The present invention relates to a combination of pymetrozine and ethion and its composition. Particularly, the present invention relates to acomposition comprising of pymetrozineand ethion, methods of preparation ofsaid composition and use thereof for the control of a wide variety of undesired insect pests, and mites.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

In economically important crops, such as rice, peppers, soybean, chick pea, pigeon pea, cotton, tea, potato, tomato and other agricultural, plantations and horticultural crops, there isinfestation of both (chewing and sucking) insectsthat may occur simultaneously for which growers are applying control measures either separately or by tank mixing various insecticides to manage both type of insects. This practice of mixing various pesticides might lead to poor efficacy and crop damage due to compatibility issues, hence, a premix of the best possible formulation for a combination of insecticideswith different mode of action together, would help growers to combat these insects/mites effectively.

A typical challengein the field of crop protection is to reduce the dose rates of an active ingredient in order to reduce or avoid unfavorable environmental or toxicological effects whilst still allowing effectivepest control. Therefore, a combined application of an effective amount of insecticidesin uniform composition is a practical necessity. The present invention relates to a pesticidal product that contains a combination ofactive substances, a method for controlling pests using this product, its use and the plant propagation organs treatedwith this product, as well as the use of combination for thepreparation of the product.

Pymetrozine is an insecticidal compound belonging to pyridine azomethine chemical class. Pymetrozine developed by Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc., as described in U.S. 4,931,439. Pymetrozine is classified under group 9B of the IRAC mode of action. It is used to control the pests, especially insects, more particularly insects of the orders Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Phiraptera, Psocoptera, Siphonaptera, Thysanoptera and Thysanura, especially sucking insects of the Aphididae

family, which belongs to the order Hemiptera. Chemically, pymetrozine is 4,5-dihydro-6-methyl-4-(3-pyridylmethyleneamino)-l,2,4-triazin-3(2H)-one and has the following structure:

Ethion is an insecticidal compound, which belongs to organic thiophosphate chemical class. Ethion developed by FMC Corporation, as described in U.S. 2,873,228. Ethion is classified under group IB of the IRAC mode of action. It is used against the leaf-feeding insects, mites, scales, horn flies, gulf coast ticks, ear ticks, face flies, lice, stable flies, house flies. Chemically, ethion is O,O,O',O'-tetraethyl S,S '-methylene bis(phosphorodithioate).

Various patent applications disclose the mixtures of insecticides for e.g. CH689326 and FR2720230. However, there is no effective composition available that act simultaneously on a wide variety of insect pests and mites.

It has been found that, as a solution to the above mentioned problems, a combination comprising pymetrozine and ethion provides an effective composition in controlling a wide variety of insect pests and mites. The present invention provides a combination of pymetrozine and ethion with enhanced efficacy and spectrum as compared to use of pymetrozine and ethion alone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In one aspect, the present invention providesa combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a combination of pymetrozine and ethion to control a wide variety of undesired insect pests and mites.

In further aspect, the present invention is to provide longer residual control of the undesired insect pests and mites treated with the combination ofpymetrozine and ethion.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a composition of pymetrozine and ethionto control a wide variety of undesired insect pests and mites.

In anotheraspect, the present invention provides a composition comprisingpymetrozine and ethionthecomposition possesses insecticidal/acaricidalactivity.

In further aspect, the present invention provides a method for the preparation of the composition comprisingpymetrozine and ethion.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for improving crop health (phyto-tonic effect), comprising treating a plant with an effective amount of composition of pymetrozineandethion.

The above aspect and other objectives will become more apparent in view of the description given below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

ABBREVIATIONS

DEFINITIONS

The foregoing definitions provided herein for the terminologies used in the present disclosure are for illustrative purpose only and in no manner limit, the scope of the present invention disclosed in the present disclosure.

It will be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, the reference to "a surfactant" includes one or more such surfactants.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Although other methods and materials similar, or equivalent, to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

As used herein, the terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, subject to any limitation explicitly indicated. For example, a composition or a method that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such composition, or method.

As used herein, the term“composition” or "formulation" can be used interchangeably, unless stated otherwise, is meant to encompass, and are not limited to, compositions or formulations containing the combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

As used herein, the term“additive(s)” refers to inert substances which are commonly used as diluent, to provide stability or to increase the activity profile of the composition or formulation with or without having agrochemical activity or direct effect on the undesired insect pests and mites.

As used herein, the term“surfactant(s)” means a compound that, when dissolved in a liquid, reduces the surface tension of the liquid, which reduces the interfacial tension between two liquids or which reduces surface tension between a liquid and a solid.

As used herein, the term“stabilizer(s)” refers to a substance capable of imparting resistance against physical or chemical deterioration or deformulation.

As used herein, the term“defoaming agent(s)” refers to a chemical additive that reduces and hinders the formation of foam in the industrial process of liquids, semi-solids, or solids. The terms defoaming agent and anti-foaming agent can be used interchangeably.

As used herein, the term“thickener(s)” refers to a polymeric material, which at a low concentration increases the viscosity of an aqueous solution and helps to stabilize the composition.

Unless otherwise specified, % refers to % weight; and % weight refers to % of the weight of respective component with respect to the total weight of the composition.

As used herein, the term“locus" means a plant, plant parts, plant propagation material (preferably seed), soil, area, material or environment in which a pest is growing or may grow. As used herein, the term“plant parts” are understood to mean all above-ground and below ground parts and organs of plants, such as shoot, leaf, flower and root, examples including leaves, needles, stems, stalks, flowers, fruit-bodies, fruits and seeds, and also roots, tubers and rhizomes. The plant parts also include harvested plants and vegetative and generative propagation material, for example seedlings, tubers, rhizomes, cuttings and seeds.

As used herein, the term "effective amount" means the amount of the active substances in the compositions to achieve an observable effect on growth, including the effects of necrosis, death, retardation, prevention, and removal, destruction, or otherwise diminishing the

occurrence and activity of the target organism. The effective amount can vary for the various compositions used in the present invention. An effective amount of the compositions will also vary according to the prevailing conditions such as desired pesticidal effect and duration, weather, target species, locus, mode of application, and the like.

As used herein, the term“pymetrozine”encompasses pymetrozine or its agrochemically acceptable salt(s), derivative(s) or any other modified form ofpymetrozine.

