1:60, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:0, 3:1 to 1:4, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:3, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:2, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:1, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:, 3:1 to 1:4, 3:1 to 1:2, 2:1 to 1:2, 2:1 to 1:9, 2:1 to 1:90, 2:1 to 1:8, 2:1 to 1:80, 2:1 to 1:7, 2:1 to 1:70, 2:1 to 1:6, 2:1 to 1:60, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:0, 2:1 to 1:4, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:3, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:2, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:1, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 to 1:, 2:1 4

5 to 1:4, 2:1 to 1:3. [0018] The composition of the present invention may further comprise at least one other different fungicide active ingredient (c). [0019] Preferably, fungicidal active ingredient (c) is selected from N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]--fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide, benalaxyl, benalaxyl-m, benthiavalicarb, carboxin, chlorothalonil, cyazofamid, cymoxanil, dimetomorph, fluazinam, fludioxonil, fluquinconazole, fluoxastrobin, flutriafol, fosetyl-aluminium, hexaconazole, hymexazole, ipconazole, mancozeb, mandipropamid, maneb, mefenoxam, metiram, metalaxyl, metalaxyl-m, peconazole, penthiopyrad, phosphorous acid, propamocarb.hcl, propineb, prothioconazole, tebuconazole, thiram, triadimenol, trifloxystrobin and triticonazole. [00] Where the third active ingredient (c) as defined above is present in the composition, this compound may be present in an amount of (a) : (b) : (c) weight ratio of from 1 : : to 1 : 00 : 00; the ratios of compound (a) and compound (c) varying independently from each other. Preferably, the (a) : (b) : (c) weight ratio may be of from 1 : 0.01 : 0.01 to 1 : 0 : 0. More preferably, the (a) : (b) : (c) weight ratio may be of from 1 : 0.0 : 0.0 to 1 : 80 : 80. [0021] Following compositions may be cited to illustrate in a non-limited manner the present invention : fluopicolide with N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]--fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide and clothianidin, fluopicolide with benalaxyl and clothianidin, fluopicolide with benalaxyl-m and clothianidin, fluopicolide with benthiavalicarb and clothianidin, fluopicolide with carboxin and clothianidin, fluopicolide with chlorothalonil and clothianidin, fluopicolide with cyazofamid and clothianidin, fluopicolide with cymoxanil and clothianidin, fluopicolide with dimetomorph and clothianidin, fluopicolide with fluazinam and clothianidin, fluopicolide with fludioxonil and clothianidin, fluopicolide with fluquinconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with fluoxastrobin and clothianidin, fluopicolide with flutriafol and clothianidin, fluopicolide with fosetyl-aluminium and clothianidin, fluopicolide with hexaconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with hymexazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with ipconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with mancozeb and clothianidin, fluopicolide with mandipropamid and clothianidin, fluopicolide with maneb and clothianidin, fluopicolide with mefenoxam and clothianidin, fluopicolide with metiram and clothianidin, fluopicolide with metalaxyl and clothianidin, fluopicolide with metalaxyl- M and clothianidin, fluopicolide with peconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with penthiopyrad and clothianidin, fluopicolide with phosphorous acid and clothianidin, fluopicolide with propamocarb.hcl and clothianidin, fluopicolide with propineb and clothianidin, fluopicolide with prothioconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with tebuconazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with thiram and clothianidin, fluopicolide with triadimenol and clothianidin, fluopicolide with trifloxystrobin and clothianidin, fluopicolide with triticonazole and clothianidin, fluopicolide with N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]- -fluoro-1,3-dimethyl-1h-pyrazole-4-carboxamide and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with benalaxyl and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with benalaxyl-m and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with benthiavalicarb and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with carboxin and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with chlorothalonil and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with cyazofamid and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with cymoxanil and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with dimetomorph and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with fluazinam and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with fludioxonil and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with fluquinconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with fluoxastrobin and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with flutriafol and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with fosetyl-aluminium and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with hexaconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with hymexazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with ipconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with mancozeb and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with mandipropamid and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with maneb and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with mefenoxam and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with metiram and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with