DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULE
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(Section 10, rule 13)

A NOVEL SYNERGISTIC COMPOSITION FOR CONTROL OF PESTS IN VEGETABLE CROPS

DHANA CROP SCIENCES LIMITED, of Door No. # 9-1-119/1, Vasavi Eden Square, Plot No.710, 7th Floor, next to Apollo Hospital, St. John's Road, SECUNDERABAD – 500003 INDIA.

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
The present invention relates to the field of agrochemicals. In particular, the present invention relates to a pesticidal combination having pesticidal activity against various pests such as Jassids (Amrasca devatans Distant), shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella) and Red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) for improving crop production and yield of vegetable crops.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is one of the most important vegetable crop cultivated commercially and also in kitchen garden and is consumed by more than 90 per cent of the Indian population. This crop is vulnerable to the attack of as many as 16-18 insect pests starting from nursery to harvesting stage of the crop (Vevai, 1970). Area under Okra cultivation as per Indian Union statistics during 2014-15 was 507,450 ha with a production of 58,53,020 Metric tonnes, while the area in Andhra Pradesh (Combined Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) was 48,000 ha with a production of 6,21,220 tonnes.

The crop is attacked by these pests from seedling to harvest stage. The shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella), fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera), leaf roller (Sylepta derogata), leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), aphid (Aphis gossypii), solenopsis mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis), dusky cotton bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis), red cotton bug (Dysdercus koenigii), red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) are some of the important pests which cause damage to okra crop. In the southern states this crop is mostly attacked by number of pests of which shoot and fruit borer, leafhopper, whitefly, red spider mite, mealy bug are most serious causing substantial reduction in crop growth and yield. Since each pest has its unique mechanism of damaging crops, so specific active ingredients are required to control their activity. Various combination/composition have been developed to control pests in vegetable crops such as Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).

Few prior arts discloses pesticidal combination for controlling insect pests in vegetable crops. For instance, US20120094834 discloses a method for increasing the vigor and/or crop yield of agricultural plants under essentially non-existent pathogen pressure, wherein the plants, the plant propagules, the seed of the plants and/or the locus where the plants are growing or are intended to grow are treated with an effective amount of a composition comprising a plant growth regulator (PGRs) selected from the group consisting of abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol, 6-benzylaminopurine and brassinolide etc. and an insecticide and an insect growth regulator selected from the group consisting of a chitin synthesis inhibitor wherein said chitin synthesis inhibitor is a benzoylurea selected from the group consisting of chlorfluazuron, cyramazin, diflubenzuron, flucycloxuron, flufenoxuron, hexaflumuron, lufenuron, novaluron, teflubenzuron, tri-flumuron; buprofezin, diofenolan, hexythiazox, etoxazole, and clofentazine; an ecdysone antagonist selected from the group consisting of halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide and azadirachtin etc., and a macrocyclic lactone insecticide selected from the group consisting of abamectin, emamectin, milbemec-tin, lepimectin, spinosad, and spinetoram; another compound selected from the group consisting of benclothiaz, bifenazate, cartap, flonicamid, pyridalyl, pymetrozine, sulfur, thiocyclam, flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, cyazypyr (HGW86); cyenopyrafen, flupyrazofos, cyflumetofen, ami-doflumet, imicyafos, bistrifluoron, and pyrifluquinazon. But, US20120094834 fails to disclose specific combination of insectiside, ecdysone antagonists and plant growth regulator.

WO2010139653A1 discloses a mixture, comprising as active compounds at least one heteroaromatic sulfonamide compound, growth regulators, which are selected from abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol, 6-benzylaminopurine, brassinolide, butralin, chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilide, daminozide, dikegulac, dimethipin, 2,6-dimethylpuridine, ethephon, flu- metralin, flurprimidol, fluthiacet, forchlorfenuron, gibberellic acid, inabenfide, indole-3-acetic acid , maleic hydrazide, mefluidide, mepiquat (mepiquat chloride), naphthaleneacetic acid, N-6-benzyladenine, paclobutrazol, pro- hexadione (prohexadione-calcium), prohydrojasmon, thidiazuron, triapen- thenol, tributyl phosphorotrithioate, 2,3,5-tri-iodobenzoic acid , trinexapac- ethyl and uniconazole, ecdysone antagonists, which are selected from halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, tebufenozide and azadirachtin, and GABA antagonist compounds, which are selected from endosulfan, ethiprole, fipronil, vaniliprole, pyra- fluprole, pyriprole, 5-amino-1 -(2,6-dichloro-4-methyl-phenyl)-4-sulfinamoyl- 1 H-pyrazole-3-carbothioic acid amide; macrocyclic lactone insecticides: abamectin, emamectin, milbemectin, Ie- pimectin, spinosad, spinetoram; mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor (METI) I acaricides: fenazaquin, pyridaben, tebufenpyrad, tolfenpyrad and flufenerim. But fails to disclose particular combination comprising insectiside, ecdysone antagonists and plant growth regulator used at specific concentration and range.

