MXPA98005625A - Protection of plants using cfs oil - Google Patents

Abstract

A composition for protecting a crop against fungal diseases including one or more fish oils used in association with an agriculturally acceptable diluent and, preferably, with a metal salt. A method is also provided to protect a crop against fungal diseases which includes the application to the seed or foliage of a crop or its site, a fish oil in an amount sufficient to induce local and / or systemic resistance of the crop. harvest to control the fung disease

Description

PROTECTING PLANTS USING FISH OIL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the use of materials to protect crops from 5 pathogenic attacks.

In particular, the present invention relates to the use of fish oils and novel compositions containing fish oils, which after application to a , harvest, protect the crop against fungal infections. The prior art teaches a wide variety of materials that protect plants and improve their growth. For example, U.S. Patent No. 3,712,803 discloses the use of an aqueous mixture of proteinaceous material and an alkali metal ligonsulfonate subjected to acid hydrolysis and then oxidation, which when applied to plants and trees as a spray, or as a addition to the soil of the root zone, imparts frost resistance to the plants and trees U.S. Patent No. 2,013,063 discloses the use of spray to a plant with an aqueous wax emulsion, which contains a colloidal earth, an ammonium salt of a drying acid, i.e., unsaturated fatty acids such as those derived from the soybeans, fish or beans, by means of which a permeable anti-drying film is formed.

U.S. Patent No. 2,198,991 presents a method for protecting living trees and plants from sunburn, barrenillo and fungal lesions by treating the trunks and branches with an aqueous emulsion comprising a paraffin wax, an ammonium salt of a drying acid , as defined by U.S. Patent No. 2,013,063, a colloidal earth and finely divided aluminum.

There is also a prior art which shows the use of various oils, including fish oils, as a useful physical component to optimize the stability of a protective plant suspension of an active ingredient. For example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,826,863 and 4,734,432, disclose the use of various oils, including paraffin, soy, fish oils and minerals, together with, inter alia, the active ingredient such as a herbicide or fungicide, to provide a suspension of stabilized plant protection agent.

U.S. Patent No. 4,761,423 discloses the use of a vegetable, animal or mineral oil along with, inter alia, a fungicide or insecticide to form an improved seed compost.

U.S. Patent Nos. 3,728,454, 3,725,557 and 3,728,453 present the use of a pine or fish oil, together with, inter alia, the active ingredient, alloxan or alloxanthin, or dialuric acid, respectively, to inhibit the growth of herbal bacteria, fungi or other microorganisms.

There is a serious limitation of the previous teachings, in which non-natural products are used to provide plants with protection against fungal diseases.

Literature has recently reported that some unsaturated fatty acids, what? are natural products, applied externally to the lower leaves of potato plants protected the upper leaves against a challenge infection of the last destructive fungus Phytophthora infestants (see Cohen et al., "Systemic resistance of potato plants against Phytophthora infestants Induced by Unsaturated Fatty Acids ", Physiol.

Molecular Plant Pathol. 38: 255-263, 1991). However, there is a significant disadvantage to the use of said unsaturated fatty acids, even when used at low application rates, which were significantly effective in providing protection. ^^ were phytotoxic to potato leaves. 10 For these and other reasons, there is a widely recognized need for natural and effective products that can be sprayed on plants to protect against fungal diseases that do not induce phytotoxicity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION jjlk It has now been found that a natural product, fish oils, effectively protect the crop against fungal diseases, without being phytotoxic. The above is a surprising result and the effective protection mechanism without phytotoxicity is difficult to understand. The present invention thus successfully addresses the shortcomings of the present technique by the use of a natural product that effectively protects plants against fungal diseases, without being toxic to said plants.

Fish oils, as used herein, refer to oils obtained from various fish, including cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, eel sand, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.

Said oils predominantly contain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids Cl4 to C22 in the form of mono-, di- and triglycerides.