metalaxyl and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with metalaxyl-m and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with peconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with penthiopyrad and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with phosphorous acid and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with propamocarb.hcl and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with propineb and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with prothioconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with tebuconazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with thiram and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with triadimenol and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with trifloxystrobin and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with triticonazole and imidacloprid, fluopicolide with N-[2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)phenyl]--fluoro- 1,3-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with benalaxyl and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with benalaxyl-m and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with benthiavalicarb and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with carboxin and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with chlorothalonil and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with cyazofamid and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with cymoxanil and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with dimetomorph and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with fluazinam and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with fludioxonil and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with fluquinconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with fluoxastrobin and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with flutriafol and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with fosetylaluminium and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with hexaconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with hymexazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with ipconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with mancozeb and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with mandipropamid and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with maneb and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with mefenoxam and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with metiram and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with metalaxyl and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with metalaxyl-m and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with peconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with penthiopyrad and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with phosphorous acid and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with propamocarb.hcl and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with propineb and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with prothioconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with tebuconazole and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with thiram and thiametoxam, fluopicolide with triadimenol and thiametoxam, fluop-

6 icolide with trifloxystrobin and thiametoxam and fluopicolide with triticonazole and thiametoxam. [0022] The composition according to the present invention may further comprise an other additional component such as an agriculturally acceptable support, carrier or filler. [0023] In the present specification, the term "support" denotes a natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic material with which the active material is combined to make it easier to apply, notably to the parts of the plant. This support is thus generally inert and should be agriculturally acceptable. The support may be a solid or a liquid. Examples of suitable supports include clays, natural or synthetic silicates, silica, resins, waxes, solid fertilisers, water, alcohols, in particular butanol, organic solvents, mineral and plant oils and derivatives thereof. Mixtures of such supports may also be used. [0024] The composition may also comprise other additional components. In particular, the composition may further comprise a surfactant. The surfactant can be an emulsifier, a dispersing agent or a wetting agent of ionic or non-ionic type or a mixture of such surfactants. Mention may be made, for example, of polyacrylic acid salts, lignosulphonic acid salts, phenolsulphonic or naphthalenesulphonic acid salts, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, substituted phenols (in particular alkylphenols or arylphenols), salts of sulphosuccinic acid esters, taurine derivatives (in particular alkyl taurates), phosphoric esters of polyoxyethylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acid esters of polyols, and derivatives of the above compounds containing sulphate, sulphonate and phosphate functions. The presence of at least one surfactant is generally essential when the active material and/or the inert support are water-insoluble and when the vector agent for the application is water. Preferably, surfactant content may be comprised between % and % by weight of the composition. [002] Additional components may also be included, e.g. protective colloids, adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic agents, penetration agents, stabilisers, sequestering agents. More generally, the active materials can be combined with any solid or liquid additive, which complies with the usual formulation techniques. [0026] In general, the composition according to the invention may contain from 0.0 to 99% (by