CN101857482A discloses a microcapsule drug fertilizer used as an insecticide, but fails to disclose the particular combination and synergistic activity of insectiside, ecdysone antagonists and plant growth regulator.

None of the prior art documents however disclose a combination delivering the simultaneous and effective control of insects and pests in vegetable crop such as Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus). Further it is known that this crop is attacked by these pests from seedling to harvest stage. Therefore, there arises a need to develop a pesticidal combination that delivers an enhanced control of these pests starting from nursery to harvesting stage of the crop.

Hence, the present invention focused on inventing new pesticidal combination for effective control of pests in vegetable crops.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention to provide a novel and synergistic pesticidal combination that provides simultaneous control of insect and pests in vegetable crops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel and synergistic pesticidal combination that provides simultaneous control of insect and pests in vegetable crops. The present invention discloses a novel and synergistic pesticidal combination comprising at least one insectisidal active ingredient, at least one ecdysone antagonists and at least one plant growth regulator. The combination of the present invention may comprise a first active ingredient Abamectin, a second active ingredient which may be Azadirachtin and a third active ingredient which may be brassinolide. The combination of the present invention may be in a ratio of insectisidal active ingredient: ecdysone antagonists: plant growth regulator 75:20:5. The present invention also discloses a composition comprising the novel combination of the present invention. The present invention also discloses the use of novel pesticidal combination and composition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a novel and synergistic pesticidal combination comprising at least one insectisidal active ingredient, at least one ecdysone antagonists and at least one plant growth regulator.

Insectisidal active ingredient of the present invention may be selected from emamectin, milbemectin, lepimectin, spinosad, spinetoram and abamectin. Preferably the insectisidal active ingredient is abamectin.

Ecdysone antagonists of the present invention may be selected from halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, azadirachtin and tebufenozide. Preferably the ecdysone antagonist is azadirachtin.

Plant growth regulator of the present invention may be selected from abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol, 6-benzylaminopurine, brassinolide, butralin, chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilide, daminozide, dikegulac, dimethipin and brassinolide. Preferably the plant growth regulator is brassinolide.

The combination of the present invention may be in a ratio of insectisidal active ingredient: ecdysone antagonists: plant growth regulator ranging from 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably, in the ratio of 75:20:5. The present invention also discloses a combination of Abamectin:Azadirachtin:brassinolide in the ratio of 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably, in the ratio of 75:20:5.

The present invention also discloses a synergistic composition comprising at least one insectisidal active ingredient, at least one ecdysone antagonists, at least one plant growth regulator and agrochemically acceptable excipients.

The agriculturally acceptable excipient is selected from the group consisting of karanjin, tea tree oil, garlic oil, roseberry oil, dispersing agent, emulsifier, anti-freezing agent, wetting agent, anti-foam agent, anti-bacterial or biocide, thickener and demineralized water.
In another embodiment, the present invention also envisages a composition comprising Abamectin:Azadirachtin:brassinolide along with a botanical selected from the group comprising Karanjin, tea tree oil, garlic oil or roseberry oil.

Pesticidal composition of the present invention may comprise the active ingredient in a ratio of insectisidal active ingredient: ecdysone antagonists: plant growth regulator ranging from 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably, in the ratio of 75:20:5. The present invention also discloses a combination of Abamectin:Azadirachtin:brassinolide in the ratio of 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably, in the ratio of 75:20:5 along with agrochemically acceptable excipients.

Pesticidal composition of the present invention may be formulated as a suitable formulation. The formulation of the present invention may include solid and liquid formulations including emulsifiable concentrates, oil dispersions, wet dispersible powders and wet dispersible granules, preferably an emulsifiable concentrate.

The present invention discloses a pesticidal combination for controlling pests such as shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella), fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera), leaf roller (Sylepta derogata), leafhopper (Amrasca biguttula biguttula), whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), aphid (Aphis gossypii), solenopsis mealy bug (Phenacoccus solenopsis), dusky cotton bug (Oxycarenus hyalinipennis), red cotton bug (Dysdercus koenigii), red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) in vegetable crops, particularly in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus).