Of the saturated fatty acids the palmitic (16: 0) was more relevant (around %), mistyric acid (14: 0) was the following (around 5%) and stearic acid (18: 0) was less prevalent (about 3%). Fish oils contain a variety of mono-, di- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUF A) with oleic acid (18: 1 n9) more abundant (around 10-30%). Processed (purified) oils contain less oleic acid and an increased proportion of PUF A, especially linoleic (18: 2), EPA (eicosapentaenoic 20: 5 n3) and DHA (docosohexaenoic 22: 6 n3). Other unsaturated fatty acids are: vaccenic acid (18: 1 n7), linolenic acid (18: 3 n3), eicosenoic acid (20: 1 n9), octadecatetraenoic acid (18: 4 n3), eicosadienic acid (20: 2 n6) , eicosatrienoic acid (20: 3 n3), arachidonic acid (20: 4 n6), erucic or brasidic acid (22: 1 n9), docospentaenoic acid (22: 5 n3) and docostetraenoic acid (22: 4 n6). Fatty acids amoga 3 total reached 70% in some of the oils. Two emulsified oils of Japan accounted for 5% lecithin and 0.05% ethoxyquinoline. All oils contain antioxidants, vitamin A, vitamin D and traces of free fatty acids. Antioxidants, vitamin A and vitamin D were each tested separately and found not to provide protection against diseases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DUCTS The invention has been described herein, by way of example only, with -Tk reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1. Last development of pest in potato plants (Alpha cv.) Treated with four fish oils. The plants were sprayed with fish oil homogenate of 5 fish in water (0.5, 1, 2%) on their adaxial (upper) leaf surfaces and subjected to Phytophthora infestants (isolated MR-1, 5000 sporangia / ml) 2 days after .

Disease records (scale of 0-4) were taken 4 days after exposure. The bars represent the standard deviation of the meaning (n = 3).

Figure 2. A comparison between fish oils and vegetable oils in the protection of potato (A) and tomato (B) plants against Phytophthora infestants. The plants were sprayed on the surface of upper leaves with jojoba oil, soy bean oil, cod liver oil HL or capelin oil (1% in water) and the treated surfaces were subjected to the fungus (5000 sporangia / ml, MR-1 isolated) 2 days after the dew. Disease records (scale 0-4) were taken 5 days after exposure. The bars represent the standard deviation of the meaning (n = 3).

Figure 3. The time-dependent efficacy of fish oils in the control of the last potato pest (cv. Apha). Cod liver oil HL, cod liver oil G, cuttlefish oil and capelin oil were sprayed (0.5, 1 and 2% in water) onto the upper leaf surfaces and the plants were subjected to the treated surfaces. Phytophthora infestants (2500 sporangia / ml, MR-1 isolated) at 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days after the spray. Disease records were taken 4 days after exposure (n = 3). and ± Figure 4. The time-dependent efficacy of cod liver oil HL (0.5 and 1% in water) in the control of the last plague caused by Phytophthora infestants in tomato plants (cv. Florida Basket). The plants were subjected (2500 sporangia / ml) 5 at the various time intervals indicated after spraying with fish oil. Fish oil and exposure were applied to the adaxial (upper leaf surfaces). The disease was recorded 4 days after exposure.

^^ Figure 5. Translaminar protection of untreated leaf surfaces IO potato plants against last plague with cod liver oil HL of various concentrations (1, 2 and 4% in water). The plants were sprayed onto the upper leaf surfaces with fish oil and then, at various time intervals after the spray, they were subjected to Phytophthora infestants (2500 sporangia / ml, MR-1 isolated) on each upper surface (A) or lower (B). Disease records were taken 4 days 15 after exposure.

Figure 6. Systemic protection of potato plants (Alpha) using cod liver oil HL. The plants were sprayed on their 3 lower leaves with 2% fish oil and subjected to Phytophthora infestants (2500 sporangia / ml, MR-1 20 isolated) 4 days later. Disease records were taken 3 days after exposure. A. Actual values per plant (the shaded area represents the standard deviation of the meaning (n = 6)); B. Actual values per plant (bars represent the standard deviation of meaning (n = 6)).