weight) of active material, preferably to 70% by weight. [0027] Compositions according to the present invention can be used in various forms such as aerosol dispenser, capsule suspension, cold fogging concentrate, dustable powder, emulsifiable concentrate, emulsion oil in water, emulsion water in oil, encapsulated granule, fine granule, flowable concentrate for seed treatment, gas (under pressure), gas generating product, granule, hot fogging concentrate, macrogranule, microgranule, oil dispersible powder, oil miscible flowable concentrate, oil miscible liquid, paste, plant rodlet, powder for dry seed treatment, seed coated with a pesticide, soluble concentrate, soluble powder, solution for seed treatment, suspension concentrate (flowable concentrate), ultra low volume (ulv) liquid, ultra low volume (ulv) suspension, water dispersible granules or tablets, water dispersible powder for slurry treatment, water soluble granules or tablets, water soluble powder for seed treatment and wettable powder. [0028] These compositions include not only compositions which are ready to be applied to the plant or seed to be treated by means of a suitable device, such as a spraying or dusting device, but also concentrated commercial compositions which must be diluted before they are applied to the crop. [0029] The pesticidal compositions of the present invention can be used to curatively or preventively control phytopathogenic fungi of crops but also to curatively or preventively control insects. [00] Thus, according to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for preventively or curatively controlling phytopathogenic fungi of crops but also to curatively or preventively control insects characterised in that an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition as hereinbefore defined is applied via seed treatment, foliar application, stem application or drench/drip application (chemigation) to the seed, the plant and/or to the fruit of the plant or to soil and/or to inert substrate (e.g. inorganic substrates (e.g. sand, rockwool, glasswool, expanded minerals (e.g. perlite, vermiculite, zeolite, expanded clay)), Pumice, Pyroclastic materials/tuff, synthetic organic substrates (e.g. Polyurethane), organic substrates (e.g. peat, composts, tree waste products (e.g. coir, wood fibre/chips, tree bark)) and/or to a liquid substrate (e.g. floating hydroponic systems, Nutrient Film Technique, Aeroponics) in which the plant is growing or in which it is desired to grow. [0031] The expression "effective and non-phytotoxic amount" means an amount of composition according to the invention which is sufficient to control or destroy the pests and/or diseases present or liable to appear on the crops, and which does not entail any appreciable symptom of phytotoxicity for the said crops. Such an amount can vary within a wide range depending on the pests and diseases to be combated or controlled, the type of crop, the climatic conditions and the compounds included in the composition according to the invention. [0032] This amount can be determined by systematic field trials, which are within the capabilities of a person skilled in the art. [0033] The method of treatment according to the present invention is useful to treat propagation material such as tubers or rhizomes, but also seeds, seedlings or seedlings pricking out and plants or plants pricking out. This method of treatment can also be useful to treat roots. The method of treatment according to the present invention can also be useful to treat the overground parts of the plant such as trunks, stems or stalks, leaves, flowers and fruits of the concerned plant. [0034] Among the plants that can be protected by the method according to the present invention, mention may be 6

7 made of cotton; flax; vine; fruit or vegetable crops such as Rosaceae sp. (for instance pip fruit such as apples and pears, but also stone fruit such as apricots, almonds and peaches), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp., Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp., Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp., Musaceae sp. (for instance banana trees and plantins), Rubiaceae sp., Theaceae sp., Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (for instance lemons, oranges and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (for instance tomatoes), Liliaceae sp., Asteraceae sp. (for instance lettuces), Umbelliferae sp., Cruciferae sp., Chenopodiaceae sp., Cucurbitaceae sp., Papilionaceae sp. (for instance peas), Rosaceae sp. (for instance strawberries); major crops such as Graminae sp. (for instance maize, lawn or cereals such as wheat, rice, barley and triticale), Asteraceae sp. (for instance sunflower), Cruciferae sp. (for instance colza), Fabacae sp. (for instance peanuts), Papilionaceae sp. (for instance soybean), Solanaceae sp. (for instance potatoes), Chenopodiaceae sp. (for instance beetroots); horticultural and forest crops; as well as genetically modified homologues of these crops. [003] 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 in which a heterologous gene has been stably integrated into the 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, co suppression technology or RNA interference - RNAi - 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. [0036] Depending on the plant species or plant cultivars, their location and growth conditions (soils, climate, vegetation period, diet), the treatment according to the invention may also result in superadditive ("synergistic") effects. Thus, for example, reduced application rates and/or a widening of the activity spectrum and/or an increase in the activity of the active compounds and compositions which can be used according to the invention, better plant