The present invention discloses the synergistic effect of pesticidal combination comprising insectisidal active ingredient, ecdysone antagonists and plant growth regulator.

ADVANTAGE
The present invention ensures effective control of pests and improved yield of vegetable crops at lower concentrations over other treatments. Pesticidal combination/composition of the present invention does not show any phytotoxicity at any stage of the crop.
The invention of the present invention is illustrated herein below by means of examples. The examples are merely for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Examples:

Example 1: Effect of the combination of the present invention on Shoot and fruit borer Earias vittella
Field experiments was laid out in Student Farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendra nagar, Hyderabad -500 030 in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) for testing the efficacy of combination product Abamectin 1.71 EC + Azadirachtin 0.15% EC + Brassinolide 50 ppm EC for the management of Jassids, Mites, shoot and fruit borer of Okra with six treatments (Table-1) replicated four times.

Each plot of size 5 m x 4 m (20 m2) were maintained for each replication. Sowing of Okra was taken up on 15th July 2015 with GJOH2 seed obtained locally with spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm following all recommended package of practice.

Treatments were imposed when the population reached ETL level for fruit borer, Jassids, Mite and shoot and fruit borer of Okra. The first spray was taken up at 25 days age of the crop against Jassids, mites and shoot borer based on ETL. Subsequent second and third sprays were given at 15 days intervals. Spray application was taken up during cooler hours of the day preferably morning hours. High volume hand operated knapsack sprayer with hollow cone nozzle was used for spray application. The total quantity of spray volume used was 500 L/ha.

Observations on incidence of Jassids (Amrasca devastans Distant) and two spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) were recorded on randomly selected 10 plants at periodic intervals after each of three applications as well as at weekly interval throughout the growth period of the crop. For this, five leaves, one each from the upper, middle and lower parts of the plants were considered for recording the pest population.

The observations on Shoot and fruit borer Earias vittella (infestation was recorded on ten randomly selected and tagged plants from each treatment, a day prior to treatment (taken as pre count). Post count was taken at periodic intervals after each of three applications. The observations on healthy and infested shoots/ fruits were recorded by counting and weighing healthy and infested Okra fruits from the tagged plants in each treatment plots. The fruits showing holes were considered as infested ones. To record the yield data, only marketable Okra fruits were taken into account. Yield obtained from the net plot was recorded at each picking on per plot basis. The plot yields were converted to Yields/ha (0/ha) and presented in Table 1.

Table -1: Effect of the combination of the present invention on Shoot and fruit borer Earias vittella

Methods employed for data analysis: Data on per cent shoot and fruit infestation was converted to quintals per hectare. The data were then subjected to analysis of variance.
Example 2. Reduction of Jassids (Amrasca devastans Distant) in different treatments:
Perusal of the results from table-2 on incidence of Jassids recorded at periodic intervals after each spray indicated that the population of Jassids are at par among all the three treatments i.e., Tl, T2 and T3 in 1", 2" and 3' round of sprays and found to be significantly superior over T4, TS and T6 (untreated control) in reducing Jassid infestation on Okra. Minimum mean Jassid infestation (l.22 per leaf) was observed in the treatment T3 ( Abamectin 1.71 EC + Azadirachtin 0.15% EC + Brassinolide 50 ppm EC@ 125 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) ( with a reduction of 84.50%) followed by its lower doseT2 (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 105 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) with mean number of 1.31 Jassids per leaf on Okra (a reduction of 83.00%) and these two treatments are at par with each other. The treatment Tl (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC + Brassinolide 50 ppm EC@ 85 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) was next best with a mean of 1.96 Jassid per leaf (a reduction of 77.85 %). Further treatment T 4 containing (Abamectin 1.71 EC@ 85ml in 500 L of water/ha) recorded a mean of 2.87 Jassids per leaf (64. 35 per cent reduction) while T5 (Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ 1500 ml) recorded 4.50 Jassids per leaf (a reduction of 48.22 per cent), whereas T6 (Untreated control) recorded a mean of 8.41 Jassids per leaf and there had been increase in population levels in this control plot.