As used herein, the term“ethion” encompasses ethion or its agrochemically acceptable salt(s), derivative(s) or any other modified form ofethion.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a combination of pymetrozineand ethion to control a wide variety of undesired insect pests and mites.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an insecticidal combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

In yet anotherembodiment, the present invention provides an acaricidal combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

In further embodiment, the present invention is to provide longer residual control of the undesired insect pests and mites treated with the combination of pymetrozine and ethion.

The combination ratio of pymetrozine and ethion depends on various factors such as, the undesired, insect pests and mites to be controlled, the degree of infestation, the climatic conditions, the characteristics of the soil and the application method, wherein ratio of pymetrozine and ethion is froml:10 to 1:1, preferably from 1:8 to 1:4, more preferably 1:5 or 1:7.5.

In one embodiment, the present invention further provides a composition of pymetrozine and ethion for the control of a wide variety of undesired insect pests and mites.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a composition of pymetrozine and ethion, wherein the composition is used as insecticidal/ acaricidal composition.

The composition is selected from a wettable powder (WP), a water dispersible granule (WDG), a water dispersible tablet (WT), an ultra-low volume (ULV) liquid (UL), an ultra-low volume (ULV) Suspension Concentrate (SC), a water soluble powder (SP), a soluble concentrate (SL), a water soluble granule (SG), a suspo-emulsion (SE), granule (GR), an emulsifiable granule (EG), an oil-in-water emulsion (EW), an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), a micro-emulsion (ME), an oil dispersion (OD), a capsule suspension (CS), an aerosol (AE) or a mixed formulation of ZC (CS + SC), ZE (CS+SE), ZW (CS+EW).

These compositions may be manufactured by any process know in the art, such as,“Pesticide Formulation Guide” (edited by Pesticide Science Society of Japan, The Agricultural Formulation and Application Committee, published by Japan Plant Protection Association, 1997).

The composition of the present invention comprises of pymetrozine and ethionin a wider ratio, in relation to various factors such as, the undesired insect pests and mites to be controlled, the degree of infestation, the climatic conditions, the characteristics of the soil and the application method, wherein the weight ratio of pymetrozine and ethionis from 1 : 10 to 1:1, preferably from 1:8 to 1:4, more preferably 1:5 or 1:7.5.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides a composition for the control of a wide variety of, insect pests and mites, wherein the weight percentage of pymetrozine or its acceptale salt(s) thereof is 2% to 80% and the weight percentage of ethionor its acceptable salt(s) thereof is 80% to 2%. The total content of pymetrozine and ethionin the composition is selected in the weight range typically from 4% to 82%, preferably from 10% to 50%.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a synergistic composition comprises of the weight percentage of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) thereof is 5% to 50%, the weight percentage of ethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof 50% to 5% and the weight percentage of additives is 10% to 90%.

The composition comprising organic or inorganic carrier material including agriculturally acceptable additivesis selected from the group comprising of solid carrier(s), liquid carrier(s), gaseous carrier(s), surfactant(s), binder(s), disintegrating agent(s), pH adjuster(s), thickener(s), preservative(s), anti-freezing agent(s), defoaming agent(s), extender(s), stabilizer(s) and/or coloring agent(s) or a combination thereof.The composition may also contain if desired, one or more auxiliaries customary for crop protection compositions.

Solid carrier(s) is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, natural minerals such as quartz, talc, kaolin, pyrophyllite, montmorillonite, attapulgite, bentonite, kieselguhr, chalk, zeolite, calcite, sericite, acid clay, diatomaceous earth, natural rock, Fuller’s earth, meerschaum, gibbsite, dolomite or pumice; synthetic minerals such as precipitated silica, fumed silica, sodium silicate, alumina, aluminum hydroxide; inorganic salts such as calcium carbonate, ammonium sulfate or other ammonium salts, sodium sulfate, potassium chloride; organic materials such as urea, solid polyoxyethylene, solid polyoxypropylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, lactose, starch, lignin, cellulose, cottonseeds hulls, wheat flour, soybean flour, wood flour, walnut shell flour, plant powders, sawdust, coconut shellflower, com cob, tobacco stem. These solid carriers may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Liquid carrier(s) is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, water; alcohols such as ethanol, propanol, n-octanol, isopropanol ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, glycerin; polyol ethers such as ethylene glycol monopropyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol dimethyl ether; ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexanone; ethers such as dipropyl ether, dioxane, tetrahydrofuran; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as normal paraffin, isoparaffin, kerosene, mineral oil; aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, toluene, naphthene, solvent naphtha, solvent C9, solvent CIO, solvent C12, solvesso 100, solvesso 150, solvesso 200; chlorinated aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzene, chloroethylene, methylene chloride; esters such as ethyl acetate, diisopropyl phthalate, dimethyl adipate, methyl oleate, methyl tallowate; lactones such as gamma-butyrolactone; amides such as dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N-octylpyrolidone, N,N-dimethyldecanamide; nitriles such as acetonitrile; organosulfur compound such as dimethyl sulfoxide; vegetable oils such as soybean oil, rapeseed oil, cotton seed oil. These liquid carriers may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Gaseous carrier(s) is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, liquefied petroleum gas, air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide or dimethyl ether. These gaseous carriers may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Surfactant(s) (a dispersing agent, a wetting agent, a spreader, an adjuvant for penetration enhancement, rain fastness, soil leaching control etc.) are nonionic or anionic surfactants or a combination of these surfactants. It is preferred to use one or more than one kind of surfactant. Surfactant(s) is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, sugar esters such as sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate; alkyl polyglucoside such as decyl glucoside; polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether or polyoxyethylene coconut fatty alcohol ether; polyoxyethylene alkynyl ether such as 2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-5-decyn-4,7-diol ether; polyoxyethylene aryl ethers such as polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether or polyoxyethylene tristyrylphenyl ether; polyoxyethylene vegetable oil ethers such as polyoxyethylene castor oil or polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil; polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene monolaurate, polyoxiethylene distearate or polyoxyethylene resin acid ester; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymers (such as Pluronic®); polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene alkyl ether such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene lauryl ether; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene aryl ether such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene styrylphenyl ether; polyoxyethylene alkyl amines such as polyoxyethylene stearyl amine; polyoxyethylene fatty acid amide such as lauric acid diethanolamid; fluorinated surfactant; alkyl sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium alkylbenzene sulphonate; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfates such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate; polyoxyethylene aryl ether sulfates such as sodium polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether sulfate or ammonium polyoxyethylene tristyrylphenyl ether sulfate; aryl sulfonate such as calcium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, sodium naphthalene sulfonate or sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate; ‘alpha’ -olefin sulfonate; alkyl sulfosuccinate such as sodium dioctyl sulfosuccinate; lignin sulfonate such as sodium ligno sulfonate; poly carboxylic acid sodium salt; N-methyl fatty acid sarcosinate; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphate; polyoxyethylene aryl ether phosphates such as polyoxyethylene phenyl ether phosphate or polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether phosphate; polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene block copolymer phosphate; graft copolymer such as polymethyl methacrylate-polyethylene glycol graft copolymer. These surfactants may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Binder(s) or adhesive-imparting agent(s) is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, polyvinyl alcohol, dextrin, denatured dextrin, soluble starch, guar gum, xanthan gum, sucrose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum arabic, polyvinyl acetate, sodium polyacrylate, carboxymethyl cellulose or its salt, carboxymethylcellulose dextrin, bentonite, polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of 6,000 to 20,000, polyethylene oxide having average molecular weight of 100,000 to 5,000,000, natural phosphatide such as cephalinic acid or lecithin. These binders or adhesive-imparting agents may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Disintegrating agent(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, sodium tripolyphosphate, stearic acid metal salt, cellulose powder, dextrin, methacrylate copolymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyaminocarboxylic acid chelate compound, styrene sulfonate/isobutylene/maleic anhydride copolymer, starch/polyacrylonitrile graft copolymer, sodium hexametaphosphate, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium polycarbonate, bentonite. These disintegrating agents may be used alone or in combination thereof.