DESCRIPTION OF PREDILECT EXAMPLES, The preferred fish oils were those containing about 1% to about 40% by weight of one, or a combination of, fatty acids chosen from the following: myristoleic, palmitic, palmitoleic, linolenic, arachidonic , eicaspentenoic and docosohexaenoic, present as a monoglyceride, diglyceride or triglyceride, the fatty acid is present in trace quantities. Particularly preferred fish oils are those that contain around 5% up to around % by weight of one, or a combination of, fatty acids chosen from the following: palmitic, linolenic, arachidonic, eicaspentenoic, and docosohexaenoic acids present as a monoglyceride, diglyceride or triglyceride.

Fish oils will typically be applied to the surfaces of the seed, tuber or foliage of the crop. When applied to the foliage, they will be used before the beginning or after the initial signs of the fungal attack. The amount of fish oil to be used will be sufficient to induce the local and / or systemic resistance of the crop to affirm the fungal disease and will vary depending on factors such as the harvest, the species of fungus to be controlled, the type of treatment (for example, seed treatment, tuber treatment or the sprinkling or sprinkling of foliage), the condition of the crop and the particular fish oil used. 20 As a tuber or seed fertilizer, acceptable results can be obtained when using from 0.1 to 1 kg. of fish oil per 100 kg. of tuber or seed.

As an application to the harvest or your site, the fish oil will be applied to the crops or to the soil with a dose type in the renago from around 0.5 to around 10 kg./ha, with repeated application as necessary, typically at intervals of from every week to every 3 weeks.

In practice, fish oils will be applied in compositions containing the fish oil in association with an agriculturally acceptable diluent, said diluent is typically water and / or acetone. Said compositions for direct application to the crop will typically contain from about 0.05 to about 10% by weight of fish oil, preferably from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight, with repeated application as necessary, typically at intervals They range from every week to every 3 weeks.

EXAMPLES Plants. Most of the experiments were carried out with the potato (Solanum tuberosum L) Alpha culture. Some experiments were covered with the Blintje culture. The plants were cultivated with whole tubers in a mixture of sand: peat: vermiculite (1: 1: 1 by weight) in the greenhouse (18-24 ° C) and fertilized twice a week with 1% NPK (20: 20:20). One tuber was planted in each pot (1: 1). In ~ 4 weeks after planting, plants that have 3 to 5 stems / pot with ~ 10 leaf / stems compounds, were taken for experimentation.

Patogen. The isolated MR1 resistant to metalazil from Phytophthora infestants (Mont.) De Bary was used mainly. Some experiments were also carried out with other Israeli isolates and S-49 isolated from Switzerland (courtesy of U. Gisi, Sandoz Agro Research, Basel).

Fish oils Seven fish oils were obtained from the United Kingdom (Seven 5 Seas, Hull, United Kingdom), nine from Japan (Nippon Chemicals Feed Co. Ltd. Hokaido, Japan), one from Norway (Jahres Sandefiord, Norway), two from B. Koven (National Institute for Oceanography, Elliat, Israel) and two were purchased in local stores.

, ^ Dew and Inoculation. Aqueous homeganates of fish oils were obtained by homogenizing the fish oil in water with a homogenizer Kinematica (Basel, Switzerland) operated at 27,000 rpm for 2 minutes. Acetone solutions were prepared by dissolving fish oil in analytical acetone. The oils were sprayed onto the surfaces of abaxial (top) leaves of potato or tomato plants (about 10 ml / plant) using a chromatography glass atomizer with an air pressure of 0.5 bar. Plants sprayed with water or acetone served as M control. The plants were placed in a growth chamber at 20 ° C (12 h of light per day, 120 μE n? 2 s "1, CW fluorescent lamps supplemented the incandescent light) until the challenge was inoculated.

Freshly produced sporangia of Phytophthora infestants were bred in double-distilled ice water of potato tuber slices (cv. Alpha) inoculated a week earlier and maintained at 13 ° C. The sporangia concentration was adjusted to 2500 or 5000 per ml and sprayed on the surfaces of adaxial or abaxial leaves of potato plants (about 15 ml per pot). The inoculated plants were placed in a humidity chamber in the dark at 18 ° C for 20 hours to ensure infection and were then transferred to a growth chamber at 20 ° C (as before) for the development of symptoms.