Example 3. Effect of combination treatments on reduction of infestation of red mite per Sq.cm/ leaf, (Tetranychus urticae Koch)
Observations on incidence of mites were taken at weekly interval and the data are presented in Table-3. A perusal of the data revealed that all the treatments are significantly superior over untreated control in reducing mite infestation on the plant. Minimum mean mite infestation per Sq.cm/ leaf 0. 97) was observed in the treatment T 3 (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC + Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 125 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) which was superior over all the treatments under study and found to be at par with treatment T2 (1.06 mites/ Sq.cm/ leaf) (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC 1500 ml+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 105 ml in 500/L of Water /ha). Further T1 (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 85 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) recorded 1.59 mite per Sq.cm/ leaf. The treatment T4 containing (Abamectin 1.71 EC @ 85ml in 500 L of water/ha) was next best recording 1.92 mites per Sq.cm/ leaf and found to be superior over treatment T5 Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ 1500 ml in 500 L of water/ha. T5 recorded 2.17 mite per Sq.cm/ leaf and T6 (untreated control) recorded maximum of 3.88 mites per Sq.cm/leaf.

Example 4. Average reduction and Percent reduction in shoot and Fruit borer damage
Before imposing treatments shoot infestation due to fruit borer (Earias vittella) ranged between 11.33 to 12.83 per cent uniformly in all the treatments. After completion of 3 rounds of spray the average shoot and fruit borer damage was reduced considerably and ranged from 4.01 to 12.16 per cent in different treatments, while in untreated control the damage was recorded to be 23.77 per cent. Further T3 (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 125 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) was significantly superior over all the treatments under study and recorded 3.86 per cent shoot damage followed by treatment T2 (Abamectin 1. 71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 105 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) which recorded 4.01 per cent shoot damage. In other treatments the average damage arranged in the descending order is: Tl Abamectin 1.71 EC + Azadirachtin 0.15% EC + Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 85ml in 500/L of Water /ha) (10.27) > T4(Abamectin 1.71 EC @ 85ml in 500 L of water/ha) (ll.30)>T5 Azadirachtin 0.15% EC @ l500 ml /ha(12.16) and >T6. Untreated Control (23.77).
The average per cent reduction in shoot and fruit borer damage (Earias vittella) over, untreated control ranged from 5.73 to 68.69 per cent, while in untreated control the damage increased considerably. Among different treatments average maximum percent reduction in shoot borer over control was observed in the treatment T3 (Abamectin 1.71 EC +Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC @ 125 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) (68.69%), followed by treatment T2 (Abamectin 1.71 EC + Azadirachtin 0.15% EC+ Brassinolide 50 ppm EC@ 105 ml in 500/L of Water /ha) (68.32%) and was second best treatment T2 and T3 are at par among themselves. The minimum percent reduction in shoot borer over control was recorded in T5 containing Azadirachtin 0.15% EC@ 1500 ml/ha (5.73 %). In Untreated control the incidence due to shoot and fruit borer (Earias vittella) increased considerably.

,CLAIMS:We claim
1. A synergistic pesticidal combination wherein said combination comprising:
a. at least one insectisidal active ingredient;
b. at least one ecdysone antagonists; and
c. at least one plant growth regulator.
2. The synergistic pesticidal combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insectisidal is selected from the group consisting of emamectin, milbemectin, lepimectin, spinosad, spinetoram and abamectin, preferably the insectisidal is abamectin.
3. The synergistic pesticidal combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ecdysone antagonist is selected from the group consisting of halofenozide, methoxyfenozide, azadirachtin and tebufenozide, preferably the ecdysone antagonist is azadirachtin.
4. The synergistic pesticidal combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plant growth regulator is selected from the group consisting of abscisic acid, amidochlor, ancymidol, 6-benzylaminopurine, brassinolide, butralin, chlormequat (chlormequat chloride), choline chloride, cyclanilide, daminozide, dikegulac, dimethipin and brassinolide, preferably the plant growth regulator is brassinolide.
5. The synergistic pesticidal combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of combination of insectisidal active ingredient: ecdysone antagonist: plant growth regulator is ranging from 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably in the ratio of 75:20:5.
6. The synergistic pesticidal combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ratio of combination of Abamectin: Azadirachtin: Brassinolide is ranging from 70-85:10-20:5-10 and preferably in the ratio of 75:20:5.
7. A synergistic pesticidal composition comprising the combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said composition comprising agriculturally acceptable excipients.
8. The synergistic pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 7, wherein the agriculturally acceptable excipient is selected from the group consisting of karanjin, tea tree oil, garlic oil, roseberry oil, dispersing agent, emulsifier, anti-freezing agent, wetting agent, anti-foam agent, anti-bacterial or biocide, thickener and demineralized water.
9. The pesticidal composition as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the composition is formulated in the form of solid or liquid formulation including emulsifiable concentrates, oil dispersions, wet dispersible powders and wet dispersible granules, preferably an emulsifiable concentrate.
10. The combination and composition as claimed in claim 1 and claim 7 for the effective control of pests such as shoot and fruit borer pests in vegetable crops, preferably in Okra.