pH adjuster(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, sodium or potassium carbonate, sodium or potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium or potassium dihydrogenphosphate, disodium or dipotassium hydrogenphosphate, citric acid, malic acid and triethanolamine.These pH adjusters may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Thickener(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, water-soluble polymer and inorganic fine powder, wherein water-soluble polymer such as xanthan gum, welan gum, guar gum, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carboxyvinyl polymer, acrylic polymer, starch derivative or polysaccharide; or an inorganic fine powder selected from high purity silica, bentonite, white carbon. These thickeners may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Preservative(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, potassium sorbate, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid esters, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, l,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one (Proxel® GXL). These preservatives may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Anti-freezing agent(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerol. These anti-freezing agents may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Defoaming agent(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, silicone compounds such as polysiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane and organic fluorine compounds. These defoaming agents may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Extender(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, silicon type surfactant, a cellulose powder, dextrin, processed starch, a polyaminocarboxylic acid chelate compound, crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone, maleic acid and styrene, methacrylic acid copolymer, half ester of polymer of polyhydric alcohol with dicarboxylic anhydride, or water-soluble salt of polystyrene sulfonic acid. These extenders may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Stabilizer(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, drying agents such as zeolite, quicklime or magnesium oxide; antioxidant agents such as phenol type, amine type, sulfur type or phosphorus type; or ultraviolet absorbers such as salicylic acid type or a benzophenone type. These stabilizers may be used alone or in combination thereof.

Coloring agent(s)is selected from the group comprising of, but not limited to, inorganic pigments such as iron oxide, titanium oxide or prussian blue; organic dye such as alizarin dye, azo dye, metal phthalocyanine dye. These coloring agents may be used alone or in combination thereof.

When additive ingredients are incorporated into the composition of the present invention, the content of the carrier is selected typically in weight range from 5% to 95%, preferably from 20% to 90%; the content of the surfactant is selected from the range of typically from 0.1% to 30 %, preferably from 0.5% to 10%, and the content of the other additives is selected from the range of typically from 0.1% to 30%, preferably from 0.5% to 10%.

An embodiment of the preset invention provides a method for preparation of the wettable powder composition comprising the steps of:

a) addition of pymetrozine and ethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof,

b) addition of agrochemically acceptable additives selected from surfactant(s), carrier(s) and other additive(s) uniformly in a mixer; and

c) optionally milling by a mill.

In another embodiment of the preset invention provides a method for preparation of the suspo-emulison composition comprising the steps of:

a) preparation of an emulsion concentrate by mixing ethion or its acceptable salt(s) andappropriate combination of surfactants in a specific ratio and solvent,

b) preparation of pymetrozine suspension by addition of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) and agrochemically acceptable additives selected from surfactant(s), carrier(s) and other additive(s) uniformly and optionally milling to obtain a desired particle size, c) mixing the composition of step (a) and step (b) in a desired proportion by addition of agrochemically acceptable additives and solvents.

The composition of the present invention can be applied by any one of the methods selected from atomization, spreading, dusting, spraying, diffusion, immersion, irrigation, injection, mixing, sprinkling (water immersion), foaming, dressing, coating, blasting, fumigation, smoking, smog and painting.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling wide variety of, insect pests and mites, with an effective amount of a composition of pymetrozine and ethion.

In another embodiment, the composition of pymetrozine and ethion of the present invention may further compriseof insecticide(s), fungicide(s), nematicide(s), acaricide(s), safener(s), or herbicide(s)or any combination thereof.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of controlling wide variety of undesired pathogenic microorganism with an effective amount of the composition/combination of pymetrozine and ethion with a fungicidal compound. The combination or composition of the present invention provides a nonagronomic (other than field crops) application such as application on horticultural crops (e.g., greenhouse, nursery or ornamental plants not grown in a field), residential, commercial and industrial structures, turf (e.g., sod farm, pasture, golf course, lawn, sports field, etc.).

In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for controllinginsect pests and mites with an effective amount of the composition of pymetrozine and ethion.

Insect pests or mites is selected from the order of moths and butterflies ( Lepidoptera ), beetles (Coleoptera), flies, mosquitoes ( Diptera ), thrips ( Thysanoptera ), termites ( Isoptera ), cockroaches (Blattaria - Blattodea), true bugs ( Hemiptera ), crickets, grasshoppers, locusts (' Orthoptera ), arachnids ( Acarina ), fleas ( Siphonaptera ), silverfish, firebrat ( Thysanura ), millipedes ( Diplopoda ), earwigs ( Dermaptera ), lice ( Phthiraptera ), or plant parasitic nematodes.