The severity of the disease was estimated visually using a scale of 0 to 4 as follows: 0 = no disease; 0.5 = one or e lesions per pot; 0.1 = 3-10 injuries; 0.5 = 11-50 lesions, about 10% of the area of foliage occupied with lesions; 0.75 = about 15-20% of the foliage has plague; 1, 2 and 3 = about 25, 50 and 75% of the area of the leaf has a pest, respectively; and 4 = the plants are completely covered with plague. In some experiments the number and size of the lesions were recorded.

I. Local Protection Fish oils were sprayed (as water homogenates) on the surfaces of adaxial (upper) leaves of potato plants (Alpha) and exposed to Phytophthora infestants on adaxial surfaces treated 2 days later. The results presented in Figure 1 show that plants treated with fish oils were protected (68-99%) against the infection of the pest. The protection improved slightly with the increase in oil concentration from 0.5 to 2%. The cod liver oil G was the most effective when giving > 95% protection in all concentrations used. Vegetable oils (soybeans and jojoba) had no protective activity against the last pest neither in the potato (Figure 2A) or the tomato (Figure 2B). Fish oils provided 84-91% in the potato and 75% protection in the tomato (Figure 2).

These four fish oils were applied similarly to potato plants , ^ but the plants were subjected to inoculation at various time intervals after dew. Of interest, the oils had a lower protection activity, either in 0.5, 1 or 2%, in exposed plants immediately after the dew had dried (day 0, about 2 hours after dew). Substantial protection, however, was observed in plants exposed 1 day or later, up to 7 days after spray (Figure 3). The residual protective activity depends on the fish oil used and its concentration. The cod liver oil G was the one that performed better at 0.5 and 1% and the liver oil of # cod HL at 2% while capelin oil was the least effective at 0.5% and 1% at 10% capelin oil was phytotoxic. Increasing the oil concentration increased the protective efficacy of cod liver oil and cuttlefish oil (Figure 3). Similar experiments with 4% HL cod liver oil carried out showed about 20% of the protection in the potato plants exposed on day 0 and about 90% of the protection in plants exposed on days 3-10 after the application of the 15 oil.

Cod liver oil HL in water also protected the tomato plants (cv. Florida Basket) against the last pest in the manner described for the potato. The protection depended on the period of time between the spray and the exposure as well as the concentration of the oil (Figure 4).

Acetone solutions of cod liver oil HL applied to the upper leaf surfaces of potato plants 3 days before exposure, gave 67, 80, 88 and 96% protection in concentrations (weight (volume) of 0.25). , 0.5, 1 and 2%, respectively EPAX-GT 5500 applied similarly provided 93, 93 and 99% protection at 0.25, 0.5 and 1% respectively, was slightly toxic at 1%.

Sixteen other fish oils were tested for their possible protection against the last plague. All were applied at 1% in water homogenates to the surface of adaxial leaves of potato plants (cvs. Alpha or Blintje) and tomato plants (cvs.

Basket) and underwent Phytophthora infestants (MR-1 or S-49) 1, 2 or 3 days after dew.

The results (Table 1) varied between experiments and between oils. Generally, all the oils were effective in protecting the plants against the pest. The actual protection values varied between 67-91% for the various oils. Oils rich in EPA (EPA 28G from Nippon and EPAX GT 5500 from Jahres) provided the highest protection.

The above fish oils were dissolved to contain 0.1% equivalent of EPA in acetone and sprayed onto the surfaces of adaxial leaves of potato plants (cv. Alpha). The control plants were sprayed with acetone alone. All the plants were subjected by inoculation to Phytophthora infestants MR1 2 days after the spray. The disease record was taken 4, 5 and 7 days after inoculation and the% protection was calculated in relation to plants sprayed with acetone. All the oils were highly effective in protection against the pest (Table 2). The least effective were numbers 4 and 6 of Nippon which indicates that the EPA is not the only ingredient in the fish oil responsible for the protection. * k p. Translaminar protection Potato plants were sprayed with fish oils on their adaxial surfaces (superiors) and underwent Phytophthora infestants either on their adaxial surfaces or adaxial (lower). Figure 5 presents data from an experiment in which the inoculation was applied to composite leaves detached from untreated plants and plants treated with various concentrations of cod liver oil HL in water. The surfaces treated with oil were highly protected (Figure 5A) against the pest ^ in all concentrations used (1-4%). Protection was prevalent in all days of sample except day 0 after spray (compare with Figure 3). The untreated leaf surfaces were protected, but to a lesser degree, with the maximum protection observed in the leaves inoculated 3 days after the spray (Figure 5B). The protection of the untreated surfaces increased as the oil concentration increased.

