METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE TOLERANCE OF CROPS TO CHILLING TEMPERATURES AND/OR FROST

1 . A method for improving the tolerance of crops to chilling temperature and/or frost comprising exposing said crops to propamocarb and/or at least one derivative thereof.

2 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the propamocarb or the derivative thereof is selected from the group consisting of Propamocarb, propamocarb-HCl and propamocarb fosetylate.

3 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the crops to be treated are chill sensitive crops.

4 . A method according to claim 3 , wherein chill sensitive crops are selected from the group consisting of corn, soybean, rice, sugarbeet, potatoes, sugar cane, tomatoes, bell pepper, chili pepper, eggplant, cucumber, gherkins, melon, squash, pumpkin), lettuce, endive, spinach, brassica species, beans, peas, lentils, carrot, chicory, cabbage, flowers and ornamentals, banana, coffee and citrus species, pome and stone fruit.

5 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein pome and stone fruit species are selected from the group consisting of apple, pear, quince, peach, apricot, nectarine, cherry, plum, damson and almond.

6 . A method according to claim 4 , wherein citrus species are selected from the group consisting of lemon, orange, grapefruit, clementine or tangerine.

7 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the crops are transgenic crops.

8 . A method according to claim 1 , wherein the propamocarb and/or said at least one derivative is applied to the crops to be treated with an application rate from 25 to 1000 g/ha.

9 . Method for preventing and/or reducing cold stress damage to crops due to chilling temperature and/or frost comprising treating the crops with propamocarb and or at least one derivative thereof.

10 . A composition for improving the tolerance of crops due to chilling temperature and/or frost comprising propamocarb and/or at least one derivative thereof.