In a further embodiment of the present invention defines the insect pests and mites from the orders of:

lepidopterans ( Lepidoptera ), for example Agrotis ypsilon, Agrotis segetum (cutworm), Alabama argillacea, Anticarsia gemmatalis, Argyresthia conjugella, Autographa gamma, Bupalus piniarius, Cacoecia murinana, Capua reticulana, Cheimatobia brumata,

Choristoneura fumiferana, Choristoneura occidentalis, Cirphis unipuncta, Cydia pomonella, Cydia caryana (hickory shuckworm), Dendrolimus pini, Diaphania nitidalis, Diatraea grandosella, Earias insulana, Elasmopalpus lignosellus, Eupoecilia ambiguella, Evetria bouliana, Feltia subterranea, Galleria mellonella, Grapholitha funebrana, Grapholitha molesta, Heliothis armigera, Heliothis virescens (tobacco or cotton budworm), Heliothis zea, Elellula undalis, Eliberniadefoliaria, Hyphantria cunea, Hyponomeuta malinellus, Keiferia lycopersicella, Lambdina fiscellaria, Eaphygma exigua, Eeucoptera coffeella, Eeucoptera scitella, Lithocolletis blancardella, Lobesia botrana, Loxostege sticticalis, Lymantria dispar, Lymantria monacha, Lyonetia clerkella, Malacosoma neustria, Mamestra brassicae, Orgyia pseudotsugata, Ostrinia nubilalis (european corn borer), Panolis flammea, Pectinophora gossypiella (pink bollworm), Peridroma saucia, Phalera bucephala, Phthorimaea operculella, Phyllocnistis citrella, Pieris brassicae, Pieris rapae (imported cabbageworm), Plathypena scabra, Plutella xylostella, Pseudoplusia includens, Rhyacionia frustrana, Scrobipalpula absoluta, Sitotroga cerealella, Sparganothis pilleriana, Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm), Spodoptera littoralis, Spodoptera litura, Thaumatopoea pityocampa, Tortrix viridana, Trichoplusia ni, Zeiraphera canadensis, Giant swallowtail (orangedog), Paralobesia viteana (grape berry moth), Desmia funeralis (grape leaffolder), Helicoverpa zea (corn earworm), Helicoverpa armigera (cotton bollworm), Agrotis segetum, Agrotis ipsilon, Agrotis exclamationis , Manduca quinquemaculata (tomato homworm), Eithophane

antennata (green fruitworm), Lithophane unimoda, Orthosia hibisci, Anarsia lineatella (peach twig borer), Acrobasis nuxvorella (pecan nut casebearer), Amyelois transitella (navel orangeworm), Marmara gulosa (Citrus peelminer) and Harrisina Americana (Grapeleaf skeletonizer),

beetles (Coleoptera), for example Agrilus sinuatus, Agriotes lineatus, Agriotes obscurus, Amphimallus solstitialis, Anisandrus dispar, Anthonomus grandis, Anthonomus pomorum, Aphthona euphoridae, Athous haemorrhoidalis, Atomaria linearis, Blastophagus piniperda, Blitophaga undata, Bruchus rufimanus, Bruchus pisorum, Bruchus lends, Byctiscus betulae, Cassida nebulosa, Cerotoma trifurcata, Cetonia aurata, Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis, Ceuthorrhynchus napi, Chaetocnema tibialis, Conoderus vespertinus, Crioceris asparagi, Ctenicera ssp., Curculio caryae (pecan weevil), Diabrotica longicornis, Diabrotica semipunctata, Diabrotica 12-punctata, Diabrotica speciosa, Diabrotica virgifera, Epilachna varivestis, Epitrix hirtipennis, Eutinobothrus brasiliensis, Hylobius abietis, Elypera brunneipennis, Elypera postica, Ips typographus, Eema bilineata, Eema melanopus, Eeptinotarsa decemlineata (Colorado potato beetle), Eimonius califomicus, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, Melanotus communis, Meligethes aeneus, Melolontha hippocastani, Melolontha melolontha, Oulema oryzae, Ortiorrhynchus sulcatus, Otiorrhynchus ovatus, Phaedon cochleariae, Phyllobius pyri, Phyllotreta chrysocephala, Phyllophaga sp., Phyllopertha hordeola, Phyllotreta nemorum, Phyllotreta striolata, Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle), Sitona lineatus, Sitophilus granaria, Diaprepes abbreviatus, and Conotrachelus nenuphar (plum curculio),

flies, mosquitoes ( Diptera ), e.g. Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Aedes vexans, Anastrepha ludens, Anopheles maculipennis, Anopheles crucians, Anopheles albimanus, Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles freeborni, Anopheles leucosphyrus, Anopheles minimus, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Calliphora vicina, Ceratitis capitata, Chrysomya bezziana, Chrysomya hominivorax, Chrysomya macellaria, Chrysops discalis, Chrysops silacea, Chrysops atlanticus, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Contarinia sorghicola Cordylobia anthropophaga, Culicoides furens, Culex pipiens, Culex nigripalpus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tarsalis, Culiseta inornata, Culiseta melanura, Dacus cucurbitae, Dacus oleae, Dasineura brassicae, Delia antique, Delia coarctata, Delia platura, Delia radicum, Dermatobia hominis, Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila), Fannia canicularis, Geomyza Tripunctata, Gasterophilus intestinalis, Glossina morsitans, Glossina palpalis, Glossina fuscipes,