Another experiment was carried out in a similar manner with potato leaves peeled and inoculated at various time intervals after dew. The leaves were subjected by inoculation (2,500 sporangia / ml) to their untreated surfaces. The percentage of protection (in relation to leaves not treated with oil) in leaves inoculated on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 after spraying with cod liver oil 1% HL in water was from 37, 52, 45, 80, 65, 52 and 47%; with 2% -34, 37, 35, 85, 75, 67 and 57% with 4% -39, 55, 77, 95, 90, 75 and 67%, respectively.

The following experiments were carried out with intact potato plants. Plants (Alpha cv.) Were sprayed onto upper leaf surfaces with either cod liver oil HL (1% w / v) in either water or acetone, or with EPAX-GT 550 in , 7 ^ water or acetone (1% weight / volume). The plants were subjected by inoculation either to the upper or lower leaf surfaces on days 1 to 5 after the spray. The results in Table 3 show that the treated upper surfaces were strongly protected (82-99%) against the pest with both oils on the day after treatment. The inoculation done after 5 days reduced the effectiveness of cod liver oil HL almost two times but only slightly that of EPAX-GT 550. When supplied in acetone, both oils were slightly less effective (compared to both oils supplied in water ) on day 1 but not at 5 days after treatment (Table 3). The lower untreated surfaces were protected to some degree if 69-85% in the day with acetone supply, slightly less effective compared to the water supply. At 5 days after the treatment the cod liver oil HL loses its activity while the EPAX-GT 5500 retained 48-59% of protective activity (Table 3). Similar results were obtained with the potato plant cv. Bli tje (data not illustrated).

H Systemic Protection Eleven leaves of potato plants (cv. Alpha) were sprinkled with 2% homogenate HL cod liver oil on their 3 lower leaves and exposed by inoculation 4 days later. The disease records taken 3 days after the inoculation are presented in Figure 6. The leaves in the oil treated plants were significantly damaged less compared to the leaves of untreated exposed plants (Figure 6A). The actual protection percentage for all the leaves was 74% (Figure 6B). Four days after the inoculation, the severity of the disease reached values of 3.7 ± 0.21 and 1.4 ± 0.48 for control and treated plants (protection of the 62%), respectively.

In a second experiment 1 or 2% of HL cod liver oil homogenates were applied to the lower plants of potato plants 5 days before exposure. Disease records taken 4 days after inoculation were 2.03 ± 0.81 in untreated plants and 0.91 ± 0.60 and 0.94 + 0.59 in plants treated with 1 and 2% oil (55 and 54% protection, respectively). Other experiments revealed that the application of either cod liver oil HL (1% (or EPAX-GT 5500 (1%) to the 3 lower leaves of the potato reduced the number of lesions on leaves from 4 to 11 The control plants developed 55 + 15 lesions against 23 + 6 and l5 ± l in plants treated with cod and EPAX, respectively (58 and 73% protection).

Table 1. Local protection activity of fish oil homogenates (1%) in water against Phvtophthora infestants in potato and tomato,% protection Source and Papa Papa Papa Tomato Jitomate Meaning Alpha / Alpha Alpha / 3d Bintje / 2d Florida Baby / 2d or + SD oil MR-1 MR-1 S-49 Basket / ld MR-1 fish MR-1 Seven Seas, United Kingdom 1 - 58 83 74 69 71 + 10 2 - . 2 - 71 70 78 78 74 + 4 3 - . 3 - 75 50 90 53 67 ± 19 4 - . 4 - 67 61 82 76 72 + 9 - . 5 - 82 67 82 75 77 ± 7 6 -. 6 - 78 85 89 75 82 ± 6 7 -. 7 - 82 95 82 81 85 ± 7 Nippon, Japan 1 96 82 - 79 - 86 ± 9 2 89 79 - 83 - 84 ± 5 3 91 83 - 83 - 86 + 5 4 85 56 - 86 - 76 + 17 95 64 - 72 - 77 + 16 6 78 69 - 68 - 72 ± 6 7 89 81 - 75 - 82 + 8 Fitotoxic Fitotoxic - 92 - - 9 80 94 - 96 - 90 ± 9 Health Life, United Kingdom Oil 95 - - - - - cod liver HL Jahres, Norway EPAX GT - 89 - 93 - 91 ± 3 5500 Number of days elapsed between the application of fish oil and exposure by inoculation. Isolated MR-1 was inoculated at 5000 and 2500, sporangium / ml on potato and tomato, respectively. The S-49 isolates were applied at 7000 sporangia / ml. The disease records were taken 5 days after the inoculation when the control plants (without treating with fish oil) exhibited 80-90% of their affected foliage with plague.