growth, increased tolerance to high or low temperatures, increased tolerance to drought or to water or soil salt content, increased flowering performance, easier harvesting, accelerated maturation, higher harvest yields, bigger fruits, larger plant height, greener leaf color, earlier flowering, higher quality and/or a higher nutritional value of the harvested products, higher sugar concentration within the fruits, better storage stability and/or processability of the harvested products are possible, which exceed the effects which were actually to be expected. [0037] At certain application rates, the active compound combinations according to the invention may also have a strengthening effect in plants. Accordingly, they are also suitable for mobilizing the defense system of the plant against attack by unwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/ or microorganisms and/or viruses. This may, if appropriate, be one of the reasons of the enhanced activity of the combinations according to the invention, for example against fungi. Plantstrengthening (resistance-inducing) substances are to be understood as meaning, in the present context, those substances or combinations of substances which are capable of stimulating the defense system of plants in such a way that, when subsequently inoculated with unwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/ or microorganisms and/or viruses, the treated plants display a substantial degree of resistance to these unwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/ or microorganisms and/or viruses. In the present case, unwanted phytopathogenic fungi and/ or microorganisms and/or viruses are to be understood as meaning phytopathogenic fungi, bacteria and viruses. Thus, the substances according to the invention can be employed for protecting plants against attack by the abovementioned pathogens within a certain period of time after the treatment. The period of time within which protection is effected generally extends from 1 to days, preferably 1 to 7 days, after the treatment of the plants with the active compounds. [0038] 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). [0039] 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. [00] 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, ozon 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 7

8 filling, reduced seed dispersal, reduced pod dehiscence and lodging resistance. Further yield traits include seed composition, such as carbohydrate content, protein content, oil content and composition, nutritional value, reduction in antinutritional compounds, improved processability and better storage stability. [0041] 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 stress factors. Such plants are typically made by crossing an inbred male-sterile parent line (the female parent) with another inbred male-fertile parent line (the male parent). Hybrid seed is typically harvested from the male sterile plants and sold to growers. Male sterile plants can sometimes (e.g. in corn) be produced by detasseling, i.e. the mechanical removal of the male reproductive organs (or males flowers) but, more typically, male sterility is the result of genetic determinants in the plant genome. In that case, and especially when seed is the desired product to be harvested from the hybrid plants it is typically useful to ensure that male fertility in the hybrid plants is fully restored. This can be accomplished by ensuring that the male parents have appropriate fertility restorer genes which are capable of restoring the male fertility in hybrid plants that contain the genetic determinants responsible for male-sterility. Genetic determinants for male sterility may be located in the cytoplasm. Examples of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) were for instance described in Brassica species (WO 1992/0021, WO 199/0099, WO 1998/27806, WO 0/002324, WO 06/ and US 6,229,072). However, genetic determinants for male sterility can also be located in the nuclear genome. Male sterile plants can also be obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering. A particularly useful means of obtaining male-sterile plants is described in WO 1989/396 in which, for example, a ribonuclease such as barnase is selectively expressed in the tapetum cells in the stamens. Fertility can then be restored by expression in the tapetum cells of a ribonuclease inhibitor such as barstar (e.g. WO 1991/0069). [0042] Plants or plant cultivars (obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic engineering) which may be treated according to the invention are herbicide-tolerant 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. [0043] Herbicide-tolerant plants are for example glyphosate-tolerant plants, i.e. plants made tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate or salts thereof. Plants can be made tolerant to glyphosate through different means. For example, glyphosatetolerant plants can be obtained by transforming the plant with a gene encoding the enzyme -enolpyruvylshikimate-3- phosphate synthase (EPSPS). Examples of such EPSPS genes are the AroA gene (mutant CT7) of the bacterium Salmonella typhimurium (Comai et al., Science (1983), 221, ), the CP4 gene of the bacterium Agrobacterium sp. (Barry et al., Curr. Topics Plant Physiol. (1992), 7, ), the genes encoding a Petunia EPSPS (Shah et al., Science (1986), 233, ), a Tomato EPSPS (Gasser et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1988),263, ), or an Eleusine EPSPS (WO 01/66704). It can also be a mutated EPSPS as described in for example EP-A , WO 00/066746, WO 00/ or WO 02/ Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by expressing a gene that encodes a glyphosate oxido-reductase enzyme as described in US,776,760 and US,463,17. Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by expressing a gene that encodes a glyphosate acetyl transferase enzyme as described in for example WO 02/036782, WO 03/092360, WO 0/0121 and WO 07/ Glyphosate-tolerant plants can also be obtained by selecting plants containing naturally-occurring mutations of the above-mentioned genes, as described in for example WO 01/02461 or WO 03/ [0044] Other herbicide resistant plants are for example plants that are made tolerant to herbicides inhibiting the enzyme glutamine synthase, such as bialaphos, phosphinothricin or glufosinate. Such plants can be obtained by expressing an enzyme detoxifying the herbicide or a mutant glutamine synthase enzyme that is resistant to inhibition. One such efficient detoxifying enzyme is an enzyme encoding a phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (such as the bar or pat protein from Streptomyces species). Plants expressing an exogenous phosphinothricin acetyltransferase are for example described in US,61,236; US,648,477; US,646,024; US,273,894; US,637,489; US,276,268; US,739,082; US,908,8 and US 7,112,66. [004] Further herbicide-tolerant plants are also plants that are made tolerant to the herbicides inhibiting the enzyme hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenase (HPPD). Hydroxyphenylpyruvatedioxygenases are enzymes that catalyze the reaction in which para-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) is transformed into homogentisate. Plants tolerant to HPPD-inhibitors can be transformed with a gene encoding a naturally-occurring resistant HPPD enzyme, or a gene encoding a mutated HPPD enzyme as described in WO 1996/03867, WO 1999/0248 and WO 1999/ Tolerance to HPPD-inhibitors can also be obtained by transforming plants with genes encoding certain enzymes enabling the formation of homogentisate despite the inhibition of the native HPPD enzyme by the HPPD-inhibitor. Such plants and genes are described in WO 1999/08 and WO 02/ Tolerance of plants to HPPD inhibitors can also be improved by transforming plants with a gene encoding an enzyme prephenate dehydrogenase in addition to a gene encoding an HPPD-tolerant enzyme, as described in WO 04/ [0046] Still further herbicide resistant plants are plants that are made tolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors. Known ALS-inhibitors include, for example, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, triazolopyrimidines, pyrimidinyloxy(thio)benzoates, and/or sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone herbicides. Different mutations in the ALS enzyme (also known as 8

9 1 acetohydroxyacid synthase, AHAS) are known to confer tolerance to different herbicides and groups of herbicides, as described for example in Tranel and Wright, Weed Science (02), 0, , but also, in US,60,011, US,378,824, US,141,870, and US,013,69. The production of sulfonylureatolerant plants and imidazolinone-tolerant plants is described in US,60,011; US,013,69; US,141,870; US,767,361; US,731,180; US,4,732; US 4,761,373; US,331,7; US,928,937; and US,378,824; and international publication WO 1996/ Other imidazolinonetolerant plants are also described in for example WO 04/0012, WO 04/629, WO 0/0673, WO 0/0993, WO 06/007373, WO 06/01376, WO 06/02431, and WO 06/ Further sulfonylureaand imidazolinone-tolerant plants are also described in for example WO 07/ [0047] Other plants tolerant to imidazolinone and/or sulfonylurea can be obtained by induced mutagenesis, selection in cell cultures in the presence of the herbicide or mutation breeding as described for example for soybeans in US,084,082, for rice in WO 1997/41218, for sugar beet in US,773,702 and WO 1999/0796, for lettuce in US,198,99, or for sunflower in WO 01/ [0048] 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. An "insect-resistant transgenic plant", as used herein, includes any plant containing at least one transgene comprising a coding sequence encoding: 1) an insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or an insecticidal portion thereof, such as the insecticidal crystal proteins listed by Crickmore et al., Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews (1998), 62, , updated by Crickmore et al. (0) at the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin nomenclature, online at: or insecticidal portions thereof, e.g., proteins of the Cry protein classes Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, Cry1F, Cry2Ab, Cry3Aa, or Cry3Bb or insecticidal portions thereof; or 2) a crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion thereof which is insecticidal in the presence of a second other crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or a portion thereof, such as the binary toxin made up of the Cry34 and Cry3 crystal proteins (Moellenbeck et al., Nat. Biotechnol. (01), 19, ; Schnepf et al., Applied Environm. Microbiol. (06), 71, ); or 3) a hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts of different insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis, such as a hybrid of the proteins of 1) above or a hybrid of the proteins of 2) above, e.g., the Cry1A. protein produced by corn event MON98034 (WO 07/027777); or 4) a protein of any one of 1) to 3) above wherein some, particularly 1 to, amino acids have been replaced by another amino acid to obtain a higher insecticidal activity to a target insect species, and/or to expand the range of target insect species affected, and/or because of changes introduced into the encoding DNA during cloning or transformation, such as the Cry3Bb1 protein in corn events MON863 or MON88017, or the Cry3A protein in corn event MIR604; ) an insecticidal secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus cereus, or an insecticidal portion thereof, such