Glossina tachinoides, Haematobia irritans, Haplodiplosis equestris, Hippelates spp., Hylemyia platura, Hypoderma lineata, Leptoconops torrens, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii, Lucilia caprina, Lucilia cuprina, Lucilia sericata, Lycoria pectoralis, Mansonia titillanus, Mayetiola destructor, Musca domestica, Muscina stabulans, Oestrus ovis, Opomyza florum, Oscinella frit, Pegomya hysocyami, Phorbia antiqua, Phorbia brassicae, Phorbia coarctata, Phlebotomus argentipes, Psorophora columbiae, Psila rosae, Psorophora discolor, Prosimulium mixtum, Rhagoletis cerasi, Rhagoletis pomonella (apple maggot), Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, Sarcophaga sp., Simulium vittatum, Stomoxys calcitrans, Tabanus bovinus, Tabanus atratus, Tabanus lineola, Tabanus similis, Tipula oleracea, Tipula paludosa, and Rhagoletis cerasi (cherry fruit fly),

thrips (Thysanoptera), e.g. Dichromothrips corbetti, Dichromothrips ssp., Frankliniella fusca, Frankliniella occidentalis, Frankliniella tritici, Scirtothrips citri (Citrus thrips), Thrips oryzae, Thrips palmi, Thrips tabaci, and Drepanothrips reuteri (grape thrips)

termites ( Isoptera ), e.g. Calotermes flavicollis, Leucotermes flavipes, Fleterotermes aureus, Reticulitermes flavipes, Reticulitermes virginicus, Reticulitermes lucifugus, Termes natalensis, and Coptotermes formos anus,

booklice, barklice or barkflies ( Psocoptera ), e.g Liposcelis bostrychophila, Liposcelis brunnea, Liposcelis fusciceps, Liposcelis hirsutoides, Liposcelis decolor, Liposcelis corrodens, Liposcelis silvarum, Liposcelis deltachi, Liposcelis entomophila, Liposcelis rufa, Liposcelis formicaria, Liposcelis ornata, Liposcelis paeta, Liposcelis pearmani, Liposcelis mendax, Liposcelis bicolor, Lepinotus patruelis, Lepinotus angolensis, Lepinotus lepinotoides, Lepinotus reticulatus, Lepinotus indicus, Lepinotus vermicularis, Lepinotus inquilinus, Lepinotus fuscus, Lepinotus machadoi, Lepinotus huoni, Lepinotus stoneae, and Lepinotus tasmaniensis,

cockroaches (Blattaria - Blattodea ), e.g. Blattella germanica, Blattella asahinae, Penplaneta americana, Periplaneta japonica, Periplaneta brunnea, Periplaneta fuligginosa, Periplaneta australasiae, and Blatta orientalis,

true bugs ( Flemiptera ), e.g. Diaphorina citri, Acrosternum hilare, Blissus leucopterus, Cyrtopeltis notatus, Dysdercus cingulatus, Dysdercus intermedins, Eurygaster integriceps, Euschistus impictiventris, Leptoglossus phyllopus, Lygus lineolaris, Lygus pratensis, Nezara viridula, Piesma quadrata, Solubea insularis , Thyanta perditor, Acyrthosiphon onobrychis, Adelges laricis, Aphidula nasturtii, Aphis fabae, Aphis forbesi, Aphis pomi, Aphis gos sypii, Aphis grossulariae, Aphis schneideri, Aphis spiraecola, Aphis sambuci, Acyrthosiphon pisum, Aulacorthum solani, Bemisia argentifolii, Bemisia tabaci, Brachycaudus cardui, Brachycaudus helichrysi, Brachycaudus persicae, Brachycaudus prunicola, Brevicoryne brassicae, Capitophorus horni, Cerosipha gossypii, Chaetosiphon fragaefolii, Cryptomyzus ribis, Dreyfusia nordmannianae, Dreyfusia piceae, Dysaphis radicola, Dysaulacorthum pseudosolani, Dysaphis plantaginea, Dysaphis pyri, Empoasca fabae, Hyalopterus pruni, Hyperomyzus lactucae, Macrosiphum avenae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Macrosiphon rosae, Megoura viciae, Melanaphis pyrarius, Metopolophium dirhodum, Myzus persicae, Myzus ascalonicus, Myzus cerasi, Myzus varians, Nasonovia ribis-nigri, Nilaparvata lugens, Pemphigus bursarius, Perkinsiella saccharicida, Phorodon humuli, Psylla mail, Psylla piri, Rhopalomyzus ascalonicus, Rhopalosiphum maidis, Rhopalosiphum padi, Rhopalosiphum insertum, Sappaphis mala, Sappaphis mall, Schizaphis graminum, Schizoneura lanuginosa, Sitobion avenae, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Toxoptera aurantiiaud, Viteus vitifolii, Cimex lectularius, Cimex hemipterus, Reduvius senilis, Triatoma spp., Cicadella viridis (green leafhoppers), Bactericera cockerelli (potato psyllid), Arilus critatus, Planococcus citri (citrus mealybug), Pseudococcus maritimus (grape mealybug), Pseudatomoscelis seriatus (cotton fleahopper), Proxys punctulatus (black stink bug), Elalyomorpha halys, Citricola scale ( Coccus pseudomagnoliarum ), Barnacle seal e(Ceroplastes cirripediformis ), and Brown soft scale ( Coccus hesperidum ),

ants, bees, wasps, sawflies ( Hymenoptera ), e.g. Athalia rosae, Atta cephalotes, Atta capiguara, Atta cephalotes, Atta laevigata, Atta robusta, Atta sexdens, Atta texana, Crematogasterspp., Hoplocampa minuta, Hoplocampa testudinea, Monomorium pharaonis, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis invicta, Solenopsis richteri, Solenopsis xyloni, Pogonomyrmex barbatus, Pogonomyrmex californicus, Pheidole megacephala, Dasymutilla occidentalis, Bombus spp. Vespula squamosa, Paravespula vulgaris, Paravespula pennsylvanica, Paravespula germanica, Dolichovespula maculata, Vespa crabro, Polistes rubiginosa, Camponotus floridanus, and Einepithema humile,

crickets, grasshoppers, locusts ( Orthoptera ), e.g. Acheta domestica, Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa, Locusta migratoria, Melanoplus bivittatus, Melanoplus femurrubrum, Melanoplus

mexicanus, Melanoplus sanguinipes, Melanoplus spretus, Nomadacris septemfasciata, Schistocerca americana, Schistocerca gregaria, Dociostaurus maroccanus, Tachycines asynamorus, Oedaleus senegalensis, Zonoz.erus variegatus, Hieroglyphus daganensis, Kraussaria angulifera, Calliptamus italicus, Chortoicetes terminifera, Scudderia spp. (katydid) and Locustana pardalina,