Table 2. Local protection of potato plants (Alpha) against Phytovhthora infestants by fish oils dissolved in acetone Number and original EPA Conc.% Of% of% source of conc. used% protection protection protection oil weight / volume 4 5d 7d fish Seven Seas, United Kingdom 1 7.5 1.3 92 90 83 2 5.8 1.7 99 99 96 3 5.4 1.85 91 85 81 4 9.6 1.0 90 84 85 5 8.6 1.2 93 92 83 6 13.8 0.72 96 95 87 7 14.6 0.69 95 91 85 Nippon, Japan 1 13.1 0.76 85 84 79 2 14.6 0.68 97 92 66 3 11.0 0.91 90 91 73 4 10.0 1.0 78 81 58 5 14.2 0.71 93 90 85 6 15.3 0.65 71 72 37 7 13.6 0.73 98 96 91 8 28.4 0.35 Fitotoxic 9 23.5 0.43 97 88 79 Jahres, Norway * EPAX GT 32.8 0.3 97 98 87 5500 The plants were inoculated with 2500 sporangi / ml of isolated MRl. The control plants, treated with acetone, showed 56 + 17, 93 ± 4 and 100 + 0% of their foliage with plague at 4, 5 and 7 days after the inoculation, respectively.

* Jahres Fabrikker, Norway.

Table 3. Local and translaminar activity of fish oils against Phytoyhthora infestants in potato plants - * Top surface inoculated Bottom surface inoculated days after treatment days after treatment Id * 5d Id 5d Treatment Severity% Severity% Severity% Severity% applied to the patient. protec of the protec. of the protec. of the sick protec sick surface sick upper None 4.0 ± 0 - 4.0 + 0 - 4.0 ± 0 - 3.67 ± 0.47 - Acetone 4.0 ± 0 - 4.0 ± 0 - 4.0 ± 0 - 3.82 ± 0.23 - water 0.08 ± 0.02 98 2.0 ± 0 50 1.0 ± 0.6 75 3.0 ± 0 18 Oil of 0.70 ± 0.1 82 1.67 ± 58 1.25 ± 69 3.33 ± 0.23 15 liver of 0.47 0.5 cod HL at 1% in acetone EPAX GT 0.03 ± 0.02 99 0.67 ± 83 0.60 ± 0 85 1.5 ± 0 59 5500 at 1% 0.11 in water EPAX GT 0.43 ± 0.17 89 0.58 ± 85 1.0 ± 0 72 2.0 ± 0 48 5500 at 1% 0.12 in acetone 10 * Period of interval, days, between oil application and exposure by inoculation. The plants were exposed with 2500 sporangia / ml of isolated MR-1. Disease records were taken 7 days before inoculation.

Formulation Example 1: Concentrated Emulsion 25 parts by weight of a fish oil, 65 parts of xylene, 10 parts of the mixed reaction product of an alkylene glycol with xylenedioxide and calcium-dodecyl-benzene sulfonate are mixed thoroughly to obtain a homogeneous solution. The resulting concentrated emulsion is diluted with water before use. twenty other formulations may include a sustained release composition, conventional carriers, diluents and / or adjuvants. Said compositions can be produced in conventional manner, for example, by mixing the active ingredient with a carrier and other ingredients of the formulation with the aid of a polytron.