as the vegetative insecticidal (VIP) proteins listed at: e.g., proteins from the VIP3Aa protein class; or 4 0 6) a secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus cereus which is insecticidal in the presence of a second secreted protein from Bacillus thuringiensis or B. cereus, such as the binary toxin made up of the VIP1A and VIP2A proteins (WO 1994/2179); or 7) a hybrid insecticidal protein comprising parts from different secreted proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis or Bacillus cereus, such as a hybrid of the proteins in 1) above or a hybrid of the proteins in 2) above; or 8) a protein of any one of 1) to 3) above wherein some, particularly 1 to, amino acids have been replaced by another amino acid to obtain a higher insecticidal activity to a target insect species, and/or to expand the range of target insect species affected, and/or because of changes introduced into the encoding DNA during cloning or transformation (while still encoding an insecticidal protein), such as the VIP3Aa protein in cotton event COT2. [0049] Of course, an insect-resistant transgenic plant, as used herein, also includes any plant comprising a combination of genes encoding the proteins of any one of the above classes 1 to 8. In one embodiment, an insect-resistant plant contains more than one transgene encoding a protein of any one of the above classes 1 to 8, to expand the range of target insect species affected when using different proteins directed at different target insect species, or to delay insect resistance development to the plants by using different proteins insecticidal to the same target insect species but having 9

10 a different mode of action, such as binding to different receptor binding sites in the insect. [000] 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. Particularly useful stress tolerance plants include: 1 plants which contain a transgene capable of reducing the expression and/or the activity of poly(adp-ribose)polymerase (PARP) gene in the plant cells or plants as described in WO 00/ or WO06/04633 or PCT/EP07/ plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene capable of reducing the expression and/or the activity of the PARG encoding genes of the plants or plants cells, as described e.g. in WO 04/0901. plants which contain a stress tolerance enhancing transgene coding for a plant-functional enzyme of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide salvage synthesis pathway including nicotinamidase, nicotinate phosphoribosyltransferase, nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenyl transferase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthetase or nicotine amide phosphoribosyltransferase as described e.g. in WO06/ or WO 06/ or PCT/EP07/ [001] 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 such as : 1) transgenic plants which synthesize a modified starch, which in its physical-chemical characteristics, in particular the amylose content or the amylose/amylopectin ratio, the degree of branching, the average chain length, the side chain distribution, the viscosity behaviour, the gelling strength, the starch grain size and/or the starch grain morphology, is changed in comparison with the synthesised starch in wild type plant cells or plants, so that this is better suited for special applications. Said transgenic plants synthesizing a modified starch are disclosed, for example, in EP , WO 199/004826, EP , WO 1996/1248, WO 1996/1981, WO 1996/27674, WO 1997/11188, WO 1997/26362, WO 1997/3298, WO 1997/42328, WO 1997/44472, WO 1997/44, WO 1998/27212, WO 1998/03, WO99/8688, WO 1999/8690, WO 1999/864, WO 00/008184, WO 00/00818, WO 00/00817, WO 00/2802, WO 00/77229, WO 01/12782, WO 01/12826, WO 02/9, WO 03/071860, WO 04/06999, WO 0/0942, WO 0/0941, WO 0/09632, WO 0/09617, WO 0/09619, WO 0/09618, WO 0/123927, WO 06/018319, WO 06/37, WO 06/8702, WO 07/009823, WO 00/221, WO 06/063862, WO 06/072603, WO 02/034923, EP , EP , EP , EP , EP , WO 01/1469, WO 02/794, WO 03/33, WO 04/078983, WO 01/1997, WO 199/267, WO 1996/34968, WO 1998/14, WO 1999/1290, WO 1999/6600, WO 1999/72, US 6,734,341, WO 00/11192, WO 1998/22604, WO 1998/32326, WO 01/9809, WO 01/9809, WO 0/00239, US,824,790, US 6,013,861, WO 1994/004693, WO 1994/009144, WO 1994/11, WO 199/26, WO 1997/936. 2) transgenic plants which synthesize non starch carbohydrate polymers or which synthesize non starch carbohydrate polymers with altered properties in comparison to wild type plants without genetic modification. Examples are plants producing polyfructose, especially of the inulin and levan-type, as disclosed in EP , WO 1996/001904, WO 1996/0223, WO 1998/039460, and WO 1999/02493, plants producing alpha 1,4 glucans as disclosed in WO 199/0313, US 02/031826, US 6,284,479, US,712,7, WO 1997/047806, WO 1997/047807, WO 1997/ and WO 00/014249, plants producing alpha-1,6 branched alpha-1,4-glucans, as disclosed in WO 00/73422, plants producing alternan, as disclosed in WO 00/047727, EP , US,908,97 and EP , 3) transgenic plants which produce hyaluronan, as for example disclosed in WO 06/03238, WO 07/039314, WO 07/03931, WO 07/039316, JP 06/4779, and WO 0/ [002] 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, such as cotton plants, with altered fiber characteristics. Such plants can be obtained by genetic transformation, or by selection of plants contain a mutation imparting such altered fiber characteristics and include: Plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form of cellulose synthase genes as described in WO 1998/00049 Plants, such as cotton plants, containing an altered form of rsw2 or rsw3 homologous nucleic acids as described in WO04/03219 Plants, such as cotton plants, with increased expression of sucrose phosphate synthase as described in WO