Arachnoidea, such as arachnids ( Acarina ), e.g. of the families Argasidae, Ixodidae and Sarcoptidae, such as Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma variegatum, Ambryomma maculatum, Argas persicus, Boophilus annulatus, Boophilus decoloratus, Boophilus microplus, Dermacentor silvarum, Dermacentor andersoni, Dermacentor variabilis, Hyalomma truncatum, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes rubicundus, Ixodes scapularis, Ixodes holocyclus, Ixodes pacificus, Ornithodorus moubata, Ornithodorus hermsi, Ornithodorus turicata, Ornithonyssus bacoti, Otobius megnini, Dermanyssus gallinae, Psoroptes ovis, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, Sarcoptes scabiei, and Eriophyidae spp. such as Aculus schlechtendali, Phyllocoptrata oleivora (citrus rust mite), Aceria sheldoni (citrus bud mite)and Eriophyes sheldoni; Tarsonemidae spp. such as Phytonemus pallidus and Polyphagotarsonemus latus; Tenuipalpidae spp. such as Brevipalpus phoenicis; Tetranychidae spp. such as Tetranychus cinnabarinus, Tetranychus kanzawai, Tetranychus pacificus, Tetranychus telarius and Tetranychus urticae, Panonychus ulmi, Panonychus citri (citrus red mite), and Oligonychus pratensis; Araneida, e.g. Latrodectus mactans, and Eoxosceles reclusa,

fleas ( Siphonaptera ), e.g. Ctenocephalides felis, Ctenocephalides canis, Xenopsylla cheopis, Pulex irritans, Tunga penetrans, and Nosopsyllus fasciatus,

silverfish, firebrat ( Thysanura ), e.g. Lepisma saccharina and Thermobia domestica, centipedes ( Chilopoda ), e.g. Scutigera coleoptrata,

millipedes ( Diplopoda ), e.g. Narceus spp.,

earwigs ( Dermaptera ), e.g .forficula auricularia,

lice ( Phthiraptera ), e.g. Pediculus humanus capitis, Pediculus humanus corporis, Pthirus pubis, Haematopinus eurystemus, Haematopinus suis, Linognathus vituli, Bovicola bovis, Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus stramineus and Solenopotes capillatus,

plant parasitic nematodes such as root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne arenaria, Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne exigua, Meloidogyne hapla, Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica and other Meloidogyne species; cyst nematodes, Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera pallida, Globodera tabacum and other Globodera species, Heterodera avenae, Heterodera glycines, Heterodera schachtii, Heterodera trifolii, and other Heterodera species; seed gall nematodes, Anguina funesta, Anguina tritici and other Anguina species; stem and foliar nematodes, Aphelenchoides besseyi, Aphelenchoides fragariae, Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi and other Aphelenchoides species; sting nematodes, Belonolaimus longicaudatus and other Belonolaimus species; pine nematodes, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and other Bursaphelenchus species; ring nematodes, Criconema species, Criconemella species, Criconemoides species, and Mesocriconema species; stem and bulb nematodes, Ditylenchus destructor, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Ditylenchus myceliophagus and other Ditylenchus species; awl nematodes, Dolichodorus species; spiral nematodes, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Helicotylenchus multicinctus and other Helicotylenchus species, Rotylenchus robustus and other Rotylenchus species; sheath nematodes, Hemicycliophora species and Hemicriconemoides species; Hirshmanniella species; lance nematodes, Hoplolaimus columbus, Hoplolaimus galeatus and other Hoplolaimus species; false root-knot nematodes, Nacobbus aberrans and other Nacobbus species; needle nematodes, Longidorus elongates and other Longidorus species; pin nematodes, Paratylenchus species; lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus brachyurus, Pratylenchus coffeae, Pratylenchus curvitatus, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Pratylencus neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus vulnus, Pratylenchus zeae and other Pratylenchus species; Radinaphelenchus cocophilus and other Radinaphelenchus species; burrowing nematodes, Radopholus similis and other Radopholus species; reniform nematodes, Rotylenchulus reniformis and other Rotylenchulus species; Scutellonema species; stubby root nematodes, Trichodorus primitivus and other Trichodorus species; Paratrichodorus minor and other Paratrichodorus species; stunt nematodes, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Tylenchorhynchus dubius and other Tylenchorhynchus species and Merlinius species; citrus nematodes, Tylenchulus semipenetrans and other Tylenchulus species; dagger nematodes, Xiphinema americanum, Xiphinema index, Xiphinema diversicaudatum and other Xiphinema species; and other plant parasitic nematode species.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an insecticidal combination/composition comprising of pymetrozine and ethion used to control virus transmitted diseases including vector-bome plant disease, aphid transmitted viruses (including persistent, semi-persistent and non-persistent), whitefly transmitted viruses, hopper transmitted viruses and psyllid transmitted viruses in various crops such as potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, okra, rice, corn and citrus.

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides aninsecticidal combination/composition comprising of pymetrozine and ethion to control the insect pests and mitesfrom the order of Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Phiraptera, Psocoptera, Siphonaptera, Acarina, Thysanura, and Thysanoptera insects, more preferably used to control the insect pests brown plant hopper, leaf hoppers, aphids, whiteflies and Helicoverpa armigera.

In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an insecticidal combination or composition comprising of pymetrozine and ethion to control the insect pests and mites on economically importantcrops such as rice, peppers, soybean, cotton, chick pea, pigeon pea, tea, potato, and tomato.

The composition of the present invention used to control a wide variety of undesired insect pests and mites, is advantageous, for several purposes, e.g.:

• useful for addressing a wider range of pest and mites e.g. insecticidal, and acaricidal activity;

• offering a single application as auniform composition in place of separate application of insecticides;

• offering crop health improvement in comparison to separate applications of insecticides;

• longer residual control after application of the composition.

In another embodiment, the present invention providesa combination/composition that shows enhanced action against undesired insect pests and mites, in comparison to the control rates that are possible with the individual compounds and/or suitable for improving the health of plants when applied to plants, parts of plants, plant propagation materials, or at their locus of their growth.