The concentrated forms of the compositions usually contain between about 2 and 80 '%, preferably between about 6 and 70% by weight of fish oil. The forms of application of the formulation can, for example, contain from 0. 01% to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.01% to 5% by weight of fish oil.

Depending on the circumstances, the compounds of this invention can be used in association with metal salts of, for example, copper, zinc, manganese or with pesticides, such as fungicides, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides or plant growth regulators for improve its activity or to broaden its spectrum of activity.

Formulation Example 2: Seed or Tuber Fertilizer 25 parts by weight of fish oil is absorbed in a carrier comprising 15 parts of fine silica and 44 parts of kaolin with the aid of a small amount of a volatile solvent such as acetone. First the resulting powder is allowed to dry, and then it is combined with 15 parts of dialkylphenoxypoly (ethylenexy) ethanol, 0.5 parts of dye (for example, crystal violet) and 0.5 parts of xanthan gum. The above is mixed and ground in a counterplex mill at approximately 10,000 rpm at an average particle size below 20 msec. The resulting formulation is applied to the seeds or tubers as an aqueous or organic suspension in an apparatus suitable for that purpose.

The fish oils according to this invention are effective in the control of a variety of phytopathological fungi belonging to the Oomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and families Fungi Imperecti.

The following is a partial list of crops and diseases and organisms corresponding that can be controlled conforms to the present invention.

HARVEST DISEASE ORGANISM Potato last plague Phytophthora infestants tomato last plague Phytophthora infestants tobacco blue mark Peronospora t? Bacina cucumber mildew hairy Pseudoperonospora c bessis grape mildew villous plasma for viticola crucifera mildew hairy peronospora parasitic cucumber powdery mildew Sphaerothecafuliginea cucumber powdery mildew Erysphe sichoracearum barley powdery mildew Erysphe graminis hordei wheat dusty mildew Erysphe graminis tritici rice blast Pyricularia oryzae barley leaf spot Cocchliobolus sativum bean rust Uromyces appendiculaus wheat rust Puccinia graminis tritici barley rust Puccinia graminis hordei tomato gray mold Botrytis cinerea cucumber gray mold Botrytis cinerea grape gray mold Botrytis cinerea grape dusty mold Uncinulla necator OTHER EXAMPLES EXAMPLE 1. The protection of barley against Erysiphe graminis f. sp. Hordeit by fish oils at 20 ° C.

Three-leaf plants were sprayed with fish oil acetone solutions (1% weight / volume) exposed 1 day later, and evaluated 10 days after exposure. The Results are illustrated in the following table. Treatment% of infection in relation to acetone control (control) 100 Capelin oil 1% 47 Cod liver oil (G) at 1% 36 Cod liver oil (UK) at 1% 26 EXAMPLE 2. Protection of cucumbers against Sphaerotheca fuliginia by fish oils under field conditions (Israel) 3 seasonal sprays.

The fish oils were mixed with 0.05% emulsifier (weight / weight) and added water to obtain fish oil at 0.5 or 1% in water (weight / volume). The plants were sprayed 3 times at weekly intervals. The evaluation was made 5 days after the last spray. The results are shown in the following table. Treatment% of area of hoia% of control of infected disease None 58 0 Emulsifier (0.05%) 52 10 Cod liver oil (UK) 0.5% 9 84 1% 18 69 Cod liver oil (G) 0.5% 13 78 1% 6 90 Jubilee oil 0.5% 6 90 1 % 10 83 Capelin oil 0.5% 8 86 1% 5 91 EXAMPLE 3. Protection of cucumbers against Pseudoperonospera cover with fish oil at 20 ° C.

Treatment% leaf area% control of infected disease None 88 0 Oxadixil 250 mg / l 88 0 1% cod liver oil 3 97 1% soybean oil 85 0 EXAMPLE 4. Protection of cucumbers against Pseudoperonospora cubensis by fish oil under field conditions (Israel) 3 sprays.

