Fungicidal composition comprising a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative and a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division

1. A composition comprising:

(a) a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I)

in which:

p is an integer equal to 1, 2, 3 or 4;

q is an integer equal to 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

each substituent X is chosen, independently of the others, as being halogen, alkyl or haloalkyl;

each substituent Y is chosen, independently of the others, as being halogen, alkyl, or haloalkyl;

as to the N-oxides of 2-pyridine thereof; and

(b) a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division selected from the group consisting of benzimidazole derivatives;

in an (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein p is 2.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein q is 2.

4. The composition of claim 1 wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen and haloalkyl.

5. The composition of claim 1 wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom and a trifluoromethyl group.

6. The composition of claim 1 wherein each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen and haloalkyl.

7. The composition of claim 1 wherein each Y is independently selected from the group consisting of a chlorine atom and a trifluoromethyl group.

8. The composition of claim 1 wherein the compound of general formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl }-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide;

N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl }-2-iodobenzamide; and

N-{2-[3,5-dichloro-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide.

9. The composition of claim 8 wherein the compound of general formula (I) is

N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl }-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide.

10. The composition of claim 1 wherein the benzimidazole derivative is selected from the group consisting of benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole and thiabendazole.

11. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a fungicidal compound (c).

12. The composition of claim 11 wherein the fungicidal compound (c) is selected from the group consisting of iprodione and chlorothalonil.

13. A composition comprising:

(a) N-{2-[3-chloro-5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]ethyl}-2-trifluoromethylbenzamide; and

(b) a compound capable of inhibiting mitosis and cell division selected from the group consisting of benomyl, carbendazim, fuberidazole and thiabendazole;

in an (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 0.01 to 20.

14. The composition of claim 13 further comprising an agriculturally acceptable support, carrier, filler and/or surfactant.

15. A method for preventively or curatively controlling phytopathogenic fungi of crops comprising applying an effective and non-phytotoxic amount of a composition according claim 13 to the seed, the plant and/or to the fruit of the plant or to the soil in which the plant is growing or in which it is desired to grow.

16. The composition of claim 13 wherein (b) is carbendazim.

17. The composition of claim 13 further comprising a fungicidal compound (c) selected from the group consisting of iprodione and chlorothalonil.

18. The composition of claim 16 in an (a)/(b) weight ratio of 1:1.

19. The composition of claim 16 further comprising a fungicidal compound (c) selected from the group consisting of iprodione and chlorothalonil.