In yet another embodiment, the combination or the composition of the present invention is particularly important for controlling a multitude of undesired insect pests and mites, on various cultivated plants or plant parts, such as cereals, e.g. wheat, rye, barley, triticale, oats or rice; beet, e.g. sugar beet or fodder beet; fruits, such as pomes, stone fruits or soft fruits, e.g. apples, pears, plums, peaches, almonds, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or gooseberries; leguminous plants, such as lentils, peas, alfalfa or soybeans; oil plants, such as rape, mustard, olives, sunflowers, coconut, cocoa beans, castor oil plants, oil palms, ground nuts or soybeans; cucurbits, such as squashes, cucumber or melons; fiber plants, such as cotton, flax, hemp or jute; citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits or mandarins; vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, cabbages, carrots, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, cucurbits or paprika; lauraceous plants, such as avocados, cinnamon or camphor; energy and raw material plants, such as corn, soybean, rape, sugar cane or oil palm; com; tobacco; nuts; coffee; tea; bananas; vines (table grapes and grape juice grape vines); hop; turf; sweet leaf (also called Stevia); natural rubber plants or ornamental and forestry plants, such as flowers, shrubs, broad-leaved trees or evergreens, e.g. conifers; and on the plant propagation material, such as seeds, and the crop material of these plants.

The rate of application amount varies depending on, for example, the blending ratio of an active ingredient, a metrological condition, a dosage form, an application time, an application method, an application place, a pest to be controlled, and a target crop, in ordinary cases.

In the method of combating pests (insectsor acarids) depending on the type of compound and the desired effect, the application rates of the active ingredients in the mixture according to the invention are preferably from 2500 to 500g/l/ha, more preferably from 1500 to 750g/l/ha, most preferably from 1250to 750g/l/ha.

Infurther embodiment, the present invention provides a method for improving crop health (phyto-tonic effect), comprising treating a plant with an effective amount of composition of pymetrozine and ethion.

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples. These examples describe possible preferred embodiments for illustrative purposes only, but they do not limit the scope of the invention. These laboratory scale experiments can be scaled up to industrial/ commercial scale.

Example 1: Suspo-Emulsion (SE)

Example 2: Suspo-Emulsion (SE)

Preparation Method:

Preparation of ethion emulsion: The POE- POP block copolymer (low HLB) was first mixed with 80% of the total water in the recipe to form a homogeneous solution. Next, the POP block copolymers (high HLB) were mixed with paraffin to which ethion was slowly added with constant stirring. Both these mixtures along with pymetrozine was added to the colloidal mill. After operating the mill at 5000-8000 rpm for about 10 minutes, the particle size of the emulsion was determined in a Malvern Particle Sizer. The colloidal mill was continued to operate till a particle size of 2-8 micron was obtained. Subsequently, the polydimethylsiloxane emulsion l,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one and the carboxymethyl cellulose solution and the remaining water was added and slowly stirred at 20 rpm for 30 minutes to form a uniform homogeneous suspo-emulsion.

Example 3: Wettable powder (WP)

Preparation method:

Ethion 30 parts was added portion wise into a mixture of precipitated silica 25 parts and diatomaceous earth 10 parts under mixing in a high shear mixer. After mixing well, kaolin clay 21 parts, pymetrozine 6 parts, sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate 4 parts, sodium ligno sulfonate 2 parts and sodium naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate 2 parts were added and mixed well in a high shear mixer. The mixture was milled by an air jet mill.

Example 4: Wettable powder (WP)

Example 5: Water Dispersible granule (WDG)

Biological Examples:

The trial was conducted at Hyderabad agricultural research station. Nursery of rice (' Oryzasativa L.) was sown and transplanted after 30 days of sowing at 20 x 15 cm2 hill spacing. All the agronomic practices were followed for rice cultivation in this experiment. Eight treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications (Plot size: 5m x 10m= 50 m2). Insecticides involved in the study were technical of pymetrozine and ethion (Table 1). Both insecticides either as solo or in combination were applied twice as foliar spray with knapsack sprayer having a delivery of about 500 L/hectare of spray solution through a flat fan nozzle at a spray pressure of 20-25 psi at 40 days after transplanting (1st application) and after 15 days of 1st application (2nd application). Care was taken to avoid drift of spray solution to adjacent experimental plots. The data of planthopper that is Nilaparvatalugens (brown planthopper (BPH)) and Sogatellafurcifera (white backed planthopper (WBPH)) count were collected from 5 tagged rice hills (randomly selected and tagged) from each plot at one day before 1st application (pre count) and at 7 and 15 days after every applications. The obtained data was analyzed by calculating percentage reduction in plant hopper over untreated control and at the time of rice harvesting grain yields were recorded from net plot area and compared among treatments.

A synergistic effect of the combination is always present when the insecticidal activity of the active compound combinations exceeds the total of the activities of the active insecticide when applied individually. So, the expected activities for three combinations of two active compounds were also calculated by using the Colby’s formula (Colby, S.R. "Calculating synergistic and antagonistic responses of herbicide combination", Weeds, Vol. 15, pages 20- 22; 1967).

Colby's formula:

The expected activity for a given combination of two active compounds (binary composition) can be calculated as follows:

In which E represents the expected percentage of control of the specific insect for the combination of two insecticide at defined doses (for example equal to x and y respectively), x is the percentage of control observed for that insect by the compound (1) at a given dose and y is the percentage of control observed for the same insect by the compound (2) at a defined dose. When the percentage of control observed for the combination is greater than expected response E then there is a synergistic effect.

Table 1: Treatment details

Results: Pretreatment data indicated that the difference in plant hopper (both on BPH and WBPH) count per 5 tagged hills among the prepared plots for different treatments were almost uniform (Table 2 and 5).

Effect on Nilaparvatalugens (Brown Plant Hopper (BPH)):

The recorded results showed that all the treatments were superior in reducing the count of BPH over the untreated control (Table 2) after every application. Seven days after 1st application (DA1A) of pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha with ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha showed lowest population of BPH/hills (count 3.67) and percentage reduction over control was 95.02 % (Table 3). Similarly, 7 days after 2nd application (7DA2A) of pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha with ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha showed lowest population of BPH/hills (count 5.33) and percentage reduction over control was 96.24 % (Table 3). It is very much clear from the recorded data that when these two insecticides in combination were applied to the field, the efficacy increases from their sole application. The result obtained showed synergistic response when compared with the calculated expected response values (Colby's Method) (Table 4).

Table 2: Mean value of BPH count per hill (from each plot 5 tagged hills were observed)

Table 3: Percentage reduction of insect population over control

5

Table 4: Synergistic response calculation (Colby's Method)

Expected responses for the mixtures are shown in above table following difference between observed

(Table 3) and expected values are shown in the parenthesis by a plus (+) sign to indicate synergism.