The fish oils were mixed with 0.05% emulsifier (weight / weight) and added water to obtain fish oil at 0.5 or 1% in water (weight / volume). The Plants were sprayed 3 times at weekly intervals. The evaluation was made 5 days after the last spray. The results are shown in the following table. Treatment% of area of hoia% of control of infected disease None 35 0 Emulsifier (0.05%) 43 -23 Cod liver oil (UK) 0.5% 2 94 1% 6 83 Cod liver oil (G) 0.5% 6 83 1% 9 74 Jubilee oil 0.5% 14 60 1% 3 91 Capelin oil 0.5% 8 77 1% 15 57 EXAMPLE 5. Protection of cucumbers against Botrytis cinerea by fish oil.

The plants in the first stage of leaves were sprayed with fish oil homogenates and subjected to B. cinerea 3 days later. The percentage of dead plants due to infection was counted 10 days after inoculation. The results are shown in the next table. Treatment% dead plants None 100 Cod liver oil 0.5% 15 1% cod liver oil 0 2% cod liver oil 0 While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of copies, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other ap- invention can be made.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS: m l. A method for protecting cereal plants against dusty fungi caused by the Erysiphe fungal species comprising the application to the seed or foliage of the cereal plant or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount 5 sufficient to inhibit non-phytotoxic infection of the cereal plant with the fungus Erysiphe.
2. 2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, pollack, capelin, squid, 10 hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, sand eel, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
3. 3. A method to protect cucumbers against dusty fungi caused by at least one of the fungal species chosen from the group consisting of Sphaerotheca 15 fuliginia and Erysiphe cichoracearum comprises the application to the seed or the foliage of the cucumber or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to non-phytotoxicly inhibit the infection of the cucumber with the fungus Sphaerotheca.
4. 4. The method of Claim 3, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, sand eel, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
5. 5. A method to protect grape against dusty fungi caused by the uncinulla fungal species comprising the application to the seed or foliage of the grape or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit the infection in a non-phytotoxic manner of the grape with the fungus Urcinulla.
6. 6. The method of Claim 5, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, Mackerel, sand eel, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
7. 7. A method to protect cucumbers against fungus caused by the fungal species Pseudonoperonospora which includes the application to the seed or foliage of the cucumber or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit the infection in a non-phytotoxic manner of the cucumber with the fungus Pseudonoperonospora.
8. 8. The method of Claim 7, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, Mackerel, sand eel, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
9. 9. A method to protect cruciferous plants against hairy fungi caused by the Peronospora fungal species which comprises the application to the seed or foliage of the crucifera plant or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit non-phytotoxic phytotoxic infection of the crucifera plant with the fungus Peronospora.
10. 10. The method of Claim 9, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, eel of sand, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
11. 11. A method to protect grape against dusty fungi caused by the Plasmopara fungal species comprising the application to the seed or foliage of the grape plant or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit non-phytotoxic infection of the grape plant with the fungus Plasmopora.
12. 12. The method of Claim 11, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, eel of sand, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
13. 13. A method for protecting cucumber plants against dusty fungi caused by the fungal species Botrytis cinerea comprising the application to the seed or foliage of the cucumber plant or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit non-phytotoxic phytotoxic infection of the cucumber plant with the fungus Botrytis cinerea.
14. 14. The method of Claim 13, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, * hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, sand eel, anchovy, salmon and gadoid.
15. 15. A method to protect cucumber plants against dusty fungi caused by the fungal species Botrytis cinerea comprising the application to the seed or foliage of the cucumber plant or its site a non-phytotoxic fish oil in an amount sufficient to inhibit non-phytotoxic phytotoxic infection of the cucumber plant 10 with the fungus Botrytis cinerea.
16. 16. The method of Claim 15, wherein said fish oil is obtained from a fish selected from the group consisting of cod, haddock, capelin, squid, hake, shark, halibut, menhadden sardine, herring, lopaco, cuttlefish, mackerel, eel of sand, 15 anchovy, salmon and gadoid. EXTRACT OF THE INVENTION A composition for protecting a crop against fungal diseases including one or more fish oils used in association with an agriculturally acceptable diluent and, preferably, with a metal salt. A method is also provided to protect a crop against fungal diseases including the application to the seed or foliage of a crop or its site, a fish oil in an amount sufficient to induce local and / or systemic resistance of the crop. harvest to control fungal disease.