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Coniothyrium minitans CON/M/91-08 (028836) Fact Sheet
Related Information
Information related to this page:Issued: 7/01
On This Page
- Description of the Active Ingredient
- Use Sites, Target Pests, and Application Methods
- Assessing Risks to Human Health
- Assessing Risks to the Environment
- Regulatory Information
- Registrant Information
- Additional Contact Information
Summary
Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08 is a naturally occurring strain of Coniothyrium fungi used to treat soil to control the common plant pathogens, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor, which cause white mold, pink rot, and water soft rot. Based on available information, C. minitans strain CON/M/91-08 appears to have no adverse effects on humans or the environment.
- Description of the Active Ingredient
- Use Sites, Target Pests, and Application Methods
- Use Sites: Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08 is approved for treatment of agricultural soil.
- Target Pests: Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor, the fungi which produce the plant diseases commonly known as white mold, pink rot, and water soft rot.
- Application Methods: The single registered product as of March 2001, Contans7 WG, is diluted in water and applied as a spray to the soil, followed by mechanical mixing into the first one to two inches of the topsoil layer. The product is applied after harvest or 3 to 4 months before the typical onset of disease, so that it can reduce the number of target pests available to later attack the crop. The product is less effective at temperatures above 30 E C.
- Assessing Risks to Human Health
- Assessing Risks to the Environment
- Regulatory Information
- Registrant Information
- Additional Contact Information
Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08 is a naturally occurring soil microorganism. C. minitans attacks certain structures (sclerotia) of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Sclerotinia minor, two fungi that cause plant diseases. Both growth and germination of C. minitans strain CON/M/91-08 are temperature dependent, and its optimum sporulation occurs at 25 to 30E C (77-86E F).
No harmful health effects to humans are expected from use of Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08. Appropriate tests found no evidence that the fungus is toxic to humans. No toxicological or pathogenic effects of C. minitans in mammals have been reported in available public literature or in the submitted data. In addition, certain biological characteristics of C. minitans strain CON/M/91-08, which include its temperature requirements for germination and growth (lower than human body temperature), and its dependence on Sclerotinia as a host, are further indications that this microbial pest control agent would not be pathogenic to mammals.
Available studies show that no adverse environmental effects are expected when products containing Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08 are used in accordance with label instructions. Coniothyrium minitans has not been reported in public literature to infect any organism other than Sclerotinia and occasionally several other closely related fungi. In addition, exposure of birds, fish, aquatic invertebrates, and honey bees to Contans7 WG is anticipated to be minimal because the product is incorporated into soil.
Coniothyrium minitans strain CON/M/91-08. was registered (licensed for sale) in March, 2001.
One product, Contans7 WG , was registered at the same time.
PROPHYTA Biologischer Pflanzenschutz GmbH, Germany
U.S. AGENT
Amy Plato Roberts
Technology Sciences Group, Inc.
1101 17th Street, N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20036
Ombudsman, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention Division (7511P)
Office of Pesticide Programs
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460