Effect on Sogatellafurcifera (White Backed Plant Hopper (WBPH)):

0

The cumulative mean of all the observations of WBPH count indicated that all the treatments were effective over control (Table 5). The best treatment was combined application of pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha and ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha to the ratio of 1:7.5 with percentage reduction of insect population 96.04 and 96.46 at 7 DAI A and 7 DA2A respectively over 5 control (Table 6). The data of these two insecticide mixture when compared with their solo application (pymetrozine alone and ethion alone) showed superior performance in controlling these insect population. Synergistic response was also observed when data of actual response was compared with the calculated expected response values by Colby's Method (Table 7). The difference between actual response and the expected response was in positive values; 0 clearly indicate that the combination of pymetrozine and ethion was very effective in controlling the insect population.

Table 5: Mean value of WBPH count per hill (from each plot 5 tagged hills were observed)

5 Table 6: Percentage reduction of insect population over control

Table 7: Synergistic response calculation (Colby's Method)

Expected responses for the mixtures are shown in above table following difference between o ^served

(Table 6) and expected values are shown in the parenthesis by a plus (+) sign to indicate synergism.

5

The results of reduction in population of BPH and WBPH were in accordance with previous studies of mode of action. Pymetrozine is one of the insecticide molecules that belong to pyridine azomethine class having systemic action with a remarkable selectivity for plant sucking insects. It is believe to act by preventing insect from inserting their stylus into the 0 plant tissue. Whereas, ethion is an oranophosphate insecticide and act as acetylcholinesterase inhibitor therefore inhibition of enzyme action results in blockage of transmission of nerve impulse in insect. Both insecticides were when combined and applied in field showed better efficacy in reducing the insect count than their solo application. Only the untreated control plots showed hopper burn symptoms as both nymph and adults sucked sap from the basal 5 portion of rice plants resulting in drying of leaves and wilting of tillers.

Yield:

All the treatments recorded higher yields over the untreated control (Table 8). Among the treatments, Pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha with Ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha recorded superior 5 grain yield (5.00 ton/ ha) and percentage increase in production of yield was 56.31% over control. All the treatments reduced the insect population (both BPH and WBPH) as compared to control check and thus recorded higher grain yield of rice. Rice grain yield data suggests the superiority of combined application of both the insecticide over their solo application.

0 Table 8: Rice grain yield

Grain yield was
increase in productivity compared to control was calculated.

Conclusion:

5 From the present study it can be concluded that both the tested insecticides were effective for hopper (BPH and WBPH) management in rice but among the treatments solo applications were less effective in controlling insect population against their mixture. The study clearly reveals that the binary mixture of insecticide that is Pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha + Ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha was superior to the other treatments tested.

All the treatments indicated higher yields compared to control. Highest yield (5.00 metric ton) was recorded in combination of Pymetrozine @ 150 g a.i./ha and Ethion @ 1125 g a.i./ha to the ratio of 1:7.5. The increase yield was 56.31% over control.

Thus, from the foregoing description, it will be apparent to one of the person skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the description. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the foregoing description be limited to the description set forth above, but rather that such description be construed as encompassing such features that reside in the present invention, including all the features and embodiments that would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the relevant art.

CLAIMS:

1. A synergistic combination comprising of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) thereof and ethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof.

2. A synergistic composition comprising of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) thereof, ethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof and agriculturally acceptable additives.

3. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein said composition comprises of the weight percentage of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) thereof is 2% to 80%, the weight percentage ofethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof 80% to 2% and the weight percentage of additives is 10% to 90%.

4. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 3, wherein said composition comprises of the weight percentage of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) thereof is 5% to 50%, the weight percentage ofethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof 50% to 5% and the weight percentage of additives is 10% to 90%.

5. The synergistic combination or composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein said combination or composition is combined in a weight ratio of pymetrozine and ethion is from 1:10 to 1:1, preferably from 1:8 to 1:4, more preferably 1:5 or 1:7.5.

6. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein agriculturally acceptable additives are selected from the group comprising ofsolid carrier(s), liquid carrier(s), gaseous carrier(s), surfactant(s), binder(s), disintegrating agent(s), pH adjuster(s), thickener(s), preservative(s), anti-freezing agent(s), defoaming agent(s), extender(s), stabilizer(s) or coloring agent(s) and/or a combination thereof.

7. A method of application of the combination or composition as claimed in claim 1 or 2, for the management of the undesired insect pests or mites in the rice crop.

8. The synergistic combination or composition as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said combination or composition additionally comprises one or more compound selected from insecticide(s), fungicide(s), acaricide(s), nematicide(s), safener(s), herbicide(s) or any combination thereof.

9. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein said synergistic composition are selected from a wettable powder (WP), a water dispersible granule (WDG), a water dispersible tablet (WT), an ultra-low volume (ULV) liquid (UL), an ultra-low volume (ULV) suspension (SU), a water soluble powder (SP), a soluble concentrate (SL), a water soluble granule (SG), a suspo-emulsion (SE), granule (GR), an emulsifiable granule (EG), an oil-in-water emulsion (EW), an emulsifiable concentrate (EC), a micro-emulsion (ME), an oil dispersion (OD), a capsule suspension (CS), an aerosol (AE) or a mixed formulation of CS and SC (ZC).

10. The synergistic composition as claimed in claim 2, wherein said synergistic composition is a wettable powder (WP) or a water dispersible granule (WDG) or a suspo-emulsion (SE).

11. A method for preparation of said wettable powder composition as claimed in claim 9 comprising the steps of:

a) addition of pymetrozine and ethion or its acceptable salt(s) thereof,

b) addition of agrochemically acceptable additives selected from surfactant(s), carrier(s) and other additive(s) uniformly in a mixer; and

c) optionally milling by a mill.

12. A method for preparation of said suspo-emulison composition as claimed in claim 9 comprising the steps of:

a) preparation of ethionemulsion by addition of ethion or its acceptable salt(s) and agrochemically acceptable additives selected from surfactant(s), carrier(s) and other additive(s) uniformly and optionally milling to obtain a desired particle size, b) preparation of pymetrozine suspension by addition of pymetrozine or its acceptable salt(s) and agrochemically acceptable additives selected from surfactant(s), carrier(s) and other additive(s) uniformly and optionally milling to obtain a desired particle size,

c) mixing the composition of step (a) and step (b) in a desired proportion by addition of agrochemically acceptable additives and water.